Disturbing reason why a person wants to leave America

[Mulligan]

What I find very interesting about the last 20 years of crime statistics is that they have dropped in pretty much every state, regardless of any particular state's policies. So it doesn't appear to be related in a meaningful way to gun laws, three=strike rules, Rudy's New York clean-up, improvements in policing, etc, since these policies are set state by state, and every state regardless of policies has seen a vast improvement. I guess there has probably been an overall trend to incarcerate that might have had an effect.

The nation-wide change in abortion is a possibility best left undiscussed here.

My favorite theory is that the drop in crime rate lags the phase-out of leaded gasoline by 15-20 years. Kids who grew up with the extra lead exposure committed more crimes when they reached the high-crime young adult years. There have been international studies that claim to be able to see this trend at varying times around the world, but I haven't dug into the studies themselves.

I'm hoping that I will always welcome kids on my lawn.

I know the crime rate went down in the nearby metro city. But it was really assisted by more of a statistical accounting strategy, so this could lead to some misleading info. One example is, if a person went one a multiple crime spree in one night, say 5 car thefts in one night, it has now been consolidated to one event instead of separating out the individual offenses by the same person.

 

[ICNTR]

Interesting thread. As usual, I would respectfully assume that the truth lies somewhere in the middle. Oh my though, how the extremes on each end will so fervently defend their beliefs!

I still firmly hold to the opinion that the US is the best place in the world to live. However, the US society in general and certainly our government has indeed lost ground when it comes to honesty, integrity, fiscal responsibility, and respect for freedom. It is far more productive though to focus on positive things and to make improvements rather than theorizing about our future demise (..which I do not believe is imminent). That said, I do not mock nor belittle the right of some to "theorize" and prepare for future contingencies as they see fit.

I am slightly bothered by the connotations attached to some of the labels referenced above. The poplular term of "consipiracy theorist" seems to automatically thrusts one into the category of crazy nut with no merit. Blindly attaching that label to one with ideas other than those held by the mainstream is likely not accurate nor productive.

Similarly, "God, Guns, and Nuts" seems to label one who respects God and/or legally carry a firearms into the "Nut" category. That reminds me of the time where a signifcant world leader theorized about why some may "cling to guns or religion". I personally would fall into this category and to the best of my knowledge, I am neither a nut nor a dreaded "consiparcy theorist".....but then again, it is entirely possible that I may be too delusional to know

Peace to all. I slip off my soap box reiterating the fact that I believe this is the best place in the world and I am grateful for it. Thanks to all who have sacrificed to keep it so.

 

[HFWR]

Interesting thread. As usual, I would respectfully assume that the truth lies somewhere in the middle. Oh my though, how the extremes on each end will so fervently defend their beliefs!

I agree that this is still the best place in the world to live. However, IMO, the US society in general and certainly our government has indeed lost ground when it comes to honesty, integrity, fiscal responsibility, and respect for freedom. It is far more productive though to focus on positive things and to make improvements rather than theorizing about our future demise (..which I do not believe is imminent). That said, I do not mock nor belittle the right of some to "theorize" and prepare for future contingencies as they see fit.

I am slightly bothered by the connotations attached to some of the labels referenced above. The poplular term of "consipiracy theorist" seems to automatically thrusts one into the category of crazy nut with no merit. Blindly attaching that label to one with ideas other than those held by the mainstream is likely not accurate nor productive.

Similarly, "God, Guns, and Nuts" seems to label one who respects God and/or legally carry a firearms into the "Nut" category. That reminds me of the time where a signifcant world leader theorized about why some may "cling to guns or religion". I personally would fall into this category and to the best of my knowledge, I am neither a nut nor a dreaded "consiparcy theorist".....but then again, it is entirely possible that I may be too delusional to know

Peace to all. I slip off my soap box reiterating the fact that I believe this is the best place in the world and I am grateful for it. Thanks to all who have sacrificed to keep it so.

Pleading guilty for inventing one of the aforementioned labels, it was as much descriptive of the almost laser-like focus of some people on certain topics, to the exclusion of nearly anything else, as a critique of the subject matter per se. And it was specifically referring to a certain segment of my Facebook friends, who rarely post about anything else, and who are forevermore outraged, often about things that are inaccurate, lacking context, or, sadly, completely made up. It's not at all limited to one particular wing of thought, though I guess the majority of my FB friends lean in one direction...

I think people whip themselves into a frenzy, helped by media outlets more interested in attracting eyeballs than disseminating truth.

Assuming that things have only gone to heck in the past few years reflects a poor understanding of US history...

Btw, I happen to own firearms, know how to use them, and fully support legal ownership.

 

[Gumby]

It has been my observation that there are a substantial number of people in the world who are not satisfied unless they are unhappy. I try to avoid them.

 

[Nodak]

It has been my observation that there are a substantial number of people in the world who are not satisfied unless they are unhappy. I try to avoid them.

Amen!

 

[Redbugdave]

It has been my observation that there are a substantial number of people in the world who are not satisfied unless they are unhappy. I try to avoid them.

Yeah and I have to work with some of them and listen to the whining that goes on all day...

 

[nun]

The high cost of health care in the US will probably be the deciding factor in me returning to the UK. Going into ER I'm looking at $5k per year in insurance premiums before out of pocket costs. In the UK I'd pay $0 and my cost of living would be less too.

 

[Bestwifeever]

The high cost of health care in the US will probably be the deciding factor in me returning to the UK. Going into ER I'm looking at $5k per year in insurance premiums before out of pocket costs. In the UK I'd pay $0 and my cost of living would be less too.

I believe you consider the UK to be your home (and I guess no one pays taxes in the UK for health care if the cost is $0--sorry, couldn't resist ). Would you not return to the UKeven if the costs were equal?

 

[Badger]

The high cost of health care in the US will probably be the deciding factor in me returning to the UK. Going into ER I'm looking at $5k per year in insurance premiums before out of pocket costs. In the UK I'd pay $0 and my cost of living would be less too.

I've been wanting to take a trip to the UK but thought it was expensive compared to the US or are you just refering to health care costs? If I'm misinformed then it's time to make plans for a visit.

Cheers!

 

[oldtrig]

The past was never as good as you remember.
Not true, it was much better. We had no crime when I grew up in the. My Dad had a business with windows everywhere in the building. No way you could do that today. We never even locked our doors back then. Try that today. Schools taught and had discipline, not that way today. People had jobs and never worried about getting a pink slip. Doctors made house calls. Maybe you did not grow up when I did or maybe you are from a different part of the world than me. I was born in 1947 and I can say my youth days were great and carefree. I never even seen any drugs until I was 20 years old. Nobody in school was dealing. Again you are wrong. Things were much better back then than today. Ask most my age and they will tell you the same thing as me. oldtrig

 

[haha]

I agree. People often say, no way I would live my life over, or perhaps, yes, I would do it again if I could know at the outset what I know today.

Not me, I'd l be happy to just run it again, no constraints. For sure it was sometimes painful or hard, but big deal.

I was born in '41. Bad things might happen- polio could put you in an iron lung until you died, but bad things can always happen.

Ha

 

[JoeWras]

I had a family member who used to say: "There are two jobs better than your current one. Your next job, and your last job."

Insert <whatever> in place of "job" if you need to.

 

[oldtrig]

We had much a simpler life back then. I remember many days just sitting on our front porch after a work day and talking. No TV, no internet , no loud music from across the street, just good clean talking to friends and family. We were taught to respect others, something that is rare today.

If you do not believe things are bad just go spend the day at your local Walmart store and see how people treat each other. There are so many scams with big companies like WM that it is almost out of control. I was told last week that the trend here is to go to walmart and buy something. Charge it on your credit card. Use it for a few days then pawn it for cash. Then just refuse to pay your credit card.

Whats wrong with people? I say drugs are playing a big part in the downfall of America. Are we winning the war on drugs? No way.
Its just how things are today here in the US. Take a look at Detroit? Would you retire to the city there? Lots of other cities are quickly becoming just like that one. Will it ever turn around? I doubt it in my lifetime.

Hate to sound so negative but I speak only from what I witness everyday. I help my neighbors all the time and never once ask them to pay me. It is just the way I was brought up. Do your neighbors help you? They should if they can but most don't bother. oldtrig

 

[brewer12345]

Monty Python - Four Yorkshiremen - YouTube

 

[photoguy]

The past was never as good as you remember.
Not true, it was much better.

Maybe you did not grow up when I did or maybe you are from a different part of the world than me. I was born in 1947 and I can say my youth days were great and carefree. I never even seen any drugs until I was 20 years old. Nobody in school was dealing. Again you are wrong. Things were much better back then than today. Ask most my age and they will tell you the same thing as me. oldtrig

I guess you didn't have to deal with segregation or the draft?

I was born much later but even the tame stories my Dad told me about seeing separate bathrooms / waterfountains is just unbelievable to me.

 

[oldtrig]

I guess you didn't have to deal with segregation or the draft?
yep

 

[Major Tom]

I guess you didn't have to deal with segregation or the draft?
yep

Well that was a good conversation

 

[Bestwifeever]

Well that was a good conversation

Yep.

 

[REWahoo]

yep

Was that a yep you did or yep you didn't?

 

[FIREd]

Ah the good old days! I think our minds play tricks on us. The good memories remain and the bad ones fade away. Heck I am 3 years into retirement and work does not seem so bad anymore.

 

[MichaelB]

Was that a yep you did or yep you didn't?

Yep

 

[Badger]

Yep

 

[oldtrig]

Did I deal with the draft? yep, I got drafted and joined the AF before I was to go army. Best thing that ever happened to me. I was on the wrong track in life and the military set me straight. I also met my wife of 43 years while in the AF , the best one thing that ever happened to me. I gained a great woman and I came back alive.

segregation , yep. I seen what was happening. Lots of cruel things done to many people. I actually witnessed a KKK meeting on a road near my Dads business. I think the timeframe was about 1960. They scared the crap our of me and my brother because we came on to them when driving around late one day. There were lines of cars for about a mile and all these people out of their cars with the white things on and pointed hats. The old rednecks were just plain sick. Many still are today.

My Dad was a hard working person with good family values who treated everyone good and he taught my brother and I to do the same. That type upbringing is very rare today.
All you younger people here that only know what happened back then by reading a book, I can tell you it was real. I witnessed the drinking fountain and restroom . oldtrig

 

[Badger]

I guess you didn't have to deal with segregation or the draft?

I was born much later but even the tame stories my Dad told me about seeing separate bathrooms / waterfountains is just unbelievable to me.

Since you were born much later and have no prior first hand experience, did your Dad tell you about the Civil Rights Movement of the 60s that included the 1964 Civil Rights Act and the 1965 Voting Act that began dealing with the problems you mention? There have been a great deal of positive advancements that were the result of those "good ol' days". Get your Dad to tell you about some of them.

Cheers!

 

[Sarah in SC]

Monty Python - Four Yorkshiremen - YouTube

Beautiful.