Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I don't know, I have never been to Brussels. But it looks like typical wealthy European suburbia. Land is much more expensive than in the US, so naturally homes and gardens are smaller.
In Mediterranean countries wealthy people often have mansions like in the US. The South is more snobbish in this respect, less egalitarian.
In most of Europe you are not supposed to show your wealth, though. There might be a filthy rich person living right next to you and you would never guess.
That attitude exists somewhat in very yankee areas of the US (extreme northeast), but in pretty much every city in the US now there are neighborhoods of huge, opulent houses built around country clubs. These areas also have the best schools -- the attendance at which gives a child a much better chance of getting into a prestigious university. Lawns are massive and manicured -- all done by professional gardeners of course.
Areas like this have only really exploded in the US since 1980. It used to be that a CEO would live in a nicer, but not that much nicer, area as his middle managers. Now ... lololol ... totally different worlds.
I'm talking about the OP having the new car smell of Brussels and acting like it's a utopia.
It's definitely not utopia, Felt, and I'm not saying it is. What I am saying is that their suburbs make ours looks like trash. They truly do. I'm sure you've had some delicious crusty freshly baked bread, right? Imagine if it were 1982 and bread to you meant a good old loaf of Wonderbread and you just had some of that delicious European style bread you can now get at pretty much every US supermarket. Wouldn't you feel like .. hold the f'ing phone, why aren't we baking this stuff in America? That's kind of how I feel when I look around my neighborhood and think about what new construction could and should be back home.
That attitude exists somewhat in very yankee areas of the US (extreme northeast), but in pretty much every city in the US now there are neighborhoods of huge, opulent houses built around country clubs. These areas also have the best schools -- the attendance at which gives a child a much better chance of getting into a prestigious university. Lawns are massive and manicured -- all done by professional gardeners of course.
Areas like this have only really exploded in the US since 1980. It used to be that a CEO would live in a nicer, but not that much nicer, area as his middle managers. Now ... lololol ... totally different worlds.
Yes, I am quite happy that this is not the case in most of Europe. In Germany almost everyone attends public school, so kids from all social strata are mixed together. Since wealthy and not so wealthy live close together, it is only natural they attend the same schools.
That attitude exists somewhat in very yankee areas of the US (extreme northeast), but in pretty much every city in the US now there are neighborhoods of huge, opulent houses built around country clubs. These areas also have the best schools -- the attendance at which gives a child a much better chance of getting into a prestigious university. Lawns are massive and manicured -- all done by professional gardeners of course.
.
Sounds like a good case of jealousy. Why are you so concerned about what other people choose to spend their money on?
Yes, I am quite happy that this is not the case in most of Europe. In Germany almost everyone attends public school, so kids from all social strata are mixed together. Since wealthy and not so wealthy live close together, it is only natural they attend the same schools.
In theory, every American gets a public education too ... but in reality, the school you attend is determined by your zip code. There's absolutely no comparison between the education a child is going to receive in a public school situated in a wealthy neighborhood to one that's situated in a working class area. That's one of the main reasons why Americans have fallen behind several European nations in social mobility, I think.
Sounds like a good case of jealousy. Why are you so concerned about what other people choose to spend their money on?
Jealousy? Huh? Road, look, I'm a liberal ... actually more of a socialist because I'm left on economic issues, but pretty much libertarian on social ones.... that doesn't mean I'm jealous of anyone. Yes, I think we'd have a healthier society if we had a broader middle class, and I support measures that encourage a level playing field. No, I'm not shaking my fist at people living in McMansions. I'm too busy enjoying a nice life in a European capital to take much notice.
That's a nice area. That's probably where the Eurocrats are calling home, eh?
Probably. It's interesting to see what they are buying with my tax money
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
