Why America is #1

Um, having lived where there's free health care, I friggin loved getting a text message telling me I had a dentist appointment, showing up, no wait, getting my teeth cleaned and being on my way, no bill, no nothing. I also liked getting check ups for free whenever I needed them, little to no wait. Oh, and knowing that if i got wrecked at the park that the heli ride/ambulance ride/care and everything was free of charge.

And man, if my parents hadn't had to pay 2000 euros for my dental work in France, and gotten it free in Sweden, who knows what fun vacation we could have gone on?

I bet you're your own doctor eh, mister "i made me all on my own without any help ever!". You don't need help because whoop de doo, you've been in a situation your whole life where you didn't need to be helped.

 
Yeah your young and healthy now but you wont be forever so just wait till you need serious help and maybe the surperior doctors in America are worth the money
 
sooooo, you had a free dentist appointment? umm. no, no you didnt, nothing if free.

if ive said it once, ill say it 100 times, you are free to leave.... but for me i would rather have the choice's of what doctors i get to see, when i see them, and basically making my own decisions...

think about this angle, if you let the government take care of your health, whats to stop them from regulating your diet? after all if they are paying for it(actually government doesnt pay for anything, its taxpayers who foot the bill) why cant they regulate your food choices, to reflect saving them money?
 
Seriously!

Why do most of the americans feel obligated to defend their country as soon as someone points out the flaws?

I love the US. I really do. I do not really like what you stand for but I love it over there and I would not mind moving there. Though I must say that it is not the best country, not even close ( I´ve been to close to 30 countries). I am borned and raised in Sweden and it is a far better country to live in. Pretty much everything is better, but at the same time I am completely aware of and agrees with the list which puts Canada and Norway above us. Norway is a great country, it truly is.

My point is basically: stop beeing so fucking ignorant and stereotypical americans. Lots of countries are better than yours in. Though, as I mentioned, I USA is a really fun place to be and I would not mind moving there.
 
1) Who said government subsidised health care meant you lost the choice of what health care professional you see. I switched dentists on my own accord because my old one tried to rip me off. I was never told to go to that dentist, it was my choice, and it was my choice to find a new one. No one ever told me who I could or couldn't see

2) While I would never advocate governmental dictation of diet, is it unreasonable to tax very unhealthy foods? If the government uses your tax dollars to subsidise your health care, why shouldn't the people who make unhealthy choices pay more than you. They don't say you can't eat something, they just provide incentive to make healthier choices.
 
Given the state of American obesity, heart disease and diabetes, I think that regulating everyone's diet could actually benefit a great deal. Why isn't the rest of the world mostly obese? America has such a consumer mentality that the next best thing after the biggest car parked in the biggest driveway in front of the biggest house in the whitest neighborhood is to have the biggest blockage in your coronary.

Your "you're free to leave" spiel is insulting. We're pointing out flaws with the USA. I daresay that if the US spent as much money as they do on defense on social benefits that the US would have the healthiest, best educated population in the world. As of now, that isn't the case, far from it. Your mentality that everyone who doesn't agree with you should simply leave, is pretty much the exact opposite of the climate of social discourse this country was founded on, if you believe that utopian BS. The USA has many redeeming qualities, but in many, many cases, it falls short of what it could achieve.

That makes US, the people who see where America could get better instead of thinking our shit don't stink, the real Americans.

You know, I would MUCH rather drug companies be the ones that dictate what treatment I get, making people pay out the butt for drugs that don't always work or are simply the same drugs under a new name, and that the people who are looking out for my health are out there to run a profit and/or be trying to cover their asses in case of a lawsuit. That seems like a much better system. Oh, and paying several hundred dollars for routine stitch ups and other banalities that shouldn't even be a concern, that seems reasonable.
 
Also, where'd you get this idea that you don't get to choose your doctor? You most certainly do, you just don't have to even be involved in the mundane activities of getting health insurance to cover your braces, or your two day dehydration stay because you forgot to drink enough fluids while mouthing off about the USA's jock. As you get older, free health care makes even more sense, because all those perscriptions and visits are suddenly not a worry. You can choose who you visit, you're in a situation to be carted to the best hospitals in Europe, all for free.

Oh, and many of the world's best heart, brain and pediatric surgeons are in Germany, France, Sweden and the UK. They could go to the US and make more money, but that'd be selling their soul, wouldn't it?

 
Yeah obesity is a problem but you cant force people to lose weight it is their choice. Alot of people are getting better about eating better and exercising more. We can fix the obesity problem but the gov. has no right to dictate how you live all they can do is try to inform people.

You pointing out flaws is ok but make sure that they are true first .

we do spend more on social benifts than on defense. We are a big country and spend alot of money so what we spend on military may look like a lot to smaller countries with less tax money

If we cut out too much defense we would lose allot of middle class jobs which would be a very bad thing.

You could argue that we are the best educated country in the world at least when it comes to higher education we are far ahead of any other country in the world. The education could do more to give job training in high school but we are working on it right now.

Every country could improve including the U.S. so why so much hate on America. Why not criticize all countries.

Drugs cost alot and it does suck but people invest in them to make money and we can't take that away or people wont invest in them and then we won't advance as much. If the drugs didn't work then they wouldn't make it past the FDA.
 
Nationalized health care is like an HMO sure you can see who you want but it doesn't really matter plus if you want a second opinion your not going to get told anything different because there not going to take the time to try and correct the first doctor. I can get an appointment with my doctor today how long will it take you. I can get in to see a specalist tommorow how long would it take you where you live.

And some of the worlds best surgeons are in europe but the best ones are in america in fact most could argue that most major cities in america (LA, NYC, SF,ect.) have better doctors than entire countries in Europe or canada. There is just no argument against America having surperior health care.
 
I was being facetious about the food, but the government actually does have a right to "dictate" the way you live: it's called the law. If I were to push it to the extreme, f the government's role is to protect its people from harm, even self induced, one could argue that keeping fatty foods out of fat people's hands is saving people's lives.

There may technically be more money in social programs than defense, but a quick look at education and health care, not government regulating bodies, and you see that we're very far off the mark. We spend more on military than any other country in the world, and that's counting for the size of the country. Maybe Israel is head of us at this point, but that'd be us anyways...

If we cut out defense spending, and reinvest it elsewhere, jobs can be created there, too.

The US is home to some of the best universities, yes, and that's why I'm here. But in terms of the total population, we aren't as well educated as India.

I'm not criticizing all countries because right now, we're talking about the US. Oh, and I can get a doctor's appointment at anytime in Sweden, as well.

 
Hi, you can gloat all you want about how you have the fanciest doctors with the most expensive equipment. But when it comes down to it, the country with the best care for health, imo at least will be the country that ranks as 'the worlds healthiest country'

We rank (according to forbs.com) 11th.

Finland is # 3 Sweden #2 and Iceland is #1, and guess what, funny story, they all have socialized medicine.

Forbes is taking into account air quality, along with other factors, more so than just doctor's capabilities, but isn't caring for your 'health' much more encompassing than just doctor's visits? Don't let a narrow view close your eyes to the range of whats important, here on health or for anything.

 
Wow I said medicine and you bring up the enviornment.

We are the best at medicine we have the highest survival rate of cancer patients.

fitness and eating right are things people control not the gov. but when it comes down to treating people we are the best.

Why else would people from all other countries of the world come to america when they need treatment or surgery. No one from hear is going to Germany unless its for a treatment not yet approved by the FDA. If we had socalized healthcare were would the people with a need for the best go.

And universal healthcare is going down hill in places I know in Canada people are going to court because their not treating people. In countries with universal health care when people are "terminal" or treatment will cost to much or they are to old or too young they wont treat them they just keep them comfortable and let them die.

 
Wow I said medicine and you bring up the enviornment.

We are the best at medicine we have the highest survival rate of cancer patients.

fitness and eating right are things people control not the gov. but when it comes down to treating people we are the best.

Why else would people from all other countries of the world come to america when they need treatment or surgery. No one from hear is going to Germany unless its for a treatment not yet approved by the FDA. If we had socalized healthcare were would the people with a need for the best go.

And universal healthcare is going down hill in places I know in Canada people are going to court because their not treating people. In countries with universal health care when people are "terminal" or treatment will cost to much or they are to old or too young they wont treat them they just keep them comfortable and let them die.

 
you scare me.... no lie...

the idea of the government telling me what to eat scares the shit out of me....

im not saying you cant point out flaws believe me, im pretty critical of just about everything this government does...

ill get to the rest later, why dont you go give up the rest of your freedoms.... that is basically what you are advocating..
 
you wanna know why i say " you are free to leave" because i cant stand the people that think its their responsibility to make my fucking decisions! people that want to take away freedoms are the people i want gone, and you sound exactly like one of them..

you wanna know where one of the best hospitals in the world is? The Mayo Clinic. you wanna take a guess where it is? USA, USA, USA!

if you let the government take choices away (health care) you give them the power to control your life, and i for one dont want the government telling me how to live my life, when the individual should be making those decisions..
 
well that's a cunt of a response, i hope you get cancer and then bankrupt your family as they try to pay for your chemotherapy.
 
yet for some reason i think if the majority of people make a ruling against what you feel is right, they'd have the power, in this country, to over rule you.

 
this is called democracy, its a good thing.... example, if the american people want Barack to be president, so be it....
 
i agree with you drew.

people need to leave this country to realized the difference in the world. I have been to canada, mexico, france and italy. however, that still doesnt give me the honor to say which countries r better than others since i was over seas for a short period of time. the only people that can compare other countries on this site are the ones who have lived oversees and know the real truth.

I know that was way too long of an explanation but i was just agreeing with you. haha
 
i will man up and admit, i jumped the gun on this post.... i now regret posting it, i didnt see the whole video..

if i could turn back the clocks of time i would say "we are one of the best"
 
You are right though I wish we cared more about overall health in america. I wish we had claener air and cleaner beaches. I wish people rode bikes or skateboarded than drive a car 5 min. I wish the gov. subsidized organically grown foods and humanly treated animals. I with I could burn fast food resturants to the ground. But I'm for freedom of choice first even though I die alittle on the inside everytime I see someone driving a hummer eat a big mac then throw it out the window afterwords but it there choice (just like its my choice to duct tape the trash to their car)

But if you should complain about anything in America it is a huge number of shitty drivers I mean we suck so hard at driving its not even funny europe definatly has us at that.

And alot of us aren't the friendliest bunch.
 
Again, I was being facetious. If part of the reason government exists is to save people from themselves, then it isn't too far a leap, though it is ridiculous, to think that the government should make it harder for people to become obese enough to have to make Disney build a bigger, more "i weigh 5 times as much as a somalian my age" friendly "It's a small world" ride.

But the government is already regulating what you do and don't eat. Heard of the FDA? And advertising is literally telling you what to eat, and chances are you're buying it. You simply think you're not affected and your own free man when you shop, because that's part of the American mentality. Your ego still makes you seem superior to all the forces that endlessly want you to consume consume consume.

YOUR choice, YOUR freedom, YOUR rights. Me me me. While other countries have become adept of giving up more of their money if it will make everyone live better as a whole, you feel haughty enough that so long as your supposed freedom of choice isn't infringed upon America is the greatest nation in the world, when it could so, so much better.

Have you been overseas? Have you spent time in nations that don't feel a need to yell at everyone like a child about how important they are? Until you have, I think your entire outlook is blinded by your "freedom" to choose the person who paid the most to get your attention.
 
*gets on soap box*

I agree with patty. Nicely put.

I think though that the U.S. governments use of the word 'freedom' has lost all meaning. It has embarrassed itself in the face of the entire world and I truly hope that your next president will turn this around, although that is a slim chance by the look of it. I'm not going to lie, as much as Canada relies on the U.S. for economic stability, its embarrassing to have you as our 'neighbors'. Your political 'democracy' is a joke and it harms the rest of the world to have you at the helm.

/rant

*gets off soap box*

There...now i feel better :P Hopefully i can avoid another of one these 'black hole' threads....
 
How do not have freedom?

we have the freedom to do anything in america you can go from living in getto east LA to Beverly Hills if you have it in you. You can be an illegal from Mexico start your own buisness and make a better life for your family.

If you can name a country that has never done anything wrong ever i will lick the bottom of my sandle.

Oh and my sincerist apoligy for the U.S. being next to your great country
 
Earth sucks, Hoth is better, end of disscusion.

I mean, endless snow, whats not to like?

But seriously, America is not #1, not only because of the healthcare issue, but alot of other things as well. For instance, juvinile corectional facilitys (or whatever their called). In Japan, if someone under 18 kills someone, they go to a corectional facility, but not some ordinary corectional facility, theirs have tennis courts, swimming pools, all sorts of sweet extras that an american corectional facility won't have. In the end, only 1/4 of japanese teenagers commit another serious crime, while 3/4 of american youth go and commit another serious crime.

But, the #1 reason why america is NOT the best country: the drinking age there is 21, while everywhere else in the world its 18.
 
Ok, i'm gonna say it.

Eastern Europe has the hottest girls. anyone whoes been here, will confirm it. By hottest girls, i mean that the % of hot to ugly is way better here, than anywhere,
 
good point but the high drinking age does two good things

1. Encourages you to make more older friends who can buy

2. Gives money to bums who buy for those without older friends

i mean ive never had trouble getting a drink but it would be better to lower the drinking age.
 
im going to have to say eastern europe might have a slight edge over aus but it would be pretty close but thanks for pointing that out eastern europe almost sliped my mind
 
i don't understand that post at all. You say that canada's free health care isn't all it's cracked up to be because the states haven't figured it out yet? Or the fact that they give free healthcare to people who can't pay for it? Or it isn't important because the states will have it in a couple of years anyway? i'm so confused..
 
Its not free is what he was trying to say they raise taxes. Plus the healthcare you get isn't as good and you could be on a waiting list for months for something as simple as a mamagram.
 
Not to burst your bubble, but the government makes it very difficult for any such scenario to happen, especially with illegals. Even if there isn't malicious intent, it isn't like there is any facilitation going on.

It's all good and well that you, from your privileged standpoint to say: "Hey, if you work hard, you too can make a better life for yourself!" when you never had to do the same amount of effort to get where you are now.

That's like having two coconuts, and when you see your neighbor without even one coconut, you bless him, saying "I pray you will one day come across a coconut of your own. Go, and be happy".
 
theyll love you. my dad did it when he backpacked around europe, go to belgium, where Canada freed thousands from concentration camps. he said weeping grandmothers and women would come into the streets to give him flowers and cool shit
 
Really i just had lunch today with one of my dads clients whos letting me use their aparment in london and the funny story is he came her on a student visa years ago from iran and he graduated with a enginering degree and couldn't go back then guess were he moved to um East LA and he worked at low paying jobs till he got his citizenship handled and um he just bulit a huge fucking house in Um let me think the name is sliping my mind oh yeah Beverly mother fuckin hills. He was an illegal who worked hard but had an education. Plus i have friends with illegal parents and although their buisness is mowing lawns and landscaping they own them and pay taxes on everything they buy and even though they are illegal they made their kids get an education but they also make enough to pay for a nice house a nice car and send there kid to a good college. Sure they couldnt own any buisness they wanted but they made the best of there situation and now they can provide for their family and no they aren't afraid of deportation cause in California no one gets deported and no ones afriad of it
 
how bout this i come from a good family but decided fuck it im not going to learn to read or become educated or get a job. my parents dont have enough to support me for my lifetime so i had to learn to read and become educated and im going to have to get a job or id be in the same situation as the people in youre hood. In that family in your hood working 3 jobs tell me how much do they value an education are they forcing their kids to do the best in school. Im sure for every family doing their best you can find another family that most definatly isnt.

I completly agree its hard to move social class but its easy to slide down too. Achiving your dreams are hard hell i want to be the next Gordon Ramsey its a dream of mine and I will have to work really hard but the chances of me doing that are slim. There are people who belive they have a better chance being an NBA star than going to college and if they spent the time they spend playing Bball reading a book or doing hw they would have a better shot at making something of themselfs (i know its a generalization but a ran across the numbers a couple weeks ago on this subject of what people in the lower class think they'll be able to go pro or get a record deal than to go to college). Even drew i think you can agree that if priortizing the importance of education would be a big and important step.
 
right but it was late and i didnt fell like it i really dont want to clarify its just to fucking hard debating with someone who has an intelligent point of view and can also back it up. Its just so much easier with some other people on here.

I'll read it and retype it later drew.
 
Alright here we go let me do my best to rephrase.

I come from a good family and have had some advantages but if I blew off my education and didnt go to college I would be I a postition were I would most likely have to pick a job I an unskilled profession and be low paid in which I would be paid a low wage and in the same position as many people in your neighbor hood.

In the hard working families you know of exactly how much do they push their kids to get a good education and to work to go to a college or a CC.

I would bet that for every two hard working families their is one that isnt.

I agree that its hard to move up social classes but if it were easy everyone would be rich.

People have dreams and goal but I feel that many young people in the lower class have a very wrong point of view. Its good to have dreams but not everyone is going to be able to achive theirs. Many poor kids belive that the only way out of being poor is by going pro becoming a rapper or becoming a criminal when instead if they took the time they spend trying to find a quick solution and put that to school work and working to achive an higher education they would stand a much better chance of getting out of the lower class

I think we can both agree that an education is a good start when it come to trying to improve your social status. So if some people were to prioritize a put education or developing a usable skill they would stand a far greater chance of succseding in life.

That being said I'm still a beliver of having a large middle class and paying gardeners/farmers/day laborers higher wage because I have done plenty of manual labor and understand how hard it is and how hard it would be to try to increase your social status while working in those fields.

Now you know what to do. Go ahead and poke holes in it and I'll get back to it later

Now you know what to do drew. go on and poke holes in my argument and then I

 
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