wrote in message
...
On Wed, 13 Oct 2010 20:40:05 -0700, "nom=de=plume"
wrote:


wrote in message
. ..
On Wed, 13 Oct 2010 15:18:55 -0700, "nom=de=plume"
wrote:


"Wayne.B" wrote in message
news On Wed, 13 Oct 2010 10:12:25 -0700, "nom=de=plume"
wrote:

There are many countries now that provide a much higher quality of
life
for the majority of their citizens.

Exactly.

Pardon my skepticism but I'd like you to name a few of these countries
and tell us why their quality of life is higher. I've traveled quite
a bit and have seen very few places where the average citizen comes
even close. Canada is certainly right up there by many measures but
they can keep winter. That's why we have so many of them in SWFL.


There are a host of countries who's citizens live longer, are happier,
and
have better medical outcomes. Feel free to google on your own. It's
pretty
obvious.


"Happier" is a relative thing. Americans go out of their way to be
unhappy, if not, why do we beat ourselves up with studies about how
bad it sucks here?

Yes. It's done by polling I suppose. Or, is there some magic incantation
to
reveal it?


Polls usually get the answer the poll writer wants to get.

So, then there's no way to tell? How would you plan on getting the answer?
By divine inspiration? Please tell us.

I'm pretty happy but I try to be.

Good for you!

I think other cultures work harder to be happy and most of the people
I know do too but I also know a lot of people who just don't know how
to be happy and reject it at all costs. It is easier for them to be
unhappy and blame it on somebody else. Bob seems to be that way

Work harder... umm... like having a whole month off every year vs. two
weeks
in the US?

Who only gets 2 weeks off? new hires?

Most workers get 2 weeks off in the US. You have to be there a while before
that changes. Are you disputing this? If so, please provide the data.


As for medical outcome, it is not the outcome that is the problem, it
is the lifestyles we have that we take to the doctor. Start with out
obesity rate. That alone is enough to make our lifespan lower.
If you are really sick, you are a lot better off in the American
system than you would be anywhere else. That is why you don't see
people going to France or Canada for their heart transplant.
The problem is our system is too good. Mere mortals can't afford it.

Yes, it is the outcome. So obesity is a problem in the US (actually around
the world, but ok). Does that mean we've got a better lifestyle than
someone
in Germany, say, who isn't obese?

Ah, so our system is so good, it's bad. Solution... make it worse. I get
it.
What nonsense. Did you even read what you wrote?

If you are strictly talking health, our system is so good it is bad.
We can afford to eat red meat at every meal and a lot of people do.
There is also the "corn" problem. Our farm policy ensures there is
corn in everything you eat. It might be the corn in your meat (higher
fat content, starch or the high fructose corn syrup that shows up in
most of the things you eat or drink. Sugar substitutes come with their
own health warnings
Obiesity is a serious health problem and the US is at or near the top
of the list every year.

Well, so with all our fancy medical treatments, we don't do as well as other
countries. As I said..