Hi Gabe
Thanks for the info about the poor in the USA. This
has been common knowledge this side of the pond
whatever Mario says. I had actually met with the
respected black author and columnist, Gary Younge,
last year to explore Mario's position on the American
poor compared to the middle classes in Europe and got
confirmation of the the true picture you and I have
always known, and of course, you lived in the States
longer than I did and we both freely chose to settle
in the UK with no regrets.
Re emigrating to the USA, we in the UK are creatures
of habit, as are others of course, and would not now
readily opt for the USA. Minimally life isn't bad at
all in the UK even if we are somewhat congested in the
big cities. Where on earth would one get free
comprehensive medical care without questions asked
about insurance cover etc and with absolutely no
payment once one hits 60? Yes, Mario, it is free for
us old cogers! We stop paying for health cover at 60.
Unfortunately we were cheated on dental care by that
comedian of a Prime Minister, Tony Blair. Where would
one get free (yes free at 60) travel by train, tube,
bus etc in Greater London that makes a car quite
unnecessary? Where would one get the fantastic social
and ethnic diversity that say London offers? Where
else would one get quite the comprehensive quality of
media and intellectual stimulation so easily and
readily? And where can one be quite oneself as in the
UK especially with its great pubs? OK it is far from
perfect but for my money choosing between the UK and
the USA is no brainer. Further, with a composite
population of some 400 million and expanding, the EU
of which we are an integral part, has a lot of
diversity, history and sophistication compared to the
smaller USA---population wise (300 million) and until
very recently, blowing cash as though there were no
tomorrow!
However, there is nothing to beat the USA for those
young people keen to get a good post-graduate
scientific, engineering and medical education that
opens wide career opportunities. On this count, I
think the USA surpases any other country for
considerable scope in PhD and post doctoral
study---notwithstanding Edward's recent 'dictum' in
his specialist area of 'knowledge' about the PhD! And
oh yes, republicanism appeals to me and the space and
its diversity is incredibly attractive in America.
Above all, as in Australia, the greater availability
of space reduces the need to live cheek by jowl that,
in itself can generate tension in a society even
though living in big cities is so attractive on both
sides of the pond.
Let me finish by suggesting that you have had two
bites of the cherry on this issue of UK versus the
USA. Poor Mario had responded by suggesting that the
only test to ascertain the 'greatness' of the USA was
to visit the place and note how many want to get
there as migrants etc. However, a nameless moderator
blocked his post ( I have a copy), saying, quite
incorrectly of course, that Mario was off [to]pic.
How on earth a reply to a post can be off topic can
only be understood by the incredibly strange logic of
Goanet moderation! How do I know? I have been
moderating Goanet moderators for a while and have
found them seriously unable to adequately do the jobs
they have taken on.
Cornel
--- Gabe Menezes [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
It seems that the Middle class in the USA are really
equivalent to
'the poor in Western Europe'
