The amazingly good things about the US
Discussion
RDMcG said:
(7) The people I meet. It is fashionable of PH to caricature Americans ad fat people who cannot change a wheel on a car and are gun-toting rednecks.
The big difference is I bet if you couldn't change a wheel in the US you wouldn't have to wait long before someone pulled over to help, whereas in the UK your chances of being offered assistance are a lot less.djc206 said:
Yipper said:
Britain is as poor as Mississippi.
You really can't underestimate just how rich the US is. Even America's absolutely poorest state is as rich as the UK.
If Britain joined the US, it would be the 1st or 2nd poorest state...
https://www.forbes.com/sites/timworstall/2014/08/2...
Statistics only tell half the story. Go to New Orleans and cycle around some of the poorer neighbourhoods like I have and then ask yourself if the article paints a true picture. There is poverty in the US that makes even the sYou really can't underestimate just how rich the US is. Even America's absolutely poorest state is as rich as the UK.
If Britain joined the US, it would be the 1st or 2nd poorest state...
https://www.forbes.com/sites/timworstall/2014/08/2...
ttiest sink estate in this country look luxurious!ks, as it seems to be based on a methodology which pre-dates the internet!All of these types of studies tend to be b
ks to a large extent anyway, as they all depend on coming up firstly with a representative basket of goods which may or may not be accurate, may or may not be the same as the basket of of goods in other countries being compared, and pretty much certainly won't be representative of any one of us individually.Then you get to the frankly bizarre notion of being able to actually tell you what $100 will buy you from one state to the next. This presumably completely ignores the fact that an increasingly large proportion of everyone's shopping budget is spent online? Are we to believe that it's cheaper to buy from Amazon or eBay in Mississippi than it is in NY?
I can see how this sort of study broadly makes sense when comparing, say, the West, former Eastern block, Africa, Latin America etc, but it strikes me that they have to make so many sweeping assumptions to get to their figures that quite frankly the gaps between the countries/states are so small that they'd be swallowed up in the pretty huge margin of error...
Kermit power said:
I would also suggest that the whole article is complete bks, as it seems to be based on a methodology which pre-dates the internet!
All of these types of studies tend to be bks to a large extent anyway, as they all depend on coming up firstly with a representative basket of goods which may or may not be accurate, may or may not be the same as the basket of of goods in other countries being compared, and pretty much certainly won't be representative of any one of us individually.
Then you get to the frankly bizarre notion of being able to actually tell you what $100 will buy you from one state to the next. This presumably completely ignores the fact that an increasingly large proportion of everyone's shopping budget is spent online? Are we to believe that it's cheaper to buy from Amazon or eBay in Mississippi than it is in NY?
I can see how this sort of study broadly makes sense when comparing, say, the West, former Eastern block, Africa, Latin America etc, but it strikes me that they have to make so many sweeping assumptions to get to their figures that quite frankly the gaps between the countries/states are so small that they'd be swallowed up in the pretty huge margin of error...
A increasing proportion yes, but still a small proportion. Housing costs vary from state to state, most groceries are not bought online, and there was plenty of mail order shopping before the internet. I can't really believe the difference in living costs between Mississippi and Washington DC is insignificant.ks, as it seems to be based on a methodology which pre-dates the internet!All of these types of studies tend to be b
ks to a large extent anyway, as they all depend on coming up firstly with a representative basket of goods which may or may not be accurate, may or may not be the same as the basket of of goods in other countries being compared, and pretty much certainly won't be representative of any one of us individually.Then you get to the frankly bizarre notion of being able to actually tell you what $100 will buy you from one state to the next. This presumably completely ignores the fact that an increasingly large proportion of everyone's shopping budget is spent online? Are we to believe that it's cheaper to buy from Amazon or eBay in Mississippi than it is in NY?
I can see how this sort of study broadly makes sense when comparing, say, the West, former Eastern block, Africa, Latin America etc, but it strikes me that they have to make so many sweeping assumptions to get to their figures that quite frankly the gaps between the countries/states are so small that they'd be swallowed up in the pretty huge margin of error...
Dr Jekyll said:
A increasing proportion yes, but still a small proportion. Housing costs vary from state to state, most groceries are not bought online, and there was plenty of mail order shopping before the internet. I can't really believe the difference in living costs between Mississippi and Washington DC is insignificant.
No argument there, of course there will be significant differences between DC and Mississippi, but to actually suggest you can accurately rank them all is just rubbish.As for a small proportion, I believe it's now up to around 30% of shopping in the US, so really not so small a proportion. Walmart is the third biggest after Amazon and eBay, so probably a fair amount of grocery shopping there, plus increasingly also on Amazon.
The question of housing costs is another one which throws this whole thing. When I bought my current house, it cost £265k. If I sold it now, it would probably go for £550 - 600k. There are others in our road who bought their essentially identical houses for £70k or less. How does that get factored into these sorts of things?
I'm not limiting this to just the US/UK comparison, btw. In general, I think there's a massive industry here which is all based on completely spurious rubbish.
I'm fortunate to have visited the US 30~40 times on business and for pleasure over the years, and I'd echo what others have said. I love the sheer diversity - between cities, the 'burbs and the countryside, and the diversity between all of those cities and the diversity in the countryside itself. There is so much to see and do. The people are, by and large, very welcoming, friendly, helpful and well mannered. I've lost counts of the times I've ventured into bars for a beer and ended up with new friends - most Americans are far less reserved, in a good way, than the average Brit. The food is equally diverse, and of course you can get buffalo wings.
I absolutely love buffalo wings.
I absolutely love buffalo wings.
Even if you have zero interest in running/sport there is a wonderful documentary on Netflix called The Barkley Marathons which I cannot recommend enough.
For me it encapsulates on a micro scale what the US is all about (at least in terms of my experience of the country) better than anything else I've watched. Not only in the characters and their hospitality to people from all over the world, but also as a sense of the sheer vastness and scale of the place.
I could watch it over and over.
For me it encapsulates on a micro scale what the US is all about (at least in terms of my experience of the country) better than anything else I've watched. Not only in the characters and their hospitality to people from all over the world, but also as a sense of the sheer vastness and scale of the place.
I could watch it over and over.
Nothing, other than some of the natural wonders.
I had a job offer here and the way they expect they can treat employees is dispicable, rubbish money (for CA $150k), high taxes, ridiculous cost of living (CA), 10 days holiday, rubbish food, everything costs something, the disposable lifestyle, the inherent laziness in everyday life (drive through cash machines!) ...
Yes there is a lot of money it be made and about, but my Experian W is it is a miserable existence without it, those with thrive, those without wither.
I had a job offer here and the way they expect they can treat employees is dispicable, rubbish money (for CA $150k), high taxes, ridiculous cost of living (CA), 10 days holiday, rubbish food, everything costs something, the disposable lifestyle, the inherent laziness in everyday life (drive through cash machines!) ...
Yes there is a lot of money it be made and about, but my Experian W is it is a miserable existence without it, those with thrive, those without wither.
Lord.Vader said:
Nothing, other than some of the natural wonders.
I had a job offer here and the way they expect they can treat employees is dispicable, rubbish money (for CA $150k), high taxes, ridiculous cost of living (CA), 10 days holiday, rubbish food, everything costs something, the disposable lifestyle, the inherent laziness in everyday life (drive through cash machines!) ...
Yes there is a lot of money it be made and about, but my Experian W is it is a miserable existence without it, those with thrive, those without wither.
I first went Stateside almost 35 years ago....a student summer on a travelling carnival: amazing time, travelled through some 30 states (6 with the job), what an adventure! Funfair 'carney' workers are an odd mixture (high number of criminals at various levels!), but got on with everyone fine. I had a job offer here and the way they expect they can treat employees is dispicable, rubbish money (for CA $150k), high taxes, ridiculous cost of living (CA), 10 days holiday, rubbish food, everything costs something, the disposable lifestyle, the inherent laziness in everyday life (drive through cash machines!) ...
Yes there is a lot of money it be made and about, but my Experian W is it is a miserable existence without it, those with thrive, those without wither.
The next summer worked 'baccy picking in Ontario...another great time!
Roll forward 10 years & I've worked for US tech companies ever since.
Enjoyed a couple of memorable 'big holidays' driving and travelling some of the amazing places during this time....had countless trips east and west with work. I try to wind some fun into work trips:conferences in Vegas might be preceded by a Segway tour round Boulder City on a quiet Sunday morning - awesome and highly recommended! A SanFran trip with a bike ride from Blazing Saddles across the GG bridge, lunch in Saucelito then on to Tiberon for the boat back, or a blast in a buggy from GoCarsf.com - so much to do!
Most folk I know are smashing (yes, even some who I know hated the Clintons so much they became Trump supporters....secretly they know he is nuts too!).
The food is super varied (although the supersize never helps my waistline!).
The service culture is crazy, although I do find it fake at times (more so shops when you walk in).
I love visiting....yet I love returning home, usually yearning for simple food and a decent pint (although their micro breweries improved!).
& history. I like Leicester's Richard III resurgence....in Lyon this week, with it's ancient streets and traboulles....history to the US is more about natural history (& the terrible things done in the past to native Americans!), until you hit last century, for the most part. I know I generalise, and there are pockets of fascinating stuff everywhere.
I couldn't live over there.
The gun culture, the two tier economy are two things I abhor. It is a country with a world of difference between the haves & have-nots....
Canada: perhaps: I find Canadians much more 'British' in their humour and outlook.
Going for a month later this year, have been to the US a few times, driven all round New England on honeymoon, Florida a few times , drove from LA to SF on the 1 but this time flying to Atlanta and driving to California with my son, meeting up with my wife in LA and visiting friends in San Diego and then heading up for a few days in San Fran.
Looking forward to being able to visit Nashville, drive through Texas with a stop in Fort Worth and through New Mexico and Arizona , going to be fab and I've only ever spent time on the "edges" of the US
If you compare average UK to US income they are broadly the same a lot of things are much cheaper over there and they pay less tax but the poorest in society often need 2 or 3 jobs to keep the wolf from the door, I certainly don't see a lot of evidence of wealth over there
Looking forward to being able to visit Nashville, drive through Texas with a stop in Fort Worth and through New Mexico and Arizona , going to be fab and I've only ever spent time on the "edges" of the US
If you compare average UK to US income they are broadly the same a lot of things are much cheaper over there and they pay less tax but the poorest in society often need 2 or 3 jobs to keep the wolf from the door, I certainly don't see a lot of evidence of wealth over there
mikeiow said:
Lord.Vader said:
Nothing, other than some of the natural wonders.
I had a job offer here and the way they expect they can treat employees is dispicable, rubbish money (for CA $150k), high taxes, ridiculous cost of living (CA), 10 days holiday, rubbish food, everything costs something, the disposable lifestyle, the inherent laziness in everyday life (drive through cash machines!) ...
Yes there is a lot of money it be made and about, but my Experian W is it is a miserable existence without it, those with thrive, those without wither.
I first went Stateside almost 35 years ago....a student summer on a travelling carnival: amazing time, travelled through some 30 states (6 with the job), what an adventure! Funfair 'carney' workers are an odd mixture (high number of criminals at various levels!), but got on with everyone fine. I had a job offer here and the way they expect they can treat employees is dispicable, rubbish money (for CA $150k), high taxes, ridiculous cost of living (CA), 10 days holiday, rubbish food, everything costs something, the disposable lifestyle, the inherent laziness in everyday life (drive through cash machines!) ...
Yes there is a lot of money it be made and about, but my Experian W is it is a miserable existence without it, those with thrive, those without wither.
The next summer worked 'baccy picking in Ontario...another great time!
Roll forward 10 years & I've worked for US tech companies ever since.
Enjoyed a couple of memorable 'big holidays' driving and travelling some of the amazing places during this time....had countless trips east and west with work. I try to wind some fun into work trips:conferences in Vegas might be preceded by a Segway tour round Boulder City on a quiet Sunday morning - awesome and highly recommended! A SanFran trip with a bike ride from Blazing Saddles across the GG bridge, lunch in Saucelito then on to Tiberon for the boat back, or a blast in a buggy from GoCarsf.com - so much to do!
Most folk I know are smashing (yes, even some who I know hated the Clintons so much they became Trump supporters....secretly they know he is nuts too!).
The food is super varied (although the supersize never helps my waistline!).
The service culture is crazy, although I do find it fake at times (more so shops when you walk in).
I love visiting....yet I love returning home, usually yearning for simple food and a decent pint (although their micro breweries improved!).
& history. I like Leicester's Richard III resurgence....in Lyon this week, with it's ancient streets and traboulles....history to the US is more about natural history (& the terrible things done in the past to native Americans!), until you hit last century, for the most part. I know I generalise, and there are pockets of fascinating stuff everywhere.
I couldn't live over there.
The gun culture, the two tier economy are two things I abhor. It is a country with a world of difference between the haves & have-nots....
Canada: perhaps: I find Canadians much more 'British' in their humour and outlook.
Income and wealth disparity in the UK is broadly similar to the US. London vs. Blackpool is like Silicon Valley vs. Mississippi. The "not like us" sneering is totally misplaced and wrong.
In terms of wealth, the US is simply in a whole different league to the UK. GDP per head is much, much higher and the power of the dollar is way, way stronger.
Know someone who runs several teams for work across the world. A 25yo grad in the US typically gets paid as much as a 40yo middle manager in the UK.
In terms of wealth, the US is simply in a whole different league to the UK. GDP per head is much, much higher and the power of the dollar is way, way stronger.
Know someone who runs several teams for work across the world. A 25yo grad in the US typically gets paid as much as a 40yo middle manager in the UK.
Yipper said:
Know someone who runs several teams for work across the world. A 25yo grad in the US typically gets paid as much as a 40yo middle manager in the UK.
I work for a very large American corporate and yes, they tend to get paid a fair bit more.In return, they get less than half the holiday we get, and all seem to work insane hours and think it's normal.
The only way you could get me to swap would be to pay me enough in a year that I'd never have to work again.
Yipper said:
Income and wealth disparity in the UK is broadly similar to the US. London vs. Blackpool is like Silicon Valley vs. Mississippi. The "not like us" sneering is totally misplaced and wrong.
In terms of wealth, the US is simply in a whole different league to the UK. GDP per head is much, much higher and the power of the dollar is way, way stronger.
Know someone who runs several teams for work across the world. A 25yo grad in the US typically gets paid as much as a 40yo middle manager in the UK.
Not for the same work though. Americans work longer hours with fewer holidays. We were chatting to a doctor from San Fran in Reykjavik last year and she was on her way home from two weeks in Europe, her only two weeks off that whole year. I get 7 fortnights off a year if I take my leave wisely.In terms of wealth, the US is simply in a whole different league to the UK. GDP per head is much, much higher and the power of the dollar is way, way stronger.
Know someone who runs several teams for work across the world. A 25yo grad in the US typically gets paid as much as a 40yo middle manager in the UK.
Lord.Vader said:
Nothing, other than some of the natural wonders.
I had a job offer here and the way they expect they can treat employees is dispicable, rubbish money (for CA $150k), high taxes, ridiculous cost of living (CA), 10 days holiday, rubbish food, everything costs something, the disposable lifestyle, the inherent laziness in everyday life (drive through cash machines!) ...
Yes there is a lot of money it be made and about, but my Experian W is it is a miserable existence without it, those with thrive, those without wither.
Have to disagree here, I live in the north east of the US and we’ve had rotten and I mean rotten cold this winter and now are being pummeled with snow, the drive up cash machine is a god send when you have three kids and don’t want to expose them to that and or the heat in summer or are in a rush. The notion in the UK that we have it because everyone here is fat and lazy is hysterical but expected. It’s time saving, safe and continent.I had a job offer here and the way they expect they can treat employees is dispicable, rubbish money (for CA $150k), high taxes, ridiculous cost of living (CA), 10 days holiday, rubbish food, everything costs something, the disposable lifestyle, the inherent laziness in everyday life (drive through cash machines!) ...
Yes there is a lot of money it be made and about, but my Experian W is it is a miserable existence without it, those with thrive, those without wither.
Yipper said:
In terms of wealth, the US is simply in a whole different league to the UK. GDP per head is much, much higher and the power of the dollar is way, way stronger.
Thanks for explaining to everyone that the richest country in the world is richer than the UK. In case anyone wasn't aware.Boozy said:
Have to disagree here, I live in the north east of the US and we’ve had rotten and I mean rotten cold this winter and now are being pummelled with snow, the drive up cash machine is a god send when you have three kids and don’t want to expose them to that and or the heat in summer or are in a rush. The notion in the UK that we have it because everyone here is fat and lazy is hysterical but expected. It’s time saving, safe and continent.
Whilst I can sort of understand your point - although if I lived somewhere with that level of snow, I suspect I'd have the appropriate clothing - the culture of driving every possible inch of the way certainly can't help America reversing out of its position as the unrivalled obesity capital of the world, can it?theplayingmantis said:
UK doing so well on obesity!
That's because too many people do what Yipper suggests and look to the US for the way to do things...I think we'd do a lot better to stop trying to be the 51st State...
However, we've ventured far off topic.
I'd echo the sentiment of the OP.
Back in the '90s I had no great desire to visit the US (much as I feel about Australia, no antipathy, I just can't be bothered to travel that far to see something when there's so much to see locally), but I got sent for 10 days to California on business.
To be honest, it didn't do anything but reinforce my opinion that there was little reason to go.
However, a couple of years later (in true PH fashion) my interest in cars (and motor racing) inspired me to visit San Francisco and Monterey (and Laguna Seca of course) and I loved the places!
I've been back a fair number of times since, on holidays, business and mixed trips - I still hate LA (Santa Monica's OK and I like Long Beach - I've dived out of there a few times and would like to do so again some time, although I'm doubtful I will, it's not worth a special trip), I still love Monterey, I had a ball skiing in Colorado, enjoyed little ski resorts in New England and I enjoyed brief business trips to NYC and Tampa, I could happily miss returning to Cincinnati, though, and I consider I've seen enough of Vegas for one lifetime.
The Grand Canyon (and Zion) was truly jaw dropping, Muir Woods is delightful, I think one of my favourite experiences was staying in a very run down motel near the Grand Canyon - I think our family were the only guests, it was run (then) by a very elderly couple and the grounds were overrun and inhabited by a pride of semi-feral cats. It was, in my mind, the most American experience I've had!
And that's just scratched a few tiny bits of the huge country. Americans, not unlike Brits, tend to be nicer people at home (New Yorkers, though, seem somewhat up themselves) than abroad, but again, I've met hundreds of perfectly pleasant Americans and a handful of asshats.
I'd love to see Monument Valley (done Death Valley, I feel), Montana, Hawaii, the less touristy parts of Florida and on and on and on.
The trouble is, it's still a long way away and the world is such a big and interesting place - I've no plans to return to the US - If it happens, it'll probably be work or skiing related, but who knows...?
Zetec-S said:
RDMcG said:
(7) The people I meet. It is fashionable of PH to caricature Americans ad fat people who cannot change a wheel on a car and are gun-toting rednecks.
The big difference is I bet if you couldn't change a wheel in the US you wouldn't have to wait long before someone pulled over to help, whereas in the UK your chances of being offered assistance are a lot less.
M
Edited by marcosgt on Wednesday 7th March 11:30
Gassing Station | Holidays & Travel | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff