An American expat has sparked outrage among Australians by suggesting ways to improve their own country.
Adam Foskey shared his opinions in a recent TikTok video titled: ‘Some things Australia needs to learn from America.’
Mr Foskey, who lives Down Under, said card payment machines should be offered at petrol pumps in Australian service stations, a common fixture in American gas stations.
He also called for Mexican restaurants in Australia to serve free corn chips and dips, which are widely available on an unlimited basis across the US.
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American expat Adam Foskey (pictured) has sparked outrage among Australians by suggesting ways to improve their country
Mr Foskey believes overhead traffic lights that hang over streets should be installed across Australia, just as they are in American cities.
He said Australian supermarkets should stock a wider variety of flavours for food such as breakfast cereal, citing his love for pumpkin spiced Cheerios which are only available in the US.
‘Paying at the pump – we need to normalise that. Saves time, saves energy,’ Mr Foskey said in the video.
‘Free chips and salsa at Mexican restaurants – so when you sit down you’re immediately greeted with a basket of chips and two free sauces, and that’s unlimited throughout the night.’
‘Next up we have selection of food flavours in grocery stores – let’s increase the selection PLEASE, because sometimes I just need my bowl of pumpkin spiced Cheerios.
‘And lastly we have hanging traffic lights – let’s put those traffic lights over the street so people eight cars back can see what’s going on and be in the know.’
Well-intentioned or otherwise, Mr Foskey’s observations – which have racked up 96,700 views since they were uploaded online less than 24 hours ago – have drawn harsh criticism from viewers.
Mr Foskey said Australia should offer card payment machines at petrol pumps in service stations, a common fixture in American gas stations (stock image)
‘Australians actually like each other though. We don’t mind going into the petrol station and talking to the attendant,’ one woman replied.
‘How about you worry about America first, buddy,’ said a second.
‘Come back to me when you guys have gun control, free healthcare and Paypass debit cards everywhere,’ added a third, referencing America’s notorious reputation for violent crime and mass shootings.
Australian gun control legislation was transformed in 1996 after the Port Arthur shooting, when lone gunman Martin Bryant opened fire on shop owners and tourists with two semi-automatic, leaving 35 dead and 23 wounded in southern Tasmania.
While laws vary from state to state, rules remain strict across the country and owners are required to carry a firearm licence,
Mr Foskey also believes overhead traffic lights that hang over streets should be installed across Australia, just as they are in American cities
Licence holders must demonstrate a ‘genuine reason’ for holding a gun which does not include self-defense.
There have been 236 school shootings in the US since 2010 alone.
Others hit out at Mr Foskey’s claim that Mexican restaurants in Australia should serve food for free.
‘Wait, so American restaurants can afford to give free stuff, but they can’t afford to pay a reasonable wage?’ one person wrote.
Mr Foskey called for Mexican restaurants in Australia to serve free corn chips and dips, which are widely available on an unlimited basis across the US
He also said Australian supermarkets should stock a wider variety of flavours for food such as breakfast cereal, citing his love for pumpkin spiced Cheerios which are only available in the US
In America, tipping is often the primary source of income for those working in service and hospitality industries, where basic pay can be as low as $2.13 (USD) an hour.
That’s the minimum an employer is required to pay a ‘tipped’ employee in direct wages if $2.13 combined with tips equals the federal minimum wage of $7.25 (USD) per hour, according to the US Department of Labor.
Waiters and other restaurant staff can earn three to four times more from tips than wages, USA Today reported in 2015.
In Australia, where the federal minimum wage is $740.80 per week which equates to roughly $19.49 (AUD) an hour, tipping is optional and the exception as opposed to the rule.