Mitzyboy

Its OK Rosemary, they arent supposed to stop you, they just stick you on an Island near Cuba for as long as they want to

Dick Dasterdly

Yeh, but for a nation of ppl.who have to get in a gas guzzling motor just to progress a hundred metres down the street to the next shop or house, what do you really expect ?
In a few generations time I expect they'll be born without legs.

amideislas

Well, yes, in fact:

• It's a lot easier and less expensive to start up a business and run it. And business law is designed to encourage success, rather than discourage it.
  
• Standard of living is generally higher and cost of living is generally lower (depending on where you live of course)
  
• Much greater consumer choice and widespread availability of goods from all over the world (at lower prices than we pay).
  
• Income taxes are about 1/3 what they are here.
  
• Highest VAT is 8%. In most states less than 6%, in some states, 0.
  
• Much lower bureacracy in virtually everything in government.
  
• Much simpler and less expensive legal recourse if you're defrauded by anyone.
  
• Service-oriented mindset. You can expect to actually receive products you order on time as promised, and they are much more likely to actually be what you ordered, and you can actually return them for refund if not.
  
• No waiting in queues at the supermarket because they aren't afraid to hire more cashiers, and will open more checkout aisles immediately if there is a line. Also, since many supermarkets are open 24 hours 7 days a week, it's not neccessary to rush to shop on Saturday. Plus many supermarkets will pack and carry your bags to your car for you.

Shall I go on?

Sally Redux

Bureaucracy here is unbelieveable, just to pick one thing from that list of arguable/plain wrong points. Think Kafka/old Soviet Union bad.

amideislas

Well, you apparently haven't been to Spain:

Mitzyboy

Yes, you could tell us about the high crime rate, the murders, the school and work place shootings, the poor health care for the not so well off, the high property taxes in certain areas, the credit card cloning problems in supermarkets, the high expected tip rates in restaurants etc that sometimes negate the lower taxes .... shall I go on

But no, can we keep to topic rather than turn this into an I Love America thread

jackytoo

Yes it's another pissing contest....you have joined in though

BTW Spain has the worst credit card fraud record...just saying Lets get back to the coffee, or the PC stuff whatever...purleese!

amideislas

Sounds a bit like the UK, Germany, or Italy to me. Some of those things are like here in Spain, too. Lots of crime and murders, and credit card fraud in those countries, too. I won't even mention the "lesser" EU member states, where crime is even higher. Isn't it Romania that's the credit card fraud capital of the world?

By the way, healthcare costs in the US are indeed about 20% higher than here, but we pay nearly double taxes for that discount.

And... You should tip here, too, but perhaps you consider it a perk that you choose not to?

Let's see, any other gratuities you feel forced to avoid (charities, etc) because the cost of living is so expensive, that you haven't enough disposable income to afford it?

And just for the record, I believe it was Dick who started the anti-US rhetoric which doesn't make much sense:

And then it was you, Mitz, who decided to egg it on:

But naturally, since my responses are contrary to what some people want to believe (and for lack of a better defence), it inevitably resolves to the implication that I started this off-topic rant, which makes all my arguments discredible.

Right, then. Like most of the other arguments, just wishful thinking.

Mitzyboy

My apologies . My original sarcastic remarks (research) were obviously lost. I don't care about people comparing PC etc in different countries but (even as a lover of America) I just didn't want it turned into another I love America thread

jackytoo

Getting back to the coffee and a bit of PC...did anyone see yesterday where a bus driver in the UK turned everyone off the bus and specialist cleaners were sent in because someone spilt a coffee

I suppose we have to blame the culture of suing in the UK, if someone had slipped on the spilt coffee and bruised their little finger they would have been in line for a payout of a few thousand at least

Mitzyboy

Did they have to wear those special white suits. They do say that coffee is bad for your health dont they

fionamw

On which, and safely on thread title, if not intention ...... did you see Embarrassing Bodies the other night with the woman addicted to (get ready) self-administered instant coffee enemas?

Enough to put you off your nube

reggiedh

Watch out. Someone said something that wasn't negative about the US. They'll have hell to pay on this forum.