NuclearVision wrote
Do you think switzerland cares about its people because they are 50% or 60% taxed?( Not to mention that even with high taxes, they have much higher and decent average net income than other countries).
I'm just saying that nothing is free, and if the Lebanese Government had the resources that the Swiss government had, things would very probably have been different in Lebanon!
NuclearVision wrote
As for UAE and qatar:
Human rights are essential.
as for freedom of speech, i don't see any reason for people to use that, although i am sure it does exist.
i have been there, my uncles lived there for decades. the weather is bad, but other than that. Everything is great, in terms of security, income and liberty. Although as a foreigner you might need to put some extra work, but hey! that's still fairer than working here.
I am referring to the treatment of immigrant workers from countries such as India and Pakistan, how they are confiscated their passports and made to work 14 hours a day, 6 days a week for unacceptably low wages. There are many articles and documentaries about that out there. And also about the lack of freedom of speech - things like the internet being censored and people who criticize the government risking arrest. Did you not know about these things?
NuclearVision wrote
you said my attitude wasn't moderate or optimal? Could you blame me for that?
Don't take it personally, I am tired of hearing people saying "this shit country" and dismissing problems and criticism by "well yeah this is Lebanon".
As I said, I do not like that and find it to be counter-productive, and it's just untrue that lebanon is a shitty country or whatever. It's a decent country, and I should not have to feel ashamed of saying that I'm Lebanese, and there is no reason that I should be.
NuclearVision wrote
one last thing, i'd appreciate if you tell me what makes a country more "respectable" in your opinion. if it wasn't security, the nonexistance of a gap between rich or poor or at least most are medium-class, comfort and a slight feeling that someone in your country really cares about you.
Well I have to say I don't know, and you ask a very pertinent question. It may very well be the things that you listed, and I would be willing to go with this definition, although I do believe that you have a somewhat idealistic perception of "other countries" (what you call "respectable countries"). Feeling that the government cares about you, for example. If there is a social system, it doesn't mean that it works properly. Go there and queue for 1/2 hour to get sent away by a grumpy employee because you don't know the system. Many articles that you read on the internet and even personal testimonials are often biased and from a certain perspective.
There is also sometimes a will to believe in a system which might not necessarily be working, just like in Lebanon there are people believe that Lebanon is the "best country in the world", there are also people in other countries believing that their social system works, and that their country is "civilized" and superior, which you can see is not necessarily true.
There are also many things to take into account when comparing countries, and it's easy to take some things for granted when comparing, when these things are always there in your home country.
NuclearVision wrote
i am sorry if this went offtopic, but i see it's worth discussing
kindest Regards!
I'm sorry if I got carried away as well.
In the end this is a somewhat subjective matter and it's hard to reach a conclusion, and I'm not taking any sides and don't like to make judgements, all I'm saying is, not to judge a book by it's cover.