Standards of Living, Goverment plans, benefits, and lack of.. Options

I consider americans as an example, has a good standard of living where the goverment supports it's citizen, unlike many developing countries where beggars, woman and children are still roaming, sleeping in the street, knocking for small changes on your window at most busy traffic lights.

American living isn't all groove and juice. I moved from Canada where the health care system kicks some major butt. Here, It costed me almost $200 for a friggen appointment that resulted in absolutely nothing (I required it for college...ugh). My health care costs for insurance are almost $800 a year, which from what I hear, is wicked cheap. In Canada....it would have costed me maybe $300 annually, and that covers everything. If I wanted to get a prescription, my plan would cover it without having to go through months of paperwork and crap. Here, in America, health care is given to the rich.

Here in America, you have those people who are roaming the streets, sleeping in the streets, begging for change at traffic lights. Everytime I go to Holyoke, there is ALWAYS a guy standing at the intersection by Barnes and Noble begging for money. American government taking care of their citizens?

In Canada, there are a bazillion outreach programs for the homeless. About two years ago, Vancouver starting kicking out the homeless from the city and forced them to come over to Kelowna. For a few months business' where actually shutting down because of the increase in homeless people crowding their front doors. The government set up more shelters, even a few of the churchs started shelters and programs. In about 6 months time, the percentage of homeless went down by at least %50, if not a little more. The Canadian government is putting more emphasis on finding these people jobs, getting them adequate housing, and necassary training to allow them to be self-sufficient. Here, I see nothing of that. I read the paper every day, keep up with the news on news talk radio, and not a single thing is mentioned on helping the homeless. Barely anything is ever mentioned on immigrants either, in regards to helping them. I see something wrong with this, or it could just be me.

Third world countries aren't the only ones lacking in proper government.

As with everything else, I do think it is a good thought to bring unity and peace. But, I also understand that it will never happen. Like what has already been stated, a whole government certainly wouldn't maintain peace, especially if that government was based in religious rootings. One major draw back, is naturally assuming this would ever happen, it would be under the basis of ONE single faith. What if someone decided that that faith was not good for them? What would happen to that person? What would happen to the groups that went with their own paths?

With the education system, as has been mentioned (pardon my lack of rememberance for who it was), finding a teacher who lacks any of those prejudices will be damn near impossible. Finding Anyone who lacks them will be next to be impossible.

Prayer is for those who choose to prayer, not to be forced. Freedom of will and thought and expression.

Turning the military force into a police force? My total lack of understanding of how that would be a good thing prevents me from saying anything at all about it.

Has anyone seen the movie Equillibrium? If not, it's a film about a society that doesn't feel a damn thing. Nothing. A society that doesn't have art, diversity, etc. It's all white and gray, straight walled, perfect organization, one government who controls millions of drones. People who walk the same way, dress the same way, eat the same way, look the same way, everything is done the same friggen way.

How boring, uneducational, dull, and almost revolting. How would that constitute as being good? To not even be yourself is setting you up for being incinerated. Fun.

Disclaimer: I probably worded some things wrong, or missed a few points. Being in a hurry isn't good, lol.

~ Title and description changed to reflect more accurately on topic content. ! Kinjo

This post has been edited by | Kinjo: Sep 21 2005, 07:23 AM

We live in a plutocracy here in America. The present administration has done more to further this than any other in our history. 12.7% poverty level! I am counted within this group. Our system of rules regulating 'gaining' the Disabled status are rigorous. You are required to pass their criteria of disability, then the government doesn't begin the dole until you've had NO INCOME for 5 months! (Bear in mind that I've worked for well over 30 years and contributed to our Social Security) Try to live on air for 5 months! If you make over a certain amount of money (this is determined by how long and how much you contributed to Social Security) then you are denied food stamps, housing, energy assistance, medical assistance and there just isn't any dental plan. You will be elligable for prescription drug coverage but at a steep cost and I couldn't get Medicare for 2-1/2 years! All this and you get treated as if you are dirt for having a disability. Granted, there are a goodly number of scammers out there that feed off the system but...most of what regulates my section of the economic pie are the fatcat politicians, who never have to worry about the laws they enact! They have their own health plans and retirement plans, untouched by taxes, etc. Hell, if they don't think they make enough, they vote themselves a pay raise! Even if they serve only one term, Senators retire with at least a $100,000/yr salary + full medical coverage until they die! (On disabiliuty I cannot make more than $800/mo income - from any source without losing my disability status...I'd rather work...I made much more working...but what didn't they understand about disability? I'm not allowed to own anything that could be construed as an asset.) Thanks for the rant, I could go on.... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

It was stated above that Americans are viewed as being rather dumb...Uh huh! We lead very insular lives. When I was growing up it was during the McCarthy era where everyone was afraid of being labeled a communist or a facist. We are not taught foreign languages in our primary schools but later, in high school and college. We are a very young nation. Lately our political government has been adopting coldwar Russian tactics (KGB/National Security) against the populace. The Fraud that was perpetrated during the last 'election' was staggering! We have the potential to be a very good country but greed has spread too far. China and Japan now own 48% of our national debt. We are becoming a third world power. We live in interesting times!