Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

Allot of media and people tell you, America is a beautiful country.

Only it is better suited, for a holiday, and terrible to live.

Is this true? Is it really a country going to ruins, and has a long road ahead of it self, to rebuild it`s previous pride.

The American people, are so diverse and in general awesome, but the country, gun laws/health care look very bad.


I`d like to read some experiences, of living in the UK versus America, from some members of the board here :)

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

The US effectively has 50 different countries, so it is very difficult to generalize. Some of the 50 "countries" (states) are really going down the tubes economically, others are not as bad. Some states are extremely liberal, others are overrun with Christian fundamentalists who want to ban the teaching of evolution in science lessons, etc,. etc.

I lived in 4 different States over 16 years and loved most of my time there, and go back every year for conferences. I have been back in the UK for 5 years and 80% of that time I have been completely miserable.

The next person responding will probably tell you the exact oppposite. Good luck with making cohesive sense of it all. ;)

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

Its 2 totally different places completely different lifestyles but if you just comparing gun laws/ healthcare well gun laws: so more people in the US carry guns legally theres probably more people in the UK carrying guns illegally than you think. Crime there's just as much violent crime in the UK as there is in the US but it is dramatised more here in the media than in the UK for sure. I see no real difference between the two just as many people struggling in UK as here. As for healthcare yes it costs you here but at least you get seen too now the UK do you really want to spend 5 years on a waiting list for a serious operation hmmm lemme see I dont think so. Taxes here are way less than in the UK so leading to a better lifestyle but of course alot of these things depend on what you really come to the US for everywhere in the world is different and theres pros and cons to them all I still call the UK home and always will I love to be on approach to LHR and look out the window see the land trees etc but I hate getting of the plane and paying 80 gbp to fill up my car and 4 pound for a beer and realising how many years I was screwed on taxes for, I love it here in the USA and would never plan to return to the UK to live.

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

Very interesting thread- I have no experience of living in the USA so keen to hear peoples experiences v UK. As my time draws ever nearer to going I am naturally apprehensive of leaving behind familiarity so look forward to hearing what people have experienced

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

Yes... or no. It depends on who you talk to! Every country has its good and bad points - you won't find any concensus here!


No, far from it! The economy is hurting just now, as is the economy in the UK but, as with all things, that'll change.


I quite like the gun laws here. There will always be idiots who kill for no good reason... but I fancy the idea that I can kill an intruder in my home and not worry about being charged with a crime!

Healthcare... well, that's a whole topic in itself. Suffice to say that a single hospitalization can bankrupt you if you don't have health insurance. Sadly, many don't. If you can afford a good policy, you'll be fine. If you can't... you may find yourself in deep sh*t.

Ian

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

OMG - I can't believe what I'm reading - so you would have absolutely no qualms about shooting someone dead?

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

I bet you, a surprising number of us have a handgun hidden somewhere in our homes... just in case.

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

It's no different than any other country in as much as it has it's good and bad points. On a personal level it cost me more to live here than where I'm from and coming from England the way the health system here works takes some getting used to.

Have I enjoyed living here ? Yes.

Knowing what I know now would I do it again if I could turn the clock back ? More than likely not.

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

That's exactly how I feel. I don't hate it here, but the older I get, the more I wish I hadn't come here. I dread getting old in this country.

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

Have you already read all of the existing threads on this topic?

There seems to be at least one a month so you should probably be able to find at least a hundred of them ... :ohmy:

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

:D

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

Unbelievable isn't it, quite a common fantasy though it seems.

I agree America is nice for a holiday, certainly wish I'd stuck to that.

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

If that someone was an intruder in my home, I wouldn't think twice about it. The gun is in a drawer behind my pillow, clip attached, one in the chamber, and safety on!

Ian

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

Oh dear..... Well, I don't own a gun, and I'm sure I'm never going to....in fact I don't know anyone who has admitted to me that they own a gun. Well except for the police officer neighbor a couple of doors down, but that's his service gun. But, if someone were coming into my house, I might wish I had a gun.....

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

I have indeed dipped in to this topic - It is just interesting to read a current thread on this topic.

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

It's a well known fact that owning a gun does not make you any safer. In fact, you have a greater risk of that gun being used against you. I hate guns, always have, always will. I guess I'm living in the wrong country.......

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

Me too and I know lots of people with guns, and nice as they are its impossible to have an intelligent conversation with any of them. It never can get past "no one is going to take my gun and all gun control will do is leave the guns to the criminals".

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

Few days ago someone tried to break in while we were here. One press of the panic button on the alarm and grabbed the Ruger .380 from the gun safe. Would I have pulled the trigger if they had come through the window, too right I would.

Afterwards I thought about the whole situation and realized that trying to walk around checking the house with a small weapon like the .380 was a bit dangerous. Dangerous because with my hands it is difficult to keep my finger down the side of the barrel and not across the trigger guard. Solved that problem, it now has a Glock 19 as a big brother, easier to carry, and in my hand the bad guys can see you have it. Would I have killed them if they got in, maybe I would have,that is what personal protection hollow point ammunition is sold for. To stop someone before they get to you.

It is called legal self defense. UK and US laws are very similar in that regard.

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

They may well have a valid point! It's exactly how it has become in the UK. Gun crime has risen not declined after the gun ban. If a criminal wants a gun they will get one.

I will stay out of the debate on whether having a gun makes you safer or not!

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

You miss the point!! for example guns continue to be sold to the mentally ill because changing/amending the law equals gun control. People are obsessed with their rghts

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

As a Brit making the big move it's all a bit alien - gun crime and healthcare...hmmm let's see how it all goes...

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

Define what you mean by safer. Are you any more or less likely to be a victim of crime. I bet it makes no difference.

Are you more able to defend yourself. I would say you are and therefore you are probably safer.

Well you would certainly be at a greater risk than if you didn't have one of that happening. Of course if you shoot them before they take the gun off you that greatly reduces or nullifies that risk.

Discounting the mentally ill being involved in mass shootings, how often do you hear of the average sane American being involved in a self defense shooting, other than law enforcement. I feel very unsafe because they let the average person hurtle around the streets in several tons of metal that they haven't been trained to use and delude themselves into thinking they have any clue about how to drive it.

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

If it was wait a while and save myself re-mortgaging or selling my home or car, would i wait............ uh i think so!

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

No I did not miss the point. I just did not want to debate it. I merely pointed out that since the gun ban In the UK, illegal gun crime has actually risen not declined. So the argument that banning guns will reduce gun crime does not necessarily stand up.

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

This should be interesting, I'll check back in later when the "big guns" come along to shoot you down.....;)

Edit to add: I'm not agreeing or disagreeing.....just curious where this one will go...

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

The total number of gun crimes in the UK is infinitesimal compared to the US.

(I'm not sure if that's actually a word, but anyway much, much smaller :lol:)

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

Not denying that. The US has something like 330m people for a start. As I said I am not debating if people should have guns or not. I just pointed out that in the UK gun crime is rising not falling. Legal holders of firearms are rarely involved in gun crime.

Amerlisa, why would I need shooting down? I have expressed a statistical fact about UK gun crime and have not given an opinion on it or on whether people need or should have guns. It is not a debate I care to engage in as it clearly is a passionate subject to many. I prefer to leave that and religion alone......

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

Then stop posting about it :lol:

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

Well comparing the UK to the US is not always debatable..... But what the heck, we do it here on BE ad infinitum :D

Hmmm....infinitesimal.... now that's a word worth remembering.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/infinitesimal

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

You posted an opinion So the argument that banning guns will reduce gun crime does not necessarily stand up.

Everything can always be debated.....;):D

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

Ok. Let's debate it. I am game.

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

lol... Not me! :eek:

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

That pretty much sums it up for me too.

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

Wow sorry you had to wait so long for a serious operation in the UK, or was it a family member?
If I had to wait that long I'd have saved my pennies and paid for private probably.
But then I've never known anyone have to wait long for anything and the family have had really good care in the UK.

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

My Dad and Uncle own guns and would be outraged if anyone suggested that owning one should be outlawed :huh: But hubby on the other hand has never owned one and the simply the thought of handling one would scare him half to death :lol: And if I was truthful, so would I :unsure:

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

I have worked hard for 34 years in the US, and due to a recent health issue, WITH insurance, I am now bankrupt.....Ill take the UK..wont loose everything if I get sick, and dont want to get old in the US thats for sure.

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

:thumbsup:

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

totally amazing how many Americans seem to do it successfully :zzz:.

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

Good luck to them.!! Its totally amazing how many live in poverty too.

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

I asked DH the other day (mostly after reading posts on here) what we would do when we were old. He seemed bemused as to why it would be an issue, I explained things I read etc, still unfazed, he simply didn't get my question, maybe its down to planning, saving, medical schemes, who knows (not my forte to read or understand, I see that as his job!)

But, if its so bad, like you say, theres an awful lot of oldies here!