The living standard in other countries rose quite a bit over the last decade so America doesn t have

Now, Korean Air may not be as spiffy as Asiana, the other major Korean airline that places in the top 10, but it s a damn sight better than the usual Delta fare of worn aircraft and even older flight attendants (add surly and overweight for American cabin crew).   U.S. airlines place nowhere near the list of 10 best airlines in the world, american airlines flight schedules published annually by Skytrax.
Nationalistic myopia is evidenced in this peculiar piece from MSNBC ( Ranking The Major Airlines for Business american airlines flight schedules Travel ) listing the best domestic airlines for business travel.  The usual suspects listed, United, U.S. Airways, et al,  but not a word about international travel.  Not. A. Word.  Do we think that business travel starts and stops at the borders?  News flash for MSNBC, some people do actually fly over yonder to see other countries.
Health american airlines flight schedules care is another one, with a large percentage of Americans way overweight and getting  sicker every year.  Should be termed sick care instead.   The United States spends less per capita on food and way more on health care than other countries, american airlines flight schedules with the percentages being neatly reversed in other developed countries ( something like 9% and 15%).   Could be stress, american airlines flight schedules could be because american airlines flight schedules other nationalities ea t better and more densely nutritious food , less giant agribusiness, or maybe waiting rooms aren t clogged with people with chest pains and pre-diabetes symptoms.  Lots of reasons, but there you have it.
The Damsel of the Sanct Grael, by Dante Gabriel Rossetti: medieval romance. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) (almost totally unrelated image, probably got dredged up by the Zemanta plugin because the damsel is holding a holy grail, but hey, it s a nice painting)
American exceptionalism is that odd view that America is so different from other countries because of a mission to find the Holy Grail to shine the light of freedom american airlines flight schedules and democracy on other benighted nations.  Conceived in liberty, with a snazzy Constitution, a melting pot of all races.  Popular view with neocons and other assorted nation-builders, and oddly reflected in daily walks of life.  America is the bestest place to live ever, with the whitest teeth (a valid point, if comparing american airlines flight schedules to the British Royal family), best cars, best cheerleaders, best best BEST!
I ve observed this sometimes in conversation with Americans and foreign visitors.  When the conversation turns to housing and living standards, american airlines flight schedules foreigners are almost always complimentary american airlines flight schedules of the food and neighborhoods, and with good reason:  physical living standards and creature comforts in the U.S., by any standard, *are* high.  And then the inevitable question gets popped:  wouldn t you like to live here?  Err, no comes the somewhat embarrassed reply.  Well, then, why in the world not?  Because my family is not here.  Ah.  Pregnant american airlines flight schedules pause, shuffle feet, reboot.
The United States is indeed a *great* place to live, raise a family, start a business, write a blog. Lots of opportunities.  Great place to immigrate to.  And so are Brazil, Singapore, New Zealand, Italy, and Australia.
@ KC European airlines are a dog s breakfast of great to putrid. Lufthansa has been fine, Iberia blows, British Airways is tolerable, Air France insufferable (largely due to the ghastly Charles de Gaulle airport) and Alitalia is, well words fail me.
Or, could be that a richer society decides that they want to spend more money on health care. Witness the explosion of the supplement industry, american airlines flight schedules cosmetic procedures (medical and dental), and procedures that are commonplace if not necessary (Laser Vision Correction, anyone?). Heh, no, can t have that!
Bingo. It s gotta be instant, you know. Hey, what s an extra $30 month if I can download porn faster? $150 for 9532 channels so there will never be a moment when I have to put in some effort to find a way to relax for an hour or two? $60 for dinner out so I don t have to fix food. I think most of us are guilty american airlines flight schedules of throwing money in some way or other at our over-busy non-present life. Some people will spend any amount it seems so they will never have to spend a minute american airlines flight schedules of time or a single thought that could be used for more important stuff. Or maybe we re all lazy. Sorry, didn t mean to rant; this is huge in my life right now.
Well man, I can say this a great post. I don t have much to say other than as I read I was just nodding american airlines flight schedules my head yes. Yup, yup, yup, you are correct. It s funny that we are sometimes baffled by people who don t want to live here, lol, we really are Ameri-centric, aren t we?
Oh, The Life of Brian in reverse american airlines flight schedules :). But I generally agree with you the situation is very similar in the UK. As to airlines, I still remember fondly coming back from Atlanta on Delta (there is direct flight to Manchester) and my colleague and friend (who is German) insisting american airlines flight schedules that the flight attendant try the breakfast it was truely inedible. However, the seats were comfortable designed for larger Americans. Air France is rather different nice food, great wine and small seats. Can t win, can we?
America is the greatest country in the world. It is slipping, however, because of apologists like Obama who go around saying sorry we have free speech to horrific dictatorships. The best thing America could do would be to bring back the moon program. Build a colony on another planet. The scientific research (e.g. materials, computerization, etc.) that came out of the Apollo program has improved our way of life more than any other single human achievement.
Also, my favourite airline of all-time american airlines flight schedules is Thai Airways (I haven t flown in Korea so I can t say). DELICIOUS food. The flight attendants, on my hour-and-a-half flight changed outfits THREE TIMES. It was outrageous. Impeccable service.
How about a prize instead of expensive integrated programs? Not just a little million-dollar prize for the backyard inventor, let s say but a billion dollars for the first group to come up with the first functional space elevator .
The living standard in other countries rose quite a bit over the last decade so America doesn t have a huge advantage anymore. That s good for us too because we can retire to other countries and still be comfortable.
Love the post, but I think the exceptionalism view is shared by many nations. Most people believe in Western countries believe that their nation is truly the best in the world. I ve seen it over and over again in Europe..Germany, UK, Netherlands, Italy, France, Greece. Heck, even Poland is getting that way now that there are jobs and cell phones and reality tv.
Hi FGA, maybe I didn t present exceptionalism in the right light. american airlines flight schedules Plenty of other nationalities fall into nationalism, of varying degrees of intensity, and a few even go into exceptionalism, such as Japan and France, and the United Kingdom of years past. France and England american airlines flight schedules have been pointed to have had this sense of destiny and empire, with the haughtiness american airlines flight schedules and prejudice that goes with it. On the other hand, dangerous to generalize, I know. (apologies to French and English readers who may be taken aback by these comments )
It in fact used to be that America was the best place in the world to live. That was after the World Wars had devastated Europe and before Asian and Latin American countries came into their own economically.
Americans younger than about 75 have a lot to be concerned about, for themselves as for their children. Airline conditions are the least of our problems. Healthcare is serious. But long-term, there are much larger cracks in our foundation.