What do you think of the US?

[scythe]

The gun culture confuses everyone not born in the states, I think. I agree, even though I know the all the crime stats, that me, a reasonably well off white guy, would be highly unlikely to ever get shot, the fact that it can happen, particularly at school, is enough to turn me off. Sandy Hook in particular really did it for me. As much as I admire the level of freedoms that the US has been able to maintain, I still want my daughter growing up in a relatively gun-free society.

On a side note, remember that famous speech at the start of Newsroom, where the main guy says dozens of countries have "freedom", so the US isn't all that special? The other day I watched a video that documented a bunch of recent cases from around Europe/Canada/Australia where people have been arrested and charged for posting "problematic" opinions on Facebook. All I can say is, I think the character from that show owes that other character a sincere apology. At least in the States you can still voice your opinions without worrying about the police arresting you and raiding your apartment.

[AnnaLandin]

I don't hate the entire nation, no.

I just disapprove of a lot of their policies, am sceptical of a lot of the things their government does, and direct my hate (which is largely fuelled by fear) at some very specific people. Like Donald Trump, and the facist tide he seems to have unleashed onto American politics.

Nowhere is perfect, obviously. There are a LOT of issues where I live as well (Sweden - if anyone ever tells you we're a fairytale country to live in, they're lying to you), but the domestic politics of my country don't have anywhere near the same impact on the global stage as the domestic politics of the US. When we pick a new Prime Minister, we just... pick a new Prime Minister and the rest of the world shrugs and gets on with it.

When the US picks a new President, the rest of us cross our fingers and hope like hell they're a good one, or we're up for four years of shittiness on a global scale.

Of course, like all of us, my perspective is coloured by the country where I grew up, and it's difficult for a resident in a European nation to fully grasp the complexities of political culture in the US - just as it's difficult for a US-resident to grasp the complexities of our political culture.

[jessicasurline]

Lol! Yeah the gun thing...I live the only state where you do not need to have a permit to carry a gun on yourself, visible or hidden. I think the fanatical obsession over having guns sotra stems from the constitution, being able to defend your home from danger or the government, but really it is just an irrational idea that they can have some control. For example, gun manufacturers are required not to sell civilians military grade guns. Thus already if the military is going to come to capture or kill you, they will get what they want. An assault rifle will not protect you from a drone strike or a tank. Plain and simple. So if someone high up deems they want you dead...well good luck friend. I have grown up with guns in my culture so I am use to them but I feel that if you need a gun for self defense or hunting for food, a classic pistol or hunting rifle is all you are ever going to need. Even at that though, I've never even met anyone who has ever needed to use a gun. I find the whole thing blown out of proportion and silly. Maybe silly is the wrong word since frustrated civilians are killing other civilians every day. People get drunk off the power and control the tool provides but they don't realize it won't fix their real problems.

[indagold]

As an Amuricano all I can say is Amurica fuck yeah

[69Michi]

Coming from a third world country to obtain a higher education and brighter future in America, I can only say... this is an amazing country. People can complain about all the bad thing about US government if they want, but to me this land is still better than my home country. Don't take me wrong, I love my own country, but not even my family who lives there wants me to be back in the country because of how corrupted it is over there. So much worse than here in the states. I'm not a political person and I'm not someone to talk about politically because I don't understand them all that much. I live my life and if whatever is going on politically doesn't affect me too bad, I couldn careless.

[StrangeVision]

Oh the good 'ole US of A. I used to be a proud American when I was little, I don't know anymore. The citizens as a whole are great when they're not blind sheeple. The cold-hearted, two-faced beings who run the show, behind the scenes and the figureheads, are a disgrace to mankind. I just feel like we're the Roman Empire and it's just a matter of time before it all crumbles out from under us. Sometimes I think, why didn't my mom stay in Korea? But it is what it is. I don't hate this place, I hate the leaders and what they've done to it. Thing is, The US likes to pretend they're your friend. That we're the good guys. They hide their bullshit. They hide all the ugly truths while we consume and spend. This place has become a grand experiment.

[SpavVy]

As someone who lives in the US I honestly kinda hate it these days!

I don't like how it's run and I'm honestly fearful of who the next president is going to be because it's either going to be a xenophobic, racist bigot or a murderer.

My father's side of the family is voting for Trump and I honestly can not understand what they see in this guy, he wants to build a wall and people think this is going to be effective to keep the illegals out which is stupid, if people want to get in bad enough they will find a way in.

[Aspie_Gamer]

Took the words right outta my mouth! Trump's funny as hell in a "wow, get a load of this guy!" sort of way, but scary as hell when it comes to the topic of him running for president. That xenophobic, sexist, ignorant man child represents everything wrong about America namely idiocy no thanks to our crappy education system and lack of free health care which would overnight treat more than half of the mentally ill people living here. Clinton definitely needs to answer for every one of her crimes. I knew that being investigated by the EFF-BEE-FUCKING-EYE made her untrustworthy as a presidential candidate and this weekend's email leaks about how the DNC screwed Bernie Sanders over preventing him from genuinely getting the democratic nomination just confirms the level of corruption that exists in not only the Democratic Party, but our two party system in general. (Which needs to be done away with anyway so we don't get "the lesser of two evils" shoved down our throat every election year.)

Sadly, it probably will have to come down to violence if we the people wish to remove Trump, Clinton, and all the other corrupt politicians and lobbyists running this country into the ground from power. Then again...it did work for our founding fathers when they got sick of being pushed around by the British without a say. shrugs

[StrangeVision]

Basically. The only way to get the US back at this point is an all-out Revolution. Remove the Federal Reserve and the Criminals In Action. Too bad it's easier said than done.

[AliceHoffmannArt]

Nah, definitely no hate.

I disapprove of harmful politics as I do for any country. I pity the victims of the harsh hamster wheel job system where it's apparently common to work multiple jobs in the lower wage classes and still be merely able to kinda survive.
Gun culture is terrifying to me too.
I'd love the US to adapt a proper health care system but it's not my fight after all.

Of course, there are parts of the US I adore.
Shiny innovations, entertainment... and I love burgers.

[Kura]

The last conversation where America came up.

• It was mostly just a whole bunch of us (Canadians, a good amount of which were born outside of or had parents born outside of Canada) talking about how scared or concerned they are for everything that is currently happening down there.

• Election wise, they trust that there are too many smart Americans so are not worried about the election.

• They also like to mentions that it's also REALLY weird that the US feels like it's so behind on laws/government programs in regards to people's rights or health compared to Canada. They're supposed to be like the older brother to us right? You'd think they've be getting this stuff done before us not lagging behind. So what the hell??

• Politics aside, they think it's a nice looking country with nice people.

• The ever so popular and casual joke of 'all Americans own at least one gun, so you don't want to piss them off or surprise them because they might just shoot you for it'

• Dos' American accents man... they are apparently either 'really sexy' or 'jesus christ no stop talking' there is no in-between.

The American there (visiting for the week) was surprised that ANYONE had anything nice to say about America, as he lives in it, hated growing up in it, hates what it's turning into, and fears for his live everyday there

[Aspie_Gamer]

Yeah hopefully as a last resort. I'm hoping that we can get a viable third party candidate like Jill Stein elected, but if that fails...then yeah, we need a fresh slate no matter how that ends up happening. :/

[Michelle]

Dos' American accents man... they are apparently either 'really sexy' or 'jesus christ no stop talking' there is no in-between.

LOL I wonder which accent that's referring to? I know when a lot of people make fun of American accents they're often talking about some variation of a Southern accent.
Though if I travel abroad and make anyone's ears bleed with my boring neutral American accent, apologies in advance. And if anyone found it sexy, well, that'd be a first! :u

[alaingrey]

I love parts of the US more than anywhere. I've lived in Scandinavia, and it was great to feel safe all the time? But also people are much more casually racist... they just don't think they are because it's not so much a big topic. (and not everyone, just like not every American is) ... I do really miss being able to walk around in the dead of night and not be worried about people jumping out of alleys with guns. Now I really have to try and not be out late, even in groups my friends have been robbed at gunpoint.
I love the US southwest. I grew up there living the real American fantasy of climbing mountains and canyons, drinking from streams, riding horses, fly fishing, swimming under waterfalls, wading in rivers up a canyon, wearing cowboy hats, doing rodeo sheep rides, getting to wear chaps as a normal kid fashion statement... When I'm an old man I want a creepy little ranch off in the mountains in Arizona or something and I'm going to sit and smoke a pipe and collect rocks because that's the thing to do.
As for travel, I think people abroad like young Americans, because they're glad we're trying to be smarter than our previous generations. Everywhere I've been across the world (Asia, Middle East, Europe...) people loooove to talk about American culture, because it's had such a huge impact through movies and games. I apparently look and sound very German (I have a really strong Northern accent that makes even my family cringe... ) and weirdly wherever I go, people speak German to me. I think people abroad are less nice when they think you're a German tourist than a young American tourist, depending where you are.
Anyways, enough of this. Basically I think there's a lot of cool stuff in the US. I used to have a real hate of it, because that seems more cool and edgy. But now I've grown up and I can appreciate how much I just don't really want to live anywhere else.

[heterodont]

IIII sincerely hope people don't try voting for a third party or else its going to be the 2000's election all over again. Forget which bush, but it's how Bush won the presidency because everyone went with a third party (Nader) and it wasn't enough to beat out the republican votes. I'm pretty sure it'd be the same case with this election too, Trump has a ton of supporters, whether you like it or not. Even though Clinton has done horrible things, she's still a better candidate for the presidency than Trump is (I voted for Bernie and I'm still extremely disappointed in what was revealed through the DNC email leak.)

Anyway, back on topic - I've lived in the U.S all my life and much like everyone else, certain things like healthcare and gun control make me raise my eyebrows. Politics is super weird and confusing IMO, but I wish it was as simple as just making a law to outlaw assault weapons or implementing universal healthcare, but the fact is the House? iirc is controlled predominantly by republicans, which for example is why Obama couldn't do as much as he could because the House kept shooting down every bill he tried to pass. Which is why its, IMO, annoying when people from other countries mock the U.S following a shooting or whatever for not having something that should already be in place - not to say everyone does, but there's usually a vocal minority that doesn't quite understand why it's not as simple as that.

Even though a lot of things are morally questionable, it's still a tad bit better than other countries.

[SpavVy]

Dos' American accents man... they are apparently either 'really sexy' or 'jesus christ no stop talking' there is no in-between.

This couldn't be any truer! xD
I think the Boston accent sounds pretty nice but I cannot stand southern accents or anything hick.

[realSean_Murphy]

What country did you come from?

[Aspie_Gamer]

The lesser of two evils is still evil. You shouldn't have to cheat the system to get a nomination not to mention that Sanders did consistently far better in the polls against Trump than Clinton did. Sorry not sorry, but the only thing Mrs. Hillary is good for is rotting away in prison for conducting her government work on a private server thus why Benghazi happened and over what the e-mail leaks revealed this weekend about her and the DNC. Third party or bust.

[69Michi]

What country did you come from?

I came from Vietnam haha. TBH I only like the foods over there.

[heterodont]

I'm well aware that Sanders did far better than trump, and even in publicity polls he did way better than Clinton. I'm just saying it's a possibility that it may be a repeat of the 2000s election, though I do agree that it sucks we're stuck in a lesser of two evils scenarios unless it's changed by force. ¯_(ツ)_/¯

It's funny to think how George Washington stated that politics shouldn't be split into two and that's exactly what Adams and Jefferson did following his death..