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While I appreciate your newcomers infatuation with your new surroundings, let us know what your think once your get out see the rest of Europe. It's a big place, and much of it is remarkably different from an upscale neighborhood in Brussels. I will admit that Belgians are some of the most polite people in the world, especially if they find out you're an American. There is a reason for this. They have longer memories than we do and still genuinely appreciate the sacrifices made by Americans in WWII. If you visit Bastogne, and they discover you are affiliated with the US military, it is nearly impossible to spend your own money in any of the cafes, restaurants, bistros, bars, or other venues.
If you are a liberal with a decidedly left bent in your politics, Europe would appear to be a Utopia on the surface. Some issues with your facts. 1. Dense neighborhoods and public transit are a product of necessity. Most of western Europe is much more densely populated than the US, even in major US cities. If you travel to the UK, Ireland, Germany, The Netherlands, France, etc., you will see the same thing. They simply have many more people per square mile than we do in the US, thus the dense neighborhoods and public transit. 2. The social democracies that comprise much of western Europe present the appearance of well paid workers, and little poverty, but it's a facade. Get out and about, the poverty is out there. The tax burdens are massive. Additionally, the social programs from pensions, paid leave, and health care are simply fiscally unsustainable. The NHS in the UK recently announced that without substantial funding increases, they may need to seriously consider at least partial privatization. Greece and other countries experienced riots not too long ago when they introduced austerity measures to attempt to correct the fiscal problems.
I honestly hope that you enjoy your time in Europe, and experience all that the many countries have to offer. Maybe get out and about a bit before making such a one sided proclamation designed solely to illicit emotional responses.
This is a well written and thoughtful post. My one-sided proclamation was meant as balance to those who assume there US has the best of everything and is always first in every category. That's an arrogant assumption, particularly from people who have never left the country.
I lived in Europe for 14 years and while I enjoyed it, it is not superior. Europeans tend to be small minded and mean spirited, and very, very class conscious. They are also, for the most part, a dependent society, they expect the government to do things for them. If you fall into those patterns which I suspect you do, then I'm sure it's paradise for you but don't be arrogant enough to assume that your superficial opinion carries much weight.
You dismiss 500 million people as small minded and mean spirited, and I am arrogant? I have found some Europeans to be small minded and mean spirited and some of them to be patient, kind and helpful. If you've lived here for 14 years you probably know better than I do manners go much further here. My first few weeks people were kind of snippy towards me, and I wondered why. Then I observed how they interact with each other and noticed they spend more time on pleasantries and niceties than typical Americans do. (I'm not saying that's better... it's just a cultural difference.) Once I adjusted and started taking more time with well wishes, I stated receiving markedly better treatment.
And yes, they, like Americans, expect government to do things for them. That's why they pay taxes. Of course they expect to get their money's worth.
I cannot think of one single thing that they do better then the US does. Nothing. Without the US one of the blood thirsty Muslim countries or Russia would overrun the whole lot of them.
Well friend, you were the person this thread was written for. You should have an extended visit in Europe. I'm sure you'll find plenty of things you like better about home, but you might be surprised at how much you enjoy some of the things you see and do over here.
I'm an American who recently moved to Brussels. The quality of life here is so much better. Nice, dense neighborhoods, good public transit, very little signs of poverty, well paid workers, polite manners, sensible laws about guns, much lower rate of violent crime - the list goes on. If only America wasn't infested with ignorant republican yahoos, it too could enjoy the full benefits of being a western democracy. It's such a shame the non Yankee element keeps America from reaching it's potential.
Millions of Americans are glad you are gone. Enjoy your glorious new life.
Anecdotal evidence irrelevant. We are talking about nation wide statistics. The US has a higher violent crime rate. Not everyone can move to Kennesaw, Georgia. There are 300 million Americans and most will have to be subject to a relatively high murder and assault rate in their city/town. And I am not talking about ghetto neighborhoods or high minority/black neighborhoods that people can avoid.
You actually are talking about ghetto neighborhoods. Remove the inner city gang bangers and drug dealers from the statistics and the US is about like Denmark when it comes to violence.
Some things yes, some things no. Are they better at income? No, all of the Scandinavian countries are at least 35% below the USA after factiring income and cost of living. Even with a huge oil incomed economy for a small populationn Norway, Norway manages to be 45% more expensive overall that the USA while only mantaining a 6% edge in income...and even that is taxed at a rate more than 3X times the USA rate.
Are they better at lowering the tax burden on their citizens? No, all of them have taxes that are at least 3 times more as a % than what we pay in the USA.
They have made their choices differently but not necssarily better. If you think it's better, emigrate there.
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