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Are the US a backward nation?

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Ben Cousins

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Is the US a backward nation compared to countries like Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Western Europe in regards to social issues?

- US doesnt have universal health care
- Poverty is quite high for a developed nation
- Highest level of gun crime (per capita) in the entire western world
- Deeply religious which means problems such as homophobia, racism and sexism (they would never elect a non christian as President)
- Have capital punishment (they are one of 5 nations in the world to have executed minors since 1990).

To find other nations which are similar to the US in regards to crime, capital punishment, poverty and health care you would have to look to the 3rd world. :scared:
 
We're not backward. We're going our own way. That way just happens to be the opposite of every other first world country. But, hey, we're America, we don't follow the trends, we set them.
 
The US is a nation of inequality and paradox, more than anything. If you're well-off in the US, you probably live better than anyone else in any other country on Earth. On the other hand, if you're less than well-off, your situation may be comparable to a developing country or an Eastern European nation. And if you're in one of the many pockets of poverty in the country... I wouldn't call it "third world" but it's definitely unpleasant.
 
This isnt even a valid thread. Do we go around and suggest a country is backwards? I think not! I am a proud american and my forefathers have faught and died for the fine land we stand on! You do not know what we do nor do you have a right to question our legitimacy!
 
Shadow_Blaze said:
This isnt even a valid thread. Do we go around and suggest a country is backwards? I think not! I am a proud american and my forefathers have faught and died for the fine land we stand on! You do not know what we do nor do you have a right to question our legitimacy!
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A-men to that! it's not america; it's the polititions currently in office
 
indeed, just cause we have a bad face for a few years doesnt mean that we are the scum of the western world! (thats canada)
 
Yeah, I'd have to say the only Western country more backwards than us is Australia. It's like an entire continent of Texas.
 
I tried to argue with my friend yesterday that the US was backwards, but admittedly I was disillusioned because of the elections and in a terrible mood. I'm willing to accept her argument that the US has some backwards people but isn't backwards itself, like most countries in the world.

I just... have to stop watching Fox News. Fuels my fear of America like no other. Good thing the elections are almost over.
 
The U.S. may not necessarily be the most "progressive" in that we don't have a government health program, and we have our problems with poverty, violence, intolerance, but we've for decades have been and still are to millions the nation that they aspire to live in. Nations like France, Germany, etc. in Europe may seem to be more progressive, but there's a lot of hidden racism and marginalization of minorities. The United States is far more pluralistic than any European nation. Now if we take the US and compare it to pluralistic societies like Canada, Australia, etc., then to some we might look a little "backward." Culturally, the United States is obviously more conservative, but I don't think that's necessarily a problem.
 
Zeta said:
Yeah, I'd have to say the only Western country more backwards than us is Australia. It's like an entire continent of Texas.
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I'm not talking about Australia. Anyways at least they have a unified public health system. :cool:
 
I fail to see how not having a government controlled health system makes a country backward. The government of the United States never seems to run anything efficiently except the military. A healthcare system that is government run here is going to be bad news.

But maybe Canada's is just the craphole of healthcare systems. *shrug* I don't know, I just see it as a bad idea for this country. We have a population too large to support a government healthcare system without seriously jacking up taxes on everybody. Plus, you know that such a system is likely to destroy the quality of healthcare because there's no incentive to provide the best anymore.
 
We have a population too large, period, for the representation any of us gets in Congress since they decided to stop expanding it in 1915.

As for being backwards? Nah, the backwards ones just get more of a vote because there's that minimum of 3.
 
Arcane Mind said:
The government of the United States never seems to run anything efficiently except the military.
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You sure about that? Maybe you're too young, but I remember the Pentagon buying $600 toilet seats for B-52 bombers and $300 hammers.

Arcane Mind said:
But maybe Canada's is just the craphole of healthcare systems. *shrug* I don't know, I just see it as a bad idea for this country.
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Yet, you don't have any trouble calling it a craphole even though you shrug and admit you don't know.

Arcane Mind said:
We have a population too large to support a government healthcare system without seriously jacking up taxes on everybody.
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One word--Medicare. Government run. Does a good job.

Arcane Mind said:
Plus, you know that such a system is likely to destroy the quality of healthcare because there's no incentive to provide the best anymore.
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The private insurance companies are doing a pretty good job of that. Didn't you know? Insurance companies don't exist to provide healthcare. They exist to make money.
 
Zeta said:
Yeah, I'd have to say the only Western country more backwards than us is Australia. It's like an entire continent of Texas.
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:S

Only one out of 9 elected parliaments (state and federal) is right-wing here?
 
Interesting discussion. I would have liked to discuss it more but its 2am and I need to go bed. But just quickly.

To me the United States is and still will be a largely conservative country. That makes it unique among Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Canada ie. other first world countries. Thus you could call it backwards.

To contrast.

Yesterday America voted between two people who consider religion important. In fact could America ever vote someone not religious?

On Saturday (Sunday for most of you)New Zealand will vote in elections and cast their party vote. Out of those two parties one of the parties leaders will be the new Prime Minister. Neither are religious indeed neither believe in God, believe in the afterlife etc etc.

I don't think the United States could do that. And to me that sums up the difference between the United States and other first world countries. Thus, you could say the United States is backwards.

Also I saw your stating of several statistics etc. But you could also compare New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Great Britain and the United States against the rest of Europe and you would see quite major differences.
 
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firepokemon said:
Interesting discussion. I would have liked to discuss it more but its 2am and I need to go bed. But just quickly.

To me the United States is and still will be a largely conservative country. That makes it unique among Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Canada ie. other first world countries. Thus you could call it backwards.

To contrast.

Yesterday America voted between two people who consider religion important. In fact could America ever vote someone not religious?

On Saturday (Sunday for most of you)New Zealand will vote in elections and cast their party vote. Out of those two parties one of the parties leaders will be the new Prime Minister. Neither are religious indeed neither believe in God, believe in the afterlife etc etc.

I don't think the United States could do that. And to me that sums up the difference between the United States and other first world countries. Thus, you could say the United States is backwards.

Also I saw your stating of several statistics etc. But you could also compare New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Great Britain and the United States against the rest of Europe and you would see quite major differences.
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I am aware of this, also I should have factored in America's illegal immigrants (roughly twenty million plus) who would almost certainly put strain on the health and public transport systems etc.
 
Yes, America does have lots of illegal immigrants, which we Americans do nothing about.
 
It's not so much that they are backwards as it is the country's leaders are just too arrogant to effect change that would benefit their own citizens. They're in the mindset that the US is the greatest country in the world and that everyone should be just like it.
 
That's pretty much it. If you consider yourself the pinnacle of perfection, there's no incentive to improve.
 
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