Foreigners ask, inhabitants answer

[Phantom Lord]

This is not a political thread, altough politics is not neccessarily excluded.

My idea goes as follows: We have people from a lot of different countries here, so if we have questions about other countries, this could help to answer them by just writing

@nation

My question about the nation?

... and may you get an answer. I'll start it:

@USA

What does the term w. a. s. p. (white anglo saxon protestant?) mean, I've heard it a few times, but I don't know it's meaning or what it stands for?

 

[Lefty Scaevola]

Originally posted by Phantom Lord
What does the term w. a. s. p. (white anglo saxon protestant?) mean, I've heard it a few times, but I don't know it's meaning or what it stands for?

These were the common race/ethnicity/religious characteristics of a large majority of the economically powerfull and (to a lesser extent) pollitically powerful persons for much of the USA's history.

 

[Mojotronica]

White = caucasian

Anglo-Saxon = of English (or British - Wales, Scotland and England) descent -- implies blue-blood or priviledged status.

Protestant = Christian, but not Catholic. Mostly Lutheran, Methodist, Baptist and especially Anglican.

 

[Remorseless]

Anglo-Saxon also includes the Germans as well.

 

[superunknown]

Originally posted by Remorseless
Anglo-Saxon also includes the Germans as well.

Eh..no it doesn't. Its the other way around.

 

[Mojotronica]

Remorseless --

In effect, yes. WASP implies priviledge, and the most successful American families are of British and German descent. Also Americans of other ancestries are less likely to be Protestant.

But the literal definition implies descent from the Angle and Saxon tribes (who were Germanic -- I concede) who invaded the British Isles in the First Millenium. Hence, British.

EDIT: "most successful American families" instead of "Americans..."

 

[meldor]

From websters on-line dictionary:

An·glo-Sax·on
n.
A member of one of the Germanic peoples, the Angles, the Saxons, and the Jutes, who settled in Britain in the fifth and sixth centuries.
Any of the descendants of the Anglo-Saxons, who were dominant in England until the Norman Conquest of 1066.
See Old English.
A person of English ancestry.

adj.
Of, relating to, or characteristic of Anglo-Saxons, their descendants, or their language or culture; English.

 

[superunknown]

Edit: mispost

 

[redtom]

Question for Americans:

How much healthcare do you get free from the state?

 

[Phantom Lord]

Originally posted by Lefty Scaevola

These were the common race/ethnicity/religious characteristics of a large majority of the economically powerfull and (to a lesser extent) pollitically powerful persons for much of the USA's history.

THX to Lefty for the answer, I think that's what I wanted to know or what was meant in the context when I heard it.

Starting a thread to ask questions people from other countries was truly my intention, I see different opinions about the term "w.a.s. p." spreading like wildfire, which I appreciate, but Lefty's answer covered my question I think.



I think a second question would be fine.

Edit: Glad to see one above my post.

 

[stormbind]

Originally posted by redtom
Question for Americans:

How much healthcare do you get free from the state?

I have often wondered this. I am just iterating the question and letting all Americans know, that them strange Europeans actually want to know!

 

[Stile]

I get none. I am a member of an HMO through my employer. I would say most Americans get none, except Medicaid in certain circumstances.

 

[jiml_63]

None...and I prefer it that way....

 

[kmad]

Question for Swedes:
Is NHL hockey big in Sweden?
Are Peter Forsberg, Markus Naslund etc. considered heroes in their homeland?

 

[Lefty Scaevola]

If you are poor and qualify for "Medicaid" or eldery (qualified for "Medicare") you get a bunch of subsized (80% or more of cost) care. If you not are not, then not much. Even with the scope limited to these classes, they are HUGE budget drains on federal and state goverments.

 

[Phantom Lord]

Maybe it would help to quote the question when giving answers, otherwise this could become a very confusing thread?

 

[stormbind]

Originally posted by Lefty Scaevola
If you are poor and qualify for "Medicaid" or eldery (qualified for "Medicare") you get a bunch of subsized (80% or more of cost) care. If you not are not, then not much. Even with the scope limited to these classes, they are HUGE budget drains on federal and state goverments.

We are more socialist in Britain. Everyone qualifies for free healthcare and gets varialble-subsidy on prescriptions, and there are private hospitals as an alternative.

Healthcare is a huge drain on the national budget, but tax is a huge drain on our living standards so I guess it evens out.

 

[Padma]

Originally posted by redtom
Question for Americans:

How much healthcare do you get free from the state?

Lefty said it best. If you are too poor to be able to afford healthcare privately, then you get (nearly) free healthcare provided by the state. IF you are working at a job that pays decent wages, then often a protion of your pay is set aside to cover you healthcare premiums. Or you pay for your premiums directly. But the cost isn't really onerous for personal, private healthcare insurance. It may even be cheaper than what the "healthcare tax" would be if we had a free national healthcare system.

 

[Mojotronica]

In America, socialized medicine is veiled behind the corporate system. For example, your benefits as an employee usually include a decent or better medical insurance program. MOST Americans have medical insurance through their employer.

For the unemployed, retired or those without benefits, medical insurance may be partially covered by Medicare or Medicaid. It depends partially on the government's criteria for determining your ability to pay.

For those without insurance there are county hospitals, supported by the individual states and counties taxes (with some federal funding.) They EXPECT payment for services, but don't REQUIRE payment or insurance up front. They will treat you without a guarantee of payment and hope that enough will pay them back to stay on budget. They depend on tax dollars and donations to stay solvent.

 

[Cloudyvortex]

Originally posted by Mojotronica
In America, socialized medicine is veiled behind the corporate system. For example, your benefits as an employee usually include a decent or better medical insurance program. MOST Americans have medical insurance through their employer.

For the unemployed, retired or those without benefits, medical insurance may be partially covered by Medicare or Medicaid. It depends partially on the government's criteria for determining your ability to pay.

For those without insurance there are county hospitals, supported by the individual states and counties taxes (with some federal funding.) They EXPECT payment for services, but don't REQUIRE payment or insurance up front. They will treat you without a guarantee of payment and hope that enough will pay them back to stay on budget. They depend on tax dollars and donations to stay solvent.

Having two fickle, aristocratic parties who neither know nor care about the problems of a huge number of their own constituants doesn't help, either.

Actually, you shouldn't be surprised. The very word 'healthcare' is a compund term derived from 'health' and 'care' (obviously), and Americans, leaders and masses, are running very short on both.