Re-Adjusting to the USA

[sabang]

The neighborhood means everything.

Absolutely. Somewhere along the line the US lost it's noble concept of equal opportunity for all, and decided children (tomorrows adults & voters) were only entitled to such government services as education according to how much tax their parents paid. As a result, now a po' boy born in Europe or Australia has a larger chance of making the big time than one born in the land of opportunity. It was a policy, not an accident.

[9999]

I was talking about the world class Australian public school system

Screw paying for education when it's free and better than what money can buy in Thailand.

So there are quality public schools in hte US?

[sabang]

Yes, in affluent areas.

[rickschoppers]

As long as we are talking about who has the better education system:

Two Opposite Education Systems Ranked on Top

By JOYCE LAU

Published: December 1, 2012

Finland and South Korea, two countries that are almost as far apart in teaching styles as they are geographically, topped a new ranking published last week by Pearson and the Economist Intelligence Unit.
The Global Index of Cognitive Skills and Educational Attainment, which ranks nations based on a combination of international test scores, literacy and graduation rates, put Finland and South Korea alone in the top category.
“It is hard to find two education systems more different,” the report said. South Korea emphasizes exams, rote learning, discipline and long hours for students, most of whom also attend private cram schools. Finland has short school days, little homework and a focus on “helping children understand and apply knowledge, not merely repeat it,” the report said.
Also in the top 10 were Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Switzerland and Canada. Ireland came in at No. 11, Australia at No. 13, Germany at No. 15, the United States at No. 17, Russia at No. 20 and France at No. 25. China and India, Asia’s developing giants, were not ranked. Brazil and Indonesia came in at the bottom of the listing of 40 states and nations. — JOYCE LAU

[ltnt]

I worked in a grammar school on the Stanford campus, a public school in fact.

Sounds like Harker Academy?

[sranchito]

Yes, in affluent areas.

Apparently, you haven't looked at who is in the White House?

Why are there some children getting better education than others? Because their parents WORK.

You know why some children have substandard educations? Crack whores, drug dealers, debt beat fathers. The list goes on and on. Do I feel for the little bastards? Sure.

Bottom line is, their parents don't work. They don't want to work. Have another crack baby and we'll give you more welfare money. They wait for the gov. checks to buy more drugs. Have you ever been to Detroit, Chicago, LA?

The founding fathers of the US didn't come here looking for a hand up. They worked for what they got. Now there are some that want to take from those that have and give to those that don't. Guess they are waiting on those obama bucks. I'll never forget an interview with a woman during bho's first pres campaign. She was all excited, she'd get a free house, free car, free phone. Yep, those are the kinds of folks I want to give my money to. Should be a very prudent investment.

Can't help those that don't help themselves. Just a fact of life.

[sranchito]

Almost forgot this factoid.

U.S. Education Spending & Student Performance vs. The World Infographic | MAT@USC

[Cujo]

Yes, in affluent areas.

Apparently, you haven't looked at who is in the White House?

Why are there some children getting better education than others? Because their parents WORK.

You know why some children have substandard educations? Crack whores, drug dealers, debt beat fathers. The list goes on and on. Do I feel for the little bastards? Sure.

Bottom line is, their parents don't work. They don't want to work. Have another crack baby and we'll give you more welfare money. They wait for the gov. checks to buy more drugs. Have you ever been to Detroit, Chicago, LA?

The founding fathers of the US didn't come here looking for a hand up. They worked for what they got. Now there are some that want to take from those that have and give to those that don't. Guess they are waiting on those obama bucks. I'll never forget an interview with a woman during bho's first pres campaign. She was all excited, she'd get a free house, free car, free phone. Yep, those are the kinds of folks I want to give my money to. Should be a very prudent investment.

Can't help those that don't help themselves. Just a fact of life.

You are truly thick.
The KIDS are the unfortunate victims and education is about helping the KIDS who have no choice in the matter of where they are born and to whom.
The way to break that cycle is EDUCATION for the KIDS.

[Camel Toe]

I worked in a grammar school on the Stanford campus, a public school in fact.

Sounds like Harker Academy?

I think you mean the Harker (Prep) School. It's private. Stanford has one too, it's private. And there's Poly Hi, it's a public prep school. Mine was Escondido, it's a total immersion grammar school.

[sranchito]

Yes, in affluent areas.

Apparently, you haven't looked at who is in the White House?

Why are there some children getting better education than others? Because their parents WORK.

You know why some children have substandard educations? Crack whores, drug dealers, debt beat fathers. The list goes on and on. Do I feel for the little bastards? Sure.

Bottom line is, their parents don't work. They don't want to work. Have another crack baby and we'll give you more welfare money. They wait for the gov. checks to buy more drugs. Have you ever been to Detroit, Chicago, LA?

The founding fathers of the US didn't come here looking for a hand up. They worked for what they got. Now there are some that want to take from those that have and give to those that don't. Guess they are waiting on those obama bucks. I'll never forget an interview with a woman during bho's first pres campaign. She was all excited, she'd get a free house, free car, free phone. Yep, those are the kinds of folks I want to give my money to. Should be a very prudent investment.

Can't help those that don't help themselves. Just a fact of life.

You are truly thick.
The KIDS are the unfortunate victims and education is about helping the KIDS who have no choice in the matter of where they are born and to whom.
The way to break that cycle is EDUCATION for the KIDS.

the key would be to take the kids away from the dumb ass parents. Similar to what they did in the past in OZ. Don't care how much money you throw at it, the kids ain't gonna learn if the parents don't parent. We already spend more than anyone else per kid. Working great ain't it.

[ltnt]

Don't care how much money you throw at it, the kids ain't gonna learn if the parents don't parent.

My parents didn't "parent." All three of us children attended University, got degrees, moved into private business and were successful in our chosen fields.

In my experience, Parents aren't all that necessary. Personal "will," is more key than parents imo. Must be nice to have parents who "parent," but then what is that?

[9999]

You know why some children have substandard educations? Crack whores, drug dealers, debt beat fathers. The list goes on and on.

I don't get it. The schools are bad in these areas coz the crack heads and dead beats built shotty building?

Public education varies across the USA according to the affluence of the area? no one is pissed off about this?

[Davis Knowlton]

Public education varies across the USA according to the affluence of the area? no one is pissed off about this?

Schools are paid for by local taxes and some subsidies from the federal government. Poor neighborhoods collect less taxes, thus have poorer schools. Poor people can only afford to live in poor neighborhoods, so their kids go to shitty schools, perpetuating the cycle of poverty.

[Imminent]

It's amazing how unhappy the posters on here are who seem to be making decent money. You guys don't seem to know poverty and how to live cheaply. I'd say most of the unhappiness many of you are expressing has more to do with something personal to you such as your experiences, attitudes and especially spending choices. Of course, the real points about education and dangers of living here or there are definitely true, but they aren't the reason for all the upset expressed here. You can debate quality as one person said comparing real equals but that is something that doesn't really involve emotion. If you can do it, why no make the change and enjoy your new home wherever it may be. Every place in the world really is a happy place for someone.


There are people who are thinking of moving for financial reasons, others who are moving for quality issues and still others who are doing it for emotional reasons.

[DrAndy]

When making decisions be sure to compare apples to apples.

obviously, and you cannot compare life in a developing country to your own, it doesn't make sense

For this I get a beautiful planned community with over 100 miles of well maintained paved walking paths, pristine public parks, well stocked public libraries, large churches with scads of free social activities and a host of other amenities.

if that is what you like, then you will have to stay there

if you want a more open adventurous life, then that would not fit the bill

[Imminent]

^^ Bottom line for me is the USA is boring. It's predictable. It eats money. Not 6 months ago I was living in Ft Worth. Lovely condo, peaceful, no robberies, no street dogs, no sirens. Every person in the neighborhood would walk their dog with a plastic bag and pooper-schooper in hand. The electricity never failed. My cell phone never dropped calls. You could dial 911 and there'd be screeching tires in front of the house in 5 minutes. Fookin boring!

People in the countryside here bring their motorcycles inside their homes for fear of having them stolen. The local dogs keep stealing our shoes. When it's the season, usually have 7-8 dogs gangbanging a bitch in front of our house as well. No one cares about all the dogs running wild. Our relative's chickens shit all over our yard.As for law enforcement, the police in our area pretty much do nothing most of the time. The electricity went out two days ago at night for 6 hours. It must have been 85 degrees that night. I have to walk out to the edge of our yard to get a good cellphone signal. What's that Thai emergency number? The local high school dropouts drink bottles of lao kao down the road every night and yell out as they race their motorcycles up and down the street. Still generally this a pretty boring place.

[sabang]

When America was at the zenith of it's prestige and economic power, and it's social mobility was the envy of the world, tax revenue as a percentage of national GDP was much higher than it is now. The reason is simple- corporations and wealthy individuals paid a higher share of their earnings to the state than they do now. This taxation was not a charitable contribution- it paid for the infrastructure necessary to get product to market, the education of tomorrows work force and customer base, the upholding of the law (so macca's could sue the arse off anyone daring to describe their product as a macsomething), defence, emergency services etc. Now corporations and wealthy individuals pay a lower share of their earnings as taxation towards the state than a middle class person. So what has happened has been a massive (and deliberate) wealth transfer from the state, and the services it paid for, to the already wealthy and corporations- ie wealthy private interests. Both of these are swimming in cash- while the government becomes further indebted every year. In case you hadn't noticed, the stock market is doing well, corporate profits are at an all time high, and corporations are more cashed up than ever in history. Crisis, what Crisis?

The outcomes have been quite predictable-
The Rich got richer. The rest mainly stagnated or got poorer. 30 million American workers earn less now than in 1968.
The Wealth gap is at all time highs (rivalled only by the 'robber baron' era). The US is more like a third world than first world country in this regard.
Government services such as education are underfunded- but not for the already rich or upper middle classes. They take care of their own.
Social mobility in the US has fallen behind that of 'olde world', supposedly class ridden Europe.
The government, serially underfunded, goes further into debt every year.
This necessitates a cycle of constant belt tightening, and degrading of government services and investment for the future.

Nobody can tell me this is a sustainable or desirable economic model- it is neither. So now you have serial denial and trench mentality from the same people that lied you into this mess in the first place, as best exemplified by the GOP- which can no longer be described as anything but a lobby group for big business and the already wealthy. But who from the Democrats points out the obvious facts above, and the correlation with a massive wealth transfer away from the state, to private interests? Nobody- because if they did their corporate funding would dry up, and a co-ordinated attempt would be made to unseat them from government. You are not allowed to state the bleedin' obvious as a Congressman. Concurrent with this declining societal and economic model, money has increasingly come to dominate US politics. I wonder why?

So the Democrats- who by now have taken over as the Establishment party from the increasingly crackpot GOP, are part of the problem too. A large part. As is the media, which has become a tool of disinformation at it's worse, or a serial neglecter of the real issues at it's best. Hey, don't worry that you're deliberately being raped- take a look at Lindsy Lohans knickers. and how 'bout them Mets.

In thirty years, the USA has gone from being in a good place, to a bad place. The reason is purely domestic- there have been no major international or geopolitical threats in that time. One Presidential administration, Bush, changed America from being the worlds largest creditor, to the worlds largest debtor. That's pretty good going in eight years.

And nobody- not the republicans, the democrats, or the mainstream media- is pointing out to you the obvious reason why. Beyond harvesting your vote for their own political ambition, the average citizen plays little part in the so called democratic process now. You the People have been systematically raped, to pay for the naked greed and lack of any form of patriotism, of a few. An already rich few, feathering their own nest. The results are there in black and white- which in modern America means, you can not see them. Or it is something else, this malaise- not the bleedin' obvious. Lets argue about the founding fathers and FDR instead.

No, the modern US is not a place I would return to. I prefer happier places with a vague sense of national direction, and a vague concept that as a society, we are all in this boat together. I prefer a place where the word 'patriotism' in political hands is not just a deliberate lie, promulgated on the ignorant masses by a few with access to all the money, and hence the corridors of power. Your democracy is failing you, as is many of your misplaced definition of what patriotism means. But that in turn exists because you have swallowed the lies and avoided the facts.

Anyway, nice knowin' ya. Notice how, all around the world, we are seeing this less now as a symbol of hope, prosperity and freedom? Actions have consequences.

[misskit]

^^ Sounds awful, Imminent. If you are the only one in the area who thinks those things are a nuisance, you are SOL. If you live around people who are annoyed by the same things you are, you can band together to stop many problems.

[Hypatia]

Have you considered Bournemouth? I think you might like it.

As far as I'm aware the UK govt has a policy of honesty and non bigotry, as flawed as the implementation may be, and it welcomes immigrants for their contribution of work, not cash.
One cannot say the same for Land O Liars.

[Imminent]

^^ Sounds awful, Imminent. If you are the only one in the area who thinks those things are a nuisance, you are SOL. If you live around people who are annoyed by the same things you are, you can band together to stop many problems.

Actually I just posted it for the laugh. It is true and it's pretty much normal upcountry. It's easy living up country in the land of apathy. Thailand isn't such a bad place for taking it easy. It kind of reminds me of the lazy summers at my grandparents house on the lake in New England. Thailand can be easy living if you have a little money and that visa. The animals running around the place are annoying at times but no one else really seems to mind them much. In fact, they don't care if they live or die really. That's pretty much the attitude for life for the poor most of the time. Live for the day. Thinking about the long term picture is just depressing but taking life day by day is enjoyable.

I am also thinking about the US at the moment for a lot of the reasons others are. I get emotional about some of the problems in Thailand like most foreigners. i don't expect to see change anytime soon so it's best just to enjoy the day. My long term financial picture is quite bleak due to my choices so ideas run through my head about how I could get ahead financially as well. To be honest, I just don't see it happening even if I were to go abroad. Going to the US for me would be more about just escaping Thailand and giving a chance for my daughter to learn and use English. I also miss the ease of an English-speaking world along with the food and other stuff. Anyways, I'm not complaining about the life in LOS.

[Butterfly]

The Rich got richer. The rest mainly stagnated or got poorer. 30 million American workers earn less now than in 1968.
The Wealth gap is at all time highs (rivalled only by the 'robber baron' era). The US is more like a third world than first world country in this regard.
Government services such as education are underfunded- but not for the already rich or upper middle classes. They take care of their own.
Social mobility in the US has fallen behind that of 'olde world', supposedly class ridden Europe.
The government, serially underfunded, goes further into debt every year.
This necessitates a cycle of constant belt tightening, and degrading of government services and investment for the future.

very well done, sab

yes, the US on the way to become its mirror of communist failure

[ltnt]

Poor people can only afford to live in poor neighborhoods,

You forgot, "busing." don't like your school, get bused.

Every place in the world really is a happy place for someone.

About 2.5 million locked down in prisons across America. A happy place, huh?

Sabang and Butters must be doing the blue Acid again. Dreams of a failed state, communism run wild and chickens in every pot. Oh my, the colors must be wonderful...I think you two need to stay away from the hallucinogenics and switch to some crystal meth. The edge has worn off your lunacies.

[Davis Knowlton]

[quote=ltnt;2398356]

Poor people can only afford to live in poor neighborhoods,

You forgot, "busing." don't like your school, get bused.


They still doing that?

[Imminent]

Every place in the world really is a happy place for someone.

About 2.5 million locked down in prisons across America. A happy place, huh?

Sabang and Butters must be doing the blue Acid again. Dreams of a failed state, communism run wild and chickens in every pot. Oh my, the colors must be wonderful...I think you two need to stay away from the hallucinogenics and switch to some crystal meth. The edge has worn off your lunacies.

Geez, Itnt. Are America and Thailand prisons to you? You should take that meth.

[rickschoppers]

"People in the countryside here bring their motorcycles inside their homes for fear of having them stolen. The local dogs keep stealing our shoes. When it's the season, usually have 7-8 dogs gangbanging a bitch in front of our house as well. No one cares about all the dogs running wild. Our relative's chickens shit all over our yard.As for law enforcement, the police in our area pretty much do nothing most of the time. The electricity went out two days ago at night for 6 hours. It must have been 85 degrees that night. I have to walk out to the edge of our yard to get a good cellphone signal. What's that Thai emergency number? The local high school dropouts drink bottles of lao kao down the road every night and yell out as they race their motorcycles up and down the street. Still generally this a pretty boring place."

This all sounds of so familiar. You must be one of my neighbors. Seriously, there are some positives of living up country as well.