Usa #1 ?!?!

[_random_]

I talked about Hollywood, you counterargued with indie productions, assuming I framed American film production overall.

Also...

"Wanna go to the mall?"
"Yeah it's like five hundred metres up the road."
"Let's drive there."

Why the hell would we be measuring things in meters, or spelling the word as "metre?" You've clearly got all your facts wrong.

 

[NovaKart]

No. I answered a postulate about Hollywood, so I talked about Hollywood. I just mentioned this.



Mostly comedies, really, and larger independent blockbusters like Napoleon Dynamite and Donnie Darko, but I think the easiest way to distinguish Hollywoodic butcherings is to look at their remakes of foreign masterpieces. I think that even the US-produced Texas Chainsaw Massacre's remake was hollywooded up and ruined.




It's still right there in the post.

No you just made some half baked generalisations about American films (and an incredibly inaccurate one about food) and when someone called you out on it you start shrieking "straw man straw man" using the term incorrectly. Even in Hollywood there are at least a few decent pictures each year which makes me suspect you haven't seen many of them.

Even the independent movies you mentioned are hardly such a departure from Hollywood except for Chainsaw Massacre which is from the 70s.

 

[Cutlass]

Oh yeah. So true.. I don't understand your shameless defence of theft from the poor to give to the banksters.

I never will.

You seem to think that theft would prevent unemployment. Please explain why.

Not bailing out the banks would have resulted in a major economic depression. And that would be extreme violence against the poor. So I act to prevent extreme violence. As any responsible person would.

 

[NovaKart]

So we got to thıs out of some paranoid objection to the use of the impersonal we on a message board?

 

[Cutlass]

Looks like

 

[Angst]

No you just made some half baked generalisations about American films

Really?

Hollywood is the sore blister of horrible motion pictures right now. It ruins great ideas repeatingly. Once every year or so, the area manages to squeeze out one or two decent movies - practically the same number of good pictures coming out of European countries. You should praise Hollywood once they decide not to babe everything anymore. It's a stupid profit-maximizing discourse for stupid people.

 

[NovaKart]

In the context of the thread and comparing it to European films and your remarks about American life in general, leaving out American indie films would make one reasonably assume you're not familiar with them. Even just speaking about Hollywood films it seems like you're rather unfamiliar with them except perhaps the biggest blockbusters. Like someone who's only ever seen Pearl Harbor or Armageddon.

 

[Angst]

In the context of the thread and comparing it to European films and your remarks about American life in general, leaving out American indie films would make one reasonably assume you're not familiar with them. Even just speaking about Hollywood films it seems like you're rather unfamiliar with them except perhaps the biggest blockbusters. Like someone who's only ever seen Pearl Harbor or Armageddon.

You can keep on assuming and analyzing whatever you want to. It doesn't change what I wrote to begin with.

 

[kiwitt]

You might want to read some additional comments here
http://www.reddit.com/r/politics/comments/nhb6f/the_whole_world_is_watching_while_the_usa/

People in The Netherlands have always looked up to the USA. It won't be long before that stops, I guess. These are stories I read, watched and heard in the mainstream media over here:

your political system is one of the most corrupt systems in the world
your politicians represent companies instead of people
your government will probably censor the internet
your government detains without trial
your government tortures people
your government hires mercenaries
your government does nothing to improve education
your president doesn't have any real influence over what happens
your presidential candidates are stupid beyond belief
your presidential candidates promote stupidity
your presidential candidates are not taking seriously over here
your elections are a joke
your media outlets cannot be trusted
your media outlets focus on distractions instead of main issues
your people are ed when they're uninsured
your infrastructure is collapsing
your economy will soon be top 3 instead of #1
your economy will probably collapse a second time

So it's not only Reddit or The Daily Show that is covering these issues. Other countries are watching and passing the popcorn while your country is collapsing. And I think it will get worse, not better. I am 29 years old and looking back at the world's history I don't think the problems above will be solved during my lifetime. It will probably have to get a lot worse before a movement arises that's big enough to demand real change.

Now you'll probably read this, take one small point out of my story and comment on that. That's okay, but please notice the trend of what's going on in your country. Do something about it. We need our big brother to act like role model. Right now he's high as a kite.

I know this is reddit, but generally there used to be a time when one criticized the US you would generally get a 50% "blind faith in my country, yeah americuh woop woop" responses pointing out why the point you are making is wrong.

I find it disturbing that recently 95% seem to agree and infact reinforce these negative opinions.

Actually we Europeans care alot about the US (although we are loathe to admit it) you are after all in the main part emigrants from European countries. It seems like as it is now there is nothing we can do to help and we can only stand on the sidelines and watch the decline - at the same time knowing this will probably happen to us soon after. We have seen time and time again US policy being enforced in the EU.

I believe that everything is based on the basic foundations of values and ethics. The US needs to start looking inwards instead of outwards , it needs to understand it is no longer the driving force in the world (a bit like the UK had to around the 1920s 30s when it started to lose its empire). Now is the time for China and India to take over the reigns. We need to be doing everything to show these countries why social justice is so important, and not the opposite.

I think the "West" needs to take a good long hard look at itself and try to return to some of it's earlier values. Actually I think a good dose of socialism is what is called for, more equality, more investment in infrastructure, education, health etc. The time has ended for people to earn 200-300 times an average salary.

I just wish people could see more clearly what the OP and many here on reddit seem to see. No wonder there are laws such as SOPA in the pipeline as the Arab spring has shown , the Internet is a force for REAL change, and the US gov knows this and wants control.

Interesting times we live in.

A lot of the time here, you still get that response. On sites other than Reddit, it's frequently: "If you don't like it, move to another country."

People are so brainwashed into believing that our country is the best thing since sliced bread that when you point out the problems they just get mad at you. When the Wikileaks cables came pouring out, the response wasn't a horrified public about how badly we treat other countries, it was wanting to crucify Assange for embarrassing us. Only the few intellectuals in this country are interested in fixing it, everyone else is too ignorant to believe/care.

EDIT:I am not the only one thinking the USA has a problem of of its perception overseas.

I spent 3 hours in the ER last week, had two EKG's and my blood tested....$4500.

Similar situation here. I got my hand shoved into the blade of a wood jointer. Obviously, I was going to the hospital. I was insured.

So, AFTER INSURANCE, I am getting $1500 charge for the ambulance, $2000 charge for the hospital stay, $1000 charge for the anesthesia, $300 charge for the follow up visit 1 to remove the bandages, $280 charge for follow up 2 to remove stitches. $100 charge for the x rays they insisted on taking (why I don't know, you could see the bones with your own eyes). There are actually several other bills, basically every medical person who came near me is sending me a fee. I am even getting an $80 fee for "oxygen" that they attached me to even though I was having no trouble with breathing.

Yeah insurance...if you can afford good enough health insurance that it pays for this kind of stuff then you probably don't even need insurance. Needless to say....none of those people are getting paid and I probably won't even be able to afford rent for January.

Yeah if you get injured here you are totally screwed financially.

I'm English, lived in LA for 3 months.

2 things happened whilst I was there that made me realise the Americans are in.

1st - girl in my house has an epileptic fit - we didn't know she was uninsured - ambulance called, she's okay in the end. It cost her $1000 dollars, pretty much for nothing. The girl then said, if it happens again, don't call an ambulance. Selfish of the girl, and selfish of the US, if something had happened to her and I didn't call an ambulance, I'm not sure I would ever get over it.

2nd - I had appendicitis, whilst I was on my way into the operating theatre, I had a woman trying to get my insurance details off me. I'm literally on the bed being wheeled in, I was like, WTH? and just passed out.

Here in NZ Emergency Services are free !!!

 

[Lord of Elves]

We can always rely on people outside of the United States to report faithfully, and without bias, on the situation. Believe it or not, and I can speak from experience, we aren't living in a Mad Max corporatist-apocalypse hellhole.

That's Detroit.

 

[NovaKart]

For some people, it seems like finger wagging about America has turned into a glorified hobby. I suppose it gives them a sort of smug satisfaction.

 

[kiwitt]

... not anymore ... based on the reports we get about it by our media outlets, and yours

America may have some "must-see" places; e.g The Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, Hollywood, Disneyland, New York. I just don't see any reasons for wanting to live there permanently.

- Poor Healthcare, don't dare have an accident or get sick, unless you can afford it.
- Poor Gun Control, even the cops have to carry them
- Its too big (as explained in this thread), for it to be able to fix its problems
- Poor job prospects, currently high unemployment
- Poor welfare for when you don't have one
- Socialism is aligned with communism, which it is not.

As opposed to attacking the points of view we are receiving and quoting, how about giving us some reasons for encouraging us to come to America to live permanently and dispel some of these views.

 

[Lord of Elves]

As opposed to attacking the points of view we are receiving and quoting, how about giving us some reasons for encouraging us to come to America to live permanently and dispel some of these views.

• Predominantly welcoming, open-minded culture
• Affluent society with contemporary public amenities and infrastructure
• Southern hospitality
• An entertainment industry ready and willing to cater blindly and patronizingly to your specific interests and yours alone
• Diverse and readily-available cuisine ranging from the cheap to the expensive
• USA #1

 

[carmen510]

We still have the world's best post-secondary (college & university) education system, one of the world's highest standards of living, a high degree of respect and civil liberties for citizens, a high degree of social mobility, the best quality of healthcare (going by the amount of surgeons, high-end health facilities, etc and not by insurance or affordability), and the choice to live in a multitude of different environments (modern cities, beautiful wildernesses, the suburbs, etc.).

The United States has many problems of course, but it is still one of the best countries to live in.

 

[kiwitt]

• Predominantly welcoming, open-minded culture
• Affluent society with contemporary public amenities and infrastructure
• Southern hospitality
• An entertainment industry ready and willing to cater blindly and patronizingly to your specific interests and yours alone
• Diverse and readily-available cuisine ranging from the cheap to the expensive

We still have the world's best post-secondary (college & university) education system, one of the world's highest standards of living, a high degree of respect and civil liberties for citizens, a high degree of social mobility, the best quality of healthcare (going by the amount of surgeons, high-end health facilities, etc and not by insurance or affordability), and the choice to live in a multitude of different environments (modern cities, beautiful wildernesses, the suburbs, etc.).

Anything else ? ... as all these apply equally in New Zealand as well.

 

[carmen510]

Anything else ? ... as all these apply equally in New Zealand as well.

Then why do I hear about people coming to the United States for political asylum or freedom or surgery or their university education, rather than New Zealand?

I acknowledge that New Zealand is also a nice country to live in, but what makes it better than the United States?

 

[Lord of Elves]

Anything else ? ... as all these apply equally in New Zealand as well.

I don't contest this point. The existence of a global economy, and general globalization, is and demonstrably already has affected a "universal" standard of living in most developed nations. Fact is, your points seem to contest that this standard of living doesn't apply to the United States because we are apparently a second-world presidential dictatorship with the appropriate Peronist caudillo, organized crime, social division and political/religious violence.

 

[NovaKart]

... not anymore ... based on the reports we get about it by our media outlets, and yours

America may have some "must-see" places; e.g The Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, Hollywood, Disneyland, New York. I just don't see any reasons for wanting to live there permanently.

- Poor Healthcare, don't dare have an accident or get sick, unless you can afford it.
- Poor Gun Control, even the cops have to carry them
- Its too big (as explained in this thread), for it to be able to fix its problems
- Poor job prospects, currently high unemployment
- Poor welfare for when you don't have one
- Socialism is aligned with communism, which it is not.

As opposed to attacking the points of view we are receiving and quoting, how about giving us some reasons for encouraging us to come to America to live permanently and dispel some of these views.

Well good thing you don't live there then. For some reason you feel a need to obsess over it.

Moderator Action: Discuss the points, not the poster. This essentially amounts to a personal attack.
Please read the forum rules: http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=422889

 

[kiwitt]

I acknowledge that New Zealand is also a nice country to live in, but what makes it better than the United States?

Well here are my top 5

1: Proportional Representation - USA does not have this.
2: Quality of Life - USA cities are not even in the top 30
3: Free public Healthcare for all citizens and permanent residents - USA does not have this
4: Free Pension, equal to 60% of the average wage - USA has ??!?!?
5: NZ is first equal with lowest corruption - USA is not even in the top 20

 

[GamezRule]

There is one big problem that New Zealand has, and that is that it is New Zealand.

Also, the USA technically has free healthcare.