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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

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.

^^exactly. Compared to other countries we cannot do anything to improve or solve collective problems. our infrastructure is decaying because of it - it is well known. even making the smallest improvement to traffic or public space is incredibly costly because we’ve set up a system where people can easily throw wrenches into the works - and we have become so miserable and individualistic that people seem to enjoy crusading against change.

Who.appointed you to speak on behalf of the country. You don't know what is going on in people's heads. Your entire goal is to tell people to feel despair. "You need to hate America, I say, this is why!". You have an agenda.

yes … my agenda is that we should have a transit system on par with equally wealthy countries! And for my neighbors to have more of a sense of collective good so that they don’t spend their time crusading against housing development for example.

It's hard to have a sense of collective good when theres nothing that unites a diverse population.

The famous Lee Kuan Yew quote comes to mind.

There’s a ton of research that shows that increased diversity leads to less societal cohesion and trust. You could combat this by trying to inculcate a sense of citizenship and unity in being American, but the same party that pushes diversity also spends most of its time crapping on this country, and telling people that assimilation is bad. It’s a terrible combination.

+1. But yet the message “diversity is our strength” will continue to be forced down our collective throats.

Trump continues to embolden racist trash.

Right, the studies showing that diversity weakens, rather than strengthens, social cohesion and community are racist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

^^exactly. Compared to other countries we cannot do anything to improve or solve collective problems. our infrastructure is decaying because of it - it is well known. even making the smallest improvement to traffic or public space is incredibly costly because we’ve set up a system where people can easily throw wrenches into the works - and we have become so miserable and individualistic that people seem to enjoy crusading against change.

Who.appointed you to speak on behalf of the country. You don't know what is going on in people's heads. Your entire goal is to tell people to feel despair. "You need to hate America, I say, this is why!". You have an agenda.

yes … my agenda is that we should have a transit system on par with equally wealthy countries! And for my neighbors to have more of a sense of collective good so that they don’t spend their time crusading against housing development for example.

It's hard to have a sense of collective good when theres nothing that unites a diverse population.

The famous Lee Kuan Yew quote comes to mind.

There’s a ton of research that shows that increased diversity leads to less societal cohesion and trust. You could combat this by trying to inculcate a sense of citizenship and unity in being American, but the same party that pushes diversity also spends most of its time crapping on this country, and telling people that assimilation is bad. It’s a terrible combination.

+1. But yet the message “diversity is our strength” will continue to be forced down our collective throats.

Trump continues to embolden racist trash.

Meh, there is a reason why people have this reaction when traveling to certain places and not others. Name calling isn't cowing as many people as it used to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

^^exactly. Compared to other countries we cannot do anything to improve or solve collective problems. our infrastructure is decaying because of it - it is well known. even making the smallest improvement to traffic or public space is incredibly costly because we’ve set up a system where people can easily throw wrenches into the works - and we have become so miserable and individualistic that people seem to enjoy crusading against change.

Who.appointed you to speak on behalf of the country. You don't know what is going on in people's heads. Your entire goal is to tell people to feel despair. "You need to hate America, I say, this is why!". You have an agenda.

yes … my agenda is that we should have a transit system on par with equally wealthy countries! And for my neighbors to have more of a sense of collective good so that they don’t spend their time crusading against housing development for example.

It's hard to have a sense of collective good when theres nothing that unites a diverse population.

The famous Lee Kuan Yew quote comes to mind.

There’s a ton of research that shows that increased diversity leads to less societal cohesion and trust. You could combat this by trying to inculcate a sense of citizenship and unity in being American, but the same party that pushes diversity also spends most of its time crapping on this country, and telling people that assimilation is bad. It’s a terrible combination.

+1. But yet the message “diversity is our strength” will continue to be forced down our collective throats.

Trump continues to embolden racist trash.

Meh, there is a reason why people have this reaction when traveling to certain places and not others. Name calling isn't cowing as many people as it used to.

Yup. That’s because the racists are emboldened. In the past they would be shamed but now they can proudly make the most vile, racist comments.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

^^exactly. Compared to other countries we cannot do anything to improve or solve collective problems. our infrastructure is decaying because of it - it is well known. even making the smallest improvement to traffic or public space is incredibly costly because we’ve set up a system where people can easily throw wrenches into the works - and we have become so miserable and individualistic that people seem to enjoy crusading against change.

Who.appointed you to speak on behalf of the country. You don't know what is going on in people's heads. Your entire goal is to tell people to feel despair. "You need to hate America, I say, this is why!". You have an agenda.

yes … my agenda is that we should have a transit system on par with equally wealthy countries! And for my neighbors to have more of a sense of collective good so that they don’t spend their time crusading against housing development for example.

It's hard to have a sense of collective good when theres nothing that unites a diverse population.

The famous Lee Kuan Yew quote comes to mind.

There’s a ton of research that shows that increased diversity leads to less societal cohesion and trust. You could combat this by trying to inculcate a sense of citizenship and unity in being American, but the same party that pushes diversity also spends most of its time crapping on this country, and telling people that assimilation is bad. It’s a terrible combination.

+1. But yet the message “diversity is our strength” will continue to be forced down our collective throats.

Trump continues to embolden racist trash.

Weren’t you supposed to emigrate to Canada by now?

F off. I never said I’m leaving the country.

If anyone should be leaving it’s the racist MAGA traitors.

[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.

I don't think OP is being as glib as you portray here. Yes, Taiwan is in a precarious state - no pun intended - yet they largely harness their tax dollars for the benefit of their society rather than misdirecting their public monies due to the threat of an invasion at any moment.

Public transit in metro areas across the country is largely insufficient and crazily expensive. Take WMATA, which was built as a M-F, 8-5 commuter system for fed workers - it's hours are embarrassing for a city with international aspirations. And forget NYC, where there is NO train that runs directly to JFK and LGA terminals.

And the land entrances into the US - Niagara Falls is an eyesore.

OP isn't saying that all other countries are better than the US, but that our various levels of government are slow, if not indifferent, to improving daily living and life outcomes for residents. Or that one party thwarts such improvements if they can't get credit for it.

[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.

I don't think OP is being as glib as you portray here. Yes, Taiwan is in a precarious state - no pun intended - yet they largely harness their tax dollars for the benefit of their society rather than misdirecting their public monies due to the threat of an invasion at any moment.

Public transit in metro areas across the country is largely insufficient and crazily expensive. Take WMATA, which was built as a M-F, 8-5 commuter system for fed workers - it's hours are embarrassing for a city with international aspirations. And forget NYC, where there is NO train that runs directly to JFK and LGA terminals.

And the land entrances into the US - Niagara Falls is an eyesore.

OP isn't saying that all other countries are better than the US, but that our various levels of government are slow, if not indifferent, to improving daily living and life outcomes for residents. Or that one party thwarts such improvements if they can't get credit for it.

If you're going to throw shade at a party, you might want to be a little more "discriminating" in your examples. NYC, Western NY and the WMATA service area are essentially single party jurisdictions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I don't think OP is being as glib as you portray here. Yes, Taiwan is in a precarious state - no pun intended - yet they largely harness their tax dollars for the benefit of their society rather than misdirecting their public monies due to the threat of an invasion at any moment.

Public transit in metro areas across the country is largely insufficient and crazily expensive. Take WMATA, which was built as a M-F, 8-5 commuter system for fed workers - it's hours are embarrassing for a city with international aspirations. And forget NYC, where there is NO train that runs directly to JFK and LGA terminals.

And the land entrances into the US - Niagara Falls is an eyesore.

OP isn't saying that all other countries are better than the US, but that our various levels of government are slow, if not indifferent, to improving daily living and life outcomes for residents. Or that one party thwarts such improvements if they can't get credit for it.

If you're going to throw shade at a party, you might want to be a little more "discriminating" in your examples. NYC, Western NY and the WMATA service area are essentially single party jurisdictions.

Do you think the situation would be any better if they yo-yo'd between two parties, one of which wants to constantly de-fund public transport and infrastructure spending?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've mostly spent time in countries worse than the US, and what bothers me is how much more like them we have become in the last decade.

I come from a developing country with a history of government corruption, poverty/huge income gap, history of military coup, etc. Despite the US having issues, I always thought hey at least it’s not as bad as my country of origin. I think Jan. 6 shocked me into reality. How anyone doesn’t think that wasn’t a coup attempt. Politicians not even pretending anymore that they are just pawns for the rich. The insanity of the Trump nominees. Oh and the collapsing (or collapsed) healthcare and education systems. It makes me sad. I actually think most Americans are open minded and care about others. But the fee who care about the people in the government are outnumbered. And it’s only going to get worse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've mostly spent time in countries worse than the US, and what bothers me is how much more like them we have become in the last decade.

I come from a developing country with a history of government corruption, poverty/huge income gap, history of military coup, etc. Despite the US having issues, I always thought hey at least it’s not as bad as my country of origin. I think Jan. 6 shocked me into reality. How anyone doesn’t think that wasn’t a coup attempt. Politicians not even pretending anymore that they are just pawns for the rich. The insanity of the Trump nominees. Oh and the collapsing (or collapsed) healthcare and education systems. It makes me sad. I actually think most Americans are open minded and care about others. But the fee who care about the people in the government are outnumbered. And it’s only going to get worse.

*the few

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I don't think OP is being as glib as you portray here. Yes, Taiwan is in a precarious state - no pun intended - yet they largely harness their tax dollars for the benefit of their society rather than misdirecting their public monies due to the threat of an invasion at any moment.

Public transit in metro areas across the country is largely insufficient and crazily expensive. Take WMATA, which was built as a M-F, 8-5 commuter system for fed workers - it's hours are embarrassing for a city with international aspirations. And forget NYC, where there is NO train that runs directly to JFK and LGA terminals.

And the land entrances into the US - Niagara Falls is an eyesore.

OP isn't saying that all other countries are better than the US, but that our various levels of government are slow, if not indifferent, to improving daily living and life outcomes for residents. Or that one party thwarts such improvements if they can't get credit for it.

If you're going to throw shade at a party, you might want to be a little more "discriminating" in your examples. NYC, Western NY and the WMATA service area are essentially single party jurisdictions.

Do you think the situation would be any better if they yo-yo'd between two parties, one of which wants to constantly de-fund public transport and infrastructure spending?

I don't know, but I'm not the one implying all the problems are because of "the other team." That knee-jerk partisanship is probably a big part of why nothing seems to work as well here as elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

I lived three years in Japan, regularly visit, speak the language, and have in-laws there. Some things are way better, but I don’t want to work there. That aspect of the culture is toxic. Professional women also find it impossible. Lots of cultures have a good outside face, but there are deep, complicated, difficult issues underneath.

[Anonymous]

I visited Ecuador just before the pandemic and it looked like the US under Kamala Harris according to the few policy positions she mentioned on the campaign trail.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I lived three years in Japan, regularly visit, speak the language, and have in-laws there. Some things are way better, but I don’t want to work there. That aspect of the culture is toxic. Professional women also find it impossible. Lots of cultures have a good outside face, but there are deep, complicated, difficult issues underneath.

It's true that a lot of the more conservative cultures have a more toxic work culture, but there are also non conservative countries that don't have this toxic work culture.

Speaking of professional women.. without immigrants, the US would also have a declining birth rate. If conservatives want the US to change that, they should maybe provide better rules around protecting working mothers in the workplace.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I visited Ecuador just before the pandemic and it looked like the US under Kamala Harris according to the few policy positions she mentioned on the campaign trail.

Give examples PP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've mostly spent time in countries worse than the US, and what bothers me is how much more like them we have become in the last decade.

I come from a developing country with a history of government corruption, poverty/huge income gap, history of military coup, etc. Despite the US having issues, I always thought hey at least it’s not as bad as my country of origin. I think Jan. 6 shocked me into reality. How anyone doesn’t think that wasn’t a coup attempt. Politicians not even pretending anymore that they are just pawns for the rich. The insanity of the Trump nominees. Oh and the collapsing (or collapsed) healthcare and education systems. It makes me sad. I actually think most Americans are open minded and care about others. But the fee who care about the people in the government are outnumbered. And it’s only going to get worse.

+1. I could have written this as well. We are experiencing a precipitous decline.