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I can understand not wanting to live in the US. However, I would like to point out that the US is a very varied country. While you wouldn't let your kids play outside alone in some places, in others it's the norm.
Yes you need cars in many parts of the US, but in many of the larger cities, you do not. I know people in NYC who have never been behind the wheel of a car. Some places have a great deal of gun violence and others rarely see a gun. I live in an exburb of NYC and we have a very low crime rate. And yes, in some parts of the country religion is a very important part of life and there are very few different religions. Then there are other parts of the country where religion is a much smaller role in people's daily lives. And where there is a great deal of variety and acceptance of other religions. All these differences are why the US sometimes seems at odds with itself, but it's also what makes it a facsinating place. I am in the midst of getting a job which will allow me to work all over the world. Not because I don't think the US is a great place, but because I want to experience life in other cultures. One doesn't have to preclude the other. |
This is an interesting thread! As a US citizen living in the UK I have a couple of comments.
It seems to me that most of the statements made about the US, like those regarding health care and vacation time, are based on the assumed average. But, as with an any average, some are above and some are below. In the states we had excellent healthcare. We didn't pay a penny out of pocket -- for anything. I realize that may be unusual, but it isn't impossible. We also didn't need referrals to see specialists. When my son was born he had an overly tight muscle in his neck so we called a baby physical therapist and he saw us the next day. Three years later, working for the same company, living in the UK, my son may need to see another specialist -- the waiting list is 20 weeks long. I love the idea of national healthcare but from what I can tell (and from what our British friends and colleagues have told us) we're kidding ourselves if we don't see the flaws in this system. |
>religious nutcases
But anytime you turn on the TV or radio anywhere in the US, those nutcases are on air. And this "Glen Beck" guy which is everywhere too with his nutcase view of the world. Doesn't all this influence people? |
<< My company starts at 3 weeks + 2 personal days, and you get an additional day each of the first 5 years. Quite quickly, you are at 22 days of vacation.>> You are very fortunate and I believe your company's vacation policy is hardly typical. There have been plenty of polls and comparisons of paid leave time that show that U.S. workers have far less time off than workers in other developed countries, so this is a valid point for Canadians and Europeans if considering moving here to work. I've worked for several companies and have never started with three weeks vacation. In fact, my last job in Florida employees had to work 12 months to get one week (five days) and would get two weeks after two years and three weeks after FIVE years. I had interviewed at other companies and they had the same policy -- a full twelve months to get five days vacation. We were allowed six sick days per year and no personal leave days. And the maternity leave polices are pathetic at most companies -- six weeks max compared to the generous polices of Canada and European countries. |
People like Glen Beck, Rush Limbaugh, Bill O'Reilly and his protege Stephen Colbert (pronounced Colbear) are on TV and radio because they're so controversial, not because the majority of the country believes what they do. Sure some people may agree with some of what they say, but not all and certainly not the majority of America.
In reality, how many people tune in to listen to these folks on a daily basis is a fraction of a percent of the general population. |
<i>Doesn't all this influence people?</i>
Not really. Certainly not anymore than the biases present in any media outlet influence people. And good luck finding any media outlet without one bias or another. I think most people tend to listen to or read the opinions of those that they agree with. Much like an old-school Tory won't read the Guardian, no lefty will be tuning into Rush Limbaugh. A lot of preaching to the choir, but it doesn't really amount to anything. |
My apologies, I meant to say a small fraction of the population listen to these people.
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<i>You are very fortunate and I believe your company's vacation policy is hardly typical.</i>
My old company started you at 4 weeks, and I was at 5 when I left after 2 years. And most of my friends get similar vacation allowances. These things are often up for negotiation. I started at a company that normally only gave 2 weeks to start, and simply asked that I start at 3 weeks, with a clear and short path to 4 weeks. If you value time off, and are wanted, then you can negotiate it. No need for government-mandated minimums when you can just establish them yourself. |
What is sad about this thread and so many on Fodors is the judgmental and distorted attitudes that comes through. Here are my thoughts on some of the negative comments made about living in the US.
1) religion...not that important to most people I know. 2) quality of life...means different things to different people.IMHO I have a better quality of life than my relatives who live in Europe. 3)gun crime...not a serious problem in my part of the US 4) life style...so varied that it is impossible to say what the American lifestyle is. 5) vacation time...also varies a great deal...my father always had a month off. 6) weather...again very extremely varied. 7) Health care....I have always had access to fast, excellent healthcare. I love to travel and am happy where I live, but obviously that doesn't mean that I want everyone to feel the same. Again what a sad thread this is! |
Fascinating thread. I have learned more about people all over the world and how they think about things in discussions like this one than I ever thought I would.
Meanwhile, for those Europeans who said they liked Cape Cod, how about busting stereotypes one house exchange at a time? |
the bizarre thing is that we in britain love to go on and on about the religious fundamentalism in america... but we always choose to ignore the fact that we have a very significant population segment that is far more fundamentalist. but it's only pc to ridicule the CHRISTIAN fundamentalists. if america has her 'jesusland' we certainly do have our 'muhammadland'. just part of the bizarre perspectives we see here.
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>religious nutcases
>>But anytime you turn on the TV or radio anywhere in the US, those nutcases are on air. And this "Glen Beck" guy which is everywhere too with his nutcase view of the world. Doesn't all this influence people?<< No one forces anyone else to watch or listen to people with whom they disagree. Lee Ann |
Good point, walkinaround. Very good point.
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"if america has her 'jesusland' we certainly do have our 'muhammadland'. just part of the bizarre perspectives we see here."
Depends where you live. Never saw a black person in the flesh until I went to "big school" Ask CW, Simon. More of a house than a person...bleeding enormous! |
>No one forces anyone else to watch or listen
Yet millions watch TV and listen to the radio. Good to hear people are resistant to what is broadcast! |
<<They do have a larger regional section, but the average NY Times or Washington Post probably has twice the content of the average UK daily.>>
I really enjoy reading the Sunday papers, but on my last trip to New York, I sat down to read the Sunday NY Times and to me, while it had a thump factor, i.e extremely large, the content was predominantly made up of adverts. I found very little reading. To give an example, the travel section totalled 4 pages (this may not be typical) but compare this with the Sunday Times in the UK, to me there is no comparison. Geordie |
Religion: I was raised Jehovah Witness, went to a Baptist church in high school with my best friend, almost became Morman my freshman year in college, then was baptized as a Catholic at 20. My mother is Lutheran, my father is debating whether or not he believes in God at all, my brother belongs to some strain of a Christian following and my sister married a Catholic but has chosen not to baptize her son. This is America. People have options. And most people prefer not to discuss religion or politics unless we've been drinking ale at the local pub.
Travel/Time Off: I get as much time off as I need to travel wherever and whenever I please. My DH gets 6 weeks off every year, and if he chooses not to use it, it rolls over into the following year. And he's not self-employed, nor does he have a college degree. He makes a decent amount of money, of which, we actually spend on travel. My complaint as an American would be not having enough money to buy a vacation home. I would never complain about not having enough time to spend there. And my cousins in Germany would argue the same thing. One cousin in particular is an Attorney near Frankfurt and would die to have a home with a yard! But he gets 3 weeks off for holiday every year. Hmmmmmmmm.... Healthcare: It definitely has disadvantages, but I am fortunate as are many in the U.S. Our healthcare is offered through DH's occupation and we pay a minimal fee (comes out of his gross so it does not affect the bank account) for a large family. We love our medical group. My children see our doctor the same day if needed and I never pay a well child care co-payment, nor do I have to come up with 20% of our hospital stay. We are located in a city that has top-notch hospitals and care. I worry more about my child actually being injured than the care he/she will receive... A bigger fear is being struck by a tourist who is watching the waves crash on the coastline than paying attention to where or how they are driving. Weather: I'm fair skinned, blonde hair and blue eyes but my children are olive skinned with brown hair. I admit I get rosey cheeks after wakeboarding all day, but the children do not - they tan. We see more sun than rain, but it's not 100 degrees everyday. And we definitely don't have 55% humidity. We have pleasant evenings with a cool breeze. We eat a lot of fruit and vegetables that we grow in our yard. We ride bikes. We walk our dogs. Our climate is very good and I wouldn't trade it for anything. We actually see all 4 seasons each year. We have some of the best routes for fall drives, of which you can leave the top down on the convertible because it's not going to rain! We do wish for more rain, but what country doesn't? Last time we ventured into Germany for some snow in late December, there was none. The Alps were dry. Hmmmmm..... Politics: We attend mass a few times each month, but never do we base our decisions at the voting poll on whether or not Mr. or Mrs. attends, nor what they wore to church that morning. Most educated Christians would see right through their rants on television anyways. “Do not judge, or you too will be judged” (Matthew 7:1). Most politicians are hypocrites. We take their television interviews and debates with "a grain of salt" (a U.S. cliche). It means that 1. Understand that something being said is not to be taken seriously. 2. To know that what is being said may have a very strong bias. Religion aside, we had a bigger dilema in California... Over half of California voted for Arnold for Calif. State Governor because he was the "Terminator"... WTH? You've got to be joking, right? Sadly, no. Unfortunately not all Americans are alike. Some do base their votes on public appearance and religious choices. Why else would Clinton target young America and join hands with Mtv? It makes for good television and sells magazines. It also gets votes. That's America... Back to Religion and Football (not soccer) are very important to the folks in the southeast - from birth through high school and beyond, but for those of us out here in California... we worry more about life after the elections... what will this person provide in regards to the economy, global warming, gay rights, animal rights, abortion, education and the military? The list could go on and on and on... This entire thread has saddened me. I'm raising my American children with an awareness of the world so that they do not base their judgements and decisions on their own culture... By the time they become adults, they will be able to live anywhere. The more they engage in other cultures, the broader perspective they have. My only hope is that they do not base their perception on other countries by what they saw on t.v., but more importantly, what they experienced first hand. |
"People like Glen Beck, Rush Limbaugh, Bill O'Reilly and his protege Stephen Colbert (pronounced Colbear) are on TV and radio because they're so controversial, not because the majority of the country believes what they do"
PLEASE do not include Stephen Colbert in this list. He is not a "protege" of Bill O'Reilly. He is a satirist of Bill O'Reilly and his ilk. Stephen Colbert mocks those you mentioned, he does not follow them. |
I find all of this rather interesting because except for the health insurance issue I find that almost none of these things apply to my life in NYC. We have four seasons of weather, we have culture (it might not be old but almost every museum has a free night or suggested donation) and despite most of my foreign friends thinking every day is an episode of law and order in 12 years I've never been mugged or a victim of any violence. In fact as for religious tolerance I find that I am more aware of other religions and their holidays than friends living around the globe.
Though I must add that since my boyfriend moved here from Milan in May (he absolutely loves it and has made tons of pro and con lists and I'm sure he'd have things to add, example: he loves how people actually line up and wait their turn for the crosstown bus, it fascinates him!)I have been thinking about where else to move :) Also, a side note, Colbert isn't a protege of O'Reilly it's a spoof or more correctly a character he plays |
Sorry lola! Was typing as you posted!
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