America: The Grim Truth, page 1
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Topic started on 6-4-2010 @ 08:00 PM by predator0187
americathegrimtruth.wordpress.com...

Quote from source:
Americans, I have some bad news for you:

You have the worst quality of life in the developed world - by a wide margin.

If you had any idea of how people really lived in Western Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and many parts of Asia, you'd be rioting in the streets calling for a better life. In fact, the average Australian or Singaporean taxi driver has a much better standard of living than the typical American white-collar worker.

I know this because I am an American, and I escaped from the prison you call home.

I have lived all around the world, in wealthy countries and poor ones, and there is only one country I would never consider living in again: The United States of America. The mere thought of it fills me with dread.

Consider this: you are the only people in the developed world without a single-payer health system. Everyone in Western Europe, Japan, Canada, Australia, Singapore and New Zealand has a single-payer system. If they get sick, they can devote all their energies to getting well. If you get sick, you have to battle two things at once: your illness and the fear of financial ruin. Millions of Americans go bankrupt every year due to medical bills, and tens of thousands die each year because they have no insurance or insufficient insurance. And don't believe for a second that rot about America having the world's best medical care or the shortest waiting lists: I've been to hospitals in Australia, New Zealand, Europe, Singapore, and Thailand, and every one was better than the "good" hospital I used to go to back home. The waits were shorter, the facilities more comfortable, and the doctors just as good.

This is ironic, because you need a good health system more than anyone else in the world. Why? Because your lifestyle is almost designed to make you sick.


I had to post this because it is a brilliant article. I know people know most of the stuff in here but the way it is worded is great.

It sheds a lot of light on some things and will maybe help a few people with their state of mind.

My favorite part?

In closing, I want to remind you of something: unless you are an American Indian or a descendant of slaves, at some point your ancestors chose to leave their homeland in search of a better life. They weren't traitors and they weren't bad people, they just wanted a better life for themselves and their families. Isn't it time that you continue their journey?


Brilliant ending and very true.

Any thoughts?

Pred...


reply posted on 6-4-2010 @ 08:18 PM by poedxsoldiervet
reply to post by predator0187



one less socialist, millions more to go... Our ancetors left there home nation to get away from oppresive governments only to see one rise here.... Maybe I can move to another planet if we find one


reply posted on 6-4-2010 @ 08:23 PM by predator0187
reply to post by poedxsoldiervet



I agree! I tell my wife that all the time that when it's possible we're moving to another planet. Hopefully in our lifetimes.

To keep governments down we need them to be for us. Not to be distracted by the propaganda put in front of us or whatever entertainment they need to fool us. We just have to stop being lazy.

Pred...



reply posted on 6-4-2010 @ 10:40 PM by predator0187
reply to post by AlreadyGone



So your one of the very few and you want us to judge the country on you?

How much time did you get to spend with your kid when she was growing up?

I do not know how old you are but barely anybody has no mortgage, truck payment and can afford to send their kids to college.

I am happy for you that you have been able to afford this and you should have a good job. The thing is though because you have a good life that means everyone does?

Kind of an oxymoron I guess....seeing you hated the OP...which states that not everyone had these things...but maybe you did not read it...

Pred...


reply posted on 6-4-2010 @ 10:44 PM by ExPostFacto
reply to post by predator0187



I never understood why they didn't simply do a single payer system and make it optional. I know many people that would rather do that than pay an insurance company for the same insurance.


reply posted on 6-4-2010 @ 10:47 PM by LaMadameDuval
reply to post by predator0187



I read the article. The author tells little about him or herself, where they came from in the US, what race or ethnic group they belonged to in the US, what political affiliation they hold. The health care issue is valid and real. Our corporatization is real. Will this occur in other countries we would move to? Would the 'new' home view us as upstart immigrants the way immigrants in the USA are viewed?

To move to a new land, you would have to understand the culture, language and mores of the people in order to fit in and feel at home. It would be wrenching but if you fear some catastrophe in the future and you want out while the gettin is good, then...


reply posted on 6-4-2010 @ 11:11 PM by OnceReturned

Millions of Americans go bankrupt every year due to medical bills


It would be a compelling article if it were true. But of course, it's not.

Millions of American go bankrupt every year due to medical bills, eh? Well according to the American Bankruptcy Institute 1.4 million people declared bankruptcy in 2009, and that was the highest number since 2005. So, no, "millions" do not file for bankruptcy every year period, let alone from medical bills. The ABI, which is the leading institution studying bankruptcy in the US blames most of the bankruptcies on unemployment and housing debt.
Source
Additional Stats

The ABI:

ABI is the largest multi-disciplinary, nonpartisan organization dedicated to research and education on matters related to insolvency. ABI was founded in 1982 to provide Congress and the public with unbiased analysis of bankruptcy issues.

www.abiworld.org...

I haven't even bothered to get into this article because I researched literally the first objective claim that the author made and it was totally bogus. He just made it up, because he wants to tell everyone how bad the US is.

What are the motives of someone who just lies about America, to Americans, in order to make us think our lives are bad? He literally wants us to move?


Isn't it time that you continue their journey?


Wtf? Why does this guy even care where I live? If he was looking out for my best interests - which of course he's not, no random person writing editorials is - he wouldn't have to lie about it. If it was really so bad, he wouldn't have to lie about it. If we thought it was so bad and we could move, we just would. He's not changing anyone's minds. He's just a jerk who hates America.

Pred, I like all of your threads. You do a great job, but I think presenting this article was a serious lapse in your otherwise consistently high quality thread producing performance. It's false, it's a lie to promote a message that everyone either already believes will not be convinced of by this nonsense. Don't publish lies about America.

[edit on 4/6/10 by OnceReturned]


reply posted on 7-4-2010 @ 12:27 AM by MaxBlack
I have to agree with the article and the posting. I have traveled the world and lived in Europe and in Central and South America. After the first four years of being gone from the USA, I returned for a vacation and relished in being able to get a real McDonald's Cheeseburger again but I also realized that in many other places around the world, the culture, society and what they consider as freedoms are things that most will say Americans do not have like they do in other countries.

In fact, too often I would be told that Americans were too out of touch with reality because all Americans were obsessive compulsive robot like mind controlled Americans obsessed with mowing the lawn and acting like Nazi's when the neighbors didn't mow theirs to the same standard. They would tell me of visiting America and the experiences they had and that what we take for freedom was not the same for them. In fact they said we were too uptight. Can you believe that? Too uptight.

Over time I realized the many things to include all the foods in Europe were mostly non GMO and as such, food tastes differently. Health factors are different. While some things cost a lot, others things do not. It was just funny to hear so many Europeans tell me that most Americans were too unaware of what was being done to us by our elected leaders and the TV.

Some would say it's because of the false educational standards that move people along to get along and not because they really learned anything. They would comment about the foods we eat and the things we drink that we think are good for us.

Others would say the we are kept divided and confused on purpose, but for most Europeans and most Central and South Americans, just about anyone I ever met and knew over a few years time always would comment on how Americans were living in a fantasy world no where near resembling reality.

Anyway, the grim truth is that even I now realize, that too many Americans are asleep as if in a trance and for the likes of me I just don't know how they are doing it, because when I returned to America for good, I could see this difference in everyone I met and in society as a whole. There are still times that I feel as if America changed while I was gone and for me I can see a change that is overwhelming. As such, this posting is more true than most would know.

Thanks for the posting.


reply posted on 7-4-2010 @ 01:05 AM by Gehirn
Originally posted by Damian-007
Continue the Journey.. Excellent..

I live in Australia. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else. This is an Awsome Country and was even better then it is now.

We've been going downhill for a while now because of Migrant Freeloaders and because of Helping America acheive their misguided goals in Wars we should never of been part of.

We've also been going downhill because of Greedy politicians Corrupt Cops and Greedy Corporations that see Australians and Australia itself as an Easy Target.

We've also been going downhill because we have been letting other people from other countries buy our land and Jack the prices up so that Young Australians will never be able to afford the Luxuries that I have now.

But, It's still a better country than just about anywhere else in the world.

I guess America was once like this Country was before the American Politicians and Greedy Corporations started to destroy the American way of life.


Australia is also heading downhill due to apathy. People don't care about a piece of legislation if it doesn't affect them directly.
Take the fact that in Australia women with small breasts are banned from being viewed in adult publications. Why? Because they look too much like children and that incites pedophilia. Most people don't even know about this being passed but when you look at it, it is obvious and blatant discrimination with absolutely no basis. How the hell does this stand unopposed?

Chalk it up to a "She'll be right" attitude in Aus. Basically if you chuck up a fuss about something you're a psycho and you need to chill out and stop taking things seriously.


reply posted on 7-4-2010 @ 01:09 AM by Gehirn
Originally posted by Well
Awww poor guy

images.google.com...


This as well is actually a common response to criticism of our society as well.
When you complain about something not being right people turn around and say at least you're not a starving child in some third world country.

So is that to say that we should not seek improvement in our society until we reach a level where people drop dead from poverty every second?
If people don't care about society's direction then they should stay out of the arguement.


reply posted on 7-4-2010 @ 02:01 AM by predator0187
reply to post by signal2noise



No America doesn't suck, but their health care does. If you look at health statistics of the world the U.S. isn't anywhere near the top, when, in all due respect, the world super-power should be leading, and setting an example.

Pred...
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