Reply to: Is America still admired?

[lilelvis2000]

It's a pretty damning indictment of an entire population to say it's a tuliphole but the empty bits are really nice.

One could say the same of the UK....but isn't that a given?

[Clippy]

I wouldn't.

Me neither, so I'm out.

[Peoplesoft bloke]

...would prefer UK to be more like America in fact. And to make my argument, all I can (be bothered to) say is "Obama".

I wouldn't.

[ace00]

It's a paranoid and semi-closed country with a huge level of violence, that still practices judicial killing, pollutes like there's no tomorrow, bombs hospitals around the world, and tortures in its camps where victims have no right to trial.

So I guess it would be quite popular with a lot of you guys.

That's a +1 for the terrorist list Elmer.

America has a lot of problems though I think half your list is down to George W Bush, who has earned a place in history (just not the one he wanted), but I'm for it, would prefer UK to be more like America in fact. And to make my argument, all I can (be bothered to) say is "Obama".

[TimberWolf]

I'm not entirely convinced America's success can be attributed to its business, political, legal or social, etc, ideologies. I think it's more due to the fact that they live on a huge continent full of boundless natural resources and would be hard pushed to go wrong with such a large pot of natural wealth to live off. Without it they would be screwed pretty quickly IMO and we shouldn't try to copy them as if we were in the same happy position.

[Mich the Tester]

But you can't deny its geographical beauty and wide open space. It is simply a stunning place to visit.

It's a pretty damning indictment of an entire population to say it's a tuliphole but the empty bits are really nice.

[expat]

But you can't deny its geographical beauty and wide open space. It is simply a stunning place to visit.

TBH I never thought to mention the geography in the context of the thread as the OP put it.

[lilelvis2000]

It's a paranoid and semi-closed country with a huge level of violence, that still practices judicial killing, pollutes like there's no tomorrow, bombs hospitals around the world, and tortures in its camps where victims have no right to trial.

So I guess it would be quite popular with a lot of you guys.

But you can't deny its geographical beauty and wide open space. It is simply a stunning place to visit.

I'm not interested in living there now. But there was a period where I had contemplated working in Silicon Valley. It was GWB that kept me out. Yesterday's performance by Mr. Misunderestimated says it all...perhaps if Obama makes it into a second term..I may re-think that move.

[expat]

It's a paranoid and semi-closed country with a huge level of violence, that still practices judicial killing, pollutes like there's no tomorrow, bombs hospitals around the world, and tortures in its camps where victims have no right to trial.

So I guess it would be quite popular with a lot of you guys.

[Purple Dalek]

I think that coding errors list from the NSA is a microcosm of what is happening inside the USA: one time they'd buy in the best brains in the world, but what with the "war on drugs" and now "war on terror" restricting the uptake of the best brains, they're no longer the scary outfit they once were, but reduced to creating silly lists, and stuff no one but yanks want to buy.

[PM-Junkie]

Just came back from the US. When we landed in Miami all the young fit people, not burdened by 2 small children who had been awake all the way through the flight, rushed by and raced off to immigration . We finally got to the queues (huge) and were taken out and processed through the, now empty, American only queues.

Total time involved in immigration was less than 15 mins.

Spent much more time queuing in Heathrow and never been moved to another queue because of having small children.

That has less to do with immigration and more to do with the fact that, as a society, we hate kids - the Americans don't.

[Mich the Tester]

As a young lad I can remember when going through US customs was Literally a breeze. A drive through..just stop for a moment to state we were Canadian and drive on. No passport required.

These days the queues are hours long. each and every car is searched. and everyone needs a passport. I once saw a sign on a American enty point stating that there was a 4 hour wait to cross the border.

I used to like the US..but now that my brother-in-law lives there and goes on and on about how great it is...I don't bother with it. The guy is a jackass and any country good enough for a jackass ain't a country I wanna live in.

Why on earth would a Canadian want to visit the USA if he isn’t driving to Mexico?

[lilelvis2000]

As a young lad I can remember when going through US customs was Literally a breeze. A drive through..just stop for a moment to state we were Canadian and drive on. No passport required.

These days the queues are hours long. each and every car is searched. and everyone needs a passport. I once saw a sign on a American enty point stating that there was a 4 hour wait to cross the border.

I used to like the US..but now that my brother-in-law lives there and goes on and on about how great it is...I don't bother with it. The guy is a jackass and any country good enough for a jackass ain't a country I wanna live in.

[bren586]

I like the USA and most of the people, but I dislike the US Government. I am not sure if I will go there again because there is too much hassle getting through Passport and Customs these days. So much for the “special relationship”

Just came back from the US. When we landed in Miami all the young fit people, not burdened by 2 small children who had been awake all the way through the flight, rushed by and raced off to immigration . We finally got to the queues (huge) and were taken out and processed through the, now empty, American only queues.

Total time involved in immigration was less than 15 mins.

Spent much more time queuing in Heathrow and never been moved to another queue because of having small children.

[Lockhouse]

I am not sure if I will go there again because there is too much hassle getting through Passport and Customs these days.

I don't mind it at all (I'm off to the US again in 3 weeks) I only wish our country had the same approach towards foreign nationals.