To ask you to tell me the bad things about living in America?

[Witchofzog]

Ever since I was a child I thought I would live in America. Any visits I have made there reinforced how much I love it there (I am aware a holiday is not real life) but for various reasons it never happenned. I am now early forties with a mild heart condition and I am aware it is probably too late for me now.

I went to uni with a lovely woman who has literally got the life I wanted. She now lives in a sunny state with her husband who is handsome AND kind and has made lots of friends out there. And I am both happy for her and envious as hell. I know comparison is the thief of joy but today I have been unhealthily fixated on how her life compares to mine and I find mine sadly lacking. I will pick myself up tomorrow, re-evaluate and am already thinking of what I can do to make my own life better but still I feel sad that I never achieved my dream.

Please be kind. My uni friend is beautiful inside and out and she deserves everything she has - and she worked hard for it. But I really need to snap out of this somehow hence asking for the bad things about living stateside. I am aware my spectacles may be rose tinted so some perspective would be really helpful

Healthcare... cost of. Watch Sicko by Michael Moore.
Lack of social security net.
Racism
Guns
Death penalty

I'd re-evaluate a year after Brexit, especially if we crash out .

Thank you everyone. This is exactly the reality check I needed. I knew about the 2 weeks annual leave, high health premiums, gun culture and racism, though I wasn't aware the racism was so prevalent and wrongly assumed it was mainly limited to the very southern states. I would be open to going to church as I have also considered this in the UK. Most people I have met there have been really friendly but I would find it hard to deal with insular rude people. Regarding the mention of people who don't have any impetus to explore, I have also met people here who only leave their own county for their 2 week trip to Spain which has always boggled my mind

Can I ask what happens on retirement with health premiums? Do you then have to take over the entire cost bearing in mind you will probably have a few comorbidities by then?

Does anybody over the age of 16 seriously think living in America is like what you see in the glamorous American shows? It's actually a shithole in reality.

It's actually a shithole in reality.

The entire place and nearly 400m people?

No job security
Health insurance linked to job
Huge numbers of people go bankrupt because of illness
No real maternity
No real safety net
Extreme weather

Ooh no, it's a cultural desert. I've been there many times and it's the last place on earth I would want to live.

With a mild heart condition you will be better off in the UK. Your medical fees will be extortionate.

Racism
No significant holidays

Trump
Americans
Guns

@Witchofzog after retirement (65) you can get Medicare which is government health insurance. People usually buy their own "plan B" to subsidise it, but it's manageable.

Wow, I can’t imagine people feeling entitled to talk about any other country and it’s people the way they are on this thread.

If I described any other nation the way you’re describing America, I would rightly be called out for appalling xenophobia.

I would say the downsides are guns (factual) and given your pre existing conditions, the likely cost of healthcare (also factual). Lots of Americans who are lucky enough to have good healthcare packages think our system is barbaric- they can’t believe someone gatekeeps you seeing a specialist and you don’t get to choose them, and that you’re on a ward with lots of other people, shared bathrooms and terrible food.

Watch "Tiger King" on netflix - has put me right off even going there again

@hermioneweasley I'm sure a large proportion of Americans would be very happy with the NHS.

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/apr/16/profit-over-people-cost-over-care-americas-broken-healthcare-exposed-by-virus

Anyone here live in Minneapolis or have visited? Would love to visit. I think I would even love the snow .

I'd miss pubs. To me, there's nothing like a night in your local in winter, windows steamed up, dogs under the tables, banter with people you don't really know but a few pints of lukewarm ale later and they're your best friends for the night. I think pubs are the heart and soul of this country, they make it what it is. No bar could compete.

Witchofzog.....I split time between the 2 countries as I'm a dual citizen of the UK and the US. Racism is not just in the American South. That is a horrible stereotype. It's everywhere. You do not have to go church. I love in the bible belt and haven't showed up in so or at years. After I returned home from recovering from Covid the congregation still set up a dinner chain. Many states have Medicaid (part of ObamaCare so if you can't afford insurance you can get in those states. Annual leave is based on how long you have worked for the company and if you are full time. I get 9 weeks plus which I usually spend in the UK seeing my family and attending to the property I own there. As far as our lovely retirees. After official retirement age which last time I looked was 67 they receive Medicare. Medicare pays 80 percent and you are responsible for the 20 percent unless you purchase additional insurance. Which is usually pretty low I think my dad pays 40 bucks a month and that finishes covering everything. The copay,prescriptions dental etc....The cost of living is going to greatly depend on which state you live in. For example my yearly salary not including my real estate investments is 175,000 a year (143,000 pound sterling) or my husband's income (military retirement and charter fishing small business) I love a very,very nice lifestyle in NC. In other states such as NY,CA,WA I would be struggling immensely. In those states my family would be eligible for some forms of public assistance. Once again that isn't including my husband's income. Yes, we have guns here. Lots and lots of guns. Myself I personally own 6 including a handgun and can conceal carry that handgun. I never leave home without it. The rest are used for hunting and protection from local wildlife ie...bears,alligators, boars,cougar and the very occasional white shark. I have never been a victim of gun violence personally but know people who have. You are going to find incredibly rude people anywhere you go. The rudest people I have ever met are actually from your very own Lakenheath Village. They beat New Yorkers (city) in that department.

@Wallywonker....How wrong can you be? Most Americans won't nothing to do with Universal healthcare. They are absolutely terrified of it. Mainly they hear nothing but horror stories about the NHS and the healthcare tourism from Canada plus our own failings with our VS system. We don't want that

@DerbyshireGirly...UK pubs are definitely a wonderful thing. I have spent many an evening in one. But there is something to be said about sitting outside at your (my) local bar in the middle of the summer after a long day in 99 degree heat with a heat index of 110 in the shade

@GarlicSoup...Minnesota is great if you are a naturally outdoorsy person and the snow. Mall of America is completely overrated

@HermioneWeasley...Pre-existing conditions are now completely covered with your insurance plan thanks to.Obama

We have watched some of Simon Reeve travelling through America which was interesting. The bit that struck me was about their jails. People get given fines for minor things like a broken headlight on their car and if they can't pay it escalates until they end up in prison. Also the forest fires are scary.

@Leaannb, that’s good to know

Lived in New York.

The working culture (and I know it's likely to be worse in Manhattan than other places you might consider, but I still think these things apply) is nuts.

Really, really think about only having two weeks of holiday a year. It's fairly normal to have sick days taken out of this allowance. The culture is to work long hours, and if you're not doing a good enough job you can be fired same day for no particular reason.

Then, you have no health insurance. So if you need any sort of doctor you are paying thousands of dollars.

I love how you basically just want us to put you off living in the USA. I get that though, OP. It's hard to live with regret I do think you're better off here though

@Leaannb Have you been to Prince's Paisley Park in Chanhassen by any chance?