Views on America

and BBQ

What? Texas is not the "wild west"???? Ha!

Tell that to my friends in Montana. They have had not one but TWO dogs shot and killed by neighbors. No fines or penalties either. 4 broken-hearted children as a result.

You want me to tell your friends in Montana that Texas is not the "wild west"???? Not sure I see the connection.

Any state that allows 2 pets to be murdered in cold blood (very good dogs--one was a St. Bernard) is the Wild West in my opinion. I love Montana and all of the west (really, I do) but this shooting family dogs thing is INSANE.

And that has what to do with Texas?

BAD
Healthcare can be a nightmare, sad that (not all but many) people think that poor people are there through their own fault and deserve no coverage etc...

Work culture is like slavery (high paid slavery) the hours expected from people are immense and the amount of vacation time is minimal. Employees have minimal rights.

Blind patriotism - There is a lot of good stuff that is American, but sometimes others do it better, it's ok to admit this, but yet there are a fair few people who believe America is best at everything. This also leads to the same people perhaps having a blinkered view of the world.

Food - processed crap is everywhere, cheap and in large portions, proper food is much harder to come by and more expensive.

I understand that the person who started the thread asked for the opinions but as I go through the thread reading I just have to laugh at how ignorant some of the responses are. I am not trying to be mean but really all you have to do is see the high rate of people trying to get citizenship here and the fact that there are quite a few people here illegally. As for politics all countries have their own problems no matter where you live. If people were to go back and brush up on their US history they would understand why and how this country was settled. As for complaining about our school systems when you have never attended an American school...... Lets just say I would not complain about your school system.

Really? You are calling people ignorant for speaking poorly of our educational system? Have YOU ever attended school outside of America? Have you ever read a report on how POORLY our educational system is doing in regards to the rest of the world? Obviously not. I actually did attend school in the United States (in 9 different states) as well as in Argentina and in Spain. I can honestly say that the education I received outside of the USA was by far superior than any that I received in the USA. I even attended one of the top high schools in the country for about a year and a half (clearly, my family moved around a lot), and it didn't even come close in comparison to the studies I received outside of the US. Before you call someone ignorant for not attending a US school, you may want to step back and take a look at the bigger picture.

Good for you. Yes I attended school outside of the US. It is ignorant to discuss educational systems you know nothing about. I do not express my opinion unless I personally have experienced it. Most of these people are going on stereotypes and generalizations so before you attack people you should read what they write.

And exactly which educational system is it that I know nothing about? Refresh my memory please.

Your ridiculous{/b] trying to start an argument once again read the post did I call you ignorant? No if you want to blast the country you live in by all means go ahead but do not fault me for finding an issue with people who have no knowledge running off at the mouth because of something they heard or saw on t.v.

I asked which educational system I know nothing about, because you said I was speaking of a system I knew nothing about (it's in the quotes, see for yourself). I was just asking you to enlighten me on which system I am speaking of without knowledge. I'm not ridiculous, I'm curious. And I rarely turn on a television, and when I do, you can rest assured believe it wouldn't be to watch US news stations!

You are again read the quotes I was referring to people who do not know anything from a personal basis. By all means take it personally never once did I say you. Thats fine you do not like the U.S. school systems, news, etc. I am surprised you live here. Congratulations and good for you once again and it will be the last time I repeat myself so read carefully I never said you personally!!!!

One of the best things about the USA is that everything comes in Peanut Butter or Cinnamon.

Mmmmmm.

Peanut Butter M&Ms are actually the best things ever invented.

I live here and I can see why the rest of the world shakes their heads at us.

-Healthcare is terrible. But as soon as someone says socialism, people get scared and start hoarding sh it for doomsday. Everyone should be covered. We shouldn't have people dying because they can't get treatment. We shouldn't have people debating on going to see a doctor because of cost. It's ridiculous!

-Work/life balance. I'm always jealous of my friends in other countries who don't work crazy long hours and have crazy holiday time. I get 3 weeks paid time off and that's vacation and sick combined. Maternity/Paternity leave is a joke and there are jobs here where if you dare take a day off they are looking for your replacement.

-Our politics suck. My goodness. Religion has no place in laws. Simple as that. Why can't they grasp it? And we don't do anything about it. We allow it to happen by continuing to vote. Bills like the abortion bill in VA SHOULD NOT have been passed! The whole US should have been up in arms, but whatever.

-There are too many rich people on the top. They are making too much money to stop and want to change anything. Why change healthcare? Too many people on the top are making money off of premiums, deductibles, co-insurance, ect.

That's all.

Those interstates are from Federal Highway Funds. What is up with all of this Texas pride? Hasn't Texas been part of the US since they came seeking to join in order to avoid being conquered by Mexico?

This topic brings up a trip me and my husband took 4 years ago. We went to the Dominican Republic and although the location was beautiful, our vacation was almost ruined by rude Europeans. A specific incident that comes to mind....we were waiting in a long line for the beach buffet, when I finally reached the food and just as I was standing in front of the food, an arm literally reaches in front of me and grabs the last piece of chicken. REALLY??? Why would someone reach in front of someone for food? Found out later, she was European. Also, throughout the entire week, we would say hello to other guests only to be ignored and scowled at. We couldn't figure it out until almost the end of our trip when we met a fellow American that spoke French and she told us that she overhead many European guests saying how rude and spoiled us Americans were. I couldn't believe it...WE were the ones saying hello all week long and THEY were the ones ignoring or scowling at us.

Now with that said....I can't say that I hate or dislike all Europeans but don't understand some of their views towards us. A few bad apples don't make the whole orchard bad!

I don't want to be harsh, but perhaps the problem here is on both sides.

From what you describe, what they did was rude, and that can't be condoned. However you mention that they were speaking French, so were you greeting them in French, or did you just expect them to use your language?

Holy crap some of you folks are hard on the USA.. for Americans that dislike their home... The grass is always greener... In Canada health care is not free... we are taxed up the wazoo and back down the wazoo and around the wazoo etc etc!!! Our Canadian political system is also so f'ed up that i would never diss another countries political system. If you don't like something where you live.... CHANGE IT! get vocal! participate! I do it here in Canada.. if i don't like something, i join forces with like minded people! We just made to gov't here ban the long-gun registry and we worked hard and it happened! Things can change, don't grumble and/or run away.. Fight for your rights and change whats wrong... It can be done!

Met an engineer while camping on PEI.

He told me he had a slice of metal in his eye 12 hours in the ER before a doctor would see him.

Universal Health care is not perfect. Not even in Canada.

This thread should be allowed to stay. It's no more controversial than discussing whether it's okay to work in the sex industry or not. Just because some people get their knickers all in a twist about something doesn't mean the adults shouldn't be allowed to discuss it.

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