Is USA still the promised land?

[Gemmie 142]

It's nice that things are so rosey where you are. But they sure aren't here.

It really is rosey here thank you.

I think that's a little inconsiderate of you to say, MrsCat.

Lots of people, including many people on this site, have been cut from their jobs at the worst possible time. If you're not suffering in this way just yet, then good for you. You must feel very lucky. But don't forget there are people that have either lost everything (as family health insurance often comes with the job) or are terrified of that. I know that my fiance and I are extremely lucky to have landed a full-time job in the mortage business lately that comes with some benefits. We're still scared that things will go downhill and he'll lose his position, and I don't know what that will mean for us. We're on the brink of starting out on our own so need the security right now.

Show some consideration, please.

I'm sorry to hear it, RJ.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

I think MrsCat was merely expressing an opinion without the knowledge of everyone's individual circumstances. I don't think she needs to be tarred and feathered for it.

[*julez* 124]

Robin, you should know by now that a dissenting opinion on VJ = instant tarring & feathering. In just a few minutes, the pile on will really begin. The word just needs to be spread that someone has a differing opinion. Its like VJ's own Field of Dreams, "If you post the link, they will come."

[rebeccajo 14]

[sara..... 371]

when we returned to the states i had stars in my eyes and thought my own future here would be fantastic, in reality,

i see my dad that has worked at the same place 35 years plus, not worried he will be layed off because he has seniority but because maybe the company will close.

he is looking at his 401k that went to ####### and can no longer be something he had counted on for his retirement, and wondering if social security and the small amount of retirement he will get from the company if he retires is enough.

my own work is suffering because with the economy as it is being in graphic design in ur own company u get hit hard.

i also had a 401k and lost a lot over half of it but at least im still young enough to get it back.

for us life goes on and there is enough of us that if worst comes to worst my elder siblings will pitch in or we could end up being guest on their living room floor we are not yet to that point.

but one thing that keeps me saying USA is the best place in the world is the freedom that we have here, as a women IF i wanted to drive i can, if i want to go to market alone i can. there are so many plus factors for me in the USA that i can not just look at economics because sooner or later it will stabilize. so for me the USA is still the land of opportunity

we have talked at length of going back over seas, for us it would be the most logical answer to any given situation that could happen to us as a family. i love it over seas to but the USA will always be home to me.

i feel bad for the people that are already faced with lay offs and no income no health care what so ever, i personally went thru thousands of dollars last year because i didnt have health care coverage i do now, so im very appreciative of it. what is odd to me is that no matter what economical crises is going on here in our country our medical never goes down the cost is ridicules.

when u pay over 200 dollars at the doctors office for childs exam and injections its just to much, i have sat with my mom in doctors offices waiting for well check on one of my smaller sisters for up to an hour past her appointment time because they seem to double book the appointments or dont give enough time for a problem that could be more than simple exam. what needs to happen is health care needs to come down and be with in the range of normal everyday people that dont make 10 thousand a month.

anyways thats just my opinion of all this mess

sara

[nowhereman 1]

Robin, you should know by now that a dissenting opinion on VJ = instant tarring & feathering. In just a few minutes, the pile on will really begin. The word just needs to be spread that someone has a differing opinion. Its like VJ's own Field of Dreams, "If you post the link, they will come."

It has very little to do with a dissenting opinion in this case... it appears (rightly or wrongly) that cat is rubbing it in. As an outsider looking in that is the perception I get anyways.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

Or you could interpret it as offering a different point of view, one that I don't think is entirely incorrect

[nowhereman 1]

Or you could interpret it as offering a different point of view, one that I don't think is entirely incorrect

Well as I see it its like making the varsity baseball team & celebrating in front of the people who just got cut... a little humility would go a long way.

[*julez* 124]

Yes, how terrible that Cat has a positive attitude in this troubled economy.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

It's nice that things are so rosey where you are. But they sure aren't here.

So move. It's all one country, you know. What reason is there to stay where it's depressed when you know it's better a few hours away?

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

but one thing that keeps me saying USA is the best place in the world is the freedom that we have here, as a women IF i wanted to drive i can, if i want to go to market alone i can.

You can drive and go to the market in India too, you know.

[mawilson 2,133]

My husband (the immigrant like you) can't file for Medicaid - remember that I864? And he hasn't lived here long enough and hasn't enough credits to even think about Social Security disability - just like you. He isn't that sickly yet and has been trying to make it here. But the social safety nets in the US are few. For some people (especially those who are older like us), there may not enough time to recover

Who's going to enforce the I864? If it's life and death, file anyway, who cares?!

[sara..... 371]

but one thing that keeps me saying USA is the best place in the world is the freedom that we have here, as a women IF i wanted to drive i can, if i want to go to market alone i can.

You can drive and go to the market in India too, you know.

u ever seen the way they drive there?

sara

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

but one thing that keeps me saying USA is the best place in the world is the freedom that we have here, as a women IF i wanted to drive i can, if i want to go to market alone i can.

You can drive and go to the market in India too, you know.

u ever seen the way they drive there?

sara

Your inability to drive there does not mean you don't have the right to.

Life in America is much more comfortable - even if you're poor - than it is in India. But I just don't buy that you have more rights here.

[rlogan 2,036]

You can rely on yourself all you want. You can live within your means and not over-extend yourself with debt.

That still won't help you if your employer decides he no longer needs you. Which takes away your health insurance. Which is OK I guess if you don't need maintenance meds to live.

Stop kidding yourself. Most people are ten minutes and a boardroom decision away from personal financial disaster in the US.

I see. So nobody is allowed to express any kind of happiness with their humble lot in life.

I stated flatly we don't have much money. I am self-employed, and don't have the luxury of a steady paycheck or employment benefits in the first place.

You seem relentless about wanting other people to be unhappy. And apparently unless they have your attitude, they are "kidding themselves".

We are happy because we love each other and have the life we want - which isn't about money.

I have a two hundred dollar car. I buy clothes second-hand. Shop the 50% bin at the store, and most of my meat my whole adult life comes from hunting and fishing. We have one asset most people do not have because I am a bush pilot - but we are not well-off by any means.

My wife has a ghastly health problem - and yea, we've fixed that too on our own after six hospitals and numerous specialists - which I paid for because there was no insurance. None of whom could do anything for her.

Life looked pretty grim in December because we weren't sure she was going to live. But you know, I never lashed out at other people insisting that they had to be miserable too because my wife was vomiting bile continuously for 12 days and in unbearable pain.

I am so grateful she isn't on an IV just to keep her alive. Gosh, if I wanted to I could just make an endless post of my mother's cancer, my father's death from heart attack, how I was hit by a drunk driver and suffer daily pain and muscle spasms, numbness, and and big loss in range of motion.

But instead I just have a lot of gratitude for my lovely Filippina, who will give me a child now. I'm not going to wallow in bitter hatred about life.

Cheers.