What country is really the best for the individual?

[Kerrie]

i see a lot of topics posted about what is wrong with countries around our globe, but which country is the best in your opinion? and why politically? where would you live if you could choose? for me, i would go to Canada...

 

[Zero]

Canada rocks! It is like America's nicer little brother.

 

[Njorl]

Well, Brunei is nice for the individual, if you happen to be Sultan.

Seriously. While many might not like to hear it, most of the industrialized, modern democratic states are good enough. In Western Europe, USA, Canada, Japan and probably even South Korea now, you have enough freedom and opportunity to make a good life.

For me personally, I think the USA is the right place. I wish I had the chance to experience life in other countries though, not just travel, live and work etc.

Njorl

 

[Zero]

Originally posted by Njorl

Seriously. While many might not like to hear it, most of the industrialized, modern democratic states are good enough. In Western Europe, USA, Canada, Japan and probably even South Korea now, you have enough freedom and opportunity to make a good life.

No, that's probably the truth...western Europe, the U.S. and Canada, and Japan all have basically workable governments. It may just be a matter of personal preference, like choosing a favorite color.

 

[Monique]

Norway came out from a survey as number one.

 

[Monique]

The Netherlands has the best healthy care/ social security system.

 

[adrenaline]

Originally posted by Njorl
Well, Brunei is nice for the individual, if you happen to be Sultan.

Seriously. While many might not like to hear it, most of the industrialized, modern democratic states are good enough. In Western Europe, USA, Canada, Japan and probably even South Korea now, you have enough freedom and opportunity to make a good life.

For me personally, I think the USA is the right place. I wish I had the chance to experience life in other countries though, not just travel, live and work etc.

Njorl

As a woman, Japan isn't exactly the most egalitrian society. I vote for New Zealand. At least a woman there can be elected to the highest office in the country (helen clark). This hasn't happened in America. This comes from a raging feminist.

 

[Nereid]

Freedom to choose

Surely anyone of the EU countries? That way you have the freedom to live and work in any of the 15, soon to be 25, then 27, ... Summer in Finland, winter in Greece, skiing in the Alps, siestas in Spain, ...

 

[jb]

Originally posted by Monique
The Netherlands has the best healthy care/ social security system.

and amsterdam has its own advantages

 

[Jonathan]

I'd have to say that I like the US best, and yet there is so much I hate too. I really feel this country is going downhill, I kinda have a flashback to a History Channel series I saw about the Romans...thought it really isn't that bad, yet.

 

[Monique]

You really can't say which one you like best, or have you lived in a handfull of other countries?

 

[Kerrie]

Originally posted by adrenaline
As a woman, Japan isn't exactly the most egalitrian society. I vote for New Zealand. At least a woman there can be elected to the highest office in the country (helen clark). This hasn't happened in America. This comes from a raging feminist.

new zealand would be an excellent place i agree (as a woman too ;) )

 

[Njorl]

Originally posted by adrenaline
As a woman, Japan isn't exactly the most egalitrian society. I vote for New Zealand. At least a woman there can be elected to the highest office in the country (helen clark). This hasn't happened in America. This comes from a raging feminist.

I continue to be surprised at the places that elect woman as leaders before the US even puts one up as a significant candidate - England, Israel, India, Nicaragua, Phillipines and Pakistan just off the top of my head.

Njorl

 

[selfAdjoint]

Might be the difference between the parliamentary system and the US tripartite one. In the former, the leader is selected by the victorious party, e.g. Mrs. Thatcher by the Conservatives. In the latter, the candidates have to endure an election by the voters. One might expect that the party elites would be more liberal than the public at large.

 

[Jonathan]

Monique: No, I have barely been outside the US. However, one needn't leave to know that most other places are crappy (my opinion, notice 'most', not 'all'). Here's what I think: I've heard hardly one good thing about Africa, Asia, or Central/South America so they're out. Europe and Canada have too many free range socialists for my taste, so they're out (don't know about England though, I do like their accents ). So I'm left with the US, maybe England, and the yet to exist Jonsylvania in Antartica, but I really don't like the cold or the 6 months of night.

 

[Nereid]

Do they have guns there?

Jonathan, how could you forget Bush's loyal supporter, John Howard (the PM of Australia)??

It's a huge country (as big as continental US), with great beer (and wine too, but don't tell your mates in the Napa valley), fantastic cuisine (all those immigrants, just like the US), ... only trouble is, you can't legally own an M16, an AK47, or any other firearm of your choice, except if you are a 'farmer' and need such a thing for 'vermin control'.

The Aussies have their own sense of humour, not quite as witty as the Poms, but certainly far preferable to the slapstick variety so common on TV in your hometown.

BTW, what is a 'free range socialist'?

 

[Zero]

Originally posted by Jonathan
Monique: No, I have barely been outside the US. However, one needn't leave to know that most other places are crappy (my opinion, notice 'most', not 'all'). Here's what I think: I've heard hardly one good thing about Africa, Asia, or Central/South America so they're out. Europe and Canada have too many free range socialists for my taste, so they're out (don't know about England though, I do like their accents ). So I'm left with the US, maybe England, and the yet to exist Jonsylvania in Antartica, but I really don't like the cold or the 6 months of night.

You limit yourself by your biases, dude!

Asia can be fun, if you have the cash, some parts of Africa are gorgeous, and South America has the best beaches besides Australia.

 

[Jonathan]

I guess Australia didn't come to mind, they seem so like the US, but I'm not sure, I never hear about them.
That was a joke. Heard of 'free range chickens'? They're not cooped up, ie they allow the socialists out into the streets to interact with the normal people. But in the cases I mentioned, I'm pretty sure that the 'normal' people have a high percentage, possibly a majority, among them that are socialist, which almost makes an oxymoron.

 

[Zero]

Originally posted by Jonathan
I guess Australia didn't come to mind, they seem so like the US, but I'm not sure, I never hear about them.
That was a joke. Heard of 'free range chickens'? They're not cooped up, ie they allow the socialists out into the streets to interact with the normal people. But in the cases I mentioned, I'm pretty sure that the 'normal' people have a high percentage, possibly a majority, among them that are socialist, which almost makes an oxymoron.

Ummm...you should look around...very few people buy into the very narrow-minded neoconservative values that you seem to endorse.

 

[Jonathan]

It was a joke,oh brilliant Zero, who is my guiding light in the darkness of my fundamentalist nonsense. BTW, look around no one here is antireligion, though there are a few atheists, that's not the same, it's just you.
I am not the religious fundamentalist you make me out to be (which is based on nothing, since you don't know me), esp. given the number of times I've posted in the 'masterbating' thread.

 

[Jonathan]

LOL, very funny. I have actually been checking back to see if you'd replied yet, it didn't occur to me you'd do that. Once again, I will stress that I was joking.
Now anyway, we have gotten completely off Kerrie's topic, so back to "What is the best country to live in for the individual?", if there is anything that anyone else wants to say. (Keep in mind you'll be badgered if your beliefs are not the same as Zero's )

 

[Nereid]

Secret handshake?

Originally posted by Jonathan
I guess Australia didn't come to mind, they seem so like the US, but I'm not sure, I never hear about them.
That was a joke. Heard of 'free range chickens'? They're not cooped up, ie they allow the socialists out into the streets to interact with the normal people. But in the cases I mentioned, I'm pretty sure that the 'normal' people have a high percentage, possibly a majority, among them that are socialist, which almost makes an oxymoron.

So how do you tell a 'free range socialist' from a 'free range conservative/liberal/Republican/Christian Democrat/nationalist/{insert your favourite here}'? I guess the non-freerange ones are all in North Korea, who doesn't want to let them out.

Perhaps they have nose rings and green hair? don't wear black leather jackets and blue jeans? drive Volvos and Kias? prefer to watch "Four Weddings and a Funeral" and "Yellow Earth" (even Kurosawa's "Ran"!) to "Black Hawk Down" and "Independence Day"?

Anyway, last time I looked, there were a great many non-socialist governments in place, in Europe and elsewhere, presumably elected democratically rather than installed by army coups.

Now here's a nice contradiction: China got to its current place as #1 source of global economic growth (the US is #2) by doing many of the things which non-socialists love; in many ways it's a model for economic growth for developing economies. For sure their 7 to 18% pa GDP growth didn't happen through the implementation of Marxist principles! If you do have a chance, go to Shanghai and watch real entrenerial capitalists at work! You might like to talk with a 'turtle' or two too.

 

[Jonathan]

I couldn't really follow your post. but you can tell a fre range socialist from any other person because they are socialist and interacting with other people. Considering that this is a free country, all people are free range except the criminals and the insane. As to how to look at them and tell they are socialist, there is no way, you really can't do that with almost any group one wants to spot.
I couldn't follow the last part at all. But if you charge a reasonable amount for a product but pay the workers little or nothing, of course the GDP is going to be big.

 

[Nereid]

What do they teach in schools these days?

How much economics did they teach in your school Jonathan? I don't mean to be disrespectful, but from your last post it may be that the state of ecomonics education in public schools is even more woeful than that of maths and physics (from what I read, that in US high schools is quite shockingly low).

But if you charge a reasonable amount for a product but pay the workers little or nothing, of course the GDP is going to be big.

So, if the workers in the Maldives are paid 'little or nothing', the GDP of the Maldives 'is going to be big'?

 

[HAVOC451]

"What do they teach in schools these days?" -Nereid

I don't know what they teach in Jonathan's HS, but my oldest daughter graduated from high school last year. I'm pretty certain that the term "global economics" never came up. Sadly, I'd bet it's not covered in most high schools.

 

[adrenaline]

Originally posted by Monique
The Netherlands has the best healthy care/ social security system.

From a purely health care perspective, Cubaa is a better place than the US. The life expectancy is equal or surpasses ours and the infant mortality rate is lower than most major cities in the US. Here is a link. By the way, some great medical research also coming out of this country. In addition, the ratio of doctors to patients is very high vs. other countries such as England. In fact, here in Georgia the average doc has close to 5,000 active patients and those in the academia close to 10,000. see link http://64.21.33.164/CNews/y01/sep01/10e3.htm

 

[Monique]

There are many countries that would be better than the US.

When I was in the US I was refused by 7 doctors because they didn't like my insurance (there was nothing wrong with my insurance).

The doctor that DID want to see me, gave me some trial medicine packages (which ofcourse didn't help my condition).

Or the fact you have to wait for 2.5 hours past your appointment time to see the doctor.

Or the fact that you have to wait 2 months to find out the results of a simple blood test.

I could go on? But that is a different story.

 

[adrenaline]

Originally posted by Monique
There are many countries that would be better than the US.

When I was in the US I was refused by 7 doctors because they didn't like my insurance (there was nothing wrong with my insurance).

The doctor that DID want to see me, gave me some trial medicine packages (which ofcourse didn't help my condition).

Or the fact you have to wait for 2.5 hours past your appointment time to see the doctor.

Or the fact that you have to wait 2 months to find out the results of a simple blood test.

I could go on? But that is a different story.

So sorry to hear that! Yet, many Americans fight a more socialized medicine or major changes because they view any other medical system as involving long lines and waits! It is already happening as you have found out! (I must say, the 2 months deal for the lab work was ridiculous. If our patients haven't heard in 7 days they are told to call and we will have the answer within 2hrs.) As for docs not taking insurance, I had to fire one HMO after not being paid for 3 years on any of their 500 patients I treated. It was a hard decision considering many were long time patients but with rent at $25,000 a month,401 retirement plans and providing health insurance plans for all employees (30 in all), almost half our salaries paying malpractice (that's never being sued!) etc.and contuing to take Medicaid and uninsured patients, the HMO had to go. I am in favor of a Nationalized health insurance as are many docs (there was a poll in the recent Annals of Internal Medicine) which would be a logical step towards ensuring universal health care access. However, the United States will never be able to completely transform into a purely socialized medical system due to the fact that we are a lawsuit happy society. Though there are legitamite malpractice suits, many are frivolous. In a socialized medical system none of these 10 to 250 million dollar rewards for non-economic damages would be allowed. I don't think the American population wants to give up their right to sue! How sad!

 

[Monique]

Yes, I have heard many bad stories about the US medical system from people I have talked to.

The two months waiting for a blood test result is serious, the analysis is done in two days, but there was just no one there willing to tell the results. Ofcourse, I argued with the receptionist for like half an hour and finally it was resolved, but they would've send me home to wait for two months!

The irony of the situation is that the US probably has the best doctors and technology.. the system is just very inaccessible due to law suits, problems with insurance and patient load.

 

[Kerrie]

i was denied health insurance because i was pregnant 4 years ago...i ended up "buying" a county plan through maricopa county arizona to have my son...i received excellent care and only had to pay $125 a month for 10 months...