What do you think about the US? (middle-class, cinema)

[CroatWebWanderer]

People tend to generalize things, and you know what makes the news: Paris Hilton in jail, Britney Spears breakdown (again), Dubya decides to attack one more country, shooting in school, ignoring Kyoto protocol, SUV polluters. That’s what creates our picture of America. However if people use only this kind of news to make conclusions about you guys, it’s them that are not so smart, are they.

USA is not flawless – who is – but I personally quite like it. Being a bookworm, my opinion is significantly shaped by your writers, the best in today’s world IMO, but also your movies, music and other stuff... like this forum.

I’m listening to Seattle based Postal Service band while typing this on my Apple computer. And by the way, G W Bush is visiting my city in less than a week. Could be I’m a victim of American (cultural) imperialism.

[Joe_Ryder]

Originally Posted by Sweden

Uhm, we don't have the same news industry. The news I watch/read/listen to are very intelligent and are not focused on "selling" something- they are just telling the news.
Sweden and the US do not have the same type of news.
What news are you taling about, by the way? Entertainment news (à la Britney Spears etc) or "real news"?

Every news agency on the planet is either a profit oriented business or a tool operated by it's government. They are selling advertising space. Whether it's on the idiot box or in print, it's full of advertising. Even PBS runs infomercials. Calling a boxed DVD set a gift of appreciation for a donation may placate the tax man but try requesting your "gift" without the appropriate donation and see how far that gets you.

Personally I prefer a news agency operating as a business since it tends to be more even handed in the crap it doles out. A news agency requires money to operate and will reflect the opinions of who(m?) ever is funding it. I suppose you could call that news depending on how you want to look at it. Here in the real world, even the most outspoken understand that it can be a really bad idea to bite the hand that feeds.

This may come as a shock to many but hiring a newscaster with a European accent does not in any way lend credibility to the script they read.

[ZipZap]

Originally Posted by Joe_Ryder

Personally I prefer a news agency operating as a business since it tends to be more even handed in the crap it doles out. A news agency requires money to operate and will reflect the opinions of who(m?) ever is funding it.

Would you prefer PSB if offered in the US? Publicly funded and governed by public law delivers the most unconstrained news IMO. Below BBC's mission to inform as an example:

The BBC is a quasi-autonomous public corporation as a public service broadcaster. The Corporation is run by the BBC Trust; and is, per its charter, "free from both political and commercial influence and answers only to its viewers and listeners".

Public service broadcasting is (except in the US) a very common form of broadcasting:

Public broadcasting - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[zanna vaida]

Did you know?
CNN is Democratic channel; Fox News - Republicans. Pay attention to what you hear, see, and who owns what. You'll understand the difference.
Living in the Buffalo-Niagara Region we also get Canadian channels and the world news.

[Krimo]

America used to be the promised land, now I do not think this holds true anymore.

Being french, the general opinion about the US here is that people are dumb and fat. Like I said, general opinion, not the one of everybody here.

Knowing a few americans myself, well I can say that I regard the US as a great place to be if you have specific projects in mind. If you seek to be in the US just for the sake of it, my guess is the fall is going to be hard.

Bottom line, I think it is a country just like many others. No more, no less. If you want to move to a country, you try to look into its dark sides first (put all of the glittery crap you are shown whether by tv or travel agencies) and then see if it is fine by you. The american people I know all told me they wish they had our health care system back home, but would not like to live here in France (if it is of any relevance, they are between 25 and 30)

[Simple Living]

Having lived in several different countries I can say that I believe America is addicted to television and the media. We're an entertainment-based country. We love sensationalism and voyeurism (reality shows and talk shows).

We're addicted to convenience and instant gratification. Microwaves are no longer fast enough for us anymore. We're also a very litigious society that will sue someone else for getting our feelings hurt. We demand respect and tolerance for us but when it comes to giving it, "How dare you tell me what to think or do!"

America is full of idolatry with its worship of celebrities and sports stars. We care more about their lives than we do our own neighbors. We are a media-brainwashed society who has been conditioned to believe advertising: "YOU deserve the best! Make YOUR life easier!" It's all about "ME!"

We've become content to let the government, media, and Hollywood do our thinking for us without demanding that OUR voices be heard. Far too many people have the mindset, "Someone else will do it/fight it/change it."

We've all but made God illegal but then we blame Him for anything that goes wrong. (We can't have it both ways.)

We're also obsessed with the hypocrisy of political correctness, which has allowed our country to be walked all over by other cultures who come here for a better life and then try to change our laws to what they're used to in their own countries. And we let them. When, if we tried to do the same thing in their country, we'd be labeled as trouble and exported or, in some countries, killed.

On the flip-side, America has its good side, too. Pretty much anything you want to do, you have a good chance to make it happen as long as you're not afraid of hard work. We still have more freedoms than many other countries, especially when it comes to religion. There are a lot of kind-hearted people here, regardless of all the bozos and creeps that make the news for hideous and horrible things. You can freely move anywhere in the country or its territories and set up house.

Now, before anyone berates me for my post, I will say upfront that I said these are "my beliefs" and I'm entitled to them. No, I do not hate America. I love my country. I just hate what people have done to it.

[gatekeeper88]

Originally Posted by metropolistraffic

There is too much to list about the US.

Fashion and Financial capital of the world, the state of NY, suburbs, barbecues, cultural and ethnic clash, the only country where the poor are fatter than the rich, freedom, mac and cheese (booyah!), .. a country where our poor is richer than the rich in some countries. Yeah, i said that. How many Cubans are sporting a PS3? didn't think sooo. ;D

and, that's just skimming the surface.

.. Oh, and, we have moccasins. (See, I knew the great west or whatever is useful for SOMETHING, ha).

[gatekeeper88]

Originally Posted by gatekeeper88

The way I see it the poor are getting poorer, no jobs ,this country is turning into a third world country.
We have a tide of browns coming over the borders,bringing down the standerd of living, including in our public schools where the schools are over crowded.
Crime in our public schools is on the rise just look at the news shootings happend all the time.
The shootings that happen by whites are trumped up by the media.when it happens by someone of brown skin it's downplayed by the media.When will this stop by the media,tell the truth about all the crimes that are commited by brown skinned people against whites,all yeah there's to many to report on the news.

[Synopsis]

Originally Posted by Kangaroofarmer

I think that you drive on the wrong side of the road!

Just kidding there, I quite like America and certainly realise, That the majority of Americans certainly aren't ignoramuses, However it's hard to deny the fact, That alot of your media (Not all Of course ), Does present a rather unflattering image of yourselves to the rest of the word....Which is a real shame, As it means we don't get exposed much to the "Real" America.

Aussies are A#1 in my book. Never met one I didn't like.. You have a can-do attitude and tamed a wild continent. Reps to you...

[decafdave]

Originally Posted by CroatWebWanderer

People tend to generalize things, and you know what makes the news: Paris Hilton in jail, Britney Spears breakdown (again), Dubya decides to attack one more country, shooting in school, ignoring Kyoto protocol, SUV polluters. That’s what creates our picture of America. However if people use only this kind of news to make conclusions about you guys, it’s them that are not so smart, are they.

USA is not flawless – who is – but I personally quite like it. Being a bookworm, my opinion is significantly shaped by your writers, the best in today’s world IMO, but also your movies, music and other stuff... like this forum.

I’m listening to Seattle based Postal Service band while typing this on my Apple computer. And by the way, G W Bush is visiting my city in less than a week. Could be I’m a victim of American (cultural) imperialism.

Which song were you listening to? I'm a big fan of nothing better lol