It's most often the opinion of Americans that the USA is the envy of the rest of the world. In their diatribes they use words such as 'might' 'economy' 'power' et cetera. WHO ARE THEY TALKING TO? THEMSELVES?? Having lived and worked in the UK, in three states across the USA, I see no comparison whatsoever in living standards in the USA and those very obvious in the UK. Living standards are kind of important. Sadly, many Europeans tend to believe the lying hype that Americans are fed about themselves and which is exported via the media. There is no health care system in the USA, because Americans generally see no wrong in using wealth creation to fund the military. (Health insurance...don't make me laugh). It's not possible to get away with this denying of essentials in the UK. This is just one...education funding, safe schools, council housing are all remarkable for their absence.....A supposed 'war on terror' used as argument to justify this is delusional. The supposed Iraq war which really was an invasion, was to gain access to vitally needed revenue via oil barrels and thus, prop up the economy. The point being that the American military appear as a marauding menace trying to use weak minded justifications for their actions. If the US military want a real war why not tempt China? Russia? France?? They won't , (though there is arguably equal gripe), because they can't. It's absolutely nothing to do with 'might' anymore. Merely a stockpile of H-nukes, three of which would obliterate the USA forever.
For the man on the street who might find him or herself living and working in the USA (or being the recipient of a bad dream) the first thing that they would notice is the gun law mentality. Who needs to carry a weapon in the UK? Or keep assault weapons at home? Drugs, poverty, stagnation, danger. On Bush's own doorstep there are myriad teethless, barefoot illiterates who can aim a rifle. All of whom would frighten the average Brit. No one can claim to have elevated themselves by becoming American, no matter what Americans assume. Only a nut with an agenda perhaps, might try and one nut in particular is having a great deal of say. If Bush wins the next election the rest of the world had better crank up their rearmament programmes because there are those here who really do see no wrong in invading countries, whatever pretext. (And in using nukes too).
The saddest sight I've seen here was one of the 4000 wounded GIs who, after losing his eyes (half his head) and both legs in Iraq, claiming that his Purple Heart (medal) was worth the loss. You've got to be ******* crazy to think this. The point being that across the USA there is absolutely nothing to do at all other than either join the military or National Guard. It's the only way out of poverty for most. There are no welfare benefits to be had otherwise. A kind of high price to pay. (For being fodder for the ambitions of psychopathic Republican/Fascist politicians).

If you edit your post and split it up into paragraphs, I'll read it.

i really couldnt give a **** about america, i dont live there, i doubt i will. evry country has its problems

Well it seems that America only has one problem - Americans.

US = UNSERVICEABLE in British parlance &............
A = AR*EHOLES in British parlance

Therefore, USA = (work it out for yourselves):P

We all love at times to have a good old grumble about Blighty, but at the end of the day, I can,t think of anywhere I would rather live than good old UK. I think we all think at times that the grass is greener on the other side, only to find it is simply a different colour!

Originally posted by Callassa
It's most often the opinion of Americans that the USA is the envy of the rest of the world. In their diatribes they use words such as 'might' 'economy' 'power' et cetera.

WHO ARE THEY TALKING TO? THEMSELVES?? Having lived and worked in the UK, in three states across the USA, I see no comparison whatsoever in living standards in the USA and those very obvious in the UK. Living standards are kind of important. Sadly, many Europeans tend to believe the lying hype that Americans are fed about themselves and which is exported via the media.

There is no health care system in the USA, because Americans generally see no wrong in using wealth creation to fund the military. (Health insurance...don't make me laugh). It's not possible to get away with this denying of essentials in the UK. This is just one...education funding, safe schools, council housing are all remarkable for their absence.....A supposed 'war on terror' used as argument to justify this is delusional.

The supposed Iraq war which really was an invasion, was to gain access to vitally needed revenue via oil barrels and thus, prop up the economy. The point being that the American military appear as a marauding menace trying to use weak minded justifications for their actions. If the US military want a real war why not tempt China? Russia? France?? They won't , (though there is arguably equal gripe), because they can't.

It's absolutely nothing to do with 'might' anymore. Merely a stockpile of H-nukes, three of which would obliterate the USA forever.

For the man on the street who might find him or herself living and working in the USA (or being the recipient of a bad dream) the first thing that they would notice is the gun law mentality. Who needs to carry a weapon in the UK? Or keep assault weapons at home? Drugs, poverty, stagnation, danger.

On Bush's own doorstep there are myriad teethless, barefoot illiterates who can aim a rifle. All of whom would frighten the average Brit. No one can claim to have elevated themselves by becoming American, no matter what Americans assume. Only a nut with an agenda perhaps, might try and one nut in particular is having a great deal of say.

If Bush wins the next election the rest of the world had better crank up their rearmament programmes because there are those here who really do see no wrong in invading countries, whatever pretext. (And in using nukes too).

The saddest sight I've seen here was one of the 4000 wounded GIs who, after losing his eyes (half his head) and both legs in Iraq, claiming that his Purple Heart (medal) was worth the loss. You've got to be ******* crazy to think this.

The point being that across the USA there is absolutely nothing to do at all other than either join the military or National Guard. It's the only way out of poverty for most. There are no welfare benefits to be had otherwise.

A kind of high price to pay. (For being fodder for the ambitions of psychopathic Republican/Fascist politicians).

Here you go Sam Miguel :thumbsup:

Originally posted by DaBouncer
Here you go Sam Miguel :thumbsup:

Thanks for making it easier on the eye, DaB. Actually that is really powerful stuff and strikingly well-written.

Yep. And the sad thing is they're told that they're the greatest country on Earth and "the Land of the Free" so often, and hear news about other countries so little, that they believe it :mad:

"I am a war President" Says a lot doesn't it? At least they know who they are voting for! Did Blair say that? I don't think so. Not before he was elected anyway. And he's done 5 wars.

Originally posted by thenewborn
i really couldnt give a **** about america, i dont live there, i doubt i will. evry country has its problems

Oscar Wilde strikes again.

That's exactly the kind of insular, parochial, inward-looking attitude we continually level at America itself.

Fair enough if you want to live your life like that, but please don't continually advertise your lack of knowledge and interest in the world around you in such an aggressive and dismissive manner.

It's not a pretty sight

Without wanting to appear in the least bit sympathetic to the current christian fundamentalist regime in the white house, I think the USA and Americans also deserve a great deal of credit.

It is, as always, a mixed bag - especially when you have a nation made up of immigrants from near and far that only united into a single country some 200 odd years ago.

So whilst I am in agreement with much of the leading post, I would confine my criticisms to the successive US administrations and a decades old stagnation of the political system.

my £0.025

Well said Phan - the US administration may be the largest terrorist group running - but thats no reason to tar all Americans with the same brush. Most Americans I have spoken to loath Bush and all he stands for (in much the same way as many people loathed Mrs T - but she still got it - mainly cos people 'couldn't give a damn about politics') and are perfectly rational, normal people not foaming rightwing christian fundamentalists as they are painted!

You may dislike a nations politics or the attitudes of the administration but remember they are still full of individuals not homogenous masses...