Discussion "America is not the greatest country in the world anymore".

[soundforbjt]

Even f you’re financially stable, all it takes is one medical problem to wipe away all that financial stability.

 

[SteveGrabowski]

I really hate seeing boomers calling millennials the worst generation ever. No fucking way, the country has backslid into the kind of oligarchy we were in the days of the robber barons again as soon as the boomers got into power and now we're stuck there thanks to that shit generation.

 

[SteveGrabowski]

If you’re middle class or above the US is good.

Not really with what housing costs these days, what education costs these days, what healthcare costs these days, what transportation costs both in terms of dollars and hours, completely disagree. Pathetic that we typically only get 2 weeks a year vacation and a lot of us are expected to work 50-60 hour weeks. It's a fucking hamster wheel if you're middle class too. Fuck the United States tbh.

 

[fskimospy]

Not really with what housing costs these days, what education costs these days, what healthcare costs these days, what transportation costs both in terms of dollars and hours, completely disagree. Pathetic that we typically only get 2 weeks a year vacation and a lot of us are expected to work 50-60 hour weeks. It's a fucking hamster wheel if you're middle class too. Fuck the United States tbh.

What country do you think is better?

 

[fskimospy]

I really hate seeing boomers calling millennials the worst generation ever. No fucking way, the country has backslid into the kind of oligarchy we were in the days of the robber barons again as soon as the boomers got into power and now we're stuck there thanks to that shit generation.

The boomers are the worst generation in US history.

 

[MrSquished]

What country do you think is better?

Germany, France, the Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium. I
would say the Scandinavian countries for quality of life if you don't mind the weather and slight isolation.

 

[fskimospy]

Germany, France, the Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium. I
would say the Scandinavian countries for quality of life if you don't mind the weather and slight isolation.

I think I would agree with scandanavia generally but no, not Germany or France. Again, doesn’t mean the US is the best in everything but I would definitely rather have been born in the US than France.

 

[rommelrommel]

I think it would be a three-way between the USA, Canada, and Norway for me. All three have certain appeals.

 

[MtnMan]

What country do you think is better?

Any country that when a bad medical diagnosis is received, aside from your first concern, will this kill me, but your second concern will it leave my family homeless with ruthless debt collectors hounding them whether I live or die?
That is a verse that is sorely missing from Brooks $ Dunn song, "Only in America"!

But for profit health care corporations, big pharma, and insurance executives can buy their second mansion, a yacht, or a private jet, so there is a positive side, just not for you.

 

[fskimospy]

Any country that when a bad medical diagnosis is received, aside from your first concern, will this kill me, but your second concern will it leave my family homeless with ruthless debt collectors hounding them whether I live or die?
That is a verse that is sorely missing from Brooks $ Dunn song, "Only in America"!

But for profit health care corporations, big pharma, and insurance executives can buy their second mansion, a yacht, or a private jet, so there is a positive side, just not for you.

I have to say I’m someone who received exactly that diagnosis at 28 and I would still prefer here.

 

[Fenixgoon]

I think it would be a three-way between the USA, Canada, and Norway for me. All three have certain appeals.

scandinavia is gorgeous, but fuck me the lack of sunlight sucks.

i'd probably go with france, spain, italy, or germany.

 

[MrSquished]

I think I would agree with scandanavia generally but no, not Germany or France. Again, doesn’t mean the US is the best in everything but I would definitely rather have been born in the US than France.

I'd say there may be is about 10% of the US I'd rather have been born in than France. The rest, hell no

 

[MtnMan]

I have to say I’m someone who received exactly that diagnosis at 28 and I would still prefer here.

You were fortunate. I received mine at 69, but I was under this awful socialized medicine (Medicare) and it was covered. But that is only because I didn't require chemo drugs, (which often falls under Part D or prescription and not healthcare) which are still basically not covered, or poorly covered.

 

[MtnMan]

I'd say there may be is about 10% of the US I'd rather have been born in than France. The rest, hell no

So Alabama, or Texas?

 

[repoman0]

I'd say there may be is about 10% of the US I'd rather have been born in than France. The rest, hell no

Yeah, about the same for me. I was born in rural upstate NY and was fortunate enough that my family moved to SE PA before I started school. Many of my cousins in NY turned out total fuckwads and whenever I visit that area I see why.

Now living in greater Boston and there isn’t anywhere else in the world I would prefer to live, and I have thought hard about it. My second and third place choices outside of northern New England aren’t in the US though.

 

[rommelrommel]

scandinavia is gorgeous, but fuck me the lack of sunlight sucks.

i'd probably go with france, spain, italy, or germany.

Well, I'm already living it in Vancouver to some degree. But if I were in the USA it would be somewhere warm and bright.

 

[Leeea]

I am going to argue America is the greatest country in the world.

It has to do with scale.

Yes, with smaller populations, many countries out do us in many areas.


When once we start talking about 350 million people, when we all decide to do something together, we are the greatest country in the world. It doesn't happen often, but when it does. Yes, the USA can make the biggest impact bar none.


Even when we start talking about areas we fail in, education for example. Even with an inferior outcome rate compared to a Nordic paradise, once a person factors in the sheer quantity of students we input into the system the USA outputs a far larger quantity of geniuses, engineers, scientists, average students, and well sadly dropouts.


It is not until we get into medical that the real horrors start to emerge. When the sheer scale of the thing also leads to cruelty writ mass. Yet one again the USA is somehow the greatest country in the world, demonstrating that somehow a country can simultaneously be wealthy and have a spiking Maternal Mortality Rate that is rapidly getting worse every year. The sheer horror racing up both the Maternal Mortality Rate and Infant Morality Rate charts simultaneously has to qualify the US as the greatest at something*.



*most likely passing cruel and draconian reproductive healthcare laws that cause doctors to flee certain jurisdictions resulting in a lack healthcare being available in red states driving certain stats into 3rd world territory at an increasingly fast pace

 

[fskimospy]

You were fortunate. I received mine at 69, but I was under this awful socialized medicine (Medicare) and it was covered. But that is only because I didn't require chemo drugs, (which often falls under Part D or prescription and not healthcare) which are still basically not covered, or poorly covered.

I would say I was very unfortunate to have a two pound tumor grow around my heart in my 20’s.

All I’m saying is I’m exactly the person you describe.

 

[Wreckem]

Finland, Sweden, Norway, Austria, Netherland, Switzerland, Denmark, and Germany are all better than the US.

 

[HomerJS]

I am going to argue America is the greatest country in the world.

It has to do with scale.

Yes, with smaller populations, many countries out do us in many areas.


When once we start talking about 350 million people, when we all decide to do something together, we are the greatest country in the world. It doesn't happen often, but when it does. Yes, the USA can make the biggest impact bar none.


Even when we start talking about areas we fail in, education for example. Even with an inferior outcome rate compared to a Nordic paradise, once a person factors in the sheer quantity of students we input into the system the USA outputs a far larger quantity of geniuses, engineers, scientists, average students, and well sadly dropouts.


It is not until we get into medical that the real horrors start to emerge. When the sheer scale of the thing also leads to cruelty writ mass. Yet one again the USA is somehow the greatest country in the world, demonstrating that somehow a country can simultaneously be wealthy and have a spiking Maternal Mortality Rate that is rapidly getting worse every year. The sheer horror racing up both the Maternal Mortality Rate and Infant Morality Rate charts simultaneously has to qualify the US as the greatest at something*.



*most likely passing cruel and draconian reproductive healthcare laws that cause doctors to flee certain jurisdictions resulting in a lack healthcare being available in red states driving certain stats into 3rd world territory at an increasingly fast pace

I suggest to you guns being the #1 killers of kids in the United States eliminates us from even being in contention. Once we lose that we can at least be in the conversation.

 

[Leeea]

I suggest to you guns being the #1 killers of kids in the United States eliminates us from even being in contention. Once we lose that we can at least in the conversation.

I forget about the guns.

--shudder--

Just ban them.

 

[HomerJS]

Bill Mahar will a similar take. People who are the really best rarely if ever say it.

 

[Pohemi]

A few have mentioned it, but I'm surprised more haven't said Canada. Not keen on it, obviously. At this point, I think it'd be preferable.

 

[HomerJS]

Another reason this country is not the greatest. Santorum claimed he didn't hear it. He is a liar.

 

[A///]

Being a Brit expat but having lived in the US for longer than I did over there I still think America is one of the greatest if not the great country. There are so many oppertunities here for people to flourish if they put their time into it compared to even back home or other nations. America has many problems but by golly does it have some amazing oppertunities to do anything you can imagine within reason. Barring typical issues most fellow Americans complain about I can see why some are bitter. Looking at America and back home the last 20 years, economically America is more sound even social policies. Eventually I do plan on retiring and retiring likely in the countryside back home. I've not made a decision yet. medical debt would be far less and less chance of being a victim of a mass shooting are major wins.

I never wanted to move here all those years ago but I quickly grew to like this country. I've lived in several states, and appreciated the natural beauty of each and the people I've met along this journey of life. Even with its many problems I'll forever hold this country dearly in my heart.