Job Discussion Forums

[GabeKessel]

In addition to being richer, America is also more organized and it works better as far as services, technology and other things go. In relative terms, that is, as compared with Russia.

And when one says richer, while the dictionary definition of the word may not exactly correspond to 'better', richer does translate to a better life for many people who live in dysfunctional societies such as Russia. Not all of them. Just very many of them.

"Tastier" does not mean "better" in a dictionary. "Prettier" does not mean "better" in a dictionary. But, somehow, many people do not like food that tastes bad, nor do they like ugly people, cities or cars, etc.

A simple test will do the trick- go to the US embassy in Russia and see how many people are applying for visas and then go to a Russian embassy in Washington and see how many people are applying for visas there. The numbers will speak for themselves.

The people are not necessarily going to the US to become "richer" if they are already rich. Many are not motivated by greed, but by the desire to improve their often wretched lot. Many people are attracted to America by being able to get better quality education, better housing, better opportunities for profesional development better job conditions, better services, better banking and infrastructure, a more functional society, people with a better sense of professional responsibility. All those things can be found in America.

Now, those who like onion tops and pretty girls, have higher than the average Russian's salaries and are not too dark-skinned may like Russia, and Russia may like them in return. To each his own. What I am saying is that America is still preferred by more people than Russia. Hence again, as far as these two countries go, more people choose America.

As far as the American products go, again, the advertisers are doing a good job, that is for sure, but when the consumers buy those products, do they often complain that they have been deceived? Not often. American cars are still better than the shoddy Russian cars and the American blue jeans are better than what many Russians will ever make. Marlboro obviously tastes better than Belomor. That is why the Russians smoking it do not spit it out.

As far as the can-do spirit goes, compared to the traditional Russian attraction to darkness- read Dostoyevsky,for one, the American way of life seems a much more positive and can-do to many people. And that is why many people succeed there. The environment is much less given to comlaining, dark ruminations and wasting of time as in some other countries.

Why do some Americans put Canadian flags on ther luggage? I do not know of many, but some want to protect themselves from certain terrorist elements. These terrorists do exist. But that does not take away the fact that, overall, America is still more attractive to 'more' people than Russia.

[Henry_Cowell]

[GabeKessel]

Clean and green streets would be balancing the gutted out drags of the South Bronx. Beatiful Spanish-style architecture would be balancing out the charred brick buildings with rusty fire escapes. A very harmonious multi-cultural population with many excellent restaurants, shops and services would be balancing out the drug-and urine-infested street corners and bodegas of the Bronx.