The_Hitcher89
Member
Scotland invented the television. No television=No spreading of American entertainment culture, which led to more general cultural influence.
Scotland>USA confirmed?
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Fellow Americans, do you realize how much people envy us?
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Scotland invented the television. No television=No spreading of American entertainment culture, which led to more general cultural influence.
Scotland>USA confirmed?
I liked a bunch of songs this year actually. Euphoria most of all.
Don't. He has a superfine Brazilian wife.
The_Hitcher89
Member
Isn't Bale Welsh?
Peterthumpa
Member
Hell yeah I envy you.
Don't get me wrong, I love Brazil and all the pluses that we have here, but nothing comes close to America, you lucky bastards.
Don't get me wrong, I love Brazil and all the pluses that we have here, but nothing comes close to America, you lucky bastards.
No telephone for them to ring us to say how awesome they are.
Bale is like English, South African and Welsh. You can probably whittle those nationalities down further too.
And what if you have pre-existing medical conditions, and you're refused health insurance? I don't think anyone believes that the majority of Americans don't have healthcare. But the risk of being one of the unfortunate individuals without it, isn't worth the advantages of being an American.
More importantly, James Clerk-Maxwell was a Scot.
You guys have some superfine women though.
This is the the quote of the thread. So fitting. You can replace the country with your place of choice.
to basically say that everyone who complains about america is just jealous is extremely arrogant. there are things i dislike about america: the political system, the education system, certain customs, etc., that make it very unlikely that i will ever live there, despite living so close. however, there are parts of america i truly love, which is true for lots of countries actually. i definitely envy it in several ways, like how i envy countries in europe. there are good, important people all over the world.
i'm also not surprised at all to see who wrote the op of this thread.
i'm also not surprised at all to see who wrote the op of this thread.
KingOfReading
Banned
I'm an American living in Japan. I have a steady job, excellent healthcare, and a certain peace of mind that I wouldn't have back at "home". At least I really don't think I would. I'm good friends with people from all over the world, and it's those friends and experiences that I wouldn't give up.
I will admit that there are things I miss about America (my live for Wal-Mart knows no bounds), and its much cheaper to eat healthy there.
Honestly I don't know which one to really call my home. There are good things and bad things to each side of the coin. From the outside looking in though, it's much easier to see how insane America can look. Japan just looks insane from all angles
I will admit that there are things I miss about America (my live for Wal-Mart knows no bounds), and its much cheaper to eat healthy there.
Honestly I don't know which one to really call my home. There are good things and bad things to each side of the coin. From the outside looking in though, it's much easier to see how insane America can look. Japan just looks insane from all angles
Sir_Crocodile
Member
Only on super cheap plans.
The main problem with threads like this is the title. Yeah, America is a great country but maybe there are other great countries as well. Earth is a pretty big place after all. The title sounds pretty arrogant by saying "look how everyone begs to be an American!" That is bound get a few objections.
BruiserBear
Banned
You seem to have developed a very narrow, and inaccurate perspective. While you may be right that corporations are in charge, as are rich people in general, I'd still rather live in this country than any other, and I don't even have a college degree. I simply enjoy a solid way of life that I'm certain I wouldn't have in any other country.
I have a job that gives me and my wife good healthcare benefits. Yes, if you're unemployed healthcare is not guaranteed, but I also know that healthcare is available to anyone, it's just not publicized that way. If you walk into a hospital they're not going to tell you to go home if you're sick. They'll do something for you, and that can't be said for a lot of the world.
The_Hitcher89
Member
All of this talk makes me feel sorry for places like North Korea and huge parts of Africa.
I'm not jealous of the us in the least. I'm canadian, and happy about it.
-Healthcare
-gun culture
-crazy religious stuff
-crazy politics
-culture of fear
-extreme litigation
-inequality
-war mongering
On the other hand, the media can be pretty great and a lot of people are really friendly and awesome. The 'America fuck yeah' people like the op really stain the rest of the country undeservedly. It's a beautiful country too, and which I like the European culture more it's got some fun bits.
-Healthcare
-gun culture
-crazy religious stuff
-crazy politics
-culture of fear
-extreme litigation
-inequality
-war mongering
On the other hand, the media can be pretty great and a lot of people are really friendly and awesome. The 'America fuck yeah' people like the op really stain the rest of the country undeservedly. It's a beautiful country too, and which I like the European culture more it's got some fun bits.
I can't even tell with these posts any more. Do you really think that you can't enjoy a high quality of living in other countries?
I'm not sure why anyone would want to live to work.
Peterthumpa
Member
Yeah, but to tell you the truth, beautiful women can be found anywhere. Maybe sometimes you have to search a little longer, but they're all there scattered around.
What amazes me about America is your love for your country, all the accomplishments (for good or not), and everything that lead you to be the most powerful nation in the world. When I went to America 10 years ago everything felt so... magical. I guess born-Americans are all used to their culture and way of living, but believe in what I say... the difference from someone who grew up on a 3rd world country (even in one of the brazilian biggest cities) is astonishing.
The Incarnation
Member
On the topic of Scotland, I think I remember hearing that if you guys split for the UK, you'll badly damage your economy. When it comes down to it, will your sense of national identity avail, or will you delay it until you're in a better shape for true independence?
I was born in England, just prefer Scotland though. Great Gran was Scottish which is probably why, she lived until she was 113.
Scotland won't Split from the UK though, serves them no purpose. They already get free prescriptions, and Education, which we don't.
Pretty sure that if you're under 19 you cannot be denied coverage for pre-existing conditions and in 2014 it will apply to adults as well.
BruiserBear
Banned
Of course you can enjoy a high quality of living in other countries. Did I ever suggest it wasn't possible?
I'm just saying that I feel more confident that a quality life is MORE possible in the U.S than it is in other countries. Just a quick example. To ever live in a home with 2,000 sq feet and 2-3 bathrooms you have to be a wealthy person in most of the world. In the U.S. you just have to be middle class.
Arjen
Member
I really hope this is a joke post, it's so hard to tell in this thread
RoadHazard
Gold Member
Who does? I sure as hell don't. I have a 100 Mbps connection with absolutely no data cap or bandwidth throttling whatsoever, and I pay per month, not based on usage. Neither does anyone else I know. Of course, this might not be true for every European country, but you seemed to be lumping us all together with the "you guys".
EDIT: Were you talking about Germany specifically? Not sure how it works there.
Couldn't you replace that with any 1st world country? Be it Canada, France, UK, Japan, Norway, etc.? I mean, i'm sure any of those countries would have been as astonishing to you as the US.
Regulus Tera
Romanes Eunt Domus
I thought GAF was above Country Exceptionalism, major international football tournaments aside.
Parallax
best seen in the classic "Shadow of the Beast"
did you? this isnt our first dance like this.
I was born in the US but raised in Canada, have been in the US since I started college( don't fucking as me why). I felt Canada was better or the same in every which way except extra material consumption that comes from decreased taxes( at the expense of healthcare and affordable education) and while this may or may not be relevant, the weather(sorry, california is hard to beat in that regard). I coincidentally don't really care for consumption, so.... But yeah all those issues you outlined are big concerns for me, sometimes to the extent that it makes me uncomfortable living here, must be that canadian taint.
Regulus Tera
Romanes Eunt Domus
It's a baffling discovery to make for such a progressive-skewing forum.
Also I wish I lived in Canada.
RoadHazard
Gold Member
Really? REALLY?! Haha, fucking amazing.
lunarworks
Member
Europe, fuck yeah.
I'd honestly rather watch that than American Idol and its dozens of variants.
BruiserBear
Banned
Just to be clear, I'm no nationalist, and I don't believe in any country being god given exceptional. I simply believe the U.S offers people the best chance at a good life, and a comfortable life.
I already explained that quote in better detail.
Peterthumpa
Member
Not really. But it's a personal taste IMO. I've been to Italy, UK, France, Germany and so on... they're all great places, but I have something personal with the US of A.
Arjen
Member
If you live in Western Europe, Canada, US, Australia, New Zealand, and then some, you have about the same standard of living, and you are a lucky son of a bitch, were basicly arguing about a bunch a differences between al those countries.
BruiserBear
Banned
True.
But I still wonder how broadly the "same standard of living" statement is used. I'd like someone who lives in countries besides the U.S to answer this question. How easy would it be for a husband and wife to own and live in a 2,000 sq ft house, 3 bedrooms, and 3 bathrooms, and also own two decent cars. Because in the U.S it's not that difficult to do this, as long as you don't live in a major city.
RoadHazard
Gold Member
Well, that's just a ridiculous, baseless statement. There is no reason you couldn't have a life just as good and comfortable in one of the many countries which offer much higher social security than the US.
Can't really answer that, since I'm still a student and haven't really moved on to that part of my life. But that's more or less how I grew up (and how my parents still (separately) live), and my family isn't exceptionally wealthy. Just pretty ordinary middle-class people.
Maleficence
Member
That's a fascinatingly narrow definition of quality of life.
Arjen
Member
I grew up in a 3 bedroom house with 2 bathrooms, no idea about the sq ft. And my dad's a teacher, so it's not that difficult. And also here applies, shouldn't be in a major city.
I'll give you the fact that the houses in the US are bigger from what i've seen, we trade it off with having shops, supermarkets and what not much more close to home.
BruiserBear
Banned
and that brings us to what defines a "good quality of life".
Everyone defines it differently.
I'm not sure what you mean by "shops and supermarkets" being more close to home. They're everywhere you look in the U.S. Unless you choose to live in remote locations you're never very far from anything.
Pretty much, for me Universal Health Care is near the top.
Though the greedy hate this for some reason...
Arjen
Member
Not very far is a 2 min walk for me, that was not the case in the citys i visited in the US
I was born in the US but raised in Canada, have been in the US since I started college( don't fucking ask me why). I felt Canada was better or the same in every which way except extra material consumption that comes from decreased taxes( at the expense of healthcare and affordable education) and while this may or may not be relevant, the weather(sorry, california is hard to beat in that regard). I coincidentally don't really care for consumption, so.... But yeah all those issues you outlined are big concerns for me, sometimes to the extent that it makes me uncomfortable living here, must be that canadian taint.
then, why do other countries rank higher than the united states for quality of life/standard of living?
have you ever been to canada? i'm not sure if it's ranked higher/lower than the us on those united nations quality of life studies, but i don't see why anything you've said would be easier in the united states.
does anybody have any recent data for income disparity in the us and other countries? that would certainly prove to be useful in determining whether it's truly easier in the us.
Boss Man
Member
I don't really have much of a concept of what it means to live in America. In my mind, I can't understand the difference between living in another Western civilization and living in the U.S.
I really, really want to see more of the world. Plus I'm sort of a history nerd and would probably have an out-of-body experience seeing something like Stonehenge.
Canada is fascinating in the context of this thread. Canada is almost as American an apple pie, but they are so proud and hate us so much.
I really, really want to see more of the world. Plus I'm sort of a history nerd and would probably have an out-of-body experience seeing something like Stonehenge.
Canada is fascinating in the context of this thread. Canada is almost as American an apple pie, but they are so proud and hate us so much.
Vivalaraza
Member
I'm jealous of America's self confidence. I wish Brits were like that, at least sometimes.
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