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You are here: Home Health & Fitness Healthcare The American dream from an Englishman's perspective

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07/05/2010The American dream from an Englishman's perspective

The American dream from an Englishman's perspective Meagan debates the impact the US health reform bill will have on her homeland, taking into account a British point of view. What is the American dream, and is it at stake?

On Saturday night, I went out for dinner with friends of ours who got married last summer and their dad.

After two bottles of wine, we got to talking about the health reform bill, America versus England, immigration, etc. It comes up quite often in conversations over here, but I always glean something different from the conversations, especially when there is an older generation around to put their two cents in…or even their two pence.

It was the father’s interpretation of the 'American dream' that I found the most fascinating. To him, the American dream represented an immigrant who came to the United States, and despite the fact that our government doesn’t dish out free healthcare (well, at least it didn’t), free welfare, disability, etc. Immigrants still fight for a place on our economic and social ladder.

The question would be – why? Why does this dream that doesn’t give you anything for free still entice someone to fight, to strain and to yearn to be a part of it? It got us debating the idea that’s behind it – this 'dream' that seemed to offer so little in return – and we came to the conclusion that the American dream offers the opportunity for everything. Opportunity.

Statue of Liberty

It’s the idea that through the stress, turmoil and back-breaking work, one has the ability to come from nothing and work his way up to gain everything. Foreigners still want to become an American citizen, despite not getting anything free in return. And, although I wholeheartedly believe that the healthcare reform is the way forward, you can’t help but wonder what type of 'new immigrant' this will bring to our country.

In England, the father said between bites of his sausage, immigrants fight to come into the UK so they can become complacent, get free money from the dole, and steal from the National Health System. Now, I’m sure this is a wide, sweeping generalisation and doesn’t in any way reflect the range of immigrants coming into England, but you have to wonder why so many English people believe this to be true. Do people want to come here simply to get a free ride? I know this topic brings heated arguments to the table whenever brought up, but it is just something I find fascinating to think about.

In America, we pride ourselves on being a self-sufficient nation. People are so angry with the health care because they are afraid of what this means to that self-sufficiency they work hard to keep. Since living in this country, I have become even more proud of that characteristic most of us hold.

I see that we don’t expect anything from anyone else, and when we want things done, we get them done. Service is impeccable, and we’re a well-oiled machine always striving for more. I get frustrated with the placated dullness here. (But overjoyed at the simple, niceties and caring that comes from this.)

Business woman with handcuffs

Since I’ve lived here, I’ve also become sad about this characteristic of Americans as well. It’s a double-edged sword because as independent as we like to think we are, we are a lonely, depressed and selfish nation. We aren’t forgiving to our workers – we expect them to work full time with two weeks break. We don’t offer much in return, but expect the world. We look down on people who might put their families over their job, mothers who stay at home, or friends who don’t have any aspirations to better themselves financially. Our first question when we meet someone is “So what do you do?”, not “So how was your day?”

I love it and I hate it about me. It’s who I am though.

There will be repercussions – good and bad – to this health care reform, and let’s hope there will be a future generation who never knew what it was like to have a brother in law declare bankruptcy over a broken jaw, or a family member who had to dish out USD 3,000 a month because he got cancer, or a mother who you’re worried about falling ill because she isn’t covered.

Yes, the future generation may end up taking it for granted like many in England do simply because they don’t know any different…and we may end up getting some waifs and strays who want to take advantage of our healthcare…but to me, that’s better than letting our hardworking citizens die.

Will our entire nation begin to harbour different characteristics than the one it was built on because of this bill? Or is that too much weight to put on one simple delegation?

 

MeaganFollow Meagan on The Lady Who Lunches: her 5,370 mile move from loud Los Angeles to elegant England, the adjustments from somewhat aspiring actress to overly-excited novelist, the cultural shocks a very American woman faces living in Europe, the reluctant but fantastic start-up of a social group for women in a foreign country, and learning how to live with the English gent she fell in love with. Phew!

 Photo credits: Statue of Liberty by Celso Flores (Flickr.com)




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