05-17-2020, 09:30 AM
Our last visit to the US was late last year when my wife and I visited a number of midwest and southwest states. Without exception we found people to be kind and courteous, and without exception they believed the US to be the greatest country in the world.
The vast majority in the fifty to seventy five age group were rusted on Trump followers. Many listened every morning to Rush Limbaugh because "he is able to take complex matters and simplify them for us".
Few had been overseas and quite a number had not ventured outside their own state.
There was a superficial interest in Australia and Europe, possibly because of their lack of knowledge. Free to air tv usually concentrated on local and state matters with Fox providing right wing views almost entirely related to the US.
We were left speechless at the end of a Diana Ross concert in Las Vegas when the middle aged couple sitting behind us queried our accent. When we said we were from Australia the wife said she had never heard of it.
Years ago I was told that the US is a first world country with a third world underbelly. I've seen nothing to change that view
The vast majority in the fifty to seventy five age group were rusted on Trump followers. Many listened every morning to Rush Limbaugh because "he is able to take complex matters and simplify them for us".
Few had been overseas and quite a number had not ventured outside their own state.
There was a superficial interest in Australia and Europe, possibly because of their lack of knowledge. Free to air tv usually concentrated on local and state matters with Fox providing right wing views almost entirely related to the US.
We were left speechless at the end of a Diana Ross concert in Las Vegas when the middle aged couple sitting behind us queried our accent. When we said we were from Australia the wife said she had never heard of it.
Years ago I was told that the US is a first world country with a third world underbelly. I've seen nothing to change that view