Why are people in the UK under the false presumption that we still use the eletric chair in the USA?
816163
Because we still do use the electric chair.\n\nVirginia executes first inmate by electric chair in over two years\nJuly 21, 2006\n\n[JURIST] Virginia [JURIST news archive] executed a man Thursday night using the electric chair, the first execution by electrocution in the country in over two years. Brandon Wayne Hedrick, convicted of the rape and murder of a 23.... [more]\n\nHere is the same article, but from the Washington Post:\n\nhttp://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/20/AR2006072001852.html\n\nEDIT: As of 2006, the only places in the world which still reserve the electric chair as an option for execution are the U.S. states of Alabama, Florida, Nebraska, South Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia. (Oklahoma and Illinois laws provide for its use should lethal injection ever be held to be unconstitutional.) Except for Nebraska, where it remains the only method of execution, inmates in the other states must select it or lethal injection. In the state of Florida, on July 8, 1999, Allen Lee Davis convicted of murder was executed in the Florida electric chair "Old Sparky". Davis' face was bloodied and photographs taken, which were later posted on the internet. Lethal injection is now, as of 2006, the primary method of execution in the state of Florida.
1028533
I'm from England-\n I'm actually not sure whats different in the US- we can "Jay walk" and not get arrested, where i live, its mainly rural. I know there is way less traffic here- We have to pay more for gas and electricity than the US, and we have smaller cars than the US. We have a queen, and i live in a tightly knit community- there are allot of drug users in the city, and vandalism and crime, but it's way better living in the countryside.
366257
It is due to the system of participation.  The one in the states is called first-past-the-post or a plural majority, meaning if voted for Republican (AHHHH!), but a democrat got in (YAAAH!) my vote would be excluded and ignored.  However, in Europe proportional representation allows for every vote to be counted, and that gives rise to a multi-party system. So, sad to say the only way there's is going to be a third party system, would be to get off your arses and demand change.  Don't tell me, you'll do it right after American idol!! Joking, we Brits have the same crappy system.
898286
USA has dentists.\n\nAmericans drink coffee, a manly drink - not like that limp wristed tea they drink there.\n\nIn UK, they yell, "I say there!"  In America we yell, "Get outta my way, dickhead!"\n\nIn America, we have culture wars - there are no real culture wars in England - EVERYONE there seems gay.\n\nWe have actual highways here, and roads where vehicles can actually pass each other without running into the bushes.\n\nWe have real cars, not golf carts.\n\nWe have actual cuisine here.  \n\nIn the USA, you can order a pizza at 2 am.  In England, you can lie in bed wishing you could order a pizza at 2 am. \n\nWe've gotten rid of those silly "roundabouts" here (known as traffic circles in America).  We have no time for goofing around with circles - we have people to see, places to go, things to do, money to make. \n\nWe Americans should be more generous to Brits - someone PLEASE send them the recipe for ice cubes.   \n\nLove Jack
568432
Not just the wheelchairs but the company's or resteraunts who build restrooms that are not user friendly. They may make the bathroom big enough to place the chair inside but they don't make the doors wide enough to let the wheelchair into the stall.. They should literally put all people in wheel chairs that don't need them and test what it's like for parking spaces and doors to bathrooms. Since there are so many type of wheelchairs written out by Dr. prescription's based on what the Dr advises the insurance allowed as meeting medical necessity. Some insurance company's won't write the prescription for the electrical because you don't meet the medical necessity qualifications. Ex: you have hands so you don't need electrical chair or you can "only" use your mouth by movement (no access to hand movement)...ok= now you qualify for electrical wheelchair. Don't we pay for the insurance? Shouldn't we have choice of what wheelchairs we want? Well government hasn't made it a law on what insurance should or shouldn't cover for you so at this time you get what they decide to prescribe to you. Next question they'll determine is if this wheelchair will be a purchase or a rental...Isn't that crazy!!!Yes they do rent them while insurance pay's for the months and months you hold on to chair.
47866
Because we're way smarter than yanks lol! only joking. The following is just my theory - As a Briton I believe our basic education system falls short in many areas. For the majority this is not good, however, those with a strong desire to learn have an advantage. Because of substandard basic education, there is less purely acedemic BS clogging up the brain leaving more space for ground breaking new ideas. Put simply, liken the human brain to a computer - take away MS Windows (the acedemic BS that makes the computer 'average'), and you have a machine that is open to new ideas (OS's), ie, it can think 'outside the box', which is a vital key in inventive thinking.\n\nNow if only british government & industry would start backing our young inventors instead of forcing them to sell their ideas to the far east...
966091
probably the fact that it is made for the usa market and the power rateing is 0nly 120volt not 240 like ours,so if u get it and plug into the mains u will burn it out so u have wasted ur money,try european markets but stress u need for uk
72385
No. We're not walking sideways in the United States, right? :-)
370894
England for a start. We use feet, inches, pounds, miles and stone, we're rather resistant to the metric system. America uses some of it I believe with things liek miles and lbs but i think slowly they're turning to metric more and more. The rest of Europe is very strictly metric, leading the way is France
862896
it is not very popular here in europe.  in fact, it is generally looked upon as very inferior, when compared to the ESIC (european standards institute certificaiton).  but i cant speak for how it is looked upon in america.
1150709
The American system of separation of powers was meant to limit the power of any one branch of government (Executive, Judicial, Legislative). Checks and balances. I don't understand your point of meaningless in Britain, but I don't live there.
591612
Many don't know half of the states...or anything about other countries either.  I am from Canada, and I have had people seriously ask me if there is electricity there.  WTF.\n:)
1168881
Hi there. I am from Greece and lived in different European countries for professional reasons. Currently I am living in Poland.\n\nIt is the first time I heard something like that. Only in the UK adults are not allowed to enter playgrounds unless they accompany a child.\n\nAnd please give me the ten points since you will not get a more accurate answer to this question. ;-)\n\nTake care
444113
It's the Republicans that don't like the U.K.. Not every body over here is Conservative. Most of them have a limited, down-home, red-neck, self appointed Christian attitude, since George Bush has been elected. In other words they are not very intelligent Mate. We don't like them either, So don't pay any attention to what they are saying. it's the blind leading the blind. America is going to vote Bush's Congress out real soon, and they will really start running their mouths then.
1163576
actually it is easier in the US than UK
27647
I like the current system.\n\nFurther more the reason is that it makes it harder for other countries to copy or stuff like nuclear reactors.\n\n\nEngland by the way still uses miles as a measure of distance.
438649
yep! Im in The UK.  I find it weird writing questions and answers that will be accessable to us in the Uk but also without too many colloquialisms that will confuse the Yanks.