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Comment by sidcool | Hacker News Reader

I am from India, (and have stayed in the US for 3 years, now back in India) but I have deep concerns about the happenings in the US. I am an ardent supporter of the US for the freedom and equality they support. They are truly the greatest country on the Earth. But some recent developments have made me sad. I don't want that to happen in my country.

The Indian Government has denied granting asylum to Snowden, obviously under the pressure of the US. I apologize on my Country's behalf and take the responsibility of this decision.

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> They are truly the greatest country on the Earth.

The US is at or very near the worst among OECD countries in: infant mortality, child poverty, child health and safety, life expectancy at birth, healthy life expectancy, rate of obesity, disability-adjusted life years, doctors per 1000 people, deaths from treatable conditions, rate of mental health disorders, rate of drug abuse, rate of prescription drug use, incarceration rate, rate of assaults, rate of homicides, rate of firearm deaths, rate of accidental firearm deaths and injuries, income inequality, wealth inequality, and economic mobility.

Don't forget: Maternity/Paternity Leave, Paid Sick Time, and Paid Vacation.

I'd say this proves the OP's point. We don't believe in handouts. Paid vacation and sick time is something to be earned, not granted as a token thank you for working here.

Edit: If you're going to downvote, why not expound upon why I'm wrong?

   We don't believe in handouts...

Unless you're a bank.

Or a weapons manufacturer that sells something the Defense Department doesn't want; your Congressman will surely force the purchase.

The majority of Americans do not believe the banks should have been bailed out. I'm speaking on behalf of the average SMB owner.

They are handouts just like taxes are handouts to the government: sometimes unfair, but they serve a purpose of sharing risks and profits. Some societies do share more (Denmark is a stereotypical example, you don't have to go full commie) others less. Calling them handouts overlooks that range of possibilities.

The business owner doesn't share the risk, so I'm not sure how that applies. If anything, offering more 'benefits' increases his/her risk.

Outside of specialized industries, most employees are replaceable, so I don't see any merits to sharing profits beyond the reasonable salary that they earn (provided the salary is reasonable). In a free market, the employees have the right to find a job that offers better benefits, should it exist.

> They are truly the greatest country on the Earth

Evidence? The highest GDP? This clip of some US drama got some sharing recently - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVwUphZ37Ww. Although, the reasoning is pretty awful in parts, the point about freedom rings true. Having everyone's comms recorded is freedom?

And equality, gay marriage is now legal in a whole 13 states? There are a number of countries in Europe that spank America's bottom on Equality.

Are we talking rights equality or wealth equality, or both? The wealth inequality in America is second to none, except maybe North Korea...

> I apologize on my Country's behalf and take the responsibility of this decision.

And the oscar for HN melodrama goes to...

Ok, I agree that was somewhat melodramatic, but I meant it. I feel embarrassed.

I know just what you mean. I lived in China and felt the same kind of shame when the US government or other Americans did wrong, even though it had little to do with me. Chinese people understood immediately when I said the US government does what it wants, often against the will of ordinary people, or without their knowledge or consent, and that good people were working on the problems, but that it was very hard.

So presumably it's the will of the Chinese people to live in a country where the police can send people to prison without trial.

Don't feel embarrassed, you have a right to feel however you want. Happy 4th of July!

That's quite rude no? The OP was merely stating an opinion, which he/she is entitled to do. Bitter much?

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