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.
As a fellow American that has also lived in Europe for long periods of time, I would recommend adding the caveat that your mileage may vary. It depends on where you live in Europe. Crime happens in Europe all the time. Violent crimes happen in Europe all the time. Part of the reason they have such a high recidivism rate is due in large part to lenient sentences.
For some perspective see things like the violence during The Troubles in Northern Ireland. Brighton Hotel attack, Manchester city attack, Canary Wharf attack, attack on 10 Downing Street, multiple complex attacks on clubs/restaurants/night spots frequented by British Sqaddies (military members) and government personnel. More recently, the attacks on the Tube in London, the trains in Spain, etc. These are large scale, but there is a high level of daily crime in and around the larger cities all over the continent. I wouldn't want to be walking through a council estate in Manchester or Birmingham after a night out with money or credit/debit cards on me.
There is no more of an "I got mine, you're on your own" here in the US than there is anywhere else in the world. Universal health care is a case in point. In the UK, the National Health Service is broke. It has been in the red for decades. Most Britons with the means supplement the NHS with private insurance due to the low quality and standard of care. It is truly eye opening. While living in the UK, a family member required emergency surgery, and was treated in an NHS Hospital. The quality of care was sobering. No where near what we have come to expect in the U.S. I was honestly worried that a relatively routine procedure could have dire consequences because the hospital in question was in the midst of a huge MRSA outbreak. This, sadly, is common in the UK, and this is what universal health care gets you.
But you have universal health care throughout Europe.
Where I live, it's quite different.
So yes, YMMV.
Because I am happier here. I love the south FL weather, I like the level of service I get anywhere I go in US, I like the attitudes of most people. This is a place where you do not have to feel ashamed to be successful, and I can't say the same about Europe.
I love how people who don't live here are just so confused about what it's actually like to live in the United States of America. And after reading this little rant of yours, I can tell you recieve your education on America from your TV. America is nothing like you just described. There are bad elements here, just as there are in Germany, but for the most part, it's a great place to live, work, and raise a family.
I've literally never been afraid to walk down the street, or take a bike ride, or do pretty much anything in the world I want to do. I'm totally and completely comfortable in my surroundings. Sure, there are probably one or two streets in town I wouldn't wanna frequent, but hey, according to your post you must have a few of those yourself. It's so funny to listen to people who don't have a clue about the US, talk about the US. See, I've never lived in Germany, so my knowledge base is also limited to what I've read about Germany and what you see about Germany in the news these days (which isn't much) I do remember the story about that German engineer several years ago volunteering to be eaten by another German man, a cannibal, who had advertised looking for someone willing to give themselves up to be eaten. Guess it's a good thing I don't base my judgements of your country on that huh, or I might think your all a bunch of cannibals
Bottom line, I have all those benefits you spoke of plus I have the right to bear arms. And your health care system is a joke, from what I've read. But there again, I've never experienced it's benefits or downfalls first hand so this is heresay. But please, stop presuming that you know something about a place that's all the way across the ocean from where you are. We don't run around ducking bullets and stealing babies. We are for the most part decent, loving people who above all else value personal freedom. I wouldn't give that up for all the free healthcare and job training in the world.
Again, you conflate quality of life with standard of living.
I've spent almost 50 years of my life living in the US.
And I'm moving back at the end of my contract later this year.
No, the US doesn't support worker rights, education or healthcare as Germany does.
I guess if gun ownership is the be all and end all of your existence, the US is definitely your cup of tea.
Ah, you read about, but have no experience with... got it.
You clearly missed a huge part of the discussion. He said he trusts China more than the US. I was talking about China in that post.
Yes, it seems that I did.
Quote:
Originally Posted by TyBrGr
Warmongering ways? I know you are a hippie. But the US hasn't declared war since WW2 and has never in US history, started a war.
And that's stopped them from being warmongerers?
I guess you've never heard of the School of the Americas.
How about our military policies throughout the world?
The US never started a war?
Can you say Iraq?
I knew you could.
That's like saying "I don't agree with the speed limit on this road, so I am going to drive way over." Than a cop tries to pull you over and you run and hide. You knew what you were doing was wrong, just because you didn't like the speed limit doesn't give you the right to break the law and the hide
More like violating the speed limit in order to get to an accident site at the horizon faster so that you increase the likelihood of being able to help survivors
They protest every day, but back when the North Korean threats were coming out daily, South Koreans were suddenly very happy the US was there to help fight the North Koreans if needed.
Funny, my Korean friends didn't say that.
But I'm sure you know better than everyone else.
Because I am happier here. I love the south FL weather, I like the level of service I get anywhere I go in US, I like the attitudes of most people. This is a place where you do not have to feel ashamed to be successful, and I can't say the same about Europe.
People in Europe (I assume you are from Finland) are ashamed to be successful?
I knew that in certain cultures, like France, there is a specific type of .. i guess, anti-capitalist orientation.. but i didn't realize this view was widespread throughout the continent.
And that's stopped them from being warmongerers?
I guess you've never heard of the School of the Americas.
How about our military policies throughout the world?
The US never started a war?
Can you say Iraq?
I knew you could.
Iraq was a UN effort, the US congress didn't actually declare war, and the only reason we got involved in Iraq was because we had evidence of weapons of mass destruction
Funny, my Korean friends didn't say that.
But I'm sure you know better than everyone else.
I am better than everyone else. Must be my huge American arrogance. Go live in Europe where you don't have to work for anything because the government goes broke handing it to you. Have fun being a hippie without a care in the world. Because who wants to work hard when European governments provide all the benefits of working. Please don't come back to the US, you have clearly shown your distaste for our nation. Go live in bankrupt Europe.
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.
