NationStates Jolt Archive

That thread about Japan Q & A has to have its counterpart for the other great unknown, USA.

Can companies fire you for joining a union? "Fire at will"?

You can go to school only if you've got rich parents who can pay the tuition, right?

There's only one "high school", where everyone has to go. Vocational education is after that.

There's always a shortage of workers - every other window has a "Now hiring" sign.

Native Americans live in small reservates in the desert.

In principle black people can vote, but in practice the Republican election officials turn them away and/or "lose" their ballots. Commonplace or not?

You can't vote if you've been convicted. You can't vote even if you're just suspected of being a "felon".

Can companies fire you for joining a union? "Fire at will"? Yes, there's a dangerous lack of worker's rights, especially in Texas.

You can go to school only if you've got rich parents who can pay the tuition, right? No, there is a public school system.

There's only one "high school", where everyone has to go. Vocational education is after that. Yes.

There's always a shortage of workers - every other window has a "Now hiring" sign. No.

Native Americans live in small reservates in the desert. Yes.

In principle black people can vote, but in practice the Republican election officials turn them away and/or "lose" their ballots. Commonplace or not? Yes.

You can't vote if you've been convicted. You can't vote even if you're just suspected of being a "felon". Yes

That thread about Japan Q & A has to have its counterpart for the other great unknown, USA.

Can companies fire you for joining a union? "Fire at will"?

You can go to school only if you've got rich parents who can pay the tuition, right?

There's only one "high school", where everyone has to go. Vocational education is after that.

There's always a shortage of workers - every other window has a "Now hiring" sign.

Native Americans live in small reservates in the desert.

In principle black people can vote, but in practice the Republican election officials turn them away and/or "lose" their ballots. Commonplace or not?

You can't vote if you've been convicted. You can't vote even if you're just suspected of being a "felon".
1 Only in states with "right to work" laws. Laws that are meant to break the backs of labor unions.
2 No you can get loans, grants, and scholarships for college. The loans are easy to get, the others not so much. Public schools exist for basic education.
3 No, now there are "charter schools",there have always been technical high schools (for the kids who want to learn welding and auto repair instead of academic classes)
4 It depends on what line of work you are looking for. You can't easily find work in manufacturing, but construction firms are usually hiring.
5 No, not all the reservations are in the desert. In some states with high Native populations they can be found everywhere. In states where they have long since been pushed out it's hard to find a native American. I think there was only one in my high school. Two of my friends claim Cherokee blood, but very diluted.
6 Not commonplace, but it happened in Flordia in 2000, and some allege that black neighborhoods got fewer voting machines than white ones in some states. This resulted in a very long wait to vote.
7 In some states convicted felons can't vote. In other states they can.

Can companies fire you for joining a union? "Fire at will"? Yes, there's a dangerous lack of worker's rights, especially in Texas.

You can go to school only if you've got rich parents who can pay the tuition, right? No, there is a public school system.

There's only one "high school", where everyone has to go. Vocational education is after that. Yes.

There's always a shortage of workers - every other window has a "Now hiring" sign. No.

Native Americans live in small reservates in the desert. Yes.

In principle black people can vote, but in practice the Republican election officials turn them away and/or "lose" their ballots. Commonplace or not? Yes.

You can't vote if you've been convicted. You can't vote even if you're just suspected of being a "felon". Yes


That's very uninformed you know.

Do you see yourselves as supreme beings with a divine mandate to rule the world?

Sorry, coudn't resist :D

Do you see yourselves as supreme beings with a divine mandate to rule the world?

Sorry, coudn't resist :D
Yes.
Sorry, couldn't resist :)

Do you see yourselves as supreme beings with a divine mandate to rule the world?

Sorry, coudn't resist :D

Actually, having lived in Europe for five years: Yes.

Europeans are ignorant racist tards. They just dress it up a sophistication.

Frankly the only thing more boring than europeans is a rock.

Frankly the only thing more boring than europeans is a rock.

Ahh, not interested in geology, I take it...

Actually, having lived in Europe for five years: Yes.

Europeans are ignorant racist tards. They just dress it up a sophistication.

Frankly the only thing more boring than europeans is a rock.


I have lived in Europe for only one year, but I can say that the Europeans are only racists, not sexists or homophobes like they are in the U.S. Many Americans are racists, or are at least afraid of black and hispanic people. So why the biff with Europeans?

Though I have to say, their music sucks royal donkey dick. Other than that they're lots of fun

Actually, having lived in Europe for five years: Yes.

Europeans are ignorant racist tards. They just dress it up a sophistication.

Frankly the only thing more boring than europeans is a rock.
You realize that this isn't exactly a condemnation of european countries? Most places I've been in the US, I find too high a level of ignorant racist tards as well, and they lack the ability to fake sophistication. I'm wagering the "trailer trash" in Spain is significantly more appealing than southern alabama variety.

Actually, having lived in Europe for five years: Yes.

Europeans are ignorant racist tards. They just dress it up a sophistication.

Frankly the only thing more boring than europeans is a rock.
Where the hell did you go?!

Actually, having lived in Europe for five years: Yes.

Europeans are ignorant racist tards. They just dress it up a sophistication.

Frankly the only thing more boring than europeans is a rock.
Where the hell did you go?!
Gibraltar :D

I love it when threads devolve into "You Americans are all ignorant, fat, racist, rednecks!" "No, you Europeans are all effeminate, cheese-eating surrender monkeys!"

Can companies fire you for joining a union? "Fire at will"?

No. There are federal laws prohibiting that--which apply even in states that have "right to work" laws (laws prohibiting compulsory union membership). This does not mean that some companies will not try to fire, harass, and/or intimidate people trying to join or start a union. But it is illegal. Conversely, there are industries where union members will harass and/or intimidate workers who don't want to join the union.


You can go to school only if you've got rich parents who can pay the tuition, right?

Public education in the US is free up through the 12th grade (senion year in high school).

Higher education (college and beyond) is not free. Most states or counties offer low cost community colleges offering an additional two years education (ending Associates Degree). These credits are usually transferable to four-year institutions.

State colleges/universities (granting four-year and graduate degrees) also exist. They are usually more expensive than community colleges, but less expensive than private institutions.

There are also a plethora of grant, scholarship, work-study, and student loan programs available from private, state, and federal sources. It is a rare student that can't qualify for some form financial aid. For example, I came from an upper-middle class family and had an academic merit scholarship as an undergraduate, and as a graduate student, I had a research assistantship and student loans. If I had been a bit poorer, I could have qualified for the Pell grant program.


There's only one "high school", where everyone has to go. Vocational education is after that.

Many high schools offer vocational training in the trades.


There's always a shortage of workers - every other window has a "Now hiring" sign.

That depends on the state of the economy. Usually there are some jobs to be had, but not for everyone. The US tends to run unemployement rates in the 5 to 7% range. Over the last twenty five years the highest rate has been 9.7% (in 1982) and the lowest rate has been 4.0% (in 2000). (Figures from the US Department of Labor http://www.bls.gov/cps/prev_yrs.htm )


Native Americans live in small reservates in the desert.

Many do; though some of those reservations are quite large--and many are not in the desert. Many native americans also live in towns and cities. It's hard to be precise about such a questions, as over the centuries, the native american population has intermarried heavily with the black, white, and hispanic populations.


In principle black people can vote, but in practice the Republican election officials turn them away and/or "lose" their ballots. Commonplace or not?

I'm not black, so I can't speak to personal experience. However, the fact that the black population of the US is a powerful and highly-courted voting block would seem to indicate that--in general--they have little trouble excercising their franchise.

There are always isolated incidents of voter fraud or indimidation, or more subtle political manipulations (like ensuring long lines in precincts where you want to suppress the vote) from both parties, but in general, I think the US elections are as good--or better than in most western democracies.


You can't vote if you've been convicted. You can't vote even if you're just suspected of being a "felon".

Laws on voting rights for felons vary from state to state. Some states are very strict on allowing felons to vote again; some allow felons to vote as soon as they have served their sentances--some even allow them to vote while incarcerated. In my home state of Texas, felons can vote as soon as they have served their sentances (including parole/probation time). Summaries of state laws on the matter can be found at the Department of Justice website:
http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/restorevote/restorevote.htm

Under the law no one can be denied the right to vote based on just a suspicion or even an indictment. It might happen from time to time but it is a crime.

I hope this answers your questions.

I love it when threads devolve into "You Americans are all ignorant, fat, racist, rednecks!" "No, you Europeans are all effeminate, cheese-eating surrender monkeys!"

And it was so easy :)

Ok, now for some serious questions:

Do you really work over 12 hours a day in the us?

How often does the average american go abroad?

What's the difference between college and university?

Do you see the european welfare state as a failed socialist experiment or as a good example of solidarity?

And it was so easy :)

Ok, now for some serious questions:

Do you really work over 12 hours a day in the us?

How often does the average american go abroad?

What's the difference between college and university?

Do you see the european welfare state as a failed socialist experiment or as a good example of solidarity?
1 I only work about 9 hours/day. some work more, some work less.
2 The average American goes abroad less than 1/year
3 College is 4 years. Universities offer post-graduate studies. You can get a master's degree or a PHd from a university.
Europe is a failed experiment in socialism, and it's economy will crumble in the coming decades.

do you actually feel satisfied by your educational level, specially regarding geography and history?

do you actually feel satisfied by your educational level, specially regarding geography and history?

If you mean the level of instruction I recieved? Oh lord heavens no.

If you mean my self education? Yes by all means.

There's only one "high school", where everyone has to go. Vocational education is after that. You can take vocational education during high school.

Native Americans live in small reservates in the desert. I live in a house in the country. I've never lived in the desert or on a reservation.

You can't vote if you've been convicted. You can't vote even if you're just suspected of being a "felon". That depends on the state.

Do we really have to suck this much? I mean, what the fuck man. What the fuck.

I love it when threads devolve into "You Americans are all ignorant, fat, racist, rednecks!" "No, you Europeans are all effeminate, cheese-eating surrender monkeys!"

mmmmmm...cheese....

<drool/>

And it was so easy :)

Ok, now for some serious questions:

Do you really work over 12 hours a day in the us?

How often does the average american go abroad?

What's the difference between college and university?

Do you see the european welfare state as a failed socialist experiment or as a good example of solidarity?
Just a couple things I'd like to add too.

Typical workday for a full time job is 8ish hours a day, plus a lunch break. More than that is usually considered overtime, but it depends on whether you work by the hour or have a yearly salary. If you have a salary, sometimes you don't get paid for working extra. A lot varies from company to company.

There is no "average American." Some people never even leave their home state their entire lives, some people live the majority of their lives in different countries.

College/University was answered already.

As for the last question, again, there is no "average American," so it depends on who you ask. I personally like Europe a lot, although I've only been there for 2 weeks out of 20 years ;)
I've got nothing against their governments.

Actually, having lived in Europe for five years: Yes.

Europeans are ignorant racist tards. They just dress it up a sophistication.

Frankly the only thing more boring than europeans is a rock.

I have to agree that Europeans aren't the most interesting people...and I am one. Asians and Australasians are way more interesting.
Although I think rather than a rock, the only thing more boring that europeans is an American.

Thank you for answering. Well, I really didn't know as little as the questions would imply, but still not enough. It's been quite a while - ten years - since I last visited the country.

--- But it is illegal. Conversely, there are industries where union members will harass and/or intimidate workers who don't want to join the union.


Interesting note... the same happens here.


Public education in the US is free up through the 12th grade (senion year in high school).


Are there boarding schools?


If I had been a bit poorer, I could have qualified for the Pell grant program.


Is that a charity?


Many do; though some of those reservations are quite large--and many are not in the desert.


Basically the picture usually given is that Native Americans were segregated and confined to the "wastelands" or integrated.