"In Amsterdam, the number of bicycles outside the central station. How the F do people find their bikes once they park them?! Also, the Dutch are easily the most graceful cyclists. The way you guys can weave through dumb folks standing in the bike paths is outstanding."
3
1.
Benjamin 3 year s ago
Oh color me shocked! A country that is not my own is different from mine in ways I like. Oh big deal. Try actually /living/ with the high income taxes and the 25% VAT on /everything/. You get the VAT refunded when you are vacationing idiot. Europe is not better, it's just different.
-14
2.
Vallie 3 year s ago
Benjamin,
You upset? Wanna cry about it?
You upset? Wanna cry about it?
-9
3.
Lavina 3 year s ago
Benjamin,
Free healtcare, no machine guns in schools...
Free healtcare, no machine guns in schools...
15
4.
Lucretia 3 year s ago
Lavina,
There are no "machine guns" in schools. That aside, there are around 150K schools in the US (excluding colleges). There have been a few dozen school shootings in the last 50 years. The chances of getting shot are exceedingly small, especially considering that many of the "school shootings" take place *near* a school, after-hours, or involve only 1 person (suicide). The greatest loss of life at any school in the US happened in the 1920s and was done by dynamite. The greatest loss of life at any school in the world were done by explosive (Russia) and chemical poison (Indonesia). Guns are not the problem.
There are no "machine guns" in schools. That aside, there are around 150K schools in the US (excluding colleges). There have been a few dozen school shootings in the last 50 years. The chances of getting shot are exceedingly small, especially considering that many of the "school shootings" take place *near* a school, after-hours, or involve only 1 person (suicide). The greatest loss of life at any school in the US happened in the 1920s and was done by dynamite. The greatest loss of life at any school in the world were done by explosive (Russia) and chemical poison (Indonesia). Guns are not the problem.
28
8.
Lucretia 3 year s ago
Governor,
One pre-exists government; one requires government compulsion.
A right by definition does not require someone else to do something. "Free' healthcare still has to be paid for somehow.
One pre-exists government; one requires government compulsion.
A right by definition does not require someone else to do something. "Free' healthcare still has to be paid for somehow.
0
9.
Dyce 3 year s ago
Lucretia,
That depends on how old your government Is
That depends on how old your government Is
21
10.
Jos 3 year s ago
Governor,
You still have to buy the gun, and healthcare isn’t free anywhere. Your high income taxes pay for it.
Many countries with “free” healthcare also have private, not free, hospitals for the people wealthy enough to get high quality healthcare.
You still have to buy the gun, and healthcare isn’t free anywhere. Your high income taxes pay for it.
Many countries with “free” healthcare also have private, not free, hospitals for the people wealthy enough to get high quality healthcare.
10
12.
Hosea 3 year s ago
too bad the taxes are so high to provide "free" medical care that the U.S. innovated.
-7
13.
Monty 3 year s ago
Hosea,
Nonsense. My taxes are not high. And the US obviously "innovated" hugh medical costs that too few can afford.
Nonsense. My taxes are not high. And the US obviously "innovated" hugh medical costs that too few can afford.
15
14.
Kathy 3 year s ago
Monty,
High and low are terms relative to what you are used to, not an indication of value. You may not think your taxes are particularly "high," but compared to the US they are. Add the VAT and you pay significantly higher effective taxes than we do. You have a stronger safety net than we do, which you value and are willing to pay for. Thus, you perceive your taxes to be "low" or more accurately, worth it, relative to the value you receive. We don't.
Also, you are confusing cost and price. It costs companies billions of dollars to bring a new drug to market, not to mention all of the ones that don't make it. Your price controls do not change that equation. So yes, I pay more for medical services in the US, but in return we get access to stuff years (sometimes decades) before you do. We consider *that* to be worth it.
High and low are terms relative to what you are used to, not an indication of value. You may not think your taxes are particularly "high," but compared to the US they are. Add the VAT and you pay significantly higher effective taxes than we do. You have a stronger safety net than we do, which you value and are willing to pay for. Thus, you perceive your taxes to be "low" or more accurately, worth it, relative to the value you receive. We don't.
Also, you are confusing cost and price. It costs companies billions of dollars to bring a new drug to market, not to mention all of the ones that don't make it. Your price controls do not change that equation. So yes, I pay more for medical services in the US, but in return we get access to stuff years (sometimes decades) before you do. We consider *that* to be worth it.
-10
15.
Monty 3 year s ago
Kathy,
Yeah... I'm sure your hospitals are decades ahead of ours... You're right. My last surgery was just me getting a few leeches being put on me...
Yeah... I'm sure your hospitals are decades ahead of ours... You're right. My last surgery was just me getting a few leeches being put on me...
7
17.
Domenic 3 year s ago
#28 "Then, during the game, people were setting things on fire."
A normal occurrence actually.
A normal occurrence actually.
20
18.
Telly 3 year s ago
No such thing as "free healthcare". It is funded by the taxpayer. That is why their taxes are higher than ours.
8
20.
Jos 3 year s ago
Evaline,
The US has the highest quality healthcare in the world. The cost is high because of insurance, lawyers and bureaucrats.
Back in the day, people just had major medical insurance to cover surgery, etc.
The US has the highest quality healthcare in the world. The cost is high because of insurance, lawyers and bureaucrats.
Back in the day, people just had major medical insurance to cover surgery, etc.
-6
21.
Wrong 3 year s ago
Jos,
Actually when compared to other rich countries it comes dead last.
I live in Norway and people say my tax is so high, i pay 18% and most of my American friends pay 14-15%, so the difference is much smaller than politicians want you to believe.
I have an American friend that takes the same medication i do, i pay 10 bucks for 100 tablets. She pays 400. So just in one month i make up the difference in tax.
Actually when compared to other rich countries it comes dead last.
I live in Norway and people say my tax is so high, i pay 18% and most of my American friends pay 14-15%, so the difference is much smaller than politicians want you to believe.
I have an American friend that takes the same medication i do, i pay 10 bucks for 100 tablets. She pays 400. So just in one month i make up the difference in tax.
17
22.
Juda 3 year s ago
Wow. My health insurance cost is reasonable. Canadians come to my town regularly to get "elective" surgery (i.e., knee replacements) because there's a several month wait or more. I can buy a nice house on a lot and drink crystal water from the tap. I don't have to live with my parents in an apartment block or behind stone walls. I can start my own business with very little capital and drive a car wherever I want with modest gas prices. I work in the immigration field and deal with huge backlogs of people trying to come to the U.S. There are trade-offs and every place has its culture and benefits. The world is good.
-6
24.
Betty 3 year s ago
Jos,
No, they don’t
No, they don’t
4
25.
Jos 3 year s ago
Saw a doctor and got a test done in the Philippines for about $10. The Rx I had to buy was $15, more than the doctor and test combined.
In the 1960’s in the US, a blood test was around $2. Now, it’s at least $100, ~50 times what it cost in the 1960’s.
In the 1960’s in the US, a blood test was around $2. Now, it’s at least $100, ~50 times what it cost in the 1960’s.
-1
26.
Fie 3 year s ago
Jos,
You know about inflation?
You know about inflation?
5
27.
Jos 3 year s ago
Fie,
I’m very aware of inflation.
Healthcare costs are going up much faster than the overall rate of inflation. Going from $2 in $100 is a disgrace. A more reasonable price for a blood test today would be $20, not $100.
I’m very aware of inflation.
Healthcare costs are going up much faster than the overall rate of inflation. Going from $2 in $100 is a disgrace. A more reasonable price for a blood test today would be $20, not $100.
21
28.
Curg 3 year s ago
The U.S. and Europe are both great, with a few little differences in getting there.
You want to be "shocked" about a foreign place? Google "Happyland" in Manila.
You want to be "shocked" about a foreign place? Google "Happyland" in Manila.
2
29.
Lazar 3 year s ago
#18... re read #12 because that is exactly why
26
30.
Claes 3 year s ago
Funny how every person who realized how inferior America is came back
2
31.
Jack 3 year s ago
Claes,
... local gestapo wasn't here yet to mop the mess. In a day or two you won't find half of the comments here.
... local gestapo wasn't here yet to mop the mess. In a day or two you won't find half of the comments here.
19
32.
Viney 3 year s ago
#1 is stupid. Do some research to confirm your or repair your preconceptions of a country before you visit for crying out loud. You want a socialist hellhole? Try Venezuela.
-11
33.
Elsie 3 year s ago
It's not wrong to notice things or cultures could do better.
I love these posts, no matter which country is the subject.
I am a senior healthcare analyst in the USA. There can be no question that for profit healthcare is insane and works only for the insanely rich and to a smaller degree wallstreet.
Paying a tiny amount of tax increase would be a win compared to insane insurance rates. Pride in our supposed superiority should not keep us from fixing our systems.
I love these posts, no matter which country is the subject.
I am a senior healthcare analyst in the USA. There can be no question that for profit healthcare is insane and works only for the insanely rich and to a smaller degree wallstreet.
Paying a tiny amount of tax increase would be a win compared to insane insurance rates. Pride in our supposed superiority should not keep us from fixing our systems.
3
34.
Delight 3 year s ago
Elsie,
I can only speak for Germany but we DON'T have a free public healthcare that's tax financed!! What we do have is a mandatory health insurance ( like e.g. car insurance )and that's payed for either by your employer as part of your wages or - if you are unemployed for an extended period of time - as part of your welfare straight to the insurance company. In any case, no matter how broke or how deep in debt i am, my medical bills WILL be payed. From where does an american hospital get the money if a patient can't pay his/her bill?
I can only speak for Germany but we DON'T have a free public healthcare that's tax financed!! What we do have is a mandatory health insurance ( like e.g. car insurance )and that's payed for either by your employer as part of your wages or - if you are unemployed for an extended period of time - as part of your welfare straight to the insurance company. In any case, no matter how broke or how deep in debt i am, my medical bills WILL be payed. From where does an american hospital get the money if a patient can't pay his/her bill?
1
35.
King 3 year s ago
#7 we do have those nest in Portugal too. Nice to see but a nightmare to the utilities companies.
#8 true
#10 true
#8 true
#10 true
1
36.
King 3 year s ago
#30 in some countries, some Mall are open on Sundays (like Portugal)
#31 tap water are drinkable but not everyone appreciate it
#31 tap water are drinkable but not everyone appreciate it
0
37.
Abednego 3 year s ago
#22 Not true, but funny. hahaha.
Most of the stores you can find closed, is because there is only one or two person in charge. They need to have lunch too. hahaha.
Most of them, 99% are open from 8am to 22pm, at least in the big cities.
No need to be rude, every country has it owns ups and downs. Just be polite once you arrive to another country, try to blend in with the rest of the people and enjoy.
If you can´t do that, fu** off and stay at home.
Most of the stores you can find closed, is because there is only one or two person in charge. They need to have lunch too. hahaha.
Most of them, 99% are open from 8am to 22pm, at least in the big cities.
No need to be rude, every country has it owns ups and downs. Just be polite once you arrive to another country, try to blend in with the rest of the people and enjoy.
If you can´t do that, fu** off and stay at home.
14
38.
Sister 3 year s ago
Self deprecating Americans are disgusting and should be embarrassed.
11
39.
Mattie 3 year s ago
IZISMILE shouldn’t allow these posts - about any country. These are fake and it’s nothing more than an attempt to disparage the USA. Congratulations. Berate others, make yourself feel better about your own shi**y life. What a bunch of childish BS. Grow up.
2
40.
Margarita 2 year s ago
#15 I´m from Denmark, and we don´t give a shit what you do for a living. If Your´e a nice fella, we´ll hang out with you. If not, you can piss of, no matter how well educated you are.
0
41.
Edyth 2 year s ago
Careful, health care is not free everywhere. You will need an "travel - insurance" in most countries. It might still be very cheap, compared to America.
You upset? Wanna cry about it?
Free healtcare, no machine guns in schools...
There are no "machine guns" in schools. That aside, there are around 150K schools in the US (excluding colleges). There have been a few dozen school shootings in the last 50 years. The chances of getting shot are exceedingly small, especially considering that many of the "school shootings" take place *near* a school, after-hours, or involve only 1 person (suicide). The greatest loss of life at any school in the US happened in the 1920s and was done by dynamite. The greatest loss of life at any school in the world were done by explosive (Russia) and chemical poison (Indonesia). Guns are not the problem.
One pre-exists government; one requires government compulsion.
A right by definition does not require someone else to do something. "Free' healthcare still has to be paid for somehow.
That depends on how old your government Is
You still have to buy the gun, and healthcare isn’t free anywhere. Your high income taxes pay for it.
Many countries with “free” healthcare also have private, not free, hospitals for the people wealthy enough to get high quality healthcare.
Nonsense. My taxes are not high. And the US obviously "innovated" hugh medical costs that too few can afford.
High and low are terms relative to what you are used to, not an indication of value. You may not think your taxes are particularly "high," but compared to the US they are. Add the VAT and you pay significantly higher effective taxes than we do. You have a stronger safety net than we do, which you value and are willing to pay for. Thus, you perceive your taxes to be "low" or more accurately, worth it, relative to the value you receive. We don't.
Also, you are confusing cost and price. It costs companies billions of dollars to bring a new drug to market, not to mention all of the ones that don't make it. Your price controls do not change that equation. So yes, I pay more for medical services in the US, but in return we get access to stuff years (sometimes decades) before you do. We consider *that* to be worth it.
Yeah... I'm sure your hospitals are decades ahead of ours... You're right. My last surgery was just me getting a few leeches being put on me...
A normal occurrence actually.
The US has the highest quality healthcare in the world. The cost is high because of insurance, lawyers and bureaucrats.
Back in the day, people just had major medical insurance to cover surgery, etc.
Actually when compared to other rich countries it comes dead last.
I live in Norway and people say my tax is so high, i pay 18% and most of my American friends pay 14-15%, so the difference is much smaller than politicians want you to believe.
I have an American friend that takes the same medication i do, i pay 10 bucks for 100 tablets. She pays 400. So just in one month i make up the difference in tax.
No, they don’t
In the 1960’s in the US, a blood test was around $2. Now, it’s at least $100, ~50 times what it cost in the 1960’s.
You know about inflation?
I’m very aware of inflation.
Healthcare costs are going up much faster than the overall rate of inflation. Going from $2 in $100 is a disgrace. A more reasonable price for a blood test today would be $20, not $100.
You want to be "shocked" about a foreign place? Google "Happyland" in Manila.
... local gestapo wasn't here yet to mop the mess. In a day or two you won't find half of the comments here.
I love these posts, no matter which country is the subject.
I am a senior healthcare analyst in the USA. There can be no question that for profit healthcare is insane and works only for the insanely rich and to a smaller degree wallstreet.
Paying a tiny amount of tax increase would be a win compared to insane insurance rates. Pride in our supposed superiority should not keep us from fixing our systems.
I can only speak for Germany but we DON'T have a free public healthcare that's tax financed!! What we do have is a mandatory health insurance ( like e.g. car insurance )and that's payed for either by your employer as part of your wages or - if you are unemployed for an extended period of time - as part of your welfare straight to the insurance company. In any case, no matter how broke or how deep in debt i am, my medical bills WILL be payed. From where does an american hospital get the money if a patient can't pay his/her bill?
#8 true
#10 true
#31 tap water are drinkable but not everyone appreciate it
Most of the stores you can find closed, is because there is only one or two person in charge. They need to have lunch too. hahaha.
Most of them, 99% are open from 8am to 22pm, at least in the big cities.
No need to be rude, every country has it owns ups and downs. Just be polite once you arrive to another country, try to blend in with the rest of the people and enjoy.
If you can´t do that, fu** off and stay at home.