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Except for maybe Germany, Europe is also MUCH more conservative than America when it comes to illegal immigration and Islamic issues. Liberal France bans Muslims from wearing the hijab in government jobs, while in the US we only hear about Christian crosses being banned but not Muslim dress. Europe is also far welcoming of illegal aliens than the liberal left in America is.
Europe is also less liberal on gay marriage too. Many countries, including Germany, ban gay marriage. France still bans gay adoptions. I also don't think most European countries allow men to go to women's restrooms just because they feel like a woman on a particular day.
Europe is only more liberal than America when it comes to taxes, the death penalty, foreign policy (why do so many of them support Palestine even though they are Islamic radicals) and gun control. The Anglican Church is the official religion of the UK and many Scandivanian countries have official religions too.
Nearly every European country makes abortion available on demand during the first trimester.
In the US 91% of abortions are in the 1st trimester and 9% in the second.
Right wing US politicians though want to ban ALL abortions, asserting that life begins at conception.
Europe is more liberal than the US - abortion on demand during the first trimester..
Except for maybe Germany, Europe is also MUCH more conservative than America when it comes to illegal immigration and Islamic issues. Liberal France bans Muslims from wearing the hijab in government jobs
Putting aside the political spectrum labels, which aren't necessarily transferable from one country to another country's context, many European countries (such as France) actually do a poorer job of integrating immigrants into their mainstream society, than say, the USA, which is built up to be a nation of immigrants. That explains a lot why the Paris Banlieues (outskirts) are a hotbed of discontent.
Which explains why their Muslim immigrants are more marginalized, poorer and feel much more isolated than American Muslims here. Though it seems a whole lot of you so-called Americans want to pursue policies that ostracize Muslim Americans.
I wouldn't necessarily call German immigration policy "liberal". It is very, very difficult for Turkish immigrants, even 2nd and 3rd Generation ones who have lived in Germany all their lives, to obtain German citizenship - and fully participate in civil and community life.
I consider myself to be pro-choice and progressive on many issues, however, I don't look to Europe for anything in relation to our US society. Europe is not the US and Europe is a continent, not a country. I am aware that in Europe they do have much more restrictions on abortion and other things versus the US, IMO that makes them not likely to gain my adoration/favor.
I think it is odd that conservatives who made the video in the link think that "progressives" put some sort of pedestal status on Europe. Most progressives and liberals I know like some things about Europe but not others.
But FWIW, I do admire many Western Europeans nations for their dedication to paid maternity/paternity leave and high quality early education. I think in general Europe is much more family oriented versus the US and as such, I understand why they have more restrictive abortion services as a result.
What, exactly, does what European countries' policies on their domestic issues have to do with Americans wanting specific domestic policies?
By the OP's rationale, it should be okay for the US should ban or severely limit gun ownership since that's the "norm" in most of Europe.
I thought this as well. It seems to many conservative "think tanks" don't really think about what they are saying.
If we are going to be all for European style abortions, then we should also be for European style bans on firearms, and all for universal healthcare, and all for 12 month paid maternity/paternity leave, and all for free preschool starting at age 3 taught by a PhD trained teacher (like Franc), and all for no school choice at all and a compulsory/standardized education curriculum (like Finland), etc, etc, etc....
We like certain things about Europe and we don't like certain things about Europe. Why can't we have a relationship where we accept the good things about them and discard the ones we don't like?
You know, how Liberals allow Conservative to have nuanced views on the Bible, or any other subject for that matter.
Right Liberals? It's OK to have nuanced views? Sometimes even views that contradict themselves? It's OK for both sides to do it? That's what I thought.
No need to answer.
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