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Bolded is a qualifier you should pay attention to.
As for stifiling innovation... there are several European industries that are past America in terms of technological/scientific advancement.
So those willing to trade freedom for PERMANENT security are alright? I mean, if permanent security is what you seek, I'm sure a supermax prison would hook you up with 3 squares and a bed.
So those willing to trade freedom for PERMANENT security are alright? I mean, if permanent security is what you seek, I'm sure a supermax prison would hook you up with 3 squares and a bed.
Which industries did you have in mind?
Well the most obvious one is the automobile industry.
Also, the American work ethic is what has driven this country forward and made us great.
MamaBee, don't you think we need some balance? I see that you are opposed to most of the values/lifestyles that the Europeans enjoy, but don't you think that overall we (Americans) focus way too much on work and have little time to enjoy our families? I am all for hard work, but somewhere along the line, we lost our ability to slow down and smell the roses, I think that is something that we need to work on.
Europe (keep in mind...never actually set foot in Europe..take my opinions for what it's worth-hardly much)
Pros:
Strong "dollar" (heehe..)
Sense of culture...
Sense of identity...
Close-knit
Small farm oriented....
Not auto-mobile dependent...
Younger generations buy house before family..(read it somewhere..)
Food...
politically inclined...
Cons:
By the M.E.
Nanny-state
U.S.
Pros:
Relatively unrestrictive to a degree
Lots of space..
Family and religion oriented
Community support-system unmatched (minus the gov't)
Food..
Cons:
Politically unactive, or just plain unaware...
Taxes on labor....
Washington D.C.
Healthcare - (A free healthcare system with a revolving backdoor; "it's not free but we can't deny you" crap)
Economic initiative can be discouraged by tax regression...
Taxes are hardly "crushing", MamaBee, because with free education (yes, through University) and free healthcare, family benefits and supports for poor people, our quality of life isn't entirely dependent on our paycheck.
As for your "valuing freedom from government" remark, I'm frankly very proud to live in a country that has a "government of the people, by the people, for the people" -- where we support our government and they support us, and our voices are heard. And since that was spoken by Abraham Lincoln, I'm sure there are plenty of Americans who FEEL JUST THE SAME, about their own American government.
Frankly, Europe and America jut aren't THAT different, and I think it's sad that every time someone tries to start a friendly discussion about what makes each other tick, a few people have to jump in to bring it down with insulting language and a small-minded 'us-versus-them' mentality. We're not at war, we're not enemies; what's the deal?
LMFAO...you are entirely dependent on your government if your life isn't dependent on your paycheck. So, your university system has become High School Part II, or...grades 13-16? And you also have healthcare for all, at a cost in taxes, and the rich people in many countries purchase their own health insurance or pay for private doctors. I bet you still have poor people even though the government "supports" them.
A government by the people means a servant government...a government never supports it only subjugates. The more power it is given the more power it will take; a government big enough to give you everything you want is strong enough to take everything you have.
Europe is a great place to visit and our economies can trade and help each other out but your nanny government idealogy is just plain unAmerican...
There are different ways to put someone in servitude. For instance, saddle him with a few hundred thousand dollars of medical debt after his kid gets cancer. He'll be in hock for perpetuity, and will have to sit there and grin when his employer jerks him around - because, he sure wouldn't want to lose coverage and go even deeper into debt.
MamaBee, don't you think we need some balance? I see that you are opposed to most of the values/lifestyles that the Europeans enjoy, but don't you think that overall we (Americans) focus way too much on work and have little time to enjoy our families? I am all for hard work, but somewhere along the line, we lost our ability to slow down and smell the roses, I think that is something that we need to work on.
You can have balance...no one has to be a workaholic in America...it's the work ETHIC that sets us apart. A country that sets a work week at 35 hours and won't let you work more than that unless exempted? You've got to be kidding me...THAT is the "family values" of Europe...the value of removing an individuals right to work how and when they want.
I enjoy my family every morning and night and on the weekends, on holidays, and during my vacation time. For people working 80 hours a week who can't seem to slow down, they personally should reevaluate their family time...the government shouldn't do it for them...but it's their choice.
European infrastructure is vastly superior to U.S. infrastructure - roads, rail networks, electric grid are the big examples.
Europeans are healthier, less stressed, more relaxed and arguably happier than Americans are.
Europeans are far better versed in terms of their own histories and political systems (as well as those of other countries) than Americans are. They're also better with languages (except the British, who are worse than Americans in that regard).
Americans are, on the whole, still more dynamic economically.
Americans are probably more likely to be able to sustain their standard of living than Europeans are unless the European social welfare systems are drastically reformed.
America attracts much more positive immigrants than Europe does, by and large. Instead of radical Muslims, America gets hard-working Hispanics who make a great contribution to the U.S. economy and culture. With very few exceptions, the Muslims that come to the U.S. are not radicalized and have no desire to change U.S. society.
There are different ways to put someone in servitude. For instance, saddle him with a few hundred thousand dollars of medical debt after his kid gets cancer. He'll be in hock for perpetuity, and will have to sit there and grin when his employer jerks him around - because, he sure wouldn't want to lose coverage and go even deeper into debt.
He could also find another job with medical benefits...
I'd rather be saddled with debt for healthcare than taxes and regulations on my life.
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