Things the United States do well.

[Farrandeelin]

Large multinational companies. US English.

[Rossfan]

Talking shite
Electing morons

coming from a county that elected Ming and Sean Doherty......I think the words stones and glasshouses comes to mind.  (Not to mention the only NO vote in the equality referendum)

Since when did either of those gents become morons? They gave/had more brains in their little toes than you have reading someof your posts.
If there was a same sex marriage referendum in the U S it would be rejected by 2 to 1 not 50.5 to 49.5.

[whitey]

Talking shite
Electing morons

coming from a county that elected Ming and Sean Doherty......I think the words stones and glasshouses comes to mind.  (Not to mention the only NO vote in the equality referendum)

Since when did either of those gents become morons? They gave/had more brains in their little toes than you have reading someof your posts.
If there was a same sex marriage referendum in the U S it would be rejected by 2 to 1 not 50.5 to 49.5.

Ming is a moron of epic proportions

Sean Doherty was a crook and a conman and a complete sc**bag

Re gay marriage......your dead wrong.....pls see attached


http://www.pewforum.org/2015/07/29/graphics-slideshow-changing-attitudes-on-gay-marriage/

Other polls have even more favorable mumbers in favor of gay marriage

[Muck Savage]

Opportunity for all - I know lads here that scraped by the inter-cert and they are Millionaires because of construction. I was middle of the road through college and would never get to what I have now in Ireland.

BBQ - Take the lowest cost cut of meat and turn it into something that has people licking the plates.

Sports - Great social events, lots of fun and usually fun to watch. Having said that nothing to a good game of hurling or football.

Cheerleaders - No explanation needed.

Diversity - Different cultures, different classes and different professions in each neighborhood.

Shops open 24 hrs - I can get a loaf of bread at 2am if I need.

[omaghjoe]

Talking shite
Electing morons

coming from a county that elected Ming and Sean Doherty......I think the words stones and glasshouses comes to mind.  (Not to mention the only NO vote in the equality referendum)

Since when did either of those gents become morons? They gave/had more brains in their little toes than you have reading someof your posts.
If there was a same sex marriage referendum in the U S it would be rejected by 2 to 1 not 50.5 to 49.5.

Your preconceptions about America are as outdated as American's are about Ireland.

[DrinkingHarp]

1)  Innovation

2)  Charity

3)  Scientific Research

4)  Higher Educational Institutions

5)  Interstate Transportation-Highways

[omaghjoe]

Would agree with many of above but what I think is America's greatest asset is its open mindedness.
This might sound strange to people who dont live in America considering the dogmatic fundamentalism and polarisation of politics here

However politics aside in everyday life Americans are very open to new ideas, new people (except Seattle Iceman  ), and generally optimistic for a positive outcome with change. In a way that just doesnt exist in Ireland where change is often viewed with suspicion. Course it has its draw backs as well but I believe that open-mindedness is really what makes America unique.

[Eamonnca1]

Customer service. Whatever you want, you've got it.

Local council meetings. Everything carried out in full public view, votes are taken on city staff recommendations at lightening speed, and any member of the public can address the council on any matter whether it's on the agenda or not.

Airports. Spacious, clean, efficient, and user-friendly.

Can-do attitude. I don't know if this is specific to Silicon Valley but there's a real sense of freedom to try something new and there's no shame if it doesn't work out. You just move onto the next thing and nobody holds it against you or gloats if you try something that didn't work. Conversely there's no begrudgery if you succeed.

Diversity. It's a known fact that America does a better job of assimilating people from diverse backgrounds than European countries do.

Space travel. Didn't score as many firsts as the Soviets but still a pretty impressive capability.

Science. Cranking out innovations and Nobel winners like they're going out of style.

The rule of law. I know it goes a bit overboard in some areas and there's plenty of police corruption, but if you break the slightest rule it's a good bet you'll pay a penalty for it.  Kill somebody by drunk driving and you'll do 15 years to life.

[seafoid]

Imprisoning black people

The most expensive healthcare in the world

OECD inequality

[johnneycool]

1)  Innovation

2)  Road Infrastructure


They're very good at both of these, there's no doubt, but food, god no, they've the most lax food regulations in the western world, corn syrup, steroids in the cattle, numerous other additives banned elsewhere due to health concerns.

[screenexile]

1. Fear
2. Being loud

[gallsman]

1)  Innovation

2)  Road Infrastructure


They're very good at both of these, there's no doubt, but food, god no, they've the most lax food regulations in the western world, corn syrup, steroids in the cattle, numerous other additives banned elsewhere due to health concerns.

Not so much road maintenance unfortunately.

Donuts. My god the donuts they make over there. Dublin and Belfast both need a Krispy Kreme asap. I have Dunkin' Donuts over here in Spain but it's just not the same 

[johnneycool]

1)  Innovation

2)  Road Infrastructure


They're very good at both of these, there's no doubt, but food, god no, they've the most lax food regulations in the western world, corn syrup, steroids in the cattle, numerous other additives banned elsewhere due to health concerns.

Not so much road maintenance unfortunately.

Donuts. My god the donuts they make over there. Dublin and Belfast both need a Krispy Kreme asap. I have Dunkin' Donuts over here in Spain but it's just not the same 

The roads on the east coast were fine, in and around the NY area. The no blame car insurance (is it still on the go?) meant that road accidents were cleared in double quick time unlike here, where a simple bump takes a few hours to clear.

There's a reason the Dunkin Donuts in Spain don't taste the same, flavourings and additives are removed that are banned by the EU, presumably for a good reason.

[Canalman]

For me anyway:

1. Politeness
2. Customer service
3. Friendliness
4. Patriotism (maybe to an extreme)
5. TV coverage
6. Razzmatazz
7. Dental care
8. Fighting wars
9. Installing TVs in  bars

[deiseach]

7. Dental care

U.S. Dentists Can't Make Nation's Teeth Any Damn Whiter

WASHINGTON, DC–In an official statement Monday, a spokesman for the American Dental Association announced that it cannot make the teeth of the nation's citizens any goddamn whiter.

"As medical professionals, there is a limit to how white we can make your teeth," ADA president T. Howard Jones said. "Using various new tooth-whitening procedures, we can remove the extrinsic staining from your teeth and make them look their absolute whitest. But that's still not enough for you psychos. You need whiter. Well, if you want to go to Mexico and have someone implant a black light in your gums so your teeth glow an unearthly white, go nuts. I'm just telling you what we're medically and legally capable of at this time."

Jones said Americans enjoy a staggering variety of teeth-whitening options, including lasers, gels, bleaches, strips, rinses, pastes, and carbamide-peroxide trays from such makers as Rembrandt, Brite Smile, Perfect Smile, PowerWhite, Rapid White, and Pearl Drops. But despite the seemingly limitless dental-bleaching procedures and products available, Jones said the nation's vain populace is still not satisfied.

"We're not holding anything back, honest," Jones said. "If there was some way to make your teeth whiter, we'd be thrilled to offer it to you and charge you an arm and a leg for it. You're just going to have to come to grips with the fact that your teeth have a slight natural tint. Unless you want us to start painting your teeth with correction fluid, you'll have to accept that cruel fact."

Jones stressed that the ADA has nothing against tooth whitening, noting that most of its 147,000 members offer everything from laser bleaching to porcelain veneers to dental bonding. The typical ADA dentist, however, is irked by customers who come in for routine bleaching and leave disappointed because "their teeth don't inflict retinal damage when you look directly into them."

"Hey, if your teeth are stained or discolored, come on in, and we'll fix you up," Jones said. "Professional teeth bleaching can whiten your teeth upwards of five shades, but once they reach their limit, that's it. You need to stop comparing your teeth to your refrigerator."

Citizens across the U.S. are expressing confusion over the ADA's defensive tone.

"I don't see why they're getting all huffy," said St. Paul, MN, resident Tamara Wenders, her words garbled by a mouthful of Crest Whitestrips. "They're making a lot of money. I thought dentists wanted us to have clean teeth."

Added Wenders, looking into the mirror: "I think it's working."

According to ADA member Dr. Walter Foti, D.D.S., the national obsession with perfectly white teeth may only be getting started.

"What happens once, at long last, you people get your teeth pure white?" Foti asked. "Will you finally be satisfied? Of course not. Then you'll want clear teeth. You won't rest until your f**king teeth are see-through."

"Look, you want white teeth so damn bad? It's simple," Jones said. "Don't smoke, stay away from coffee, tea, and soda, brush and floss regularly, and go to your dentist every six months. Sure, have your teeth whitened occasionally, but keep in mind that we can only go far as the technology allows. When someone creates a better teeth-whitening procedure, we'll slap an 'ultra' on it and get it out on the market as fast as the FDA allows. Until then, be happy with what you have. Americans really need to learn to live with almost-total perfection."