America Is Great
That was me two months ago.
I couldn’t stop raving about Brazil. I told everyone how it’s much safer than US media makes it out to be. I told everyone how fresh the food is, a testimony to me being in best shape of my life despite feasting on tons of it. I told everyone how friendlier and happier the people are. I told everyone how I can totally see myself living there in a few years. I told, and told, and told into the oblivion. I sounded like I worked for the Brazilian Tourist Agency.
America’s lifestyle didn’t make sense. I couldn’t understand why people drive large cars, and have huge TVs in their apartments. They should be spending more time outside, with their friends, perhaps at the beach or something, I thought. I found the US pop music empty–empty of any meaning, substance, culture, as opposed to Samba which is full of history. I went out few times, but couldn’t connect with anyone; had absolutely nothing to talk about. I saw people walking around like clones: guys sporting the same hipsterish glasses, shirts and skinny jeans. Girls wearing the same flats as everyone else. I couldn’t wait to get back on the plane.
Fast forward two months, and I’m pretty much re-adjusted to my life in US. Although I plan to be on the road soon enough, I can’t help but to appreciate the life here as opposed to overseas. Sure, America is not perfect, but you could do a lot worse, believe me.
Here’s why I think America shines:
- American Dream:
In America, you can become anyone you want to be if you’re good at it, and regardless of your connections. Look at the success of immigrant founded/co-founded companies like Google, and Intel and more. While it also matters who you know than what you know, it’s definitely less so here than abroad. - Everything is for sale:
I could walk around anywhere, and buy anything I like. Any building, any business; everything has a price. Everything has its accompanying records. Try doing that in the third world or even Europe, and you’ll quickly find out that some records are missing, or something is deemed unsellable, etc. Likewise I can get a loan from the bank with reasonable interest rate due to the fact that the bank knows my chance of default due to my FICO score. Not many places around the world are that sophisticated. In fact, you need cash to buy big things abroad. - Entrepreneurship:
I can go on the Internet and form any kind of company in one or two days. Then I can enjoy benefits, such as expensing my expenses to reduce my taxable incoming. In the third world, this can take a very long time to do while you navigate the bureaucracy. I also have more access to VC funding and talent than anywhere else. - Security:
I have real, tangible security here. I can walk streets knowing that if something happens to me there’s a good chance that person will be caught and persecuted. I can open a store without so much fear of someone walking in and asking ‘protection’ money as is commonly done in the third world. - Electronics:
You wanna buy a MacBook in Brazil? Sure, but it’ll cost you 2-3x the price of it in US (in dollars). Same thing with a new LCD TV, or anything else that wasn’t manufactured in Brazil. Say goodbye to your favorite gadgets or ask someone who’s coming from US to carry them down for you. - Huge, all-catch stores:
I can go to a large store like Costco and do all my shopping there, including food, clothes (if I’m on a budget) and electronics. Everything is competitively priced too. - Corruption:
Sure, there’s corruption all over the world (and always will be), but at least there’s more accountability and transparency here than many other places in the world. America has free press and they love to uncover corruption no matter who small or large to boost their ratings. - Technology Advancements:
Many things started in America. The light bulb, personal computer, Microsoft, the Internet, Google, Facebook Twitter, including ongoing investments in Biotech and solar energy. Some say America is losing her edge, but try to explain that in Silicon Valley which is continuing to hire and innovate. - And many more, as you see where I’m going with this.
Travelling is great and eye-opening. It’s important to get out and see how the rest of the world lives in comparison to us. In addition to giving you another perspective, it also makes you aware of some things that perhaps were taken for granted. As the popular saying goes, “you never know what you have until you lose it.”
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{ 26 comments… read them below or add one }
Do you still think America is so great? You really can get a loan any time you want, really? Where? The job situation in the US is hopeless and heart breaking. At least people don’t lie to themselves overseas. If things are bad, everyone knows it and accepts it. There is no need to lie about how great the country is.
Can your parents support me as well?
Thanks.
You shouldn’t refer to your country as America in this context, since Brazil is also within America (as the name of the continent)
Our country is the United States of AMERICA so yes it’s correct.
Wrong. America is a continent. Thats why it says OF america
If that’s so, then why is it that when I say “I’m an American,” anybody who’s listening knows I’m from the USA?
Yike and yike and super yike , the wrost country in the world
I am a travelling American that has only spent 8 months living in the U.S. since Oct 2003. You summed it up pretty well. Brave on.
You sound like you’ve never experienced any kind of poverty or even below-middle-class living. As Carlin said, it’s called the American Dream because you have to be asleep to believe it.
I lived abroad for 15 years and I agree with your comments 100%. Add to that the fact that the gym opens at 5 a.m. here and not 10,30 and you don’t have to stand in line at the post office to pay your bills. On the other hand I do think this country is going down the toilet. If anything it’s been too easy to get loans, too easy to do everything in fact, and people have acquired a sense of whiny entitlement. The economy in Europe sucks worse than ours. The Euro was a total scam that reduced people’s buying power by half and the Europeans just sucked it up and kept on truckin’, don’t ask me how. America offers possibilities, not promises, but that’s not nothing.
You want to know why things are over priced in other countries, because your companies copyright those products, and anyone living outside the US has to pay, for the export cost, import cost, their own national tax on the product, and other copyright junk. Now sincerely, Europe is far much greater than ‘america’ and let me tell you something kid, america is just like a child with an altered ego who just wants to be greater than the one who made it exist. The only reason why america is great is because its made up by people from the world, I could only imagine, the landscape if your people haven’t done so many horrible things to the native Americans. Talk about shitty people, the people who brought slaves from africa, who until the 60′s regarded them as lower class citizens and trash, and even had separate buses, bathrooms, because they though they would get sick from coloured people, and until today white americans are very racist towards, asian, blacks, hispanics, europeans, africans, etc. When they dont realize the reason your’re country is so great is because of the contributions of the other cultures.
You sound like a typical angry non-White.
America has 90% made. The only thing you are lacking is the ability to live with people without having plans all the time. Americans befriend people because of interest all the time. What can this guy do for me ? This is my company buddy, this is my golf buddy, this is my school buddy. Networking.
Then. you complain that woemn dont open up, that they are all calculating bitches.
America’s sin is to be calculating regarding human relationships.
Yes, Brazil is open and relaxed. We got the 10% you dont have. We are more authentic. Now we have to get the 90% we dont have: the drive, the work ethic, the honesty, the respect for the individual, etc.
This is a very accurate observation about human relationships in America. Well said.
Europe is dead. No plans, no future. People wearing black, walking like zombies in the street, going to dark clubs to get drunk. The youth with no perspective, just talking about the stupid wines or what stupid region makes the best cheese. New age , hinusim BS everywhere. Just sad.
Smartduck: Have you ever been to Europe?? I’ve lived in 5 European countries and never experienced any of this (granted, I haven’t been to Germany, Scandinavia, Belgium or the Netherlands).
Good post. I agree. America is good if you have money or if you want to make money. It is not worth it for anything else. Culturally, it is a crater.
I’m a Mexican exchange student that is going to return to Mexico in just 15 days, and I totally agree with that you said… In fact, I fell in love so much with your country and your culture that I don’t even want to leave!!…. yeah Mexico might have more history and culture than America does… but if there is something that most Latin America countries lack is attitude.. yeah the people over there don’t care and don’t try to be successful as in America.. that’s why we are undeveloped countries and our economies are struggling to keep up with globalization..
.when they were asked why this happen what do you think the answer was? who do you think worked there butts off to make it like this. how many lies like the housing market is fine did we hear from them that happen to hate the USA and her ways. to bring her down they worked hard to do this. they had to trash the family than the morals and make drugs a cool thing they than when after the kids in the schools the faith and in the end they were not even near to having the fun they had set out to have with her. men that rape hate women, the ones who did this hated the USA.
But don’t fear she not down for the last count. the USA is not a ship that can be cap side. she takes on water and than pops right back up. she great becaues she is powerful she lets them who want it make it what they want. But with rules to get her thought the darkness she see her way to what is right. she a real lady.
We do not have a free press. Our media are nothing but public relations for the official version of events. That’s why they refuse to question 9/11 or the JFK assassination or the lies about Iraq. All they do is parrot the official version that the elite want you to believe. Listen to David Icke or Alex Jones.
Are you the famous Winston Wu?
You forgot something. America is great in some ways, but it also has…
The highest mental illness rates in the industrialized world. This speaks volumes about how insane and unnatural the culture must be. No other country has such a huge mental health industry.The highest rates of obesity in the world. Whatever the reasons, this makes it hard to find an attractive girl and getting one very difficult, driving up the competition to insane levels! It also means that there is something very unhealthy about our food and lifestyle.The most expensive healthcare in the world. Seeing a doctor shouldn’t cost an arm and a leg! It’s a lot more affordable in other countries.The highest prison population in the world. This speaks volumes about the insanity and dyfunctionality of US society.A very high cost of living. This forces one to have to work more and suffer more stress in order to pay off bills, rent, mortgage, debt. etc.A huge lack of human connection. People live in psychological bubbles in a society of social isolation. Neighbors don’t usually talk to each other or invite each other over.The highest loneliness rate in the world. Many have no one to talk to about their problems, so they have to pay a therapist who doesn’t even really care.A dating scene that is insanely difficult for men. There is a huge dating epidemic where millions of males can’t get any dates or female companionship. Women are too picky, have difficult personalities, become unfeminine, harbor hateful attitudes toward men, are flaky and flighty. There is a lack of quality single women, and overcompetition abounds among single men, which outnumber single women. The culture and media have destroyed healthy relationships, femininity, turned women into beasts with feminism, and turned women against men with an engineered “battle of the sexes” (which doesn’t exist in other countries) which divides men and women, and further escalates the loneliness/social isolation epidemic.Too much fakeness in people. The US has some of the fakest people in the world, especially among the young crowd and in the coastal areas (CA and NY). It’s hard to find authentic, genuine, down-to-earth people, unlike overseas.The threat of turning into a fascist police state. The US government has turned into a bully and control freak, gradually taking away people’s freedoms and rights under the phoney guise of the fraudulent and baseless “War on Terror”. Manyfear that it may become a fascist dictatorship or police state, turning the land of freedom into the land of tyranny.
In contrast, in most other countries, though not all:
Cost of living is much lower and much more affordable. Well in most countries that is (except UK and Japan).Healthcare is much more affordable and even free in some countries. People don’t get bankrupted by healthcare costs like they do in the US.Food is much more organic and natural. In Europe, food is much more natural and so there is no need for expensive organic health food stores like in America.People are more authentic, down to earth and easier to meet. They are more open with strangers. The social atmosphere is more inclusive. You can meet people even if you go out alone, whereas in the US if you go out alone, you stay alone. I’ve met people in Europe in restaurants. They are easy to chat up and will invite you to sit with them.The social atmosphere is not as judgmental or competitive. Thus you do not constantly feel insecure about yourself as you do in the US. This isn’t as big of an issue if you are older, but it applies mostly to Gen X and Y, who grew up with insecurity their whole lives, never feeling accepted for themselves, thus developing inferiority complexes. Case in point: Blacks and Asians in England do not have the inferiority complex that they do in the US.Most importantly for men, young women are much more friendly and feminine. They are more authentic, natural and down to earth, and easier to talk to and meet. They do NOT have the man-hating “all men are creeps” attitude or the disgust toward flirtation that American women have (in total contrast to the depiction in Hollywood movies where everyone is open and flirtatious).
To learn more:
http://www.happierabroad.com/comparison.htm
Free press? LOL
Obviously you don’t listen to David Icke. Here David Icke explains for half an hour in the beginning why the mainstream media is not free at all to say whatever they want and can only parrot info official sources as “the news”.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mewhgw7Mujc
What makes the United States of America is the people you currently live around. I live in this neighborhood and these weird Americans sagging their pants, saying this neighborhood, “The Hood”. WTF are they talking about? They think they rule the place, They think they can do anything, They think they are the BEST around. What I see them are ruthless losers. At night, They are going to drive on their cars blowing their stupid sound what they call it “Music”? and taunt other people from other country? They are stupid bastards that my neighbor got their money robbed and the police didn’t even bother to catch them. They are getting the money without working too???
what not make america so great is some of their citizens.
Hi, i’m from Moldova. And i’d like to say that america is bad country. we have nukes fire at you soon. we are all 6 feet tall and genetikally shoot lazers from out eyes and nukes from out dicks. this is also why we breed so well. Nuke babies. Moldova FUCK YEA!!! UNGYEEEEEEEEAAH
I have been fortunate to be born and raised in the U.S.A.. I have been free to learn ,and use my ambition to take me as far as I wanted to go , amd Im happy with the results spiritually and materialy . I would like to hear some like minded observations. you can see – http://spirittourism.com
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