I mean both the country and the specific place you live.
My biggest irritation about the US is that if 1 person out of 100 is offended by something, then it is deemed offensive. Sometimes it seems like this is a nation of busy-bodies itching to sue anyone they think may harm America's children. It drives me up the wall. And it's all sorts of people who for some reason have been granted moral superiority over others. Every single day is marked by some group of idiots going on an annoying crusade to piss everyone else off. What ever happened to the idea that if you don't like something, don't do it, buy it, watch it, use it, etc?
Western New York - In particular, Erie County, is laughably run. We are in the midst of a tax-crisis (we pay 8% sales tax...jeez) and the proposal was to raise it to 9% this year, and raise property taxes next year. In other words, this is an area with potentially the highest tax rates in the entire country, without any real explanation as to why other than awful management. The same people on both sides of the aisle have run the area for 15-20 years and yet for some odd reason continue to get votes. So we're hung by a rope to have obscene taxes that are raised every year, or absolutely no services.
Also the roads are really badly planned. I have no idea who thought it up, but the exit ramps come right after the entrance ramps on the thruway. Demented.
Oh, and if I hear one more person talk about another group of people in a loud brash racist/homophobic/sexist/dumbass way, and then remark with pride that as an American they have that right, I'm going to scream. So are you saying being an American means you can be a racist homophobic turd? Congratulations. Everyday my workmates refer to "the Asians" or "the blacks" or "homos" as if they are bent on destroying the Earth. Get a grip.
(ok breathe.....aaaaaaah) lol
Everyday my workmates refer to "the Asians" or "the blacks" or "homos" as if they are bent on destroying the Earth. Get a grip.
(ok breathe.....aaaaaaah) :lol:
Or Arabs... or Muslims or, as they are less than affectionately referred to here 'the rag heads'.
I know, I frequently have a near overwhelming urge to slap a few people - certainly I have a much better understanding of the prevalence of workplace shootings in America :wink:
When you consider that my co-workers are, by definition, well educated, it makes it all the more frightening. All I can say is that its not all of them. also I'm really not sure whether it is worse here than in the UK; for me I had such a role and profile that no one would have dared to try and draw me into their xenophobic conversations - here the presumption is that I will participate.
Howver Gavin, what I think should also concern you as a conservative minded person is that when I object to such comments I'm derided as a liberal. Liberal = tolerant. Thus, logically these peopel think consevative= intolerant.
Now I know that isn't true of all conservatives - but I think they might need to be saying so a little more loudly. :D
I think that this is my basic gripe as well and I can sum it up as complete and utter ignorance, which causes rascism, bigotry et al.
The puritanical, holier than thoud attitiude just pisses me off. And of course its all on the surface. when it comes down to it, most I have met here have public morals of Mother Theresa and private morals of Hitler. Everyone I work with thinks we should close the borders, ecept for Canada 'cause they are like us..right?. But they scream to trhe heavens if there is no-one to stack the shelves at Wal-Mart and no-one to clean up after their sh*t.
Most people in my neighborhood attend church with a passion and treat their kids abysmally, they all shag each other, beat their wives, who are loaded up to the hilt with Zoloft and Prozac. To top everything off they stare at me like I was Bin Laden when I go into the store and a 6-pack of horse urine which passes for beer in this god forsaken hell hole.
Jesus Bungle what have you started???
I mean both the country and the specific place you live.
First of all I have to say I will not contribute to pulling down the place I live.
I can't think of anything that is so bad as to need to rant about it.
What ever happened to the idea that if you don't like something, don't do it, buy it, watch it, use it, etc?
Complacency will breed even worse problems. If a group feels strongly about something they have every right to try and get it changed. If everyone who opposed them stood up to be counted then the minority wouldn't get their agendas passed.
Western New York - In particular, Erie County, is laughably run. We are in the midst of a tax-crisis (we pay 8% sales tax...jeez) and the proposal was to raise it to 9% this year, and raise property taxes next year. In other words, this is an area with potentially the highest tax rates in the entire country, without any real explanation as to why other than awful management.
We are constantly being told here in Maine that we have the highest tax rates in the country. Our taxes are much less since we moved from NH which had no sales tax. We have 4¾ acres more and a bigger house and pay a third less in real estate taxes.
Also the roads are really badly planned. I have no idea who thought it up, but the exit ramps come right after the entrance ramps on the thruway. Demented.
This type of ramps are all over the northeast. They were obviously much less traffic when they were first planned out, not that it is particularly a good reason for bad planning.
Oh, and if I hear one more person talk about another group of people in a loud brash racist/homophobic/sexist/dumbass way, and then remark with pride that as an American they have that right, I'm going to scream. So are you saying being an American means you can be a racist homophobic turd? Congratulations. Everyday my workmates refer to "the Asians" or "the blacks" or "homos" as if they are bent on destroying the Earth. Get a grip.
(ok breathe.....aaaaaaah) :lol:
I can vouch from what I saw in the UK that it is no better there. I have even had a go at my own mother for derogotary remarks she made in front of my kids.
I have no problem with pedjudeces as everyone I think is entitled to that. It's when they cross the line to racism and phobias.
My biggest irritation about the US is that if 1 person out of 100 is offended by something, then it is deemed offensive. Sometimes it seems like this is a nation of busy-bodies itching to sue anyone they think may harm America's children. It drives me up the wall. And it's all sorts of people who for some reason have been granted moral superiority over others. Every single day is marked by some group of idiots going on an annoying crusade to piss everyone else off. What ever happened to the idea that if you don't like something, don't do it, buy it, watch it, use it, etc?
Used to be the same in the UK. Remember Mary Whitehouse?
We are constantly being told here in Maine that we have the highest tax rates in the country. Our taxes are much less since we moved from NH which had no sales tax. We have 4¾ acres more and a bigger house and pay a third less in real estate taxes.
Funny you should say that, our Republican Gov. continually harps on about how Massachusetts has the highest taxes in America... I suspect this is a common theme across the states.
Additionally he says we should be more like NH whilst my MIL complains bitterly about how high her taxes are in ME :lol:
My personal woe at the moment is the Texas State University. Each semester we have to fax a request for waiver/refund of insurance premium to our health insurance to prove that Elisabeth has health insurance, so we don't have to pay the rip off insurance premium they charge international students. Each semester we have make several phone calls to the international office to get our money back. Of course it would make it lot easier if this was handle by the health care providers on campus but that would too easy.
And that is one of my biggest gripes about the US, the levels of bureaucracy that you encounter wherever you go in this country. I hate to say it but TSU is doodle compare to the local community college. Unfortunately, both son and youngest daughter are about to enter that arena this summer for their dual credits and going from pass experience it going to be hell.
Now I need to tackle the health company over a claim I made before Christmas. Yet more hours to waste on the phone.
My personal woe at the moment is the Texas State University. Each semester we have to fax a request for waiver/refund of insurance premium to our health insurance to prove that Elisabeth has health insurance, so we don't have to pay the rip off insurance premium they charge international students. Each semester we have make several phone calls to the international office to get our money back. Of course it would make it lot easier if this was handle by the health care providers on campus but that would too easy.
And that is one of my biggest gripes about the US, the levels of bureaucracy that you encounter wherever you go in this country. I hate to say it but TSU is doodle compare to the local community college. Unfortunately, both son and youngest daughter are about to enter that arena this summer for their dual credits and going from pass experience it going to be hell.
Now I need to tackle the health company over a claim I made before Christmas. Yet more hours to waste on the phone.
Yep...ever wondered why your premiums are so high? Drug coasts are only part of the story - this sort of bureaucracy is a large part of the problem too.
I'm on a bit of a downer about the US generally these days. I was hoping to convince my wife to like the place but she won't be changed - experiences with Immigration, the Health System and the work environment have all taken their toll. I've been forced to concede on most of the UK v US comparisons.
I more balanced in my views on the US but I reckon the UK works best for us as a couple. I don't want to stay here on my own o
If all goes to plan we'll be returning to the UK/Europe in 12-14 months. I'll have done the job I was paid to do here and can get a new one in the UK. This place is just not for us though financially we would be better off.
The worst thing about the New York is 'lack of fun and humour' in every day life into. Nobody smiles or cracks jokes much in the office I work at or just generally.
I was recently chastized by US friends for using the word 'Chinaman'. The fact that I was using it a humourous and ironical did not seem important. They just felt uncomfortable hearing the word and rather I didn't use it. All the Brits were laughing though !
If I try and smile or make silly jokes to strangers (i.e. when waiting for a lift) people act like you are trying to molest them. I know the same remarks would (usually) be met in the right way in the UK.
I really try not to generalize - but people in this city (so the TV tells me) have the best of everything - clothes/cars/restuaraunts/jobs/money/medical care..-and are still not happy or satisfied and just want more.
I'm happy most of the time - but it's definately got nothing to do with living in New York or adopting the lifestyle and attitude of the average New Yorker
8) This is a good one. No one here can have a bloody good laugh without putting someones nose out. Was going to take a copy of Viz into work the other day, but thought better of it.
Everyone wants to sue or gets upset cuz Janet flashes a nipple. Trouble is that individual here do not tend to travel outside the country and are somewhat brain washed.
If i hear someone say "Europe is a Socialist" I am going to vomit. How the hell do they know, yea ever been there.
The fact you have to drive everywhere pisses me off. Yea cannot just go out, take in a show, have a skin fall get some good eats and stumble off to a train to get home lol
I am trying to get a grip(ie. facts) on this real estate tax racket in the USA.
they say NJ has the highest.
A three bedroom house about 50 years old Value $400,000 +/- taxes $5,500/year plus every year in NJ.
Los Angeles a similar house value $1.000.000 tax $600 per year.
San Francisco a row house looks about 4 bedrooms 2 baths,value; $1,000.000 tax $600 /year.
All owners in the house for 40 years or more except the the SF owner who bought his house 30 or so years ago.
Seemingly in Calif. proposition 13 keeps taxes fixed at the year YOU buy the house ~no yearly increases like in NJ !!!! o .
They have been trying to pass a similar proposition here in Maine.
The difference being that increases will be limited to 1% or 2% per year unless the property is sold then market value taxes apply.
The idea behind this is a good one.
It is to stop pensioners who are on a fixed income and lived in their house for most of their lives from being taxed out of them because out of staters decide it's a nice area to build multi million dollar houses around them, therefore raising the value of their property.
What Do You Absolutely Hate About Where You Live?
Country Everything expect the rather loose morals of some of the girls.
Town/city Everything expect the climate and that my local bar/pub has just got Stella on tap.
Well the 'horse urine' had me laughing eeb, but I agree, you go buy afew bottles of wine at the supermarket and you just know it's somehow frowned upon, nobody else is buying the stuff in general, I dunno, I do feel that drinking here is such a big no-no. I always put away any wine that's out if I know anyone is coming round.
I like where I live, but I hate not having good friends and all the social life that comes with. I hate the hitlers in the doctors surgery who ask for my insurance card like I'm the lowest form of life and make a big show of photocopying it every visit, even if it's the 3rd time I've been there in a week. I hate the thought that while I can afford to pay for one of my kids to have an eye test, glasses, visits to eye specialists and ultimately an operation on her eyes, there's some poor uninsured kid out there who will be lucky just to get the glasses.
Stuff like that really.
What do I hate about where I live? The fact that it is a mess because I am incapable of picking up after myself, never mind anyone else. roll