[durandal1]

For someone raised with American exceptionalism, finding out that the US is a pretty sad place to live can be very hard. There are many great things about the USA, but the lack of societal empathy and general egoism is apparent to most outsiders.

[magic_beans]

The US is an enormous country. Every state, county, city, town, village, hamlet are different. Every block in New York City alone is an entirely new community with different values or joys or hardship.

Those people who "find out" the US is a "sad place to live" haven't found the right place.

[bogomipz]

What is your nationality so others can make sweeping generalizations?