What do you think of America/ Americans?

ME - posted on 07/08/2010

Oh yea...that's another thing I don't like about my country, thanks for reminding me...that bomb should never have been dropped, and we should be ashamed of ourselves and working harder than any other nation to end the creation of Nuclear weapons!

Kelly - posted on 07/08/2010

Compared with the lives that would have been lost if we had to invade Japan and the war had continued, yes the atom bomb was a necessity. And the Japanese should not have been counted as "defeated" until they actually surrendered. They were a kamikaze force, and were absolutely brutal. Try looking up Bataan or Nanking for examples. The Japanese then were like the islamic extremists today. They valued death more than life and they were vicious animals to those they captured. WWII was already the most costly war when it came to lives lost. Not to mention, right or wrong Russia was an issue. They had the biggest land grab of the war taking over eastern Europe. With China already at war (before they entered the world war) there was a fear that a Russian presence against Japan would have allowed Communism to take over Asia. Right or wrong, that was the fear.



Until 9/11, the US had not been attacked since Pearl. I believe that is due to the atom bomb. Should we use nuclear weapons again? I don't know. I do know that it is easy to sit here 60+ years later and judge the actions of others, but that doesn't mean they made the wrong decision.

Caitlin - posted on 07/08/2010

Christa... It was a premier from here that went down to the states for treatment, only because that particular procedure isn't available in Canada, that doesn't automatically make your system better. The reason you doctors get paid so much as well is because their malpractice insurance is INSANE (and income is calculated prior to that). Doctors here earn decent salaries, it's a hard job - people know what they are getting into when they start school for it, be it in the states or here or in europe, there has to be a doctor working 24/7, and sometimes you're stuck doing the nights.. You have good doctors yes, i'm not disputing that, but how can you say they are the best in the world unless you were a medical expert and had studied all the other doctors in the world - that';s a great example of arrogance right there!

Krista - posted on 07/08/2010

So Christa, the 250,000 or so civilians killed in Hiroshima and Nagasaki wouldn't have had kids?

And Japan was already defeated. In January of 1945, President Roosevelt received a 40-page memorandum from General Douglas MacArthur outlining five separate surrender overtures from high-level Japanese officials. Their navy and their air force had already been reduced to a skeleton. It was already over.

All that bomb did was kill a shitload of civilians and give the United States the dubious distinction of being the only country in the world to use nuclear weaponry on other human beings.

And you wonder why some other countries don't always see you as the "good guys".

Christa - posted on 07/08/2010

Also . . .doctors are human and they will make mistakes. It's unfortunate but it happens and it doesn't change the fact the we do have the best doctors in the world.

Christa - posted on 07/08/2010

I wouldn't say proud but it had to happen and I stand by that decision 100%. It saved more lives then it killed, the war would have gone on for years. How many more would have been killed? I used to believe the liberal crap they sell in schools about the bomb too until I tried to prove to my grandfather, who fought in the war, that I was right. He quickly showed me I was not. He may have died had the war gone on, therefore my entire family wouldn't be here. To date he is responsible for 19 lives and counting, all of us wouldn't be here. Imagine all the lives that wouldn't be here had that war gone on for years. All the lives . . . American, British, Canadian, Japanese, etc. In the end it was the right thing to do. My grandfather was friends with Tibbets and until his dying day he stood by dropping that bomb. I'm going to trust their judgment much more then the liberal spin we get now. They lived it.

Aliska - posted on 07/08/2010

Hi, I'm Australian. One of the thing that bemuses me about Americans is how insular they can be. It seems for some that there is no world outside America. For example why can't Americans cope with other accents? There are so many examples of English or Australian movies, tv show etc that have to be over-dubbed with American accents for an American audience. We all speak English and the rest of the English speaking world manages to watch and enjoy American movies and tv shows with the original American accents. This was my first thought when I read the question. I also can't understand how you get by without universal health care and why so many Americans seem to be opposed to it. I can't imagine not being able to go to a doctor because I can't afford it. We have great family doctors I go to all the time without spending a cent because I've already paid out of my taxes.

Katarina - posted on 07/08/2010

Agreed Krista. That is not something to be proud of or to use as an agrument. Hmmmmmm

Krista - posted on 07/08/2010

@Toni, I'm sorry I don't remember anyone else dropping the a-bomb

Please don't tell me you're actually PROUD of that...

Katarina - posted on 07/08/2010

@Jenny- I've said the same thing about Canadians going to war. I in NO WAY agree with us being there, fighting someone elses battle. I was recently talking to a woman who's husband is in Bagdad and I couldn't ever imagine being in that position. It def. takes a strong woman! But either way, us being over there isn't right.

Katarina - posted on 07/08/2010

@ Tanya: I know what you mean about the migraine pills! My Dr. gave me a prescription for Imitrex and it cost me $150 for 6 pills. Def. worked but not worth the $$$. I'll be happily popping Tylenol and Advil during my migraines thank you!

I don't know how great american Dr's can be when so many things go wrong. Take my cousin for example:

When she was born they either forgot or didn't properly perform a simple hip rotation to ensure they were properly placed. When she was 13 months and started walking my aunt notice my cousin walking with her left leg dragging behind her. When taken to the dr, my aunt was told my cousin would "grow out of it." By the time she was 3 she had 2 hip surgeries to repair the original hip socket( her hip bone had formed a new socket closer to her pelvis bone), spent 2 years in in body casts in the hopes that when they removed it her hip would stay in its proper place only to find each time it would pop back out. By the time she was 5 my cousin had pins and screws inserted into her hip bone and socket so she could learn how to properly walk again.

The Dr's don't know if she'll be able to carry a baby to term or deliver naturally(probably not). My cousin will need a hip transplant or artificial hip by the time she is 30.

Maybe a freak accident but it could of been avoided by a routine hip rotation and routine hip rotation checks at each appointment.

You bet your dollar my aunt sued! Still in the process. My cousin is now 14.

I have mixed feelings about the states. I can't say much as I do have a ton of family down there(I'm from British Columbia) but I do find their laws are enforced better, so I really can't complain about there crime rate; at least on my immediate side of the border.

Us as a Country seem to wait for the US to "test" a medication or medical procedure before it is brought over this way. Not to sure how I feel about this but it has seemed to work so far.

The poverty rate is higher(I think?), I'm going to assume because of the really shitty minimum wage.

Jenny - posted on 07/08/2010

Well perhaps the world should let America go it's next war alone so they can prove to us how badass they are without our mediocore forces getting in their way *eye roll* How about Iran? Why do I have the feeling if you started losing you'd just drop an A-bomb on them?

Tanya - posted on 07/08/2010

For the third time this year, doctors at Rhode Island Hospital have operated on the wrong side of a patient's head -- an action that has brought about censure from the state Department of Health and a $50,000 fine.

The episode has also prompted many to ask how such a mistake could repeat itself three times in the same year -- and four times over the past six years.
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=39...

Ah yes best doctors in the world.

I will admit that I was given a prescription for a new migraine pill it is $17 a pill. No way was I getting that filled. So now I just suffer with them. Also I can't believe you can get breast implants cheaper than a reduction in this country.

Christa - posted on 07/08/2010

@Toni, I'm sorry I don't remember anyone else dropping the a-bomb. I just posted this on the Canada thread as somehow it has come to the same thing. . . "On D-Day, the Allies landed around 156,000 troops in Normandy. The American forces landed numbered 73,000: 23,250 on Utah Beach, 34,250 on Omaha Beach, and 15,500 airborne troops. In the British and Canadian sector, 83,115 troops were landed (61,715 of them British): 24,970 on Gold Beach, 21,400 on Juno Beach, 28,845 on Sword Beach, and 7900 airborne troops."

http://www.ddaymuseum.co.uk/faq.htm

As you can see our troops were that of you and Britain combined. I know you all helped, I'm not trying to take away from any life lost in that war, it was a group effort, but until we got there you were losing. You could NOT have done it without us, you would NOT have won without us. It's not arrogant when it's the truth.

You obviously don't know anything about how our system is set up. We already pay ~8% taxes into our Medicare and SS funds. Those funds are going to be bankrupt within 10-15 years. By adding on some sort of UHC system and to raise the taxes to make our Medicare and SS solvent again would be a lot. I don't know exactly how much but I think 10% min is a fair guess. I do not pay 18% of my income to my healthcare costs, so you are incorrect there.

You all sit there and call us arrogant because we won't look at your system and see if it works for us. Have any of you taken 5 minutes and actually crunched some numbers? Have any of you actually done some research to find out what healthcare costs the average American? Not the sob story of the 20K birth (which is absurd by the way) Have you taken the time to compare our tax rates to yours? Have you taken time to thing about all the other expenses we have that your don't simply because of the size of our population? I'm guessing 99% of you have not. You hear some talking point and you run with it. You see some sob story on the news and think that is the norm. Nobody in the country thinks we are perfect, some of us have looked at your system and decided that will not work here and it's not really something you can try out and then undo. So instead of proving to you it won't work and then trying to fix the mess it created we'd rather just come up with a different solution that works for us. I don't know why you all can't let it go. UHC works for you, great, many like me do not think it will work here so we are considering other options. Is it arrogant when someone suggests a parenting method to you and you look at it and decide, nope that’s not for my family? So why is it arrogant for us to do that with your system? We’ve looked at it and we pass.

Toni - posted on 07/08/2010

Caitlin - there is nothing wrong with British grub mmmm - good wholesome food - my faves are indian, mexican and italian gqtm seriously what's wrong with our food lol!

Christa - As for WW2 the US did not win the war - as I stated earlier it was a collaberation between several countries (UK, France, AUS, NZ, Canada, South Africa and US) it is very arrogant and kind of rude to all the soldiers who risked and lost their lives from all of these nations to suggest this. Again this demonstrates the arrogance that some American's portray (not all most of the ones I have met have been lovely).

As somebody who pays taxes so the people who don't (for whatever reason be it laziness or inability to work) can get medical care I do not feel as though I am enslaved. Surely you would not pay any more in taxes than you do on insurance - yet if you were to pay healthcare taxes everybody (American citizens) would be able to get healthcare rather than looking after number one (as you do with insurance).

IMO it is daft to ignore the successes in other countries - do not confuse this with taking a carbon copy of them and using them in the US. For a country (or a person) to be great they need to learn from others and adapt what others are doing to work for them - why is it not feasible for America to do this - yes I know you are different to all the other countries - I'm not suggesting losing this individuality, but by doing taking a good idea or something that works alright and making it work for you it could be brilliant!

I agree with Sharon in that I do not judge American's on my perception of America - some are lovely some are not. Simple.

Gertie - posted on 07/08/2010

Two things...one...who the heck is Traci? I am unsure of why you referred to me using that name....???

two...it's not a logical fallacy, it's an EXAMPLE. Most people I know who are on welfare, food stamps, etc are doing so fraudulently. Meaning, they are capable of working, are making bad decisions, working under the table, etc etc. When someone sees a large sample of people taking advantage of the system, is it any wonder one would have ill feelings towards such a jacked up program? I don't know one family who truly needs it to survive. They purchase items they have no business buying because we suckers are subsidizing their kitchens so they have more disposable income. Yay.

Tanya - posted on 07/08/2010

I don't hate christians I am just giving so examples of how they have the same problems as the rest of the country. I actually had a pastor give my baby shower and was at a gospel sing last saturday night. My husbands father was a preacher and my dad was a youth pastor for many years. It is just as offensive to me to say that because 16% of Americans are not Christians we are destroying the country. We do have the same morals and values as everyone else.

I don't see how you can say you (in general) are a christian and talk about how lazy and awful people our now and days. I don't see why you wouldn't want people to be able to go to the doctor. Doesn't it make poor children suffer when they can't be seen? What does the bible say about a rich man making it to heaven? I also don't recall Jesus charging for any of his miracles.

One thing I think most Americans can agree on and it seems the Canadians have the same problem is the money our government wastes. Our state just spent 3 million on a bridge to " no where" as we are now calling it. It is a shame to see money wasted like that.

As for the teen pregnancy and stds maybe if we could be more realistic about it and approach it head on it might help. I think that we have to realize most people are not going to wait for marriage to have sex. We should start comprehensive sex ed early and school should be allowed to pass out condoms.

I do personally love to blow shit up! I just don't want to kill people while I do it.

As for the Native Americans. I do feel like people try to over look that. The fact is that the people living on reservation today have a higher rate of diabetes than any other group in the country.

I do have some problems with America but I am not going to get out. I am going to fight to make my country a better place.

Kelly - posted on 07/08/2010

America is not perfect, but I think it is good. I don't think any country is "the best place on Earth" but I think America is one of many great places to live and I am very happy to be here. Every country has problems, as does ours.





I think we are straying way too far from the capitalist principles on which we were founded and getting way too close to socialism. Many Americans feel "entitled"--People who choose to work low paying jobs complain b/c they cannot afford the same luxuries a doctor or lawyer affords. If you want those things, choose a higher paying job, don't expect the government to take $$ from those who have and give it to you just b/c you chose a lesser paying job. And if you choose a lesser paying job and that is what you really want to do, don't complain about not having all the stuff higher paying jobs afford.



I think if it is an American movie, it should be understood that the places in it are in America unless otherwise noted. duh.



I do think we are the "land of opportunity" and everyone has an equal chance. I grew up in true poverty--my shack had a dirt floor, there was no glass in the windows, and one wall was made from a blanket and parts of a scrapped car. Today, I own 2 businesses (although due to the idiotic "healthcare law" I will be closing the doors by the end of the year and my 37 employees will be jobless--Go Dems!), Own a very nice home, several cars, motorcycles, jet skies, and 2 boats. If I can go from practically homeless to having a decent life there is no excuse for anyone who wants to to not be "able to"



I had no idea that the Super Bowl was called the World Super Bowl and excluded other nations' teams.



I think universal healthcare is certainly something to strive for, but I am informed enough to know that the recently passed law is NOTHING like universal healthcare, and certainly not a "step towards universal healthcare" as I often hear it called. I am ashamed at the naivety of the Americans who think it is.



I am also ashamed of our lack of education. I do not think it should be up to the government to teach children everything--the job of public schools should be to teach children to learn and give them the resources to learn what they want to know, which it does. What is sad is the fact that Americans rarely choose to further their education outside of school, and thus remain ignorant of other nations, cultures, and ideas.

ME - posted on 07/08/2010

"Same happens with food stamps. I know a family where the father is in a union, out of work, dealing drugs, the mother won't go out and get a job, and they rent out their food stamp card to their acquaintances for cash. Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside knowing that I'm funding their bad decisions and delinquentcy."

This is a logical fallacy called a hasty generalization...one example does not make your case!

Sharon - posted on 07/08/2010

Nooo as long as I can say "Merry Christmas" in chinese and don't have to spell it, but from what I can tell, the chinese govt would be thrilled if you couldn't spell in chinese - they prefer their populace kept stupid

Cathy - posted on 07/08/2010

Gong hey fat choy!

I'll be ok if I can wish people Happy New Year as long as they don't want me to spell it in chinese!

Christa - posted on 07/08/2010

Well while you're forming that opinion they are planning to take over, so get ready to learn Chinese. :-P

Jenny - posted on 07/08/2010

I haven't formed my opinion on China yet. Too much propaganda to get to the facts. Their human rights record is an issue for sure. I don't think they're aiming for war, they are trying to take over economically and they're winning.

Christa - posted on 07/08/2010

I actually just read some articles in the WSJ about how we are not spending enough on our defense, both under R's and D's, to keep up with China. They are advancing to a point that when (and they will) make their move we won't be able to stop them. That scares the crap out of me, I don't know about you. You can say what you want about us, but as one of our allies I'd say you all have been treated very well. You really think China will extend you the same courtesy?

Sharon - posted on 07/08/2010

Jenny!! I LOVE explosions... omg the scream of stressed fracturing metal ... and then the concusive blast... dear god I just creamed my jeans thinking about it.... i'm gonna find our Die Hard movie videos - LOTS of explosions in those!

Sharon - posted on 07/08/2010

Gillian - I should amend that

FUN LOVING stupid drunks, and instead of war mongering - more like "brawling & scrapping" seeing as the days of warring clans is pretty much over?

Jenny - posted on 07/08/2010

Ok Traci, you guys are #1 at blowing shit up. No contest. You win.

Gertie - posted on 07/08/2010

All those defense dollars are the reason we're number one, Jenny. Private citizens cannot defend their country in the same way that a private citizen can purchase and pay for their own healthcare coverage.

Sharon - posted on 07/08/2010

Gillian!! You darling drunk!!! lmao - the scots are warmongering idiots who drink to much - thank you mel gibson ( i think ) rotfl

Christa - posted on 07/08/2010

http://www.worldsalaries.org/generalphys...

Here's doctors salaries, I'm not sure why Canada isn't on the list. You make way more here in the US, almost 2X, is it a wonder why we have the best doctors here? Is it a wonder why a country’s own prime minister come here for their treatment? (I can't remember which country recently did this) There are many pluses to our healthcare system, because it IS for profit. It's not perfect by any means, but it's not completely useless either. By turning it to a single payer system you will lose its current strengths. I feel there is a way to improve its weaknesses without losing its strengths. Not that I want to get into that debate again. . .

Gertie - posted on 07/08/2010

And most of the world couln't give a shit about the superbowl - but to call it world superbowl when it only contains American teams is arrogant - and it's f**king stupid to call it football - you can run with the ball or throw the ball - in REAL football you can only kick it you know like with your FOOT - it's just another example of Americans stealing something and completely buggering it up like our language!!!

***********

You really have a lot of hate in your heart, don't you?

We kick the ball too, FYI. And if you don't like it, don't watch. If we want to call it banana ball, why is it any concern for you? You're getting awfully worked up over the name of a game. Geez-a-loo...aren't meds free up there? Take advantage, my dear....

Jenny - posted on 07/08/2010

I think many Americans believe there's plenty of healthcare money to be found in the defense budget.

Lady - posted on 07/08/2010

What about Scots Sharon - you forgot us????

Christa - posted on 07/08/2010

@Carol, I need to clarify I don't mind paying a reasonable amount for taxes, like you I do see the need for them. However when our government has become so large and wasteful (both D and R) and there are SO many people that DO abuse the system it does become a little hard to swallow. Like I said it may work for you all because you feel you are "sharing", but here there are way TOO many here who are just taking. I know everyone wants to paint the sob story, but that is NOT everyone who is currently living off the system. I have no problem helping a hard working citizen who has fallen on some hard times, I do have a problem paying for some lazy slob, as you put it, who is living with more luxuries then my family has and not paying a dime for them. Unfortunately there are no stats to say what % are abusing because if we had those numbers it would mean our government was actually tracking what they did with our money, but they are not and until they figure out how to be more accountable (actual accountability not the BO method of accountability) I do have a huge problem with them taking more of my hard earned money to be wasted. I'd like to have it to give to an organization/person who will NOT waste it. The US government has proven they cannot handle a socialized program like this for our entire population, just look at our Medicare and SS. So you all need to step back and see it’s not just us “greedy Americans” that don’t care about each other, it’s our government is not set up/qualified to handle this type of accounting.

Sarah - posted on 07/08/2010

*sticks nose in the air*

Sharon - posted on 07/08/2010

I'm seeing things I want to comment to but I'll lose track of so here goes..

Fiona - QUOTE: I remember a great saying but I can't remember where I heard it, something along the lines of 'A person can be smart, but people are stupid'. END QUOTE

I heard this originally on Men In Black.. in the first movie


Jessica - Its sad & it sucks but I believe every single country in this world was founded on oppression, and the destruction of a people. Sometimes those people the same color of skin & so its what? No big deal? What about Australia? England dumped their criminals there and let them go? I've never cared that much for their history so I can't comment to much about it, but that is the gist of it.

Some countries had the same skin but different religions... you would have to dislike every place in this world in order to stick to your ideals.

No country is perfect. The english are stuck up. The aussies are nuts, the canadians are lazy, the french are rude and insular.

I've met people from those countries who bear that out and I've met people from those countries who bear no resemblance whatsoever to those stereotypes.

Traveling Americans used to conduct themselves with a gentility and nobleness and nowadays ... they don't. why do these travelers have such entitlement? Because they have it at home. "SERVE ME NOW" its obvious when you look at our pregnant teens "I'm ENTITLED."

america has a LOT of great attributes, I love living here most of the time, but then some shit head politician comes along, some traveling american gets super stupid (anyone remember the dumbass who vandalized cars in thailand or somewhere like that? was going to be caned for it? and most recently - the dumbass who went looking to kill obama - from oklahoma?)

I fight the stereotype by being a good decent human being when I'm traveling. On occasion I put on the 'loud american' front when people want to see it, but its not the rude loud american, its the boisterous fun american.

THese posts always seem to go the same way - slam america - so I've stayed away. If you're american and don't like it here - get the fuck out.

If you're not american and think we're all pigs - then stay the fuck away - its as easy as that. If you think like I do - you find people of all kinds any where you go - then by all means drop by & visit, I'll do my best to show you a good time if you make it to Tombstone AZ.

Sarah - posted on 07/08/2010

I think being a doctor actually pays quite well over here!!!
I sure wouldn't mind a doctors salary!!

Lady - posted on 07/08/2010

I didn't expect the Americans to get my point - if you did then it wouldn't be an issue!!!

And I think you both help illustrate it brilliantly - thanks :-)

Johnny - posted on 07/08/2010

"the doctors you do have largely come from other countries that REALLY don't pay worth a crap......."

What the hell are you talking about? Most doctors in Canada are actually educated here. Our immigrant doctors come from South Africa, Hong Kong, Taiwan, UK, Australia, United States & India for the most part. Many moved here for lifestyle, not career reasons. My daughter's pediatrician is what y'all refer to as a progressive who left your country for political reasons.

Johnny - posted on 07/08/2010

Not for profit universal health care is part of a principal called "sharing". Most of us learned it in kindergarten. We each bring something to the table, and though it may not be in equal parts, we put it all together and divide it up according to need. You may see that as enslavement, but as a tax paying citizen who rarely uses our medical system, I have absolutely no problem whatsoever with paying for someone less fortunate's medical care. They are my fellow citizens and we share responsibility for one another. I think you would be hard pressed to find the small majority of Canadians (or Brits or Aussies) who disagree with this. Actually, I have many friends in the US. My best friend lives in Seattle. Not one of my American friends disagrees with that idea (I realize that is not a statistically representative sample). In the US, not even all tax paying citizens of your country feel that they would be enslaved by helping to pay for another less fortunate person's health care. But I guess they are just wrong-headed progressives?

I am actually happy to pay my taxes. I know that they pay for our health, education, roads, social services, libraries, community centers, and a host of other things. I am lucky to pay taxes because it means that I am fortunate enough to make enough money to pay them. If I didn't pay them, it would mean that I was in financial trouble. Of course I get annoyed when I see the government wasting or mis-spending those tax dollars, but I know that the majority of money is spent where it is needed. It doesn't bother me in the slightest that money I make is spent on helping another person who may not pay into the system.

And as many problems as there are with the government in America, I think that generally Americans as a people benefit from their paid taxes too. Of course there are wastes, and things you might disagree with, but the alternative is far worse. I certainly wouldn't want to visit a country that does not maintain its roads because the more fortunate people decided that they didn't want to pay any more taxes just because the poor weren't paying too. That would just be lame.

Of course, if you see just poor people as just lazy slobs who can't be bothered to get off their asses and work hard, then you probably couldn't care less about their health and welfare. Even if they are working 2 jobs cleaning houses and spend all of their spare time clipping coupons and doing their laundry by hand. Heaven forbid anyone helps them, they'll never learn their lesson.

Kelly - posted on 07/08/2010

@Caitlin, your attitude about doctors and nurses is probably why Canada has such a shortage, and the doctors you do have largely come from other countries that REALLY don't pay worth a crap.......

@Gillian, if you have a problem with the movie industry, don't watch American films. Unfortunately that won't leave you with a whole lot, but it IS simple economics. The demand and the money is coming from AMERICA. Deal with it. (And by the way Montana doesn't have an H in it....) As far as the superbowl, I am one of a few Americans who couldn't really give a crap about football. So I don't watch. Like Christa said earlier, if some country in the world has a team that could even try to compete with anyone in the NFL, bring it on. My guess is it would be a slaughter. Personally I do prefer soccer, however I think people like David Beckham are ridiculous pre-madonnas. Why exactly did he come to America to play anyway?

Christa - posted on 07/08/2010

If you couldn't give a shit then why are you bringing it up? What do you care what we call it? And if it's an American movie and they say Montana or Ohio or any other state, I think you can figure out it's in America. After all it is an American made movie and they are speaking that “ruined” language you talked about. So who's being arrogant? Who wants the movie to be edited and directed at them? This is really the dumbest argument I've ever heard against the US, but hey you’re entitled to your opinion, thanks to that thing called free speech, oh wait you don't like that either. . . .

Lady - posted on 07/08/2010

Christina P did you read my first post - I was refering to the film industry - you need to read the first one for the second one to make sense.

Christa, it's not economics - if they are putting in the subtitiles it's not going to cost them anything extra to put Ohio US - it is arrogance not even considering that people in another county are going to watch the film and not know where Montanah is.

And most of the world couln't give a shit about the superbowl - but to call it world superbowl when it only contains American teams is arrogant - and it's f**king stupid to call it football - you can run with the ball or throw the ball - in REAL football you can only kick it you know like with your FOOT - it's just another example of Americans stealing something and completely buggering it up like our language!!!

Christa - posted on 07/08/2010

@Caitlin apparently you can’t/don’t read. I said TWICE the doctors/nurses OR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE FORCED TO PAY FOR ANOTHERS CARE. You either force the doctors/nurses to do it for free and as you pointed out they would just quit. OR enslave those who are FORCED to pay for your care. I will not say it again if you still can not understand what I'm saying.

Gertie - posted on 07/08/2010

I've talked to a lot of lunch ladies...and the kids who recieve free lunch and breakfast give their food away or throw it out all the time! Every single apple gets thrown in the trash....I look at that as a waste of taxpayer dollars. The threshold to recieve free or reduced lunch is not very low, and most of the kids who recieve it are by no means starving. If they were they wouldn't give away their juice boxes, apples, and other healthy items they don't care to eat.

Same happens with food stamps. I know a family where the father is in a union, out of work, dealing drugs, the mother won't go out and get a job, and they rent out their food stamp card to their acquaintances for cash. Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside knowing that I'm funding their bad decisions and delinquentcy.

Caitlin - posted on 07/08/2010

Actually Christa, I did comment on your "slavery" comment. I said they can quit if they don't like it, they get paid for doing a job, just like anyone else, they are not forced to do it by any means. Here everytime I visit the doctor, my medicare card is swiped and the bill is sent to the government for essential services in health care, if I want extra, I pay out of my own pocket. Your idea that doctors and nurses are slaves is absurd.

Christa - posted on 07/08/2010

@Carol, I made the patriotism comment based on some other comments, I have no real idea how Canadians feel. :-) Also you missed the part where I said you were enslaving the providers OR the tax payers who are forced to pay. I don't know what the stats are in Canada but here in the US 47% of Americans don't pay taxes, that is up from around 20% in the 90's and it's NOT since the recession that those numbers have gone up. You would be enslaving the rest of the population to work in order to pay for the other 47% healthcare. That's a problem. You also admitted your system has some financial problems, imagine if your numbers were as unbalanced as ours?

@Tanya, nobody said Christians were perfect, so get off your "hating Christians band wagon". The point is as society gets further away from the biblical values we WERE founded on the more we have these other problems. Primarily the sexual attitude. The idea of we are sexual beings and it's ok to have sex whenever with whoever for whatever reason as long as all parties are consenting. It's no wonder HIV and teen pregnancy runs rampant. Again it’s a bi product of our freedoms.

I never said the US is perfect, I believe I started one of my posts with the problem with America is. . We need to fix our education, healthcare, attitude of entitlement etc I just disagree with you all on what needs to be done. Also this is a debate forum if the OP wasn't to start a debate it should have been indicated. Also I'm not nor have I said any of this in anger, I don't really care what you all think of America because most of you really do not know what you are talking about. No offence, but I've been to Canada and it's beautiful, but any comments I made would be based off stereotypes and whatever information the media feeds me. That's all you all have unless you have lived here for a period of time. And our media likes to feed the world the progressive BS that a small portion of the country believes in. Anyway, if you haven't been able to tell my problem with our country is the progressives and most of what you've said is right out of the progressive talking points. I would encourage you all to look at the US through a different lens, you might see things a little differently.

No one has responded to my point that to fix some of these problems in the manner you all are suggesting it requires the taking away of other citizens rights, deemed to us by the constitution. By forcing some citizens to work and pay for others, that’s a form of slavery. It would be no different from when we did have slaves and they picked all the cotton, put in the blood seat and tears and then the profits were taken from them and given to the masters. It is no different then me working my but off only to have a portion of my hard earned money given to someone who did not work for it. It’s slavery, it’s just not as obvious.

Americans are a very generous population, we give more then any other country per capita. http://www.american.com/archive/2008/mar...

“Q. Are Americans more or less charitable than citizens of other countries?
A. No developed country approaches American giving. For example, in 1995 (the most recent year for which data are available), Americans gave, per capita, three and a half times as much to causes and charities as the French, seven times as much as the Germans, and 14 times as much as the Italians. Similarly, in 1998, Americans were 15 percent more likely to volunteer their time than the Dutch, 21 percent more likely than the Swiss, and 32 percent more likely than the Germans. These differences are not attributable to demographic characteristics such as education, income, age, sex, or marital status. On the contrary, if we look at two people who are identical in all these ways except that one is European and the other American, the probability is still far lower that the European will volunteer than the American.”

We will take care of the population on our own, but to do this the entire population must work together and we haven’t been for at least the last 8 years if not longer. When you have half the population working their buts off to achieve the American dream and the other half sitting around complaining that life isn’t fair and waiting for someone to come “even the playing field” you end up with the mess we have. Which is why I originally said the real problem with America is the progressive attitude that is running through our population like the plague. Thankfully people are starting to wake up.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/141131/Obama-...

Kelly - posted on 07/08/2010

I don't think that anyone on this thread has stated that America is perfect and cannot be improved. And I am sorry if some of you feel that I and others are angry and/or defensive. We just happen to believe the areas that need to be changed are different. There are still a few people in the world, (sadly most are in America) that don't buy into what socialism has to offer. Nothing in life is "free" and I think that the world is in for a great shock when socialist countries face that truth.

I guess it actually is a good thing that so many of you don't like America and would never want to live here, otherwise our immigration problems would be much greater.

Oh, and a little touch on watching sports, I could really give two craps about Liechtenstein's curling team when the US is kickin some butt in bobsled, so shoot me! All of the serious stuff I already commented on, so I won't repeat myself anymore. Guess I will check out the Canada thread........

Jessica - posted on 07/08/2010

Ok, well I can see my comment about the Native American people got burried. Anyway that is one large reason I can't be totally in love with my country- the very foundations of our history rest on the exploitation and destruction of an entire continent of people. And it irks me to no end when people go on and on about how great our country is and seem to completely forget that little fact.

Other than that, I'm mixed. On one hand I am glad to live here and love lots of things about it. On the other hand its ridiculous to think we can't learn anything from other countries. Americans generally DO have a sense of ignorance and arrogance when it comes to other societies. And we piss a lot of people off. I've been to Europe several times- mainly France, Germany and England, so I have an idea of the different cultures. There are things I like about it more over there, and my visits made me realize that there are things I like better over here too.

An anecdotal, funny story about when I was in Germany a few years ago with a college trip: We had been there a few days and something I couldn't quite define was nagging me. I couldn't figure out what it was that was, but something was striking me as different. Then a couple days later, I realized what it was. There were no fat people! I paid attention everywhere we went from then on and lo and behold, there were very few obese people, not something I was used to seeing! Everyone there rides bikes or walks!

Cathy - posted on 07/08/2010

Caitlin ... I agree with your husband!

I love the Southern US foods. Cajun/Creole, Tex Mex, Floribbean cuisine ... *mouth waters*