I recently read an article linked from Digg from a Canadian blogger, it's essentially his Top Five things about America that freaked him out. Here is the link.

I wanted to create my own Top Five list of things that concerned, disturbed and frankly upset me about America also. Not to particularly run the US down. But if anyone from the US does read this blog (and I do get approx. 500 or so hits a month from America) then they would look upon my list in terms of the worst and not representing the whole.

Top 5 Dislikes of America

5. Cars

We've been the US on five occasions and each time had to hire a car.

Our first mode of transport was a Ford 12-seater van. But this was always going to be bad. So I discount it.

Then we had a Dodge Charger. It did about 15-20 mpg, made lots of noise but was actually incredibly slow.. so, not much 'charging' around there.

Next we had a Chrysler PT Cruiser. The steering wheel was fixed more of less vertical, in the style of an arcade game, it just about managed 20-25 mpg (on mainly highways) and it went around corners like a greased whale.

Next up we had a Chrysler 300C. Now apparently Chrysler went to the Nürburgring to sort out this cars dynamics. They must have gone when it wasn't raining. It handled like a bar of soap in the wet. It could have a lot to do with the tyres. They appeared to be plastic then rubber.

Finally, this time around we ended up with a Mercury (Ford) Grand Marquis. It is a car straight out the 1970's in all aspects of its abilities. It would not corner without rolling, the brakes locked instantly under emergency use (not progression) and as for the style, oh my... Just take a look.

This 4.6 litre V8 (or was it the 3.6 litre v6.. there is no performance difference) box only manages to deliver 224 bhp. Fuel economy? 17 mpg around town up to a BEST highway limit of 25 mpg. I have since found out the 0-60mph time (should you be brave enough) is 8.9 seconds.

Compare that to my European Saab 9-3 2.0 litre turbo. 210bhp, 25 mpg around town and 45.6 top. Oh, did mention it also does 0-60 in 7 seconds and has a top speed of 145 mph. 2000cc. Not 4600cc.

In previous years I had a super little run around by Fiat that would do 0-60 in 8.5 seconds and because it was diesel would do 58 mpg. When I told some poor kid working in TGI Fridays he nearly died of shock. He kept asking if it was hybrid!?

4. Lack of Education

I shocked me the first time I got into a conversation with a couple of seemingly well educated guys in a bar. They worked relatively high jobs in New York. But what surprised me most was the lack of any worldly knowledge. For one, they thought that Morocco (in the news at the time) was in the middle east. I had to eventually get a diary out to prove it was in North Africa... and even then they asked somebody else.

It's almost a wilful ignorance though. While I encourage my kids to learn all they can about the world, it seems a large amount of America is happy to just think the world will remain the same.. so why bother.

The US has been progressing down the scale of educated nations since the end of World War Two. Some people have even gone to suggest it's systematic and intentional; a less educated nation is a happier easier nation to lead. I hope this isn't actually true. But there is a shocking amount of real world examples of this in action. See YouTube for well over a dozen examples.

The most amusing being...
This satirical Australian show

3. Systemic Racism

And by this, I want to make it clear that I'm talking about the sort of racism that most people aren't even aware of.

Next time you in the states, epecially Florida, take a quick pole of which ethnic groups are doing what jobs. You'll find the Hispanic community mostly working in Wal*Mart or cleaning pools or maintaining gardens. The black community in Florida can be found working as food servers or cleaners within the parks. While people (poor) are often in charge or shops or restaurants while the richer members of the white community are managers or very senior staff.

Let me tell you a story. The very first time we went to Florida (2005) all and the back of a very generous offer by Sue's father. We went to the International House of Pancakes (that's 'International' in that 'World' Series kind of way). Anyway, our server was a very lovely (and Cuddly) black lady in her late thirties. From talking to her it seemed her kids (also girls) we the same age as our kids. Plus the attraction of our well behaved one year old Gabriella was a draw. She just smiled (and does still) at everyone.

Time came to leave and as we left, so did our server for a little break. So my father in law and I ended up getting into a little conversation with her outside the restaurant. In fact her friends also came out and we all started having a good old chin wag. You know the usual, is it nice to work here etc. etc. Out of the corner of my eye I noticed the restaurant manager (late forties, white, died red hair) staring at us through the windows and she came belting out.
"Is there a problem?" she asked in a very worried tone. Which immediate got the waitresses moving away from us and starting at their feet.
Oblivious to what was going on, my father in law (bless him) said "No, why? What's the problem".
Which was funny, because no matter what happened how the Manager answered the question, it was going to sound bad.
Worst of all she said the insanely odd "I thought they were talking to you."
The rest, I can't repeat.
Lets just say that we pointed out our displeasure in what she implied and pointed out just how much of a benefit our waitress was to her restaurant and she should treat them with more respect.

2. Health System

America has the finest health care system in the world. Or so they keep telling me. Trouble is... nobody else in the world agrees with them.

Globally they spend the most of health care than any other nation on Earth. But in the World Health Organisation ranking (based on deaths, treatment, preventative etc), out of 190 surveyed, the US came in 37th. After Chile, Costa Rica and Columbia. Three countries that I watch an Fox Newscaster lambast for their terrible health care.

Of course, despite having no evidence to the contrary, your average US Joe (who by the way usual spends MORE on Health Insurance then most 'heavy taxed and socialist' countries do in health tax) believes we have to wait years for treatment, there are no advanced equipment etc. etc.

It's rubbish of the highest order and you are told this so that you feel it's OK to spend 13.4% of the Gross Domestic Product on healthcare versus us foolish saps in the UK who spend just 6.6% (and get universal health care... and only pay $9 for drugs).

Then we have the argument about all those people on 'welfare' not paying a penny in taxes and claiming all the free benefits. Maybe it's because we've known nothing but war for the last two thousand years and it's changed us. I'm not sure. But I could not in all honesty want to risk the concept that some poor person would die as a result of not getting treatment because they could not afford it while I can. Me, I can't judge a person on how much they earn or what they've paid in tax.

How many people in the US die each year because they can't afford treatment? Eighteen thousand.

The problem in the US is that the entire health system is geared around making money. So once you do have 'a medical problem' they nail you with half a dozen (mostly pointless) drugs and then ramp up your insurance and drug charges.

I met a woman in Lake County, Florida and she told me that she's been saving up to have her hip replaced (due to an accident!) for nearly five years. The UK waiting list for NON-EMERGENCY hip replacement is around six months. She would have been classified as emergency and would have had the operation on the day of her accident. Then she would have been given FREE 'out patient' care to aid her recovery.

We considered moving to Florida last October, after speaking to an Ex-Pat who we bumped into at Downtown Disney of all places. Seems all we needed to do was 'buy' a business and that would be enough. He also went on to mention that if a company wanted you, they could find ways and means to get the visa quick. I digress....

It also seemed perfectly lovely and we even spotted what sounded like just the ticket. They in February we paid Florida another visit. I was ill on the flight out (nothing major, just a bad cold) so I decided to sleep off the travel while Sue and the kids got to wander around our Disney resort. At some point they came back and Sue was watching an ABC new report.

"That's it! We are NEVER MOVING TO THE US!" she burst into the room and shouted!

Turns out, some poor (as in economic) kid had an infection in his tooth that would just require a simple operation or drugs. His family could afford neither. The infection spread to his bread and this poor, lovely, nice young man died as a result. As a result of being born in a country that cared more about his bank balance than his life.

It's very emotive and I'm sure a lot of you will not agree. But that's just the way I feel.

1. Money is Everything

If you have none.. you are nobody. £10 is the equivalent of $10 in real terms. If you balance out salary and the cost of living. So a £5 ice cream is just as expensive as a $5 ice cream. If you see what I mean.

The only trouble (for the US) is that for a long while now £10 doesn't equal $10, it actually equals $20. At one point last year it actually equalled $22. All of which meant that for the price of one decent three/four bedroom house in a really nice area of Manchester it would be possible to afford two or even three similar sized houses in a nice area of Florida.

Stick with me, this is going somewhere.

Now, what turned out to be a sales guy, sparked up a conversation with us and asked how much our house in the UK was worth in dollars. Sue worked out that it was more or less $500,000. Again, in your mind, imagine that £250,000 is in fact $250,000.

Well, all of a sudden we were elevated to the status of 'the rich'. I suddenly became 'Sir' to the waiter (who had overheard me), the female Manager kept on coming over and making sue everything was fine and it all got a little embarrassing. The 'Realtor' (Estate Agent to me and you) then started pulling out beach front villas and seven bedroom houses in 'gated communities'.

The point is this. Because of the perceived wealth we had, we were treated differently than before.

Now I'm not a communist, I own a computer consultancy for goodness sake! But it didn't half make me feel that there was something fundamentally wrong with this. Does rich mean better? Well, in the US... I'm afraid it does.

So let me tell you who IS better.

Firemen
Ambulance drivers / Paramedics
Cops
Volunteers who give up their own time to help those who are less fortunate.

These are the real people of value in America. Not the Rockefellers or the Gates or whoever. Those people who day in and day out put their own lives on the line to help over people.

Feedback

If you think I'm wrong or right then please do find the time to leave a comment.

If you think I'm unfair or my understanding or expectations or off kilter then please do put me right.

If you're just going to be rude or sarcastic, don't bother, I get enough of that from the kids.

In a few days I'll write FIVE THINGS I LOVE ABOUT AMERICA to show I have a balanced view.

Tags: US, USA, top 5