What's your LEAST favorite thing about the US?
#136
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2006
Location: San Francisco
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Re: What's your LEAST favorite thing about the US?
Infrastructure (in Illinois, anyway) is a frickin' joke. There are pothoes on State Road 137 that are half the size of your car. Potholes in the middle of the road that seem to come out of nowhere. I'd never in my life popped a bead on a tyre until moving here and I've actually just had to have a wheel replaced due to damage from potholes. You always know when you've crossed into Illinois from Wisconsin, even if you miss the signs. That's when the road starts to shake your fillings loose
#137
I have a comma problem
Joined: Feb 2009
Location: Fox Lake, IL (from Carrickfergus NI)
Posts: 49,598
Re: What's your LEAST favorite thing about the US?
Plus, I went to school in Northern Ireland. Different education board, different curriculum. I was probably making an incorrect generalisation myself.
#139
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Joined: Jan 2011
Location: West Sussex - did 3 years in the US...
Posts: 577
Re: What's your LEAST favorite thing about the US?
OMG !
I was watching old Blackadder ("BOB") (and Father Ted) last night.
Oh yes - THAT'S the other thing that's missing here. The Ability To Laugh At Yourself.
I was watching old Blackadder ("BOB") (and Father Ted) last night.
Oh yes - THAT'S the other thing that's missing here. The Ability To Laugh At Yourself.
#140
I have a comma problem
Joined: Feb 2009
Location: Fox Lake, IL (from Carrickfergus NI)
Posts: 49,598
Re: What's your LEAST favorite thing about the US?
Me too. I liked geography as well until we got the noncey, pervy teacher in third year, so I stuck with history for GCSE. I'll always remember my teacher's last word to me before the holidays after 5th year when my choice of A-levels (Physics, Chemistry, Maths, Biology) confirmed to him how mad he though I was
We watched the episode Private Plane quite a bit during our WW1 lessons ...
We watched the episode Private Plane quite a bit during our WW1 lessons ...
#141
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 41,518
Re: What's your LEAST favorite thing about the US?
Me too. I liked geography as well until we got the noncey, pervy teacher in third year, so I stuck with history for GCSE. I'll always remember my teacher's last word to me before the holidays after 5th year when my choice of A-levels (Physics, Chemistry, Maths, Biology) confirmed to him how mad he though I was
#142
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Location: West Sussex - did 3 years in the US...
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Re: What's your LEAST favorite thing about the US?
I always say western Europeans who come to California must think they've gone to a third-world country when they see the state of infrastructure here.
DON'T turn round and ignore the dilapidation by replying "this is the greatest place on earth" and think that excuses everything !
#143
Re: What's your LEAST favorite thing about the US?
Me too. I liked geography as well until we got the noncey, pervy teacher in third year, so I stuck with history for GCSE. I'll always remember my teacher's last word to me before the holidays after 5th year when my choice of A-levels (Physics, Chemistry, Maths, Biology) confirmed to him how mad he though I was
We watched the episode Private Plane quite a bit during our WW1 lessons ...
We watched the episode Private Plane quite a bit during our WW1 lessons ...
I never did A'Levels.
#144
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 41,518
Re: What's your LEAST favorite thing about the US?
Yes - the place is falling apart. But, that's FINE ! The UK has been falling apart for YEARS and we've moaned and groaned at our politicians, accepted people coming in and saying "Why do you not have X, Y, Z" (usually agreed with them) and listened to how they do things in THEIR country. And WOW I've enjoyed SNCF and DB over the years. Caltrain anyone ??? I think they built the trains out of the corrugated iron roof on my granny's lean-to from 1970.
DON'T turn round and ignore the dilapidation by replying "this is the greatest place on earth" and think that excuses everything !
DON'T turn round and ignore the dilapidation by replying "this is the greatest place on earth" and think that excuses everything !
Nothing can stand in the way of the almighty car and its 'freedom'.
#145
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 41,518
Re: What's your LEAST favorite thing about the US?
I did have a great Geography teacher, and while his curriculum was very narrow; he was experienced enough to predict what would be tested, He stuck with a very limited spectrum and made sure we knew it; we then more or less messed around for two years. but what he did teach, he did with enthusiasm and conveyed a love of the subject.
I never did A'Levels.
I never did A'Levels.
#146
Account Closed
Joined: Aug 2002
Location: Kentucky
Posts: 38,865
Re: What's your LEAST favorite thing about the US?
If you truly believe what you wrote, then you're nothing more than a communist.
One of the ways I measure my success is that the guy on the next street lives in abject poverty! I'm doing great by comparison... and I don't much care how he lives.
Ian
#147
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Joined: Jan 2011
Location: West Sussex - did 3 years in the US...
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Re: What's your LEAST favorite thing about the US?
The primary role of the state is to protect it's people from within (police, fire, etc) and from without (army, etc).
I think the French mantra "Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite" sums it up nicely - the state exists to PROTECT those three things, but there is a balance between all three. You cannot have unbridled liberty if it breeds inequality because we are all "brothers." Likewise, over-bearing kinship cannot lead to denial of equality or someone else's liberties.
That seems to be very much the model that most European states have adhered to post WW2.
As for being a communist, I do not believe in the ownership of all goods and services by the state as a communist would. Neither do I believe in a totalitarian state as a communist would.
But I do believe that there are some things that are above simple market economics such as education and healthcare, and that as a society we need to work together to provide those and talk of money in those areas is demeaning. That probably makes me a socialist in the true European socialist model.
One of the ways I measure my success is that the guy on the next street lives in abject poverty!
#148
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Re: What's your LEAST favorite thing about the US?
then you're nothing more than a communist.
Talk about judgmental....
#149
Re: What's your LEAST favorite thing about the US?
there is nothing wrong with being a communist, at least you are not a liberal socialist. And I bet you were not born in Kenya.
#150
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Re: What's your LEAST favorite thing about the US?
at least you are not a liberal socialist