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Police in this tiny Alabama town suck drivers into legal ‘black hole’

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Re: Police in this tiny Alabama town suck drivers into legal ‘black hole’

#51

Post by HWR_14 »

klyrs wrote: post #45
HWR_14 wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Until recently though the only fealty was a deceased former leader of the party (Reagan). The living fealty thing is new and disturbing. But let's not pretend it's a US trait. I hear more criticism about democratic leaders from democrats than republicans. Less vitriol, but more criticism.

> I hear more criticism about democratic leaders from democrats than republicans. Less vitriol, but more criticism. This is healthy, isn't it? Politics should be an environment where everybody can and does critique everybody, right? And, yes, it's not just a US thing. But it's one of many bellwethers that differ between US and Canada. Despite the notional monarchy.

Oh, yes, it's healthy. I (I believe correctly) interpreted it as a criticism of US politics. It's not. It's a valid criticism of the Republican party. I was pushing back on a nebulously worded "both sides are bad" undertone.

Re: Police in this tiny Alabama town suck drivers into legal ‘black hole’

#52

Post by HWR_14 »

sokoloff wrote: post #43
HWR_14 wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Until recently though the only fealty was a deceased former leader of the party (Reagan). The living fealty thing is new and disturbing. But let's not pretend it's a US trait. I hear more criticism about democratic leaders from democrats than republicans. Less vitriol, but more criticism.

Criticizing political leaders who are (in your opinion) underperforming seems like a healthy state for a representative democracy/republic form of government. If the leaders of your party are (or hold themselves to be) above criticism, that’s a sign that something is deeply unhealthy (as we’ve seen recently).

Heck, criticizing political leaders who aren't underperforming also seems important. There's always more that can be done.

I wasn't lamenting that there wasn't more politician worship, I was saying that it is confined to the Republican party.

Re: Police in this tiny Alabama town suck drivers into legal ‘black hole’

#55

Post by nicbou »

jdmoreira wrote: post #34
nus07 wrote: post #14

The more I read and experience such things along with the healthcare scam and sudden bills from hospitals and haggling with insurance, the more I wonder why I immigrated to the US when I could have taken my software skills and education to anywhere else like Europe or Canada. This country is for hustlers and grifters and the cunning.

You are not going to make the same money in Europe though

You will make enough, and get an extra month of vacation for your trouble.

Re: Police in this tiny Alabama town suck drivers into legal ‘black hole’

#56

Post by [deleted] »

jdmoreira wrote: post #34
nus07 wrote: post #14

The more I read and experience such things along with the healthcare scam and sudden bills from hospitals and haggling with insurance, the more I wonder why I immigrated to the US when I could have taken my software skills and education to anywhere else like Europe or Canada. This country is for hustlers and grifters and the cunning.

You are not going to make the same money in Europe though

[deleted]

Re: Police in this tiny Alabama town suck drivers into legal ‘black hole’

#57

Post by tacitusarc »

Andaith wrote: post #42
HWR_14 wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

About the infant morality rate specifically, that's in large part due to a different reporting standard. And, as to the "regular walking or cycling distance" the US simply has less population density. That said, I think mandatory vacation and universal healthcare would be nice.

Could you explain or link to the "different reporting standard" between USA and everyone else for infant mortality please?

https://vitalrecord.tamhsc.edu/american-infant-mortality-rat...

Re: Police in this tiny Alabama town suck drivers into legal ‘black hole’

#58

Post by Ekaros »

HWR_14 wrote: post #39
estaseuropano wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Quality of life > money. I love the US for its beauty and many parts of its culture, but I would never want to live there. In western europe it is normal for people to go to preventive care, or hospitals and NOT fear to be bankrupt. Its normal to have four weeks of paid vacation a year. Its normal to have a safety net when you fall on hard times, e.g. when you lose your job or family or mind. Its normal to think of p…

About the infant morality rate specifically, that's in large part due to a different reporting standard. And, as to the "regular walking or cycling distance" the US simply has less population density. That said, I think mandatory vacation and universal healthcare would be nice.

Population density has little to do with it. It is the city design and culture. Europeans accept that it is normal to live in apartment or terraced house in the cities.

Re: Police in this tiny Alabama town suck drivers into legal ‘black hole’

#59

Post by newsbinator »

maerF0x0 wrote: post #46
nus07 wrote: post #14

The more I read and experience such things along with the healthcare scam and sudden bills from hospitals and haggling with insurance, the more I wonder why I immigrated to the US when I could have taken my software skills and education to anywhere else like Europe or Canada. This country is for hustlers and grifters and the cunning.

Exactly. I've called it the "grief economy" Whomever can suffer the most grief wins. For example when trying to cancel a service the person on the other end is making at least minimum wage to waste your time for free. They can easily suffer more grief than you and so they have little to no reason to try and solve your issue quickly or at all. I've seen so many of these games since coming to the US. It's setup for who…

Often they're measured on time to complete a call/ticket and they're not allowed to hang up on the customer, so in cases when I need to get something done, I insist that I have all the time in the world. You can keep me on hold for the 3 to 6 hours this will take, I don't mind. Just keep me on hold and I'll wait patiently, Yes, I do have all day.

They'll cajole me to hang up, say that I'll get a call back, etc, but I insist that they can keep me on hold while we wait for whoever to finish their lunch break or get back from their meeting.

Often the issue gets resolved in 10 minutes this way.

And surprisingly: it stays resolved with no worse success rate than playing call back tag.

If it's actually taking a long time (which doesn't happen often), then I hang up and try a new rep or a new support channel.

Re: Police in this tiny Alabama town suck drivers into legal ‘black hole’

#60

Post by robbedpeter »

jdmoreira wrote: post #34
nus07 wrote: post #14

The more I read and experience such things along with the healthcare scam and sudden bills from hospitals and haggling with insurance, the more I wonder why I immigrated to the US when I could have taken my software skills and education to anywhere else like Europe or Canada. This country is for hustlers and grifters and the cunning.

You are not going to make the same money in Europe though

The lie is how you can spend the money. San Francisco level shit in the streets doesn't happen by accident.

People making 6 figures were/are living out of their cars.

You have to balance cost of living, culture, politics, weather, climate, appropriate proximity to friends & family, and so on.

I always think of it in terms of CERN and people who work at the LHC. The weather and local environment isn't ideal, but they're in a high quality situation otherwise doing work that is about as meaningful as work can be.

That seems like a good model of "work" to operate with.

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