Stop the American dream delusion!
I feel a lot of people have a pretty delusional view of the US and other countries (‘Dubai ranked among most expensive cities for housing’, Gulf News, September 22). I guess the grass is always greener on the other side? First things first, healthcare in the US is insanely expensive. If you think you’re trying to balance the budget with the price of healthcare here, good luck with your dream in New York City. My aunt had a stroke while vacationing in the US and she was in the hospital for two weeks. Her hospital bill came to $2 million (Dh7.35 million)! Luckily, she had bought travel insurance before going, or else she would be sick and bankrupt. My friend who works in oncology in the US sees his patients paying $20,000 (Dh73,460) per bag of chemotherapy drugs. So it’s great there, but don’t get sick.
Secondly, you can’t complain about the facilities here because I assure you that the streets and the facilities are dirtier. It’s also safer here. Gated communities are a must in many cities because of the amount of robberies. Cities from after the financial crisis in 2008 look really bad. In the state of Florida you can shoot someone on your property. There’s a long running (and bitter) joke that if you shoot someone beside your property, make sure you drag them onto your property before you call the police. People carry guns, so road rage becomes a whole different kind of fear. Don’t even get me started on the intolerance of religion and race. Discrimination is everywhere and here is no exception, but at least you’re not scared for your life because of your beliefs or skin colour.
Not to mention, when I graduated from school, our professors told us what the starting salary is for our profession. I’m making 50 per cent more than that number here.
So be careful with rose coloured glasses and your American dream.
From Ms Lili Maria
Dubai
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Be grateful
It’s true. Some people are crazy about going to the US. Some of them leave good jobs and lives here and they end up living in a sharing room after once having a two bedroom apartment with a sea view.
From Mr John Arthur
Abu Dhabi
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Compare per capita
If you are comparing Dubai with other cities, then you should also compare per capita income of people residing in the UAE with those of New York, London and Hong Kong.
From Ms Masuma Arshad
Dubai
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A decent life
I agree with Ms Masuma Arshad, other countries don’t even provide the same facilities, like lodging, for those who are giving their lives to the job.
From Mr Faisal Shah
Dubai
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Hard to compare
As far as an expatriate is concerned, they are earning for the survival of their families, not to enjoy. Middle class and lower class people never go to New York City and other Europe cities because the cost of living is high, so please don’t compare Dubai with other developed countries due to high cost of living.
From Mr Shameer Abdullah Taj
Dubai
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Making more elsewhere
That’s true. Why compare with New York or London? If anyone works there in an ordinary job, at least they can earn more than in Dubai.
From Mr Allien Martin
UAE
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Need higher pay
The problem is that an average person doesn’t get paid as much as in London or New York to buy the properties in Dubai.
From Mr Jasser Ali
UAE
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Rent paid upfront
You cannot compare Dubai to New York, Milan, Rome or any other city for that matter. In those cities you don’t pay rent upfront for an entire year. In those cities rent is paid on a monthly basis, so it’s much easier for people to afford it.
From Mr John Paravalos
Dubai
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Safer here
Wherever anyone is living, you should be thankful, no matter how expensive it is. I think it is wrong to compare cities as each one of them have its own characteristics. At least it’s safer here.
From Ms Dhabia Almuhairi
UAE
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Respect where you live
I can’t believe you people! Don’t spit and eat on the same plate. The same goes if you are living in Dubai and talking against Dubai. It’s not fair and I think we should all respect the country where you live.
From Mr Tariq Khan
Dubai
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How is this reliable?
Iran taking their own samples of the controversial nuclear site by the Iran’s Atomic Energy Organisation (IAEA) to bring to UN nuclear monitors is like telling a drug addict who gets busted to take his own sample for evidence in court (‘IAEA chief visits Iran’s controversial Parchin site’, Gulf News, September 22). The result is likely to come back clean and the junkie would be released.
From Ms Susie Rossnagel
Acton, US
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More voices needed
This was an interesting read from Mr N. Mahadevan in his letter to Gulf News (‘Letter to the editor: So much for the common man’, Gulf News, September 22). It’s great that someone wants to discuss the wellbeing of the common person. Will someone else want to talk about it, too?
From Ms Katiuska Bedoya Ramirez
Dubai
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Israeli arrogance
According to a recent news report, the Israeli police clashed with Palestinians at the Al Aqsa Mosque in Occupied Jerusalem. The police arrested several people who were praying, accusing them that they tried to prevent a group of Jewish settlers from entering into the mosque area.
It is a matter to note that Israeli settlers have burnt mosques, cars, trees, attacked people in their villages and nothing is happening to them. However, if Palestinians retaliate, Israel puts them in jail for years.
Muslims all over the world strongly condemn the vicious attack on the Palestinian Muslims and appeal to the United Nations to ensure safety and security of the innocent.
From Mr Mumtaz Hussain
Dubai
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