Does everyone want to live in the US?

[AteRiri]

I was talking to an American friend and he made this blanket statement, "Everyone wants to come here!"

Is this true?

Might wait until trump has fucked off again though!

Ninja - I was one of the people who had excellent healthcare (ex-husband worked for the government)

I was refused treatment despite my GP being concerned that I was experiencing a slow emiblism which left me with no choice but to attend the ER which tripled my healthcare bill.

My entire pregnancy and birth was covered but only if I agreed to the insurance company's stipulation on where and how I gave birth.

I had a monumental outbreak of rungwirm due to a lowered immune system and despite the excellent healthcare coverage it cost me over £1k to treat.

My ex-husband was a paramedic and often responded to 'respiratory distress' calls from the local Nexucan population who had no healthcare apart from Medicaid - 911 calls were their only way to access the system.

C'mon SenecaFalls don't take it personally.

I really enjoy the diversity on MN and Americans are obviously a part of that. We have American passports and I was born in America and have probably spent about half my life there (American University and primary school) but I just don't identify strongly as "an American". Please don't take offence at those folks who are intentionally being goady rather than giving considered responses.

As I said, Banty, it does vary from state to state, and even between insurance companies (a friend once joked that the Oregon State healthcare plan gives you just enough coverage to figure out what was wrong). But it's my understanding that health care available in the UK isn't universally the same either but varies from region to region. I just wanted to point out that the generalization about the healthcare system being dire for anybody who couldn't afford it hasn't been my actual experience.
I wouldn't say that I had any much choice in my prenatal and maternity care either - one clinic (midwife led because it's cheaper) and one hospital - but what was available to me was very much not substandard care - and this was in a very poor area with huge Hispanic and Native American populations, usually the least served.

I don't blame Seneca for taking offence. I'm baffled why there is so much strong anti-American sentiment on here. Why are some people writing off a huge, exceptionally diverse country, many with what seems like real venom?

Perhaps people fleeing civil wars and poverty in developing countries.

Other than that, I believe that it might just be the place for right wing, racist misogynists.

Erm, to be clear MotherofPearl I am American not living in America. I don't take offence at this thread.

Have you read the reasons why, MotherofPearl?

America has some serious serious problems that are in dire need of attention.

Misogynists?

Oh we do have some of course. On the other hand we also have the Violence Against Women Act enacted in 1994 (which continues to have bi-partisan support) that established the Office on Violence Against Women in the Justice Department. The program provides legal protections for victims and provides substantial funding and technical support for domestic violence shelters and sexual assault programs across the nation.

Perhaps, but the abortion laws in many states are repressive.

As they are in parts of the UK. At least in those states there is legal recourse to challenge them.

Abortion laws in the U.K. Are repressive, Seneca? Where?

Ninja - my point being that in the USA you think twice dialling 911 (and as last I knew it it is the only country in the developed world where going bankrupt is a real possibility if you have a chronic or severe accrue illness) here in the UK- not so much.

Seneca's absolutely right about that, Banty - abortion is illegal in Northern Ireland and (IIRC) the Isle of Man. Women have to travel to the rest of the UK and pay privately to have them - though the Scottish parliament is currently debating allowing women from NI to have abortions on the NHS in Scotland.

Northern Ireland

Abortion rights in Northern Ireland and indeed the Republic are a disgrace. The US has nothing on that.

Ah yes, sorry - forgot about NI

Lead pipe, I think the wider point is that all countries have serious problems in need of attention. This thread seems to ignore that and single out US as a special case.

Lead, I don't think you're obliged to take offence; I was just saying that I understand why Seneca had. Also, I have read the thread and fully appreciate the reasons why people might not want to live in the US (as I said upthread). The proliferation of guns and attitudes to guns, is one reason I certainly sympathise with.

What I really don't understand though is the posters who outright condemn a whole country, saying things like 'you couldn't pay me to have a holiday there'. It's seems extraordinary, when you think of the great diversity of the US, and some of the wonderful things it has to offer.

"my point being that in the USA you think twice dialling 911"
I used to have a friend who was a 911 dispatcher, and, based on some of the stories she had, some people don't even think once before dialing.

No thanks. Born and bred in my lovely town and I'm never leaving.

With their attitude to guns over there,no way!

I love the US. I lived there for a year in the late 90s (so quite a while ago, admittedly) and bloody loved it. I lived in a lovely part of the East Coast near Boston and it was amazing.

The gross generalisations on here (by people who have only been once on a holiday to Florida, if that) are astounding. You'll find there are totally normal people who don't love guns and who aren't Trump voters.... it's also extremely beautiful, has amazing cities (New York is the bomb. I've also lived in London & Sydney & I'd take NYC any day) and the weather is far far better than the UK. It's not nearly as small & crowded, or as expensive. I'd def go and live there if given a chance!

I'd like to add, too, that the OTT comments, especially ones aimed at Americans, rather than issues with the US as a country, make me question whether I am welcome on MN. How many other MNers have the same opinions but just don't post them? One other American poster said much the same and she has not been back to post since.

I reckon you're fine Seneca, most people aren't anti septic :)

Seneca
I'm sorry for the thread. As l said earlier, l've never understood why Americans are such easy targets?
The Brits l've watched mock my DH ( Irl) behave as if they are totally entitled to. As if to appear more 'with it' .I've even had it from my own family.
I still maintain many Brits just don't understand Americans or the culture. They pick out snippets from the news or a one off holiday and think they have the right to say whatever they fancy. It is quite alarming that many posters didn't even know where to source quality journalism from the US.