What is wrong with Americans?

[keithbj]

Can someone answer me this question. What is wrong with you Americans? Why are you so against socialism? There is a difference between a socialist country and a communist country. You yanks talk like it's the same at the former communist systems of the USSR and Eastern Europe. It is difference!
Countries with socialist policies:
Denmark
Sweden
Norway
Finland
Canada
France
Germany
Holland
Belgium
Republic Of China
Japan

These countries all have a very high living standard.
So what wrong with paying high taxes? Social programs don't pay themselves?
What's wrong with having free heath care?

 

[Croynan]

what type of governmental system do you have in Taiwan?

just curious

These countries all have a very high living standard. - The Republic of China??? you must be joking.

eM.

 

[keithbj]

Taiwan is the Republic Of China.

We have a free democratic system with an election every four years.

You must be American to not know the difference between The Republic Of China and The People's Republic Of China.

what type of governmental system do you have in Taiwan?

just curious

These countries all have a very high living standard. - The Republic of China??? you must be joking.

eM.

 

[Homoerectus]

Americans give more aid to the world than any other country - both government sponsored and private aid. If America is so bad why don't all the socialists go to Canada (nearest socialist destination) and why does the world want to come to America? Friends in Canada tell me they must wait forever for simple medical procedures.

 

[keithbj]

It is simple. If you have a state that pays higher taxes and these taxes go into social services you have a much better for everyone. My tax rate is 20% of my income which is high in Taiwan. But guess what? if I get sick I don't have to worry, I just walk into a hospital. If I need meds I only have to pay 25% of the real cost.
One of my co-workers was injured in a car accident and spent 5 weeks in hospital and didn't have to pay one cent.
A guy I know who's wife had a baby wanted to take 6 months leave from work to spend with his new wife and child and got 80% of his salary. His wife got 100% of her salary for 1 year off work.
People in the US always scream when for example fuel tax goes up. Well join the rest of the world. Maybe the US would not have so high emissions if it were taxed higher and new forms of energies were used.

Keithbj, you better define what you mean as Socialism. All the countries you listed have very active private sectors which produce gobs of profit. Most of their populations do not work for government-owned firms, and individuals can become quite rich. Taxation in the U.S. is not as low as people abroad might think. In addition to federal income, excise, and specific product sales taxes such as those on tobacco, liquor, and automotive fuels, there are import duties, etc., as well. Then there are State income, sales, and specific product taxes, taxes on real estate transactions, etc. Counties and municipalities also collect sales and use taxes, property taxes and specific product taxes. Some cities, like New york City and Yonkers, both in New York State, collect income tax. New York City, among others, collects a commuter tax from commuters who live in other states but who work in the City. Individuals in the highest tax brackets can pay more than 50% of their income in direct government taxation, excluding sales and product taxes.

What we don't have, for example, is generally nationalized health care. There is limited health care support for those over 65 and also for the impovershed.

I'd like to have a better idea of what you mean as Socialism? The employees of a company owning the company? Something other than the nationalization of enterprise?

 

[keithbj]

Get your facts straight.
Japan is the largest aid provider in the world. In fact it is 6 times higher than the US.

Americans give more aid to the world than any other country - both government sponsored and private aid. If America is so bad why don't all the socialists go to Canada (nearest socialist destination) and why does the world want to come to America? Friends in Canada tell me they must wait forever for simple medical procedures.

 

[ixthrock]

I think the worst thing about us is that we like to generalize, judge, and insult people from other countries with baiting posts on internet forums.

 

[keithbj]

Well its true. The US keeps sticking its nose in other people's business.
Before the US should tell other other countries how to conduct themselves, the US should look at themselves first and fix it's own problems. No country is perfect, but time and time again the US acts as if it is the only one that can fix the problems of the world.

Forgive him, a lot of people think America is the Holy Land and that America is the only reason the rest of the world hasn't descended into chaos. Nowadays that's your standard patriotism. "We give more than you, we're better than you, anyone who disagrees can move to Canada."

 

[keithbj]

Yes they are.

keithbj, I think those countries listed are mixed economies (like the US) that is comparatively closer to socialism.

Either way if the Americans are in the midst of a Red Scare Lite, they should protest about how government bailed Amtrak is a financial black hole outside the East Coast and that foreign airlines should be able to provide domestic services... you know... for competition and lower prices.

 

[keithbj]

I know, but yet its ok for them to do it.

 

[Apollo]

Can someone answer me this question. What is wrong with you Americans? Why are you so against socialism? There is a difference between a socialist country and a communist country. You yanks talk like it's the same at the former communist systems of the USSR and Eastern Europe. It is difference!
Countries with socialist policies:
Denmark
Sweden
Norway
Finland
Canada
France
Germany
Holland
Belgium
Republic Of China
Japan

These countries all have a very high living standard.
So what wrong with paying high taxes? Social programs don't pay themselves?
What's wrong with having free heath care?

It's called a cultural difference. Americans do not like big government, this has been self evident since the start of this country when we said bye bye to England.

I know America has a awefully big government, but they are blatantly controlling all of our social programs. And no one wants to pay $20 in taxes on a candy bar for something we can do by ourselves.

 

[Apollo]

Taiwan is the Republic Of China.

We have a free democratic system with an election every four years.

You must be American to not know the difference between The Republic Of China and The People's Republic Of China.

You only have to be from the West to not know the difference. I doubt many Canadians know the difference either.

 

[keithbj]

First why do you think I'm not from the West? I am. From Montreal!

You only have to be from the West to not know the difference. I doubt many Canadians know the difference either.

 

[keithbj]

I did not say it was perfect.

Oh man the wait times in my Canadian hospital are unreal! I waited like 5 minutes to get into emergency, sweet jesus! And then..AND THEN they had the nerve...to ask me for my health card so that I didn't have to pay for anything. Seriously, it just took up so much time. My parents who have had surgeries, definately had just as terrible of a time waiting. I mean, getting the same access to healthcare as every other Canadian is truely terrible, why must I be considered equal to THEM. Ugh..
Stupid socialized health care

 

[Apollo]

First why do you think I'm not from the West? I am. From Montreal!

Weren't you just saying your from Taiwan?

 

[keithbj]

I live here. I've been living here since 1999.

Weren't you just saying your from Taiwan?

 

[wanderer]

i am half canadian and half american, and have citizenships in both countries. i once had a somewhat small but still relavent medical emergency, an explodingly painful infected ingrown toenail. mom took me to the doctor, and they were kind enough to get ready to operate on it right then and there. here was the catch, they were going to operate on it while it was fully inflamed and infected (a no no) and were going to do it without giveing me anesthetics. i was in total disbelief. i had to ask them again, "are you going to give me something for the pain?" "no that is not normal procedure", i looked over to my mom, who is a nurse, and she looked at me and said "we are out of here".

that was my experience with canadian social medicine. everyone got it, but the quality in some places was not so great.

and you call those countries socialist?? you have got to be kidding, just because canada has a socialized medicine system does not make it a socialized country.

and you have to look into the very debths of human natue to see why communism never worked, and why socialism (not related but in some aspects it is comparable) struggles in some forms. humans dont like sharing, that is one major point, and two, when everyone is forced to have an equal share of something regardless of class or past work history, the very principle REMOVES THE INCENTIVE TO ACHIEVE, INNOVATE, AND CONTINUE TO TRY, knowing that others are just along for the ride and not working. why work hard if others wont, and you will always get what everyone else gets?

this is why many americans dont like welfare programs. its a socialist program. wait a minute, if the US has a socialist program, well then the entire country is socialist, and i just prooved you wrong on our own principles...LOL welfare people dont work, but they get subsidized money from taxpayer dollars. oh, and there is medicare, medicaide for those who cant afford health insurance, the taxpayers just pick it up. should i go on?

and need i remind you that "us americans" is comprised of proud peoples from every country on earth, including yours? there is a reason for the lines from the citizenship office door to the horizon, because with its so called "bad reputations" america still works. socialism not required here, we have the programs, and means to help people, and with all the different peoples living here, i say that means the "world has voted" and real socialism (not what you describe) is not favored.

 

[keithbj]

I remember an experience I had in 2005 in Shanghai with an American from New York. I was walking on the Bund and some yank cam up to me and asked if I spoke English and could I help him find something on a map. I said yes sure. It was not until he said "I have a map here, but can not find China Town". For a second I thought he was kidding. I said "sorry can you say that again", he said "yes I'm looking for China Town". my response to him was "ahh this is Shanghai", he said "yes I know, but I'm looking for China town". I really thought he was kidding, but he was 100% serious. The only thing I could think was typical American. The world revolves around the US and they don't know anything outside the US.
Honestly I feel the US has the most un-educated population of any developed country.

 

[Croynan]

Taiwan is the Republic Of China.

We have a free democratic system with an election every four years.

You must be American to not know the difference between The Republic Of China and The People's Republic Of China.

yes i am an American and i truly apologize for the error(s) i have made.

eM.

 

[smoothebottom]

Call me stupid. Call me selfish. But....
I didnt come from a rich family. In fact, I am first generation American, as my parents are not from America. My parents worked their asses off all their lives, and continue to do so, so me and my brothers can make something of ourselves. They never took $1 from the government.

Im currently working my ass off as well. I have a part time job, go to law school and make good grades, so that one day, I will be able to live a better life and not have to struggle.

So call me stupid, and/or selfish when I say I dont want to pay sky high taxes that'll keep me from enjoying my money all so that some dumb, couchi sitting, babymaking bitch gets to reap from my efforts.