Why are Americans so different from the rest of us Westerners

[Ned]

Panag, Now that was funny.

[mactbone]

I'm pretty sure the Midwest is the bastion of American English. Apparently that's why most national newscasters are from the Midwest or speak in that bland accent. The only thing that's happening to our language right now is the pronunciation of 'for' turning into 'fer' as in fur coat. It's sickening.

[King of Rasslin]

No, its the evolution of language. Your is much harder to say than ur. Banana is much harder to say than nanner. Hood is much simpler than neighborhood. You will come off as more progressive if you speak simply. Only slow, dumb, old fashioned people bother to use proper language and punctuation.

[spartak]

Originally posted by Spiffor

Is that better ?

yes - thank you.

[Sikander]

Originally posted by Spiffor

You have taught me something. Is this kind of practice generalized among the country ? Is it considered as generosity or norm ?

It is federal law that you cannot turn away anyone whose health might suffer as an immediate consequence, which basically covers all emergency room type visits. This is not to say that there are not some barriers. Emergency rooms in areas with large poor populations typically have long waits for treatment, while some hospitals illegally "dump" patients on other hospitals. An example of the latter is that some hospitals in nearby Denver will ask a patient if he would rather wait for several hours to be treated, or accept free cab fare to our hospital which typically has much less of a wait. The upside for these hospitals is that they tend to save a lot of money by not treating the indigent patient, even with the 75$ cab fare.

In the end we pay a lot of money with this system treating the poor in an inefficient manner. It is much better for the patient to have regular care from a physician who knows them and who can use preventative measures rather than only emergency measures. But though this is inefficient, it is still much cheaper than any sort of guaranteed health coverage. I'm not claiming that we do a better job of taking care of our poor than most Europeans, only that we don't leave people bleeding to death in the streets.

[Richelieu]

Originally posted by King of Rasslin
No, its the evolution of language. You will come off as more progressive if you speak simply.

It's like, man, like,you're totally wrong dude! Like, no way! Like, Dude!

No waaameeen ?

[zulu9812]

Originally posted by Ned
But you are largely right. Americans are extremely proud of their country, proud of its achievements, proud of its Constitution, proud of its role in WWII, proud of its role in defeating communisim and proud of its role in championing democracy and human rights in today's world.

1. Achievements - at least 2 incidences of genocide...
2. It's role in WWII - just out of interest, do you beleive America 'won' WWII?
3. It's role in defeating communism - I seem to remember this role being about replacing pro-soviet democratically-elected governments with anti-soviet autocracies/dictatorships. Two example which spring to mind are Iran and Afghanistan - both of which eventually bit you in the ass. It's largely thanks to Britain and America's meddling that the Middle East is in the mess that it is.

Originally posted by Ned
Most of the anti-American world seem intent, in our view, of demonstrating that America is evil in one form or another - that our achievements are built on slavery, for example

It is built on slavery! Then again, so's England. I say England, and not Britain, because Scotland was the first place in the world to outlaw slavery. And that was largely because we didn't have any slaves in the first place.

Originally posted by Ned
But we in the US know differently because we are idealists who elect leaders who are idealists as well.

Aah yes, the American electoral system - where the candidate with the most votes loses.

Originally posted by Ned
We will support a foreign policy that aims at stability, democracy and human rights.

This is the stupidest thing I've ever seen you post. It is unjust for any nation to enforce it's way of life on another people. Yeah sure, us westerners might enjoy our decadent lifestyles with computer games, satellite TV with 500 channels and our porn magazines. But some groups of human beings have decided not to live like that and we should respect that. Not everyone wants democracy. There is a reason why the UN will not involve itself militarily in internal disputes - althought there have been some rare and justified exceptions (namely Kosovo)

[DinoDoc]

Originally posted by zulu9812
2. It's role in WWII - just out of interest, do you beleive America 'won' WWII?

Yes, I do. Unless of course you have some reliable evidence that we lost WWII.

Aah yes, the American electoral system - where the candidate with the most votes loses.

There are better and more credible rebutles of Ned's point than that one you know.

There is a reason why the UN will not involve itself militarily in internal disputes - althought there have been some rare and justified exceptions (namely Kosovo)

How is that justified?

[Ned]

zulu9812, Your post exemplifies the gross differences between America and the rest of the West.

Why is the world more today free, democratic and respectful of human rights than anytime in its history?

[Spiffor]

Thanks for the explanation Sikander.
I thought the US gave healthcare cards to the very poorest, but the others (including the lower class) ahd to fend for themselves to pay for their medication. I understand now it is not true for emergencies.
Still, refusing to pay for basic medication and health (except emergencies) of the lower class, or the lower-middle class is a significant difference with all other developed countries.

[Spiffor]

Originally posted by Ned
Why is the world more today free, democratic and respectful of human rights than anytime in its history?

Because of the UN

[DinoDoc]

Originally posted by Spiffor
Because of the UN

You slay me.

[Spiffor]

Mission accomplished

[My Wife Hates CIV]

'Why are Americans so different from the rest of us Westerners '

???

just because we are better in so many ways!

[zulu9812]

Originally posted by DinoDoc
Yes, I do. Unless of course you have some reliable evidence that we lost WWII.

Actually, I was asking whether or not he believed America to be able to claim responsibilty for ultimate victory. I believe that belongs to the Soviet Union.

As for how 'how was UN military intervention in Kosovo justified?', if you think a leader murdering his own people in the name of ethnic cleansing isn't justification enough, I guess that shows the difference between Americans and Europeans. And just in case you were thinking of using my argument to sa 'why then shouldn't we attack Sadam Hussein?', he paid the price 12 years ago and continues to pay it.