People From Foreign Countries Tell Americans 21 Things They May Not Be Ready To Hear
When Redditor u/jaycool74 asked individuals from foreign countries to tell "us Americans" something that those from the United States aren't ready to hear, respondents opened the floodgates, mostly with a gush of criticism. They didn't even like the term Americans (scroll down for why that's irksome on its own).
Some of the thoughts were lighthearted or funny, while others were more... intense. Numerous themes emerged, with thoughts about food, behavior, and institutions in the United States showing up over and over again. Many of the comments were things Redditors from the United States acknowledged, although a fair amount of arguing took place, too.
Vote up things about America and Americans that cut the deepest.
- 15,884 VOTES
Lobbying Is Mind-Boggling
From Redditor u/II7sevenII:
Lobbying is essentially legal bribery.
It baffles me how every elected official is essentially sponsored by a bunch of companies or "movements" that are essentially corporations in disguise.
Also, corporations don't care about you. At all.
- 25,832 VOTES
It's Time To Take A Hard Look At Voting
From Redditor u/zzeddxx:
You guys need more than two major parties. In fact, you need an entire range: left, centre-left, centre-right, and right. Democracy means that you need to give the people a better freedom of choice than just choosing a different side of the same coin.
From Redditor u/Effective_Macaron_23:
Your voting system is unfair, obsolete, and less democratic than most countries.
Your bipartition is the reason why you don't have the quality of life that most First World countries guarantee.
Your media is as brainwashy as [it is] corrupt.
- 36,315 VOTES
You're Doing Health Care Wrong
From Redditor u/yongrii:
It’s okay to have health care not tied to your employment with a massive fat middleman in between.
From Redditor u/LorckFrak:
Staying alive isn't something that should cost more than the person's net worth.
From Redditor u/cloudpeak36:
You live in the main global superpower. A country that can wipe a lot of other places off the map. Your country has so much wealth.
Yet people die of easily treatable health problems because they can’t afford to [go] to the doctor.
A lot of the countries most Americans likely consider “underdeveloped” have better access to health care than you.
It’s horrifying.
- 45,240 VOTES
Just Tell Me The Price
From Redditor u/Sufficient_Vanilla18:
The way you add tax to everything at the till is mental. Just tell me what it costs on the fricking label!
From Redditor u/renderedren:
Yes! In my country, this would be considered false advertising.
- 53,355 VOTES
American Food Brands Taste Better In Foreign Countries
From Redditor u/YodasChick-O-Stick:
A lot of your favorite food brands make better versions of their products here. America often gets the short end of the stick.
From Redditor u/OmegaRainicorn:
Ritz crackers are way better in Japan.
From Redditor u/bursatella:
American living in Germany. Can confirm. Philadelphia cream cheese is so much better here!
- 64,123 VOTES
It's The United States Of Sugar
From Redditor u/whtsinthename:
You all eat too much of sugar.
From Redditor u/goldboldsold:
I lived there for six months. Shortly after moving I bought a loaf of bread and made a sandwich, but it was so sweet!! I told my housemates that I think I’d accidentally bought a dessert bread. They tried it. NOPE - regular bread. It was just FULL of sugar!!