How come the USA is underrated?

[uc50ic4more]

Originally Posted By: Pablo
China = better access to view mangled/dead people from road accidents.


If you're flexible about the *cause* of death (ie. if it doesn't *have* to be accidents) you could always visit Detroit.

 

[TTK]

The BITOGers top five criteria for judging Quality of life in a country are:
1. All synthetic oils are Group 4 or 5
2. Cardboard encaps in oil filters are outlawed
3. used oil analysis are free every 5000 miles
4. No ethanol in gasoline
5. All gasolines are top tier

 

[Gene K]

Well one thing I do think is kind of silly is all the moaning about the shrinking of the middle class in the USA.

It depends on exactly how you define it but:

The percentage of people living below the poverty line has remained essentially the same. So Im supposed to be upset because the middle class is shrinking because more people are entering the upper class?

 

[mechanicx]

I think America's best days were in the past.

 

[bullwinkle]

Ohio's best days DEFINITELY were in the past!

 

[Gary Allan]

Originally Posted By: Gene K
Well one thing I do think is kind of silly is all the moaning about the shrinking of the middle class in the USA.

It depends on exactly how you define it but:

The percentage of people living below the poverty line has remained essentially the same. So Im supposed to be upset because the middle class is shrinking because more people are entering the upper class?



I have to catch your act when it comes to town. If this is a sampling of the material, you've got to bring the house down.

 

[Jim_Beverlin]

Completely agree with your analysis. I have worked extensively with Chinese companies over the last 10 years. We have had many visits from Chinese suppliers. We also have had problems several times with Chinese representatives not wanting to go back. I spent several weeks in China back in 2004 and it is not surprising they want to stay in the USA.

 

[Gene K]

Originally Posted By: Gary Allan
Originally Posted By: Gene K
Well one thing I do think is kind of silly is all the moaning about the shrinking of the middle class in the USA.

It depends on exactly how you define it but:

The percentage of people living below the poverty line has remained essentially the same. So Im supposed to be upset because the middle class is shrinking because more people are entering the upper class?



I have to catch your act when it comes to town. If this is a sampling of the material, you've got to bring the house down.

Gary Im not just talking about over a couple of years (recent recession) Im talking about over the decades politicians have been decrying this. Theirs a reason they talk about the shrinking middle class instead of the growing lower class.

In 1969 12% of Americans were poor and in 2007.... 12%

 

[Gary Allan]

Originally Posted By: Gene K
Originally Posted By: Gary Allan
Originally Posted By: Gene K
Well one thing I do think is kind of silly is all the moaning about the shrinking of the middle class in the USA.

It depends on exactly how you define it but:

The percentage of people living below the poverty line has remained essentially the same. So Im supposed to be upset because the middle class is shrinking because more people are entering the upper class?



I have to catch your act when it comes to town. If this is a sampling of the material, you've got to bring the house down.

Gary Im not just talking about over a couple of years (recent recession) Im talking about over the decades politicians have been decrying this. Theirs a reason they talk about the shrinking middle class instead of the growing lower class.

In 1969 12% of Americans were poor and in 2007.... 12%


I have a feeling that it is more due to retirement and social security and a couple of other things like the expansion of the public sector

..but I'll ask you point blank..


Are you suggesting ..with all the increased debt ..public and private ..all the unemployment (under reported due to fuzzy stats) ...all the increases in costs ...

..that, on average, the American population is richer than it was ..let's say 1973? 1985? Heck, 2001?

Is that something you would attempt to sell?

 

[UNC017]

Originally Posted By: uc50ic4more

Originally Posted By: silverrat
The United States - Guns + Health Care = Canada


Or more accurately, and less politically:

USA = Ted Nugent, Canada = Bob and Doug McKenzie



Now that right there is FUNNY

I should also point out that Canada did give us 3 guys who famously sang,

"The whole wide world, the endless universe,
Yet we keep looking through the eyglass in reverse."

Its pointless to try to rank nations on anything but the crudest scale. Is it better to live in Norway than Somalia? Uh, yeah, I think we can agree on that. Is it better to live in Norway than Australia? Not unless you like snow. Australia vs. the US? Some aspects are better one place than the other, and vice versa. That's why the UN list is such a crock- it reflects nations that operate the way the UN WANTS nations to operate, not necessarily what's best for the citizens of each nation.

 

[milwaukee]

I'm so glad this did not turn into a USA bash.

I love guns BTW. Guns are the greatest protector of freedom ever devised. I honestly could never leave the USA for that simple reason. In my simplistic mind I think of handguns as tools only free men can own.

I do think it would be ok if the America haters got the heck out of America.

 

[bluestream]

Originally Posted By: uc50ic4more
Underrated?!?!?!

People all over the flippin' world, *every day* are risking life and limb to get to the USA. Even Canada has "the brain drain" as top professionals in many fields leave here for there.

You can't expect everyone everywhere to say only glowing things about the USA. Some people see things being done better elsewhere and they speak their minds.

Originally Posted By: silverrat
The United States - Guns + Health Care = Canada


Or more accurately, and less politically:

USA = Ted Nugent, Canada = Bob and Doug McKenzie

Brain Drain? I haven't heard that term for 15 years. Whats with the Canada bashing now?

 

[chad8]

One Mans observations>>>
I have to say that looking over the last 30 years, the U.S.A. is a shambles mentally , morally , and monetarily . The decline is obvious. To have the morons at the "united" nations pick our carcass in order to further the decline is even more obvious . Their agenda is to see us fail. No question here.
We still have some of the best and worst living conditions within a mile of each other in the world. ( California)
We have the worlds best health care if you have money.
Same goes for legal counsel because we need it to sue each other every day.
best prison systems-- see above
best water .
best oil spills in the same water
best sports. --------
Worst sports . (curling) oh yeah , thats a Cannuck sport.

Notice how we get spot 13 on the list. bad luck again. Next we have to get the 13th amendment to the constitution , to not let morons at the u.n. decide anything and disband them.

 

[tenderloin]

In time......

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/25/world/europe/25britain.html?_r=2&hp

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/7908742/Axe-falls-on-NHS-services.html

 

[silverrat]

So is it a positive or a negative that the US has the highest rate of incarceration in the world?

 

[Gene K]

Originally Posted By: Gary Allan
Originally Posted By: Gene K
Originally Posted By: Gary Allan
Originally Posted By: Gene K
Well one thing I do think is kind of silly is all the moaning about the shrinking of the middle class in the USA.

It depends on exactly how you define it but:

The percentage of people living below the poverty line has remained essentially the same. So Im supposed to be upset because the middle class is shrinking because more people are entering the upper class?



I have to catch your act when it comes to town. If this is a sampling of the material, you've got to bring the house down.

Gary Im not just talking about over a couple of years (recent recession) Im talking about over the decades politicians have been decrying this. Theirs a reason they talk about the shrinking middle class instead of the growing lower class.

In 1969 12% of Americans were poor and in 2007.... 12%


I have a feeling that it is more due to retirement and social security and a couple of other things like the expansion of the public sector

..but I'll ask you point blank..


Are you suggesting ..with all the increased debt ..public and private ..all the unemployment (under reported due to fuzzy stats) ...all the increases in costs ...

..that, on average, the American population is richer than it was ..let's say 1973? 1985? Heck, 2001?

Is that something you would attempt to sell?


All I know is the percentage of Americans in the Upper Income Brackets are increasing and the percentage of poor is holding relatively steady while the middle class apparently shrinks. Im not trying to claim anything. Most of the people I know have increased expenses (relative) because they buy more. We didnt need (want) Smart Phones, Sat Radio or 5 TV's in the past. We also were not paying interest on 60,000 in Credit Card Debt. If we lived the same way we did 40 years ago our expenses wouldnt be as high.

 

[Gary Allan]

Originally Posted By: Gene K


All I know is the percentage of Americans in the Upper Income Brackets are increasing and the percentage of poor is holding relatively steady while the middle class apparently shrinks. Im not trying to claim anything. Most of the people I know have increased expenses (relative) because they buy more. We didnt need (want) Smart Phones, Sat Radio or 5 TV's in the past. We also were not paying interest on 60,000 in Credit Card Debt. If we lived the same way we did 40 years ago our expenses wouldnt be as high.


Never mind. Bad joke. No, really. My bad. Carry on...

 

[PandaBear]

I don't think USA is ever underrated. It is not always the #1 and to be honest who the heck care? As long as it is a nice place and people like living here, and do not cause trouble to other people in the world that's all good enough to me. What's the difference between #1 and #5 on a list of 100 or so countries?

People from all countries get into all well off nations, including developing or semi developing countries like Thailand, Greece, Turkey, Dominican Republic, and even China (from North Korea). It is a world wide problem of uneven standard of living.

A lot of the problem we see (as well as the strengths we have), are due to the resources and the lack of. Lower the social safety net increase productivity while increasing poverty, lower and reducing public health care increase competition but also increase cost, some countries like it one way while others like it the other way, and all countries have one types of problem or the others.

Just relax and live the way you want it within your mean, and you'll be happy. Or you can try living in another country for a while and see which one you like best, there's no problem with that.

 

[expat]

Originally Posted By: StevieC
As a Canadian who shares a lot of the "American" way of living I can tell you that we do have one of the best systems of living out there in our home continent of North America and that Canada and the U.S. would have their own pros & cons when it comes to things.

I don't however think that the N.A. is the "BEST" way of living nor do I think that other countries have it "WORSE".

I think we seem to live in a "BUBBLE" in North America and it's hard for us to live outside the box and allow ourselves for one minute to contemplate another way of life different that what we are used to.

That said the grass will always look greener on the other side of the fence. The best way to approach life, a way of living and the country/society in which you live is to look at what you want out of life and what bests suit you and pursue that.

To blindly think that ones home origin is the best and can't be outdone is blind and will only get you into trouble by being labeled arrogant/ignorant. It is also different for everyone because their definition of a good life and their goals are and will be totally different.

This will always lead to argument, agreement and discussion based on the fact that some people are the same and some are different in their thinking.


That's about the way I see it.
I think it's very healthy that people in the U.S., in these times, are questioning their countries Lifestyle.
I'm not saying that they are right or wrong, just it's better to have an open mind.
I have considered living (full time) in the U.S. in the past, and I may again in the future (especially if the value of your $
falls further

)
Ranking a country will always be controversial, MY list of Pros and Cons may be a lot different from another persons.

 

[Herz]

Originally Posted By: Johnny
"Well, the latest UN rankings are out." That's all I needed to hear. I wish they would move the UN to one of their favorites.

Since I refuse to move, I want my guns and they can take back their health care, I have my own and it works just fine, thank you.


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