How do Americans generally perceive Britain?
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xxhelterskelterxx — 14 years ago(February 14, 2012 08:59 AM)
The problem with comparing crime rates in each country is that policing is much more heavily tied to politics in the US. You generally don't see politicians on TV promising x% in crime reduction, and the pressuring the police to duke the stats to make it happen. It's be surprised, personally, if the UK had a higher crime rate. Especially when serious crimes are looked at.
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Imrahil1234 — 13 years ago(April 19, 2012 06:26 AM)
Believe me, not all Americans think the UK is like some episode of Downton Abbey.
I've never been there but I've pretty much it's sorta like some parts of the northern U.S. Similar weather, crime rates, post industrial, the town I live in (Springfield Massachusetts) is probably not all that different from some places in northern England. -
yajji — 10 years ago(August 27, 2015 10:11 PM)
Both Australia and the UK have higher all around crime rates than the US.
You've got to be kidding me. Per population, the US has higher crime rates than both the UK AND Australia combined. It's 4.7, while Australia's is 1.1 and the UK is 1.0. Tiny, compared to the USA. That is a huge difference.
Stop trying to portray America as a crime-free utopia. It isn't and you only have to view these figures to see how much of a problem it has with violence:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_intentional_homicide_rate -
princesstinymeat — 15 years ago(August 14, 2010 11:06 AM)
I'm American and I've had a romance with UK, especially England, since childhood. I've visited and traveled several times since the '80s, and I've witnessed the changes you describe. It's pretty much the same in the US (save the flag waving, which remains wildly popular). While I might miss some of my romantic notions of England (informed, no doubt, by Victorian lit), the underlying Englishness (whatever that means) is still evident, especially in North Yorkshire. London is just like any other major city - New York, Hong Kong, etc. - but with better architecture, politer people, and crazier, impossible to memorize (for non-natives) secondary and tertiary streets.
I think establishing a national identity is really challenging for England right now, but that's just a natural growing pain that many countries are experiencing during this era of globalization. -
twelveboar — 10 years ago(August 05, 2015 05:32 AM)
Have to slightly nitpick with Politer People Point re: London. The people there may be politer than other major cities (sans Toronto, where everyone seems very nice), but by-and-large they're bloody rude compared to the rest of the country. Sorry Londoners, but most of ye are right grumpy gets.
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meddle712002 — 15 years ago(November 07, 2010 11:45 AM)
When Americans say, "we want our country back", I think it's unfair to play the race card and an easy trick for the socialist left, who want to change the way we live here,in the U.S.. Race is always a good tool for fear mongering because there's hardly anything else the left have. Surely, there are select whites or organizations, who do not like our president because of his race, but, it's not about race for the majority of us, even blacks are at the Tea Party rallies and are leaning towards conservatism, so the liberal race baiting, because(horrors)whites don't approve of Obama is a tired argument. A lot of it has fears about America heading towards hard line Socialism or a possible Socialst/Communist dictatorship or going further, even, World Government.Hiliary Clinton, trying to get N.A.T.O. to come down on Arizona, didn't help either and neither did Anita Dunn, with her loony proclamation of love for Mao, when she spoke to those students, or the liberal left, constantly getting in the way of securing of our borders against illegal immigration or undermining the military in it's pursuit of punishing terrorists(I firmly believe it should be done by a military court, not in our city halls) along with Cap N'Trade and Global Warming/Climate Change and what other hippie drivel they come up with. Damn right, I want my country back and I sure as hell, am not going to sit with more hippie model socialism, or loony leftists trying to show Marx, had the perfect model for leadership, and I'll have my toy with my Happy Meal thankyou.
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jamie4br — 15 years ago(December 12, 2010 11:12 AM)
"Now I'm not saying EVERY anti-Obama person is a racist but to say prejudice and ignorant fear isn't there is apologizing for the racism that thrives and isn't decried enough amongst conservatives."
There are fringe groups in the right that claim these things, but no established conservative group has advocated racism. If you want to understand what non-racial criticisms the vast majority of conservatives have against Obama, then read National Review or something. Race is simply not a factor. Ideology and policy are far LARGER factors. You are buying into a false stereotype of conservatives created by the left. Put your thinking cap on and try again.
"Every time I ask that I get no answer from conservatives. You call him a socialist but can't think of any socialist policies"
It's not solely what he's done, it's what he wants to do. Look through Obama's personal relationships throughout his youth and adult life. There are a lot of self-declared socialists that he himself claims shaped his world-views. If a Republican had these ties to self-declared fascists (though one can argue that fascism is merely an ideological extension of socialism), you better believe that liberals would be up in arms. Socialism is the process of using government to "solve problems", yet this process almost always involves regulatory measures that reduce choice and individual assessment. Healthcare, cap & trade, nationalizing 2 of the three largest private auto-makers in the world, limited what salaries employees at private enterprises (banks) can earn, etc. All of his reforms almost always involve increasing the size and intrusiveness of the government, which is essentially what socialism does. He may not be a socialist in the truest ideological sense of the term, but when it comes to domestic policies, you can't miss it's influences.
As for foreign policy, he's largely continuing Bush's policies because (all of the rhetoric aside) they were largely effective. -
Dwf2112 — 15 years ago(December 14, 2010 01:56 AM)
Cap and trade was originally Bush (H, not W)'s idea. It's not socialist, it has its roots in the ideas of Milton Friedman who's as enthusiastic a defender of capitalism as there ever was.
His healthcare plan was almost exactly the same as the one proposed by Richard Nixon, and the one that Mitt Romney supported and passed in Massachusetts.
He "nationalized" 2 of the 3 largest auto-makers in the world, because the alternative was them going bankrupt. As with banks, the plan is to "sell" them back to private investors when it becomes profitable. This is what he recently did with citigroup, which is now a private company again and netted the government a 12 billion dollar profit. This is certainly preferable to having raised that same amount of money through income tax increases while letting citigroup fail and leaving investors and pensions out in the cold.
As for his foreign policy, I disagree that he's continuing Bush's policies because they were effective, but rather because he had no choice. Obama didn't think we should have been in Iraq in the first place, but he was smart enough to realize that he couldn't just pull the troops out once he got into office.
I agree with you that many people oppose Obama for ideological reasons, and not those of prejudice. But the conservative intellectual establishment, in my opinion, has not sufficiently distanced itself from the racist, lunatic fringe. 20% of people in this country believe Obama is a Muslim, and the response of most intelligent conservatives I know is to say "oh of course that's not true, but I understand why they think that, because his father is from Kenya and his middle name is Hussein, etc." The fact is, the number of people who think Obama is a Muslims has more than doubled in the last two years even though no evidence has come to light in that time. The Republican establishment, both political and intellectual, could put this to bed any time they want, but it's more convenient for them not to do so. That's why you have people like Mitch McConnel resorting to intellectual and moral cowardice by saying things like "I don't think he's a Muslim, but I'm not sure." McCain had the decency and honesty to correct people who spouted that sort of nonsense when he was running in '08, but it seems like he was the last man of integrity in the GOP. -
meddle712002 — 15 years ago(March 16, 2011 11:23 PM)
I never liked Bush. I have read, interesting conspiracy theories about Bush setting up the guidelines for Obama to follow. I sure as hell don't like the Clinton's either. Who knows? There's cheats on both sides. I don't trust any politician as far as I can throw em'.
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bombsniffingdog — 15 years ago(March 16, 2011 04:50 AM)
.Look up the % of Republicans who believe Obama is 1) a Muslim 2) an immigrant and tell me that race isn't playing a significant factor in his opposition. Now I'm not saying EVERY anti-Obama person is a racist but to say prejudice and ignorant fear isn't there is apologizing for the racism that thrives and isn't decried enough amongst conservatives.
Now you are cordially invited to removed your head from your ass. Obama, by his own admission, IS a muslim. If he isn't an immigrant then why does he have a Kenyan birth certificate? Why are his birth records sealed? One does not seal records unless there is something to hide. The DOJ, under Obamas thumb, refused to prosecute the BLACK panthers who engaged in WHITE-voter intimidation. He claimed, without checking the FACTS, a WHITE officer "acted stupidly" when doing the job he is paid to do because another whiney black man whined and cried "racism". His entire presidential career is dotted with incidents like this and you have the temerity to call Republicans "racist"? The democrats are the ones that still tell blacks they are inferior by supporting Affirmative Action. They encourage slave labor by keeping our borders wide open. All dems are good for is decrying racism out one side of their mouths yet encouraging racism with their pandering social policies. Friggin' hypocrites all. -
activista — 13 years ago(June 17, 2012 09:47 PM)
@bombsniffingdog
Seriously, you're a stunted-brain beep idiot, and practically EVERYTHING you're said has been disproved over the past year-apparently you're one of there right-wing nuts who can't think for themselves and believe everything they see on FOX News. These are ALL FOX News talking points, and they're ALL bull****. Especially the Black Panther case,which was basically overblown by a government Republican lawyer who just wanted something to throw at Obama and possibly make a name for himself. The case was never really pursued because no one ever made a complaint FOR the case to be pursued, because the Panthers in this case never actually harmed anyone. YOU'RE the one who needs to check YOUR facts next time you want to throw up some bulls*** like these so-called facts you threw out there! -
meddle712002 — 15 years ago(March 16, 2011 11:18 PM)
Yeah and Schwarzenegger is an Austrian immigrant and a Hitler admirer. So people are bothered by Obama's alleged birth place,and his religion. Islam, is getting more of a foothold in this country as the days go on while Christianity is getting to be more of a no no. I bet those leftists, would have a field day if Regan's family were Nazi sympathizers along with being Xstian.
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meddle712002 — 14 years ago(April 06, 2011 03:59 PM)
Lets see, proposing to close down a couple of military bases here, in the U.S. kissing ass of every country he has visited. Why should he aplogize for the bad ol' U.S.A.? Now he backs off on closing Guatanamo, remember when he promised that one? Cracking down on Arizona, for cracking down on illegal immigration, Hiliary whining to the U.N. and the Lawsuits on Arizona? Not only is he socialist minded he's an ass. Mao on the White House XMAS tree?Socialist gits in his cabinet and staff? Anita(I LOVE MAO) Dunn, ring a bell? Tongue wagging twit. Don't go thinking that I adored Bush, either.Just because I don't worship Obama, I'm no fan of Bush. I DIDN'T VOTE FOR HIM.Regardless of who is responsible for the cap n' trade, and carbon credits. I think it's stupid.Still the same, money for those in power, while the little guy gets it through the a s s. Also, I don't place much stock in either party, I'm more about the individual. You sound like one of those socialists who needs to take his or her blinders off.If you rooted for Obama you got just what you deserved. My problem wasn't that he was elected, pal. It was all that "HOPE N' CHANGE", drivel. I didn't believe for a second that the middle east war, would be over. We're still there, just like I knew, we would be. I'm not surprised that Obama, is sending drones at suspected terrorists. Health Care option? HA HA! Remember, "we won't know, what's in this bill, until it's passed!"? Now, you tell me, why on earth I should support a statement like that? Health Care option, my ass.Affordable Health Care? Take a look at California,San Francisco, in particular.They're broke.Pelosi is nuts.All that Botox, is making her nuts.She broke California, She can't trust her face, so why should I trust her? Yeah, she's a minor power now, but I still think she is in, no matter what. If you don't think Obama and his cronies aren't socialist(Marxist) then you need to look again.Yes, I see socialism as Marxist. I don't care what the hippies call it.From the regulating or all together banning certain foods, and offending condiments, to going after FOX NEWS, to educaton, union thuggery, climate change, to our daily lives. It is socialism, and it's going to get worse.