traveling open your eyes to how terrible the US is in many ways?

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Definitely not. I live in Germany, and I have to laugh when so many Americans fantasize about moving to Europe and talk about it like some kind of utopia. It's insanely naive. Every place has its problems and issues

The problem in the US is not that we have problems. It is our obstinate refusal to solve any of them while new problems continue to crop up. While many of these problems are sort of relegated to the poorest people in our country, they are increasingly “trickling up” to the middle class.

People are routinely dying from a lack of healthcare or going bankrupt from medical problems. This should have been resolved ages ago, and is simply not such a crisis in other countries.

Same with gun violence. Yes, there are a multitude of tertiary issues related to gun violence but the main issue is simply guns.

And now, we have a huge mentally ill homeless population suffering in our cities and it’s only growing. The massive rural broadband program hasn’t connected a single house to the internet.

And I think the worst part is that people seem so lonely and unhappy.

Why do we tolerate this?

When I go to my parents’ home country, it just isn’t so miserable. I’m staying in a middle class neighborhood, not a luxury hotel. I have been here often over the last 2 decades: People are grinning and bearing it. No one is shot in the street. If I need medicine I can just walk into the pharmacy and buy it for $2. People are out past 8pm having fun. People are just enjoying being with other people more.

Something is just broken at home. I really feel like I get a break abroad, from the horrible political news and violence and apocalyptic weather events. I have not felt this way before.

Totally disagree. The American personality is a go getter, problem solving one and if anything we are overly optimistic about our ability to change things particularly when utilizing the government. PP had it right, you’re entitled to your opinions but I don’t believe your take on things is widely viewed.

our infrastructure development is demonstrably behind other peer nations, as is our education and health care system. this is objective fact not feeling. In a healthy political climate we could work together to solve this but American individualism has turned into toxic culture wars. ironically not individualism at all but banding together to tribally reject whatever the other guys do.

I don’t agree with this either. You can’t compare our infrastructure in such a huge country with that of something dense like Western European countries. We do have a very good interstate highway system and our air travel is probably the best. Our rail is less developed, sure, but there are reasons for that.

our cities should be just as good as European cities.

Ah, so now I think we have come to an agreement. You aren’t comparing America as a whole to other nations as a whole, just our cities. Unfortunately, you have to look who is running American cities to place the blame for that. We used to have shining examples of well run, clean cities until wackos took over (looking at you, San Francisco).

No we are not in agreement because you’re still trying to make what is the common national good into a partisan political issue.

Ma’am this is the politics board. If you want politics kept out of this discussion, head to travel.

lol well this went full circle we’re so dang polarized that any discussion of infrastructure has to end up in politics

Anyway I think we need a 3rd party of true pragmatists.

I think it’s fair to ask where all our infrastructure spending went that was supposed to address the very issues you deem problematic in comparison to other nations. It’s not as if we haven’t passed bills to spend more in categories like bridges. So where did all the money go? You can’t answer questions like that without delving into politics because politics is how our taxpayer funds are allocated. It’s like you want to keep this entire thread some pie in the sky America vs. the world discussion rather than asking real questions about WHY we haven’t made progress (despite billions spent).

OK let’s talk about it. I’d welcome that. The Biden infrastructure bill (which was bipartisan BTW) hasn’t had that much time to be implemented but I’m sure there’s something you can post here. Also my fear is that merely throwing money at projects isn’t enough for real reform needed to make this all happen more quickly - and of course we need to improve education which is the backbone of development.

$1.2 trillion in spending is the definition of throwing money at projects and we should have seen more progress by now.

I mean that’s exactly what I am saying - even with money American development is far far too slow

You said Biden hasn’t had much time to show improvements. I said we should have seen progress by now. No, we aren’t saying the same things at all.

I’m saying it was a bipartisan bill and we’re not showing results because it’s an American problem that we cannot build quickly. What are you saying?

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Definitely not. I live in Germany, and I have to laugh when so many Americans fantasize about moving to Europe and talk about it like some kind of utopia. It's insanely naive. Every place has its problems and issues

The problem in the US is not that we have problems. It is our obstinate refusal to solve any of them while new problems continue to crop up. While many of these problems are sort of relegated to the poorest people in our country, they are increasingly “trickling up” to the middle class.

People are routinely dying from a lack of healthcare or going bankrupt from medical problems. This should have been resolved ages ago, and is simply not such a crisis in other countries.

Same with gun violence. Yes, there are a multitude of tertiary issues related to gun violence but the main issue is simply guns.

And now, we have a huge mentally ill homeless population suffering in our cities and it’s only growing. The massive rural broadband program hasn’t connected a single house to the internet.

And I think the worst part is that people seem so lonely and unhappy.

Why do we tolerate this?

When I go to my parents’ home country, it just isn’t so miserable. I’m staying in a middle class neighborhood, not a luxury hotel. I have been here often over the last 2 decades: People are grinning and bearing it. No one is shot in the street. If I need medicine I can just walk into the pharmacy and buy it for $2. People are out past 8pm having fun. People are just enjoying being with other people more.

Something is just broken at home. I really feel like I get a break abroad, from the horrible political news and violence and apocalyptic weather events. I have not felt this way before.

Totally disagree. The American personality is a go getter, problem solving one and if anything we are overly optimistic about our ability to change things particularly when utilizing the government. PP had it right, you’re entitled to your opinions but I don’t believe your take on things is widely viewed.

our infrastructure development is demonstrably behind other peer nations, as is our education and health care system. this is objective fact not feeling. In a healthy political climate we could work together to solve this but American individualism has turned into toxic culture wars. ironically not individualism at all but banding together to tribally reject whatever the other guys do.

I don’t agree with this either. You can’t compare our infrastructure in such a huge country with that of something dense like Western European countries. We do have a very good interstate highway system and our air travel is probably the best. Our rail is less developed, sure, but there are reasons for that.

our cities should be just as good as European cities.

Ah, so now I think we have come to an agreement. You aren’t comparing America as a whole to other nations as a whole, just our cities. Unfortunately, you have to look who is running American cities to place the blame for that. We used to have shining examples of well run, clean cities until wackos took over (looking at you, San Francisco).

No we are not in agreement because you’re still trying to make what is the common national good into a partisan political issue.

Ma’am this is the politics board. If you want politics kept out of this discussion, head to travel.

lol well this went full circle we’re so dang polarized that any discussion of infrastructure has to end up in politics

Anyway I think we need a 3rd party of true pragmatists.

I think it’s fair to ask where all our infrastructure spending went that was supposed to address the very issues you deem problematic in comparison to other nations. It’s not as if we haven’t passed bills to spend more in categories like bridges. So where did all the money go? You can’t answer questions like that without delving into politics because politics is how our taxpayer funds are allocated. It’s like you want to keep this entire thread some pie in the sky America vs. the world discussion rather than asking real questions about WHY we haven’t made progress (despite billions spent).

OK let’s talk about it. I’d welcome that. The Biden infrastructure bill (which was bipartisan BTW) hasn’t had that much time to be implemented but I’m sure there’s something you can post here. Also my fear is that merely throwing money at projects isn’t enough for real reform needed to make this all happen more quickly - and of course we need to improve education which is the backbone of development.

$1.2 trillion in spending is the definition of throwing money at projects and we should have seen more progress by now.

I mean that’s exactly what I am saying - even with money American development is far far too slow

You said Biden hasn’t had much time to show improvements. I said we should have seen progress by now. No, we aren’t saying the same things at all.

I’m saying it was a bipartisan bill and we’re not showing results because it’s an American problem that we cannot build quickly. What are you saying?

Give me a break on the bipartisan. 19 senators don’t make something bipartisan, it was a Democrat bill that threw nearly two trillion dollars at the very problem you are lamenting with extremely limited results. If you don’t like the way our infrastructure is handled, then consider who you are voting for and their effectiveness on the very issues you claim are so important to you.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Definitely not. I live in Germany, and I have to laugh when so many Americans fantasize about moving to Europe and talk about it like some kind of utopia. It's insanely naive. Every place has its problems and issues

The problem in the US is not that we have problems. It is our obstinate refusal to solve any of them while new problems continue to crop up. While many of these problems are sort of relegated to the poorest people in our country, they are increasingly “trickling up” to the middle class.

People are routinely dying from a lack of healthcare or going bankrupt from medical problems. This should have been resolved ages ago, and is simply not such a crisis in other countries.

Same with gun violence. Yes, there are a multitude of tertiary issues related to gun violence but the main issue is simply guns.

And now, we have a huge mentally ill homeless population suffering in our cities and it’s only growing. The massive rural broadband program hasn’t connected a single house to the internet.

And I think the worst part is that people seem so lonely and unhappy.

Why do we tolerate this?

When I go to my parents’ home country, it just isn’t so miserable. I’m staying in a middle class neighborhood, not a luxury hotel. I have been here often over the last 2 decades: People are grinning and bearing it. No one is shot in the street. If I need medicine I can just walk into the pharmacy and buy it for $2. People are out past 8pm having fun. People are just enjoying being with other people more.

Something is just broken at home. I really feel like I get a break abroad, from the horrible political news and violence and apocalyptic weather events. I have not felt this way before.

Totally disagree. The American personality is a go getter, problem solving one and if anything we are overly optimistic about our ability to change things particularly when utilizing the government. PP had it right, you’re entitled to your opinions but I don’t believe your take on things is widely viewed.

our infrastructure development is demonstrably behind other peer nations, as is our education and health care system. this is objective fact not feeling. In a healthy political climate we could work together to solve this but American individualism has turned into toxic culture wars. ironically not individualism at all but banding together to tribally reject whatever the other guys do.

I don’t agree with this either. You can’t compare our infrastructure in such a huge country with that of something dense like Western European countries. We do have a very good interstate highway system and our air travel is probably the best. Our rail is less developed, sure, but there are reasons for that.

our cities should be just as good as European cities.

Ah, so now I think we have come to an agreement. You aren’t comparing America as a whole to other nations as a whole, just our cities. Unfortunately, you have to look who is running American cities to place the blame for that. We used to have shining examples of well run, clean cities until wackos took over (looking at you, San Francisco).

No we are not in agreement because you’re still trying to make what is the common national good into a partisan political issue.

Ma’am this is the politics board. If you want politics kept out of this discussion, head to travel.

lol well this went full circle we’re so dang polarized that any discussion of infrastructure has to end up in politics

Anyway I think we need a 3rd party of true pragmatists.

I think it’s fair to ask where all our infrastructure spending went that was supposed to address the very issues you deem problematic in comparison to other nations. It’s not as if we haven’t passed bills to spend more in categories like bridges. So where did all the money go? You can’t answer questions like that without delving into politics because politics is how our taxpayer funds are allocated. It’s like you want to keep this entire thread some pie in the sky America vs. the world discussion rather than asking real questions about WHY we haven’t made progress (despite billions spent).

OK let’s talk about it. I’d welcome that. The Biden infrastructure bill (which was bipartisan BTW) hasn’t had that much time to be implemented but I’m sure there’s something you can post here. Also my fear is that merely throwing money at projects isn’t enough for real reform needed to make this all happen more quickly - and of course we need to improve education which is the backbone of development.

$1.2 trillion in spending is the definition of throwing money at projects and we should have seen more progress by now.

I mean that’s exactly what I am saying - even with money American development is far far too slow

You said Biden hasn’t had much time to show improvements. I said we should have seen progress by now. No, we aren’t saying the same things at all.

I’m saying it was a bipartisan bill and we’re not showing results because it’s an American problem that we cannot build quickly. What are you saying?

Give me a break on the bipartisan. 19 senators don’t make something bipartisan, it was a Democrat bill that threw nearly two trillion dollars at the very problem you are lamenting with extremely limited results. If you don’t like the way our infrastructure is handled, then consider who you are voting for and their effectiveness on the very issues you claim are so important to you.

So what are the Republicans policies that are superior to help us build more quickly? What’s Trump’s plan for rural broadband? You keep on trying to think you’re trapping me in some kind of lie that Democrats are better on infrastructure - I don’t think that! (and of course those 19 Rs constitute significant bipartisan support. That’s how it works now on the Hill - party leadership “allows” enough members to vote across the aisle to pass the bill, then the rest can vote party lines.)

[Anonymous]

This was an interesting read from expat Americans.

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/24-america-scam-stories-people-101502209.html

I also feel the US has changed a lot in the past 20 years, and not necessarily for the better. The US is great if you have money, but then, everywhere is great if you have money. The US is great if you are healthy and want to make money. It's not so great when you are trying to raise a family, don't have a lot of money, get sick and don't have premium healthcare insurance, or want some work life balance.

We do not value any of those things. We only value individualism and making money. TBF, I made a bit of money, but now that I'm older, I care more about our health and well being more than money.

We are looking to retire abroad for a few years when I retire early.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This was an interesting read from expat Americans.

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/24-america-scam-stories-people-101502209.html

I also feel the US has changed a lot in the past 20 years, and not necessarily for the better. The US is great if you have money, but then, everywhere is great if you have money. The US is great if you are healthy and want to make money. It's not so great when you are trying to raise a family, don't have a lot of money, get sick and don't have premium healthcare insurance, or want some work life balance.

We do not value any of those things. We only value individualism and making money. TBF, I made a bit of money, but now that I'm older, I care more about our health and well being more than money.

We are looking to retire abroad for a few years when I retire early.

I will probably retire abroad as well. I likely won’t have as big a nest egg as I would want because of the costs I had to pay for my kid’s education and eventually college, plus the high cost of rent in the DMV. So it’s actually the sensible plan to spend the first 10 years of retirement abroad - this will let me retire earlier to enjoy my retirement and will let me go further on what I have saved. Luckily I do speak Spanish!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Recently went to Taiwan, where they rank higher on the freedom index than even the US. It's amazing how things function when everyone obeys the law and it is clean everywhere. Never worried about crimes and guns anywhere. Public transport? Amazing. Regional railways that took over one hour long cost a grand total of about $2.80 FOR TWO TICKETS. Amazing when infrastructure is not built around cars and catering to car culture. Food, much higher quality. Next stop was in Thailand, where one in our party got sick. Went to the hospital and was seen immediately. Got checked out by the attending physician, took a stool sample to determine if there was an infection, and had the results in less than one hour. All of this without using insurance cost a grand whopping total of $83. Imagine how terrible it'd be in the US. Probably at least over $2000 for the same treatment and it'd take triple the amount of time. Even Thailand is so much safer with respect to gun violence and crime. Traveling really opens your eyes to how terrible the US has gotten. I honestly think we are borderline 2nd world. We aren't really that free, healthcare is unaffordable, zero guaranteed vacations, high cost of living, toxic food, terrible infrastructure, severely obese population, and out of control crime and gun problems.

I was recently in a european capital with functioning buses, trams, subway and intercity rail. You are 100% spot on. the car/gas lobby is part of what has killed the US.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Definitely not. I live in Germany, and I have to laugh when so many Americans fantasize about moving to Europe and talk about it like some kind of utopia. It's insanely naive. Every place has its problems and issues

The problem in the US is not that we have problems. It is our obstinate refusal to solve any of them while new problems continue to crop up. While many of these problems are sort of relegated to the poorest people in our country, they are increasingly “trickling up” to the middle class.

People are routinely dying from a lack of healthcare or going bankrupt from medical problems. This should have been resolved ages ago, and is simply not such a crisis in other countries.

Same with gun violence. Yes, there are a multitude of tertiary issues related to gun violence but the main issue is simply guns.

And now, we have a huge mentally ill homeless population suffering in our cities and it’s only growing. The massive rural broadband program hasn’t connected a single house to the internet.

And I think the worst part is that people seem so lonely and unhappy.

Why do we tolerate this?

When I go to my parents’ home country, it just isn’t so miserable. I’m staying in a middle class neighborhood, not a luxury hotel. I have been here often over the last 2 decades: People are grinning and bearing it. No one is shot in the street. If I need medicine I can just walk into the pharmacy and buy it for $2. People are out past 8pm having fun. People are just enjoying being with other people more.

Something is just broken at home. I really feel like I get a break abroad, from the horrible political news and violence and apocalyptic weather events. I have not felt this way before.

Totally disagree. The American personality is a go getter, problem solving one and if anything we are overly optimistic about our ability to change things particularly when utilizing the government. PP had it right, you’re entitled to your opinions but I don’t believe your take on things is widely viewed.

our infrastructure development is demonstrably behind other peer nations, as is our education and health care system. this is objective fact not feeling. In a healthy political climate we could work together to solve this but American individualism has turned into toxic culture wars. ironically not individualism at all but banding together to tribally reject whatever the other guys do.

I don’t agree with this either. You can’t compare our infrastructure in such a huge country with that of something dense like Western European countries. We do have a very good interstate highway system and our air travel is probably the best. Our rail is less developed, sure, but there are reasons for that.

our cities should be just as good as European cities.

Ah, so now I think we have come to an agreement. You aren’t comparing America as a whole to other nations as a whole, just our cities. Unfortunately, you have to look who is running American cities to place the blame for that. We used to have shining examples of well run, clean cities until wackos took over (looking at you, San Francisco).

No we are not in agreement because you’re still trying to make what is the common national good into a partisan political issue.

Ma’am this is the politics board. If you want politics kept out of this discussion, head to travel.

lol well this went full circle we’re so dang polarized that any discussion of infrastructure has to end up in politics

Anyway I think we need a 3rd party of true pragmatists.

I think it’s fair to ask where all our infrastructure spending went that was supposed to address the very issues you deem problematic in comparison to other nations. It’s not as if we haven’t passed bills to spend more in categories like bridges. So where did all the money go? You can’t answer questions like that without delving into politics because politics is how our taxpayer funds are allocated. It’s like you want to keep this entire thread some pie in the sky America vs. the world discussion rather than asking real questions about WHY we haven’t made progress (despite billions spent).

OK let’s talk about it. I’d welcome that. The Biden infrastructure bill (which was bipartisan BTW) hasn’t had that much time to be implemented but I’m sure there’s something you can post here. Also my fear is that merely throwing money at projects isn’t enough for real reform needed to make this all happen more quickly - and of course we need to improve education which is the backbone of development.

$1.2 trillion in spending is the definition of throwing money at projects and we should have seen more progress by now.

I mean that’s exactly what I am saying - even with money American development is far far too slow

You said Biden hasn’t had much time to show improvements. I said we should have seen progress by now. No, we aren’t saying the same things at all.

I’m saying it was a bipartisan bill and we’re not showing results because it’s an American problem that we cannot build quickly. What are you saying?

Give me a break on the bipartisan. 19 senators don’t make something bipartisan, it was a Democrat bill that threw nearly two trillion dollars at the very problem you are lamenting with extremely limited results. If you don’t like the way our infrastructure is handled, then consider who you are voting for and their effectiveness on the very issues you claim are so important to you.

BS...it will take a decade to fully implement as long as Trump doesn't stop the progress. You expect the dems to snap their fingers and make everything right immediately?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:China is about the same size as the US and now has high speed rail connecting almost every part of the country. They're testing trains that could potentially travel at 220-250 mph. Meanwhile, people are paying $300 for Amtrak, lol. American education ranks near last doe so called first world nations. Public safety is horrendous due to guns.

I mean it is honestly a huge eye opening experience when you can go to a foreign country and pay <$2 for a 30 mile regional rail ride and <$100 as a fully uninsured person who was sent to the ER, got seen by a doc immediately, and had lab tests back in <1h.

US healthcare alone makes it a backwards 2nd world country.

Who cares about China. We don't want to be like China. I don't care about trains. We like car culture. Many of us are happy with our health insurance. You only can speak for yourself.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Definitely not. I live in Germany, and I have to laugh when so many Americans fantasize about moving to Europe and talk about it like some kind of utopia. It's insanely naive. Every place has its problems and issues

The problem in the US is not that we have problems. It is our obstinate refusal to solve any of them while new problems continue to crop up. While many of these problems are sort of relegated to the poorest people in our country, they are increasingly “trickling up” to the middle class.

People are routinely dying from a lack of healthcare or going bankrupt from medical problems. This should have been resolved ages ago, and is simply not such a crisis in other countries.

Same with gun violence. Yes, there are a multitude of tertiary issues related to gun violence but the main issue is simply guns.

And now, we have a huge mentally ill homeless population suffering in our cities and it’s only growing.

And I think the worst part is that people seem so lonely and unhappy.

Why do we tolerate this?

When I go to my parents’ home country, it just isn’t so miserable. I’m staying in a middle class neighborhood, not a luxury hotel. I have been here often over the last 2 decades: People are grinning and bearing it. No one is shot in the street. If I need medicine I can just walk into the pharmacy and buy it for $2. People are out past 8pm having fun. People are just enjoying being with other people more.

Something is just broken at home. I really feel like I get a break abroad, from the horrible political news and violence and apocalyptic weather events. I have not felt this way before.

Totally disagree. The American personality is a go getter, problem solving one and if anything we are overly optimistic about our ability to change things particularly when utilizing the government. PP had it right, you’re entitled to your opinions but I don’t believe your take on things is widely viewed.

our infrastructure development is demonstrably behind other peer nations, as is our education and health care system. this is objective fact not feeling. In a healthy political climate we could work together to solve this but American individualism has turned into toxic culture wars. ironically not individualism at all but banding together to tribally reject whatever the other guys do.

I don’t agree with this either. You can’t compare our infrastructure in such a huge country with that of something dense like Western European countries. We do have a very good interstate highway system and our air travel is probably the best. Our rail is less developed, sure, but there are reasons for that.

our cities should be just as good as European cities.

Ah, so now I think we have come to an agreement. You aren’t comparing America as a whole to other nations as a whole, just our cities. Unfortunately, you have to look who is running American cities to place the blame for that. We used to have shining examples of well run, clean cities until wackos took over (looking at you, San Francisco).

No we are not in agreement because you’re still trying to make what is the common national good into a partisan political issue.

But it’s not a national problem - some cities are better run and more clean and safe than others. Try comparing Charleston or Charlotte to San Francisco or Philadelphia. Or compare the San Francisco or Portland, Maines of 15 years ago to the debacle they have become today. It’s fair to look at how those cities are run. Policies matter.

of course policies matter. That’s what I’m saying. but as much as you want to make it partisan, it really is not. Both parties fail at this stuff but in different ways. And of course San Francisco is not really comparable to Charlotte.

Total BS. The main differences in the US on policy are by party. It’s Democratic policies that have negatively affected cities from Chicago to San Francisco and it’s absolutely ridiculous that a thread about decaying cities shouldn’t address that fact.

“both parties fail at this stuff but in different ways” is what I wrote.

She knows what you wrote, she is saying you are wrong. You are correcting her as if dhe didn't hear your "fact" and you need to make her aware of a "fact". No, you just have an opinion, an utterence.

so you think Republicans are exclusively the party of good public management?

Not PP but I think in general Republican cities are better run and managed. I also think more purple cities are better managed than blue cities, at least at this point in time.

Dallas and Fort Worth are that much better than Houston?

What is the point of rhetorical questions? Just make your point.

it wasn’t rhetorical. I really want to know specifically what PP thinks Republican mayors do better. Dallas and Forth Worth are the biggest Republican governed cities.

I’m truly curious. My sense is that Republicans mayors face exactly the same problems as Democratic mayors and have similar solutions (or lack thereof) but I’d welcome additional input on that.

Don't bother with this person. Their one-sentence truly asinine "thoughts" are contributing nothing to this thread and we are all better off not responding and getting on with our good conversations.

You are not having a conversation. You are telling us over and over again that the U.S. is rotten to the core and our political system is irreparable and trains are the most important things ever and guns something guns something, while telling us how great China is. You dictate and demand we listen and agree.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Definitely not. I live in Germany, and I have to laugh when so many Americans fantasize about moving to Europe and talk about it like some kind of utopia. It's insanely naive. Every place has its problems and issues

The problem in the US is not that we have problems. It is our obstinate refusal to solve any of them while new problems continue to crop up. While many of these problems are sort of relegated to the poorest people in our country, they are increasingly “trickling up” to the middle class.

People are routinely dying from a lack of healthcare or going bankrupt from medical problems. This should have been resolved ages ago, and is simply not such a crisis in other countries.

Same with gun violence. Yes, there are a multitude of tertiary issues related to gun violence but the main issue is simply guns.

And now, we have a huge mentally ill homeless population suffering in our cities and it’s only growing.

And I think the worst part is that people seem so lonely and unhappy.

Why do we tolerate this?

When I go to my parents’ home country, it just isn’t so miserable. I’m staying in a middle class neighborhood, not a luxury hotel. I have been here often over the last 2 decades: People are grinning and bearing it. No one is shot in the street. If I need medicine I can just walk into the pharmacy and buy it for $2. People are out past 8pm having fun. People are just enjoying being with other people more.

Something is just broken at home. I really feel like I get a break abroad, from the horrible political news and violence and apocalyptic weather events. I have not felt this way before.

Totally disagree. The American personality is a go getter, problem solving one and if anything we are overly optimistic about our ability to change things particularly when utilizing the government. PP had it right, you’re entitled to your opinions but I don’t believe your take on things is widely viewed.

our infrastructure development is demonstrably behind other peer nations, as is our education and health care system. this is objective fact not feeling. In a healthy political climate we could work together to solve this but American individualism has turned into toxic culture wars. ironically not individualism at all but banding together to tribally reject whatever the other guys do.

I don’t agree with this either. You can’t compare our infrastructure in such a huge country with that of something dense like Western European countries. We do have a very good interstate highway system and our air travel is probably the best. Our rail is less developed, sure, but there are reasons for that.

our cities should be just as good as European cities.

Ah, so now I think we have come to an agreement. You aren’t comparing America as a whole to other nations as a whole, just our cities. Unfortunately, you have to look who is running American cities to place the blame for that. We used to have shining examples of well run, clean cities until wackos took over (looking at you, San Francisco).

No we are not in agreement because you’re still trying to make what is the common national good into a partisan political issue.

But it’s not a national problem - some cities are better run and more clean and safe than others. Try comparing Charleston or Charlotte to San Francisco or Philadelphia. Or compare the San Francisco or Portland, Maines of 15 years ago to the debacle they have become today. It’s fair to look at how those cities are run. Policies matter.

of course policies matter. That’s what I’m saying. but as much as you want to make it partisan, it really is not. Both parties fail at this stuff but in different ways. And of course San Francisco is not really comparable to Charlotte.

Total BS. The main differences in the US on policy are by party. It’s Democratic policies that have negatively affected cities from Chicago to San Francisco and it’s absolutely ridiculous that a thread about decaying cities shouldn’t address that fact.

“both parties fail at this stuff but in different ways” is what I wrote.

She knows what you wrote, she is saying you are wrong. You are correcting her as if dhe didn't hear your "fact" and you need to make her aware of a "fact". No, you just have an opinion, an utterence.

so you think Republicans are exclusively the party of good public management?

Not PP but I think in general Republican cities are better run and managed. I also think more purple cities are better managed than blue cities, at least at this point in time.

Dallas and Fort Worth are that much better than Houston?

What is the point of rhetorical questions? Just make your point.

it wasn’t rhetorical. I really want to know specifically what PP thinks Republican mayors do better. Dallas and Forth Worth are the biggest Republican governed cities.

I’m truly curious. My sense is that Republicans mayors face exactly the same problems as Democratic mayors and have similar solutions (or lack thereof) but I’d welcome additional input on that.

I am not giving us on the U.S. way of life and political system yet. You can if you want.

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Anonymous wrote:Definitely not. I live in Germany, and I have to laugh when so many Americans fantasize about moving to Europe and talk about it like some kind of utopia. It's insanely naive. Every place has its problems and issues

The problem in the US is not that we have problems. It is our obstinate refusal to solve any of them while new problems continue to crop up. While many of these problems are sort of relegated to the poorest people in our country, they are increasingly “trickling up” to the middle class.

People are routinely dying from a lack of healthcare or going bankrupt from medical problems. This should have been resolved ages ago, and is simply not such a crisis in other countries.

Same with gun violence. Yes, there are a multitude of tertiary issues related to gun violence but the main issue is simply guns.

And now, we have a huge mentally ill homeless population suffering in our cities and it’s only growing. The massive rural broadband program hasn’t connected a single house to the internet.

And I think the worst part is that people seem so lonely and unhappy.

Why do we tolerate this?

When I go to my parents’ home country, it just isn’t so miserable. I’m staying in a middle class neighborhood, not a luxury hotel. I have been here often over the last 2 decades: People are grinning and bearing it. No one is shot in the street. If I need medicine I can just walk into the pharmacy and buy it for $2. People are out past 8pm having fun. People are just enjoying being with other people more.

Something is just broken at home. I really feel like I get a break abroad, from the horrible political news and violence and apocalyptic weather events. I have not felt this way before.

Totally disagree. The American personality is a go getter, problem solving one and if anything we are overly optimistic about our ability to change things particularly when utilizing the government. PP had it right, you’re entitled to your opinions but I don’t believe your take on things is widely viewed.

our infrastructure development is demonstrably behind other peer nations, as is our education and health care system. this is objective fact not feeling. In a healthy political climate we could work together to solve this but American individualism has turned into toxic culture wars. ironically not individualism at all but banding together to tribally reject whatever the other guys do.

I don’t agree with this either. You can’t compare our infrastructure in such a huge country with that of something dense like Western European countries. We do have a very good interstate highway system and our air travel is probably the best. Our rail is less developed, sure, but there are reasons for that.

our cities should be just as good as European cities.

Ah, so now I think we have come to an agreement. You aren’t comparing America as a whole to other nations as a whole, just our cities. Unfortunately, you have to look who is running American cities to place the blame for that. We used to have shining examples of well run, clean cities until wackos took over (looking at you, San Francisco).

No we are not in agreement because you’re still trying to make what is the common national good into a partisan political issue.

Ma’am this is the politics board. If you want politics kept out of this discussion, head to travel.

lol well this went full circle we’re so dang polarized that any discussion of infrastructure has to end up in politics

Anyway I think we need a 3rd party of true pragmatists.

I think it’s fair to ask where all our infrastructure spending went that was supposed to address the very issues you deem problematic in comparison to other nations. It’s not as if we haven’t passed bills to spend more in categories like bridges. So where did all the money go? You can’t answer questions like that without delving into politics because politics is how our taxpayer funds are allocated. It’s like you want to keep this entire thread some pie in the sky America vs. the world discussion rather than asking real questions about WHY we haven’t made progress (despite billions spent).

OK let’s talk about it. I’d welcome that. The Biden infrastructure bill (which was bipartisan BTW) hasn’t had that much time to be implemented but I’m sure there’s something you can post here. Also my fear is that merely throwing money at projects isn’t enough for real reform needed to make this all happen more quickly - and of course we need to improve education which is the backbone of development.

$1.2 trillion in spending is the definition of throwing money at projects and we should have seen more progress by now.

I mean that’s exactly what I am saying - even with money American development is far far too slow

You said Biden hasn’t had much time to show improvements. I said we should have seen progress by now. No, we aren’t saying the same things at all.

I’m saying it was a bipartisan bill and we’re not showing results because it’s an American problem that we cannot build quickly. What are you saying?

Give me a break on the bipartisan. 19 senators don’t make something bipartisan, it was a Democrat bill that threw nearly two trillion dollars at the very problem you are lamenting with extremely limited results. If you don’t like the way our infrastructure is handled, then consider who you are voting for and their effectiveness on the very issues you claim are so important to you.

All you do here is tell us what to think and what not to say or say in response to you. No, we do not need to give you a break we can say what we want. This is not China.

[Anonymous]

No, I've traveled extensively and have lived outside the US. I went through a honeymoon period living in other countries and thinking they were fantastic. But, there's no place like home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I really hate when people go to another country for 1-2 weeks on vacation and think that everything is idyllic there because they had a good experience during that short period of time.

I’m by no means a jingoist or believe that America is superior in everything. I lived in two separate Asian countries, one as a teen and one as an adult, for two years each.

Yes, some countries do other things better than we do. Most have gun control much better handled.

But education, taxes, politics, economics and societal norms are complex, and you can’t tell just from a cheap hospital visit or train ride how good things are.

Taiwan is not even recognized as its own country by China and many other foreign powers. They could be invaded by China at any time. China still claims Taiwan as its own.

Thailand is a kingdom, and it isn’t exactly pro-democracy sometimes.

It’s too complicated to go into in a DCUM but, your one glimpse into foreign life doesn’t mean everything is better everywhere else.

Are you serious? I don't care if I live in a country that has an ugly unpronounceable name as long as my quality of life and opportunities to earn a living give me peace. So yeah, you can say this and that about Taiwan and Thailand but ultimately what you're talking about is besides the point and totally irrelevant. Those countries are exactly what OP said. You can debate with OP about whether it's enough to love them but to suggest your reasons as to why they aren't good enough to live in is so utterly dumb.

While I agree that a holiday in a country as a foreigner differs from local living a daily existence there, for sure 100000% there are advantages that other "less developed" countries have that better ours. More advanced, progressive, efficient, admirable. To those who can't admit this, you're fools.

Our way of life has gotten more corrupted, has worsened and become gross. Power, greed, et al has throughout history impacted countries who have been on top and we aren't different. It's a matter of time before we start going to hell - it's a question only of when.

We could take the initiative and change our ways of course but we won't because too many of us are lazy and spoiled. Change is hard. Way easier to keep status quo.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Recently went to Taiwan, where they rank higher on the freedom index than even the US. It's amazing how things function when everyone obeys the law and it is clean everywhere. Never worried about crimes and guns anywhere. Public transport? Amazing. Regional railways that took over one hour long cost a grand total of about $2.80 FOR TWO TICKETS. Amazing when infrastructure is not built around cars and catering to car culture. Food, much higher quality. Next stop was in Thailand, where one in our party got sick. Went to the hospital and was seen immediately. Got checked out by the attending physician, took a stool sample to determine if there was an infection, and had the results in less than one hour. All of this without using insurance cost a grand whopping total of $83. Imagine how terrible it'd be in the US. Probably at least over $2000 for the same treatment and it'd take triple the amount of time. Even Thailand is so much safer with respect to gun violence and crime. Traveling really opens your eyes to how terrible the US has gotten. I honestly think we are borderline 2nd world. We aren't really that free, healthcare is unaffordable, zero guaranteed vacations, high cost of living, toxic food, terrible infrastructure, severely obese population, and out of control crime and gun problems.

Went to Denmark in September and had same impression. US has become a dump after letting millions of new immigrants in

We should focus on helping our own citizens first.

But both parties are in collusion to bring in cheap labor, and the middle class gets screwed. Housing more expensive , health care explodes

We need to stop all immigration now

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really hate when people go to another country for 1-2 weeks on vacation and think that everything is idyllic there because they had a good experience during that short period of time.

I’m by no means a jingoist or believe that America is superior in everything. I lived in two separate Asian countries, one as a teen and one as an adult, for two years each.

Yes, some countries do other things better than we do. Most have gun control much better handled.

But education, taxes, politics, economics and societal norms are complex, and you can’t tell just from a cheap hospital visit or train ride how good things are.

Taiwan is not even recognized as its own country by China and many other foreign powers. They could be invaded by China at any time. China still claims Taiwan as its own.

Thailand is a kingdom, and it isn’t exactly pro-democracy sometimes.

It’s too complicated to go into in a DCUM but, your one glimpse into foreign life doesn’t mean everything is better everywhere else.

Are you serious? I don't care if I live in a country that has an ugly unpronounceable name as long as my quality of life and opportunities to earn a living give me peace. So yeah, you can say this and that about Taiwan and Thailand but ultimately what you're talking about is besides the point and totally irrelevant. Those countries are exactly what OP said. You can debate with OP about whether it's enough to love them but to suggest your reasons as to why they aren't good enough to live in is so utterly dumb.

While I agree that a holiday in a country as a foreigner differs from local living a daily existence there, for sure 100000% there are advantages that other "less developed" countries have that better ours. More advanced, progressive, efficient, admirable. To those who can't admit this, you're fools.

Our way of life has gotten more corrupted, has worsened and become gross. Power, greed, et al has throughout history impacted countries who have been on top and we aren't different. It's a matter of time before we start going to hell - it's a question only of when.

We could take the initiative and change our ways of course but we won't because too many of us are lazy and spoiled. Change is hard. Way easier to keep status quo.

Nope, you are wrong