@ flange, yes the Bush, right wing neo-cons are abhorent, full of self interest. However I do not think that they deliberately set out to destroy people or ethnically cleanse countries. Quite often there can be terrible consequences of their action. (Lets not get into the wrongs or rights of Iraq war)
Those that deliberately inflict suffering on the masses, be it mass rapings, ethnic cleansings, gunning down innocent protesters, blowing up aircraft. These to me are lower.
The fact that whilst some idiot is making decisions I don't want, the States (or any large country) is so vast I can almost hide away from it
Not really - people are making decisions that DO affect you but are thousands of miles away in a different world.
One of my favourite little corners of Americana (from Texas!):
I love Sky Atlantic
LHS, if America is so great and the UK is so awful why are you here (are you over here?). Every thread related to America you pop up and dismiss any criticism of the US and counter it with how the UK is just as bad or worse.
In your mind, is there anything wrong with America at all?
I remember a drama-doc about the American reporter who first exposed the corrupt "allowances" practices in the House of Commons.
At a moment of extreme frustration at yet again being baulked by a smirking jobsworth at the Mother of Parliaments whilst trying to access information, she started to weep. Her husband asked her what was wrong. She said "How can you stand it?" He asked, what? She said:
"Being British."
Jeepers 'American' is not a race. You can be called xenophobic but not racist.
Personally, I just can't stand the way they speak.
Lol.. but American jobsworth bureaucracy is far worse than ours, fair dos.
Jeepers 'American' is not a race.
I'm guessing you mean that 'race' implies homogeneity?
You cannot judge a whole population by it's government.
and before someone says they voted for them.. You can only vote for who is put before you.
so then what were we to think of South Africa and the apartheid government?
We should not think the white electors were largely racist then?
Less than half of them voted for any given president. But they don't even make the rules and foreign policy and whatnot. Entrenched opinions are what run the show really.
@ratswithwings, you're right American is not "a race", but that doesn't matter:
The UN does not define "racism", however it does define "racial discrimination": According to the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination,
the term "racial discrimination" shall mean any distinction, exclusion, restriction, or preference based on race, colour, descent, or national or ethnic origin ...
it is obvious any country would be considered a race or else saying all Pakistanis are something derogatory...... would not be racist
the race relations act here also specifies nationality
Anti-Americanism seems an acceptable racism to certain people, strangely though, that racism usually comes from the very same people who throw the accusation so freely at others when it suits.
Depends what you mean by anti americanism. You can oppose what they stand for , represent or do without actually being racist.
i am not keen on what the state Israel does.
I assume i can criticise what Israel does without being accused of racism? well you would think but not even on STW can you do this.
They have the right to free speech and to bear arms. Best guarantee against evil government.
Great speech. I liked that.
Americans? It's a big country, really **** big. I've been a few times. I'd say attitudes within the country are different in the same way that attitudes in different parts of Europe are different.
On the whole I've found Americans to be extremely friendly and fairly open minded.
Oh, and if you never want to have to buy yourself a drink, wear military fatigues.
so what
I actually found the uncritical reverence for anyone in the military a bit wearing after a while. They think everyone in the military's a hero, which considering how bloated their military is, probably includes a fair few paper shufflers like myself. The first few people shaking your hand and thankIng you are a pleasant change from the UK, where people tend to assume you're a parking attendant or paintballer or something. Then it gets tedious, as you have to listen to another set of tales from some old fart, and be treated at length to his bizarre world views, which he naturally assumes you share.
The US is like any other country, it has good and bad points and people.
WARNING - POSSIBLE TJ FODDER
Firstly - Using any countries military force as a basis for its inhabitants... inherently wrong.
As is any member of society who doesn't express a form of gratitude to a person who is in a uniform for their country.
So, as an insider, I will say, travelling anywhere... especially from England to the States.. Foreigners will usually not get on with any common language Foreigner. English people will never understand the common hospitality of a Americans.
Let's refer to airtragics post... You would almost never get a stranger expressing any interest in conversation like any of those old american farts in the UK. Just wont.
With England to France, You dont speak french, so you can ignore them, or enjoy the novelty of them speaking English to you. Softens the blow, Etc. Etc.
I have lived in the states for a while as well as a significant time in the UK. I am heading back to the states shortly and I will say this.. As much as I hate the ethos of many of the American public... I find it hard to defend the English public. 
(but that is because I am a foreigner with a common language)
Anyone else watching Panorama right now?
I am. This is appalling, this would be appalling in somewhere like Egypt, in the World's largest economy and in the richest Nation State the World has ever seen it is simply unconscionable 
They do and the evidence is in the fact that they export their further education system to more people than any other country. In fact, education is their largest export.
Really because they clearly **** failed to educate most of their own populace? Has Britain ever voted in something as mind numbingly ignorant and short sighted as Bush's administration?
It's not scientific at all but....
Holy cow.. that article uses the fact that Americans did worse than Belgians in a test to prove that a state monopoly on education was terrible.
If people got to choose their kids' school, education options would be endless.
FAIL!
How nicely ironic 
Really because they clearly **** failed to educate most of their own populace?
That they fail to get everyone the same access is not the same thing as not having the best further education system in the world.
Bear in mind I also said 'further', as in higher, as in above secondary school....
The documentary was very limited but it showed graphically the worst of America.
That they fail to get everyone the same access is not the same thing as not having the best further education system in the world.
Really? I would have though access to education for all was a prerequisite of a good education system.
I was always under the impression that the output of PhD studies in the US was about the same as in the UK. However they take an extra 2 years over it to allow undergrads to catch up
That they fail to get everyone the same access is not the same thing as not having the best further education system in the world.
I think it is. Equality of opportunity is a major part of being 'good' imo.
EDIT: High 5 tj.
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