EUROPE VS US

POSTED BY: Arya
UPDATED: Monday, May 15, 2006 15:51
VIEWED: 6491
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ARYA

Sunday, May 14, 2006 10:25 AM

Hi. I was kindof reluctant to post this thread but my curiosity got the better of me. (some of my meaning may get lost during translation but I'll do my best)

I was reading the thread "is this country really ful of stupid people" and I could only agree with all that was being said.
It seems to me that Europe (or maybe I should just say 'my european country' and not speak for the rest of Europe) and the US do not differ so much as I used to think.
But there are a few things I've been wondering about for a long time now, and I'm just going to ask you all for your opinions.
First of all: what do you all think when you think about Europe? Do you think we're really different from folk in the US?
Secondly: do you ever find the lack of 'free/sheap healthcare for everyone' a problem? Or have I heard it wrong and you do have this in the US?

I'm thinking at this point that I have too many questions to post in one thread. Maybe I should seperate them.

I'm a very curious person and I ask questions about everything! So if you get tired of all the probing just say so

KEYOKE

Sunday, May 14, 2006 11:51 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Arya:
Hi. I was kindof reluctant to post this thread but my curiosity got the better of me. (some of my meaning may get lost during translation but I'll do my best)

I was reading the thread "is this country really ful of stupid people" and I could only agree with all that was being said.
It seems to me that Europe (or maybe I should just say 'my european country' and not speak for the rest of Europe) and the US do not differ so much as I used to think.
But there are a few things I've been wondering about for a long time now, and I'm just going to ask you all for your opinions.
First of all: what do you all think when you think about Europe? Do you think we're really different from folk in the US?
Secondly: do you ever find the lack of 'free/sheap healthcare for everyone' a problem? Or have I heard it wrong and you do have this in the US?

I'm thinking at this point that I have too many questions to post in one thread. Maybe I should seperate them.

I'm a very curious person and I ask questions about everything! So if you get tired of all the probing just say so

haha, the healthcare in England is free... doesn't make it any good.

----------------
"We feel the pain of a lifetime lost in a thousand days,
Through the fire and the flames we carry on"

ARYA

Sunday, May 14, 2006 12:30 PM

Yes, I've heard about that. But why is that?
Too little medical personnel? Not enough medical training? The registration with a GP?...
I had an aunt living near Canterbury. She always hoped we would not get sick when we visited her. She never told us why though...

CITIZEN

Sunday, May 14, 2006 12:36 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Keyoke:
haha, the healthcare in England is free... doesn't make it any good.

Funnily enough for all we moan about the healthcare in this country its one of the best in the world.

Better than the US system, as shown by the few credible markers of Infant mortality and average life span.

The only healthcare system I could point to that is defiantly better on average than the UK's would be Germany’s.

More insane ramblings by the people who brought you beeeer milkshakes!
And as you know, these are open forums, you're able to come and listen to what I have to say.

PIZMOBEACH

Sunday, May 14, 2006 1:18 PM

Hi Arya, speaking as a US citizen...

Quote:
Originally posted by Arya:
...
First of all: what do you all think when you think about Europe? Do you think we're really different from folk in the US?

Depends. In terms of basic human needs like HC, no, not so much. In terms of lifestyle values and choices, a bit. But not that much. A good global indication is how universal good taste in TV programming is

Quote:
Originally posted by Arya:
Secondly: do you ever find the lack of 'free/sheap healthcare for everyone' a problem? Or have I heard it wrong and you do have this in the US?

We actually do have universal healthcare in the US and for many it's unfortunately called "The Emergency Room."

That's the worst part of our US system. If you can't afford HC you hope you don't get sick and if you do you go to the ER, which is incredibly expensive. Those costs then get shifted to those that can pay (to simplify it hugely).

Kudos to the Brits. I just saw this article:
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/healthnews.php?newsid=42717
"The British Are Much Healthier Than The Americans"

The article contains:

Here are some figures showing the incidence of some diseases:

Diabetes
USA - 12.5%
UK - 6.1%

High Blood Pressure
USA - 42.4%
UK - 33.8%

Heart Disease
USA - 15.1%
UK - 9.6%

Cancer
USA - 9.5%
UK - 5.5%

Lung Disease
USA - 8.1%
UK - 6.3%

Stroke
USA - 3.8%
UK - 2.3%

Heart Attack
USA - 5.5%
UK - 4%

The study looked at the health of 6,400 Americans and 9,300 British people aged 40-70.

Americans also spend a great deal more on health care than the British do. The average expenditure per head per year on health in the UK is $2,164, while in the USA it stands at $5,274.

You can read about this study in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), May 3 Issue.

The article concludes:
"Britain does not enjoy better levels of health when compared to many of its European neighbours."

One of my newest health heroes:

http://www.feedmebetter.com/

Some of you may have recently seen the tv shows here in the US about British chef Jamie Oliver and his obsession to improve school lunch programs - absolutely fantastic, almost made me weepy to see what those little nippers were being fed

I am aware that similar efforts are being tried in US schools. Hey! Nutritionally challenged food programs is something else we have in common!

Scifi movie music + Firefly dialogue clips, 24 hours a day - http://www.scifiradio.com

RALEIGHBROWNCOAT

Sunday, May 14, 2006 1:20 PM

I actually think we are more similar than different. In fact, I think that once you put aside largely superficial cultural differences, people are the same all over the world. The same things are important to all of us: shelter, food, work, and love of family.

That's why I think Firefly is so great. It speaks to these universal truths and shows us that even 500 years in the future, these same things will still be important. They are the types of things that ties us all together, even if we get in spats here and there.

Just my < $0.02.

MONKSDAD

Sunday, May 14, 2006 3:18 PM

people are people everywere

"And I think calling him that is an insult to the psychotic lowlife community."

PHOENIXROSE

Sunday, May 14, 2006 5:37 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by citizen:
Quote:
Originally posted by Keyoke:
haha, the healthcare in England is free... doesn't make it any good.

Funnily enough for all we moan about the healthcare in this country its one of the best in the world.

Better than the US system, as shown by the few credible markers of Infant mortality and average life span.

Not to disagree on any particular point, since I think "health care" in this country is horrible, but it should be taken into account that there are a lot more people here than England, which means there are more babies, which means there's likely to be more infant mortalities. If it's a percentage I really don't have an argument, but if it's just a tally our massive population should be taken into account.
I guess I do see the UK as having very different people than what I would encounter here; but, y'know, the next fricken state over has very different people. Hell, so does the next city, though not by as much. Things are bound to be a little different in another country or another culture. It just happens. Can't say for certain what every difference would be because I have not gotten the opportunity to visit Europe at all (sad me) but it's certainly interesting to ponder.

*************************************************
One summer.
One mission.
One legion of Browncoats.

Starting June 23rd, we aim to misbehave.

EMBERS

Sunday, May 14, 2006 5:45 PM

I think the reason a lot of things (diabeties and high blood pressure in particular) are listed so high in the USA is because they are over diagnoised:
there is profit in it. The drug companies love a disease for which there is medication but there is no cure.
okay, I'm cynical.

to get back to the question posted:

I love Europe, I find it sophisticated, fascinating, and it is a completely different thing from one country to another (Switzerland is so completely different from Spain, and neither is anything like the UK).

The US seems more homogenized, and more commericalized... Newer but not built to last.

I love the US, I've driven all over it (well, not to Alaska...yet. But I did fly to Hawaii and drove around there some) and the people are kind and warm and open... But not perfect, there are no perfect places.

Okay, I guess that isn't helpful...and I have to run to a Mother's Day luncheon...

Do you have Mother's Day in Europe or is it just a Halmark Holiday (and excuse to sell greeting cards) here in the USA?

**********************************************
watch the R. Tam Session vids: http://www.hittarivertam.nu/
and buy the 'Serenity' comics published by Dark Horse
have you checked out this thread?:
http://www.fireflyfans.net/thread.asp?b=2&t=15816

and listen to 'I'm Going To See Serenity':
http://music.podshow.com/music/listeners/artistdetails.php?BandHash=a0
c814e1229742ce77ed4497cbf4631c

KEYOKE

Sunday, May 14, 2006 5:56 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by citizen:
Quote:
Originally posted by Keyoke:
haha, the healthcare in England is free... doesn't make it any good.

Funnily enough for all we moan about the healthcare in this country its one of the best in the world.

Better than the US system, as shown by the few credible markers of Infant mortality and average life span.

The only healthcare system I could point to that is defiantly better on average than the UK's would be Germany’s.

I have my own reasons against the NHS...

Firstly, when I was about two a doctor screwed up a routine operation on my right ear, leaving me deaf for life. My next doctor wouldn't stand up in court, the result is, they screwed up but I get nothing for it.

More recently, I was rushed into hosptial two years ago after being attacked on my way home, after doing two X-Rays they concluded I had one fracture of my cheek bone. Later that month, they called me in for the operation to fix it, X-Rayed again and found a second fracture. THEN when I was under the aneasthetic, they found two more. Apparently I could've done lasting damage if i'd have whacked it again before thye fixed it. Now I have a metal plate in my head that could've been avoided had the NHS found all four fractures early.

I feel old and bitter... Firefly time.

----------------
"We feel the pain of a lifetime lost in a thousand days,
Through the fire and the flames we carry on"

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