The Americans seem to have a very poor opinion of India. Most Americans write us off as an undeveloped third world country and others accuse us of stealing their jobs, but let me assure you thats its just one part of the picture. Our middle class alone is larger than the entire population of the U.S. We do have poverty but then again over a Billion people some are bound to be be. The poverty rate has fallen from 80% when we got independence to 20% now and will be completely eradicated in the next 20 years if our economy continues to grow at the present rate. Besides we are democratic, diverse and secular, have a highly skilled workforce and share many common values with the U.S.
2006-11-25 03:05:59 · 12 answers · asked by ash 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
I grew up in Boston and there were plenty of Indians living in my area, and I was quite close to a few of them. I know quite a lot about India than an average American trust me.
An average American doesn't know the capital of all states in the USA, doesn't know more than one language, can't even speak that one language with a standard fluency desired for polite communications. Indeed, I always found foreigners - Europeans (except the modern British who can be as bad as us), Asians including Chinese, Koreans and Indians, and Africans to be far more knowledgable about the world than Americans. There's an old joke I learnt from an Indian friend in University: An American kid can't live without 3 C's: The Car, The Calculator (that's funny really) and I forgot the last part....but you see I'm an American!!!!
2006-11-25 03:32:21 · answer #1 · answered by quilm 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The total "poor" in American is 1% and a lot of it is by choice, people who decide to become "street people" and make their living by annoying drivers in the NYC Holland Tunnel.
97% of Americans have a telelphone. 98% have a TV set. 85% have a computer. 80% have a car, 35% have two cars.
99% of all children go to school until at least age 16, it's required by law.
Almost everyone over 18 has the opporutnity to go to a 2 year college for low or no cost (average is $400 a year)
Every state resident can go to very good graduate school universities at a reasonable cost, of which the Government provided warranteed loans to just about anyone to cover the entire cost (sometimes as much as $200,000) with low interest and long term payback with no obligations to government, other than repaying the money over, in some cases a 25 year period of time.
A person out of work gets up to $400 per week in compensation for half a year.
After that anyone out of work or destitute is entitled to a minimum of $7,800 a year in goverment subsidy, even if you're not a citizen, with the ability to apply for an additional $5,000 in housing subsidies
People over 60 get discounts on electricity, heating, telelphone, cable TV.
Everyone who works at least 7 years get minimal retirement benefits between age 66 and 67 that amounts to somthing like $650 a month, plus they have the option to get additional food and housing subsidies amounting to antother $600 a month.
Everyone is is disabled is able to get subsidies of $500 a month, plus can be eligable for another $600 a month in food and housing subsidies.
And it's been this way since the 1940's with additional benefits starting in the 1960s.
On top of this there are competitive grants from private concerns for eduction, science and the arts given to anyone on a competitive and meritorious basis.
Chidren can petition for emanciaption as young as 13.
It is illegel for anyone under 16 to work at a commercial business.
Anyone over 16 has restrictions and must be in school.
2006-11-25 03:25:02 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
As a whole, Americans do not give much thought to their opinion of India. There are those, though, who resent the fact that jobs are being outsourced to India. Even so, the ire caused by this outsourcing isn't focused so much on India as it is on foreign countries in general.
I would very much like to visit India, myself. I have always found the people to be very friendly and the cuisine delicious.
2006-11-25 03:12:59 · answer #3 · answered by appalachianlimbo 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Don't worry what other people think about your country. You know who you are, and just continue with that. You will always find nasty people who are ready to insult you at the drop of a hat, that is human nature. Ignore them, they are not worth your time. There are always people who appreciate your qualities, but they just haven't got the big mouths that the haters have.
2006-11-25 03:17:11 · answer #4 · answered by niko 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
India is a great ally of the United States.
2006-11-25 03:07:41 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I have always thought highly of the Indian people & I've never heard anyone say otherwise. You are an educated and, as you said, skilled people & I have great admiration for anyone who values education.
The only complaints I've ever heard is that your English is not always easy to understand!
2006-11-25 03:13:21 · answer #6 · answered by Judith 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Generally favorable. Love the art.
2006-11-25 03:08:34 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I'm sorry but most Americans can't even tell you where India is and don't care. We don't write you off, We just don't care.
2006-11-25 03:08:31 · answer #8 · answered by CHUCK 4 · 2⤊ 2⤋
I like your movies and your rich culture
2006-11-25 03:09:09 · answer #9 · answered by sunshine23511 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Well, I have nothing against India or it's people but I still wouldn't want to go vacation there nor would I want a child of mine to want to go to school there.
2006-11-25 03:08:19 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 4⤋