NationStates Jolt Archive

What do you think? (poll coming)

I'd have to say the UK because it's my home.

Ireland because there lives CW

i'd have to say canada, and i've got the UN to back me up on that one :)

By many accounts ... New Zealand. I'll find out for sure when I move there in the Fall. Having lived in the Republic of Ireland and Canada, I'd have to give Canada the nod between those two.

i'd have to say canada, and i've got the UN to back me up on that one :)

Can you be more specific?

It would be impossible for me to hate Canada.

The glorious Sceptred Isle :)

It's a tie between the UK, Canada, and New Zealand.

I can't really tell, since I've only lived in one, but from what I hear, it's a toss between Canada and Ireland.

i'd have to say canada, and i've got the UN to back me up on that one :)

Actually, it would be Australia if you go by the UN's rankings. Australia was at 3rd, Canada at 5th.

The United States, because I live there.

i'd have to say canada, and i've got the UN to back me up on that one :)
Actually, the UN doesn't back you up on this one. Australia has the highest UN HDI (Human Development Index) score of any English speaking country, being third overall in the world.

Results so far:

1. USA
2. Canada
3. UK
4. New Zealand
5. Australia
5. Republic of Ireland

Yes they are supposed to be both five. They have equal scores at time of posting.

Malta.

Malta.

Valetta is nice, but it really is tiny. And rocky.

Valetta is nice, but it really is tiny. And rocky.

I feel I would be less bothered there than in any of the other nations listed.

I feel I would be less bothered there than in any of the other nations listed.

If you can deal with Catholicism, I suppose.

I say ireland. I like Irish whiskey.

I say ireland. I like Irish whiskey.

Amen to that.

If you can deal with Catholicism, I suppose.

I am Catholic. And I'd rather deal with Catholicism than whatever they call the brand of Christianity currently in full force in the USA.

I am Catholic. And I'd rather deal with Catholicism than whatever they call the brand of Christianity currently in full force in the USA.
Born Again Christians, if my memory serves me right.

According to the Economist a few months ago Ireland is the best country in the world to live in. Per capita income is higher in Ireland than in Canada, the UK or Australia. Its also a reasonably equitable society with only 10% of the population below the poverty line (compared to 17% in the UK and 12% in the US). Taxes are low, unemployment is low and every citizen is entitled to a free university education. Surely that makes Ireland top?


* Figures from the CIA World Factbook.

I am Catholic. And I'd rather deal with Catholicism than whatever they call the brand of Christianity currently in full force in the USA.

Be careful what you wish for. Catholicism is not as cosily "Lutheran" all over as it may seem in the West. They're quite ruthless in the third world and in countries that still listen to them, like Malta.

Sica']According to the Economist a few months ago Ireland is the best country in the world to live in. Per capita income is higher in Ireland than in Canada, the UK or Australia. Its also a reasonably equitable society with only 10% of the population below the poverty line (compared to 17% in the UK and 12% in the US). Taxes are low, unemployment is low and every citizen is entitled to a free university education. Surely that makes Ireland top?
Ah, but abortion is illegal.

Which immediately sends it tumbling to somewhere at the bottom.

Be careful what you wish for. Catholicism is not as cosily "Lutheran" all over as it may seem in the West. They're quite ruthless in the third world and in countries that still listen to them, like Malta.

Surely another reason to vote for Ireland! Church attendance has been dropping off for decades. Something like less than 15% of the population regularly goes to church and, from my experience, most people under the age of 25 don't believe in any religion.

Ah, but abortion is illegal.

Which immediately sends it tumbling to somewhere at the bottom.

That is just because of the heavy influence of the Catholic Church. So much so that Ireland should be called "Vatican Lite". Or maybe "Drunk Vatican with hot red-headed chicks".

Actually, now that I think about it, Ireland should really be called:

The Roman Catholic Theocracy of Ireland.

So they most definately do NOT get my vote.

Actually, it would be Australia if you go by the UN's rankings. Australia was at 3rd, Canada at 5th.
We're slipping. :(

For the longest time we were #1 overall.

Sica']Surely another reason to vote for Ireland! Church attendance has been dropping off for decades. Something like less than 15% of the population regularly goes to church and, from my experience, most people under the age of 25 don't believe in any religion.

And yet, abortion is still illegal.

Ah, but abortion is illegal.

Which immediately sends it tumbling to somewhere at the bottom.
Indeed. Any country that denies women the right to choose is no country for me, imo.

Since Norway isn't an english-speaking country, my pick is Guyana, the rest is just filled with too many wankers, perhaps so with Guyana as well, I wouldn't know.

Since Norway isn't an english-speaking country, my pick is Guyana, the rest is just filled with too many wankers, perhaps so with Guyana as well, I wouldn't know.

The Scandinavian countries might as well be considered "English-speaking." I know people from the UK and the US and Canada who live here and who have never had to learn Swedish. They get by just fine. Sadly.

And yet, abortion is still illegal.

Admittedly the abortion thing is a minus, but we will almost certainly have gay marriage inside the next 3 years.

Anyone who calls Ireland "Vatican Lite" clearly has never been to either Ireland or the Vatican!

The Scandinavian countries might as well be considered "English-speaking." I know people from the UK and the US and Canada who live here and who have never had to learn Swedish. They get by just fine. Sadly.
Sadly? :p

Sadly? :p

Of course "sadly." It is a sad state of affairs that not only do they not learn the language of the country they're living in, we oblige them. We speak English when we should be insisting they get their lazy asses to a Swedish course.

Personally I refuse to speak English with them, and most do thank me. They know themselves that it's good for them.

Of course "sadly." It is a sad state of affairs that not only do they not learn the language of the country they're living in, we oblige them. We speak English with when we should be insisting they get their lazy asses to a Swedish course.

Personally I refuse to speak English with them, and most do thank me. They know themselves that it's good for them.
I would agree with you on this that they should at least show the basic courtesy of learning the language of the country they are in. The French adopt this attitude with foreigners, so why not other nationals?

I would agree with you on this that they should at least show the basic courtesy of learning the language of the country they are in.

I agree. I wish people did that here. (U.S.)

I agree. I wish people did that here. (U.S.)

The US is naturally Hispanic, in a sense, so I can see the case for bilingualism there. Here, English is not a native language in the same sense.

Sica']Admittedly the abortion thing is a minus, but we will almost certainly have gay marriage inside the next 3 years.

Anyone who calls Ireland "Vatican Lite" clearly has never been to either Ireland or the Vatican!

As I stated, I was refering to the influence of the Roman Catholic Church.

Vatican City has a Catholic rate approaching 100%. Ireland is somewhere around 95%. Even if the youth are becoming more secular, that is still a whopping majority.

I was forced to go to private Catholic school from 1st thru 9th grade. ALL the nuns were from Ireland.

http://www.adherents.com/largecom/com_romcath.html

despite Australia now being closer to #1

you have to give Canada credit for ONCE being actual #1 for..how many years? Over 10 I believe

the rankings went down recently due to the Liberals

USA 29 30.21%
Canada 25 26.04%
Australia 4 4.17%
UK 14 14.58%
Republic of Ireland 11 11.46%
New Zealand 7 7.29%

I hope people aren't just assuming their own country is best when they don't really know. Personally, I voted "Don't Know".

The US is naturally Hispanic, in a sense, so I can see the case for bilingualism there. Here, English is not a native language in the same sense.

Don't be silly. That's only true of the southwest and to a lesser degree Florida. That's not the case for most of the nation. For example, Minnesota was never hispanic. Swedish maybe (many there still speak it), but never hispanic.

Don't be silly. That's only true of the southwest and to a lesser degree Florida. That's not the case for most of the nation.

Neither is it for Switzerland, and they have four official languages, because they have four that are large enough. The same is true for Spanish in the US. The Spanish speaking minority is so large, that it would be silly to deny the fact that the US has a second major, native language.

Never been overseas, but I've been all around North America, and it's a BITCHIN Continent.

If you could come here for 6 months, spend time in cities like New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Toronto, Vancouver, and Boston, and then go hiking in places like Yellowstone, the grand canyon, the canadian rockies, and the appalachains, and take a tour of our beaches.... you'd like North America :) (and yes, I mean canada too.)

I'd love to check out the aussies and NZ, anybody care to do an exchange program?

I picked Canada, though I've never been there. Canada and the Scandinavian countries are the only countries I'd consider moving to, if I were to move.

The US would certainly be the worst.

From the remaining... I'd either say UK or Canada, both seem nice countries. I'll go for the UK because it doesn't have the disadvantage of having a country full of loonies next door :D

The USA. I live here and love it. Its the best for me.

Obviously I am biased, but I am partial to Canada.

Besides being where I happen to live, I honestly think that we have the best of everything. Our economy is great, we have tremendous natural resources, the people are somewhat friendly, and most other countries seem to like/ignore us. For me the multiculturalism is also a big selling point. The second language of my old town was Arabic, and where I am currently at it is French. I just love it.

Besides, I cannot think of any other English-speaking country that can do Winter properly.

We're slipping. :(

For the longest time we were #1 overall.

The Canadian spot on the HDI is on average for all citizens (As it is in every country). Naturally, the third-world conditions that many of the First Nations peoples live in drag it down. If they had the same standard of living that almost all other Canadians have, Canada would be higher on the list. So, presuming you live in a mainstream Canadian community, I think you would be right up there with the Australians. My professors warn me that the Canadian economy has to start shaping up its efficiency, though, or we could be headed for a downward drift on the HDI in the long term.

I would have liked to vote both Canada and the UK, but I went with Canada because...

...hmm...

Dont listen to the statistics, most of ireland is a shit hole, trust me.

AUSTRALIA

deffinetaly... they have great weather... clean country with great diversities, and has Great Beaches and Coral sea... it also has a small population...

The USA! The UK is even more Big-Brother than we are, Canada is way too cold, and I'd have to stand upside-down in Austraila or New Zealand. :D

Seriously, I picked "I don't know", since I haven't actually BEEN to those other countries.

Also, I agree with Fass about the language. It seems hypocritical to tell our immigrants to speak English, then go to France or Sweden and not learn their languages.

The Scandinavian countries might as well be considered "English-speaking." I know people from the UK and the US and Canada who live here and who have never had to learn Swedish. They get by just fine. Sadly.

Please, there is other Scandinavien languages than Swedish...

Ikke ingorere os. bare fordi vores fodboldhold er langt bedre end jeres :p

Please, there is other Scandinavien languages than Swedish...

Well, if your English is indicative of the level enountered in them, my omission is quite logical.

Ikkeingorere os. bare fordi vores fodboldhold er langt bedre end jeres :p

Fortsätt drömma. Nån gång tar ni väl er ur storebrors skugga.

On what I've heard Austrailia all the way

The USA. I love living here and I'd never consider leaving it since it's the country I know and identify with best.

The USA, geographically diverse, cool government style, kick ass civil rights, yeah, USA!:D

The US would certainly be the worst.

From the remaining... I'd either say UK or Canada, both seem nice countries. I'll go for the UK because it doesn't have the disadvantage of having a country full of loonies next door :D

Instead, you go to a country full of loonies!

I'd like to emigrate some day (doubt it'll happen). Probably Canada. My Great Aunt now lives in Toronto, and if it can keep the fussy family on dad's side right, it has to be good...

Just sounds good, I suppose. But better get through uni first.

Usa!

One thing I would find interesting is, did you ever live in any country other than the one you voted for?

I lived in Canada and am now living in Ireland. I voted for Ireland.

Valetta is nice, but it really is tiny. And rocky.

And it's really fucking boring. I was imprisoned there for a whole week once.
And it's all run down. The only interesting point was when I nearly walked into a sex cinema by accident.

By the way, I got attacked by an ape yesterday. And that's why I nominate
GIBRALTAR as the best English-speaking-in-grave-danger-of-being-attacked-by-an-ape country in the world!

Face it, apes rock.

And I've now got cool pictures of baby monkeys :D. When I get home I'll share them.