What is it like to live in ...

[ManchestrMorgue]

Originally Posted by Sistinas666

I live in a very small town, Erie, Ks. I've moved to cities a few times but have lived 90% of my life in small towns. I believe this town has less than 3000 people. I hate these small towns, everyone knows your business. Its like living a soap opera. If all goes as planned I am moving to Oregon by March. I have 7 years until both of my children move out of the house for college and in the mean time I plan on trying to become a Canadian citizen. I hate the direction this country has taken and feel like Canada would be an excellent place to grow old.

What exactly do you hate about the direction that America has taken, and what is it about Canada that you prefer? I had a workmate from Canada, he moved back about 1 year ago. He had lived a fair while in Tennessee as well - said he quite liked it there.

I live in a reasonably small town (about 5000 people) but the suburb is part of a larger area. But only about 50km (30 miles) from the Sydney CBD. I know what you mean about everyone knowing everyone, but I guess it depends on the town and the people living there as to how much of a problem that is ;)

[Sistinas666]

Health care is one of my biggest pet peeves about the US. If you don't work and are on wellfare then its free. If you have a great job you can afford insurance. What about people like me that are in the between? I tell the lady my leg is broke and she asks for my insurance card. I don't have one. She asks if I have the 120 for the doctors visit and I say no. Bitch rolls her eyes and gives me some sort of assistance papers to fill out. I honestly say fuck this corporate, oil grubbing, money hungry, joke of a country. I am tired of old, fat, bald, rich men using/running America to get even richer. Its a travesty and I no longer want a part of this nonsense.

[ManchestrMorgue]

Originally Posted by Sistinas666

Health care is one of my biggest pet peeves about the US. If you don't work and are on wellfare then its free. If you have a great job you can afford insurance. What about people like me that are in the between? I tell the lady my leg is broke and she asks for my insurance card. I don't have one. She asks if I have the 120 for the doctors visit and I say no. Bitch rolls her eyes and gives me some sort of assistance papers to fill out. I honestly say fuck this corporate, oil grubbing, money hungry, joke of a country. I am tired of old, fat, bald, rich men using/running America to get even richer. Its a travesty and I no longer want a part of this nonsense.

Yeah I can imagine that would be frustrating.

I think that sort of thing is a problem in a lot of places (not necessarily with health care, but other things). You get concessions for things if you are on welfare (eg travel) but if you have a job that is not well-payed, your concession is gone. So you end up not all that much better off for the privilege of working. Doesn't seem right.

[TheWickerFan]

Originally Posted by ManchestrMorgue

Thanks.

When you say "ludicrously expensive", what do you mean? What would an average house cost (not a huge mansion, just a regular house). What about goods and services - how much does it cost to live once you have accommodation sorted out? I ask because I think Sydney is ludicrously expensive ... :mad:

As far as political divide - we have essentially a two party system in Australia, with a Liberal and Labor party (with the Liberal party being traditionally more right wing, and Labor being more left wing), although I think both of these parties are reasonably moderate in most of their policies, and there is a right wing faction in the Labor party, as well as a left-wing faction.

With regards to national healthcare, my understanding is that the bulk of healthcare is privately funded through insurance, which is usually provided through workplace packages? Is that correct? Is there any emergency healthcare - say if you were unemployed and without insurance and suffering something life-threatening - like a serious car crash or a heart attack?

With regards to looking "backwards" to other countries - I wouldn't worry. Sometimes I feel the same way about Australia. But I think that people make a lot of assumptions about other countries with the only knowledge being what they see in the media.

That is part of the reason why I have started this thread. Obviously we hear a lot about the USA through the media. But I am sure that this is only what the media wants to portray, and isn't much of an indication of what it is like for the average person. So I was just really interested in what average people thought of their country. And I wanted to learn a little bit about what normal, mundane life was like in the USA. Not the lives of movie stars and CEOs.

The average cost of a 1,500 square foot house is about $300,000 (it's come down significantly since the economic meltdown) and you could expect to pay $2,000 in monthly rent for a 2 bedroom apartment.

The liberals, in this country, are the far left party. The Democrats (left) and Republicans (right) are the dominant parties, but lately the Conservatives (far right) have been heavily in the spotlight. The Tea Party is a splinter group of the conservatives that has gained a lot of power over the past few years, and are seriously affecting affairs in the White House. I'm sure some of the more colorful members (and there are a lot of them) are the ones that have been getting international coverage.

As for health insurance, it is true if you have a good job, there will probably be a benefits package, but if you're not, you're up the creek. If you have a life threatening emergency, hospitals don't turn you away, but you're still on the hook for the cost of your care (tens of thousands normally). I know someone who has an ovarian cyst, but can't get it treated until it bursts (in other words, until it becomes life threatening) without having to pay out of pocket. She's a bartender with a young daughter, and has no health insurance. Of course the whole business of what private insurance is unwilling to pay for is a whole other story.:rolleyes:

Sorry for the rant.:o

[ManchestrMorgue]

Yes we do get some coverage relating to the Tea Party in Australia.

Personally, I am all for people/parties standing for anything they choose. Opinions (even unpopular/unhealthy ones) are the hallmark of democracy. But it does get concerning when a significant number of people vote for them :D

The healthcare issue is pretty concerning - in Australia, we have private and public healthcare. Private healthcare is optional, and gives you a choice of doctors and reduced wait times for non-life threatening problems. However, if someone has a life threatening problem they get treatment as required for free. If you earn over a certain amount, you pay extra tax if you don't have private insurance in Australia.

We do get taxed a lot more in Australia, though. 45% income tax for the top bracket.

With regards to housing prices --- wow, Sydney is expensive. Average house prices are over $600K and a house in a nice suburb close to the city and beaches is easily $1m plus.

Originally Posted by TheWickerFan

The average cost of a 1,500 square foot house is about $300,000 (it's come down significantly since the economic meltdown) and you could expect to pay $2,000 in monthly rent for a 2 bedroom apartment.

The liberals, in this country, are the far left party. The Democrats (left) and Republicans (right) are the dominant parties, but lately the Conservatives (far right) have been heavily in the spotlight. The Tea Party is a splinter group of the conservatives that has gained a lot of power over the past few years, and are seriously affecting affairs in the White House. I'm sure some of the more colorful members (and there are a lot of them) are the ones that have been getting international coverage.

As for health insurance, it is true if you have a good job, there will probably be a benefits package, but if you're not, you're up the creek. If you have a life threatening emergency, hospitals don't turn you away, but you're still on the hook for the cost of your care (tens of thousands normally). I know someone who has an ovarian cyst, but can't get it treated until it bursts (in other words, until it becomes life threatening) without having to pay out of pocket. She's a bartender with a young daughter, and has no health insurance. Of course the whole business of what private insurance is unwilling to pay for is a whole other story.:rolleyes:

Sorry for the rant.:o

[TheWickerFan]

Wow! Sorry I complained about Long Island's prices.:eek:

[ManchestrMorgue]

Originally Posted by TheWickerFan

Wow! Sorry I complained about Long Island's prices.:eek:

I guess it also depends on what the average person earns though. I understand that wages can be pretty low for some people in the USA?

[TheWickerFan]

Originally Posted by ManchestrMorgue

I guess it also depends on what the average person earns though. I understand that wages can be pretty low for some people in the USA?

Minimum wage is about $5 an hour (I can never remember the exact amount, but that's only for full time employees.

[hammerfan]

Originally Posted by TheWickerFan

Minimum wage is about $5 an hour (I can never remember the exact amount, but that's only for full time employees.

The federal minimum wage is $7.25 - but the amount varies from state to state. I know waiters and waitresses get less than that because they get tips.

And as far as prices of houses, that also varies region to region. The same house you get in the East Coast for $300,00 you could get in the Midwest for around $95K-$100K.

[Sistinas666]

Another thing that pisses me off about the US- how the welfare system works. Heres an example: when I was in college(many moons ago) I was a bag boy at a small grocery store. Being that close to the cashier its a bit hard to not notice how people pay. A couple I was bagging for used a vision card, no big deal right? Then I took their bags out to their early 70's cherry Corvette. I mean this thing had obviosly been painstakingly restored. They could afford that car but not groceries? I call bullshit. My wife and I both work, have 2 children and receive no welfare but I see welfare families with nicer things than us. I understand the economy is shit but its not impossible to find a job. They get their medical paid, free money and food, rent for seriosly, like 30 bucks a month. They will even buy you a vehicle and maintain it(atleast these are things I know they will do in Kansas). If I didn't have pride I'd say fuck this work shit and live the high life.

Another thing that pisses me off are taxes. In protest I haven't filed taxes since 2000(yes, I know I'll be in prison soon).

Land of the free? Then why the fuck can't I smoke in a bar? Its ok for people to destroy their livers but the lungs must be saved? The same with buying cigarretes at 18 but alcohol at 21. I think the smoking age should be 21 too. And I love the fact a kid can fight in a war before he can even buy a beer.

Why the fuck do I have to wear a seat belt? Shouldn't it be my decision? Make seatbelts required for people up to 18 but adults? Bullshit. A few months ago I wasn't wearing my seatbelt so they pulled over my wife and ticketed me for $10. No big deal except they told my wife she had a suspended license(which was incorrect). She went to court with the proof she had a valid license the whole time, that they had made a mistake, yet they still refused to give her physical license back until she paid the 70 dollar court cost. What kind of horse shit is that? We paid for their mistake?:mad:


And thats my rant of the day.