Don’t be fooled by the propaganda, the tenement blocks you are referring to as “ghettos” are standing to this day, and they indeed, are comfortable. My partner’s family lives in one. Since the abolishment of the soviet block, these were brought into half public half private domain. So you can just go and buy a flat in one. It’s a lot cheaper than a freestanding house/flat in the city centre, but they remain in decent standards (at least some of them).
I’m not saying that everything is peachy in the Eastern Europe - quite the opposite. There is a lot of socio-political stuff I 100% don’t agree with, economics are not in the best shape either. But given all this, I’m still glad I grew up there, rather in a place where I have to worry if I break my leg, will I be able to afford to go to hospital. Medical care and most of the necessary meds are free or subsidised so they are easily affordable. I don’t have to worry about gun violence, because guns are mostly contained to the criminal underworld and they keep it that way. Because of that, the police force doesn’t have to wear guns on the streets and they know how to defuse a situation without using lethal force. I went to college and got a degree, without worrying that I will have to pay off some exorbitant debt.
Best part is, country where I live and studied is not even my birthplace nor am I a citizen of this country. But still, free medical care and free education applies to me - beauty of the European Union.
You should consider taking your own advice about propaganda. My health insurance is cheap, six dollars a pay period, with a capped out of pocket expense. Not sure what that is off the top of my head, but not “bankrupting”.
The only gunshots I’ve heard in my life are ones I’ve fired myself.
The home that I bought two years ago is on par with the rent I was paying five years ago.
My five year college education was 35k with most of that offset by grants.
Your healthcare and education aren’t free. It’s subsidized by taxes that you pay. Which is fine, I think American taxes are much too low (for everybody). However, you have to look at what your government skips out on funding, name a military, seeing as the only thing standing between Ukraine and Russia is the massive amount of arms flowing in from the US.
When I say free, I obviously meant “at no extra cost”. So doesn’t matter if you are working, if you are a foreigner or any other situation - you need help, you receive it. No questions asked, no worries about the cost - people come together and everybody chip in.
Regarding the gun violence, USA is a big country. I know that thefts and rape are an issue in the area I stay - I never experienced it first handedly though. It doesn’t mean it’s not an existing problem.
But, not to drag this forever, it seems we both happy in the places we live in. Both have their good and bad sides, so let’s just agree to disagree :D
You are going a bit too far I think.
Don’t be fooled by the propaganda, the tenement blocks you are referring to as “ghettos” are standing to this day, and they indeed, are comfortable. My partner’s family lives in one. Since the abolishment of the soviet block, these were brought into half public half private domain. So you can just go and buy a flat in one. It’s a lot cheaper than a freestanding house/flat in the city centre, but they remain in decent standards (at least some of them).
I’m not saying that everything is peachy in the Eastern Europe - quite the opposite. There is a lot of socio-political stuff I 100% don’t agree with, economics are not in the best shape either. But given all this, I’m still glad I grew up there, rather in a place where I have to worry if I break my leg, will I be able to afford to go to hospital. Medical care and most of the necessary meds are free or subsidised so they are easily affordable. I don’t have to worry about gun violence, because guns are mostly contained to the criminal underworld and they keep it that way. Because of that, the police force doesn’t have to wear guns on the streets and they know how to defuse a situation without using lethal force. I went to college and got a degree, without worrying that I will have to pay off some exorbitant debt.
Best part is, country where I live and studied is not even my birthplace nor am I a citizen of this country. But still, free medical care and free education applies to me - beauty of the European Union.
Say what you want, I love where I live :)
You should consider taking your own advice about propaganda. My health insurance is cheap, six dollars a pay period, with a capped out of pocket expense. Not sure what that is off the top of my head, but not “bankrupting”.
The only gunshots I’ve heard in my life are ones I’ve fired myself.
The home that I bought two years ago is on par with the rent I was paying five years ago.
My five year college education was 35k with most of that offset by grants.
Your healthcare and education aren’t free. It’s subsidized by taxes that you pay. Which is fine, I think American taxes are much too low (for everybody). However, you have to look at what your government skips out on funding, name a military, seeing as the only thing standing between Ukraine and Russia is the massive amount of arms flowing in from the US.
When I say free, I obviously meant “at no extra cost”. So doesn’t matter if you are working, if you are a foreigner or any other situation - you need help, you receive it. No questions asked, no worries about the cost - people come together and everybody chip in.
Regarding the gun violence, USA is a big country. I know that thefts and rape are an issue in the area I stay - I never experienced it first handedly though. It doesn’t mean it’s not an existing problem.
But, not to drag this forever, it seems we both happy in the places we live in. Both have their good and bad sides, so let’s just agree to disagree :D