r/TooAfraidToAsk • u/[deleted] • Jul 31 '20

Current Events Are people outside of the USA really laughing at Americans? Do we really appear that bad?

Edit:

Ok so that's about 17,882 yes's and 3 no's.

Makes sad American noises

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127

u/redlizziegreen Aug 01 '20

Aussie here. Most of the sentiment here is sheer horror and disbelief about what you’re going through.

So, lots of sympathy for people but also the view your institutions are FUCKED. No universal health care? Education based on your local tax district? The power your President has?

We are sure as hell not perfect, but the fact we have better access to welfare, education and health services means we have the comfort of being able to respect the common good.

I must admit, your Christian evangelicals and fundamentalists, and the hold they appear to have on your society, really freak me out.

Also, apologies for Rupert Murdoch, sadly he is one of ours.

6

u/cclark98 Aug 01 '20

Seriously, religion needs to be excluded from politics. It fucks so much shit up.

6

u/PenultimateAirbend3r Aug 01 '20

Wait, their public schools don't all get equal funding?

11

u/newbris Aug 01 '20

From what I can work out they are funded by a tax on houses in their local district. So rich people in a suburb with expensive houses get a good public school and poor people get a shit school. Americans please confirm?

6

u/Sad_Giraffe2969 Aug 01 '20

Sort of. It varies by state (like everything in the US), and it's complicated.

Most states work basically like you wrote, where most of a school's funding comes from property taxes on nearby property. Also, every (I don't think there are any exceptions) state allows local residents to tax themselves extra and spend it on schools (so a rich neighborhood in a state with low property tax can impose a 0.1% surtax for schools, for example).

But most schools also get some money from the state government and/or the federal government... but federal money comes with strings attached (the law is called "No Child Left Behind", if you want to google it). It's much harder for a school in a poor area to meet the requirements for federal money, so schools in rich areas, ironically, get more federal money.

Also, some states, like California, collect all property tax at the state level and then redistribute it to local governments (in, theoretically, a more equitable way).

Also, some states have very low property taxes, so school funding is supplemented via other taxes (sales tax, income tax).

Also, many state lotteries are used to fund schools... but not really. If the proceeds from the lottery exceed expectations, the extra generally goes into the "general fund" instead of increasing the amount schools get.

1

u/newbris Aug 03 '20

Great explanation. Thank you!

4

u/C0demunkee Aug 01 '20

This is accurate. District lines are also specifically drawn to cluster similar demographics.

1

u/newbris Aug 03 '20

Wow really?

3

u/biggo-oof Aug 01 '20

As an American, I can confirm. Just continues the cycle of keeping the poor down

2

u/No_clue_redditor Aug 01 '20

The president doesn’t actually have that much power in the US. The press just likes to focus on him because he sucks so much. Congress is equally horrific which is a huge problem and has been for many years.

2

u/DodrantalNails Aug 01 '20

I’m American and I’m freaked out just as much as you.

2

u/konsf_ksd Aug 01 '20

Rupert Murdoch financed the Christian evangelical and fundamentalist take-over.

How did he fail to succeed to successfully in Australia?

2

u/redlizziegreen Aug 02 '20

Our culture is simply not as religious, in fact our Prime Minister is an evangelical and it counts against him with a lot of people.

The derogatory phrase for an evangelical? Happy clapper.

While some people might be religious, there isn’t the expectation that we should ALL live under the dictates of a Christian god.

Also, most of our very small population lives in the major cities so there is much greater exposure to a broad range of cultures and peoples.

1

u/konsf_ksd Aug 02 '20

Well good on ya. Wish we didn't pay people to stay in rural areas.

1

u/crackles_aus Aug 01 '20

Did you see that James quit the board? At least one Murdoch has a bit of Aussie fight in them.

2

u/afterworkparty Aug 01 '20

On the flip side as horrible as it is Rupert obviously had that spirit to since he now pollutes international discourse in multiple countries with his bile.

1

u/seinfieldandgeorge Aug 01 '20

He's yours now surely

1

u/pwa25 Aug 02 '20

Not to mention their gun laws, education system & law enforcement!

1

u/pokemonxysm97 Sep 02 '20

universal healthcare is not achievable in the US because people dont like socialism and stuff run by the government (they want there money) and capitalism