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Probably the biggest difference between Europe and America is in inequality.
In America, CEOs make about 400 times the average worker. In Germany, the ratio is something like 12 times. American conservatives seem to cheerlead for that sort of inequality, whereas in Europe it is seen for what it is. A return to a feudal power structure. American was at its strongest when inequality was far less. That is, when Democrats ran the government. The GOP economic model is hollowing out our country from within. It is still a great country, but the trajectories are not inspiring, and I see no evidence the GOP intends to change anything. They are shills for the plutocracy.
You need to work on your data. You thought Italy was doing well.
I don't care what my income is in relation to someone else's. I care about what my income is. The fact is the American worker makes a higher median wage than the German worker.
Three men in a lifeboat with no food or water meet the liberals' standard for equality.
I don't necessarily like diversity. I like people like me, that is why I choose to live specifically in Oklahoma. The place of my birth. I've lived in other states. The people there annoyed me. Which includes the obnoxious white pothead hippies in Colorado.
With that said, I remember seeing this Louis CK clip a while back called "Being white".
He jokes about how black people can't really use time machines, because basically all times except the present would kind of suck if you are black.
I think white people might like the idea of living in almost all-white Europe. But if I was black, what country would I want to live in? In my mind there is really only one choice. The United States of America. Second place would be Brazil, but it isn't even a close second.
Uh word is even tho most Europeans would be "anglo white" in the US; THEY can tell the differences with each other over there and be just as "racist" against each other as Bull Connor was against Black people 50 years ago or Malcolm X against white people about that same time.
Actually, America is superior -and- unique in the world.
It's the only nation that has a republican form of government.
(No connection with republican party, nor synonymous with "republic", nor a "constitutional republic.")
. . .
After 81 years of socialist indoctrination, most Americans couldn't define it let alone know anything about it. But it's still part of the law of the land. And since it is guaranteed by Article 4, Section 4, it's the "supreme" law of the land.
. . .
Republican Form: http://www.city-data.com/forum/28808937-post66.html
Uh word is even tho most Europeans would be "anglo white" in the US; THEY can tell the differences with each other over there and be just as "racist" against each other as Bull Connor was against Black people 50 years ago or Malcolm X against white people about that same time.
I have lived about 2.5 years in Europe. Two years in Sweden and half year in Ireland. Both places had decent people, beautiful places to visit, wonderful culture, and a life quality quite comparable to our own. I would say the Swedes are more organized than us, and the Irish slightly less so, but warm and very well spoken. In both countries, the people knew a great deal about America and most of the other countries of the world.
I don't think either Europe or America are better or worse. They are alternative models. Our political environment has turned into a circus and an embarrassment, but they have their issues too. The biggest thing that separates us from the countries I lived in was the American conservatives really are in their own cuccoon, who seem to place greater value on religious or political pundits than science, modern world events, and other cultures. The closest parallel I can think of are the theocracies of the Middle East, but they are far more extreme. the British conservatives are somewhat similar, but much more moderate. Europe always has, and still has, its reactionary groups, but they are in the minority these days. I will admit I am more knowledgeable about N. Europe than S. Europe, so that might color my impressions.
I will say that Europe seems a far better place to be a worker. Wages are better and working conditions and health care are priorities. They have not allowed the plutocracy to throw the workers under the bus, as we have here. Most of western Europe has steered clear of the extreme socialist or communist models, but has kept enough of such ideas to make a very compelling alternative to the American socioeconomic system. Frankly, I prefer Canada to both. It has some of the American vitality coupled with European ideas of social welfare.
I'd put it at more like pre 2000 actually. I don't recall the "foodie" culture already being a thing in the 90s though then again I was only a kid then?
Where I lived in the mid to late 1990s, the foodie culture really took off around 1995 or so. That was Seattle though, so it makes sense if it was a little ahead. That city has always had a taste for more quality food. Pretty much everywhere in America now though - even Kansas - you can get bread, beer, cheese and other items that rival Europe. Restaurants in US cities easily match those I've been to in Brussels too.
I bet many of you who think nice and dense never go together when it comes to residential areas really would change your minds if you could look out of my front window. The Brussels suburbs -- and admittedly I live in a well off suburb -- have everything that is great about American suburbs -- houses have lawns, there are plenty of parks, you can drive your car pretty much everywhere and find parking, etc. What they also have are the advantages of urban living. There is a metro station a few blocks away. Two small grocery markets and a bakery are a short walk away. The sidewalks are very wide with dedicated bike paths which are used by men, women and children of all classes. A bike is a very convenient mode of transportation when most amenities you want to reach are a mile or two away.
This is not some urban Sesame Street though. It's still more or less a suburban area that would be familiar to an American who has never been to a European country. Politics aside, I really wish more Americans were familiar with this kind of neighborhood and insisted on building more of them in America. Republicans and Democrats alike would enjoy raising their children and growing old in areas that combine the best of urban and country living. Instead, our suburbs are sprawl-y dead spaces. Walking is a nightmare because sidewalks are broken. Shopping districts are 10 miles or further apart, so you must drive to them. Public transit isn't feasible because suburbs don't have the density to support it.
We do have a few cities in America that come close to replicating nice and dense -- the northern suburbs of Boston come to mind -- but we could have many, many more. We could transform every American city into a really nice livable place in 30 years or less if we just made some minor tweaks to how we build -- did things like put parking lots for super stores on top of roofs for example. Or we significantly widened sidewalks .. that way, you can have a street where cars can travel at 50 miles per hour or faster and 6-year-old children can safely walk to school on their own.
True and Belgium is a sterling example of being a World Leader as well.
I recall in a British wit once said regarding having an EU wide ID....The Germans would love it because they are so organized, The French would hate it because it was not their idea, The Italians would mess it up because they are so disorganized, The Dutch would turn it down because they are so cheap, The Belgians would not understand it because they are so stupid..Stereotypes are true for a reason. I guess the OP found a home.
Ha ha, Felix, good one. I was actually at that performance where the British wit delivered that joke. Afterwards, he had a nice shag with two sheep he kept backstage to celebrate a successful performance. I guess it is true what they say .. stereotypes are STEREOTYPES (not true numbskull, that makes no sense) for a reason.
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