YankeePride

This entire site has been so eye-opening for me. I have so many questions. I picked my screen name because we Americans get BASHED on here. I'm not normally the flag-waving type, but finding out so many people in the world seem to dislike us really perks up my pride even more.

In response to the discussion about employment, it seems some of you want the best parts of socialism combined with the best parts of capitalism. And since a number of you seem to think Britain does a better job of providing that, I have to ask the obvious question: What keeps you here? If what keeps you here is a job, I assume if you could find an equivalent job in Britain you would. So if you can't, it would seem you're reaping the benefits of American capitalism while at the same time decrying it.

I've only been in England very briefly, and I've never been to other parts of Britain, so I don't have enough experience to make a judgment myself, but I’ve heard a number of British people say a lot of workers in Britain seem miserable; many customer service workers are rude (which I now might understand since this thread seems to suggest poor performers know they’re not in danger of getting fired – I kind of thought that was only a French thing ); hard work doesn't get rewarded; ambitious people are often looked down upon; entrepreneurial spirit isn’t as prevalent among the young as it is in America; and there’s accepted “class”/accent discrimination in hiring and promotion. So I ask those who’ve worked in both Britain and America, a) do you generally find these to be true, and b) if so, do you have any theories on why, despite what many of you say are superior working conditions in Britain, workers might be unhappier anyway? In other words, why aren’t long lunches, shorter days, longer vacations, government-sponsored health care, etc., making employees happier? Is it the rain? Seriously, I’m interested in your theories.

On another note, my jaw drops to the floor when I read about the many on this site who seem to move to Arizona, or Texas, or Florida, and then say they’re leaving America because it’s too hot and too Republican??? That would be like me saying I left France because I discovered after I moved there they spoke French.

Tip 1 of life in America, and of anywhere in the world: If you don’t like hot weather, don’t move to a desert, man. (Or a Florida tropical zone.) Makes life so much easier. If you don’t like conservatives, move to Massachusetts or New York or Vermont; if you don’t like harsh winters, move to the West Coast or the South. We have plenty of climate and political choice here. Don’t blame an entire country because you pitch your tent in a desert and expect sand to become ocean beneath your feet.

I personally couldn’t imagine living permanently in a country governed by a monarchy (talk about antiquated government systems...), but if I did, I would know know what I was getting into and wouldn’t spend my days sulking because an entire country wouldn’t change for me. And I’m someone who absolutely agrees America has much to improve upon; maybe someday we’ll get to a point where we can offer the rose without the thorns.

On the other hand, it occurs to me that overlooked in the criticism about health care is the fact that the U.S. has also pioneered worker safety measures; pioneered product safety and child safety regulations; abandoned a lot of industrial practices that were damaging to people and the environment; encourages (at some level) developing countries to improve working conditions and environmental practices; is probably the easiest country in the world in which to sue corporations for discrimination, deceptive advertising, injury, malpractice, shoddy workmanship and the like; and led the world in anti-smoking education and initiatives, banning smoking in a lot of places so workers wouldn’t be forced to breathe smoke against their will. Maybe some Europeans would prefer shorter maternity leaves in exchange for not having to suck down other people’s smoke during the pregnancy. There are a lot of positive things about the U.S. approach to healthy living. The U.S. is not indifferent to the needs of workers.

I think the idea behind the U.S. approach might be that when a company is free to gear its efforts toward maximum profit (by doing things like firing crappy workers, for instance), that company will then have the natural incentive to make its workers’ lives more pleasant in order to attract the best employees. Which doesn’t always happen, of course, but does happen with a lot of innovative companies; the most progressive of them offer perks and bonuses that would probably blow other Western countries out of the water. And getting fired isn’t always an awful thing people need to be protected from at all costs; sometimes it frees you to discover and pursue your true passions in life. I’ve been let go a few times in my life, and every time other than when took I the opportunity to pursue my own business ventures, I walked out the door and found a higher-paying job.

Ultimately, I have to say, if I have to choose between health care and sunshine, sunshine wins every day of the week. NO CONTEST. Human beings did actually survive before health insurance, you know. Did the pilgrims have the NHS to tuck them in at night? They survived, huh?

civilservant

Thai has to be the most amusing post Ive ever seen on BE.

You clearly dont know the British. At all.

We aren't governed by the monachy. It's a parliamentary democracy. There goes your credibility.

One could easily suggest that the most dangerous export of the United States has been the presidential republic, without a strong constitution it can and has led to abuse of power and dictatorship.

The US has as many social problems as anywhere else.

Anyway, Mods apologies for taking this completely off topic!

christmasoompa

If you knew anything about Brits, then you'd know that we like to piss take, banter, be sarcastic and complain. A LOT.

I can't believe you've taken it all so seriously!

The clue is in the forum name.

Apfelkuchen

I wonder what the potential healthcare costs are for an uninsured skin cancer patient.

YankeePride

Happy to amuse, Civil Servant! Most amusing in BE history with my very first post! SCORE!

I've dated the British, if that counts for knowledge.

Pick whatever verb you want to replace "governed." I'm well aware you have a parliament and a prime minister, but you also have a bunch of people you pay obscene amounts of tax money to to run around Vegas taking their clothes off. And you're considered their "subjects," whatever the hell that means. And you're expected to bow down to one of them, as if she were a god.That I know about Britain. I'm not doing any curtsies for American politicians, I can tell you that. Worshipping human beings is a way more dangerous export.

Where did I deny the U.S. had social problems? My point was, if you came here expecting all roses and no thorns, and you thought all the successes of American industry came without a price, you are probably wiser to seek that utopia elsewhere.

I live in Massachusetts, where health insurance is mandatory, and state-subsidized for those who can't afford it. So no one here has to sacrifice health care for sunshine. That's part of my point – pick your states wisely and do your research before moving here, not on the plane ride back home.

civilservant

I don't think it does count to be honest, dating a Brit and growing up in the culture as a native are two very different things. My wife would never presume to know what it is to be a Brit, despite being married to me.

There are few of us that would do so either, however a large number of Americans did watch the Royal Wedding. Hard to argue against them when so many of your own countryman find them fascinating! I dont think there are any countries who have moved to a monarchy from anything else - so to call it an export is just plain wrong.

Most of us are well aware of the differences between the US and the UK, but to suggest that because we have made the choice to live here we should lose any right to social commentary is ridiculous...

.... or does the 1st amendment only apply to people who aren't criticising 'the land of the free'?

YankeePride

Yeah, I've noticed a bunch of you on here complain, A LOT. But I imagine the ones who aren't busy complaining all day are actually out making the best of where they live, so I wouldn't tar all British people with your brush.

And you may not be aware of the earnestness of some people's derision, but I'm a sharp-enough Yankee to tell you some people ain't kiddin'.

civilservant

You're a Yankee, that says it all.... I prefer Southerners

My wife (from SC) always says Yankees have an inferiority complex

YankeePride

Wait, I'm having to explain sarcasm to a Brit? Even when I took the extra step of putting a smiley next to my comment?

For clarification, I don't actually think dating a Brit counts as knowledge, especially for the short time we dated.

Is there a tongue-in-cheek icon I should use next time?

Apfelkuchen

If I had my way, the monarchy would be abolished. However, what you apparently don't know about Britain is that the monarchy's existence has no practical impact on the daily lives of the overwhelming majority of the population. Which is presumably why issues that do, such as employment conditions and healthcare, are the ones that feature when people compare their lives in the two countries.

I don't disagree that it is wise to research your options in advance, but plenty of people on here moved because of a job in a specific place or to be with a partner. Which is not to say that they didn't freely choose to move, but that the choice of where to move to is often restricted. Furthermore, as someone who has lived in four different countries, my experience is that you don't really find out what a place is like until you have lived there for a while.

YankeePride

I have no idea why so many Americans are fascinated by them, but it certainly doesn't stop me from arguing against the concept of human beings granted a state-sanctioned position of superiority and wealth by virtue only of their birth.

I live near a city that to this day has a river named after King Charles; a part of that city that was changed from a Native American name to "Charlestown"; a neighborhood of that city that's renowned for "Charles Street"; and a history that includes dumping tea in the harbor to fight for independence from the crown. So please don't try to tell me that monarchical rule has never been a British export. Some countries in India might disagree with you as well.

mikelincs

You need to brush up on your geography as well, mind you coming from a country where 25% of the people couldn't place the USA on a map that's not too surprizing. India ia A country, there are NO other countries in India.

civilservant

Put it this way, since you became a country we havent exported it.

CHildren

YankeePride

You can find out deserts are hot, and that Arizona and Texas are Republican, without living in them.

civilservant

Thia I will happily agree with. My congressman said that science was evil and contry to the word of god last year.... needless to say I dont agree with this statement...