Are you proud of your country?

[RegPaq]

Originally Posted by Ramones1976

Proud of Honduras or the u.s?
No way

I don't even believe in national or ethnic pride to begin with.
Like what George Carlin said you can be happy for who you are, but pride should be for something you accomplish or achieve on your own, not for something by birth.

I think people should be proud of the country their from because its your people that did things for it previously. Just like how your proud of your family history or something. I think it's the same thing for people's country. If someone isn't proud of their country, at all, don't like what it is, then they should leave, so the people that do like it, are proud of it, don't have to hear their bitching. Just move already.

[MissMisa]

Originally Posted by Ronin4hire

I think the people who voted no are not necessarilly ashamed of their country. Just not proud of it.

I think you should have put three options.

-Yes
-Not particularly proud
-No I'm ashamed of my country

I fall into the second group.

I suppose, but I really don't like to be wishy washy about it!

I didn't assume they were ashamed, I was just surprised there wasn't more people who were proud.

[GentlePrincessJC]

Sho i guesss

[noodle]

Am I proud of my country... Born in Algeria, lived in the UK most of my life, and now living in France... I don't like the idea of country. My people, Berbers (aka Imazighen) haven't had a country as such for 5 thousand years until the past 2 centuries. In fact, Imazighen means Free Men. Therefore, I am neither proud nor "not proud" (sounds weird saying that...) of Algeria. Looking at Algeria now, it's going down the path of hell. It has terrorists everywhere, it's not safe, and my generation or younger only have 2 thoughts on their mind constantly... Suicide or going abroad.

However, with all that said, I love the UK. I learnt a lot about myself here and it allowed me to grow up healthy and in a safe environment.

France... It's tough. I am proud of the French medical system because if it weren't for their world class doctors, I would have died as an infant. Other than that, I don't really have any opinions on France...

If anything, I am proud of my heritage, but not really proud of a country(s)

[kaelazors]

i wouldn't say i'm proud of the us. i'm glad i live here, but i'm pretty upset w/ the current president lol

[RegPaq]

Originally Posted by Ronin4hire

Also I've heard that America's health care system is a shambles. It's definitely the most expensive system but I've also heard that it's the most inefficient as well. A visit to the doctor and treatment for a working class American on minimum wage can often total more than he or she earns in a week!

Yes, It can be expensive because its through private companies, not the government. The health industry is a business and thats how it should stay. If we had (i dont know why I can't think of the term, is it centralized?) a health care system provided by the government, the cost would be lower, but the quality of the doctors and treatment would decrease significantly. Competition promotes a higher quality product and service. If there is no competition, there is no reason to create a better product or better service. However, how the hospitals are forced to help illegal immigrants is unselfish, its wrong. We should be more selfish in that aspect. They get so many things for free and are let go of many other hassles that citizens have to deal with, because we aren't doing anything about it. It isn't fair for people who immigrated to the country legal, or people born here. Especially knowing that they're getting all these free things from my money. I'm paying for it. I hate knowing that part of my paycheck, about 30%, is being taken out to pay for their shit. I'd rather see it being used elsewhere. They say they came here to live a better life. That's cool, come over here legally, because your making our lives worse! And because you may have a bad life, doesn't mean they can do whatever they want. I'm tired of paying for their shit.

[Ronin4hire]

Originally Posted by MissMisa

I suppose, but I really don't like to be wishy washy about it!

I didn't assume they were ashamed, I was just surprised there wasn't more people who were proud.

I see... fair enough.

I suppose I'm proud of the fact that New Zealand is a multi-cultural country in that everyone (except the Maori) can trace their ancestors to another part of the world. From Asia to Europe to Africa. New Zealanders come in a variety of colours.

I suppose I'm proud that New Zealand is a secular country whose laws are protected from religious influence and based on Western liberal principles.

[MissMisa]

Originally Posted by RegPaq

Yes, It can be expensive because its through private companies, not the government. The health industry is a business and thats how it should stay. If we had (i dont know why I can't think of the term, is it centralized?) a health care system provided by the government, the cost would be lower, but the quality of the doctors and treatment would decrease significantly. Competition promotes a higher quality product and service. If there is no competition, there is no reason to create a better product or better service. However, how the hospitals are forced to help illegal immigrants is unselfish, its wrong. We should be more selfish in that aspect. They get so many things for free and are let go of many other hassles that citizens have to deal with, because we aren't doing anything about it. It isn't fair for people who immigrated to the country legal, or people born here. Especially knowing that they're getting all these free things from my money. I'm paying for it. I hate knowing that part of my paycheck, about 30%, is being taken out to pay for their shit. I'd rather see it being used elsewhere. They say they came here to live a better life. That's cool, come over here legally, because your making our lives worse! And because you may have a bad life, doesn't mean they can do whatever they want. I'm tired of paying for their shit.

Woah, everybody deserves medical treatment, illegal immigrant or not. I think what you just said is incredibly selfish and you know that. They are humans just like you, and just because they have come into a country to escape the hell that's in theres, doesn't mean they shouldn't be treated equally. They are no different to you - you're all living, breathing humans, and they deserve the same quality of life you are entitled to. Where you end up is luck of the draw, you just happen to be lucky in that you were born there so you can get it. Others aren't as lucky as you. I don't care about paying taxes for them too because they've probably gone through way more hell than I'll ever go through. If I was in their situation I would be completely grateful if I was able to get medical treatment too.

[noodle]

RegPaq, France has one of the best medical care systems in the world, and so does the UK and they are both government funded. France especially (though, it's not exactly free like the UK). You get health insurance in France to get refunds on medicine and doctors if you visit regularly. i.e. me, I have to take pills everday of my life, therefore I get insurance because it saves me a lot of money per year...

Now, I've never been to America and I don't know what their service is like, but what you've said contardicts the general opinion. Many Americans I know always say that the service is expensive and crap compared to other countries with nathional health services...

[Ronin4hire]

Originally Posted by RegPaq

Yes, It can be expensive because its through private companies, not the government. The health industry is a business and thats how it should stay. If we had (i dont know why I can't think of the term, is it centralized?) a health care system provided by the government, the cost would be lower, but the quality of the doctors and treatment would decrease significantly. Competition promotes a higher quality product and service. If there is no competition, there is no reason to create a better product or better service. However, how the hospitals are forced to help illegal immigrants is unselfish, its wrong. We should be more selfish in that aspect. They get so many things for free and are let go of many other hassles that citizens have to deal with, because we aren't doing anything about it. It isn't fair for people who immigrated to the country legal, or people born here. Especially knowing that they're getting all these free things from my money. I'm paying for it. I hate knowing that part of my paycheck, about 30%, is being taken out to pay for their shit. I'd rather see it being used elsewhere. They say they came here to live a better life. That's cool, come over here legally, because your making our lives worse! And because you may have a bad life, doesn't mean they can do whatever they want. I'm tired of paying for their shit.

Socialised health care is not free health care. If you aren't paying for it directly, you are paying indirectly with your taxes. Competition still exists within socialised health care services in that the government pays somebody to provide it. Contracters have to build hospitals, drug companies have to develop medicines etc.