10 things most Americans don't know about America

jtomasik
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jtomasik 6/1/2013 9:01am
6/1/2013 9:01am Edited Date/Time 6/1/2013 9:02am
Barrett57 wrote:
As much as I agree with the article, the middle-east beats America hands-down in the brainwashed/paranoid department.
Ummmm....maybe. We're just a different form of a lot of the same, except we have hi-tech weaponry, thanks largely in part to the oceans that protected us while the rest of the planet was at war. It's pretty bad when we're reduced to being better than that middle-east shit hole. That's our competition...incredible. We're very much like that article says. Heck, look at another thread here, where a few guys are bragging about their score on some hilariously simple 'IQ test', thinking that makes them somehow better than the next guy. Just thinking that proves ignorance, yet they tout their scores like they're just the opposite. It's our "I'm better than you" culture. Reality is each of us is just another swinging dick like any other guy on the planet; we're nothing special, and our arrogance makes us in many ways worse.
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Huevos 6/1/2013 11:21am
6/1/2013 11:21am
I honestly don't give this article much merit simply because of his false praising of Argentina. I lived in Argentina for a few years and my experience was completely opposite from what he's preaching. It was cheaper for me to fly back to the US to get a knee surgery and fly back to Argentina than it was to have it done in Argentina. This guy is absolutely full of crap on some of the points he tries to make. I can't say much about the other examples, but the fact that he claims Argentinas health care is superior to ours is a complete joke, and that right there loses all credibility for his claims.
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JW381 6/1/2013 3:57pm
6/1/2013 3:57pm
Huevos wrote:
I honestly don't give this article much merit simply because of his false praising of Argentina. I lived in Argentina for a few years and my...
I honestly don't give this article much merit simply because of his false praising of Argentina. I lived in Argentina for a few years and my experience was completely opposite from what he's preaching. It was cheaper for me to fly back to the US to get a knee surgery and fly back to Argentina than it was to have it done in Argentina. This guy is absolutely full of crap on some of the points he tries to make. I can't say much about the other examples, but the fact that he claims Argentinas health care is superior to ours is a complete joke, and that right there loses all credibility for his claims.
The problem is the author tried to make his observations and interpretations into cold hard facts. He did a little traveling, spent a fair amount of time in different countries and was all of the sudden an expert on international cultures. I see some truth in a lot of the general statements he made about America, but by no means am I convinced that some other country is leap frogging us in infrastructure categories because of a cheesy dance club taxi with WiFi.

There's definitely an Ameri-centric attitude in America, but that's a nationalism thing, not an American thing. Nationalism in the last two centuries has changed the way people associate themselves with others and form their own identities. I have a Ukrainian friend who thinks that the Ukraine is the greatest land on earth, and he touts his nationality every chance he can get (what others would label as pig-headed, if you're touting American nationalism). How many of us think about the Ukraine, ever? This article just seemed to lack a broader context and perspective.
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PressPassP 6/1/2013 4:55pm
6/1/2013 4:55pm
Having visited America quite a lot I've mostly found people to be decent folk,granted I've often been with friends,mostly Motorcycle people who are a great bunch too,I will say that the ones that have travelled seemed to have quite a different outlook and views compared to those that who havn't but I suppose that's inevitable and goes for many people in general.

I'd say that a majority of the piece is accurate simply in regards to the above,a lot of people think and act a certain way because they don't know any diferrent afterall

And I thought the link was going to say about Budweiser and hamburgers not being American Laughing (which they aren't)

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theinternetkid 6/2/2013 12:08pm
6/2/2013 12:08pm
I'd say that most of the points made by the blogger are true of anyone who hasn't traveled outside of America. At the same time I feel like the same be said for anyone who hasn't been outside of and isolated country. All he's really talking about is a limited view of the world.
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Racer92 6/2/2013 3:59pm
6/2/2013 3:59pm
Lots of truth in that article.
FGR01
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FGR01 6/2/2013 5:09pm
6/2/2013 5:09pm
Just another self-loathing idiot who suddenly fancies himself intellectually superior and qualified to pass judgment because he has traveled a bit.

News Flash: there are idiots all over the world.
jtomasik
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jtomasik 6/3/2013 7:00am
6/3/2013 7:00am
FGR01 wrote:
Just another self-loathing idiot who suddenly fancies himself intellectually superior and qualified to pass judgment because he has traveled a bit. News Flash: there are idiots...
Just another self-loathing idiot who suddenly fancies himself intellectually superior and qualified to pass judgment because he has traveled a bit.

News Flash: there are idiots all over the world.
News flash: There are actually cultures whose idiots are in the significant minority. Just because that's not the case here doesn't mean it's like that all over the planet.
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FGR01 6/3/2013 7:36am
6/3/2013 7:36am
FGR01 wrote:
Just another self-loathing idiot who suddenly fancies himself intellectually superior and qualified to pass judgment because he has traveled a bit. News Flash: there are idiots...
Just another self-loathing idiot who suddenly fancies himself intellectually superior and qualified to pass judgment because he has traveled a bit.

News Flash: there are idiots all over the world.
jtomasik wrote:
News flash: There are actually cultures whose idiots are in the significant minority. Just because that's not the case here doesn't mean it's like that all...
News flash: There are actually cultures whose idiots are in the significant minority. Just because that's not the case here doesn't mean it's like that all over the planet.
That's a gross generalization and without data to back it up, just your opinion based on your perception.

I understand. At times it can seem like there is a surplus of idiots in the US and it soothes us to believe that there must be better places. Kind of like religion makes us feel good because we need answers.

The truth is, every country has its problems If the US was so bad people wouldn't be beating down the doors and risking their lives to get here.
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kongols 6/3/2013 7:50am
6/3/2013 7:50am
FGR01 wrote:
That's a gross generalization and without data to back it up, just your opinion based on your perception. I understand. At times it can seem like...
That's a gross generalization and without data to back it up, just your opinion based on your perception.

I understand. At times it can seem like there is a surplus of idiots in the US and it soothes us to believe that there must be better places. Kind of like religion makes us feel good because we need answers.

The truth is, every country has its problems If the US was so bad people wouldn't be beating down the doors and risking their lives to get here.
Just make some research from which country`s those people are mostly coming from. If I`m mexican or costarican I`d be beating down the doors also. I don`t think swedes or norvegians or swiss are that eager to go there permanently cause their country`s suck.
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FGR01 6/3/2013 8:13am
6/3/2013 8:13am
kongols wrote:
Just make some research from which country`s those people are mostly coming from. If I`m mexican or costarican I`d be beating down the doors also. I...
Just make some research from which country`s those people are mostly coming from. If I`m mexican or costarican I`d be beating down the doors also. I don`t think swedes or norvegians or swiss are that eager to go there permanently cause their country`s suck.
I ride bicycle a fair amount. In the last week alone I've ridden with guys from Scotland, England, Poland, and Holland. All emigrated here. So my recent experience tells me different.

Everyone likes to say "Americans only care about America and are clueless about the rest of the world." Tell me honestly, how much of a shit does the average Joe in Latvia care about what is going on in America? Why should Americans concern themselves with Latvia any more so?
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kongols 6/3/2013 8:18am
6/3/2013 8:18am
FGR01 wrote:
I ride bicycle a fair amount. In the last week alone I've ridden with guys from Scotland, England, Poland, and Holland. All emigrated here. So my...
I ride bicycle a fair amount. In the last week alone I've ridden with guys from Scotland, England, Poland, and Holland. All emigrated here. So my recent experience tells me different.

Everyone likes to say "Americans only care about America and are clueless about the rest of the world." Tell me honestly, how much of a shit does the average Joe in Latvia care about what is going on in America? Why should Americans concern themselves with Latvia any more so?
Stability and processes in USA affect the whole world, including Latvia.
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FGR01 6/3/2013 8:25am
6/3/2013 8:25am
kongols wrote:
Stability and processes in USA affect the whole world, including Latvia.
So, what you are saying is Americans are held to a higher standard? That's kind of unfair to the average Joe in America who just happened to be born here. It's not his fault we are the world leaders. Wink
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jtomasik 6/3/2013 8:41am
6/3/2013 8:41am
FGR01 wrote:
That's a gross generalization and without data to back it up, just your opinion based on your perception. I understand. At times it can seem like...
That's a gross generalization and without data to back it up, just your opinion based on your perception.

I understand. At times it can seem like there is a surplus of idiots in the US and it soothes us to believe that there must be better places. Kind of like religion makes us feel good because we need answers.

The truth is, every country has its problems If the US was so bad people wouldn't be beating down the doors and risking their lives to get here.
Well, you can look at a few statistics, if you're interested in knowing the truth. Scroll down the lists of how America does when you compare it to other countries in the categories of crime, health, and education. You'll find that our country doesn't fare that well in any of those categories. And, take a look at where those who are 'beating down the doors' of this country are coming from. Mexico? Cuba? Sweet. Wonderful third-world countries we're 'better than'.
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kongols 6/3/2013 8:44am
6/3/2013 8:44am
FGR01 wrote:
So, what you are saying is Americans are held to a higher standard? That's kind of unfair to the average Joe in America who just happened...
So, what you are saying is Americans are held to a higher standard? That's kind of unfair to the average Joe in America who just happened to be born here. It's not his fault we are the world leaders. Wink
No he is not. He thinks he is but he`s not.
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FGR01 6/3/2013 8:48am
6/3/2013 8:48am
Where is a good Latvian MX board where I can go troll around? LOL
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kongols 6/3/2013 9:34am
6/3/2013 9:34am
FGR01 wrote:
Where is a good Latvian MX board where I can go troll around? LOL
Do you speak latvian?
vet323
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vet323 6/3/2013 11:17am
6/3/2013 11:17am
FGR01 wrote:
That's a gross generalization and without data to back it up, just your opinion based on your perception. I understand. At times it can seem like...
That's a gross generalization and without data to back it up, just your opinion based on your perception.

I understand. At times it can seem like there is a surplus of idiots in the US and it soothes us to believe that there must be better places. Kind of like religion makes us feel good because we need answers.

The truth is, every country has its problems If the US was so bad people wouldn't be beating down the doors and risking their lives to get here.
jtomasik wrote:
Well, you can look at a few statistics, if you're interested in knowing the truth. Scroll down the lists of how America does when you compare...
Well, you can look at a few statistics, if you're interested in knowing the truth. Scroll down the lists of how America does when you compare it to other countries in the categories of crime, health, and education. You'll find that our country doesn't fare that well in any of those categories. And, take a look at where those who are 'beating down the doors' of this country are coming from. Mexico? Cuba? Sweet. Wonderful third-world countries we're 'better than'.
The US typically absorbs 20% of the total immigrant population annually. The next closest country comes in at about 5%.

That seems like "beating down the doors" to at least some degree.

I can see the point you are making and it is valid, but I think that the opportunity to be the leader in most of those categories exists in this country, despite our inability to take advantage of that opportunity.

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jtomasik
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jtomasik 6/3/2013 11:27am
6/3/2013 11:27am
vet323 wrote:
The US typically absorbs 20% of the total immigrant population annually. The next closest country comes in at about 5%. That seems like "beating down the...
The US typically absorbs 20% of the total immigrant population annually. The next closest country comes in at about 5%.

That seems like "beating down the doors" to at least some degree.

I can see the point you are making and it is valid, but I think that the opportunity to be the leader in most of those categories exists in this country, despite our inability to take advantage of that opportunity.



Again, look who comes here. Probably a great reason to ask why, too. Percentage doesn't really mean squat.


Oh, check out this little article:


Giving up more of your Constitutional rights.


When the flag waving stops, you might want to start asking yourself exactly what's so great about our nation.
vet323
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vet323 6/3/2013 11:34am
6/3/2013 11:34am
vet323 wrote:
The US typically absorbs 20% of the total immigrant population annually. The next closest country comes in at about 5%. That seems like "beating down the...
The US typically absorbs 20% of the total immigrant population annually. The next closest country comes in at about 5%.

That seems like "beating down the doors" to at least some degree.

I can see the point you are making and it is valid, but I think that the opportunity to be the leader in most of those categories exists in this country, despite our inability to take advantage of that opportunity.
jtomasik wrote:
[img]https://www.migrationinformation.org/images/passel_mar04.jpg[/img] Again, look who comes here. Probably a great reason to ask why, too. Percentage doesn't really mean squat. Oh, check out this little article: [url=http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/06/03/supreme-court-dna-cheek-swab-rape-unsolved-crimes/2116453/]Giving...



Again, look who comes here. Probably a great reason to ask why, too. Percentage doesn't really mean squat.


Oh, check out this little article:


Giving up more of your Constitutional rights.


When the flag waving stops, you might want to start asking yourself exactly what's so great about our nation.
I guess I didn't make clear that I was talking about the total immigration numbers (not just illegal immigration). It hardly seems fair to compare illegal immigration numbers between countries, since we would have many, many times more illegal immigrants.
jtomasik
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jtomasik 6/3/2013 11:50am
6/3/2013 11:50am
vet323 wrote:
I guess I didn't make clear that I was talking about the total immigration numbers (not just illegal immigration). It hardly seems fair to compare[i] illegal[/i]...
I guess I didn't make clear that I was talking about the total immigration numbers (not just illegal immigration). It hardly seems fair to compare illegal immigration numbers between countries, since we would have many, many times more illegal immigrants.
Whoops...my bad. Didn't even see that it was referring to undocumented only. Here's something that's more relevant:



Again, we gotta see it in more detail and know where exactly these people are coming from. Immigrating from Germany or Japan is one thing....but immigrating from Khazikastan or Iran is another.
kongols
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kongols 6/3/2013 11:54am
6/3/2013 11:54am Edited Date/Time 6/3/2013 11:56am
jtomasik wrote:
Whoops...my bad. Didn't even see that it was referring to undocumented only. Here's something that's more relevant: [img]https://www.ilw.com/articles/massey1.jpg[/img] Again, we gotta see it in more detail...
Whoops...my bad. Didn't even see that it was referring to undocumented only. Here's something that's more relevant:



Again, we gotta see it in more detail and know where exactly these people are coming from. Immigrating from Germany or Japan is one thing....but immigrating from Khazikastan or Iran is another.
Russians were emigrating like crazy during that time. That`s right after the fall of USSR.
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Hoges 6/7/2013 2:57am
6/7/2013 2:57am
I am outraged by this blog.

It has tarred all australians as american lovers.

This is just not true. We don't care about anything, we are to lazy to worry about the rest of the world. We have more epressing issues sharks, snakes, drop bears etc.

You will find that most australians don't care where you come just follow a few simple rules.

Don't drink all our piss (beer) make sure you bring some with you.
Don't shag our missus
If you do have have a punch up, winner has to buy the loser a beer.
And we all hate the kiwi's



Cheers
Hoges
jtomasik
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jtomasik 6/7/2013 5:52am
6/7/2013 5:52am
Hoges wrote:
I am outraged by this blog. It has tarred all australians as american lovers. This is just not true. We don't care about anything, we are...
I am outraged by this blog.

It has tarred all australians as american lovers.

This is just not true. We don't care about anything, we are to lazy to worry about the rest of the world. We have more epressing issues sharks, snakes, drop bears etc.

You will find that most australians don't care where you come just follow a few simple rules.

Don't drink all our piss (beer) make sure you bring some with you.
Don't shag our missus
If you do have have a punch up, winner has to buy the loser a beer.
And we all hate the kiwi's



Cheers
Hoges
https://youtu.be/Gbp_JQ7RxqM




https://youtu.be/TvEdN7o7vk8

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