Good Ridance to 45 welcome to Biden

[dwhite60]

If our (the US) government was about an eighth of the size it is we would not be so divided. Government now controls so much people fight, lie, cheat, steal to make sure THEIR side stays in power so they can keep getting their goodies, and it's all done in the name of "the public good". Most of its just selfish.

Also, I think you can look at the US tax code, supposedly the largest printed volume in history, and safely say there isn't anything government gets involved it that it actually simplifies.

There's also the saying that there isn't anything private business does that the US government can't do half as well at twice the cost.

 

[Bernie]

The world seems a safer place today. However you view either side of the political divide in the US it is undeniable that Trump was erratic and inflammatory who's actions and approach were inconsistent with all modern concepts of effective leadership. I don't live in the US but the instability of the last few years reminds me of the anxiety felt as a teenager over the constant worry about nuclear war and East-West conflict.
Anna

Trump : 1 Negotiated with Kim Jong Un to stop firing missiles 2 Oversaw a historic agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia 3 was starting to disband NATO

Biden 1 Voted to bomb Belgrade 2 Voted to bomb in Syria 3 Voted to enter the conflict in Libya.

 

[Bernie]

Mr Biden has set out a flurry of executive orders. In a statement on Wednesday he said he would sign 15 orders after he is sworn in. They will:
■ Reverse Mr Trump's withdrawal of the US from the Paris climate accord

What was asked of the USA in the Paris agreement was counterproductive. It transferred carbon credits from the USA to less developed countries China and India which could use fossil fuels in more polluting power stations at the cost of American jobs, to boot.

 

[Rodcx500z]

Safe in what sense, free health care or the fact not every crazy **** is carrying a gun

Hi Sam, health care no they are well minted, she just loves how we live our lives and the country as a whole

 

[TonyT]

And this is why I don't understand why everyone seems to care so much. Yes Trump is a diabolical individual, but - genuine question - why do so many of us get so hot under the collar about him / what happens in the US? There are worse leaders / less democratic countries / better things to get het up about.

Why do we get hot under the collar? We live in a society where people, whichever walk of life they’re in, are expected to be at the very least, honest, conscientious and competent. We quite rightly don’t tolerate dishonest police officers. You would never employ a tradesman with a reputation of dishonesty or incompetence to work on your house or use a shop with a reputation of short changing people.

But for some reason we expect and tolerate such behaviour from politicians. Look at Johnson, fired twice for lying and conspired to have a journalist beaten up (all on public record) but for some reason, half the country is happy to be ruled and represented by him. Some of the cabinet are as bad, Priti Patel fired for having unauthorised contact with a foreign power,now Home Secretary. Gavin Williamson, fired for leaking confidential documents, now Edication Secretary.

Trump is just a more high profile example of traits which we don’t like- dishonesty, narcissism, incompetence but his apparent lack of intellect means that he isn’t so good at concealing it.

 

[Bernie]

Take your pick. The **** that your average American has to go through to access basic healthcare is unbelievable.

Probably not enough. In terms of annual expenditure per capita the USA is off the charts
(in dollars)
USA 10966
Germany 6646
Britain 4653
U.S. value obtained from National Health Expenditure data. Health consumption does not include investments in structures, equipment, or research.

from: How does health spending in the U.S. compare to other countries?
By Rabah Kamal, Giorlando Ramirez, and Cynthia Cox KFF

 

[trueblue]

 

[TonyT]

Thanks for that, best laugh I’ve had in ages!

 

[dwhite60]

Probably not enough. In terms of annual expenditure per capita the USA is off the charts
(in dollars)
USA 10966
Germany 6646
Britain 4653
U.S. value obtained from National Health Expenditure data. Health consumption does not include investments in structures, equipment, or research.

from: How does health spending in the U.S. compare to other countries?
By Rabah Kamal, Giorlando Ramirez, and Cynthia Cox KFF

If you read the mainstream U.S. press you'll think there are people dying in the streets by the thousands because they can't get medical treatment.

Right now I'm unemployed. I've been to the doctor twice since I've been out of work. I have health insurance through the insurance exchanges. Cost of both visits for me, total, was ~$250 USD which isn't bad.

First was a trip to an urgent care center. These handle minor health issues and are more cost effective than the emergency room. Checked in. Was seen in about five minutes. Ten minutes with the doctor, done. Went to the pharmacy. Picked up my prescriptions ~$15 USD. Not a single problem.

Second was to a dermatologist. This cost me ~$120 USD. Made an appointmnet the day ahead. In and out in thirty minutes. Six weeks of the prescribed steroid cream cost me ~$45 USD.

Couple problems with American healthcare.

1. the prices we pay for drugs here subsidizes the DEALS a lot of foreign countries have negotiated with pharmaceutical companies for the same drugs. In a lot of cases Americans are paying two and three times if not more than what other nations pay.

2. Many Americans have gotten a serious sense of entitlement and feel everything should be free. The idea of having to actually work for something, improving yourself, and saving so you can provide for yourself in emergencies is no longer part of the American psyche. I want it now, I want it free and.....................................oooooh! Shiny!. They're off to the next thing. Sadly, this creates a lot of government dependency, which democrats seem to love, but strips a person of their freedom and self-sufficiency. The people don't see this though because they want it FREE!

American healthcare isn't nearly as bad as some people seem to think it is.

 

[Cheshire Cat]

The only western country where people are made bankrupt by medical bills. You can keep that model and we'll keep ours now ******** has left office.

 

[Rodcx500z]

Can i just say even though i read it for a laugh, this is the most boring thread in the history of home brewing

 

[dwhite60]

The only western country where people are made bankrupt by medical bills. You can keep that model and we'll keep ours now ******** has left office.

I'll say again:

"Many Americans have gotten a serious sense of entitlement and feel everything should be free. The idea of having to actually work for something, improving yourself, and saving so you can provide for yourself in emergencies is no longer part of the American psyche. I want it now, I want it free and.....................................oooooh! Shiny!. They're off to the next thing. Sadly, this creates a lot of government dependency, which democrats seem to love, but strips a person of their freedom and self-sufficiency. The people don't see this though because they want it FREE!"

If people were taught to provide for themselves rather than taught to depend on the government for everything people may not go bankrupt. You think?

Also, if the government allowed us to save X number of dollars every year, tax free, and put them in an interest bearing savings account solely for the use of medical bills this would help relieve a lot of the financial strain.

I wonder if the US pulled all its NATO funding and other funding we give to other actually developed industrial nations how many of the lavish social benefits a lot of the world enjoys would evaporate? We're absolutely STUPID about how we give money away especially being by some estimates a hundred trillion dollars in debt.

Lastly, you think the U.S. and the world is going to be better off now that "********" is out of office, give it a couple years. Canada is now really pissed off because Biden killed the XL pipeline project putting thousands of Canadians, not to mention Americans, out of a job. I guess if you think requiring girls high school sports teams to allow "transgender" girls to play on girls teams is a great thing, you'll like the world that's coming.

 

[Brew_DD2]

I'll say again:

"Many Americans have gotten a serious sense of entitlement and feel everything should be free. The idea of having to actually work for something, improving yourself, and saving so you can provide for yourself in emergencies is no longer part of the American psyche. I want it now, I want it free and.....................................oooooh! Shiny!. They're off to the next thing. Sadly, this creates a lot of government dependency, which democrats seem to love, but strips a person of their freedom and self-sufficiency. The people don't see this though because they want it FREE!"

If people were taught to provide for themselves rather than taught to depend on the government for everything people may not go bankrupt. You think?

Also, if the government allowed us to save X number of dollars every year, tax free, and put them in an interest bearing savings account solely for the use of medical bills this would help relieve a lot of the financial strain.

I'm sorry but that's demonstrably nonsense. You have a healthcare system where those born to a poor family, who are unfortunate enough to be afflicted with lifelong illness, essentially have to make a choice between a roof over their head, or necessary medicine. It's hardly a dependence on government when everyone is paying into the same pot. It gives everyone a stake in looking out for themselves, and their fellow citizens. Socialised healthcare works everywhere else in the developed world, but Americans see it as some sort of affront on their freedom.

It's funny that Americans don't seem to have a problem with their taxes being used for other services such as law and order, and fire services. Imagine a situation where those services were only provided to those with the means to pay.

It's utterly batshit crazy.

 

[trummy]

There has to be a reset of peoples expectations, not to believe that there is a bottomless pit to keep dipping into. I will make one comment on the American way - it always seems to be over the top, biggest cars, biggest motorbikes, (and not very good at that), packaging and wrapping of goods - you can tell its American just by looking at it.

 

[Bernie]

The only western country where people are made bankrupt by medical bills. You can keep that model and we'll keep ours now ******** has left office.

Britain has a higher mortality rate than than the USA.

 

[Rodcx500z]

I have to say this, i am 68 in April my parents and my self paid into the nhs all our working lives, i had an ear op in 1966 so my folks paid for that along with a lot of other folks i was in in 1958 when i was knocked down by a car 6 weeks fractured pelvis then 2018 for open aortic surgery, my point here is i was am happy that the money i paid in went to help everyone rich poor doesn't matter or were they come from, if you are sick and need help you should get it no ifs no buts, the one thing that really upsets me and i mean really upsets me is seeing children who are starving with no hope or help relieing on charity what the **** is wrong is with grown people who moan about things, we live in a crazy world but children going hungry is a big no no for me

 

[Brew_DD2]

I have to say this, i am 68 in April my parents and my self paid into the nhs all our working lives, i had an ear op in 1966 so my folks paid for that along with a lot of other folks i was in in 1958 when i was knocked down by a car 6 weeks fractured pelvis then 2018 for open aortic surgery, my point here is i was am happy that the money i paid in went to help everyone rich poor doesn't matter or were they come from, if you are sick and need help you should get it no ifs no buts, the one thing that really upsets me and i mean really upsets me is seeing children who are starving with no hope or help relieing on charity what the **** is wrong is with grown people who moan about things, we live in a grazy world but children going hungry is a big no no for me

Thankfully, the majority of the people living in the UK do not take the NHS for granted. Those who do, will change their mind when they need it.

 

[Oneflewover]

Why do we get hot under the collar? We live in a society where people, whichever walk of life they’re in, are expected to be at the very least, honest, conscientious and competent. We quite rightly don’t tolerate dishonest police officers. You would never employ a tradesman with a reputation of dishonesty or incompetence to work on your house or use a shop with a reputation of short changing people.

But for some reason we expect and tolerate such behaviour from politicians. Look at Johnson, fired twice for lying and conspired to have a journalist beaten up (all on public record) but for some reason, half the country is happy to be ruled and represented by him. Some of the cabinet are as bad, Priti Patel fired for having unauthorised contact with a foreign power,now Home Secretary. Gavin Williamson, fired for leaking confidential documents, now Edication Secretary.

Trump is just a more high profile example of traits which we don’t like- dishonesty, narcissism, incompetence but his apparent lack of intellect means that he isn’t so good at concealing it.

Yep get all of that, and completely agree with you your comments about Bozza. Maybe it's more the apparent obsession with the US of A I don't understand.

 

[Rodcx500z]

I don't, twice the nhs saved my life 1958 and 2018,

 

[Hanglow]

Britain has a higher mortality rate than than the USA.

I mean, isn't every mortality rate the same?