What is GOOD about America?(for once)

[Rye]

The friendliness and eagerness of people in America.

Wait, what people are you talking about? Officials or common folk? I can assure you that the common folk aren't as nice as you'd like.

I guess I like the opportunities the US gives you. I like capitalism. I also like free speech.

And I can absolutely assure you that in... let's see *Counts* over four months of being in the US, the only people who've been rude are (Very occasional) teenagers and airport staff. Maybe you guys are rude, but I think you'd probably die if you came to England. I have not once in my life been randomly complimented by a stranger in England. In the US, it happened within a week of my first arrival. I have not once in my life started a conversation in a store with some stranger based on something they overheard. On my second visit to the US? Yep. Could be some strange freak occurance, but I'm willing to consider it at least indicative of Missouri, Indiana, and Illinois. (Yeah, I visit the exotic states, right? )

Asorie: I'm quite shocked, as you obviously display literacy, yet you lack the capacity to read.

Yeah, that happens to me quite often in stores. Sometimes people will randomly compliment me, it's very nice.

[Freya]

Really it's our smaller towns that are the best. Like all in wyoming(the state i live in) any city you go to if you want to you can have a conversation with the conveniet store clerk. And when the tornado hit wright all the bikers from the strugis biker rally pitched in and rose alot of money to help with the damage.
We have the right to speak our minds and not get prosecuted for it (unless it's about molesting children O.O)
Almost every student now goes to college. And we have alot of colleges in our country. You can find whatever school you want for whatever you wanna learn.
E3! What more can i say about that.
I cant think of others right now but they will probably pop in my head and i wont bother posting it.

[silverpigeon97]

The friendliness and eagerness of people in America.

Wait, what people are you talking about? Officials or common folk? I can assure you that the common folk aren't as nice as you'd like.

I guess I like the opportunities the US gives you. I like capitalism. I also like free speech.

And I can absolutely assure you that in... let's see *Counts* over four months of being in the US, the only people who've been rude are (Very occasional) teenagers and airport staff. Maybe you guys are rude, but I think you'd probably die if you came to England. I have not once in my life been randomly complimented by a stranger in England. In the US, it happened within a week of my first arrival. I have not once in my life started a conversation in a store with some stranger based on something they overheard. On my second visit to the US? Yep. Could be some strange freak occurance, but I'm willing to consider it at least indicative of Missouri, Indiana, and Illinois. (Yeah, I visit the exotic states, right? )

Asorie: I'm quite shocked, as you obviously display literacy, yet you lack the capacity to read.

If you want to see england just come up North. The girls are hotter, the guys are bigger, we drink more, and are a lot friendlier. Just avoid bransholme. Yorkshire rues.

[SomethingBig]

Mr. T. He's the most awesome American import ever.

I agree

[jrgen]

The Simpsons, Futurama, Southpark, Spin City and Nile.

[Teek]

Much of what I did love about this country has been eroded, so most of the comments I would have made about the time this board was starting out, I can't any longer make. I guess I'm just happy that some of us, as obnoxious Americans, will always have the outspoken rude loudness to bitch about injustice, no matter whose Happy Sparkly Capitalist-Imperialist Fun Party doing so rains on.

I have no idea what you're even complaining about, here.

[Cloud No.9]

there's a term in my country thst is used quite often. it's "hee haw".

that basicly explains it.

[kawakami Gensai]

I enjoy the fact that I can drive around town and shout at all the pedestrians, and so long as it isnt a racial slur or a fat joke, and get away with it. Oh yeah and Mr. T!

[Madame Adequate]

If you want to see england just come up North. The girls are hotter, the guys are bigger, we drink more, and are a lot friendlier. Just avoid bransholme. Yorkshire rues.

Bollox. All you Geordies are just trying to out-drink the Scots. Seriously, England's not a terrible place, I'd take it over 95% of the world every day of the week, but there's definately a more reserved, unrelaxed attitude over here.

[Cloud No.9]

i dunno my town is pretty relaxed and friendly. strangers saying hi to you in the street. lending you the paper in the bus, that kinda thing is nice.

[Asorie]

Much of what I did love about this country has been eroded, so most of the comments I would have made about the time this board was starting out, I can't any longer make. I guess I'm just happy that some of us, as obnoxious Americans, will always have the outspoken rude loudness to bitch about injustice, no matter whose Happy Sparkly Capitalist-Imperialist Fun Party doing so rains on.

I have no idea what you're even complaining about, here.

I wasn't complaining, there. I was saying that I'm happy that there are still a fair number of Americans who go against the "Whee, we're great!" masturbatory flag-waving self-congratulation and speak out against the injustice going on in this country and in other parts of the world as a direct result of our influence, even if that's not the happy story everyone wants to hear.

The friendliness and eagerness of people in America.

Wait, what people are you talking about? Officials or common folk? I can assure you that the common folk aren't as nice as you'd like.

I guess I like the opportunities the US gives you. I like capitalism. I also like free speech.

And I can absolutely assure you that in... let's see *Counts* over four months of being in the US, the only people who've been rude are (Very occasional) teenagers and airport staff. Maybe you guys are rude, but I think you'd probably die if you came to England. I have not once in my life been randomly complimented by a stranger in England. In the US, it happened within a week of my first arrival. I have not once in my life started a conversation in a store with some stranger based on something they overheard. On my second visit to the US? Yep. Could be some strange freak occurance, but I'm willing to consider it at least indicative of Missouri, Indiana, and Illinois. (Yeah, I visit the exotic states, right? )

Asorie: I'm quite shocked, as you obviously display literacy, yet you lack the capacity to read.

I can read. I did post something I'm glad about. I just think it's really silly to have a thread where we're only "allowed" to talk about Reasons This Country's So Wonderful So We Can Pretend It's Better Than It Is. If I posted a "Why America Sucks" thread, it would be inundated with comments about how great this place is, no matter what I said in the initial post.

This country, at one point, was pretty good. Never the great wonder our revisionist historians make it out to be, because it has as spotted a history as any other major power, but it has been progressive in the past. We are now regressive. I am disgusted that our potential to do great good has been squashed in this regressive backlash, that bad leaders have taken what could have been great and done inexcusable things with it. I am more disturbed that most people seem so inclined as to ignore this and to be happy because, well, your odds of being shot in the head when you go outside are slightly less than in the Middle East (unless you're a poor black male teenager in Gary, Indiana, or a Hispanic girl in south or East Chicago, in states you laud for their wonderful friendliness!), because we have better TV shows, and because we can buy more kinds of potato chips in the grocery store.

So, yeah, the US is great, if you're white, male, Christian, and have a decent income. It's excellent if you can afford to be educated despite the massive cuts in financial aid that people posting here seem unaware of; it's ideal if you don't ever need health insurance or want to control your reproductive choices. It frustrates me that people who are posting happy things about our country seem to not know what life's like outside of the suburbs, where most people CAN'T afford higher education, if they can even complete high school. This idea that all Americans have access to any of these good things is simply factually incorrect. This isn't a "good things about America" thread so much as it's a "things that I have personally found gratifying about living in this country in my social position". There's a huge difference. Go to poor Appalachia, the Northwoods, southern Texas, the plains states, and you'll see it.

The best thing about America is that if people wake up and actually start to CARE about something other than consumerism and what's inside their gated communities and college campuses, it's probably not too late to retrieve some of that potential. The greatest thing about this place is that even uneven wealth has left enough of us with good health and money to spare so that we could, if we chose, actually effect social change that a mother of four working two full time jobs for less than a living wage will never have time to work for.

[Madame Adequate]

I can read. I did post something I'm glad about. I just think it's really silly to have a thread where we're only "allowed" to talk about Reasons This Country's So Wonderful So We Can Pretend It's Better Than It Is. If I posted a "Why America Sucks" thread, it would be inundated with comments about how great this place is, no matter what I said in the initial post.

Pretty sure you already have a dozen threads to talk about things you dislike about the US for, though. Still, I understand your point. If someone in such a thread said blatant untruths, I'd be all over them, as I know Hachi and Raist would, and probably a few others besides.

This country, at one point, was pretty good. Never the great wonder our revisionist historians make it out to be, because it has as spotted a history as any other major power, but it has been progressive in the past. We are now regressive. I am disgusted that our potential to do great good has been squashed in this regressive backlash, that bad leaders have taken what could have been great and done inexcusable things with it. I am more disturbed that most people seem so inclined as to ignore this and to be happy because, well, your odds of being shot in the head when you go outside are slightly less than in the Middle East (unless you're a poor black male teenager in Gary, Indiana, or a Hispanic girl in south or East Chicago, in states you laud for their wonderful friendliness!), because we have better TV shows, and because we can buy more kinds of potato chips in the grocery store.

America's crime rate has been falling consistently for thirty years, and has now reached the lowest point in recorded history for many categories. I'm quite tired of America being portrayed as this trigger-happy murder-ready nation when the reality is that this has long since passed, and whatever problems there were have larger been subsumed by comparative western nation's crime rates.

So, yeah, the US is great, if you're white, male, Christian, and have a decent income. It's excellent if you can afford to be educated despite the massive cuts in financial aid that people posting here seem unaware of; it's ideal if you don't ever need health insurance or want to control your reproductive choices. It frustrates me that people who are posting happy things about our country seem to not know what life's like outside of the suburbs, where most people CAN'T afford higher education, if they can even complete high school. This idea that all Americans have access to any of these good things is simply factually incorrect. This isn't a "good things about America" thread so much as it's a "things that I have personally found gratifying about living in this country in my social position". There's a huge difference. Go to poor Appalachia, the Northwoods, southern Texas, the plains states, and you'll see it.

For the record, I'm white, dislike being male, abhor religion, and have smurf all of an income. But that's because Britain's socialist practises have ruined the economy and make it very difficult for businesses to start and expand. Fewer jobs are not good. America has lower taxes and thus is a better place to find jobs. Even minimum-wage jobs are good there, though they mightn't put you through college. Work at it awhile. Get a promotion. Save up and get training for a better-paid job. Don't be an idiot with your money, basically.

I don't care for other people's social positions, frankly. They can sort their own messes out. In truth, I'd go so far as to say it's good those things exist in the US because it shows the government isn't yet too powerful, and doesn't yet tax too highly. Not a single one of my American friends of college age has complained about the lack of financial aid, because most of them are on it and find it quite adequate. And frankly, if people in the less fortunate parts of the States actually put their minds to it, instead of demanding Affirmative Action and compensation from companies who built slave boats 400 years ago, they'd be a hell of a lot better off. Look at Chinese immigrants. They came over and did menial labor for a long time, but they worked hard/ And now they are popularly held to be among the most hardworking and dedicated citizens you can find. As well as among the most skilled.

"it's ideal if you don't ever need health insurance or want to control your reproductive choices."

First point, I'd rather have the choice of health insurance than be forced into an inadequate, failing, and understaffed system. I'd also rather be too poor to have the choice, because I've got principles I put forward my agenda by, not by whatever benefits me the most. Had Britain followed on from Thatcherism in the 80s, I'd probably have had a much harder life with significantly fewer things. I'm not rich by any first world standard.

Control your reproductive choices? Are you talking about abortion? If so, I'm with you. I don't find it very savory at all, but I support abortion.

The best thing about America is that if people wake up and actually start to CARE about something other than consumerism and what's inside their gated communities and college campuses, it's probably not too late to retrieve some of that potential. The greatest thing about this place is that even uneven wealth has left enough of us with good health and money to spare so that we could, if we chose, actually effect social change that a mother of four working two full time jobs for less than a living wage will never have time to work for.

The opposite. The best thing about America is that people are not forced to care about anything other than what they want to, and they dno't have to look beyond their gated communities and college campuses. Or at least, that they are not forced to as much as most other nations are.

And that woman shouldn't have had children she can't support.

[Asorie]

So, in other words, America is great to you because of our "every man for himself", "screw everyone but myself" attitude?

That's really something to praise. Boy, I feel morally inferior, now.

You clearly have no idea what the realities of income, taxes (which are not all federal; county and city taxes are extremely high and getting higher, particularly property taxes), crime, and healthcare are in this country. Many of the poorest people whom I mentioned are white and are not demanding reparations from anyone. Many are working eighty hours a week and are still barely able to support themselves because minimum wage hasn't gone up in nearly a decade, there is little to no public transit, and "wonderful" American companies like Wal-Mart treat their workers terribly while putting all of their competitors out of business, eliminating alternative jobs. I can't believe the generalizing racism in your last post. And while I agree that those who have children should only do so when they can support them, you are sadly ignorant as to the reality of trying, as a young woman, a low-income woman, or a woman far from a large city, to get birth control or even adequate information.

And just because your friends happen to get adequate financial aid doesn't believe that's available to everyone. Financial aid has been slashed hugely in recent years.

[nik0tine]

I like how American culture just kind of 'absorbs' people of different culture into it. It minimilizes the differences between people, and, therefore, there is less hatred, and less stupidity.

[black orb]

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