My cousin and her husband came here to Pennsylvania a while back with an international job he had. As usual, eventually topics came around to politics, and he explained to me that only in America is "Liberal" a dirty word. Well, we've been sort of conditioned here to believe that, but with research, I discovered he was right. True Liberals are not the problem, but here in America, most people have come to accept that Liberals are Socialists and Communists, but that is not necessarily true, just like America is not a democracy.

Most Americans, quite frankly, are pretty ignorant to most of the operations of the three branches of government, the Constitution, Bill of Rights, and have forgotten or never learned much of our history, Fortunately for me, I had a great teacher in 12th grade who taught American Political Systems/Current Urban Problems. I would doubt that anything like that is even taught any more, but it should be.

To my way of thinking, Liberals and Conservatives should not be enemies of each other, because both principles were important in determining our system of government. along with best principles of English law and other borrowed political systems.
  Who told you that, Rush Limbaugh? I'm not even sure he believes that, but it apparently makes him successful on the EIB Network to say so.
 

I guess I did. Sorry for that. I've been pretty busy at my new job since early November, so sometimes I do miss things nearer the end of the day because I am pretty worn out. I'll have to watch that in the future.
 

You talking about the Bible Thumpers? Yes, they do have a rather Church-Ladyish way about them; often they are also quite hypocritical, as was the guy I worked with years ago who would tell people what they shouldn't do, but there was always a good reason why he should be allowed to do a similar given thing.
 

I'm not sure Obama did much appeasing at all to Republicans, after all, he had about 22 months total when the Democrats had the balance of power. He just took his eye off the ball, and was too busy with Fast and Furious, Solyndra, and the Obamacare debacle. We don't have National insurance here because Big Insurance and Big Pharma are too powerful. You do know that those two wrote Obamacare, right? Insurance companies were never going to let a bunch of lawmakers tell them how to make their bajillions, neither would Big Pharma. I tried buying Obamacare, but it was going to cost me 260% more than what I was paying, and for all that, I was responsible for the first $12,000 dollars in office visits. Sorry, but I am not paying out over $7,000.00 and then have to shell out up to 12 grand more just to subsidise people who don't have insurance. I don't know what the answer could be, but it wasn't Obamacare.
 

If that's the case, why do we have so many people coming here from foreign countries for healthcare? I know it is true, because I did medical transports for five years, and people who spoke not one word of English were getting free rides and free medical care: dialysis, COPD treatments, diabetes care, hypertension/heart disease, government-provided wheelchairs, and custom transportation to specialists all over the area, particularly in Philadelphia. As a matter of fact, one of the oldest hospitals in Philadelphia (Hahnemann), because of its patient load of mostly government-paid services, closed because they couldn't survive. In many cases, they came from quite affluent neighbourhoods.
 

Not at all, but I am passionate about the country I live in. I don't mind at all having discussion in the political vein, but I do detect quite a bit of a superior attitude from some, who - despite not living here all their lives - seem to think they know an awful lot about America and Americans, and like to lump all Americans into the same category. Well, we are all different, and I do not appreciate the labelling by some who think they know all the American ills, with the seeming attitude that England is perfect, I'm not angry with any of you, but I don't understand the British habit of looking down your noses at Americans. I don't feel that way at all about the British, probably because I am British in part - my mother having been born in Southampton in 1943, coming here in '47. My grandmother told us wonderful stories of her time in England, and I would love to be able to revisit sometime, see her home town and track down my great-grandfather Thomas Holmyard's (Mad Thos) stone carvings. He also carved some quite elaborate picture frames in rosewood which I l would love to see, if possible. I'm told that one of them actually is hanging in one of the cathedrals, and I'd like to verify that and see it.

Anyway, the problem with politics is it is too political, and the politically connected have their own, separate life from the rest of us, their own rules. They are robbing us blind, only fighting for their own survival. That's why Trump won in 2016, because he was an outsider. Well, Biden ain't an improvement, even if he isn't a brash talker. Biden is up to his ears in cronyism, and his debt to foreign governments will not serve America well - if he even remembers the arrangements.






 

That's a bit childish, isn't it - are you that bored?

I made a nice shortbread this afternoon, with berries on, glazed with a nice pot of preserves. Like some with your tea? Maybe a hobby would be good for you.

Shortbread glazed with jam? What that *actual* fuck were you thinking?

I love America. The vastly different landscapes, national parks, the different cultures, small towns, big cities, open roads. It's the place I've been to the most over the last few years (pre-pandemic) and loved roadtripping around various places. I have a very tourist POV, since I am exactly that. But enjoyed being there nonetheless.

Could do with visiting the middle!



I've often wondered about making the move, but the politics and lack of decent healthcare have stopped me from looking into it properly.

One thing I keep finding (in the US and UK) is the view that because someone grew up in an under-privileged situation struggling to make ends meet, with very little disposable income, then everyone else should have to experience that. Rather than having the view that since they had it difficult we should try and make life easier for those after us.

Student loans in the US being a prime example at the moment.
Seen a lot of "well, what about me, I've already paid"
Instead of "yeah, we need to make sure future generations aren't lumbered with the level of debt I was"

You could quite easily relate it to any sort of advancements that actually result in progress in society.
Just because that's how it was done in the past and it has cost some people something doesn't mean it should be that way in the future.

funnily enough, a lot of the people who want others to 'suffer' as they did (for whatever value of suffer) don't believe in a 100% inheritance tax. 

it reminds me of how often immigrants seem to want to pull up the ladder and have tighter borders once they're safely in. Must be some kind of human instinct to be selfish within whatever you deem your tribe.

The answer to quote one is, you're gonna like this I know, socialized healthcare. Obamacare wasn't going far enough, and you know when you've gone far enough because the costs people pay in tax for it are less than the costs they pay now, for better coverage.

I was comparing the USA with Canada and Europe rather than the whole world since I wouldn't be familiar enough with for example Mexico to really say. Much of South America is likely a mess too - the mischievous part of me wants to say its often down to US interference over the years but of course it's not only that. It cannot be right that you have people dying for lack of insulin (and hey, that's something Biden's apparently already fucked up, freezing Trump's executive order to drop the price on), refusing ambulances due to bills and suchlike. 

I know a paediatrician friend in Boston MA (works in the NICU) and I have no doubt that the quality of healthcare in the US is often excellent if you can afford it. The US mortality rates at birth for another example suggest that not enough can afford it, and/or that there are still other big problems in the way things are being done there.

I think you've got an excess of bile in your blood, mate; you're all bitter and nasty. Sometimes one needs to step out of their comfort zone, try something different. You might try being nice,

Who is the who? You do realise that what works for, say, Great Britain may not work for the U.S.? We've got 330 million people here, you don't. 

All I want to know is, who pays for it? I already pay enough in taxes, so don't tell me the answer is taxing more, that's a non-starter.

Quote: 

Sure, blame the U.S. Isn't it just as likely that the country is just screwed up, run by screwups?

Quote: 

They're not. They're dying from complications due to diabetes that is poorly managed, mainly because they are too lazy to eat properly and get exercise. The answer isn't more insulin, the answer is people who are motivated to control their disease with a proper diet, not pumping themselves full of insulin. Don't forget, I did medical transports for five years, and took hundreds of people to their dialysis and endocrinologist appointments. In the overwhelming majority of cases, people needing dialysis and diabetic care were overweight and poor eaters. All they wanted to talk about on their rides was what kind of food they ate and loved.

 

Also if you can't. Most of the people I transported were MA patients.

I save my bile for the deserving.

For the love of whatever deity you like, stop only comparing the US to the UK, aka Plague Island, aka Shit Land Ruled By Tory Gangsters. Look also at most countries in Europe, Scandinavia, Canada.

What you pay in taxes for good healthcare is LESS than what you pay in insurance for bad healthcare. Having a lot of people makes this equation easier not harder.

While managing diabetes through diet and exercise is absolutely a good thing, the idea that this means you should be charging US prices for insulin is entertainingly bleak. 

I see so much of this at the moment in the world, people desperate to justify misery as being right. Trump fans defending how much of his fundraising goes straight to his bank balance, British people demonising Corbyn-led Labour policies and then acting surprised when the Tories get in again and fuck over the country's economy and health (and everything), it's just sad.

One of the many curiosities of fixrman (and one shared by quite a number of his compatriots) is his assumption that he can needle Teh posse by disparaging Britain or Britishness. This, I feel, says more about his MAGAish mindset than his misreading of the room.

I'm not convinced that taxiing people to medical appointments qualifies you to pontificate on clinical issues. However, if you wish to discuss the quickest car routes to the hospital, I will defer to your expertise.

Maybe so. As I'm pretty sure you're aware, there's a lot of people who don't pay any taxes, but who have amassed eye-watering fortunes at the literal expense of the common weal, which I suppose is just another word for communism.

If you're down with that, fine. You get to live with the consequences. Blame whoever you please. Just live with it.

No, I said urine. But of course that was very clumsy of me. I should have said bile, because that is a more accurate descriptor.

If socialized medicine worked here, we'd have it - but it doesn't. We already have forms of it here - called Medicare and Medicaid, and it is not good. There are many reasons it isn't good, the fact that the gummint runs it is the chief reason. Abuse, corruption, and fraud run rampant. Discuss.

Interesting is the fact that you totally missed the fact that I am half-British; if I disparaged Britain in some way, then it was only half of what is continually done to America by putzes of your ilk.

I have no desire to needle anyone here, least of all you - as I suspect you are happy in your own world of self-dislike. I find it curious why there is always the jump to ascerbic statement and bitter criticism. Not happy? No hobbies? Jealous of Americans??

MAGAish... that would normally be funny, except I think you meant to be critical. Get your nose out the air.

I find it curious that Manthorp seems to embrace the same characteristics as the worst of the Democrats in America. Please don't visit, you'll just encourage the twits in the cities who are on the dole perpetually.

I would never try to convince you; that would be impossible, and about as profitable as trying to wrestle a pig in the mud.

What people are those? I also know a lot of people who get free health care, pay no taxes and claim to be indigent, yet they've got an iPhone 12 and a bigger TV than I have, and a pointed stone farmhouse in the wealthy suburbs of Philadelphia.

I do know that there are many poor people who don't pay taxes, and I know there are many people who think there are a lot of people who pay no taxes, mainly because they consider them rich. Then there are the people who think that people who make xxx number of dollars don't pay their fair share.

I will agree with you on a point though: There are plenty in Big Business, Big Finance, Big College, Big Pharma, and Big Government who are bilking the public. A lot of them bankrolled Joke Biden.  (nod) Republicans and Democrats are both guilty of the same thing.