What pre-occupies and motivates ordinary Americans?
Jan 12th 2005, 6:07 pm
#1
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6,848
What pre-occupies and motivates ordinary Americans?
....Discuss...
No, not really! - but an examination by a BBC reporter of what Americans in various parts of the US really think about life in their nation.
Starting today (Wed 12th Jan at 3pm ET) on the BBC World Service is a series called "The State of the Union" where the journalist visits a turkey farm, attends a service at the world's biggest gay and lesbian church, goes on border patrol and stays on a cowboy ranch.
Even if you can't get the BBC World service on your radio (which I think is mainly on XFM and Sirius satellite radio in the US) you can hear the report at any time on the World Service website - I think today's programme will run for a week and then replaced by the 2nd part....I think it may be a four-part series. It's probably definitely worth a listen:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/pr...entary_2.shtml
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/default.stm
No, not really! - but an examination by a BBC reporter of what Americans in various parts of the US really think about life in their nation.
Starting today (Wed 12th Jan at 3pm ET) on the BBC World Service is a series called "The State of the Union" where the journalist visits a turkey farm, attends a service at the world's biggest gay and lesbian church, goes on border patrol and stays on a cowboy ranch.
Even if you can't get the BBC World service on your radio (which I think is mainly on XFM and Sirius satellite radio in the US) you can hear the report at any time on the World Service website - I think today's programme will run for a week and then replaced by the 2nd part....I think it may be a four-part series. It's probably definitely worth a listen:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/pr...entary_2.shtml
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/default.stm
Last edited by Englishmum; Jan 12th 2005 at 6:10 pm.
Jan 12th 2005, 6:18 pm
#2
Not living a 9 to 5 life
Joined: Jun 2002
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 11,061
Re: What pre-occupies and motivates ordinary Americans?
Answer: money and the pursuit of wealth. Some may kid you and try and pass it off as the pursuit of happiness but that's bullschitt. You know and they know is that they want "lodsa money", even if means ripping off other citizens...
Now, I'll switch off to less cynical mode.
NC Penguin
Now, I'll switch off to less cynical mode.
NC Penguin
Jan 12th 2005, 6:51 pm
#3
Mr. Grumpy
Joined: Jun 2003
Location: Nashville, TN
Posts: 3,100
Re: What pre-occupies and motivates ordinary Americans?
Food...
Jan 12th 2005, 7:31 pm
#4
BE Site Lead
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: MA, USA
Posts: 92,170
Re: What pre-occupies and motivates ordinary Americans?
A good whinge like the rest of us 
Jan 12th 2005, 7:33 pm
#5
Senior Moment
Joined: Nov 2003
Location: NYC
Posts: 5,008
Re: What pre-occupies and motivates ordinary Americans?
The ;and of people that think 40 hours a week and no holidays is fine?
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$
Jan 12th 2005, 7:44 pm
#6
Not living a 9 to 5 life
Joined: Jun 2002
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 11,061
Re: What pre-occupies and motivates ordinary Americans?
The wrath of God. Also, being taken away by the Feds or abducted by aliens (or mother-in-law depending on if the American believes in aliens).
NC Penguin
NC Penguin
Jan 12th 2005, 7:51 pm
#7
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 22,105
Re: What pre-occupies and motivates ordinary Americans?
Hmmm....interesting. Well, I'm by no means your average American (I mean what the hell is that?) thankfully, I've lived outside the country and then come back, it very much opens your eyes. 
But, if I was still in the UK, I'd be wondering if my TV license was being put to good use....who really cares what the typical or average 
anybody has to say or does, or thinks, or eats or whatever.....interesting. Racial TV at its best. 
But, if I was still in the UK, I'd be wondering if my TV license was being put to good use....who really cares what the typical or average anybody has to say or does, or thinks, or eats or whatever.....interesting. Racial TV at its best.
Jan 12th 2005, 7:57 pm
#8
Powder Maggot
Joined: Nov 2004
Location: Nuevo Mexico
Posts: 4,452
Re: What pre-occupies and motivates ordinary Americans?
Originally Posted by Englishmum
<snip> a turkey farm, attends a service at the world's biggest gay and lesbian church, goes on border patrol and stays on a cowboy ranch.
Jan 12th 2005, 8:10 pm
#9
Concierge
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 46,388
Re: What pre-occupies and motivates ordinary Americans?
Perfect cross sampling of Americans for their report ... are they for real or the British version of the National Enquirer?
Originally Posted by Englishmum
....Discuss...
No, not really! - but an examination by a BBC reporter of what Americans in various parts of the US really think about life in their nation.
Starting today (Wed 12th Jan at 3pm ET) on the BBC World Service is a series called "The State of the Union" where the journalist visits a turkey farm, attends a service at the world's biggest gay and lesbian church, goes on border patrol and stays on a cowboy ranch.
Even if you can't get the BBC World service on your radio (which I think is mainly on XFM and Sirius satellite radio in the US) you can hear the report at any time on the World Service website - I think today's programme will run for a week and then replaced by the 2nd part....I think it may be a four-part series. It's probably definitely worth a listen:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/pr...entary_2.shtml
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/default.stm
No, not really! - but an examination by a BBC reporter of what Americans in various parts of the US really think about life in their nation.
Starting today (Wed 12th Jan at 3pm ET) on the BBC World Service is a series called "The State of the Union" where the journalist visits a turkey farm, attends a service at the world's biggest gay and lesbian church, goes on border patrol and stays on a cowboy ranch.
Even if you can't get the BBC World service on your radio (which I think is mainly on XFM and Sirius satellite radio in the US) you can hear the report at any time on the World Service website - I think today's programme will run for a week and then replaced by the 2nd part....I think it may be a four-part series. It's probably definitely worth a listen:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/pr...entary_2.shtml
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/default.stm
Jan 12th 2005, 9:10 pm
#10
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 68,280
Re: What pre-occupies and motivates ordinary Americans?
Medical Insurance ...there lives revolve totally around it..
Jan 12th 2005, 9:56 pm
#11
BE Site Lead
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: MA, USA
Posts: 92,170
Re: What pre-occupies and motivates ordinary Americans?
Originally Posted by Ray
Medical Insurance ...there lives revolve totally around it..
Jan 12th 2005, 10:28 pm
#12
Former Blonde
Joined: Nov 2003
Location: In a wibbly-wobbly world of my own
Posts: 1,380
Re: What pre-occupies and motivates ordinary Americans?
Originally Posted by Rete
Perfect cross sampling of Americans for their report ... are they for real or the British version of the National Enquirer?
Jan 13th 2005, 1:22 am
#13
Pagan Sex God
Joined: May 2002
Location: Living in Oblivion
Posts: 3,668
Re: What pre-occupies and motivates ordinary Americans?
Money, the republic conservatives seem to forget that greed (or averice) is still one of the seven deadly sins.
Jan 13th 2005, 1:46 am
#14
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2005
Location: the wrong place
Posts: 892
Re: What pre-occupies and motivates ordinary Americans?
SUCCESS is the answer to your question.....now what "success" means is everyones own opinion.......but they say success they really mean "HAPPYNESS"......they think success will bring them happiness.......sometimes it does and sometimes it doesn't....one thing I know is that EVERY human wants first and foremost "HAPPYNESS"......they just say it with different words
Jan 13th 2005, 6:29 am
#15
British/Irish(ish) Duncs
Joined: Jan 2003
Location: Cambridge MA, via Mississippi and Belfast Northern Ireland.
Posts: 700
Re: What pre-occupies and motivates ordinary Americans?
WORK CONSUME WORK CONSUME WORK CONSUME WORK CONSUME WORK CONSUME... 