You talk as if being in the states is a virtue, people go to the states out of necessity, and that necessity is decreasing, other countries are getting better, while the States is getting worse.
I love how attached to reality you are. You know America has its flaws, you know its not perfect. Its rare to find an American that can admit those things.
Yeah we got some big ones to but I find it funny when other people that don't live here or even the ones that do and don't u derstand things go after the gun stuff. It's getting old and annoying when they go on about laws because ever since gun laws started those problems stopped right? The real problem isn't the innocent guy buying a gun from a gun store. It's the guy building and selling guns in his back yard. Or the ones being smuggled in. It really shows that the people high up can manipulate the uneducated populous and make more victims from the people that don't care about the law or human life while the innocent that usually carries and can end a threat and save lives no longer can because the laws say so to make us rely on the government more when we were not founded that way. What I'm getting at in the end is if you don't actually know don't talk please. People can go travel to Mexico and say it's amazing there and awesome but they never saw the cartels and bad areas you don't see in the well kept and policed vacation spot( i have never been and i am giving an example so chill haters please). That goes for every country except not many have 330 million people living there.
@@Impalaplayer my comment was aimed at Americans that disregard concrete evidence that disproves their beliefs. Theres a Jeff Daniels clip (can't remember which film/show it was from) where he sums it up. Americans are (these are just a guess) 6th best in the world at Maths, 8th at Scienec, 10th at History but 1st in the belief they can out perform any kid from any other country
If kids were told that here in the US you can be the best in the world it would help. Being told that they ARE the best in the world is where it goes wrong. They go out into the world with such arrogance and entitlement and expectation of other countries being below them.
Agree with you 100% I’m in the U.K. by the way . Great to be told you CAN be the best as then you know if you work hard and do your best you can be the best you .
I live in Leicester England and in my twenties I had a job in a large shoe retail warehouse. I basically loaded lorries with boxes of shoes and fetched the cartons from the various bays when they where running late on the picking. Not a very high paying job as you can imagine but they had performance related pay that topped up your basic wage if you met targets for that day. One day, outside of work, I had an accident and injured my hand quite badly needing a lot of stitches and some surgery to stitch a tendon back together. Once I had been sorted out, for free obviously, I went in to see my boss and explained what had happened. She said "Take as much time as you need to heal." I had my hand in a partial cast for 2 months so I couldn't do my job and she understood that. When my wages were paid into my bank they were paying me full wage plus top rate PRP for the whole time off and my boss regularly called to see how I was doing not to ask if I could come back to work. I cannot imagine that this would happen anywhere in the US.
When I was 21 I played in a Charity football Tournament on my day off. I broke my leg, dislocated my kneecap, tore my cruciate ligaments and did nerve damage at the same time. Not only did I not pay a penny for the ambulance ride, x-ray, 6 hours of reconstructive surgery and months of physiotherapy.........I also kept my job and got paid sick pay for 6 months until I was able to go back to work. I cannot imagine what state my whole life would of been in if I had lived in the USA. I would of been severely broke or disabled within a couple of months. It's actually scary to think about the fact that some people....in any country in the world have to actually think about the pro's and con's of getting the medical help they NEED....before they seek it.
Holy shit, no it wouldn’t. Your medical bills would likely be covered by workers comp. Insurances through the employer but you would be receiving no pay except for possible short term disability if you applied and qualified. It would be a small fraction of your actual pay. You would be very eager to go back to work since all of your other bills would be piling up.
I had cancer, nothing too serious just removed and some radiotherapy. Work forced me to take a year off full pay to recover, not just from the medication but also mentally. Being from the UK I didn't pay a penny.
Honestly I do not think that Americans as a whole are a dumb nation or anything, but I DO think that your nation is isolated, ignorant and happy with that. I do not think that this comes from your education system but rather your culture. Your population is taught that as long as something is not directly affecting you, you shouldn't give a frick about it. I live in Greece, and my cousins grew up in Los Angeles (their family got a green card when they were 6 and 4 respectively). My cousins not only do not know where their own home country is located, they barely speak the language (not for lack of trying on my uncle and aunt's part), but they also firmly believe that most European countries belong to the USA because "they" saved us during WW 2. Historical inaccuracy aside, while your education system does bear some blame for the way that things are, I believe that the toxic patriotism that your nation engages in is what hurts your people the most. Your people act more as a cult than a nation. You (your nation, not you specifically), praise blind following of the masses but act like trying to expand your world horizon makes you a "lame nerd" and whatnot. In my country, people who go out of their way to try to learn about the world around them (especially children) get rewarded for their efforts, not bullied to the point where they feel like they need to go and shoot up their school. As long as people in the USA are happy to pretend that the rest of the world (or heck, even their own neighbors) does not exist, there will be further decline in both education and culture. Your nation is so deeply rooted in their belief that they're the apex of every single thing that they'll happily allow themselves to be treated like farm animals as long as they can scream "I have more freedom than you with your free education, free medicine, affordable housing and safety in the knowledge that you can go into a crowded place without fear of being shot."
I agree, I've got a bit of a similar experience, more with religion in America, however (Christians, obv). 1: With the Pledges of Allegiance, I live in a state in the US who has a very similar pledge as the US pledge, and mentions a singular god as well. I happen to not be a monotheist, in fact, am atheist, and thusly would exclude the part in the pledges that mention god. (Doing this I've noticed how they just plopped "under god" in the middle of nowhere where it makes no sense) A few times I've found it relevant to the conversation to mention that I don't say the "under god" part and people look at me with disappointment, confusion, and almost concern. It's relevant for this to mention that the "under god" bit was actually added later on during some war, so anyone who said that it would be hard due to culture to change it would be right, but unfairly so. 2: One time I looked up the definition of cult because I wanted to know the difference between religion and a cult (as you do), when I realized that how Christianity used to be practiced in the medieval era was like that of (the modern definition of) a cult as described by the website. One of the common traits it mentioned was that the entrance to the cult was rushed, well missionaries when founding America forced the people to join. Strictly dictating big parts of people's lives as well, and with you getting executed for heresy and making you pray so many times per day, making you go to church, and more, (also missionaries) well... and you are made to worship a group leader, well, the popes and kings were kind of a religious symbol soooo... and when I told people this, a common response was to say, "You can make it match that definition if you really want..." as though I was making a stretch and stretching what the site said to match some sort of goal. And the thing is, I was clear in saying that it wasn't modern Christianity (for the most part) that behaved this way, and the people still felt some sort of need to defend the atrocities olden Christianity committed.
But the scariest part is that they have the most powerful army stationed all over the globe. Like a retard with a machine gun and a box of hand grenades. Who will save us from Trump's fascist America?
I have a sister who lives in USA (we are from sweden) and when her kids got older in school, she got a note home "do you allow your kids to have sexual education in school" i mean, wtf is up with that? no wonder there are so many teenage pregnancys and other stuff in USA if it's not mandatory, in sweden it's mandatory in about 8th grade.
Yeah. And if you check the videos here "how girls work" etc. It is pretty clear most ppl don't get sex ed and guys don't know what a clitoris is, what are periods (one guy thought it comes from the butt etc) etc etc. Very sad.
As a German I'd never say I "love" my country. The whole concept is alien to me. Don't get me wrong, I like my country and I'm very glad I was born in it. If I'd been born in the US I'd be in literally millions of debts in medical bills at 31 now. The whole idea of being "the greatest country" just seems very immature and narcisstic to me. It's not a thing an actual adult would say over here, unless they are kind of a nazi. I don't hate the US, but that aspect of their culture is just weird to me.
Yep, the whole concept of loving your country, despite how horrible it is, is like telling someone they need to keep loving their partner even if they are abusive... To my mind, this is as toxic as thinking America is the greatest.
From about the age of 5 years old. Every day at school until we are 18. We place our hands on your hearts in unison and pledge our allegiance to our flag.
The best answer to that came from a former German President (and yes, Germany has a President as the highest representative, not the Chancellor who is the head of government) - when he was asked if he would love the country he was President of, he just answered : 'i love my wife!'
my 2 cents: being told and believing you live in the best country remove any need to try to improve it acknowledging, that there are problems is a crucial step in fixing them also saying to be the best country in the world, and then comparing to some of the poorest / worst countries to justify that doesn't help either
Every American who has argued with a European about healthcare or gun control really doesn't realise how much better healthcare is in the rest of the Western world. And how the solution to school shootings is less guns, and less teaching kids than guns are a solution to a problem.
There are many things wrong with America, but the single biggest problem is that it's the only country in the world whose citizens (any at all) believe that they live in the greatest country in the world. Most of the other problems stem from that belief - like believing it's the only country with "freedom", or that state-provided healthcare is communism, or that wanting paid time off is being work-shy, or...etc. None of that would be possible without convincing a large portion of the population that those basic human rights aren't necessary in The Greatest Country In The World.
Our government, media, and entertainment industry are not without blame for the indoctrination. It has been done for so long, there are generations of people who been denied factual information on US history and the countries around the globe. They are ignorant victims of culture. Some of our culture poo-poos being smart/educated and that school sucks, working sucks, and learning outside of "what they force you to study at school" is just plain crazy or weird. That's changing due to millennials and their connectivity to the internet. Thankfully educational content is thriving there.
@@nickburns8096 Freedom of Speech is not unique to the US, most developed countries have it. Also, there are millions of guns legally owned in the UK for example, but the numbers of mass shootings that happen there are miniscule, like one a decade or less. The US issue is the numbers and types of guns that are permitted to the general public, some of which falls into criminals hands but many gun crimes are instigated by people with no prior records.
The girl with cluster headache really hit me. I live in Spain and I suffer from chronic cluster headaches myself, and every time I start to get them, which happens usually once a year, I go to my neurologist, get my prescription and pay around 7 euros. So I just cannot fathom what the hell could they have done to her that would cost $34.000? That's the price of a high end car.
that hit me really hard, too. The realization that she just put herself and her family in huge debt (I never had that much of debt in my life) must have been the worst feeling and I‘m so sorry for her :(
I got 2 things to add to the girls story: 1) at that point, it would literally be cheaper to book a flight, visit a hospital in europe and fly back the next day than going to a hospital in the USA 2) I got 2 friends (brothers) who both suffer from the same illness. Medication, which is lifesaving for them, costs 25 000 a month. I've known them now for 20 years and they bought them every month for every year and will continue to have to have them. Here in europe this costs then next to nothing (i believe its like 200 bucks per month or so) but imagine them being american citicens!?!?!!!
@@katherinelotz2693 she def should. Although the Houston Chronicle put out an article that stated that ERs may charge for the visit as in network but if they have any individual technician or Dr does not belong to the network they will bill separately. These instances have increased since hospital networks are outsourcing their office management for the ERs.
I'm in Britain. When I had cancer I was told the radiotherapy was not covered by national insurance because they don't normally do it for tumours like mine. However the doctors were willing to do it anyway because they knew it would work and might use it as evidence that it should be funded. The hospital took on the cost, not me. Also during that time I dealt with various specialists and medical professionals. I never had to worry that anyone was "out of network." I got the best care available with no hidden costs. I paid nothing but my usual taxes.
I'm an Italian living in the UK and from the first day I was in this country I was covered by the NHS. At the beginning, I was covered thanks to the health care system of my own country, which had accords going on with the UK, and afterwards I was covered as a foreigner living, working (and paying taxes) in the UK In the span of 7 years, I had visits with the local GP, I had medical exams at the county hospital, I had an ambulance taking me from the location of a car accident to the hospital and then a 5-days stay at the hospital plus surgery and physiotherapy without paying a single pound.
@@DarkarThanBlack Admin is the only one who gives a damn about "costs" doctors, nurses, and even assistant staff like RTs don't give a damn what things cost. What is important is that it helps you get better. they'll figure out the other shit later...and how to make it cheaper. Some hospitals have entire departments dedicated to arguing with insurance
@@silverscalederg8632 In the UK insurance is far cheaper if you go private than the USA, because you can compete with free (lowering wait times, for example) but you better be DAMN good if you do, no American style scam is going to get you anywhere but on Watchdog and a visit by the Ombudsman.
i was born and raised in Romania ( Eastern Europe ) and one of my favorite "murican" moments was when a gaming friend of mine started to explain to me the differences between communism and fascism !!! edit: a little known fact about Romania ... during ww2, within a 6month period, our capital got bombed by the soviets ( communists ) , by the nazis ( fascists) and by the allies (democrats ) ... everyone bombed us :))
Yeah, also Romanian (daca nu era evident dupa nume). It does annoy me when most American friends or work acquaintances of mine insists they are some kind of an expert on communism....doesn't matter what real stories about my parents, grandparents etc I tell them they still insist its' not really that.
@@Minimoshu zic in ro, ca nu vreau sa se simta astia jigniti :P ... dar pe mine ma seaca rau cand ii mai apuca comparatiile cu diferite 'grupuri' d-ale lor, ca aia de stanga , liberalii, aia cu vietile negre , etc etc se comporta precum comunistii sau fascistii ... si tot felul de comparatii din-astea unde incep deja sa simt cum pierd neuroni !! in schimb as plati bani buni, adica in loc sa iau bilet la finala cupei mondiale de fotbal, dau banii aia sa-i vad pe ei obligati sa stea la coada de la 3-4 dimineata, in iernile alea frumoase ale noastre cand sunt -20 si viscol ca sa iei ulei, faina, sau vata pentru acea perioada a femeilor ca nu existau tampoane ... !!
@@rusenescualin3739 Dap....lasand la o parte nebunia cu Trump si extremismul religios pentru care intr-adevar nu as putea vota 80% din republicanii moderni, cand ma intreaba cineva si realizeaza ca sunt de dreapta, vai doamne...si nu inteleg cum pot sa fiu liberal si de dreapta. Mda, ma doar un pic capul :) (ca sa nu mai zic daca incerc sa comentez despre istorie si sa explic ca pana acu 60 de ani republicanii erau tot de dreapta, dar ei erau liberalii americani)
@@Mordring Yup, as americans might say, "we gave it a fair shake"...for 50 years, and many of us lost our lives. Human nature doesn't change, one great communist experiment is more than enough.
A lot of Americans are conditioned to see the truth as propaganda. I've seen one American admit that free healthcare was a great idea, then think about it and say "but it's communism, nothing free is worth having there has to be some sort of catch" then asked if they'd take a free treatment if needed they said no, they'd rather pay.
@@helvete983 It's not Communism. You have to pay for treatment in Communist China, and Post-Soviet Russia. Also Communist treatments were dodgy stuff that had more of a chance of killing the patient (bacteriophage virus treatments instead of antibiotics, for example.) The NHS is a lot of things but I can say that it isn't Communist. Also they'd be shocked at how little private health insurance costs in any country that has it compared to the USA.
Ngl the girl with the cluster headaches got me. Between Christmas and New year I went into hospital with what my doctor thought at the time was a brain tumor. I had a scan and thankfully it wasn't, it was Just an unfortunate combo of cluster headaches and vertigo. If her 38k bill just for cluster headaches I hate to know what mine would of been for the scan plus all the other tests to figure out what was actually happening. Out of hand costs for all that was £5.70, and that was just for the hospital carpark
A few years ago I went to see my consultant endocrinologist for a thyroid check. No idea how much that would have cost in the US. Anyway, because my thyroid caused a heart problem I'm on anti-coagulants and they gave me a nosebleed on my way to the hospital so when I saw the consultant, or rather when she saw me, she phoned a friend in ENT and that second consultant saw me straightaway. They tried to fix the bleed but couldn't so I was admitted. Four days and minor surgery from a third consultant later, not to mention an operating theatre, an anaesthetist, a team of nurses, a bed on a side ward, and multiple drugs, I was sent home. And yes, even in the UK's free at the point of delivery NHS I was terrified about the bill. But it was fine - the first nurse I'd seen after being admitted had called security and my parking charges were waived. Phew, worries over. The idea that I might be charged for the actual healthcare had never occurred to me. 🤣🤣🤣
I actually said, "holy s**t!" out loud when she revealed the cost. Unimaginable. How on Earth do people pay for it?? I mean, it must be a monthly repayment in a lot of cases but what if you can't afford THAT? Does their house get repossessed?? like... what happens? And presumably you spend the rest of your life hoping you don't fall ill or need the ER again.
So glad I’m a U.K. citizen, I’m 68 years old and luckily have kept good health most of my life but I’ve never had to stress myself out about medical bills if ever I needed medical attention.
My mother worked for 30 years in the NHS, and I would not be alive now without it. In the USA the accident I had at 12 that permanently damaged my spine would have made me ineligable for pretty much all insurance. And if you add in everything else; type 1 diabetes, asthma, eczema, PCOS and Autism, then I would probably have just died because even with help I have severe anxiety and suicidal depression.
America is a beautiful country full of amazing people with great ideals but you’ve all been conditioned to believe that you’re the freest and greatest so they can strip away your right without being challenged. Too many things being used to make profit like medical treatment, medication, education and prisons. Even employers able to treat staff like slaves to increase their profit margin.
@@kajixp yes in usa not in America cause like i said previously America is the continent and so it includes Canada and there are no fee’s like that in Canada.
I'm in Canada, and the "price" I've paid for 6 surgeries is the cab to the hospital, and to have cable in my room while I recuperated. I've had to pay for dental, too, but that's about to be added to our universal healthcare. They're working on covering prescriptions too. I'll gladly pay more taxes if I have to. I also used to work for a company that administered benefits to U.S employees. I heard 2-3 stories a day from desperate people that made me cry. Like the baby with type 1 diabetes who was covered by 3 different insurances and none of them wanted to pay for insulin for over a week. Or the guy who called and asked if there was automatic coverage for spouses... he cried his heart out on the phone when I said yes because his wife had more than 5 million in treatment and couldn't get coverage anywhere else. I spent an entire 8 hour shift on the phone helping a women who was out of anti-rejection meds after a heart transplant; she hadn't taken one in 3 days. I had to pull rank on behalf of the company and make one of the insurers pay. I won't even visit the U.S on a day trip because of it. I have to have pristine credit to keep my job and having a 100k+ hospital bill could ruin me.
To be fair it must be tough to take when you finally realise that whenever an american walks into a room anywhere in the world everyone rolls their eyes and groans
I agree, you should love your country. Otherwise you're living in the wrong country for you. We do have problems in Denmark as well, no country is perfect, but tbh, when I see videos like this I appreciate my own country even more. I have extended family in the US (on both sides of your political "spectrum") and from what I hear and see through them and the media - geez, y'all got some serious problems! Guns, prison system, social safety net, health care, education, violence, corruption,... Let's just say that I'm never going to visit my relatives because I'd honestly be scared to death to go there. 😟
@@alimar0604 It's good. Friendly folk.... nice weather, interesting wildlife. Place is massive. A bit pricey in the tourist spots. I did get asked what state I was from though and got a funny look when I said Merseyside, England.
@@flogjam yeah but the corrupt cops, violence and health care are the biggest don't gos to me. I don't want to get ducked up bc of an honest accident which might happen to anyone but then I'll be in prison for 1000 years.
America is an okay place to visit. I think it is worth a visit to see the natural beauties it has to offer. Maybe visit for the entertainment and stuff in NYC, Vegas, Orlando, or LA. The main issues with the US are the ones that the people living here long term deal with. I'd assume tourists won't be spending time in schools. You'll be in heavily protected places due to the tourist nature of it, and you're less likely to have a medical emergency. You'll also not be working there, so most of the shitty things about the US are likely never going to happen to you. While I understand all this bad news about the US is scary, if you stay a week or two, there is an extremely small chance that the traumatic things would just happen to align with your stay.
I'm a Canadian and have been to the USA many times. It's a nice place to visit, but I wouldn't go there without travel health insurance. In the USA, people go bankrupt just for getting sick. Americans say they're patriotic, but there's a big difference between being proud and being chauvinistic.
Despite what you say Alan, health and education are absolutely the responsibility of government. American people are no different from those in other countries. The difference is the US sees it's population as an economic resource to be exploited whist the rest of us consider education and quality of life more important than wealth. Historically we made the same mistakes but learned from them. The US chooses not to listen to or take advantage of 'foreign' wisdom so is destined to make the same mistakes. Give it another century or two.
When I worked in the states I had a team that i was managing. One day one of my team comes in and she is full of flu i mean like you can see her eyes are full of water her nose was bright than rodolf and she was hacking and sneezing all over the place. After about 20 minutes of her arriving I just go over to her desk and say go home rest up come back when your better. She instantly starts crying and saying i need this job. I didnt say i was firing you i said go home get better I dont want flu am sure the rest of the team doesnt want it go home. At this point shes ugly crying and i realise back in the UK you tell an employee to go home because there sick the chairs spinning because they know they arent losing pay and its illegal to fire them. Vs the US were apprently its common. I said do not worry about it put your out of office on I ll make sure you get paid just go home. She was the best worker in the department after that. I hope shes still doing well. I got to experience living and working in the states but i feel really lucky i was able to say to my company I want to come home now I did you a favour i took over an under performing team and turned it round taught them how we do the same tasks in the UK and developed a hybrid system that works to the way our US office can deliever.
America suffers from national narcissism and isolationism. If a country is taught, almost brainwashed, into thinking it is the greatest place on earth, there is no reason to change. Nobody can do better, so whatever anyone else does, if America isn't doing it, it isn't worth doing. This stems from the post-war times, where America turned its war factories into consumer goods factory and became an economic superpower. At the same time, America was focussed only on America, in all segments of life, especially education. Couple that with a phobia of everything that isn't hypercapitalist and you have a people that willingly ignore better options if it wasn't their idea to begin with. The comments I've got from America how I am jealous of it, which couldn't be further from the truth, or how everything is immediately communism and therefore evil. It's childish and painful. I've met many Americans and they're usually great people, but almost all suffered from this. Most unknowingly and unwillingly. A good example is the Pledge of Allegiance. This is usually done in dictatorships, not democracies because it is extremely nationalistic. The worst part is, it was an idea from a company in the 60's to sell more flags. Call it patriotism and they sell like hotcakes. The anthem before even single game, no matter how minor, is obsessive almost. Calling national sports series World Cups or Series, while no other country participates is very telling. Australia has their own version of rugby, but they don't call their championship a World Series because it isn't. Much of the history Americans get in school is simply not true. WW2 wasn't won by America, but the Allies, although the Brits, Canadians and others hardly get any credit. In the Pacific, there were many Australian and other Commonwealth soldiers fighting the Japanese. Many inventions Americans think are theirs, aren't, like the computer, which IBM got from the British government out of Bletchly Park, where Alan Turin developed it to break the Enigma code. The Puritans didn't flee Britain from religious prosecution to the US, but the Netherlands, where they voluntarily left for the US because it had too much religious freedom. They didn't land at Plymouth Rock either, but a long way north. The rock with the date is also not where they landed. America lacks proper education and has a cult of ignorance, where not knowing anything is seen as an achievement because you're a "free" thinker. Education is a ploy from the deep state according to way too many Americans. It is kind of sad how a country that had such an impact on the world has become a circus.
@@micmac274 True. People think they are "free thinkers" when they rally against everything that goes against their perceived rights or limited understanding of the world. Terms like that get hijacked by people in a vain attempt to remove themselves from the laughable lunacy that is the sovereign citizen bullshit. Only in America did free thinker mean atheist. Europe (and everywhere else from what I know) free thinker means someone who is open minded, can think past the regular ideas in society and is looking for ways to progress society. Atheist are often like that, but they're not the same thing.
Having your channel gives you instant access to the point of view of many people from many country's, which helps to show you the truth about the world and America, I think many people live in ignorant bliss in the u,s, your right about there not being a perfect country but I do think many Americans have suffered because of the greed of big business and politicians, that being said, if you were to tell your fellow Americans that they've not got it quite as good as they believe they do, they'd probably have a go at you and call you crazy? Love your channel Alan, keep on expanding your knowledge of the world, it's a big place!
I had the Scandinavia/Canada confusion also from a Chinese-American girl in NYC. She was dissapointed I didn't have blue eyes and blonde hair like she expected Canadians like me to have. Another time, I presented my Canadian passport at a bank in Brooklyn to get a bank account. The teller refused, telling me ''U.S. PASSPORT!'' and after my explanation failed to obtain my new account, I had to travel to Manhattan to find a branch (of the same bank mind you) where they appreciated a customer who was unwilling to forge an American passport and finally accepted my existing ID to open an account. Sometimes the longest trip in the world is from Brooklyn to New York as they say.
Well, it makes the men more manly. Good gawd. Since moving to Canada 30 years ago from the states I've learned that no one here gives a damn about guns and no one talks about it. Plus, we're not talking about gay people, black people, abortion, trans gender people and what ever other nonsense Americans get tied up in knots about on a daily basis. Canadians just live and let live and we have peace. As is the case in many other countries.
My heart went out for that poor girl, $28K in debt, because the ER wasn't in the network, like WTF, as a Canadian that's mind blowing, or that poor young man who's first thought was his boss.
Heard Liz Chaney say in her after defeat speech that America is the oldest democracy. Are you serious??? The oldest operating parliament in the world is the Viking Tynwald and your country is only just over 200 years old. Even the Brit version was founded in 1801 and you didn't finish your civil war until 1865. Americans, as you say, really need to check stuff out on Google before they go making fools of themselves.
Yeah, I laugh about that "oldest democracy in the world" line every time, and they use it a LOT. Even if they mean oldest still existing democracy, they arent even close. Women couldnt vote until 1920. Black ppl couldnt vote until the mid 1960s. They werent a democracy until less than 60 years ago, and that was never even a real democracy with popular vote. And theyve been backsliding ever since with escalating speed. The last few years, theyve been downgraded from "democracy" to "flawed democracy". Technically still a democracy, but certainly not the best democracy in the world, which Americans also use a lot, and never even close to the oldest.
Hey bud check out Rick Mercer "talking to Americans" was a prime time special in Canada in the 90s where he basically would say outlandish things to Americans who accepted it at face value. Got a member of your govt to congratulate Canada on it's new national capital - a replica of the white house made of ice. In hindsight it was kind of mean spirited and fed into the Canadian sense of superiority -- but you might get some mileage out of it.
I went to hospital for cluster headaches. In Australia not having healthcare means I couldn't chose my doctor which was cool because after being assessed by 25 doctors one of them worked out what was wrong. It cost me nothing. One of my mates was in the next hospital room for cold sores. His doctor put him in hospital so he could get free antiviral medication without having to pay over $100 per tablet. My mother spent over a week in hospital when she was dying and it cost me $12.
I am (compared to average income) upper middle class, and spend 1/3 of my income on health insurance. When my wife had to spend 13 days in ICU, I was billed $620K, before my insurance paid most of it. Every day, there are multiple people shot by strangers, and multiple home invasions in my city. I have repelled all of my own invaders with loaded weapons. I always answer my door with a loaded gun slightly concealed behind my half-opened door. When I go shopping I ALWAYS carry concealed, and focus on situational awareness. I live in Phoenix. I am intensely aware that this is not normal.
well so since you say you read the comments here my story on why usa isnt great. I was born in Mexico TJ, adopted and lived in usa during my time my parents were trying to get me a green card, i was brought in due to being adopted but wasnt granted a green card. My parents not rich but not poor so we did everything legal and fastest way we could to get my status, took me 20 years and 4 lawyers and 10s of thousands of dollars for me to get my green card. I finally was able to get a job and was working hard, one day 3 black cars came and picked me up and it was immigration, they said they needed to talk to me and ask questions why i was in usa all this time and just finally got my green card status, they cuffed me and took me to a federal prison, i served 5 years fighting my case that they spent more time stalling then trying to hear my story. After i finally won they kept sending ICE agents to my home to "search" for stuff and it was mainly to just harass me, i finally gave up and had to quit my job and i left back to Mexico. the greatest country? no not even close, my story is sad and guess what? this happens often so many immigrants are treated like this, there a reason why you dont hear much of this is due to if anyone says anything they get deported or go "missing" a lot of dark and horrible things go on behind closed doors in usa.
Born and raised Dutch here: I had emergency surgery in 2016 on a Sunday(necrotic gallbladder) and had to stay multiple nights. One of my first thoughts was to notify my work. Not because I was worried I would get fired, but so they wouldn’t worry about me for not showing up on Monday.
the story about the young lady getting a medical dept of 30 000 dollars is absolutly insane... in my country (france) if you go to the emergency whatever test they are doing to you from the most simple to the most expensive you only pay like 20 euros (its about 25 dollars i think) and get refund later...
This is Peter's wife speaking. I was pretty healthy until I was in my forties. I gave birth in 1985. Both our son and I had some complications and ended up spending a week in the hospital, with the baby in the NICU for almost all of that time. Since then, I have had three major surgeries, with varying time spent in the hospital afterward. Several years ago, I nearly died from complications of a chronic condition. As we live in a small, isolated community, I was flown to the nearest city and spent nearly two weeks in a hospital there. I was on intravenous antibiotics, as well as several other medications and was seen by a bewildering array of specialists, as well as having a biopsy. For all of this, I have paid nothing, except for a small monthly insurance payment, which was done away with by the provincial government a few years ago. We don't even pay for parking at our local hospital. Canadian health care has its problems, but I'm damned grateful for it.
The fact that you put yourself through all these vids Alan, you have my respect. but also my deepest sympathy because of the things we have seen and heard 🙂.. i mean most of the developed western world, knows that America isnt the greatest Country in the world, and have known that for decades. the problem is, that alot of ( certain)americans still today hang on to that , even if you have access to the total sum of all knowledge at the tip of your fingers. You have some great stuff, you HAVE done some great stuff... but the big issue is, the difference from that, to the insanely ( sry) stupid things you do and have done, is just.... sigh
30 grand Bill for a cooking headache! OMG!!! What's the point of even having health insurance? It seems that it either doesn't cover you for whatever your ailment or only covers you for a tiny amount of the bill, they wriggle out of paying it and shove it onto you at every opportunity, disgusting! I can't get my head around what possible treatment they could have given to her in one afternoon in the ER? Wtf, why haven't Americans revolted over this yet? Wow!
She went to the wrong facility and used one not covered in her parents plan otherwise the cost would be a lot less. Not excusing the fked up system but you need to check things like that. A CT scan which she almost certainly would have had costs around 8k and sometimes more. The system is designed to milk as much money out of the patient so I'm betting they gave her every test they could think of.
Stuart, the Americans havent revolted, coz theyre the best country in the world! No matter, how bad they have it, they feel better for knowing, that the rest of us have it much worse. Seriously, the American ppl has to be kept insulated from and ignorant of the outside world, coz otherwise they would never accept as normal so many things, that the rest of us find unacceptable. From their awful healthcare, that will bankrupt them in the blink of an eye, to polluted water and air, to eating "food" full of toxins and pesticides, to having overpriced antiquated power grids, that break down constantly, to being paid slave wages and having zero rights as a worker etc etc etc.
@@helvete983 I had no idea CT scans were so expensive. About a decade ago I went to the ER with a head injury. About half an hour after they stitched it up and gave me a tetanus shot, they did a CT scan to check for skull fracture. The only part that cost me anything was the ambulance ride, and it was only $45. I'm glad I live in Canada.
It's so strange to me that people can't seem to understand that you can and as far as I'm concerned should be able to criticize the things you love. It goes for family, loved ones and yes, also one's country. Wanting something you love to do or be better should be a normal thing.
It's actually baffling to think that anyone has to actually think about getting medical help when they need it. When I was 21 I had a massive sports injury. Broken leg, dislocated knee, torn ligaments and nerve damage. I had an ambulance ride, xrays, 6 hours of surgery, pain relief for a couple of months, knee brace and 3 physio appointments per week for 6 months. I got paid sick pay the whole time I was off and it didnt cost me a thing. If I lived in the USA I would of had to choose between incurring huge debt or being disabled. I cannot possibly see how anyone can find that acceptable.
I'm west coast Canadian and a bunch of us were in Atlanta. We went out for dinner and noticing our accents the restaurant owner asked where we were from. He asked how we could live in such a cold country and we tried to explain it is not that cold. He said he watched the national US news and Chicago would be 75 but Toronto was only 22. We tried to explain the Celsius temperature scale. He bought our dinners and drinks ... lol.
7:27 In his defense I think maybe the guy found it noticeable that "being raped" is actually the first thing that comes to her mind / her instinctive reaction. Maybe because it happens so often in the US / the hit triggered some past experience / it's one of her fears!? Either way it's disturbing. In other countries where rape is (extremely) rare the person may have instinctively yelled "I'm being attacked by a snake!" because there, those are in the front of people's mind.
The sweet girl with the cluster headache was heartwrenching 🥺 it's inhumane to do that to people...tens of thousands for a headache... it's a way to create debt slavery...you have to keep working and accepting the conditions at work because you have to pay a massive debt.
The sick leave thing. I was a restaurant manager in the UK and got what I thought was a stomach bug so went off sick, after many tests it turns out my stomach acid is too strong and tries to burn holes in my stomach (easily controlled now I know luckily). Was on paid sick leave for a whole month while the doctors prodded me with no problems and I had to get a note from the doctor saying I was fit before returning to work (most companies would just take your word in most cases). Also if the employer had made me work they could have received large fines for making a food handler go near food while ill with a stomach/digestive issue as well as their restaurant being shut down while the health department investigated. Also just about all the jobs I've ever worked would send you home if you came in with cold/flu because as you say you have to be nuts for your whole staff to potentially get sick.
You are right, American's problems will never be fixed until you set the education system right. Like a lot of things in America the education system keeps you ignorant as to what the world is really like, so you don't ask questions, the food makes you fat and lethargic, but the huge portions make you feel full and content, so you don't ask questions, you guys work so hard without any time off, so you don't get time to.ask questions. Basically for your whole lives you are kept from finding out the truth, and the truth is that Americans are for want of a better word robots or modern day slaves. Channels like yours highlight America's problems, problems that should be taught from a young age, only then can Americans break free from this vicious circle that they find themselves in. America is run by corrupt rich old men who only have interest in lobbying and lining their own pockets and don't concern themselves with the future generations, this is why education is so important. If nothing changes things can only get worse and your future may see Margorie Taylor Greene as your first female President
Also the American education system is so far behind, literally kids who have been moved abroad by their parents relocating find the UK schools are teaching things 3-4 years ahead of what their age is taught in the US. So a school leaver in the US is leaving at 18 with the education of a 14 year old.
@@dfuher968 as English I don't really understand the term graduate. We here go to senior school, take final exams where we either fail or pass each subject as a different % grade. Then we go to work or university, whatever. We never graduate, we just leave and don't go to school any more
@@helvete983 This what one of my English teachers told me many years ago in Ireland. He also said that the education level picks up at uni level in the US.
I think there is a problem with being proud of one's country, contrary to what you said. Having an affinity with your country, a sense of belonging, a nostalgia for it. Sure, nothing wrong with that. In fact I think those are good things! But feeling proud of it means you have to somehow think it's inherently good, in a special way that other countries aren't. And that is maybe the thing that holds the USA back. It's very strange to see the reverence with which USA-ians hold their constitution (a bit of paper from the old days), the founding fathers (some random dudes in some other time and place), the origin myths of "the land of the free" or "manifest destiny" and what have you. The attitude to those things really seems to take on a sort of quasi-religious awe a lot of the time. So that if you say (for instance) "Why don't we at least re-think our approach to guns?" the answer is that you can't touch this constitutional amendment because it has some of magical properties. It's not just some old bit of paper, it's "The Constitution". And this is the USA. And the USA is special and best and chosen by god. And... you get the picture. (And it's not to say that people in other countries don't ever assign a sort of magical reverence to their own creation myths, but it seems particularly strong in the USA, and really genuinely heartfelt in a way that it isn't necessarily in other places.) I think the USA would get on a lot better if (like most people in most other countries) there was much more of a sense that the country you live in is just a country. Like all the other countries. And the way your country works is a compromise of a load of weird historical anomalies and happenstance. And you can change the bits you want, or keep the bits you want. And none of it is special or sacred. Funnily enough, I would say that realising that would be real freedom! And every other country is different in its own way, but they are in the same position of being just a country that isn't special or magical. So sure, feel a sense of kinship, of belonging with your own country and the society you grew up in (it would be hard not to!), but don't be proud of it. Because pride means you have to think it is uniquely better: that it has something special about it that other countries couldn't possibly have.
Having pride in your country doesn't equate to meaning you think it is uniquely better. Although I think that thinking this country is uniquely better is something that is an issue here because that mindset takes loving this country into something more akin to blind patriotism which lends itself a dangerous form of nationalism. You can have pride in your country while acknowledging the issues it has. I see it A TON in the comments section of these videos. A ton of people acknowledge their countries aren't perfect but are proud of living there and thankful for it.
@@TheEclecticBeard Good point well made,sir, Mrs C and I feel similar, despite being heartily fed up with the antics of politicians on both sides of the pond ( and some minor so called Royal hangers on) , A very creditable thread asking questions we should always ask ourselves....off to watch Chicago med, fire and PD...its what us former first Responders do...E
The Constitution is so highly regarded, protected and adhered to because of what it was designed to do. Which is to prevent or at least slow down the acquisition of the country by tyranical leaders, such as puppets of the then British Crown and later Soviet Union, or from internal takeover and so forth. The First Amendment prevents or at least makes it harder for a would-be tyrant to silence those who would speak out about their crimes and corrupt actions. The Second ensures, or at least bolsters the citizenry against attempts at disarmament by tyrants looking to forcibly seize power through military might, and so on. The Amendment is a unique provision few other countries have against tyranny by allowing and empowering regular people to be able to act readily and swiftly.
So, what you're saying is... that the love for the country you feel is actually the social coherence and the people (not the idiots) in that coherence. In the end I too am used to - and have difficulty with leaving - this specific piece of Earth-dirt called The Netherlands. A couple of years (!) ago I read this quote about America being it "the most developed Third World country". I watch your channel and others too, for example the American expats who live in the Netherlands in order to keep myself aware of the Dutch peculiarities. In doing so I keep getting reminded of the fact that animals lives - at times - seem to have a higher value than humans... America is an odd country to be very diplomatic about it.
I'm British and I was once in a bar in San Antonio. I was chatting to one of the locals and he said "You're foreign, aren't you?" I replied "No. I'm British." I left the bar with a confused look on a Texans face.
The NHS is shit, it is the second worst developed health system after the USA. It spunks money like there os no tomorrow and is bloated and inefficient.
@@sandersson2813 I'm already grown-up and I know that it is precisely getting shitter because of the Tories and has been under fire from day one. Of course, since New Labour adopted the same approach of monetarist ecinomics it hasn't helped, but the approach is that of the Tories. You don't get an NHS ethos and a committment to monetarism, that can't work.
@@baronmeduse it has nothing to do with that. The NHS gets more money per head than Australia but is WORSE. It's also worth noting that the NHS is devolved in Scotland and Wales to SNP and Labour respectively and it's still fucking shit. How is it Germany can have 16 million MORE people in its population, but FEWER people working for their health service but at the same time have a better patient to doctor ratio? What are all these wankers in the NHS doing? 70k for diversity officers? Come on. The problem with the NHS is not government's, it's the fucked up administration of it. Did you know 50% of the budget is NON CLINICAL? By the way, if the NHS was as good a model as you think it is, why have no other countries copied it? I'd much rather have a Dutch, German, French or Swedish model instead of constantly having the left wank over the NHS as if it's an untouchable sacred cow.
I felt sad for that girl that cried because of her ER bill, Me and my family also spent that amount, but that was for the ER, emergency surgery, admission to the ICU (twice) dialysis, another round of surgery, while being under the care of 5 medical specialists and a 3 month stay at the hospital. But we do follow the American way of sick days... you're only allowed to be sick for a maximum of 7 days in a year.
I loved living in the US (Alabama, as previously mentioned....also, Roll Tide) - but the flaws within the social, economic and work standards made my head hurt. Even just the State taxes on price tags. If it says $1.99 on the price tag, why do I have to pay $2.30? 4 1/2 years I spent over there, 26 States I've been to/through. I'd genuinely question just how United those States are now. I always found the Southern States, weirdly, to be a lot more accepting of me and my own cultural distinguishing identity than that of their fellow Northern State folk. As an American once said about England - "It'd be great if you could put a roof on it" - I counter this with "America, it'd be great if you could get it to agree with itself"
You come across to me as a very decent man. I would not stress out about other peoples clips. I look forward to watching content like you have done in the past without getting strikes. Believe me when I say that there are people who are eejits where ever you go. All the best to you and yours. Rab
I hear about the awful medical service in the US over and over on videos like yours and still am shocked at how much it costs for such simple procedures and how you can be lumbered with life-long crippling debt just cos you had an accident or condition you have no control over. It's so sad the US does this to their citizens. Shameful and sad.
And what is so sad is if you try to mention it, yes Ive tried with several americans, and they just point to communism and socialism instead of really thinking about it. Its such an inward way of looking. Its not as simple as get a job that have a good insurance. Not everyone have the same opportunities in life or abilities. Im so grateful that we have free or basically free healthcare here in Norway.
@@mar97216 There's at least one idiot arguing about gun control in this comment section and not realising everything he's saying is a self-own of the US.
You can be very proud of your country and recognise its faults. That is a good thing, it is when you are very proud of your country and refuse to see its faults that is bad.
Agreed, most countries have done horrific things, to others, to thier own ... thats not a reason to be ashamed. Be ashamed of those things, the lack of an official apology, the denial/cover up. But be proud of what you have achieved, culture, people, what you want to be.
I was hospitalised six or seven times this year. Once for a week. Once for five days and the rest were for two days each. I was taken by ambulance each time. I also had an operation. None of it cost anything at all. Welcome to Australia ❤
I know that you feel that you have to justify the country that you live in, and I realise that every country has faults: But, holy Chr*st, I do not believe that any of this can be excused!!
That poor girl with 28 000 dollar medical bill... and that right there is why I laugh in the face of people who say "you DO actually pay for healthcare... since you pay so much in tax". Well, I've never gotten hit with 28 000 dollar equivalent of back taxation so... yeah. I will rather pay tax than have that happen while being ill. Jeezus on a stick. That's like kicking someone who's just broken their leg. Also, it seems to me (not that I know for sure) that paying for health insurance is pretty expensive, so I don't even see the difference of the money leaving your paycheck before you get it via tax or after, via health insurance costs. Nah. It all just seem insane to me.
I've given birth twice and had 6 surgeries. I paid for a cab to the hospital to save on parking and for cable in my room once before cell phones were allowed to be used in hospitals. That was my "bill". I'm now in a pretty high tax bracket and don't mind paying it at all because my country was so good to me when I had a lot less. It's my turn to help boost the people coming up behind me. Thanks, Canada.
Yeah, those Americans wanting to argue "u dont have free healthcare, u pay with skyhigh taxes"! They are just sooo bad faith. Coz either theyre dumb as doorknobs (with apologies to doorknobs), or they know, we means free at the point of use, paid through our taxes. And I dont remember the exact numbers, but if they add up their taxes and their healthcare insurance, theyre already paying more, than we pay in taxes, so I guess, all the other "free" things we get, like paid sick/maternity/paternity leave, pensions, university education etc etc are just extra perks! As an accountant, Ive met many ppl, who arent good with numbers and economy, and thats fine, thats why they hire me, so I can do, what Im good at, and they can do, what theyre good at. But Ive never met ppl so incapable of (and unwilling to) understand, that non-profit healthcare is cheaper than for profit healthcare, or that paying through ur taxes actually saves u money, coz then u dont have the very expensive US health insurance. Im still amazed, that the Republicans in the US are so successful maligning Medicare for All, which is a flawed plan, but theyre not doing it based on the contents. No, theyre turning ppl against it and the very principle, coz ppl actually buy into, that they will have to pay, what they are paying now, AND pay extra in taxes, so how are they going to survive such an attack on the working ppl???? Absolutely insane. I really dont understand, why ppl cant get such a simple concept. Pay a little more in taxes, save a LOT more from not needing health insurance! And yet....
One of our Sales girls "UK" came into the office on a Monday with the flu ,spread it to other sales team members and purchasing department by Wednesday they where all off bar 1!!! me and the boss had to stand in for them for for the rest of week as they all caught it he was fuming warned all staff after that if they have flu do not bring it into work stay off .
Please show Americans reacting to British modern comments like Jimmy Carr, Frankie Boyle, Mickey Flanagan. They say outrageous stuff that I'm not sure Americans could handle. It would be such fun!
My contribution : Hearing us speak French, this lady asked where we were from. Quebec... "Oh! Near Alaska, then!" We were in Boston. Well, no. Quebec is about a 5-6 hour ride from here. Alaska would take at least a week... "Well, nevertheless..." She still thinks we are in the wrong. 😀
I remember I said on a video that it was interesting to hear about another country this one American said. America is the only country that matters. I screen shotted it so if you want to see it ask.
@@laurabedford5095 in their defense, theyre still very young even in centuries, they really cant be expected to know about millenia. Would like expecting a 2y old to know, what a decade is 😉
The girl with the 28k debt for not being in network... it brought a tear to my eye, because it's caused by greed, nothing more. And it just destroys someone's happiness and freedom for decades of their life. Someone so young should be happy and carefree, not miserable and depressed.
Im 51. M father told me when I was about 10 Americans were ignorant of what goes on outside the ir own country because there was so much going on within the country people never had time to find out about what goes on outside the US. The ignorance is astounding, its like the dunce class of planet Earth.
Gripes with religion in America (Christians, obv). 1: With the Pledges of Allegiance, I live in a state in the US who has a very similar pledge as the US pledge, and mentions a singular god as well. I happen to not be a monotheist, in fact, am atheist, and thusly would exclude the part in the pledges that mention god. (Doing this I've noticed how they just plopped "under god" in the middle of nowhere where it makes no sense) A few times I've found it relevant to the conversation to mention that I don't say the "under god" part and people look at me with disappointment, confusion, and almost concern. It's relevant for this to mention that the "under god" bit was actually added later on during some war, so anyone who said that it would be hard due to culture to change it would be right, but unfairly so. 2: One time I looked up the definition of cult because I wanted to know the difference between religion and a cult (as you do), when I realized that how Christianity used to be practiced in the medieval era was like that of (the modern definition of) a cult as described by the website. One of the common traits it mentioned was that the entrance to the cult was rushed, well missionaries when founding America forced the people to join. Strictly dictating big parts of people's lives as well, and with you getting executed for heresy and making you pray so many times per day, making you go to church, and more, (also missionaries) well... and you are made to worship a group leader, well, the popes and kings were kind of a religious symbol soooo... and when I told people this, a common response was to say, "You can make it match that definition if you really want..." as though I was making a stretch and stretching what the site said to match some sort of goal. And the thing is, I was clear in saying that it wasn't modern Christianity (for the most part) that behaved this way, and the people still felt some sort of need to defend the atrocities olden Christianity committed. to be clear, I don't hate Christianity, I just acknowledge that the old practices and a few modern practices or interpretations are questionable at best.
I'm curious how many sick days companies allow on average. I need about 13-20 a year MINIMUM. I have endometriosis so I can't work once or twice every 28 days. Would I need to go to the doctor and pay for that every time ("yep, you have endometriosis and you just got your period"). How do people with chronic illnesses do that?! I'm so happy I live in the Netherlands.
The problem with a lot of companies' decisions can be drilled down to: wages, overtime, paid time off, etc. are on different ledgers than hiring costs (advertising, interviews, training) so they don't realise fully that getting a new employee up to a basic standard is more expensive than keeping a good employee. So they consider employees like they do any other expendable like toilet paper.
I did see a tv programme where a manager of a company was being interviewed and they were explaining that when recruiting, by time they weeded out those with drug and alcohol problems and those with criminal records for same , they were left with a very small and poor pool of individuals to hire so although because of this they had high staff turnover they were very keen to keep the good ones
@@theotherside8258 I understand from a liability perspective, but if someone's got a drug history and is trying to get a job, wouldn't that be a good thing? Kind of like how someone was obese, lost weight, and wants to be a fitness trainer? I dunno, I tend to see the humanity first and not the role / pecking order / popularity so maybe it's just me
@@BliffleSplick the employer is not their charity though, and i think their thinking is that addiction will drive absenteeism and desperation for money that would have to be obtained by theft
there is a fantastic video that Russell Howard (british comedian) did about the trump wall as when it was announced there was a group of rock climbers who built a replica section of it and invited anyone to climb it. youngest I think who did it was 10 years old.
Poor lady with headaches, her parents have one now with that bill. Wow . My friend went to usa with her husband at 7 months pregnant, went into labour , no insurance, cost them 39,000 plus tax for birth. In england you just pay your tax monthly , register doctors get midwife , go hospital deliver baby stay 2 days in go home , NO BILLS.
Here is some info regarding Norway: Children under the age of 16 are exempt from paying deductibles at doctors, psychologists, polyclinics (hospitals), x-ray institutes and physiotherapists, as well as for certain medicines and medical equipment on a blue prescription. For children, all dental treatment is free up to and including the year they turn 18. This applies as long as it is carried out in the public dental health service or by a dentist in private practice who has an agreement with the county council's dental health service. Orthodontics is not free. Deductibles are automatically registered both with doctors, psychologists, physiotherapists, pharmacies, X-ray institutes and with carriers. In 2021, the amount limit or deductible ceiling is NOK 2,460 ($250). When the deductible ceiling is reached (you receive a free card), ALL medical treatment is free for the rest of the calendar year. When you collect medicines and equipment on a blue prescription, you must pay a deductible if you do not have a free card. In 2022, the deductible is set at 39% of the cost, or a maximum of NOK 520 ($50) for 3 months' consumption.
It’s good to be proud of your country, and USA is great as long as you’ve got a good job and some money in the bank. Those are the people who are free to live the dream. USA still has a big economy and much power on the World stage. There are some really smart folks in the US, and Americans are usually great people. It’s just that despite everything good folks try to do to help each other, the economy is strong because of big business forcing a system onto everyone else which is based on a refusal to reach out and help the poor, the unfortunate and the disenfranchised. Those are the people who dream to live. I wish there was something that we in Europe could do to help you out sometimes.
Hmm I have considered doing one of those donation drive a truck to x place campaigns, but for some place in bumfuck nowhere USA, because you can be damn sure that there are people who can't afford nappies, or basic furniture or basic OTC medications or even have electricity or water. (the exact same conditions as the ones they send to africa or a warzone) The only thing that stops me is that those kind of people would probably rather shoot you than accept charity.
Most of our "unfortunate and the disenfranchised" are that way because that's what they wanted. No one forced them to drop out of school at 15, commit crimes, have children when they couldn't afford them. It's no shame to be born poor, it is to not even try to stop being poor and have children while still poor.
@@lamoe4175 That's what the propaganda has taught you. They absolutely were forced into the situation they are in. Anyone with a functioning heart can see that 99% of them have done the best they could with what little they could scrape together and half the time it was trying to better themselves or their family that made the situation worse. The reason poor women have more children is not that they are having morre sex than wealthy people, often the opposite, but that they don't have access to abortions or birth control, or even healthcare period. Also when a woman is beholden to a man for shelter and food, she literally cannot afford to refuse to have sex with him, because she runs the risk of losing that shelter and food, and also in many cases the man will become violent. Poor people do not take drugs that they cannot afford for fun, that is the preserve of the rich. They end up taking drugs because that is the only way to cope, to survive, to make it to tomorrow so they can try again. Except that of course is a lie, but when you are desperate you will try anything just to make tomorrow better. But of course you're free to continue to believe your corproate overlords and think that poverty is the preserve of the morrally bankrupt and that being rich means you are a paragon of virture and purity...
This was a tough one mate. I have to admit that i have argued so many times with some Americans online. They not only are ignorant of subjects but arrogant with it. They act very much like how the British once was & in some circumstances still are. That we are the top, the pinnacle of Humanity & everyone else globally are inferior. We are to blame in a way, as Americans are built on British ways on so many levels. Even the expectation that the World should know what we are saying when we speak, the great English language lol. I was about to give up believing Americans can be kind thoughtful Human beings, until i stumbled on certain American reaction channels a few years back. Your good self, Squirrel & a few others show that some Americans are truly great people! 👍🇬🇧❤🇺🇸
*shitshow xD ok lets be real its not all bad but man im VERY happy im not born there/have to live there...its litterly a thirdworldcountry with a Gucci Belt...all just bling no substance....and that thirdworl coutnry is not even exagerating the us is the only country on the planet with mroe than 5million inhabitance that has a negative liveexpectancy year over year.....(there are some island states that decline faster but thats mostly becasue the people jsut leave hence ruining the statisic and its hard to correct for that if you dont have enough datapoints)
Interesting reactions, Alan. Quite the mixed bag. I have just found here on YT "Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads" from the writers who gave us Porridge later. Despite being made in the early 1970's the comedy hold up well. It is worth a watch and as it is already on YT you shouldn't have a problem with any claims.
We get that on Merseyside....that said ,poor Kenny Dalglish was always getting booked by the Ref due to his Glasgow accent ,whereas Graham Souness did not because he had a Sean Connery/Edinburgh accent
In regards to sick pay, here in the uk it is a certain amount you will get, you won’t be given your full wage (generally anyway). So nobody is going to be taking advantage of it as you will still be worse off. It’s just nice to know that if you are genuinely sick, you won’t be penalised and will still be paid something.
Here in Denmark thats only for longterm illness. If u just have the flu or a migraine or whatever, ur off work with full pay, but the company then get compensated for 80% up to a certain amount, so 80% for all except highpaid executives and such. We regular employees wont feel anything, except if we're out for months.
@@TheEclecticBeard This is the main reason that will keep me from ever visiting the US. A country in which you will die or be in lifelong crippling debt just because you can't pay a greedy system that extorts you for a thing you had no control over.
@@AlexVardr Why travel insurance for the US for a month costs several times more than travel insurance for the rest of the world for a year. Our insurance companies literally have "travel insurance worldwide except the US" and "travel insurance worldwide including the US" and "travel insurance US". I can get covered for the rest of the world for a few euros. For the US is the price of a one way plane ticket.
Even in England with a company that broadly defined had no official limits on sick days, after 5 occasions of sickness by default you have to have a review with regards to how you can lower your absences . On my 5th sick day in 7 YEARS and I was told that as it was the 5th occasion I would still need a review.
As a Dane, Im proud, that the 2 major items, my country push for in the EU regardless of whos in our government, are workers rights and environmental regulations. Im very sad to see, that after Brexit ur government is quickly moving to remove all the rights, u got while in the EU. I hope, u manage to change government, while u still have any rights left.
@@dfuher968 agreed, but I think the Conservatives have to relearn what the British public expect. It helps that the masks are being ripped away now. I just hope that minimum number of people have to suffer in the mean time.
Honestly, you would have a much better life in Europe. And you would have had a much better life if born in Europe. I love your reaction videos, they are honest and serious.
Think it’s about time to protest in America for a better health system for everyone,why oh why can’t America have a NHS system like in the UK,I find this so disgusting that big business is made on somebody’s health and misery from insurance and medication bills.the richest country in the world ,no wonder it’s the richest it doesn’t care about it’s own people just it’s own bank balance.what a mockery from a line in your national anthem ..O’er the land of the free.should the land of vultures preying on your bad health ,I feel lucky and privileged here in the UK what we have but feel deeply sorry for all you people in America
I worked as a Customer Service Rep for a top wireless company that claims to have the best employment benefits. We earned paid leave credit for each day we worked. The credits were applied by fractions of an hour per day worked so that, a starting employee, earned about 2.5 weeks paid leave per year. The problem is that you are warned during your training that you never want to actually use up that leave time for vacations because you draw from the same pool of days off for sick days. Once you use them up, you run the risk of being fired for taking unpaid leave for being sick. There is also no way to take a sick day without using up some of your vacation time. So if you get sick 3-4 times throughout the year, you may end up not getting a vacation that year. You also have a cap on how much vacation time you can accrue. Once you hit 3 weeks of vacation time saved up, you risk disciplinary action for not using them. But you might be afraid to use too much vacation time if you have a chronic condition that can randomly flare up and make you need to take time off right after you take a vacation. Managing my vacation time was one of the most stressful parts of my job and I was a customer service rep with a mandated average call resolution time of 410 seconds or less. No matter what you needed to call customer service for, it could be the most complicated technical issue or the weirdest billing problems.
the problem of the United States is that this country was built is founded by people who fled their lands of origin because they were unsuited to the life of society at the time, then they built this country by massacring the indigenous population (the greatest genocide in human history), violence is the number one culture of this territory, so how can you be a spiritually or culturally fulfilled person when violence is so deeply rooted in your genes? fortunately this is not a general case with regard to the American people but the leaders are still as violent and murderous as their ancestors
I'm Peruvian and I have very good insurance we also have publix health care but that is a mess, I didn't have insurance before tho bcs I couldn't afford it. During my last 2 ER visits (I've been there frequently, they know me by now) that were for the same problem I got several labs, a UROTEM (cat scan of the urinary tract and kidneys), and a lower abdomen MRI, I also spent in total 10 hours in the ER, got IV meds and fluids, and then a bunch of prescriptions. I don't even want to imagine the cost of all of these in the US, but calculating my currency into yours, I paid around... 250-300 usd at the most. My insurance covered 80% of it, and it's covering 80% of my surgery this Tuesday as well. My visits were because of a possible ovarian torsion and I almost had to get emergency surgery, however my body worked itself out in the end. I just came back from the US last week, and there was this one time where I got this shooting pain in my left ovary area similar to when I had to go to the ER, and I prayed to every single entity out there for it to fix itself bcs I would literally kms before going to an ER in the USA.
You're not free in America, but you do have to be brave to live there.
Good one!
You talk as if being in the states is a virtue, people go to the states out of necessity, and that necessity is decreasing, other countries are getting better, while the States is getting worse.
No nation is truly free .
@@kylewilliams6091
Freedom is an illusion.
@@kylewilliams6091 in good countries you forsake a bit of freedom for safety, in bad countries you have neither freedom nor safety
I love how attached to reality you are. You know America has its flaws, you know its not perfect. Its rare to find an American that can admit those things.
Yeah we got some big ones to but I find it funny when other people that don't live here or even the ones that do and don't u derstand things go after the gun stuff. It's getting old and annoying when they go on about laws because ever since gun laws started those problems stopped right? The real problem isn't the innocent guy buying a gun from a gun store. It's the guy building and selling guns in his back yard. Or the ones being smuggled in. It really shows that the people high up can manipulate the uneducated populous and make more victims from the people that don't care about the law or human life while the innocent that usually carries and can end a threat and save lives no longer can because the laws say so to make us rely on the government more when we were not founded that way. What I'm getting at in the end is if you don't actually know don't talk please. People can go travel to Mexico and say it's amazing there and awesome but they never saw the cartels and bad areas you don't see in the well kept and policed vacation spot( i have never been and i am giving an example so chill haters please). That goes for every country except not many have 330 million people living there.
@@Impalaplayer my comment was aimed at Americans that disregard concrete evidence that disproves their beliefs. Theres a Jeff Daniels clip (can't remember which film/show it was from) where he sums it up. Americans are (these are just a guess) 6th best in the world at Maths, 8th at Scienec, 10th at History but 1st in the belief they can out perform any kid from any other country
@@johnnymack923 I believe your referring to this; ua-cam.com/video/bIpKfw17-yY/v-deo.html
beard is a legend in all honesty!
its not rare......you just have to find the flower among all the weeds
If kids were told that here in the US you can be the best in the world it would help. Being told that they ARE the best in the world is where it goes wrong. They go out into the world with such arrogance and entitlement and expectation of other countries being below them.
Correct.
Spot on
If Russia dropped a nuke on California the American IQ average would thus by extension immediately rise ten points
Exactly
Agree with you 100% I’m in the U.K. by the way . Great to be told you CAN be the best as then you know if you work hard and do your best you can be the best you .
I live in Leicester England and in my twenties I had a job in a large shoe retail warehouse. I basically loaded lorries with boxes of shoes and fetched the cartons from the various bays when they where running late on the picking. Not a very high paying job as you can imagine but they had performance related pay that topped up your basic wage if you met targets for that day.
One day, outside of work, I had an accident and injured my hand quite badly needing a lot of stitches and some surgery to stitch a tendon back together. Once I had been sorted out, for free obviously, I went in to see my boss and explained what had happened.
She said "Take as much time as you need to heal." I had my hand in a partial cast for 2 months so I couldn't do my job and she understood that. When my wages were paid into my bank they were paying me full wage plus top rate PRP for the whole time off and my boss regularly called to see how I was doing not to ask if I could come back to work.
I cannot imagine that this would happen anywhere in the US.
In America, you would have been fired immediately.
When I was 21 I played in a Charity football Tournament on my day off.
I broke my leg, dislocated my kneecap, tore my cruciate ligaments and did nerve damage at the same time.
Not only did I not pay a penny for the ambulance ride, x-ray, 6 hours of reconstructive surgery and months of physiotherapy.........I also kept my job and got paid sick pay for 6 months until I was able to go back to work.
I cannot imagine what state my whole life would of been in if I had lived in the USA.
I would of been severely broke or disabled within a couple of months.
It's actually scary to think about the fact that some people....in any country in the world have to actually think about the pro's and con's of getting the medical help they NEED....before they seek it.
You'd be fired in the US or if you had a doctors note (if you could afford one) your boss would be calling you daily asking when you could work again.
Holy shit, no it wouldn’t. Your medical bills would likely be covered by workers comp. Insurances through the employer but you would be receiving no pay except for possible short term disability if you applied and qualified. It would be a small fraction of your actual pay. You would be very eager to go back to work since all of your other bills would be piling up.
I had cancer, nothing too serious just removed and some radiotherapy. Work forced me to take a year off full pay to recover, not just from the medication but also mentally. Being from the UK I didn't pay a penny.
Honestly I do not think that Americans as a whole are a dumb nation or anything, but I DO think that your nation is isolated, ignorant and happy with that. I do not think that this comes from your education system but rather your culture. Your population is taught that as long as something is not directly affecting you, you shouldn't give a frick about it.
I live in Greece, and my cousins grew up in Los Angeles (their family got a green card when they were 6 and 4 respectively). My cousins not only do not know where their own home country is located, they barely speak the language (not for lack of trying on my uncle and aunt's part), but they also firmly believe that most European countries belong to the USA because "they" saved us during WW 2. Historical inaccuracy aside, while your education system does bear some blame for the way that things are, I believe that the toxic patriotism that your nation engages in is what hurts your people the most. Your people act more as a cult than a nation. You (your nation, not you specifically), praise blind following of the masses but act like trying to expand your world horizon makes you a "lame nerd" and whatnot. In my country, people who go out of their way to try to learn about the world around them (especially children) get rewarded for their efforts, not bullied to the point where they feel like they need to go and shoot up their school.
As long as people in the USA are happy to pretend that the rest of the world (or heck, even their own neighbors) does not exist, there will be further decline in both education and culture. Your nation is so deeply rooted in their belief that they're the apex of every single thing that they'll happily allow themselves to be treated like farm animals as long as they can scream "I have more freedom than you with your free education, free medicine, affordable housing and safety in the knowledge that you can go into a crowded place without fear of being shot."
I agree, I've got a bit of a similar experience, more with religion in America, however (Christians, obv).
1: With the Pledges of Allegiance, I live in a state in the US who has a very similar pledge as the US pledge, and mentions a singular god as well. I happen to not be a monotheist, in fact, am atheist, and thusly would exclude the part in the pledges that mention god. (Doing this I've noticed how they just plopped "under god" in the middle of nowhere where it makes no sense) A few times I've found it relevant to the conversation to mention that I don't say the "under god" part and people look at me with disappointment, confusion, and almost concern. It's relevant for this to mention that the "under god" bit was actually added later on during some war, so anyone who said that it would be hard due to culture to change it would be right, but unfairly so.
2: One time I looked up the definition of cult because I wanted to know the difference between religion and a cult (as you do), when I realized that how Christianity used to be practiced in the medieval era was like that of (the modern definition of) a cult as described by the website. One of the common traits it mentioned was that the entrance to the cult was rushed, well missionaries when founding America forced the people to join. Strictly dictating big parts of people's lives as well, and with you getting executed for heresy and making you pray so many times per day, making you go to church, and more, (also missionaries) well... and you are made to worship a group leader, well, the popes and kings were kind of a religious symbol soooo... and when I told people this, a common response was to say, "You can make it match that definition if you really want..." as though I was making a stretch and stretching what the site said to match some sort of goal. And the thing is, I was clear in saying that it wasn't modern Christianity (for the most part) that behaved this way, and the people still felt some sort of need to defend the atrocities olden Christianity committed.
I describe it the same way as George Carlin’s said.
“Americans will probably *remain*
will fully ignorant”
to be clear, I do not hate Christians, I just acknowledge that the old practices and few modern were/are questionable at best.
But the scariest part is that they have the most powerful army stationed all over the globe.
Like a retard with a machine gun and a box of hand grenades.
Who will save us from Trump's fascist America?
couldnt have said it better, mate.
I have a sister who lives in USA (we are from sweden) and when her kids got older in school, she got a note home "do you allow your kids to have sexual education in school" i mean, wtf is up with that? no wonder there are so many teenage pregnancys and other stuff in USA if it's not mandatory, in sweden it's mandatory in about 8th grade.
Yeah. And if you check the videos here "how girls work" etc. It is pretty clear most ppl don't get sex ed and guys don't know what a clitoris is, what are periods (one guy thought it comes from the butt etc) etc etc. Very sad.
As a German I'd never say I "love" my country. The whole concept is alien to me.
Don't get me wrong, I like my country and I'm very glad I was born in it.
If I'd been born in the US I'd be in literally millions of debts in medical bills at 31 now.
The whole idea of being "the greatest country" just seems very immature and narcisstic to me. It's not a thing an actual adult would say over here, unless they are kind of a nazi.
I don't hate the US, but that aspect of their culture is just weird to me.
Yep, the whole concept of loving your country, despite how horrible it is, is like telling someone they need to keep loving their partner even if they are abusive... To my mind, this is as toxic as thinking America is the greatest.
From about the age of 5 years old. Every day at school until we are 18. We place our hands on your hearts in unison and pledge our allegiance to our flag.
Conditioning
Careful who you apply that term to. I'm pretty sure Your country is the one responsible for starting the two worst wars ever inflicted on humanity
The best answer to that came from a former German President (and yes, Germany has a President as the highest representative, not the Chancellor who is the head of government) - when he was asked if he would love the country he was President of, he just answered : 'i love my wife!'
my 2 cents:
being told and believing you live in the best country remove any need to try to improve it
acknowledging, that there are problems is a crucial step in fixing them
also saying to be the best country in the world, and then comparing to some of the poorest / worst countries to justify that doesn't help either
Fair point! I can observe the same complacency over here in the UK. People think the UK far to good.
Every American who has argued with a European about healthcare or gun control really doesn't realise how much better healthcare is in the rest of the Western world. And how the solution to school shootings is less guns, and less teaching kids than guns are a solution to a problem.
There are many things wrong with America, but the single biggest problem is that it's the only country in the world whose citizens (any at all) believe that they live in the greatest country in the world. Most of the other problems stem from that belief - like believing it's the only country with "freedom", or that state-provided healthcare is communism, or that wanting paid time off is being work-shy, or...etc.
None of that would be possible without convincing a large portion of the population that those basic human rights aren't necessary in The Greatest Country In The World.
America has more in common with North Korea than it does with Europe...
Our government, media, and entertainment industry are not without blame for the indoctrination. It has been done for so long, there are generations of people who been denied factual information on US history and the countries around the globe. They are ignorant victims of culture. Some of our culture poo-poos being smart/educated and that school sucks, working sucks, and learning outside of "what they force you to study at school" is just plain crazy or weird. That's changing due to millennials and their connectivity to the internet. Thankfully educational content is thriving there.
Most countries have people who think theirs is the best in the world, they are just a lot more obvious in the US.
Freedom of speech and freedom to buy and keep guns are intoxicating. Not something that people who dont have them really understand
@@nickburns8096 Freedom of Speech is not unique to the US, most developed countries have it. Also, there are millions of guns legally owned in the UK for example, but the numbers of mass shootings that happen there are miniscule, like one a decade or less. The US issue is the numbers and types of guns that are permitted to the general public, some of which falls into criminals hands but many gun crimes are instigated by people with no prior records.
The girl with cluster headache really hit me. I live in Spain and I suffer from chronic cluster headaches myself, and every time I start to get them, which happens usually once a year, I go to my neurologist, get my prescription and pay around 7 euros. So I just cannot fathom what the hell could they have done to her that would cost $34.000? That's the price of a high end car.
that hit me really hard, too. The realization that she just put herself and her family in huge debt (I never had that much of debt in my life) must have been the worst feeling and I‘m so sorry for her :(
200 for the whole thing and 33.800 for cleaning the room I guess...
Jokes aside, I have no idea where these numbers come from.
I got 2 things to add to the girls story:
1) at that point, it would literally be cheaper to book a flight, visit a hospital in europe and fly back the next day than going to a hospital in the USA
2) I got 2 friends (brothers) who both suffer from the same illness. Medication, which is lifesaving for them, costs 25 000 a month. I've known them now for 20 years and they bought them every month for every year and will continue to have to have them. Here in europe this costs then next to nothing (i believe its like 200 bucks per month or so) but imagine them being american citicens!?!?!!!
ER visits are supposed to be paid the same as in network. She might want to contact her state's insurance board on that bill.
@@katherinelotz2693 she def should. Although the Houston Chronicle put out an article that stated that ERs may charge for the visit as in network but if they have any individual technician or Dr does not belong to the network they will bill separately. These instances have increased since hospital networks are outsourcing their office management for the ERs.
I'm in Britain. When I had cancer I was told the radiotherapy was not covered by national insurance because they don't normally do it for tumours like mine. However the doctors were willing to do it anyway because they knew it would work and might use it as evidence that it should be funded. The hospital took on the cost, not me.
Also during that time I dealt with various specialists and medical professionals. I never had to worry that anyone was "out of network." I got the best care available with no hidden costs. I paid nothing but my usual taxes.
That´s amazing and really nice of the hospital! Greetings and best wishes to you from Germany!
I'm an Italian living in the UK and from the first day I was in this country I was covered by the NHS. At the beginning, I was covered thanks to the health care system of my own country, which had accords going on with the UK, and afterwards I was covered as a foreigner living, working (and paying taxes) in the UK
In the span of 7 years, I had visits with the local GP, I had medical exams at the county hospital, I had an ambulance taking me from the location of a car accident to the hospital and then a 5-days stay at the hospital plus surgery and physiotherapy without paying a single pound.
@@DarkarThanBlack Admin is the only one who gives a damn about "costs" doctors, nurses, and even assistant staff like RTs don't give a damn what things cost. What is important is that it helps you get better. they'll figure out the other shit later...and how to make it cheaper. Some hospitals have entire departments dedicated to arguing with insurance
Get ready to kiss the NHS goodbye....there has been talk for years of it being privatised and it WILL HAPPEN , its a case of when not if.
@@silverscalederg8632 In the UK insurance is far cheaper if you go private than the USA, because you can compete with free (lowering wait times, for example) but you better be DAMN good if you do, no American style scam is going to get you anywhere but on Watchdog and a visit by the Ombudsman.
i was born and raised in Romania ( Eastern Europe ) and one of my favorite "murican" moments was when a gaming friend of mine started to explain to me the differences between communism and fascism !!!
edit: a little known fact about Romania ... during ww2, within a 6month period, our capital got bombed by the soviets ( communists ) , by the nazis ( fascists) and by the allies (democrats ) ... everyone bombed us :))
Yeah, also Romanian (daca nu era evident dupa nume). It does annoy me when most American friends or work acquaintances of mine insists they are some kind of an expert on communism....doesn't matter what real stories about my parents, grandparents etc I tell them they still insist its' not really that.
@@Minimoshu zic in ro, ca nu vreau sa se simta astia jigniti :P ... dar pe mine ma seaca rau cand ii mai apuca comparatiile cu diferite 'grupuri' d-ale lor, ca aia de stanga , liberalii, aia cu vietile negre , etc etc se comporta precum comunistii sau fascistii ... si tot felul de comparatii din-astea unde incep deja sa simt cum pierd neuroni !!
in schimb as plati bani buni, adica in loc sa iau bilet la finala cupei mondiale de fotbal, dau banii aia sa-i vad pe ei obligati sa stea la coada de la 3-4 dimineata, in iernile alea frumoase ale noastre cand sunt -20 si viscol ca sa iei ulei, faina, sau vata pentru acea perioada a femeilor ca nu existau tampoane ... !!
Us people from Eastern Europe (I'm Polish) can say about communism something none American can: been there, done that, doesn't work.
@@rusenescualin3739 Dap....lasand la o parte nebunia cu Trump si extremismul religios pentru care intr-adevar nu as putea vota 80% din republicanii moderni, cand ma intreaba cineva si realizeaza ca sunt de dreapta, vai doamne...si nu inteleg cum pot sa fiu liberal si de dreapta. Mda, ma doar un pic capul :) (ca sa nu mai zic daca incerc sa comentez despre istorie si sa explic ca pana acu 60 de ani republicanii erau tot de dreapta, dar ei erau liberalii americani)
@@Mordring Yup, as americans might say, "we gave it a fair shake"...for 50 years, and many of us lost our lives. Human nature doesn't change, one great communist experiment is more than enough.
It's a good job you're open minded and don't get offended too much by these,... A lot of Americans would be 👍
A lot of Americans are conditioned to see the truth as propaganda. I've seen one American admit that free healthcare was a great idea, then think about it and say "but it's communism, nothing free is worth having there has to be some sort of catch" then asked if they'd take a free treatment if needed they said no, they'd rather pay.
@@helvete983 It's not Communism. You have to pay for treatment in Communist China, and Post-Soviet Russia. Also Communist treatments were dodgy stuff that had more of a chance of killing the patient (bacteriophage virus treatments instead of antibiotics, for example.) The NHS is a lot of things but I can say that it isn't Communist. Also they'd be shocked at how little private health insurance costs in any country that has it compared to the USA.
I wouldn’t say that. That’s based on a stereotype. I think more than half of Americans would find this true and funny.
The reason it hurts so much is because you love your country, it hurts to see something/someone you love fail at the basic stuff.
Ngl the girl with the cluster headaches got me. Between Christmas and New year I went into hospital with what my doctor thought at the time was a brain tumor. I had a scan and thankfully it wasn't, it was Just an unfortunate combo of cluster headaches and vertigo. If her 38k bill just for cluster headaches I hate to know what mine would of been for the scan plus all the other tests to figure out what was actually happening. Out of hand costs for all that was £5.70, and that was just for the hospital carpark
A few years ago I went to see my consultant endocrinologist for a thyroid check. No idea how much that would have cost in the US. Anyway, because my thyroid caused a heart problem I'm on anti-coagulants and they gave me a nosebleed on my way to the hospital so when I saw the consultant, or rather when she saw me, she phoned a friend in ENT and that second consultant saw me straightaway. They tried to fix the bleed but couldn't so I was admitted. Four days and minor surgery from a third consultant later, not to mention an operating theatre, an anaesthetist, a team of nurses, a bed on a side ward, and multiple drugs, I was sent home. And yes, even in the UK's free at the point of delivery NHS I was terrified about the bill. But it was fine - the first nurse I'd seen after being admitted had called security and my parking charges were waived. Phew, worries over. The idea that I might be charged for the actual healthcare had never occurred to me. 🤣🤣🤣
I actually said, "holy s**t!" out loud when she revealed the cost. Unimaginable.
How on Earth do people pay for it?? I mean, it must be a monthly repayment in a lot of cases but what if you can't afford THAT? Does their house get repossessed?? like... what happens?
And presumably you spend the rest of your life hoping you don't fall ill or need the ER again.
@@carolineb3527 keep well and safe, Caroline, Mrs C and I owe our lives to the NHS when young, both trained and clocked up 90 years between us..
I would rather pay it myself than make others that might never even go to the hospital like myself pay it through taxes
@@Impalaplayer might never go to the hospital like me 😂😂😂😂
Keep dreaming superman!
So glad I’m a U.K. citizen,
I’m 68 years old and luckily have kept good health most of my life but I’ve never had to stress myself out about medical bills if ever I needed medical attention.
Seconded...I owe my life to the NHS...I then worked 44 years in the NHS,
@@eamonnclabby7067 things might not be perfect in the U.K. but we’ve a lot to be grateful for.
@@OLLI-ln7kp true...
My mother worked for 30 years in the NHS, and I would not be alive now without it.
In the USA the accident I had at 12 that permanently damaged my spine would have made me ineligable for pretty much all insurance. And if you add in everything else; type 1 diabetes, asthma, eczema, PCOS and Autism, then I would probably have just died because even with help I have severe anxiety and suicidal depression.
America is a beautiful country full of amazing people with great ideals but you’ve all been conditioned to believe that you’re the freest and greatest so they can strip away your right without being challenged. Too many things being used to make profit like medical treatment, medication, education and prisons. Even employers able to treat staff like slaves to increase their profit margin.
U mean usa America is the continent
i saw somewhere that when a lady gives birth, if the mother wants to hold it straight away that theres a charge... like WTF
@@arky3000 yeah... Skin to skin contact is like $40....
@@kajixp yes in usa not in America cause like i said previously America is the continent and so it includes Canada and there are no fee’s like that in Canada.
@@Whitewolf1827 colloquially used , America has and only been associated with the USA!! You even bastardise it into "merica"!!
Whenever I see the medical bill stories I
I'm in Canada, and the "price" I've paid for 6 surgeries is the cab to the hospital, and to have cable in my room while I recuperated.
I've had to pay for dental, too, but that's about to be added to our universal healthcare. They're working on covering prescriptions too. I'll gladly pay more taxes if I have to.
I also used to work for a company that administered benefits to U.S employees. I heard 2-3 stories a day from desperate people that made me cry. Like the baby with type 1 diabetes who was covered by 3 different insurances and none of them wanted to pay for insulin for over a week. Or the guy who called and asked if there was automatic coverage for spouses... he cried his heart out on the phone when I said yes because his wife had more than 5 million in treatment and couldn't get coverage anywhere else.
I spent an entire 8 hour shift on the phone helping a women who was out of anti-rejection meds after a heart transplant; she hadn't taken one in 3 days. I had to pull rank on behalf of the company and make one of the insurers pay.
I won't even visit the U.S on a day trip because of it. I have to have pristine credit to keep my job and having a 100k+ hospital bill could ruin me.
Why do so many Americans put the Canadian flag on their packs 😂😔
I have to say Eclectic, for someone not from England your English is really good! Where did you learn it?
😂😂
My English is reasonable for an Irish scouser...
To be fair it must be tough to take when you finally realise that whenever an american walks into a room anywhere in the world everyone rolls their eyes and groans
I agree, you should love your country. Otherwise you're living in the wrong country for you. We do have problems in Denmark as well, no country is perfect, but tbh, when I see videos like this I appreciate my own country even more. I have extended family in the US (on both sides of your political "spectrum") and from what I hear and see through them and the media - geez, y'all got some serious problems! Guns, prison system, social safety net, health care, education, violence, corruption,... Let's just say that I'm never going to visit my relatives because I'd honestly be scared to death to go there. 😟
I agree. I never want to visit the US now. Sad, because I used to quite fancy a visit, but that's over now!🇬🇧
@@alimar0604 It's good. Friendly folk.... nice weather, interesting wildlife. Place is massive. A bit pricey in the tourist spots. I did get asked what state I was from though and got a funny look when I said Merseyside, England.
@@flogjam yeah but the corrupt cops, violence and health care are the biggest don't gos to me. I don't want to get ducked up bc of an honest accident which might happen to anyone but then I'll be in prison for 1000 years.
America is an okay place to visit. I think it is worth a visit to see the natural beauties it has to offer. Maybe visit for the entertainment and stuff in NYC, Vegas, Orlando, or LA.
The main issues with the US are the ones that the people living here long term deal with. I'd assume tourists won't be spending time in schools. You'll be in heavily protected places due to the tourist nature of it, and you're less likely to have a medical emergency. You'll also not be working there, so most of the shitty things about the US are likely never going to happen to you.
While I understand all this bad news about the US is scary, if you stay a week or two, there is an extremely small chance that the traumatic things would just happen to align with your stay.
I'm a Canadian and have been to the USA many times. It's a nice place to visit, but I wouldn't go there without travel health insurance. In the USA, people go bankrupt just for getting sick.
Americans say they're patriotic, but there's a big difference between being proud and being chauvinistic.
Despite what you say Alan, health and education are absolutely the responsibility of government. American people are no different from those in other countries. The difference is the US sees it's population as an economic resource to be exploited whist the rest of us consider education and quality of life more important than wealth. Historically we made the same mistakes but learned from them. The US chooses not to listen to or take advantage of 'foreign' wisdom so is destined to make the same mistakes. Give it another century or two.
When I worked in the states I had a team that i was managing. One day one of my team comes in and she is full of flu i mean like you can see her eyes are full of water her nose was bright than rodolf and she was hacking and sneezing all over the place. After about 20 minutes of her arriving I just go over to her desk and say go home rest up come back when your better. She instantly starts crying and saying i need this job. I didnt say i was firing you i said go home get better I dont want flu am sure the rest of the team doesnt want it go home. At this point shes ugly crying and i realise back in the UK you tell an employee to go home because there sick the chairs spinning because they know they arent losing pay and its illegal to fire them. Vs the US were apprently its common. I said do not worry about it put your out of office on I ll make sure you get paid just go home. She was the best worker in the department after that. I hope shes still doing well. I got to experience living and working in the states but i feel really lucky i was able to say to my company I want to come home now I did you a favour i took over an under performing team and turned it round taught them how we do the same tasks in the UK and developed a hybrid system that works to the way our US office can deliever.
America suffers from national narcissism and isolationism.
If a country is taught, almost brainwashed, into thinking it is the greatest place on earth, there is no reason to change. Nobody can do better, so whatever anyone else does, if America isn't doing it, it isn't worth doing. This stems from the post-war times, where America turned its war factories into consumer goods factory and became an economic superpower. At the same time, America was focussed only on America, in all segments of life, especially education. Couple that with a phobia of everything that isn't hypercapitalist and you have a people that willingly ignore better options if it wasn't their idea to begin with.
The comments I've got from America how I am jealous of it, which couldn't be further from the truth, or how everything is immediately communism and therefore evil. It's childish and painful. I've met many Americans and they're usually great people, but almost all suffered from this. Most unknowingly and unwillingly.
A good example is the Pledge of Allegiance. This is usually done in dictatorships, not democracies because it is extremely nationalistic. The worst part is, it was an idea from a company in the 60's to sell more flags. Call it patriotism and they sell like hotcakes. The anthem before even single game, no matter how minor, is obsessive almost. Calling national sports series World Cups or Series, while no other country participates is very telling. Australia has their own version of rugby, but they don't call their championship a World Series because it isn't.
Much of the history Americans get in school is simply not true. WW2 wasn't won by America, but the Allies, although the Brits, Canadians and others hardly get any credit. In the Pacific, there were many Australian and other Commonwealth soldiers fighting the Japanese. Many inventions Americans think are theirs, aren't, like the computer, which IBM got from the British government out of Bletchly Park, where Alan Turin developed it to break the Enigma code. The Puritans didn't flee Britain from religious prosecution to the US, but the Netherlands, where they voluntarily left for the US because it had too much religious freedom. They didn't land at Plymouth Rock either, but a long way north. The rock with the date is also not where they landed.
America lacks proper education and has a cult of ignorance, where not knowing anything is seen as an achievement because you're a "free" thinker. Education is a ploy from the deep state according to way too many Americans.
It is kind of sad how a country that had such an impact on the world has become a circus.
So well said. Sadly, I have the very same experiences.
Free thinker, even in the US, used to just mean Atheist, mainly. I fucking hate how it has become to mean "Sovereign citizen."
@@micmac274 True. People think they are "free thinkers" when they rally against everything that goes against their perceived rights or limited understanding of the world. Terms like that get hijacked by people in a vain attempt to remove themselves from the laughable lunacy that is the sovereign citizen bullshit.
Only in America did free thinker mean atheist. Europe (and everywhere else from what I know) free thinker means someone who is open minded, can think past the regular ideas in society and is looking for ways to progress society. Atheist are often like that, but they're not the same thing.
Having your channel gives you instant access to the point of view of many people from many country's, which helps to show you the truth about the world and America, I think many people live in ignorant bliss in the u,s, your right about there not being a perfect country but I do think many Americans have suffered because of the greed of big business and politicians, that being said, if you were to tell your fellow Americans that they've not got it quite as good as they believe they do, they'd probably have a go at you and call you crazy? Love your channel Alan, keep on expanding your knowledge of the world, it's a big place!
I had the Scandinavia/Canada confusion also from a Chinese-American girl in NYC. She was dissapointed I didn't have blue eyes and blonde hair like she expected Canadians like me to have. Another time, I presented my Canadian passport at a bank in Brooklyn to get a bank account. The teller refused, telling me ''U.S. PASSPORT!'' and after my explanation failed to obtain my new account, I had to travel to Manhattan to find a branch (of the same bank mind you) where they appreciated a customer who was unwilling to forge an American passport and finally accepted my existing ID to open an account. Sometimes the longest trip in the world is from Brooklyn to New York as they say.
But Americans can have guns. And that seems to keep them happy.
Goes well with their 18th century Wild West mentality.
Well, it makes the men more manly. Good gawd. Since moving to Canada 30 years ago from the states I've learned that no one here gives a damn about guns and no one talks about it. Plus, we're not talking about gay people, black people, abortion, trans gender people and what ever other nonsense Americans get tied up in knots about on a daily basis. Canadians just live and let live and we have peace. As is the case in many other countries.
My heart went out for that poor girl, $28K in debt, because the ER wasn't in the network, like WTF, as a Canadian that's mind blowing, or that poor young man who's first thought was his boss.
Heard Liz Chaney say in her after defeat speech that America is the oldest democracy. Are you serious??? The oldest operating parliament in the world is the Viking Tynwald and your country is only just over 200 years old. Even the Brit version was founded in 1801 and you didn't finish your civil war until 1865. Americans, as you say, really need to check stuff out on Google before they go making fools of themselves.
Yeah just what we need, Americans editing Wikipedia because Google was wrong!
Yeah, I laugh about that "oldest democracy in the world" line every time, and they use it a LOT. Even if they mean oldest still existing democracy, they arent even close. Women couldnt vote until 1920. Black ppl couldnt vote until the mid 1960s. They werent a democracy until less than 60 years ago, and that was never even a real democracy with popular vote. And theyve been backsliding ever since with escalating speed. The last few years, theyve been downgraded from "democracy" to "flawed democracy". Technically still a democracy, but certainly not the best democracy in the world, which Americans also use a lot, and never even close to the oldest.
Hey bud check out Rick Mercer "talking to Americans" was a prime time special in Canada in the 90s where he basically would say outlandish things to Americans who accepted it at face value. Got a member of your govt to congratulate Canada on it's new national capital - a replica of the white house made of ice. In hindsight it was kind of mean spirited and fed into the Canadian sense of superiority -- but you might get some mileage out of it.
I went to hospital for cluster headaches. In Australia not having healthcare means I couldn't chose my doctor which was cool because after being assessed by 25 doctors one of them worked out what was wrong. It cost me nothing. One of my mates was in the next hospital room for cold sores. His doctor put him in hospital so he could get free antiviral medication without having to pay over $100 per tablet. My mother spent over a week in hospital when she was dying and it cost me $12.
I am (compared to average income) upper middle class, and spend 1/3 of my income on health insurance. When my wife had to spend 13 days in ICU, I was billed $620K, before my insurance paid most of it. Every day, there are multiple people shot by strangers, and multiple home invasions in my city. I have repelled all of my own invaders with loaded weapons. I always answer my door with a loaded gun slightly concealed behind my half-opened door. When I go shopping I ALWAYS carry concealed, and focus on situational awareness. I live in Phoenix. I am intensely aware that this is not normal.
well so since you say you read the comments here my story on why usa isnt great.
I was born in Mexico TJ, adopted and lived in usa during my time my parents were trying to get me a green card, i was brought in due to being adopted but wasnt granted a green card.
My parents not rich but not poor so we did everything legal and fastest way we could to get my status, took me 20 years and 4 lawyers and 10s of thousands of dollars for me to get my green card.
I finally was able to get a job and was working hard, one day 3 black cars came and picked me up and it was immigration, they said they needed to talk to me and ask questions why i was in usa all this time and just finally got my green card status, they cuffed me and took me to a federal prison, i served 5 years fighting my case that they spent more time stalling then trying to hear my story.
After i finally won they kept sending ICE agents to my home to "search" for stuff and it was mainly to just harass me, i finally gave up and had to quit my job and i left back to Mexico.
the greatest country? no not even close, my story is sad and guess what? this happens often so many immigrants are treated like this, there a reason why you dont hear much of this is due to if anyone says anything they get deported or go "missing"
a lot of dark and horrible things go on behind closed doors in usa.
Born and raised Dutch here: I had emergency surgery in 2016 on a Sunday(necrotic gallbladder) and had to stay multiple nights. One of my first thoughts was to notify my work. Not because I was worried I would get fired, but so they wouldn’t worry about me for not showing up on Monday.
It takes a brave person to listen too and possibly accept criticism of a country they love. Love the channel.
the story about the young lady getting a medical dept of 30 000 dollars is absolutly insane... in my country (france) if you go to the emergency whatever test they are doing to you from the most simple to the most expensive you only pay like 20 euros (its about 25 dollars i think) and get refund later...
It's crazy, 1 year worth of a salary for 1 visit.... This is what happens when healthcare is privatized
This is Peter's wife speaking. I was pretty healthy until I was in my forties. I gave birth in 1985. Both our son and I had some complications and ended up spending a week in the hospital, with the baby in the NICU for almost all of that time. Since then, I have had three major surgeries, with varying time spent in the hospital afterward. Several years ago, I nearly died from complications of a chronic condition. As we live in a small, isolated community, I was flown to the nearest city and spent nearly two weeks in a hospital there. I was on intravenous antibiotics, as well as several other medications and was seen by a bewildering array of specialists, as well as having a biopsy. For all of this, I have paid nothing, except for a small monthly insurance payment, which was done away with by the provincial government a few years ago. We don't even pay for parking at our local hospital. Canadian health care has its problems, but I'm damned grateful for it.
The fact that you put yourself through all these vids Alan, you have my respect. but also my deepest sympathy because of the things we have seen and heard 🙂.. i mean most of the developed western world, knows that America isnt the greatest Country in the world, and have known that for decades. the problem is, that alot of ( certain)americans still today hang on to that , even if you have access to the total sum of all knowledge at the tip of your fingers. You have some great stuff, you HAVE done some great stuff... but the big issue is, the difference from that, to the insanely ( sry) stupid things you do and have done, is just.... sigh
30 grand Bill for a cooking headache! OMG!!! What's the point of even having health insurance? It seems that it either doesn't cover you for whatever your ailment or only covers you for a tiny amount of the bill, they wriggle out of paying it and shove it onto you at every opportunity, disgusting! I can't get my head around what possible treatment they could have given to her in one afternoon in the ER? Wtf, why haven't Americans revolted over this yet? Wow!
That is true
For any Americans reading this.
I HAVE A NEARLY FULL PACKET OF HEADACHE TABLETS FOR SALE FOR ONLY US$10000.
She went to the wrong facility and used one not covered in her parents plan otherwise the cost would be a lot less.
Not excusing the fked up system but you need to check things like that.
A CT scan which she almost certainly would have had costs around 8k and sometimes more. The system is designed to milk as much money out of the patient so I'm betting they gave her every test they could think of.
Stuart, the Americans havent revolted, coz theyre the best country in the world! No matter, how bad they have it, they feel better for knowing, that the rest of us have it much worse.
Seriously, the American ppl has to be kept insulated from and ignorant of the outside world, coz otherwise they would never accept as normal so many things, that the rest of us find unacceptable. From their awful healthcare, that will bankrupt them in the blink of an eye, to polluted water and air, to eating "food" full of toxins and pesticides, to having overpriced antiquated power grids, that break down constantly, to being paid slave wages and having zero rights as a worker etc etc etc.
@@helvete983 I had no idea CT scans were so expensive. About a decade ago I went to the ER with a head injury. About half an hour after they stitched it up and gave me a tetanus shot, they did a CT scan to check for skull fracture. The only part that cost me anything was the ambulance ride, and it was only $45. I'm glad I live in Canada.
I really like your video choices and the comments
It's so strange to me that people can't seem to understand that you can and as far as I'm concerned should be able to criticize the things you love. It goes for family, loved ones and yes, also one's country. Wanting something you love to do or be better should be a normal thing.
It's actually baffling to think that anyone has to actually think about getting medical help when they need it.
When I was 21 I had a massive sports injury. Broken leg, dislocated knee, torn ligaments and nerve damage. I had an ambulance ride, xrays, 6 hours of surgery, pain relief for a couple of months, knee brace and 3 physio appointments per week for 6 months. I got paid sick pay the whole time I was off and it didnt cost me a thing.
If I lived in the USA I would of had to choose between incurring huge debt or being disabled. I cannot possibly see how anyone can find that acceptable.
I'm west coast Canadian and a bunch of us were in Atlanta. We went out for dinner and noticing our accents the restaurant owner asked where we were from. He asked how we could live in such a cold country and we tried to explain it is not that cold. He said he watched the national US news and Chicago would be 75 but Toronto was only 22. We tried to explain the Celsius temperature scale. He bought our dinners and drinks ... lol.
7:27 In his defense I think maybe the guy found it noticeable that "being raped" is actually the first thing that comes to her mind / her instinctive reaction. Maybe because it happens so often in the US / the hit triggered some past experience / it's one of her fears!? Either way it's disturbing. In other countries where rape is (extremely) rare the person may have instinctively yelled "I'm being attacked by a snake!" because there, those are in the front of people's mind.
The sweet girl with the cluster headache was heartwrenching 🥺 it's inhumane to do that to people...tens of thousands for a headache... it's a way to create debt slavery...you have to keep working and accepting the conditions at work because you have to pay a massive debt.
The sick leave thing. I was a restaurant manager in the UK and got what I thought was a stomach bug so went off sick, after many tests it turns out my stomach acid is too strong and tries to burn holes in my stomach (easily controlled now I know luckily). Was on paid sick leave for a whole month while the doctors prodded me with no problems and I had to get a note from the doctor saying I was fit before returning to work (most companies would just take your word in most cases). Also if the employer had made me work they could have received large fines for making a food handler go near food while ill with a stomach/digestive issue as well as their restaurant being shut down while the health department investigated. Also just about all the jobs I've ever worked would send you home if you came in with cold/flu because as you say you have to be nuts for your whole staff to potentially get sick.
You are right, American's problems will never be fixed until you set the education system right. Like a lot of things in America the education system keeps you ignorant as to what the world is really like, so you don't ask questions, the food makes you fat and lethargic, but the huge portions make you feel full and content, so you don't ask questions, you guys work so hard without any time off, so you don't get time to.ask questions.
Basically for your whole lives you are kept from finding out the truth, and the truth is that Americans are for want of a better word robots or modern day slaves.
Channels like yours highlight America's problems, problems that should be taught from a young age, only then can Americans break free from this vicious circle that they find themselves in.
America is run by corrupt rich old men who only have interest in lobbying and lining their own pockets and don't concern themselves with the future generations, this is why education is so important.
If nothing changes things can only get worse and your future may see Margorie Taylor Greene as your first female President
Totally agree💚💛💯🇦🇺
Also the American education system is so far behind, literally kids who have been moved abroad by their parents relocating find the UK schools are teaching things 3-4 years ahead of what their age is taught in the US. So a school leaver in the US is leaving at 18 with the education of a 14 year old.
@@helvete983 And thats if they even graduate. The drop out rate over there is much higher than here in Europe.
@@dfuher968 as English I don't really understand the term graduate. We here go to senior school, take final exams where we either fail or pass each subject as a different % grade. Then we go to work or university, whatever. We never graduate, we just leave and don't go to school any more
@@helvete983 This what one of my English teachers told me many years ago in Ireland. He also said that the education level picks up at uni level in the US.
I think there is a problem with being proud of one's country, contrary to what you said.
Having an affinity with your country, a sense of belonging, a nostalgia for it. Sure, nothing wrong with that. In fact I think those are good things! But feeling proud of it means you have to somehow think it's inherently good, in a special way that other countries aren't. And that is maybe the thing that holds the USA back. It's very strange to see the reverence with which USA-ians hold their constitution (a bit of paper from the old days), the founding fathers (some random dudes in some other time and place), the origin myths of "the land of the free" or "manifest destiny" and what have you.
The attitude to those things really seems to take on a sort of quasi-religious awe a lot of the time. So that if you say (for instance) "Why don't we at least re-think our approach to guns?" the answer is that you can't touch this constitutional amendment because it has some of magical properties. It's not just some old bit of paper, it's "The Constitution". And this is the USA. And the USA is special and best and chosen by god. And... you get the picture. (And it's not to say that people in other countries don't ever assign a sort of magical reverence to their own creation myths, but it seems particularly strong in the USA, and really genuinely heartfelt in a way that it isn't necessarily in other places.)
I think the USA would get on a lot better if (like most people in most other countries) there was much more of a sense that the country you live in is just a country. Like all the other countries. And the way your country works is a compromise of a load of weird historical anomalies and happenstance. And you can change the bits you want, or keep the bits you want. And none of it is special or sacred.
Funnily enough, I would say that realising that would be real freedom!
And every other country is different in its own way, but they are in the same position of being just a country that isn't special or magical. So sure, feel a sense of kinship, of belonging with your own country and the society you grew up in (it would be hard not to!), but don't be proud of it. Because pride means you have to think it is uniquely better: that it has something special about it that other countries couldn't possibly have.
This is very well articulated, good stuff
Having pride in your country doesn't equate to meaning you think it is uniquely better. Although I think that thinking this country is uniquely better is something that is an issue here because that mindset takes loving this country into something more akin to blind patriotism which lends itself a dangerous form of nationalism. You can have pride in your country while acknowledging the issues it has. I see it A TON in the comments section of these videos. A ton of people acknowledge their countries aren't perfect but are proud of living there and thankful for it.
@@TheEclecticBeard Good point well made,sir, Mrs C and I feel similar, despite being heartily fed up with the antics of politicians on both sides of the pond ( and some minor so called Royal hangers on) , A very creditable thread asking questions we should always ask ourselves....off to watch Chicago med, fire and PD...its what us former first Responders do...E
Amendments can be amended, so I don't understand this reverence over "the constitution" and people treating it like it's set in stone forever.
The Constitution is so highly regarded, protected and adhered to because of what it was designed to do. Which is to prevent or at least slow down the acquisition of the country by tyranical leaders, such as puppets of the then British Crown and later Soviet Union, or from internal takeover and so forth.
The First Amendment prevents or at least makes it harder for a would-be tyrant to silence those who would speak out about their crimes and corrupt actions. The Second ensures, or at least bolsters the citizenry against attempts at disarmament by tyrants looking to forcibly seize power through military might, and so on. The Amendment is a unique provision few other countries have against tyranny by allowing and empowering regular people to be able to act readily and swiftly.
So, what you're saying is... that the love for the country you feel is actually the social coherence and the people (not the idiots) in that coherence. In the end I too am used to - and have difficulty with leaving - this specific piece of Earth-dirt called The Netherlands.
A couple of years (!) ago I read this quote about America being it "the most developed Third World country". I watch your channel and others too, for example the American expats who live in the Netherlands in order to keep myself aware of the Dutch peculiarities. In doing so I keep getting reminded of the fact that animals lives - at times - seem to have a higher value than humans...
America is an odd country to be very diplomatic about it.
I'm British and I was once in a bar in San Antonio. I was chatting to one of the locals and he said "You're foreign, aren't you?" I replied "No. I'm British."
I left the bar with a confused look on a Texans face.
Love it!😹😹
I always say, you can love your team While also admitting that it has flaws that need to be dealt with
As a Tranmere Rovers fan I heartily agree....
$28.000 for a medical bill. Holy shit. I'm lost for words. Living in Wales I find that almost impossible to believe and certainly frightening
Mad respect that you keep watching these videos, dude. Its always nice to see a stereotype be proven wrong.
Before WW2 health insurance was not for profit. Plus the education system was not over priced either. Now it is so different.
The cluster headache one makes me more and more glad we have the NHS. It may not be perfect but it is better than the alternative.
The NHS is shit, it is the second worst developed health system after the USA.
It spunks money like there os no tomorrow and is bloated and inefficient.
Which is why the Tories must be stopped.
@@baronmeduse Grow up. The NHS isn't shit because of the Tories.
@@sandersson2813 I'm already grown-up and I know that it is precisely getting shitter because of the Tories and has been under fire from day one. Of course, since New Labour adopted the same approach of monetarist ecinomics it hasn't helped, but the approach is that of the Tories. You don't get an NHS ethos and a committment to monetarism, that can't work.
@@baronmeduse
it has nothing to do with that.
The NHS gets more money per head than Australia but is WORSE.
It's also worth noting that the NHS is devolved in Scotland and Wales to SNP and Labour respectively and it's still fucking shit.
How is it Germany can have 16 million MORE people in its population, but FEWER people working for their health service but at the same time have a better patient to doctor ratio? What are all these wankers in the NHS doing? 70k for diversity officers? Come on.
The problem with the NHS is not government's, it's the fucked up administration of it. Did you know 50% of the budget is NON CLINICAL?
By the way, if the NHS was as good a model as you think it is, why have no other countries copied it?
I'd much rather have a Dutch, German, French or Swedish model instead of constantly having the left wank over the NHS as if it's an untouchable sacred cow.
I feel your pain and compassion on a basic human level and I've got nothing but respect & love for you, Alan. 🙇♂🙏
I felt sad for that girl that cried because of her ER bill, Me and my family also spent that amount, but that was for the ER, emergency surgery, admission to the ICU (twice) dialysis, another round of surgery, while being under the care of 5 medical specialists and a 3 month stay at the hospital. But we do follow the American way of sick days... you're only allowed to be sick for a maximum of 7 days in a year.
You should compare food ingredient labels from USA and other countries. See the lack of sugar and colourants and stuff.
I loved living in the US (Alabama, as previously mentioned....also, Roll Tide) - but the flaws within the social, economic and work standards made my head hurt. Even just the State taxes on price tags. If it says $1.99 on the price tag, why do I have to pay $2.30?
4 1/2 years I spent over there, 26 States I've been to/through. I'd genuinely question just how United those States are now. I always found the Southern States, weirdly, to be a lot more accepting of me and my own cultural distinguishing identity than that of their fellow Northern State folk.
As an American once said about England - "It'd be great if you could put a roof on it" - I counter this with "America, it'd be great if you could get it to agree with itself"
Bewildering
You come across to me as a very decent man. I would not stress out about other peoples clips. I look forward to watching content like you have done in the past without getting strikes. Believe me when I say that there are people who are eejits where ever you go. All the best to you and yours. Rab
I hear about the awful medical service in the US over and over on videos like yours and still am shocked at how much it costs for such simple procedures and how you can be lumbered with life-long crippling debt just cos you had an accident or condition you have no control over. It's so sad the US does this to their citizens. Shameful and sad.
Might as well put a race horse clause in their medical insurance. Either pay the $30,000 for a doctor's visit or they put you down for $30.
And what is so sad is if you try to mention it, yes Ive tried with several americans, and they just point to communism and socialism instead of really thinking about it. Its such an inward way of looking. Its not as simple as get a job that have a good insurance. Not everyone have the same opportunities in life or abilities.
Im so grateful that we have free or basically free healthcare here in Norway.
Medical malpractice is the third leading cause of death in the U.S 🇺🇸
I didn't believe it until I did my own research. It's facts😬
@@mar97216 There's at least one idiot arguing about gun control in this comment section and not realising everything he's saying is a self-own of the US.
It's so great to see how open minded you are! 👍
Cheers from Northern Sweden.
You can be very proud of your country and recognise its faults.
That is a good thing, it is when you are very proud of your country and refuse to see its faults that is bad.
Agreed, most countries have done horrific things, to others, to thier own ... thats not a reason to be ashamed.
Be ashamed of those things, the lack of an official apology, the denial/cover up.
But be proud of what you have achieved, culture, people, what you want to be.
I was hospitalised six or seven times this year. Once for a week. Once for five days and the rest were for two days each. I was taken by ambulance each time. I also had an operation. None of it cost anything at all. Welcome to Australia ❤
I know that you feel that you have to justify the country that you live in, and I realise that every country has faults: But, holy Chr*st, I do not believe that any of this can be excused!!
That poor girl with 28 000 dollar medical bill... and that right there is why I laugh in the face of people who say "you DO actually pay for healthcare... since you pay so much in tax". Well, I've never gotten hit with 28 000 dollar equivalent of back taxation so... yeah. I will rather pay tax than have that happen while being ill. Jeezus on a stick. That's like kicking someone who's just broken their leg. Also, it seems to me (not that I know for sure) that paying for health insurance is pretty expensive, so I don't even see the difference of the money leaving your paycheck before you get it via tax or after, via health insurance costs. Nah. It all just seem insane to me.
I've given birth twice and had 6 surgeries. I paid for a cab to the hospital to save on parking and for cable in my room once before cell phones were allowed to be used in hospitals. That was my "bill".
I'm now in a pretty high tax bracket and don't mind paying it at all because my country was so good to me when I had a lot less. It's my turn to help boost the people coming up behind me.
Thanks, Canada.
Yeah, those Americans wanting to argue "u dont have free healthcare, u pay with skyhigh taxes"! They are just sooo bad faith. Coz either theyre dumb as doorknobs (with apologies to doorknobs), or they know, we means free at the point of use, paid through our taxes. And I dont remember the exact numbers, but if they add up their taxes and their healthcare insurance, theyre already paying more, than we pay in taxes, so I guess, all the other "free" things we get, like paid sick/maternity/paternity leave, pensions, university education etc etc are just extra perks!
As an accountant, Ive met many ppl, who arent good with numbers and economy, and thats fine, thats why they hire me, so I can do, what Im good at, and they can do, what theyre good at. But Ive never met ppl so incapable of (and unwilling to) understand, that non-profit healthcare is cheaper than for profit healthcare, or that paying through ur taxes actually saves u money, coz then u dont have the very expensive US health insurance. Im still amazed, that the Republicans in the US are so successful maligning Medicare for All, which is a flawed plan, but theyre not doing it based on the contents. No, theyre turning ppl against it and the very principle, coz ppl actually buy into, that they will have to pay, what they are paying now, AND pay extra in taxes, so how are they going to survive such an attack on the working ppl???? Absolutely insane. I really dont understand, why ppl cant get such a simple concept. Pay a little more in taxes, save a LOT more from not needing health insurance! And yet....
One of our Sales girls "UK" came into the office on a Monday with the flu ,spread it to other sales team members and purchasing department by Wednesday they where all off bar 1!!! me and the boss had to stand in for them for for the rest of week as they all caught it he was fuming warned all staff after that if they have flu do not bring it into work stay off .
in the UK you can't be away from work for illness for 5 conservative days without a doctor note, it's the law.
@@BillyBobJoeSnr The law says more than seven days including non-work days, e.g. weekends. It may sound like the same thing but it's not exactly.
@@BillyBobJoeSnr Do you mean consecutive?
Please show Americans reacting to British modern comments like Jimmy Carr, Frankie Boyle, Mickey Flanagan. They say outrageous stuff that I'm not sure Americans could handle. It would be such fun!
My contribution : Hearing us speak French, this lady asked where we were from. Quebec... "Oh! Near Alaska, then!" We were in Boston. Well, no. Quebec is about a 5-6 hour ride from here. Alaska would take at least a week... "Well, nevertheless..." She still thinks we are in the wrong. 😀
On my first trip to the US from the Czech rep., the taxi driver asked me if we have running water and electricity here... I wish I was joking.
To recognise and critizise what's wrong in their country is a patriot's foremost duty ;)
Exactly! Love ur country in spite of its fault and work to make it better. Thats patriotism!
I remember I said on a video that it was interesting to hear about another country this one American said.
America is the only country that matters.
I screen shotted it so if you want to see it ask.
The Middle east and Europe have had roads and streets and civilisation for millennia, meaning , Thousands of years .
Nice of you to explain what millennia is for the Americans.
@Darko Ulmer yes sorry didnt mention those .
@@Nekotaku_TV I knew I would have to lol. Thanks for reply , peace .
@@laurabedford5095 in their defense, theyre still very young even in centuries, they really cant be expected to know about millenia. Would like expecting a 2y old to know, what a decade is 😉
The girl with the 28k debt for not being in network... it brought a tear to my eye, because it's caused by greed, nothing more. And it just destroys someone's happiness and freedom for decades of their life. Someone so young should be happy and carefree, not miserable and depressed.
Im 51. M father told me when I was about 10 Americans were ignorant of what goes on outside the ir own country because there was so much going on within the country people never had time to find out about what goes on outside the US. The ignorance is astounding, its like the dunce class of planet Earth.
Gripes with religion in America (Christians, obv).
1: With the Pledges of Allegiance, I live in a state in the US who has a very similar pledge as the US pledge, and mentions a singular god as well. I happen to not be a monotheist, in fact, am atheist, and thusly would exclude the part in the pledges that mention god. (Doing this I've noticed how they just plopped "under god" in the middle of nowhere where it makes no sense) A few times I've found it relevant to the conversation to mention that I don't say the "under god" part and people look at me with disappointment, confusion, and almost concern. It's relevant for this to mention that the "under god" bit was actually added later on during some war, so anyone who said that it would be hard due to culture to change it would be right, but unfairly so.
2: One time I looked up the definition of cult because I wanted to know the difference between religion and a cult (as you do), when I realized that how Christianity used to be practiced in the medieval era was like that of (the modern definition of) a cult as described by the website. One of the common traits it mentioned was that the entrance to the cult was rushed, well missionaries when founding America forced the people to join. Strictly dictating big parts of people's lives as well, and with you getting executed for heresy and making you pray so many times per day, making you go to church, and more, (also missionaries) well... and you are made to worship a group leader, well, the popes and kings were kind of a religious symbol soooo... and when I told people this, a common response was to say, "You can make it match that definition if you really want..." as though I was making a stretch and stretching what the site said to match some sort of goal. And the thing is, I was clear in saying that it wasn't modern Christianity (for the most part) that behaved this way, and the people still felt some sort of need to defend the atrocities olden Christianity committed.
to be clear, I don't hate Christianity, I just acknowledge that the old practices and a few modern practices or interpretations are questionable at best.
The fact that religion is big is a problem in itself...
I'm curious how many sick days companies allow on average. I need about 13-20 a year MINIMUM. I have endometriosis so I can't work once or twice every 28 days. Would I need to go to the doctor and pay for that every time ("yep, you have endometriosis and you just got your period"). How do people with chronic illnesses do that?! I'm so happy I live in the Netherlands.
The problem with a lot of companies' decisions can be drilled down to: wages, overtime, paid time off, etc. are on different ledgers than hiring costs (advertising, interviews, training) so they don't realise fully that getting a new employee up to a basic standard is more expensive than keeping a good employee. So they consider employees like they do any other expendable like toilet paper.
I did see a tv programme where a manager of a company was being interviewed and they were explaining that when recruiting, by time they weeded out those with drug and alcohol problems and those with criminal records for same , they were left with a very small and poor pool of individuals to hire so although because of this they had high staff turnover they were very keen to keep the good ones
@@theotherside8258 I understand from a liability perspective, but if someone's got a drug history and is trying to get a job, wouldn't that be a good thing?
Kind of like how someone was obese, lost weight, and wants to be a fitness trainer?
I dunno, I tend to see the humanity first and not the role / pecking order / popularity so maybe it's just me
@@BliffleSplick the employer is not their charity though, and i think their thinking is that addiction will drive absenteeism and desperation for money that would have to be obtained by theft
there is a fantastic video that Russell Howard (british comedian) did about the trump wall as when it was announced there was a group of rock climbers who built a replica section of it and invited anyone to climb it. youngest I think who did it was 10 years old.
Thanks for this and your funny reaction and comentary.
Poor lady with headaches, her parents have one now with that bill. Wow . My friend went to usa with her husband at 7 months pregnant, went into labour , no insurance, cost them 39,000 plus tax for birth. In england you just pay your tax monthly , register doctors get midwife , go hospital deliver baby stay 2 days in go home , NO BILLS.
When I’m hungry and then watch one off these videos I get really unwell, It’s Madness
Here is some info regarding Norway:
Children under the age of 16 are exempt from paying deductibles at doctors, psychologists, polyclinics (hospitals), x-ray institutes and physiotherapists, as well as for certain medicines and medical equipment on a blue prescription.
For children, all dental treatment is free up to and including the year they turn 18. This applies as long as it is carried out in the public dental health service or by a dentist in private practice who has an agreement with the county council's dental health service. Orthodontics is not free.
Deductibles are automatically registered both with doctors, psychologists, physiotherapists, pharmacies, X-ray institutes and with carriers. In 2021, the amount limit or deductible ceiling is NOK 2,460 ($250). When the deductible ceiling is reached (you receive a free card), ALL medical treatment is free for the rest of the calendar year.
When you collect medicines and equipment on a blue prescription, you must pay a deductible if you do not have a free card. In 2022, the deductible is set at 39% of the cost, or a maximum of NOK 520 ($50) for 3 months' consumption.
It’s good to be proud of your country, and USA is great as long as you’ve got a good job and some money in the bank. Those are the people who are free to live the dream. USA still has a big economy and much power on the World stage. There are some really smart folks in the US, and Americans are usually great people. It’s just that despite everything good folks try to do to help each other, the economy is strong because of big business forcing a system onto everyone else which is based on a refusal to reach out and help the poor, the unfortunate and the disenfranchised. Those are the people who dream to live. I wish there was something that we in Europe could do to help you out sometimes.
That's almost unregulated Capitalism in the works.
Hmm I have considered doing one of those donation drive a truck to x place campaigns, but for some place in bumfuck nowhere USA, because you can be damn sure that there are people who can't afford nappies, or basic furniture or basic OTC medications or even have electricity or water. (the exact same conditions as the ones they send to africa or a warzone)
The only thing that stops me is that those kind of people would probably rather shoot you than accept charity.
Most of our "unfortunate and the disenfranchised" are that way because that's what they wanted. No one forced them to drop out of school at 15, commit crimes, have children when they couldn't afford them. It's no shame to be born poor, it is to not even try to stop being poor and have children while still poor.
@@lamoe4175 That's what the propaganda has taught you. They absolutely were forced into the situation they are in. Anyone with a functioning heart can see that 99% of them have done the best they could with what little they could scrape together and half the time it was trying to better themselves or their family that made the situation worse.
The reason poor women have more children is not that they are having morre sex than wealthy people, often the opposite, but that they don't have access to abortions or birth control, or even healthcare period. Also when a woman is beholden to a man for shelter and food, she literally cannot afford to refuse to have sex with him, because she runs the risk of losing that shelter and food, and also in many cases the man will become violent.
Poor people do not take drugs that they cannot afford for fun, that is the preserve of the rich. They end up taking drugs because that is the only way to cope, to survive, to make it to tomorrow so they can try again. Except that of course is a lie, but when you are desperate you will try anything just to make tomorrow better.
But of course you're free to continue to believe your corproate overlords and think that poverty is the preserve of the morrally bankrupt and that being rich means you are a paragon of virture and purity...
@@lamoe4175 Now that's a BS indoctrinated American comment right there.
This was a tough one mate. I have to admit that i have argued so many times with some Americans online. They not only are ignorant of subjects but arrogant with it. They act very much like how the British once was & in some circumstances still are. That we are the top, the pinnacle of Humanity & everyone else globally are inferior. We are to blame in a way, as Americans are built on British ways on so many levels. Even the expectation that the World should know what we are saying when we speak, the great English language lol. I was about to give up believing Americans can be kind thoughtful Human beings, until i stumbled on certain American reaction channels a few years back. Your good self, Squirrel & a few others show that some Americans are truly great people! 👍🇬🇧❤🇺🇸
I’m in the U.K. and have visited the US multiple times, it’s the greatest show on earth 👍
*shitshow xD
ok lets be real its not all bad but man im VERY happy im not born there/have to live there...its litterly a thirdworldcountry with a Gucci Belt...all just bling no substance....and that thirdworl coutnry is not even exagerating the us is the only country on the planet with mroe than 5million inhabitance that has a negative liveexpectancy year over year.....(there are some island states that decline faster but thats mostly becasue the people jsut leave hence ruining the statisic and its hard to correct for that if you dont have enough datapoints)
Yeah, been there many times myself, I have nothing but good things to say of the people I've met and yet, you are so right lol!
It's a great place to go on holiday. I wouldn't want to live there though.
@@John-kr7iz me too...always good to return home, buy some Yorkshire tea and a pint of milk with a slice of toast..
When people say that they love their country, what exactly is it that they love? I sometimes truly wonder.
I learned a LOT about American healthcare in the last few years and none of it good. UK🇬🇧
Interesting reactions, Alan. Quite the mixed bag.
I have just found here on YT "Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads" from the writers who gave us Porridge later. Despite being made in the early 1970's the comedy hold up well. It is worth a watch and as it is already on YT you shouldn't have a problem with any claims.
I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one who's had that, I'm Scottish and I've had Americans tell me I speak really good English...... like... REALLY? 😂
We get that on Merseyside....that said ,poor Kenny Dalglish was always getting booked by the Ref due to his Glasgow accent ,whereas Graham Souness did not because he had a Sean Connery/Edinburgh accent
Div ye nae spik nae Scots like, while yer ravaging yer Irn-Bru?
@@lmcgregoruk slainte...
In regards to sick pay, here in the uk it is a certain amount you will get, you won’t be given your full wage (generally anyway). So nobody is going to be taking advantage of it as you will still be worse off. It’s just nice to know that if you are genuinely sick, you won’t be penalised and will still be paid something.
Here in Denmark thats only for longterm illness. If u just have the flu or a migraine or whatever, ur off work with full pay, but the company then get compensated for 80% up to a certain amount, so 80% for all except highpaid executives and such. We regular employees wont feel anything, except if we're out for months.
I'm curious:What could they possibly have done to her that was worth $33,000?
No freaking clue.
@@TheEclecticBeard This is the main reason that will keep me from ever visiting the US. A country in which you will die or be in lifelong crippling debt just because you can't pay a greedy system that extorts you for a thing you had no control over.
one CT scan can be around 8000 dollars, something like a cluster headache probably needed several different tests all in the thousands of dollars.
@@AlexVardr Why travel insurance for the US for a month costs several times more than travel insurance for the rest of the world for a year. Our insurance companies literally have "travel insurance worldwide except the US" and "travel insurance worldwide including the US" and "travel insurance US". I can get covered for the rest of the world for a few euros. For the US is the price of a one way plane ticket.
That poor girl with the cluster headaches made me tear up. So sad. Bless her.😢
That face when the Walmart cashier thought Europe was in Canada 🤣
Even in England with a company that broadly defined had no official limits on sick days, after 5 occasions of sickness by default you have to have a review with regards to how you can lower your absences . On my 5th sick day in 7 YEARS and I was told that as it was the 5th occasion I would still need a review.
As a Brit run from that company, run like the wind.
@@lizcollinson2692 oh I did don’t you worry.
As a Dane, Im proud, that the 2 major items, my country push for in the EU regardless of whos in our government, are workers rights and environmental regulations. Im very sad to see, that after Brexit ur government is quickly moving to remove all the rights, u got while in the EU. I hope, u manage to change government, while u still have any rights left.
@@dfuher968 agreed, but I think the Conservatives have to relearn what the British public expect. It helps that the masks are being ripped away now.
I just hope that minimum number of people have to suffer in the mean time.
Honestly, you would have a much better life in Europe. And you would have had a much better life if born in Europe. I love your reaction videos, they are honest and serious.
Thanks
Thank you so much for that
Think it’s about time to protest in America for a better health system for everyone,why oh why can’t America have a NHS system like in the UK,I find this so disgusting that big business is made on somebody’s health and misery from insurance and medication bills.the richest country in the world ,no wonder it’s the richest it doesn’t care about it’s own people just it’s own bank balance.what a mockery from a line in your national anthem ..O’er the land of the free.should the land of vultures preying on your bad health ,I feel lucky and privileged here in the UK what we have but feel deeply sorry for all you people in America
I worked as a Customer Service Rep for a top wireless company that claims to have the best employment benefits. We earned paid leave credit for each day we worked. The credits were applied by fractions of an hour per day worked so that, a starting employee, earned about 2.5 weeks paid leave per year. The problem is that you are warned during your training that you never want to actually use up that leave time for vacations because you draw from the same pool of days off for sick days. Once you use them up, you run the risk of being fired for taking unpaid leave for being sick. There is also no way to take a sick day without using up some of your vacation time. So if you get sick 3-4 times throughout the year, you may end up not getting a vacation that year. You also have a cap on how much vacation time you can accrue. Once you hit 3 weeks of vacation time saved up, you risk disciplinary action for not using them. But you might be afraid to use too much vacation time if you have a chronic condition that can randomly flare up and make you need to take time off right after you take a vacation. Managing my vacation time was one of the most stressful parts of my job and I was a customer service rep with a mandated average call resolution time of 410 seconds or less. No matter what you needed to call customer service for, it could be the most complicated technical issue or the weirdest billing problems.
the problem of the United States is that this country was built is founded by people who fled their lands of origin because they were unsuited to the life of society at the time, then they built this country by massacring the indigenous population (the greatest genocide in human history), violence is the number one culture of this territory, so how can you be a spiritually or culturally fulfilled person when violence is so deeply rooted in your genes? fortunately this is not a general case with regard to the American people but the leaders are still as violent and murderous as their ancestors
There's no such thing as spiritual
I'm Peruvian and I have very good insurance we also have publix health care but that is a mess, I didn't have insurance before tho bcs I couldn't afford it. During my last 2 ER visits (I've been there frequently, they know me by now) that were for the same problem I got several labs, a UROTEM (cat scan of the urinary tract and kidneys), and a lower abdomen MRI, I also spent in total 10 hours in the ER, got IV meds and fluids, and then a bunch of prescriptions. I don't even want to imagine the cost of all of these in the US, but calculating my currency into yours, I paid around... 250-300 usd at the most. My insurance covered 80% of it, and it's covering 80% of my surgery this Tuesday as well. My visits were because of a possible ovarian torsion and I almost had to get emergency surgery, however my body worked itself out in the end. I just came back from the US last week, and there was this one time where I got this shooting pain in my left ovary area similar to when I had to go to the ER, and I prayed to every single entity out there for it to fix itself bcs I would literally kms before going to an ER in the USA.