really jarring coming back to the US after traveling to Asia for the last three weeks

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Those who say the US is the greatest country ever have never left the country, IMO.

This past holiday season showed one of the biggest flaws in the US: reliance on and build-up of one method of travel (air) over all others to the point where that method is a monopoly and has no incentive to offer adequate service.

Imagine if we expanded our rail infrastructure to where we could go from DC to Chicago in 6 hours instead of 18?

Air travel wouldn't be so over-crowded if other methods existed. If you want to go from DC to CA to visit grandma for Christmas in a reasonable amount of time, you are 100% reliant on the airlines to get you there.

I see your point but your examples are bad. You seem to be forgetting how BIG the U.S. is.

To go from DC to Chicago in 6 hours on a train means non-stop 100 m.p.h. That can never happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Those who say the US is the greatest country ever have never left the country, IMO.

This past holiday season showed one of the biggest flaws in the US: reliance on and build-up of one method of travel (air) over all others to the point where that method is a monopoly and has no incentive to offer adequate service.

Imagine if we expanded our rail infrastructure to where we could go from DC to Chicago in 6 hours instead of 18?

Air travel wouldn't be so over-crowded if other methods existed. If you want to go from DC to CA to visit grandma for Christmas in a reasonable amount of time, you are 100% reliant on the airlines to get you there.

OMG, have you been on Amtrak recently? It’s cheaper, safer, and less skeevy to fly. The train was filthy, they had garbage options in the cafe car, and we were delayed 90 mins in Alexandria. Americans hate other Americans and our love affair with cars isn’t going anywhere. Our country is simply too vast and disparate in too many ways for your pipe dream to ever work. Look at Metro, lol

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Those who say the US is the greatest country ever have never left the country, IMO.

This past holiday season showed one of the biggest flaws in the US: reliance on and build-up of one method of travel (air) over all others to the point where that method is a monopoly and has no incentive to offer adequate service.

Imagine if we expanded our rail infrastructure to where we could go from DC to Chicago in 6 hours instead of 18?

Air travel wouldn't be so over-crowded if other methods existed. If you want to go from DC to CA to visit grandma for Christmas in a reasonable amount of time, you are 100% reliant on the airlines to get you there.

I see your point but your examples are bad. You seem to be forgetting how BIG the U.S. is.

To go from DC to Chicago in 6 hours on a train means non-stop 100 m.p.h. That can never happen.

Germany's InterCity Express trains normally run at 186mph and France's TGV trains reach up to 195mph. It is indeed possible but it takes a lot of money from the government. US taxpayers would never be willing to fund that.

[Anonymous]

You find good road in and wifi in 2nd world countries. Governments are investing in all the infrastructure, but also expect more from private companies who do business here.
In US, private companies expect more from government and act like they are doing the US a favor for being there.
I gave my car to my parents with few clicks over the internet. Never had to sign anything on paper or set foot in DMV- just one example how things are done abroad and people expect it from government services.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because corporate and personal tax rates are much higher in Japan. Next question?

Yes and the housing in cities like Toyko and Hong Kong is amazing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was just in Singapore for the first time and after hearing how incredibly clean and modern it is from many people I was really surprised by the amount of litter I saw all over as well as the strange dearth of garbage cans anywhere. I wasn’t nearly as impressed as I expected to be.

I wasn't impressed visiting the US, because they call themselves #1 for everything, yet all you need to do is drive through MLK Blvd. in Baltimore where it looks like a real life epsode of the Walking Dead with all of the homeless drug users everywhere. So many boarded up row homes in many US cities that make it look like Baghdad.

Singapore is incredibly clean compared to how much human dookie and pee is on the streets in many US cities from all of the homeless people everywhere. There's really no neighborhood in Singapore as filthy and disgusting as Skid Row in SF or Kensington in Philly, for example. I mean Kensington in Philly really makes you call into question whether the US is a first world country.

Well, the executions for drug use help Singapore maintain its streets unpopulated by the homeless. Ready for that?

DP. I looked it up: In 2022, Singapore executed 11 people for drug offences. In 2021, the US executed 11 people (not sure what the offences were).

If you’re executed in the U.S. your offense was murder.

[Anonymous]

I had a discussion on similar [to OP's post] topic with a co-worker recently. He seemed surprised when I said that making life better for its people is the No 1 reason of being for the state. In fact, he started arguing against it being a reason at all. Not sure what people like him think that the state is FOR, really. Winning in military spending?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Those who say the US is the greatest country ever have never left the country, IMO.

This past holiday season showed one of the biggest flaws in the US: reliance on and build-up of one method of travel (air) over all others to the point where that method is a monopoly and has no incentive to offer adequate service.

Imagine if we expanded our rail infrastructure to where we could go from DC to Chicago in 6 hours instead of 18?

Air travel wouldn't be so over-crowded if other methods existed. If you want to go from DC to CA to visit grandma for Christmas in a reasonable amount of time, you are 100% reliant on the airlines to get you there.

OMG, have you been on Amtrak recently? It’s cheaper, safer, and less skeevy to fly. The train was filthy, they had garbage options in the cafe car, and we were delayed 90 mins in Alexandria. Americans hate other Americans and our love affair with cars isn’t going anywhere. Our country is simply too vast and disparate in too many ways for your pipe dream to ever work. Look at Metro, lol

I am afraid to fly because it isn't safe.

When planes crash, which we see on the news all the time, virtually no one survives. Can't say the same about trains or cars.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Those who say the US is the greatest country ever have never left the country, IMO.

This past holiday season showed one of the biggest flaws in the US: reliance on and build-up of one method of travel (air) over all others to the point where that method is a monopoly and has no incentive to offer adequate service.

Imagine if we expanded our rail infrastructure to where we could go from DC to Chicago in 6 hours instead of 18?

Air travel wouldn't be so over-crowded if other methods existed. If you want to go from DC to CA to visit grandma for Christmas in a reasonable amount of time, you are 100% reliant on the airlines to get you there.

I see your point but your examples are bad. You seem to be forgetting how BIG the U.S. is.

To go from DC to Chicago in 6 hours on a train means non-stop 100 m.p.h. That can never happen.

Germany's InterCity Express trains normally run at 186mph and France's TGV trains reach up to 195mph. It is indeed possible but it takes a lot of money from the government. US taxpayers would never be willing to fund that.

California could not afford to build theirs, even with tons of financial help from the Obama administration.

[Anonymous]

You are only seeing the rich parts of Asia as a rich person. Enjoy your privilege.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve lived in multiple countries in West Africa, Europe and Asia. Sure each region has some specific advantages relative to the US, but as a package deal in term of overall quality of life I don’t think anywhere else compares. The good news is that if you do think life would be better in a foreign country, as a US citizen it’s relatively easy for you to apply for a visa to relocate compared to the vast majority of the world population.

NP here. It's a different point I agree with OP on - US infrastructure sucks. I mean it does. Unless you compare it to a 2nd/3rd world country. I don't understand how anyone justifies that it does not suck. Quality of life is a different subject altogether. Can you honestly tell me that you disagree PP that the US does not have a solid infrastructure system and by that I mean -
1. EVERYONE in this country has access to viable WIFI (cause rural areas sure don't)
2. Our rail system is convenient and connects major cities in an efficient and effective manner leveraging first world technology (ie Europe/Asia).
3. Our highways/roads are well constructed and long lasting (how much construction is always happening? How long does it take to redo a highway here?)

Ultimately, the US does not care about infrastructure. What we care about is money and "standard of living" ie the rich are able to get richer. I say this being among the "top 3%" with HHI at $400k. But I still feel very strongly that although not sexy, US infrastructure sucks here. Go to Hong Kong, Taiwan, even China has better train systems. Italy trains are great and cheap. Amtrak is not cheap nor is it great. Why we don't prioritize getting from SF to NYC or even Boston to DC quickly is beyond me, sigh.. We have planes but we don't seemingly believe in driving.

Honestly, European transportation infrastructure is nowhere near what it once was (at least in most cases- Italy’s never has been) and it is continuing to deteriorate. Growing numbers of Europeans are turning to buying cars because the train-bus systems are becoming increasingly unreliable. To do so many are paying nearly twice the cost that we do for gas, not to mention exorbitant rates and 1-2 year wait times just to purchase a vehicle. And transportation infrastructure is supposed to be Europe’s pinnacle- let’s not even talk about the service industry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Those who say the US is the greatest country ever have never left the country, IMO.

This past holiday season showed one of the biggest flaws in the US: reliance on and build-up of one method of travel (air) over all others to the point where that method is a monopoly and has no incentive to offer adequate service.

Imagine if we expanded our rail infrastructure to where we could go from DC to Chicago in 6 hours instead of 18?

Air travel wouldn't be so over-crowded if other methods existed. If you want to go from DC to CA to visit grandma for Christmas in a reasonable amount of time, you are 100% reliant on the airlines to get you there.

OMG, have you been on Amtrak recently? It’s cheaper, safer, and less skeevy to fly. The train was filthy, they had garbage options in the cafe car, and we were delayed 90 mins in Alexandria. Americans hate other Americans and our love affair with cars isn’t going anywhere. Our country is simply too vast and disparate in too many ways for your pipe dream to ever work. Look at Metro, lol

The MARC train, which is managed by Amtrak, is cheap, safe, and fast (the penn line is electrified and trains are capable of going 125 miles per hour). Also very clean and a pleasant smooth ride. It’s wasn’t a bad way to commute.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was just in Singapore for the first time and after hearing how incredibly clean and modern it is from many people I was really surprised by the amount of litter I saw all over as well as the strange dearth of garbage cans anywhere. I wasn’t nearly as impressed as I expected to be.

I wasn't impressed visiting the US, because they call themselves #1 for everything, yet all you need to do is drive through MLK Blvd. in Baltimore where it looks like a real life epsode of the Walking Dead with all of the homeless drug users everywhere. So many boarded up row homes in many US cities that make it look like Baghdad.

Singapore is incredibly clean compared to how much human dookie and pee is on the streets in many US cities from all of the homeless people everywhere. There's really no neighborhood in Singapore as filthy and disgusting as Skid Row in SF or Kensington in Philly, for example. I mean Kensington in Philly really makes you call into question whether the US is a first world country.

Well, the executions for drug use help Singapore maintain its streets unpopulated by the homeless. Ready for that?

DP. I looked it up: In 2022, Singapore executed 11 people for drug offences. In 2021, the US executed 11 people (not sure what the offences were).

If you’re executed in the U.S. your offense was murder.

I wonder how many canines for small offenses they still do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was just in Singapore for the first time and after hearing how incredibly clean and modern it is from many people I was really surprised by the amount of litter I saw all over as well as the strange dearth of garbage cans anywhere. I wasn’t nearly as impressed as I expected to be.

I wasn't impressed visiting the US, because they call themselves #1 for everything, yet all you need to do is drive through MLK Blvd. in Baltimore where it looks like a real life epsode of the Walking Dead with all of the homeless drug users everywhere. So many boarded up row homes in many US cities that make it look like Baghdad.

Singapore is incredibly clean compared to how much human dookie and pee is on the streets in many US cities from all of the homeless people everywhere. There's really no neighborhood in Singapore as filthy and disgusting as Skid Row in SF or Kensington in Philly, for example. I mean Kensington in Philly really makes you call into question whether the US is a first world country.

Well, the executions for drug use help Singapore maintain its streets unpopulated by the homeless. Ready for that?

DP. I looked it up: In 2022, Singapore executed 11 people for drug offences. In 2021, the US executed 11 people (not sure what the offences were).

If you’re executed in the U.S. your offense was murder.

I wonder how many canines for small offenses they still do.

Canings. Let’s leave the hounds out of this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here are some other points the haters forget to mention.

We welcome more immigrants than any other country and believe it or not and we do in fact make it easy for them to achieve freedom. All kinds of freedom.
We are not nearly as racist as some of those ‘perfect countries’ you all seem to love so much.
We spend more on military because we are defending the freaking world.
We put a man on the moon.

Yes, we are not perfect but it’s shameful for you to act like we are such losers when it’s this country that gives you the privilege to moan that you don’t have even more privilege.

You aren’t defending the freaking world, you are keeping the military industrial complex alive. The PP is correct that the Pentagon can’t account for its spending. That’s just a fact. Where is the money going? And how many people in DCUM make money off that defense spending budget with all the government contracting in this area?