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.
THis is a tired old theme, USA vs Europe. I find it embarrassing when I read what some fellow Americans have said about Europe, as many of them seem to not know what they are talking about. I visited Europe once in the 1980s, I would love to see it again. The age of the place, the history and the architecture cannot be beaten. However I love the USA, and the landscape of North America. We have our own history and interesting cities, even if it is not as old it is still interesting. The US is undeniably a creation of Europe, and our culture is European based. It is ridiculous for people on either side of the "pond" to run the other down, as we do have a shared culture. We are not a different as people on both sides of the Atlantic like to claim we are.
Well I have been to a few European countries which included living in Italy for two months and I have noticed that people tend to be more sociable (less people addicted to their iphones), more healthier (less processed food), have a more well balanced life (compared to the US where many are lucky to get one/two weeks for vacation), and their cities are generally more livable since you can actually get around by walking or public transit compared to the US where many cities don't even have sidewalks forcing people to use their car to run errands. While I don't have any desire to live in Southern Europe because of the state of their economy (since Spain, Portugal, Italy, and Greece are in a bit of a mess), I would with out a doubt live in Germany, Austria, Denmark, or Sweden over most places in the US just for the above reasons alone.
Never been to the US, although I'd love to live there to see how Americans live,think and go on with their lives (it's quite creepy told in this way...).
I'm European (as my location says) and I love my continent and I don't believe in this "who has the longer còck" threads, every country has its peculiarity and aspects.
Quality of Life: What do you mean? I bet in both ponds you can wonderfully live.
Income? American ones are higher but they also have more more expensive healthcare and colleges. European ones are more heavily taxed, yet we, generally, have a universal healthcare system (SYSTEM beware, the quality of healthcare in US is undeniable) and free/low cost (not entirely true as well, in Italy you can pay up to 2000 € in public universities per year).
Economy? All people here make a big deal out of these stats with "GDP growth,PPP" etc. Both economies (although European economies are lagging and their growth (if there's one) is nonetheless disappointing.
Austerity is killing Southern European economies, debt is shrinking the Western world's ones.
Education? Until University I'd say that European one is much better than American one, Europeans (tendentiously excluding English speakers) generally speak at least one foreign languages and often can speak two or even more.
Then, telling who's more "cultured" is impossible.
We could take 100 American folks and 100 European ones and it's likely they are equally ignorant.
Europeans have the stereotype of being more "cultured,educated and international" than average American but, as above-mentioned, it's a stereotype.
Infrastructures? Well, US are built for drivers, whereas Europe has generally a better railway system. In European big cities usually underground is quite efficient, I don't know whether this applies for US as well.
Politicians? In Italy they suck, but it seems that people tendentiously dislike their own politicians.
History? Europe by looong shot here no doubt.
Culture? It depends. Europe and US have different cultures and attitude to life and which is better is up to each of us to decide.
Landscape and scenery? I'd say US overall have a slightly wider variety with ampler deserts, tropical swamps and perhaps tropical forests too?
Of course US lacks the immense historical patrimony Europe has but US has several attractions too.
Safety? US seems to have an higher crime rate and I wouldn't feel safe with everyone bearing a gun (without entering in the debate over which states have specific laws regarding carrying a guns and which others don't), I do prefer Italy (or Europe, maybe aside Norway) in this term: much safer, less guns, less crimes and less inmates per capita.
Bureaucracy? I don't know aside from Italian one which is a nightmare.
Easiness of business? US and some small/medium size European country like Luxembourg.
Taxes? Lower in the US and higher in EU. The choice between welfare or wealth is up to you.
Freedom? Both are equally free. True, in Europe you can carry a gun as you please (not that we feel the need by the way) but we have a far less invasive government as well. No NSA (at least that we know).
In both parts you have the fundamental liberties: religions,speech, thought (US have no holocaust denial law although), press, vote etc.
But how common are they? some cities in the Midwest have them scattered all over the place
But this isn't necessarily a good thing. How many does one city need? And they gobble up productive farmland. Europe has managed to control urban sprawl, while the US seems content to let some of its best agricultural land get covered with asphalt.
Never been to the US, although I'd love to live there to see how Americans live,think and go on with their lives (it's quite creepy told in this way...).
I'm European (as my location says) and I love my continent and I don't believe in this "who has the longer còck" threads, every country has its peculiarity and aspects.
Quality of Life: What do you mean? I bet in both ponds you can wonderfully live.
Income? American ones are higher but they also have more more expensive healthcare and colleges. European ones are more heavily taxed, yet we, generally, have a universal healthcare system (SYSTEM beware, the quality of healthcare in US is undeniable)
Wait, what? You're going to have to elaborate on your views of both healthcare systems, thanks.
Wait, what? You're going to have to elaborate on your views of both healthcare systems, thanks.
It's plain simple both parts have excellent healthcare in the sense that you'll find fantastic and very professional personnel, good equipment and so on.
In US you must pay (a lot), in Europe you don't.
But this isn't necessarily a good thing. How many does one city need? And they gobble up productive farmland. Europe has managed to control urban sprawl, while the US seems content to let some of its best agricultural land get covered with asphalt.
I didn't ask you if its good or bad? many people prefer larger stores.
We have more malls and retail parks now because the high street is failing to reinvent itself. It has stayed the same and refuses to change. This is why cities like Manchester and Leeds have such vibrant retail areas, whereas places like Margate are failing.
It's still nowhere near as bad as in the US though - note the use of the word 'bad'. Big box stores are not desirable or wanted. They're ugly and soulless.
Actually it is according to some of your fellow European posters
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.
