My personal (Polish) view on USA.

Quoting: witek

Capitalist America has created a sick environment where only wealth accumulation and consumption matter.

in the U.S.A you need to show off with $$$ , house , car and other material possesions.

everyone is in the rat race to buy the most toys , the biggest car, fastest boat, etc

it is a very selfish society where only the individual matters most

Quoting: Tyk

How come there is so many homeles people on the streets (talking about NYC).

Tyk	Edited by: Administrator May 11, 07, 15:48 / #
How come there is so many homeles people on the streets (talking about NYC). Beggers in subway and buses and what about people who don`t have medical and they are left to die. And the guns. We don`t have shooting festival in polish schools. Maybe we are poorer, but still in Europe.

shewolfThreads: 5 Posts: 1,833 Joined: Dec 23, 06	May 11, 07, 16:03 / #
Quoting: Tyk How come there is so many homeles people on the streets (talking about NYC). Beggers in subway and buses and what about people who don`t have medical and they are left to die. And the guns. We don`t have shooting festival in polish schools. Maybe we are poorer, but still in Europe. Many homeless people are drug addicts, which is a serious problem in the US. Some of them have been released from mental institutions because there isn't enough room. Others can't afford to pay for housing because the cost of living is so high. Medical care is expensive and many people can't afford it or medical insurance. The government offers free medical care for those who qualify but it's very poor, limited care. Emergency rooms are often overloaded with people and it can take 8 hours or more just to see a doctor. It can take weeks or even months to see a non emergency doctor. Guns are easy to get here. And most people who use them for "shooting festivals" have mental problems. Mental problems are a lot more common today, especially among children who grow up to be troubled adults. There's a lot of autism now. Some attribute it to toxic chemicals in the environment.

witekThreads: 2 Posts: 739 Joined: Apr 1, 07	May 11, 07, 16:14 / #
Capitalist America has created a sick environment where only wealth accumulation and consumption matter. in the U.S.A you need to show off with $$$ , house , car and other material possesions. everyone is in the rat race to buy the most toys , the biggest car, fastest boat, etc it is a very selfish society where only the individual matters most

FISZThreads: 31 Posts: 2,607 Joined: Jun 14, 06	Edited by: Moderator May 11, 07, 16:18 / #
Quoting: witek Capitalist America has created a sick environment where only wealth accumulation and consumption matter. in the U.S.A you need to show off with $$$ , house , car and other material possesions. everyone is in the rat race to buy the most toys , the biggest car, fastest boat, etc it is a very selfish society where only the individual matters most I smell bullsh*t :) I'm not materialistic. I have the bare essentials. I'm not in a rat race..for toys? I drive a golf and don't own a boat. What is your point here? Do you just associate with these types of people or do you learn this on TV? When you live here for more than 10 or so years working hard for everything you get, I'd like to see you make that statemant again. Turn off the telly...it's schmucks like you that try to make the average person look bad....so lame. oooo I'm on the hate Americans bandwagon. Pff... Quoting: Tyk How come there is so many homeles people on the streets (talking about NYC). People give up on their lives and it's sad. Sometimes they go through divorce, drug addiction, job lay offs, stock market crashes...whatever, but they are the only people to blame for giving up on themselves. They refuse to get a job and we have plenty out there. I'm, not talking about our poverty stricken areas, I'm just referring to the bums that drink the hooch all day.

Tyk	May 11, 07, 16:23 / #
See? I dont wanna to generalise. Every country of this world has it problems. One big A OK. But what do you do to prevent "shooting festivals" ? This could be helpful.

FISZThreads: 31 Posts: 2,607 Joined: Jun 14, 06	May 11, 07, 16:25 / #
Quoting: Tyk But what do you do to prevent "shooting festivals" ? If we could figure this out we would. Some people only see it as criminals taking out criminals (population control) but of course there are always innocent lives taken. It's a second ammendment right that Americans have to protect their home only, but unfortunately not everyone is responsible.

Patrycja19Threads: 79 Posts: 3,972 Joined: Oct 31, 06	May 11, 07, 21:24 / #
Quoting: FISZ I smell bullsh*t :) yes, it is funny that he knows so much about America and its people. yet doesnt live here. 2 years and living in a bad neighborhood hardly qualifies you for spokesman for America Witek. Quoting: Tyk One big A OK. But what do you do to prevent "shooting festivals" ? This could be helpful. its unfortunate that it is easy to get a gun, but, to refrase this. randomly like any other country which has its good and evil people, yes things like the Virgina tech shool shootings happen. The county and state I believe is looking into preventing people from getting a hold of guns so easily by restricting and screening those who want to purchase. this has opened the eyes of many. and I dont doubt soon that all states across the nation will adopt this new law, which is or is going to be permanent. I am sure that other issues along this way are and will be addressed as this incident woke up a nation.. we dont have shooting festivals, what she is saying is more like gang wars. which dont occur in every state, mostly bigger citys, like los angeles, or brooklyn in NY and not so much detroit. they have had them, but I think that its either not been news , or its not as much a problem now, just random shootings which also have decreased. The Usa is not like what Witek described.. hes having a bad hair day, just ask Krysia's new husband how he likes it.. I believe she said that he was shocked that people said have a nice day and were polite to him... on the contrary to what others think, I think its best to form your own opinion of it, and the only way to do that is to visit, or come and stay for a while, and make sure to plan a nice trip where you can site see our natural beauty. everyone thinks just because the citys are bad, the whole nation is bad, take a bigger look and stop to smell the roses. Michigan has some sand dunes near the upper pennisula, which is where I plan to take my children, this summer, I am going north!! woo hoo. and stop at some beaches, and take in the sun. and of course away from the city. and who knows we might even Get to Canoe this summer.. nothing like going down a river in a canoe and seeing how calm and serene nature can be :) Please dont listen to generalizations, its getting so old as Fisz said in another thread " I think my eyes are going to bleed" lol...

witekThreads: 2 Posts: 739 Joined: Apr 1, 07	May 11, 07, 21:33 / #
Quoting: FISZ I'm not materialistic. I have the bare essentials. I'm not in a rat race..for toys? I drive a golf and don't own a boat. What is your point here? you don't matter in society. you are nothing because you are poor. $$$ brings power and respekt

Patrycja19Threads: 79 Posts: 3,972 Joined: Oct 31, 06	May 11, 07, 21:39 / #
Quoting: witek Capitalist America has created a sick environment where only wealth accumulation and consumption matter. in the U.S.A you need to show off with $$$ , house , car and other material possesions. everyone is in the rat race to buy the most toys , the biggest car, fastest boat, etc it is a very selfish society where only the individual matters most Witek, this was a very constipated statement.. Dig a little further and you might find a way to change your feelings..

sparrowThreads: 4 Posts: 307 Joined: Apr 24, 07	May 13, 07, 06:58 / #
Quoting: Tyk How come there is so many homeles people on the streets (talking about NYC). Beggers in subway and buses and what about people who don`t have medical and they are left to die. That's not an American problem, it's a global problem. There is no public health care in the USA like there's in Europe. If I go to the doctor I pay 5$ If I get hospitalised I get a lot of cash back.. If an American goes to the doctor/dentist w/ever he probly pays 25$ & he pays the full price of hosplitalisation (unless he has private health care) To keep that alive we pay more taxes & pay money we earn to public health care. If there's one thing American citizens hate it's the government intrusing on their lives & rights & constitutional ammendmants (including guns..) , including taxes. There will never be a public health care system in America like there's in Europe simply because the majority of Americans don't want to pay more taxes, they'd rather pay for private health care instead of not at all. The American economy is based on liberalism & not on socialism like in Europe. I don't think it's a good thing, I'd rather keep it our way, but then again, I'm not a US citizen. Quoting: Tyk We don`t have shooting festival in polish schools. We don't have them in Poland but we do have them in Europe as well. In Germany a few years ago e.g. Fact is, it's easier to commit such crimes & to go in such extremes if handguns (or even military weapons in some states) are available freely. But again, it's not something that's going to change. After each shooting (Columbine, Virginia Tech, the Amish shooting, etc..) there are always voices for gun control. But the majority of the Americans are still opposed to more gun control.. because it's in their constitution which is something of almost mythical significance for Americans. No matter what reasonable rational arguements you might have it's "a constitutional right" We can only hope that one day there will be a majority for more gun control

FrankThreads: 27 Posts: 1,342 Joined: Aug 14, 06	May 13, 07, 07:05 / #
We in the EU are only really exposed to all the extremes that USA patently has........extremes in every aspect of living, activities, money, attitudes, health provision etc, perhaps classed as negative extremes....but also appears to be a a land of great generosity of spirit, money and indeed compassion. No country is perfect........or hadn't posters noticed?

EurolaThreads: 6 Posts: 2,647 Joined: Dec 2, 06	May 14, 07, 22:51 / #
Witek, you sound like many newcomers, who are disillusioned with America because they thought, the streets are paved in gold here. They are not. It has always been just a land of opportunity and still is. I just celebrated my 27th year (May 10th) since i landed at O'Hare. Very young with a suitcase in my hand. My sister came 5 years before me, so at least I had someone to lean on. When she came, she was all alone. Yet, she's made and I made it. No parents, no cousins, no uncles. We are the first generation and the last. We both married but had no time for kids. She is still married however, I'm not. When you are going to be here that long you will have a different look on life. You (your parents) came here not because they felt like changing a country and start from scratch. You just need to drop your occasional cocky attitude, otherwise you seem like a nice young man :) So there. How can even people dare to call such a tragedy a "shooting festival". This is a big country and things happen... shootings, poverty, money, power... However, I can still feel safe here more than when I last visited Poland. Even my family did not want me to travel on the train alone. I visited most of the states here traveling by car, day and night, stopping in small towns and besides wonderful people on my way I met not evil. And this is my 27 years of experience. So, all the America bashers - beat it.

LoneStrangerThreads: 3 Posts: 531 Joined: Jan 30, 07	May 15, 07, 11:07 / #
Quoting: Eurola I can still feel safe here more than when I last visited Poland. Poland is not unsafe too Eurole. Its good (and I would think same) that USA is a safe place... but Poland also has less evil. Perhaps when you were last time in Poland... things were different. Things have changed... and it is a safe place. I just want to make this clear :).

lefThreads: 13 Posts: 564 Joined: Jun 27, 06	May 14, 07, 00:41 / #
Quoting: witek Capitalist America has created a sick environment where only wealth accumulation and consumption matter. in the U.S.A you need to show off with $$$ , house , car and other material possesions. everyone is in the rat race to buy the most toys , the biggest car, fastest boat, etc it is a very selfish society where only the individual matters most I agree with you comments Witek, unfortunately our brain washed Polish/Americans will be quick to respond with verbal abuse. Somebody in a previous thread stated that Americans and Polish people are as one!, what utter rubbish. No decent person has any respect for America (I am not saying here that all American people are bad people) absolutely not. It is the system which is evil and corrupt. Poland needs to now focus on the EU parliament and give the US a big miss. It is only a question of time when we will all be saying to give the EU a big miss and go back to basics.

ZgubionyThreads: 21 Posts: 2,037 Joined: Oct 20, 06	Edited by: Moderator May 14, 07, 08:18 / #
Quoting: witek you don't matter in society. you are nothing because you are poor. $$$ brings power and respekt And it's sad that you think this way. It's called being sucked in by the media. LOL I matter very much every day and I live well. Yes, this is possible even if you aren't wealthy. You see, you're materialistic and that's why you see life in America for what ..it's not :) I on the other hand live and enjoy the simple things in life so I don't feel the stress of not buying fast cars and other luxuries. You'll grow up and learn soon enough. Yeah, it may appear that you need these things for a happy life, but the reality is that there are more satisfying things right in front of you...minus the $$ that's required. You just need a different outlook. Quoting: lef I agree with you comments Witek, unfortunately our brain washed Polish/Americans will be quick to respond with verbal abuse. Lef...this is odd of you. I've never heard anything like this from you since I joined. I see we all change eventually. Witek deserves no verbal abuse because he doesn't know better. We are still a wonderful and caring people that will always be there for others, regardless of what jackass runs out country :) Thake care FISZ :)

Patrycja19Threads: 79 Posts: 3,972 Joined: Oct 31, 06	Edited by: Patrycja19 May 14, 07, 09:38 / #
Quoting: lef I agree with you comments Witek, unfortunately our brain washed Polish/Americans will be quick to respond with verbal abuse. Lef you are to funny, so you agree with the Canadian-Polish called Witek- verbal abuse right? Quoting: witek you don't matter in society. you are nothing because you are poor. $$$ brings power and respekt looks like hes ass-uming we all have fast cars.. or that we are poor hmmm still think hes constipated I mean his views that is..

LoneStrangerThreads: 3 Posts: 531 Joined: Jan 30, 07	May 14, 07, 09:49 / #
Quoting: witek U.S.A you need to show off with $$$ , house , car and other material possesions. everyone is in the rat race to buy the most toys , the biggest car, fastest boat, etc it is a very selfish society where only the individual matters most Cant agree in exact... because I think where-ever there are humans.... there are all kinds of them. The the common/ordinary people.... they want more earnings (mostly)... perhaps a good car.... and a good TV/new computer. But then... I would say... basic should matter most.... and moderation is the best policy. If people are really in a rat race... then they will never be satisfied... and that can be pain. I will not be wise to think all USA people are in a rat race.

witekThreads: 2 Posts: 739 Joined: Apr 1, 07	May 14, 07, 10:10 / #
Quoting: Patrycja19 so you agree with the Canadian-Polish called it is Polish- Canadian not Canadian-Polish so what if i have dual citizenship?

Patrycja19Threads: 79 Posts: 3,972 Joined: Oct 31, 06	May 14, 07, 10:17 / #
Quoting: witek it is Polish- Canadian not Canadian-Polish so what if i have dual citizenship? dont like being assumed about witek? Witek, your sometimes nice and other times I think you just like to get a rise out of people. but you should be prepared that someone will come along and do the same back.

ZgubionyThreads: 21 Posts: 2,037 Joined: Oct 20, 06	May 14, 07, 10:42 / #
Quoting: LoneStranger because I think where-ever there are humans.... there are all kinds of them. Thank you. I don't disagree with everything you have to say and many times have a respect for your words. Unfortunately, we as individuals do differ in our thoughts and it is frustrating when we don't agree :) Respect. Witek...I'm sorry, but as a Canadian you can only assume how life is in America.

Patrycja19Threads: 79 Posts: 3,972 Joined: Oct 31, 06	May 14, 07, 10:44 / #
Quoting: sparrow That's not an American problem, it's a global problem. Thank you sparrow.. 100% agree

witekThreads: 2 Posts: 739 Joined: Apr 1, 07	May 14, 07, 13:01 / #
Quoting: Zgubiony Witek...I'm sorry, but as a Canadian you can only assume how life is in America. i lived in Chicago for over 2 years and worked 6 days a week , 70 hours a week as did most of my co-workers.

FISZThreads: 31 Posts: 2,607 Joined: Jun 14, 06	Edited by: Moderator May 14, 07, 16:50 / #
Quoting: witek i lived in Chicago for over 2 years and worked 6 days a week , 70 hours a week as did most of my co-workers. That means nothing...2 years? You can't fully understand an entire country living in Chi town for 2 years my friend. That would be like any American claiming he know all about PL living in the same city for 2 years. You don't know what you're saying, but it's nice to see that you try :) Quoting: witek 70 hours a week as did most of my co-workers. Damn Witek...where were you slaving? I hope you were paid well for all of those hours. Yikes.

dorothysgirl	May 14, 07, 18:23 / #
Observations from the USA - earlier someone posted a question about the amount of homeless in the United States and other problems here - and I'd like the opportunity to add a few thoughts. To echo statements made by others from the USA, only part of the issue is health care or should I say the inadequate care available to persons living on the edge. We do have a welfare system but those who fall outside of normal guidelines (single men and women, those dependent on alchohol and/or drugs, the mentally ill who have for a variety of reasons fallen out of care) - these are a large portion of our homeless. I work for an agency that provides assistance to many of these individuals - but their problems run so much deeper than lack of money. For many their parents were on assistance and perhaps lacked education, so the cycle is hard to break. For the mentally ill, many of them suffer from illnesses that cause them to avoid health care. Regarding lawlessness and the plethora of guns, please remember that the US is a country of close to 300 million people and that the vast majority of Americans are law-abiding. The average American owning a gun does so for recreation - especially hunting. I live in the Midwest where gun ownership is extremely common, but people do not carry weapons on them as portrayed in movies and television. Because of the freedom we are afforded here, sometimes those guns can and do fall into the wrong hands. Instead of comparing how different life is between our countries, I would prefer to think about the similarities and what brought many Poles to this country. I do not for a minute wish to minimize the difficulties that immigrants faced and continue to face today. I know life is difficult, based on my family's own experiences, and more recently based on the experiences of friends (Poles) who emigrated to the Chicago area. For my family, the promise of land and the ability to farm that land was the impetus for coming to America. It took my family three generations to make it into the middle class, but I think through hard work, taking advantage of higher education, and work ethic, we have done so. While all of us are striving for a better life, I disagree that everyone is driven to a life of excess. Of course some are, but the vast majority of us put our 40-60 hours in per week in the hopes that we can take that trip up North this summer, or maybe afford that trip to Europe someday. A few years ago I was fortunate enough to travel to Poland and was surprised to see the similarities of rural Poland to my home in Wisconsin. I could see why my family settled where they did and how it made them feel a little closer to home. I am very cognizant of what my family has sacrificed for me, and it makes me appreciate life all the more. I try to make a difference each day, regardless of what my country's politics might be.

witekThreads: 2 Posts: 739 Joined: Apr 1, 07	May 14, 07, 22:15 / #
Quoting: FISZ Damn Witek...where were you slaving? I hope you were paid well for all of those hours. Yikes. i plan to retire when i am between 45- 50 years of age. many years of hard work left.

Patrycja19Threads: 79 Posts: 3,972 Joined: Oct 31, 06	May 14, 07, 23:38 / #
Quoting: Eurola I can still feel safe here more Well said Eurola, I am glad you came here and feel this way. people dont know till they come.

FISZThreads: 31 Posts: 2,607 Joined: Jun 14, 06	May 15, 07, 10:00 / #
Eurola thumbs ^

miranda	Edited by: Moderator May 15, 07, 11:21 / #
Sorry, but it's the USA which has a hight rate of crime, higher than Poland. So I think what some people are trying to say is that, reagrdless the fact that USA is one of the richest countries, it still has a lot of social problems, such as schools shootings, powerty, homelessness, not to mentioned unresolved Native issues and such. Having said that, USA is not doing really well when it comes to using all the benefits which comes with money, wealth and technology. European countries have a better way of distributing wealth, thereofre there are less social problems. On the other hand one cannot compare Europe and the USA because USA is a new country, while european countries have been learning from their mistakes for a much longer. I believe that USA is a phenomena on it's own and it cannot be compared to anything. As for feeling safe, I think that we all feel safe in a familiar environment. Quoting: Eurola you sound like many newcomers, who are disillusioned with America because they thought, the streets are paved in gold here Sorry Eurola but those people no longer exist. Polish people are aware what is going on in the USA more than before.

LoneStrangerThreads: 3 Posts: 531 Joined: Jan 30, 07	Edited by: Moderator May 15, 07, 11:27 / #
Quoting: miranda USA is a new country True. Just my opinion.... but the people are not new!.... the people have access to history. They are from all around the world...bringing in alot more intelligence then a single country will develop in its lifetime. The people I am talking about here. USA is not run by Red Indians... I hope you get it! Quoting: miranda Polish people are aware what is going on in the USA more than before. True.

FISZThreads: 31 Posts: 2,607 Joined: Jun 14, 06	May 15, 07, 11:28 / #
Quoting: miranda Polish people are aware what is going on in the USA more than before Except for my gf.... She will soon find out :)