Is the U.S. really the best country to live in? (unemployment benefits, public schools)

[InLondon]

Originally Posted by Ozgal

I find it so bizarre that your health insurance is part of your employment.

I find it so bizarre that you find that bizarre....

It's funny how those in other countries are constantly wanting to say negative things about America. It's total jealously, deny it all you want.

[kevxu]

Originally Posted by InLondon

Originally Posted by Ozgal
I find it so bizarre that your health insurance is part of your employment


I find it so bizarre that you find that bizarre....

It's funny how those in other countries are constantly wanting to say negative things about America.

I think you may be finding insult where none was intended. In very many parts of the world health insurance is not supplied by one's employer, and saying that you find it unusual that this is so in the U.S. is not "negative."

It's total jealously, deny it all you want.

Sounds like you're winding yourself up for a fight.

[grmasterb]

Originally Posted by InLondon

I find it so bizarre that you find that bizarre....

It's funny how those in other countries are constantly wanting to say negative things about America. It's total jealously, deny it all you want.

Get real, man (or woman). What's there to be jealous of?

Besides, between Medicare, Medicaid and the S-CHIPS programs, roughly half of Americans have some form of government health insurance.

[Fleet]

Originally Posted by Ozgal

I find it so bizarre that your health insurance is part of your employment.

All the jobs I've had did have health (and dental) insurance. It's quite common, actually.

Especially when USA has such poor annual leave policy, no maternity leave etc

Where did you get that idea about maternity leave? I know of a co-worker who took maternity leave 3 times.

[Thomas R.]

I don't know that it's jealousy, but traditionally I find the urge to bash the US to be almost as silly as American chauvinism itself. It seems like people often can't, or won't, simply be ambivalent or indifferent to the US. They have to take some kind of "side." Which maybe the "you're with us or against us" attitude of the US encourages, but I don't know that you're forced to just go with that. There have been non-aligned nations over the years.

Although it's a matter of what you want, etc America generally ranks among the twenty most livable nations and among the five most livable nations with over 20 million people. If you think of the US as one among the top-20, which I try to do, I think it alleviates some of the "You're great/You're terrible" deal.

[silverfox]

Originally Posted by Libohove90

You know what? You are right. Totally right.

However, if you spend a lot of time in the US like I have for the past 13 years, you will learn an important thing about America. Out of all countries in the world, the US is one of the last places in the world you want to stereotype.

Yes, there is poverty, crime, segregation, lack of a real "culture", and perhaps a fair share of dumb ignorant people here. Oh yes, you are totally right on that. But the thing you have to realize is that, the US is a nation of many faces. You cannot generalize this vast and diverse country, because every person or family here is different from another. While there may be lots of things in the US that are not attractive, there are many things about the US that are attractive.

There are many beautiful neighborhoods, great schools, and intelligent & innovative spirits here. The US is so big, that admist all the bad things this country has to offer, there is still plenty of room for good things.

See, I live in the Philadelphia area. While the city may have bad public schools, crime and poverty, the communities surrounding Philadelphia are beautiful, quaint, safe, with good school system, good transportation and green trees.

You cannot even generalize Manhattan. Manhattan has many dirty and crowded neighborhoods that some people can't stand, but it is also home to many great, quieter neighborhoods with stellar architecture, many top notch universities, great job opportunities and full of people with all kinds of skills and intellect.

If you can't generalize a 29 square mile island called Manhattan, what makes you think you can speak for the entire United States of America, rightfully a continent instead of a country?

EXCELLENT WELL ROUNDED POST.....Thank you for that.

[Purger]

No, it's not even close to being #1 in this respect. Switzerland is probably the best country to live in.

[MilkDrinker]

There is something I don't understand about US and maybe some of you could explain this to me.
US has the taxes as high as the socialist countries in US! US government spends (in percentage) on health care same as Germany or other socialists country. Still US Government doesn't offer health to all it's citizens like Germany does. US government spends on education (in percetage) same as Germany and other socialist countries in Europe. Still it doesn't offer you a good education (most of the time) neither a free/cheap education!
There must be something wrong with your government and I wonder how much will your government had to spend to offer the same services as in Europe (because they already spend the same amout and offer nothing in exchange).

[minibrings]

Originally Posted by Heimdall

I've already mentioned poverty a few posts earlier, US has higher poverty than Canada and like 5 European countries.

And how did you measure ignorance?

It roughly 11% in Canada, 12% in the US. So Canada isn't that much better.

Funny how people talk about safety.. The only place where I've been a victim of crime.. was in Europe (Belgium, Italy). I lived in the New York City and the NYC metro area for 15 years and aside from 9-11, did not witness any crime. On the contrary once I saw this guy pass out on the subway and people around him helped him - someone brought him water, another fanned him. And Ive found strangers walk up to me and ask if I needed directions (both times I was looking at the subway map) Go figure.

[Rob702]

Originally Posted by MilkDrinker

[...]same as Germany and other socialist countries in Europe. [...]

To my knowledge there are no socialist contries in Europe any more. Or did someone rebuild the iron curtain last night and I haven't heard of it yet?

I do not like the expression "best country to live in". The US has a lot of good sides and I really like it there and have made many good friends. But I would not call it the best country to live in. I would also not call European countries (or any other developed nation) the best to live in. Every country has its pros and cons but I think we can agree that you can usually live a satisfying, fulfilling life on both sides of the puddle.
Why do we always have to think in superlatives?