is living in the USA overrated

[bwana devil]

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here is a study done in Singapore

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just FYI. that study is published in the UK. the site you reference is a university in singapore relaying the results.

[TiK]

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We got some nice beaches, see Wasaga, Grand Bend(I just know Ontario), Bomb(sp?) beach.

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wtf? Have you never been to a real beach? Wasaga and Grand Bend are dumps. (also Canada would be better off if you never spoke on our behalf [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img] )

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Lol!

[theBruiser500]

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I think the best thing that the US has going for it is the geographic diversity. No other country can really compete with us in that department.

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and diversity in terms of ethnic peoples

[Andykay]

I live in Australia, and on most points our system is pretty superior to the US I think.

Educated is subsidised by the government, so while it isn't free like in some scandenavian countries, it only costs $8,000 australian dollars for an average degree, or thereabouts. Furthermore the quality of education is extremely high although you obviously aren't going to be internationally recognised like you would be as a harvard graduate.

Health care is hella cheap as well in comparison to the states. It's about $75 a month for private health care for an individual person here.

Combine that with an extremely diverse population, a western culture very similar to America, a hugely diverse landscape (desert, the great barrier reef, rainforest, awesome beaches, the snowy mountains, the outback etc) and there's plenty of reasons to want to live here.

Cost of living is lower than most European countries (obviously not some western european countries), about on par with the US, perhaps slightly lower, and standards of living are, as shown in that post earlier, some of the best in the world.

And on the sports-entertainment note, there is no more sporting nation than ours =) We don't play american football, baseball or hockey really, but those sports are largely only played in the USA (well, we do play them, but they aren't popular). Instead you get tennis/rugby league/rugby union/Australian football/Cricket/Swimming/Soccer.

In conclusion, Australia wins =)

-Andrew

[szw]

Evan,

He wasn't giving reasons why Canada is the best. He was only saying Canada is as geographically diverse or more so than the US.

[jimpo]

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Always feel a bit embarrassed by Americans who seem to think we are the only worthwhile place on the planet.

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This is a huge pet peeve of mine. Most of the people who think this way have probably never been out of the country. I overheard this fantastic statement the other day:

"I love America, seriously if I was born in any other country I'd kill myself."

People like that make me not want to live here.

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My pet peeves are:

1. "Land of the free!"
2. "God bless America!" (not the actual slogan, but the notion that USA is, for some reason, God's special holy country)

[vbm]

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No tax on gambling winnings and online gambling is officially legal here in the UK! Need I say more?!

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Nice! How do I sign up for UK citizenship??? [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] (too bad the ladies are generally fat!)

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Yes and on my many trips to the US I am always amazed at how thin you all are, you really are a bunch of health conscious skinny people.

[vbm]

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Oxford, is without a doubt the very top of the period.

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Oxford isnt even the top in the UK. Cambridge pwns Oxford

[daveymck]

Having worked in both unis, Oxford has the better nightlife, no idea on who is best academically.

[scorer]

Wow there have been some very good posts from my original post. Some facts about the USA. Education might be very good, but it is very very expensive. A good college education for 4 years can run approximately 100,000 dollars. If the student doesn't have parents to help them or some sort of scholorship, they payments of this loan can be excessive. I worked in a hospital with an intern doctor who took out extra loans so she could study and not have to work alot during school. She was about 150,000 in debt and wasn't happy. If you have money living here or your family does, you are looking pretty good. Taxes are said to be lower then other parts of the country. Isn't that rerlated to your costs and standard of living and expenses. If you take home 65 or 70 percent of your income yet housing costs are very high, doesnt that count in the formula. Our social security system is looking to going bankrupt in the coming years. Housing prices are very high in major cities in the US. I live in an area where the average homeowner pays 6,000 per year or more in taxes on there property. People work 2 jobs and in there spare time sleep and rest. Because of the nature of society being so money conscious where i live, everything is very high in costs. My friend makes 125,000 per year and is single and when he looked to buy a house and looked at all expenses he was shocked. He even said to me, do you think i can make it?? Not everybody who lives hear is successfull business people and has a college degree making big money. In ny state the mandatory child support for one kid is 17 percent. Cable and internet costs 120 per month. I live a very basic life and dont worry about scenary etc. I just want a decent place to live,car, good environment etc. I just wonder how great it is living here when the people around me are so bitter and fed up. Gas prices almost 4.00 per gallon a few months back. Expenses expenses etc.