Europe vs USA - Lifestyle
Aby June 22nd, 2007
This is another installment of a series called America, to discuss why the US is so often at odds with the rest of the world. Both Europe and the United States have a large economy, political stability and strong military might. What differs is the lifestyle and politics in these two demographic regions. Here follows a brief comparison of living standards in Europe and USA on the basis of healthcare, multiculturalism, education and media awareness.
Healthcare - In the United States it is common for a hospital to refuse to treat a critically ill patient if they are not insured or are not US citizens. In Europe such a concept is considered ancient and uncivilised. In the US, doctors sometimes refuse to treat or prescribe the right options to a patient if the doctor’s religious beliefs go against what is medically best for the patient. It happens most often in cases of abortion, birth control and treating homosexuals where the doctors’ medical ethics conflict with their religious beliefs. Such an act in Europe would lead to cancellation of a doctor’s license to practice for violation of the Hippocratic Oath.
Diversity - United States, despite petty internal political differences is very uniform and homogeneous to an outsider. The culture (or lack of it) is same, the food is same, the language is same and the arts and style are similar. In Europe language, art, food, culture and politics are widely varied which might be overwhelming for an outsider but makes things interesting. A person visiting Scotland on a pleasure trip won’t feel like he could have done visiting England while a person visiting New Jersey and Virginia as a tourist would almost feel both are same states (except the differences in street crimes).
Education - The quality of public education in United States is much lower than that of Europe, in fact it is lower than many developing third world countries. US High School students are much less aware of the world history and politics, have lower mathematical and scientific skills, possess lower reasoning and judgement capabilities than European students of the same age. Universities are prohibitively expensive, the better the university, the more expensive it is. Students are often immersed on a lifelong burden of debt or get wiped out of all savings for an average college degree which costs a fraction in European countries or is free as in case of countries like Germany.
Media and News - The media in United States is very short sighted and excludes the rest of the world which it considers as an amusement park. The political and cultural news about the world is often negatively biased from an American point of view to suit ‘Americanised’ tastes. Sex and sexuality is either commoditised in an obsessively unhealthy way or vilified, making it to look as a dirty and evil act. In contrast, political and cultural news in European media is much more worldly and inclusive. News media tend to present facts rather than biased opinions; sex and sexuality is shown in a positive and healthy light as compared to the US.
More Information -
- Why Europe Will Run The 21st Century
- By Mark Leonard
- Free World: America, Europe, and the Surprising Future of the West
- Guns and Pizza - Big Issue Ground
Authored By Dr. Aby. Updated for grammar by Capt. Sasha on 12 October 2008.
Possibly Related posts:
- Europe’s Hatred for America - Imaginary or Real?
- Europe vs America: Cinema and Television
- Are Americans Stupid? - Statistics, Studies and Research
- Europe vs America - Culture
- Europe In The Light of Resurgent Russia
- America , Internationalism , Media Control , World Culture , World Politics
- Comments(137)
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Honestly speaking, I dislike the Americans because of their attitude!
America has the richest and most intelligent people in the world you did not mention this. We also have Harvard and Hollywood which Europeans are crazy about.
@fire in the sky - The most intelligent people were in Europe right from Aristotle to Stephen Hawkings. We have Oxford, LSE, Cambridge, INSEAD against Harvard. Hollywood is an American English film industry and there is nothing impressive about it, every European country has a film industry.
mayank - you have never met me so how do you know my attitude enough to dislike me? Should I also dislike you because you don’t like Americans? Ridiculous! I can immediately see that your flag from India, which removes me from the ignorant and unworldly categories.
-Aaron, Aristotle hardly has anything to do with the UK. If you can claim Aristotle so can America, since we largely came from your part of the world ages after Aristotle.
Aby, you seem to be basing this on your perception rather than any hard facts. In fact, I don’t see a single link to any statistics anywhere in your article. These may be the reasons why people claim to dislike Americans but that does not make the statements factual.
In the United States it is common for a hospital to refuse to treat a critically ill patient if they are not insured or are not US citizens. This is actually against the law in most states. There are some high profile cases where this has occurred, but you are making broad statements based on small samples rather evidence. Emergency care in most places cannot be denied regardless of ability to pay. Sure there are problems with the American medical system — ask Michael Moore — but we don’t have ridiculously long wait times if you can afford it. You may call it inhumane, but it does help keep the people healthy who pay the tax dollars, which in turn provides the money for subsidized programs such as Medicare and Medicade which are also absent from your “analysis.”
Your diversity argument is also shallow. Have you been to Montana, New York, California, Idaho, etc? The cultures including the food, accents, way of life all vary greatly. As much, if not more than, Scotland and London. It is not uncommon for people who move across the United States to actually go through a period of culture shock. Maybe you are only looking at McDonalds, which, by the way, Europeans also eat in large quantities despite how much they claim to dislike it. As for Hollywood movies, the funny thing is that the worst movies, like Stallone’s, do much better outside the US than inside. Other countries claim to hate Hollywood’s crap but they purchase it everyday.
Education also receives a bad reputation in the United States because, the United States does not filter its students. In many countries in Europe and Asia, the low performing students are put on a technical track and removed from the main system of education. Therefore their statistics do not include the low performing students while US statistics do include those students because no separate technical path is available in most places. (Personally, I think that we should have more technical options, but not having one is logically skewing the statistics.) Granted, there are some very low performing areas in the United States — Houston city schools come to mind — but the issues are more complex than “European Schools score better on tests.” Also, you fail to mention merit based scholarships when comparing the costs of Universities. In a fair comparison, one might note the huge drag on the German economy that the free universities have. Students can stay in school practically forever sucking up tax dollars and providing no economic value. In America, for the most part education is about giving someone enough knowledge to make a living and then putting that person to work. It is an entirely different mentality that you are not attempting to understand.
In summary, you seem to be greatly oversimplifying all these issues with the intent of putting down the United States rather than trying to come to any sort of understanding. Of course there are problems with the US, especially its current short-sighted foreign policy, but it is not the straw man that you make it out to be.
“Aby, you seem to be basing this on your perception rather than any hard facts. In fact, I don’t see a single link to any statistics anywhere in your article. ”
My apologies, I must have overlooked resources for this article in my haste. I have updated this post now to include the books containing facts and figures which you might find interesting. This article may seem a bit biased and one sided to Americans but it reflects the actual experiences and views of a lot of people outside of USA, particularly in Europe and can help a lot of Europeans and Americana bridge the cultural and lifestyle differences.
Of healthcare it is not only emergency care which suffers but also the doctor’s personal religious beliefs which overshadow medical ethics in several cases. A link for more details on such cases can be had here. Instead of rights to refusal, a doctor in here would have his license revoked.
Medclaim and medicare come under insurance and I have taken the cases of uninsured patients so it does not really count.
“As much, if not more than, Scotland and London. It is not uncommon for people who move across the United States to actually go through a period of culture shock.”
Scotland and London would not really compare as much as Montana or Idaho. For one they speak languages which are alien to each other unless one knew both. Second they have a culture which is in stark contrast even to a foreigner. This applies all over Europe. While any state in USA would be much the same for an outsider, however different as you pointed it may look to Americans.
“Other countries claim to hate Hollywood’s crap but they purchase it everyday.”
But I have doubts other countries base their perception of the world and their beliefs in what is shown in Hollywood movies.
“Maybe you are only looking at McDonalds, which, by the way, Europeans also eat in large quantities despite how much they claim to dislike it.”
Europeans do not make McSomething their daily staple diet which is why less people over here are overweight than in USA. I know it sounds harsh, I am sorry if it offends you.
“Also, you fail to mention merit based scholarships when comparing the costs of Universities.”
No more than 1% of US university students actually get merit based scholarships to cover more than 50% of their huge tuition fees. And merit based scholarships exist in Europe too, I believe former American President Bill Clinton is the beneficiary of one such during his college years.
“In America, for the most part education is about giving someone enough knowledge to make a living and then putting that person to work.”
Then I pray you explain the high crime rates, rising unemployment rates, the downward spiralling of the dollar and US economy, the rising public debts….
Then I pray you explain the high crime rates, rising unemployment rates, the downward spiralling of the dollar and US economy, the rising public debts….
Crime rate is high, but this is rather localized amongst some portions of the populations and locations. Of course that needs to be improved, butt there are some historical reasons that you must be aware of that have caused issues with that. In general, most places are actually safe. And crime has had an overall downward trend in recent years. Rising unemployment? We have very low unemployment now although not quite as low as it was a few years ago. And the economy is not doing badly. The problem with the dollar, as you likely know, is as a result of the large number of imports. Ask Bush about the debts. Places like Russia, Saudi Arabia, and others are simply lucky to have a sea of natural resources that are worth high prices.
Scholarships - I know not many people receive them — I did, so I came out debt free, so I know that it is possible. Then I had my employer paid for my MS degree. (I also forgot to mention that there are also need-based scholarships, which are more common at the top universities than merit based.) The rising cost of universities is also of concern in the US because it is rising much faster than inflation. I mentioned Germany because I have several friends who have studied there who talked about the perpetual students who were simply on a path to study forever to postpone ever doing work because education was free. So free education should have its limits. What I think that the US needs is a program to pay down the debts for a person who goes to work in public service of some sort. There is no reason to make education cheap for a high-flying financier who is making $1M per year five years out of his MBA program.
I applaud you for taking on uninsured patients, Medicare and Medicade do count because nearly anyone can get this insurance who is either poor enough or old enough to qualify. There are doctors here who do that as well, but back to the point about the high cost of education, some may not be able to afford to give away services. America has a very high rate of volunteerism and of making donations to private groups that cover some of these gaps that the government is not covering. Americans tend to distrust large bureaucracies and the state to take care of some problems.
The service one can get with Medicare and Medicade may not be the best care, but most countries have developed a two tiered system of health care where it is legally allowed. Interestingly, the United States is even developing a third tier to the medical market for the very wealthy who are willing to pay an annual retainer fee to a doctor that allows the doctor to keep an extremely small list of patients.
People are overweight here. As much as it is to do with McDonalds, it is also related to the “car culture.” One study I read recently was able to strongly correlate people’s weight to their commute time, so it is also caused by spiraling suburbia. For working professionals, it is also due to the large quantities of work expected and small vacations. This is where I think that the United States is most laking in quality of life compared to Europe. I have to work at a company 20 years to get the same vacation that a Norwegian would likely have the first year on the job.
My overall point was that you seemed to be leaving off items like medicare, scholarships, etc to make your point easier, but that also lessened the impact of your argument. Europe certainly does some things better than America. I will go back and check out some of your links that you added since I am interested in what you posted. Thanks for taking the time to do that.
Free education is not the only alternative to a corporate high cost education. The fees could be subsidised by the government so that they do not financially burden the students like UK, France or Russia. I had a friend who wanted to do medicine from Harvard and couldn’t manage a scholarship which would cover her tuition fees. Her family was unable to bear the burden of living in Massachusetts and pay the tuiton fees of $40000 so she ended up coming to Glasgow for her studies as it is much cheaper and affordable there. There is nothing like real life experience…wouldn’t you agree?
“My overall point was that you seemed to be leaving off items like medicare, scholarships, etc to make your point easier..”
I do understand your point but it has no relevance to my arguments above. Scholarship is not representative as 1) it is received by only a small section by some ‘contest’ criteria or affirmative action 2) scholarship often does not cover a significant portion of tuition fees even if we ignore living expenses. Mediclaim is irrelevant as it is a domain of the poor/elderly US Citizens. It does not apply the unregistered immigrants, humans dubbed as ‘aliens’ who would be denied healthcare unless they prove their immigration status. It does not also explain the legality of doctors who are allowed to practice despite violation of medical ethics like refusal of prescription based on religious beliefs and preferential treatments because of race or religion.
Everything you said about USA it’s true, unfortunately only Americans who have the chance to live abroad see the dismal differences. I agree that many people in this country are very smart, but all of them are foreign born who later became us citizens. I would feel very embarrased to mention Hollywood as an icon of pride.
@Russophile - “There is no reason to make education cheap for a high-flying financier who is making $1M per year five years out of his MBA program.”
There is no reason aspiring teachers should pay $80000 for university education. They can no longer afford to be teachers then, teaching could no longer cover their cost of education. No wonder there are such crappy teachers in here, the good ones can’t afford to be teachers.
I like what this article is saying. It is not true that Europe is some promise land though. It’s hard to get a job there and you need a lot of connections. I know, I lived there for a year. I want to live in Europe after college because I really do feel that the quality of like is higher that. I ask though, what’s the solution to America? We do have culture though. The crack about food is wrong. If you eat at a chain restraunt, the food will always be the same. But if you go to a city, you see real culture. I live in Chicago and we have tons of foods and variations that can only be found in chicago. (Deep dish pizza, Italian Beef, GYRO, Chicago Hotdog) Then you go to Michigan and you have fish fries everywhere. There is culture in the US, you just need to look for it a little harder. Americans don’t judge as much as Europeans either. If an american goes to study in Europe everyone talks about what they know about america and they like to debate. If a european comes here, we don’t say anything, not out of respect, but out of stupidity because we honestly don’t know much about their country.
Arnold, I am not disagreeing that the price of education can be very high, especially for some professions, but we don’t need to socialize education either. Education does have a monetary value. If you know that you want to become an educator, please do not study at an elite private institution on loans. If you are smart enough to teach, you should know the outcome of that math equation.
Arnold has a point here. Generally the better universities in US are more expensive than the second or third rung ones. Now if I were to be a teacher, should you expect me to study in a second rung institute because my finances wouldn’t cover the costs? This will have an influence on education itself as a vicious cycle of poorly educated teachers leading to students doing worse in schools.
As someone who was born in England, moved to America, and recently returned to England and has travelled extensively around Europe, I can only say one thing: the quality of life is much higher than in the States. Much, much, much higher. In America you can eat cheaply, but it buys poor quality food, stuffed with calories and ingredients that are awful for you, but, for instance, when I visit Spain, Italy, France, I can buy a three course meal for around $9 that tastes fantastic and is good for you to boot. In America, that would pay for your local deep fat fried food at your local buffet house. The standard of education is so much higher in the UK too, the children are much more astute and intelligent. Even eleven year olds are much more aware of what’s going on outside their country or their continent than a hell of a lot of American adults I’ve met. You’re not left to die in Europe if you’ve got something wrong with you, and while the health care standard in England is poor unless you’ve got something very serious wrong with you, in most Western European countries it’s excellent.
I’ve found that European’s are a lot more liberal too, and when I walk around in London I see gay people holding hands and kissing. I was in a bar the other day and two guys were kissing and no one said anything. If that happened in San Diego they’d be beaten up. The best thing about Europe overall though, is how you can never get bored of it. It’s so diverse, has such a vast history, and has so many landscapes and different weathertypes you could find something to match your taste anywhere you go.
Hello, Aby. I noticed that you linked to my blog, so decided to see what this was all about. While I was using that article in the context of conservatism criticism of it, you are welcome to use it all the same. I must say, most of the information here is certainly relative. For example, I find no lack of diversity in the culture and food of America. Take a trip to New York and then Louisiana, for an extreme example. We have, I suppose, the rest of the world as well as ourselves to thank for that. Language is another thing, but if I were to pick two locations in France, it is highly likely that the inhabitants of both would speak French, because it is the same country. Likewise, the United States is only one country with one historical heritage and it is unfair to criticize it like that. If you were to take a trip encompassing the US, Mexico, Brazil, and Quebec, for example, the equivalent to going to several European countries. There will be no lack of diversity in that trip. Education fails simply because it is biased, PC, and the students do not care to learn at all, let alone make the effort to better their education outside the classroom. To force a doctor to do something that a mainstream religion would think is immoral is the real crime, let alone it involving infanticide. America has no lack of healthy foods either. It depends on where you look. Your diversity will likely be your destruction. Sorry, but it’s true. No one will care about Europe’s rich heritage or anything else when the population has shifted to Muslims and other Arabic/African people who will build a new heritage for themselves.
Hi @ all.
I didn’t read all comments of this website now, but I have to admit that both countries, EU and USA (I personally consider the EU as one country
), offer benefits in different ways. But what makes me a little bit sad is that many (of course not all) people in the USA (i have lived there for one year) think that their nation is better than Europe or the rest of the world and when you ask them why they told me about things which are also common in Europe and sometimes even better. Many Americans don’t know how life in Europe is. They think it’s an old-fashioned continent with no perspectives. But that’s of course not true. If I would be an Alien and would analyze all the data (health care, criminal rates, obesity, diversity, taxes, laws,) from USA and EU than I would surely think that the USA is (in some aspects) the old-fashioned country where life can be as hard as in stoneage. But many americans don’t realize that. They see their flag and say: “God bless America!”.
@ Erwin - Well said. It is their isolationist policy which hurts their national security and lifestyle, the real reason they have these problems. Unfortunately Americans are looking out to blowing Iraq to stone age as a quick fix solution to their problems.
i find this debate very entertaining. its good to see where people from both countries stand on certain things, im from Pa and at my young age of 21 (in 2 months) have seen a lot of the country and experiences life has to offer. schooling here sucks donky dick ya heard! im from the middle class if that exists anymore, we are fucking poor. i cant afford to go to college. i used to sell drugs to support myself, now i have a felony. Impossible to find a job to support an apartment, car, food, and entertainment, without proper schooling and training. i went to prison for selling pot, crazy in my eyes but laws are laws in this country. all in all, im coming home to the motherland in 3 yrs when im a free free man. fuck americas “freedumb”. fuck george bush.
As a person who was born and raised in Central Europe then has lived past 8 years in USA and now is considering moving back to Europe I must say that I can agree with the article at approx. 80%. Healthcare is horrible, I know because I am a healthcare professional and I was unable to treat or provide care to patients due to limitations from healthcare insurance and the lack of funds directly from patients, and I am talking about couple of patients a month. Also, the fact that I have a health insurance doesn’t mean I don’t pay major medical expenses - on top of paying monthly over $400 for family health insurance I have to pay “out-of-packet” expenses which are around $3000 a year per family member/maximum $6000 per family with additional deductibles and such.
Basic family care - how can the richest country in the world have such a horrible lack of family support when it comes to babies and toddlers - almost total lack of maternity leave, no job security for pregnant and new mothers,… I am speaking from my own experience also…As far as I know every country in Europe provides at least 4-6 months of maternal leave with guaranteed return to job for young mothers…(on the other hand, here more jobs are readily available so even though you loose a job you may found a better one afterwards), …
Education
College level education in USA is comparable to high school education in Europe - speaking about general education. Once you choose your professional carrier you are going to enjoy USA college a lot…great labs, plenty of available books, of course depending on a college, but as a person who studied in both places I have to say that I enjoyed USA College more - speaking on one case basis just from my own experience…
Diversity - no comparison, Europe is veeeeeryyyy diverse, however, USA has great parks, natural wonders, beautiful mountains and beaches and lots of good people to meet on the road (although you are better off staying away from metropolitan areas to find friendly and ready to share Americans). Stores and restaurants are mostly the same across all States. Unfortunately Europe has very expensive cars (usually the price is twice as hight in Europe as compared to States), the cars are smaller, which is a good thing, expensive gas in Europe.
Food - it all depends on a family, Europeans mostly don’t eat as much junk food, they look for non-processed foods, they spend more time together as a family - which means more homemade meals, more home grown vegetables and SMALLER portions…why do restaurants in USA serve such humangas portions??? As soon as you cross the border and get to Canada the portions shrink by at least 25%.
What I love about USA - plenty of jobs, cheaper cars, lots of stores, garage sales, plenty of sports, arts and crafts for kids,… and you can have a Russian living next to German, African-American, Asian and Indian all living in one apartment complex, Jews living on the same street as Muslims and they seem to tolerate each other just fine…
Media - if you look for it you can find quality news in USA, for instance National Public Radio, but if you don’t look, you will listen to the news which is very limited, self-centered on USA and preferres to announce what celebrities are doing instead of what is happening currently in Africa or South America…
And the bottom line is - there are cultural differences between USA and Europe and it is very hard to compare them all. As I am contemplating the move back to Europe simply because I am tired of working 50 weeks in a year with 2 weeks of vacation which I cannot even take when I want, but when the corporation will let me…and because I want to have more kids without paying $6000 out-of-pocket expense for childbirth for me and the baby and then I want to stay home with the baby for 6 months…and I want my children to have the same cultural heritage as I have had, I must say that I prefer Europe but at the same time, when I am in Europe I will miss States… being devided forever between the two continents, different life styles and different economic opportunities…
i am from India.
i hardly know about USA or Europe.
the quality of the people in Europe and their descendants - so called son of the soil(Americans) have nothing in common than to wipe those who they hate and live.
some instances
Europeans came to India and wiped our wealth
Americans went to Iraq and robbed their oil and other natural resources
both these achievements were done in the name of spreading some stupid culture (like idiotic adult relations which are banned in India, illegal relations between humans) and
the result they got what they needed,
throwing Indian religions,wiping us out of my nation’s resources , except Russia and some exceptions, a long time friend of India .
there are some seeds called terminator seeds which are a curse for Indian farmers from (USA of course) the big brother.
the us calls itself India’s pal, have you ever seen any nation imposing a economic blow to India
when we tested nukes,
(no one imposed a ban on them when they tested their nukes on japan)
and admiring taj mahal and does all senseles activities like
selling candy to a shop and selling medicines to opposite shop keeper telling about the demerits of consuming candy
these us and eu are different thieves in attractive flavours
a rise in globe with a fall in humanity is worth
killing all living things in a place and searching for new living things in the same place.
beware of all these
listen mkap… this “stupid culture”, as you so eloquently put it allows you to escape the confines of autocratic tyranny after a transition period, which is often-times rough to say the least. the “stupid culture” you speak of allows a poor man to steal a loaf of bread to feed his family members who are being starved by monarchs dwelling in opulence without having his hand chopped off. the “stupid culture” affords women the same rights as men. women are still people aren’t they mkap? get a clue. stopping jumping on the bandwagon people. and that comment at the top about virginia being the same as new jersey from the perspective of a visitor. spoken like someone who has never been to the states. but wait… maybe if you lived in a democracy then your wages wouldn’t be so under par that you could actually afford a plane ticket over here to check things out for yourself.
peace
we had a visit from exchange students from the US and its a sad fact that they don’t know a thing about europe or germany. one exchange student asked me, already landed in frankfurt, “How is the life with the Fuhrer?” this was a hard affront for me. or “do you have internet here” - i just said “interwhat???over there is a smokesignal-station” and synced my pda on a hotspot.
thats the main deficit: most peaple in the US don’t even try to see a world beyond their borders.
concerning american politics, my theory is, that they never had a “modern” war in their own country, and hopefully never will have. europe had to suffer agonies caused by hitlers reich, we in europe know what war means. war is not just sending soldiers out, war means loosing your children, wife, husband relations.
thatswhy europe had no understanding for some agression against the so called “old europe” after the beginning of gulf war II.
I hope that the EU becomes a real union and speaks with a strong voice. not to do an affront against the US, just because we are the better diplomatics. thats a fact, proven often enough. there are a lot of problems coming up, and if america takes leadership in climate problems (doing nothing?!) or clash of cultures (killing everyone who’s not christian?) the humand kind is history soon…not joking.
Agreed on the Education. There is room for improvement. Many foreign students that I’ve come across claim to come here only because the fact that they were “Educated in America” will get them a job easily (as well as to check out the US culture).
Still, I love my country and wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.
@ Ari
India is the world’s largest democracy. That, in some respects, concludes the point that Aby is making. That is, Americans are largely unaware of the going-ons of the world, ignorant and misguided.
I grew up in the United States and relocated to Europe (Spain) a couple of years ago. Let me start by saying that only those who have lived in both sides can give a better opinion. I’m tired of listening europeans that criticize the US when they’ve never lived there… and I said LIVED, not travel, which is very different. Same on the opposite side, it’s very sad to hear an american say… we’re the best of the very best, when he has NEVER LIVED in Europe.
My dear friends, the true is that both places are rich in very different aspects; but let me just focus to the ones discussed on this post:
1)HEALTHCARE: I AGREE
Unfortunately the US is more interested in having state of the art military equipment than a health care program that can cover every single citizen no matter what social status. Yes, you do have some Medicaid programs but only if you have very low incomes…but how about the middle class? I think if they pay their taxes they should also have access to a free health plan.
I’d also like to say that some of the opinions above like “in US we’ve got the best hospitals”… that is such of immature comment, we’re not discussing whether who’s got the best hospitals, what matters here is if citizens from all social classes are getting free access to those hospitals. I’m afraid they don’t. So what’s good about having great hospitals if american citizens have died because they couldn’t get the money for an expensive treatment.
Here in Europe I get free access to all treatments I may need, and guess what? if I travel to the US and for some reasons I get hospitalized, when I get that bill and come to Spain and my social security pays them.
Let me end by saying that there’s an official international health care rank that places US bellow countries like Colombia or even Cuba when it comes to Health Care.
2) DIVERSITY: I DON’T AGREE
They’re so many great things to do and to visit in both places. Europe has a lot of history, art and incomparable culinary level. But the US has more geographic diversity than country in Europe, you have sunny states in Florida and California, you can advanced cities like New York and Los Angeles, you have deserts, you have islands, you have lots of ice in Alaska, you also have the biggest mixture of cultures living all together under the same flag.
On the contrary in UK all I find is rain, rain and rain that’s why British relocate to Spain. The Nordic countries got a great life style but their weather is a bit boring. Spain has great weather and food but their mentality is a bit close for me and I think that is because of the religious (catholic) background they have.
3) EDUCATION: RELATIVE
This is a very relative point since not all the Europeans countries have the same education system. The Nordics like Finland, Sweden, Denmark, etc. they have what I consider one of the best education systems but on the contrary Spain, Portugal, Greece or Italy are way behind the US when it comes to education.
4) MEDIA: I DON’T AGREE
Yes, it’s true that the US has a very particular way to manage the media and make their audience feel they live in the most secure and most advance place on earth, as an American I accept this fact. But what’s also true is that Europeans favorite sport is to criticize Americans. You can feel that as well when you come to Europe, their comments, their jokes… everything has a subliminal message that says: “Americans are so wrong”.
But what’s also true is that during the last eight years the US have taken bad decisions that have affected their international relations.
@ Kenneth R. Zuniga
2) You got to be kidding, comparing continental United States with single constituent countries of European Union. How much geographic diversity can you possibly have in a country the size of Arkansas? As a European, you can enjoy far more cultural, geographical and political diversity without a passport than an American can with a passport. The cultural diversity of Europe is homegrown and local, unlike the United States where its a predominant WASP majority, with miniscule immigrant minorities.
4) As an American living in Spain, you’re seem to have experienced only one side of the coin. How Europeans treat Americans is far more mild and in good humour compared to how Americans treat Arab or Indian immigrants/visitors. The worse that an American might come across in EU is being the butt of jokes. Whereas, the worse an Iranian might face in US is to have a bullet into his skull by a gang of American neo-Nazi nationalists.
And please, don’t be so short sighted to assume that the last 8 years of Bush has anything to do with the general attitude of Americans. It will be quite an insult to American intellect to assume that Americans are robotic agents of their government, incapable of independant and rational thought. I understand that it can look unfair sometimes, but it is the American people who make a joke of themselves by their intolerant jingoism and loud ignorance.
I have visited the States several times, and frankly, I am not attracted at all in living there.
First and foremost, I do not like the American mentality that put materialism at the forefront of everything. I found America to be a cultural desert, and on that subject way down the line compared to Europe and Russia.
One of my sons even went to live in America for a while, head-hunted by a Californian company after he finished his second university here in England. He spent 4 years in the USA, and decided to abandon a well-paid job to move back to Europe. He never liked the American way of life and never befriended Americans. Several of his acquaintances also came back from the States after a while.
Americans are obsessed by wealth and appearances, and forget completely quality of life (which they equate with the size of their bank account). As for the country itself, I found it so brash and superficial in every sphere of their lives, that I wouldn’t even consider spending long time there. I think it’s because life in the States is so superficial that many people resort to religion to fill the void in their life. There is also a lack of knowledge of the outside world which is gripping. It could also be a factor behind the high divorce rates, single parenthood and violent crimes.
What culture please? America has nothing to do with culture, I have been here for 4 years, its all about money. You will miss to talk with a person that have read at least a classic writer, besides the stupidy of thier new york time bestsellers.
Let’s not try to bring America down here shall we? Europeans have problems of their own, like a huge amount of bureaucracy and the total absence of political unity (the EU government and parliament is struggeling for meaningfullness). Also, for an American, it is hard to notice, let alone understand, the profound cultural and political differences between EU countries and how individual Europeans feel different about such differences and European internal affairs.
Some examples of such internal issues might include the poor position european farmers are in due to EU continental and international export regulations, that Belgium hasn’t had a real government for almost year now due to internal conflicts, that the Nordic countries don’t give a damn about the EU, that although (north)western EU countries tend to be ruled by what Americans would consider leftist and social governments and have an open mind towards multiculturalism, the eastern and central EU countries (still) have a stronger sentiment for hardcore rightwing politics and the fact that immigrants and homosexuals etc face excessive and violent discrimination in those countries as opposed to the western part of the union. As some US states, some EU countries are doing quite well culturally, politically, economically, but some don’t. It is the unification of these completely different countries that presents a big problem to EU politics.
On the other hand, yes, Europeans are higher educated, have a much larger sense and appreciation for national AND international culture, arts, humanitarian needs etc. Also, Europeans have a sense of international politics and history (due to the historical AND present diversity in the union) that makes Americans look like total idiots. This is also why Europeans disslike the American international attitude:
You see, there’s allways been a large influx of American culture into the European culture, while we don’t need that. We have a culture of our own, you have a culture of your own, don’t hassle us. We don’t give a damn about Hollywood filth-movies or Harvard; it’s not a question of who has the BEST university, we’ve got some very good universities of our own, they’re all very cheap and all internationally oriented in contrast to most US universities. It’s very fine you are trying to sell your culture, your hollywood, your harvard, your economy to us, it’s your good right and in fact, we’re trying to sell you our culture as well in a way. But a lot of Americans seem to think that they can tech us ‘a thing or two’ in all those aspects, and it is there that Americans are wrong and that’s what annoys europeans.
Well I’m living in the U.S. and I have to say that I am not proud of my country. Wish I could say other wise but I honestly can not. The majority of Americans could care less about how educated they are and it shows. In order to see something worth hearing on the news I have to put on the BBCA. Tune in to an american station and your bound to see a store about a new amazing study that shows orange juice may now kill you followed by a study the next week that says its great for you ha ha. That being said I am now learning french and may possibly leave the country at some point. By the way americans do have an attitude problem and always have to have the biggest and best. Only morons that have to drive a tank to work and could care less about the environment.
I live in USA too in New York,Ii think the mentality in USA to live the life is just absurd, Europeans people have more piece of mind they know how to enjoy life and even the system is way to different , USA life is made only for work, no wonder 70% of population here are depressed.I think I’m going back in EU making less money but at last have a piece of mind and enjoy life.
I am a person who lived in 3 continents. Asia, Europe (UK), and now in the USA. I still consider UK is my home. I love UK and if required, I never hesitate to fight for its freedom.
We all should agree that NO WHERE IS PERFECT: Each party can argue that their side is greatest. I want to be honest here.!
Healthcare:- Yes America has an excellent service. But only if you are rich they are much reachable.
Europe has more socialistic approach and everyone can benefit from it. Therefore, I value it more than American system.
Diversity:- Europe has a different diversity than American system. Europe is diverse in their food and language etc. But they are not united. They don’t have one voice.
America is truly diverse and multicultural. They are increasingly open minded on that. otherwise, Obama would never be the President. Europe cannot beat this.!
Education: - I agree that America has a problem below the University level. They are bit ignorant about the outer world. But we must understand that America is a huge country very many things happening here. Therefore, it is natural to loose out interests or time for stuffs in the outer circle. I think the media also has the same problem.
America also has many great Universities which have given birth to great scientists and philosophers etc.
Conclusion.:
In 232 years history, America has done it with a Bang.! And in a style!
Created a fantastic constitution,
Build the infrastructure from the scratch. ( Europe had most of it for over 1000+ years )
Gave some of the greatest people to the world
Sent the first man to the moon.
Built the “greatest economy by one country” and the most sophisticated military world has ever seen.
All this could be done because,
50 states together they have united and one Voice, therefore they can focus on challenges more effectively. (25 EU has 25 different opinions and mostly disagree)
As a Larger country, it could bring huge resources together more effectively.
For 232 years what else could you ask for?
In contras, what Europe did most for 1000+ years was fighting and killing each other for superiority.!
I know Europe has given some of the greatest minds and other stuffs to the world. But they could never do much in 232 years.
Only thing I don’t like in America is some of the fools obsessed with the God far too much.
Just one thing….if you show up in the E.R. and are sick or dieing or been shot or stabbed or what ever they will treat you! That is a blatant lie that you won’t be treated with out health insurance. The reason you need health insurance is for private doctors once again another article with great potential down the drain due to lack of research. If you wanna write an America bashing article go ahead you can do what ever you want to we all have the right to our own point of view, however there is no need for blatant bias or making up facts and/or lack of research. I admit there are plenty of things wrong with this country…so there is no reason to make things up, or repeat rumor that you heard some where.
Hello
Many of you have made several excellent points. I think the conversation here should turn to WHY the United States and Europe have their respective shortcomings.
Let’s hear it.
“Much, much, much higher. In America you can eat cheaply, but it buys poor quality food, stuffed with calories and ingredients that are awful for you”
Better watch out for them dreaded calories…!
I would rather live in America(USA) than Europe.
U.S democracy! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. You can see to what their democracy lead them. As Aristotel said(wrote): the best system is apsolute monarchy. I don’t claim that democracy is best for individuals and their rights but it also ruins the communty. I wouldn’t give my personal freedom for the kingdom of heaven but with one ruller, with a healthy mind the people would prosper. Especialy in the modern times. On the other hand some couldn’t live in equality.
@Andy
Didn’t you consider that americans started on what europeans have built in those 4000 years (from the first letter in mesopotamia to the 1620s)
Also i heard Schwarzeneger say a few months ago, and I qoute “Europe is finaly coming to it’s sences and distancing it self from socialism. Man is he stupid or what. Did he turn CNN on in the last 50 years.
I fail to understand why there is even an argument in this instance. Europe is the motherland for the United States and many Americans can trace much of our ancestry back to all European nations. Now, America is still a Young country. It has many faults, but moreover many positive aspects. Now in recent years, due to a lacking president, we have sunk in the eyes of the world. But, I would like to start with what makes America so different from other nations. The founding fathers of the United States were perhaps the greatest minds of their time and maybe that rains true into our time. Their philosophy was put into the oldest living constitution on the face of this earth. We defeated the greatest power of the time, the British; we also inspired the French Revolution. (It still took France a couple try’s to attain a democracy) We grew to be one of the most prosperous nations in the world. And, no other country in the world has such a geographic advantage than the US, offering virtually every climate in the world. Not to mention the natural wonders, ie: the Grand Canyon, Niagara Falls (I understand they are shared with Canada), the Everglades, the Rocky Mountains, etc.
Back to the present, America is very problematic at this time, but let us not forget the many downfalls European nations have faced and have since learned from and improved. I believe that the US will perhaps suffer worse, but in the result a greater nation will be born from the problems we face today. We now have a new president, who is highly admired and perhaps a hundred times smarter than the last, so perhaps our nation will due a hundred times better than we have been. Primarily once our education and health care systems are reformed, which they will be, the remaining cons on the US will in time be reformed, and there won’t be much to argue about. Save for perhaps, who has the prettier people, but that’s just an example.
I am from Ireland and moved to the US in 2006.
I am from the U.S. and have lived here all my life and would have to agree about how we are all obsessed about wealth and power, etc. etc. Well I have been thinking about this as being in the corporate workforce for over 10 years and this is why I think we have such an obsession. Basically it all boils down to the lack of the “Quality of Life” here. We as Americans work so much and get such little free time outside of work as well as most families here have both spouses working just to survive the materialistic lifestyle that we as a nation have become naturally obsessed with wealth. If we can somehow manage to acquire a large amount of wealth then we could retire early and finally get some “Quality of Life” and stop the daily rat race. The average vacation/holiday time here is 2 weeks maybe less and weekends don’t do much for relaxation as we are busy spending the time catching up on household responsibilities. I would love to live in another country over in Europe just to see what I am missing. I know in the U.S. we have everything imaginable at our fingertips, but it is because everyone works too darn much to produce all this unnecessary junk. I also have a fear about living abroad because of the lack of knowledge of what the world is like outside of the U.S., as others have stated about how our knowledge outside of the U.S. is dismal at best. Oh well, gotta go and get back to work. Take care!
I agree witt everything you listed EXCEPT lack of food diversity, that actually couldn’t be further from the truth. I think you are only thinking of American food and fast food which is all pretty much Hamburgers(which I don’t know why counts as being American if it was originally created in Hamburg). We have a plethora of ethnic restuarants! Besides that though, I completly agree. Just an extremely, minor disagreement.
I’m European and have never lived in US but it’s true that american thinking is selfish. Americans always think they’re the best in everything. I can’t agree with education or healthcare because i know nothing about them but i agree with diversity and media.
Americans may say they’re a multi-ethnic country because they’ve receives a lot of inmigrants but anything compare with Europe, where you can find, portuguese people, french people, german people, english people, greek people, etc.
Besides I read that a person had said America had Alaska, deserts, great cities, beautiful islands, sunny states… and Europe, what does it have?
Alaska –> Sweden, Norway, Finland
Beautiful islands –> Canary Islands, Azores Islands, Greek Islands…
Great cities –>Paris, London, Madrid, Berlin, Moscow, Istanbul, Rome, Athens, Lisbon…
Deserts–>Afortunately we don’t have big deserts
mmh What about culture? Click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJuNgBkloFE
B-bye
i lived in europe and usa it sucks………..i love brazil.so much fun
Europe has got way more diversity in Landscape, and in culture, so its way more fun …
And what’s with the NASCAR ?
just a bunch of cars, with a stupid designs and a load of stickers on them going arround in a never ending race ?
Seriously whats wrong with people over there ?
How come they dont like football better ? It’s the beautiful sport isnt it after all ?
You like Brazil ? lool one day when you get to Sao Paulo and you get shot asa you get off the airplane, I won’t laugh but I will chuckle …
I agree wholeheartedly with your statements…I am a Romanian-American studying Finance and Accounting in Chicago. After I graduate, I’m hoping to move back to Europe. Although I’ve lived here most of my life (since I was 2 years old, but moved back there for elementary school), I’ve been immersed in both cultures and see both sides of the spectrum, and honestly, I prefer Europe.
I feel this writer is incredibly close-minded! I mean to say that anywhere you go in America “…the food is same, the language is same and the arts and style are similar…” What! You mean Alaska, Arizona, New York, and California are EXACTLY THE SAME.
I was born and raised in New Mexico USA, and I have traveled the world, there are some amazing things in Europe, and my assessment on the cultures is this; Europe of course has the richer modern history with what was and is amazing such as great architecture and art which influences every Europeans way of life. As for America, it is still very much “The New World” where the possibilities are truly unbound many people (especially young people) very much imitate (with varying success our style and believe or not our attitude.
I think Europeans seem to think that history is everything; there ambition though seems to have tapered. I work anywhere from 60-80 hours a week (sometimes more), and there seems to be allot more of Americans such as myself then I have noticed with Europeans (this is not fact just something I’ve noticed through my limited exposure to Euro life).
I really love Europe and it’s people, but with this almost prevailing elitist attitude that many people posses, I fell a little slighted. They call us Americans arrogant and selfish, perhaps we are, but to think YOUR way of life is BETTER then someone else’s, which is a typical Euro way of thinking. Look back at history, just to name one major instance…the crusades, was that not the ultimate ‘we’re better then you and we’ll prove it or you die’ attitude that affected us American’s (native Americans which I am as well as Spanish heritage)
You complain about the Iraq war..come on Europeans can’t be the ones to talk on that front. The worlds greatest conquers came from their various beloved homelands. In the grand scheme of things our war crimes are misdemeanors compared to the European atrocities through time. I mean come on, the Euros had NO excuses when they crossed the ocean killing off entire races and bringing slavery and diseases…anyway a little off topic…just that someone else had replied to the article mentioning the war and such.
In short the writer brings up some valid points such as views on sex and education…but I feel a little embarrassed for her because she seems very naïve, uninformed and a little pompous, all the while portraying us Americans as having those social ailments.
Hey this is a big world we are all different so celebrate it keep an open mind, stop the hating and
Arriba USA! sorry just had to do it ; )
As an American, I live in Europe for one year and could not wait to leave. I found the nanny and welfare state of socialism to be quite pathetic as everybody relies on big government to make their choices and to think for them. Whereas in America, we have the indenpendence to make our own healthcare choices and establish our own individual needs with little state or federal interference.
I would never want universal healthcare. As a taxpayer, it is not my duty or responsibility to use my money to support other people’s health as Europe now feels the need to be babysitted like a bunch of children.
I am grateful that I have a better paying job in America than what I had in Europe. More $$$ in the US of A. Half of my entore paycheck was deducted for taxes while living in Germany! Unthinkable!
I think as Americans, we need to stop worrying about what the rest of the world thinks of us and think about only ourselves.
I deplored the housing in Germany as well. Everybody lives in small gingerbread houses that smell of foul odors and utilities which are quite outdated compared to U.S. homes. Housing in good old America is much more newer, spacious, with far more modern amenities.
Culture is all relative. Its amazing how the Euro Trash belittle American culture, yet on every street corner in Frankfurt, there always seemed to be the American chain Starbucks with plenty of Germans guzzling down coffee. They watch our films, listen to our music, etc.
It just baffles me how everyone on the wrong side of the Atlantic Ocean can have such scorn for Americans while at the same time, they never have no problem flying over here for their 6 weeks of touring New York, the Grand Canyon, or Disney World. Of course, back at home, they have no problem whatsoever displaying their anti-AMericanism, but when Stateside, they’d dare not display it in our faces. It is cowardly in my book.
Please do. I am sure Europe wouldn’t miss someone with your attitude.
What about those who don’t have the financial or physiological ability to make choices of their healthcare? Should they be denied the option of decent healthcare because they can’t afford it/consent to it at the moment?
As a taxpayer, it is your duty to contribute a portion of your income to support the government and social welfare. It is ironic how ultra-nationalist Americans crib and whine about European tax money going into healthcare and education, but don’t seem to mind that their own government spends a major portion of their taxmoney on brewing global conflicts and bailing out failed [American] companies (which sunk because of their own greed and poor management in the first place).
….a lot better than *everybody* in America who take a leak in their sink because they are too lazy to walk to the bathroom. By the way, living in a small gingerbread house is better than living in cockroach-and-rat infested ghettos where Americans kill each other for bread and ‘drug turf’.
(See? I can do it as good as you can.)
It shows that the Germans are more rational and open minded than Americans like you are. Just because they don’t agree with some aspects American culture, they don’t use it against Americans by shutting down American businesses from making money by operating in their country. Your reasoning is a lot like the extremist idea that someone who uses “Made in China” consumer products should be branded a ‘traitor’ for criticising the Chinese government or its human rights record.
It just baffles me that Americans who ‘hate’ Europe enjoy a two month holiday all over Europe and then whine and moan about how “the French/German are so rude/stupid/arrogant that they don’t speak English”. Well, if they really had a problem with people not speaking English, they should have used their common sense and avoided visiting non-Anglophone countries. (Uh hang on! What am I thinking, expecting Americans to have ‘common sense’? I might as well expect a billy goat perform a neurosurgery.)
To Tony:
“Americans may say they’re a multi-ethnic country because they’ve receives a lot of inmigrants but anything compare with Europe, where you can find, portuguese people, french people, german people, english people, greek people, etc.”
All the diversity you listed is White European. Do you honestly think that if you traveled to countries like the US, Canada or Australia that you wouldn’t find Portuguese, French, German, English, Greek, etc. people along with Africans and Asians?
I think a certain Euro needs to go back and study what European Emmigration is all about.
@ Ms. Kathleen
Please try to fit your comments in a single post, rather than making a series of comments one after another.
I’m going to let you in on a little secret: the best country in the world is Canada. It combines the best aspects of both America and Europe. Capitalism and socialism in equal measure, like a Reese’s Peanutbutter Cup. Immigrants are embraced here and allowed to build their lives - and our economy - without fear and prejudice. We also have most of the world’s fresh water. Bill Gates knows the score: he opened a Microsoft campus in Vancouver to accept all the world’s brilliant software engineers who couldn’t get into the US. America is a xenophobic superfortress. Canada accepts foreigners, knowing they are our gain. It’s uncharacteristic of us to brag, but Canada is the future. But don’t tell anyone.
one of the most pertinent issues to this discussion is that of equity. it applies to all the reasons outlined by Aby at the beginning of the conversation - which by the way, i have found to be quite accurate. back to equity. equity in Europe comes at the price of economic freedom (higher taxes, more stringent labor laws, all in all bigger government). in contrast, in the US, we can observe the opposite: greater economic freedom trades off more inequity. i’m not making any value judgments since it would be unrelated to our discussion. fact is, that people with a stronger drive, a more individualistic perspective and the will and ability to make things happen will prefer economic freedom over equity. but as we know society isn’t only made up of highly ambitious people (i know i’m oversimplifying the situation, but bare with me). on the other hand the majority of people will prefer a system similar to the European model. there needs to be some mix of both.
i might be a bit biased, because these observations come from someone who was born in eastern europe. but i went to school in madrid and DC so i had the luck of grasping a bit of both. right now i’m in the US, considering returning to western europe
Nathan -
You are the typical American moron. I have a preexisting medical condition and would love to have socialized medicine that Europeans take advantage of. Believe me, I wouldn’t mind paying more taxes if it means a better quality of life. Europeans enjoy their life because they can. We can’t. They get top-notch medical care, good schooling and plenty of R & R. Americans work till they drop dead of a heart attack. Your ethnocentric attitude is scary. Socialism does not = communism. Socialism means the country takes are of its citizens. If you haven’t noticed, America is no longer #1 country. American kids score the lowest in test scores, we have tons of homeless people and no universal health care. Those are not good stats. Developing nations are catching up to the U.S. and the way things are going - you will probably work for an Indian or Chinese.
One thing I dislike about America is that it is a wasteland of low quality and low beauty across the board from architecture, food, public transport, fashion, furniture etc. There are exceptions here and there, but the rule is ugly and low quality. I feel I need to detox my body from the ingestion of all this filth and would love to purge my system by taking a trip to Europe soon.
A lot of Americans are extremely ignorant and lack a great common sense when it comes to….err well….everything! They don’t know much about the outside world that exists, honestly most don’t even know about the history of America itself. They just have this belief that America is the best country ever, which is driven from the media. The media has brainwashed Americans. It is so disheartening tome when I turn on the news channel and they are talking about Paris Hiltons new boy toy, or the Academy awards as if it is something that actually has a meaning. They never show anything that is worthwhile, anything of substance. And I have a strong feeling that this is actually done on purpose. To keep the American people ignorant and focused on nonsense, while the government does its dirty tricks behind closed doors. It is a country for the elitist. The media is owned by the few and elites, government officials, congressmen and women and senators and even presidents are elected by the elites, therefore the country on its own is run by the elites. They put on bogus news that make every other country look as if it is hell on earth, so the citizens can continue to think they have the best of everything. That they are “free”, when in reality they are actually mentally colonized. Their views and ways of thinking are shaped by what is shown to them, very few actually have the courage and the commonsense to go outside of what is presented to them to find out what is real. American people always brag about their human right records and about their “democracy”. Well if you have a wee bit of common sense you would know that democracy is actually not real!! You would like to think you elected your president huh??? And as for the human rights record, really??? The U.S. is in fact a dictatorship, you just don’t now it yet!! How about the U.S worry about its own business and states affairs before it meddles in other countries business. Why not spend more money on the people that are dying every day from lack of healthcare and poverty, how about spending a little more time and thinking about what is being done to Black people, the fact that there are more black men in prison that in a higher education? How about young black women being used as lab rats to test out birth control?? Or how pregnant black women are being discriminated from receiving any aid…..because they are black and pregnant? How about Native Americans going extinct?? How they were kept excluded and denied from practicing their culture and speaking their language?? How about Native Americans having to renounce their roots and heritage in order to become “citizens”, even though clearly they were here before anyone else. How about those Muslim women that are made fun of and discriminated against and prevented from wearing their hijab to school?? How about those black children living in the most poorest sides of this country, who have a better access to a gun and knife that fruits and vegetables?? Or those poor children who are unable to go to a half way decent school because of where they live?? How about those that are forced to sell drugs so they can feed their family because they don’t have any other options? Or those that dies chasing the unattainable “American dream”?? Just to name a few! This my friend has probably got to be the WORST human right record, however, many overlook this because after all hey its America.
Someone stated that “the EU have 25 countries and all have 25 views” and that they are not united, while “All 50 states of the U.S are united ” and therefore have progressed. Actually I feel that they 25 different opinions are all the best for the EU, people with different views and input, that’s what makes a union even greater. The fact that you think the U.S. is united is even just sad to me. The U.S suffers from such thing called “groupthink”-going along to get along. Most government officials who have something different to say get “let go”-fired. And need I remind you that this country was built on the backs of SLAVES, NATIVE AMERICANS, LATINOS and do you realize that the immigrants are the backbone of this country?!?!?
I’m European living in the United States and I can’t wait to gather enough money to be able to leave back to Europe. I have seldom NOT regreted the day I decided to come here:
Unfortunately, this is a police-country. You can’t walk, talk, drive without being approached by a uniformed somebody telling you to stop smoking, go wait on the other side of the street, ask you why you are walking and write you a ticket or trying to get you in jail, so you have to pay your way out. You get a ticket for nothing. It’s like you are not human but a money-bag that exists to be squeezed of every penny you work hard for. No time to enjoy life, no way to drink a beer undisturbed, no sidewalks, no friends. Just work and spend money in supermarkets that have nothing in comparison to european supermarkets, where there is a genuine diversity of products. There is no diversity in this huge country when it comes to food, ethnic restaurants are a joke and of low low low quality. Service is so bad, you get water in plastic cups, coffee in paper cups and they still want tips when a waiter in Europe will work with real cutlery, real plates and provide real service. The restaurants here smell so bad (like mold and grease stuck in between the dry-walls) and the places are poorly cleaned.
It’s important to feel you work for yourself, your family and your society. It’s important to feel that you are human and that there is some support for when life gets rough. There is none of that here but heaven forbid you say anything they don’t like, in their “democracy”. They will only take criticism if it’s the same shallow criticism of liberal crap democrats. To Americans being free is to take drugs and have sex. To do whatever they want without regard for others, whom they think they don’t have to give a toss about. Social responsibility is equated to communism, something they know nothing about.
Freedom, what freedom, when work is your only occupation in life. Money goes up in smoke without being able to enjoy family, visit your relatives or eat a satisfying meal at a restaurant.
America is shallow and poor. Only those coming from poorer countries think the US is anything great.
Someone said America is a cultural desert. They’re spot on. NY may be a big city, but London is better 10 times over. The buildings and streets are ugly everywhere in the US: boxes and no personality. There is a mentality that purposefully seeks the beautiful to destroy it. The richest country in the world keeps saying there is no money to beautify a whole city, but they only have money for the military and police.
Sure you have landscape, US. But Europe does too. Immense variety, including savannahs, mountains, snow, rain, sun, PUBLIC beaches, canals, rivers, countryside, freedom to roam on a horse, a bicycle, on foot, without being harrassed.
I’m hiding my money from american vampires so I can return to Europe and contribute where my contribution will be seen in practice in health care, beautiful cities and people who help each other out, inspite of shortcomings. Europe is not paradise and has problems, but compared to the USA, it has no problems at all.
I know it all sounds bitter, but there has to be more to life than what is offered here. Once you’ve got personal experiences to compare, it’s harder to accept the limitations of the US. I’ve lived in more than two countries, too. IF you are thinking about moving to the US, be sure to have a back-up plan if you happen to not like it. Personally, I hope south americans take over so there will be genuine character to this nation.
I think comparing Europe and the US is like comparing apples to oranges. Both have good and bad traits. Europe wants fairness and equality in its end results (think gov wants everyone to have equal care, no huge salary differences between worker and employer, etc etc) while America leans more towards fairness and freedom (think freedom to succeed or fail based on your own merits, and that it is fair for the person who earned their own wealth to keep it). Americans question Europeans unresonable trust in government buracracies while Europeans question American’s willingness to suffer needlessly. I personally support the US since it’s induvidualistic ideology suits me and has been one of the forces that has changed the United States from some puny colonies into a superpower. I think that Modern European ideology has yet to emerge from the US’s protective cocoon (think yugoslav wars) and it would be interesting to see how long Europe’s lifestyle would be able to last without American’s dieing for their freedom and security. Don’t get me wrong European lifestyle seems great with job security and a few extra years of life but how can a Europe that can’t even stop the genocide of it’s fellow Europeans be expected to stop Russia and MidEast coutries from litterally blackmailing them via their energy dependence?
“I’m going to let you in on a little secret: the best country in the world is Canada. It combines the best aspects of both America and Europe. Capitalism and socialism in equal measure, like a Reese’s Peanutbutter Cup. Immigrants are embraced here and allowed to build their lives - and our economy - without fear and prejudice. We also have most of the world’s fresh water. Bill Gates knows the score: he opened a Microsoft campus in Vancouver to accept all the world’s brilliant software engineers who couldn’t get into the US. America is a xenophobic superfortress. Canada accepts foreigners, knowing they are our gain. It’s uncharacteristic of us to brag, but Canada is the future. But don’t tell anyone.”
Canadians are racially tolerant? Come on…when Saku Koivu gets criticized because he cannot speak French…when Canadians gets insulted when a French-Canadian becomes the captain of their world-championship hockey team…when a 20/20 report shows how nightclubs discriminate against Blacks.
Canada is also quite lucky, because their military needs are completely covered by the United States. They have much less academic and professional research in Canada since USA discoveries bleach over the border. That saves a lot of money from a country’s budget…
What I love most about Canadians is that they, as you mentioned, generally do not brag. They aren’t that patriotic (save for the French/non-French) divide, and get the least wrapped up in jingoism or national favoritism.
American people are honey unlike their policymakers (err they are different type of American people)
While europeans love slaves and are used to stealing around the world to build their own house. Now that their house is turned into palace they control wana palaces by creating human rights and trying to stop countries like China who wants to at par with them. And about America well they’ve build their homes their way too…BULLYING AROUND for CENTURY…..
Its all your perception about the world….you all see good side, but what sufferings others suffer around the world because of your actions you oversee that.
Britain is worst, one day someone will take it back……as history has seen rise of big power, collapse and then worst….
For example India….from richest country to one with highest number of poor…..another example USSR….. Another China (though slowing improving)…..Next in line UK, unless of course EU goes through reforms. And then next in line the great USA…..
How ignorant people will be I know, by calling me hypocrite. But yes truth hurts. And yes deleting my post will not delete the fact Mr. Psuedo liberal ABY…..
What goes around come around……KARMA….
Personally i think the problem with americans is that they have gotten so used to this concept of international superiority that even the notion that we are not the best is like blasphemy. I am sad to say that i am American by birth (100% italian by blood though) and it is both amazing and disgusting how ignorant Americans tend to be. I am currently in high school making Cs (supposedly average) and i am part of the, i guess you could say, ntellectual niche. i am far more aware of global events and have philosophical discussions on a daily basis, yet the moronic blissfully ignorant students get straight As. Why? because in America they tax the people and use a very small portion for education and pay for bad teachers and elect horrible school board officials who assign bs curriculum and teach students to be workers, not thinkers. Alot of the problem with the US has to do with priorities. We pay tons of money for new miltary technology we most likely will never even use, and then we pay police officers, firefighters, and teachers sh*t, because who really needs them right? Another issue is hypocrisy, we say were the land of the free with one hand and shove our religious opinions down your throat with the other. I am an atheist and nothing irritates me more than the violation of personal rights. Everyday in school we say the pledge of allegiance, a pledge that was once simple patriotism now sits as a constant reminder of antisocialism and jingoism. I couldve swore the cold war was over,but i guess war is just one of those things americans cant get enough of. And since when are we the land of equality? did we decide that after the genocide of the american indians? or maybe after slavery, it couldve been after the oppression of civil rights in the later half of the 20th century, no wait it still hasn’t happened yet. Somehow the tables have been turned on the white male (a large thakyou to the bush administration) and affirmitive action has made things less certain than ever. How does that solve the problem? no one alive today was alive to either oppress others or to take offense at such injustice. in my eyes the answer is to forgive and forget, learn from the past. But no, they do the opposite. Congress actually formally appologized for slavery. Well thats a nice sentiment, too bad its a few centuries late. And i dont want to be offensive to anyone but if you want to be factual, most of the slaves from Africa were sold by African slave traders. But enough about race relations how about religous oppression? Seperation of church and state seems to be an archaic concept nowadays, lost in time to a civilization of drones. Who needs that when were all christian? And even if your not christian, surely you believe in god right? Wrong again. ‘In God We Trust’ is like our motto, we put it on our money,in our courtrooms, and in our culture. People swear to tell the truth by taking an oath on the bible, the president takes the oath of office on a holy book of his/her choosing (i would say the bible but i believe Obama altered that tradition) and people have a general consensus of anti-atheism. They typically prefer someone of that same religion, but as long as you believe in god you are a good person. It is to the point where if you mention being an atheist in public, you better be ready for criticism. Honestly i believe a secular world is a peaceful world, you can have you religion and ill have my own, custom set of values. But that is a discussion for another time. Now on to homosexuals. Since when is it okay to tell someone what kind of sex is ok and which isnt? I am a heterosexual but i have homosexual friends, i dont see the issue. If i was into a foot fetish or something, people would generally not understand, but they would acknowledge my right to privacy and discretion. But for some reason, people look to the bible for things to oppress. If i was a christian i would embrace the positive notions of the faith, not the socially constricting ones. And as if there wasnt enough hypocrisy. People say sodomy is bad because it says so in the bible, well if youre gonna go by the bible, it also supports polygamy, a practice legally suppressed in the US. Just one example of the hypocrisy reinforced by religion.
As a person who comes from Europe (Germany) , lived in the U.S. and A and now living in Canada and planning to move back to Europe ASAP , i must say that the European system and way of life is by far superior to the North American one (Canada obviously does much better than the USA but isn’t THAT different from the U.S as Canadians would like to believe) . The advantages of the European system are obvious, but I’ll name just a few : Free Healthcare for everyone, a developed Social welfare system, much lower crime rates, much more vacation time , a greater variety/diversity in almost every aspect of life: culture, food, education, architecture, people (yes, I’m claiming that the diversity of peoples in Europe is higher than in the USA, and there’re many immigrants in (Western) Europe too , so we have nothing to hide in this field when compared to America!) , and also in Nature & landscapes -just look at Germany, it has everything on just 350.000 km2 : Mountains, lakes , forests, Oceans etc. and you can reach it all in one day) . And anybody who has ever lived in Europe, I’m sure can agree with what I’ve said, if not than (s)he should give me the reasons for that! Also, the quality of products in (Western) Europe is much higher-anything from food over clothes over housing to cars (Even Skoda or Dacia nowadays are way better than Chevy or Ford!) is on a level that Americans only dream of. And regarding the people : Yes, I agree that Americans are friendly, but they’re also unbelievably superficial and, how should i say it, undereducated i think is the best word (which also applies, though not as pronounced, to Canadians IMO) to describe them (not all, but certainly the majority, though there’re also very intelligent Americans, but on average Europeans are much better educated and have a much higher overview of what’s going on in the world!) .
Also, Americans are very conservative and ridiculously bigot and hypocritical, esp. when it comes to sex and drugs. For example, they don’t show any sex or nudes skin on TV and have to censore every swearword , even “Oh my God is censored :D” , but on the other side they’ve got the biggest porn industry worldwide and use swearwords seemingly more often than any other nation worldwide. Any observer from outside has to agree that Americans are a ridiculous bunch of people who try anything to make themselves seem more ridiculous . Like i said, life in Europe is a dream compared to the USA and I can’t understand people who want to trade that just to have a little bit more $ in their pockets, but if they want to they can but then they shouldn’t wonder when they enjoy their lifes only half as much as they’d in Europe.
It seems like well over 90% of us (I say “us” because I have joined this commentary but also because I am a human being, and we are all speaking of humans) are most interested in pointing out the best and/or worst another’s country. I understand the original points were made for comparison to provoke or inspire a discussion on what might be done to make things better. Excellent! But mostly, I see people bashing other countries. It makes me sad.
Before I am judged for the little flag that sits by my name, yes I am an American. I was born here and enjoy its many merits and understand its many shortcomings. I have lived only in the UK, and only for two years, so I cannot speak for them except to say that most of the people I met there were kind, very few were not. I have travelled all over SE Asia and can say the same for Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and Polynesia (even though I did not speak their languages, I know a kind person as I expect most of us do). I am happy to report that my personal memories of traveling in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, UK, Mexico, Italy and Greece are much the same. Very kind people abound, less than kind people seemed scarce.
Percentages (of kind people) seem equal in every country I’ve been, though I understand I am biased when travelling as I am always enthralled to be in a new country. And yes there have been instances of theft, violence and everything from some people just not having a good day to people who may never have a good day and are determined to make everyone else around them experience. It seems unfortunate that these are the people that burn into our memories. They certainly make for more popular news stories today.
So, back to North America. I have lived all over the USA (except Florida, but I will visit there too) and I can say the same for kindness here. It is expressed differently wherever you go, but it prevails. The geography across North America is vast and incredibly diverse. Anyone who has travelled from Alaska through Canada (by coast or mountains — preferably both), USA (rain forests, deserts, mountains and wonderful eccentricities throughout) south into Mexico’s incredible deserts, highlands and lush tropical zones might agree that this continent is worthy of a visit, if just to look around (Don’t miss the volcanoes and caves!). That is only the western edge of North America, and I’m only speaking of jaw dropping scenery and amazing ecosystems. You may also visit the people who live there (Canada, USA, Mexico). Most of whom, if you take the time to listen (and there never is) are worth getting to know
Why do I bring any of this to our commentary? Hopefully to remind us all that every country is but a line drawn by people on a larger planet and that each has much to offer. I have only travelled the eastern edge (and outer reef) and southern cities of Australia, but the experience is a treasured memory. As are my walks along the shores and varied landscapes of Europe, Asia and little Island Nations or territories across three considerable oceans. One of my best friends was born and lives in India (I met him in Scotland), and I hope to visit him and his family there. I have not travelled as much as I wish, but every time I do I appreciate this world more. Every country I visit astounds me with its riches, be it wealth brought there from human history or natural wealth (not natural resources) which just happened to be there at the time the country’s boundary line was drawn.
The great mountain ranges do not respect the boundaries of countries, but people seem to think they should. As if your stay in the Alps, Andes, Rockies or Himalayas would more exciting on one side or the other of a countries borders. I hope we will do our best to be proud not only of the lands we live in but also the lands we have the joy of visiting or even wishing to visit.
Talk of what is not right with a country should be grounds for conversation on how to make things better. Just a thought.
As an American I agree wholeheartedly with Aby.
Aby, you are wrong on a number of counts.
Healthcare: it is illegal for a hospital to refuse a patient based on ability to pay. The patient might ring up a big bill if they are uninsured, but they must give treatment.
Food and language the same: Ha! Just the number of different ways to barbecue a pig defeats this claim. Texas, Carolina, St Louis, Memphis each have their own style. Fistfights have been known to break out over these distinctions. They might be too subtle for the untrained European palate, but to the bbq connoisseur, they are almost life or death. Then too, there are big difference between New England and Pacific Northwest styles of seafood. Tex-Mex, Cajun, Midwest, Rocky Mountain, California Cuisine…. These are just some of the regional food styles that are very unique. Sure there are restaurant chains that are everywhere, but people still maintain their traditional cooking ways. And language… well, yeah, we are all sort of American English speakers, but I will tell you that when I went to Naval boot camp, it took about a week for everyone to be able to understand one another. The accents, the regional idioms can be quite a barrier.
Education: I guess our education could be considered to be lower based on test scores, but we all know that in the US, we keep the idiots in school until they are 18, so they just drag down the scores. In most countries, they start pulling the idiots out early. I’d like to see the US system start doing that. In America we have a saying: “Never try to teach a pig to sing. It wastes time and just annoys the pig.” Unfortunately, our education system doesn’t follow that advice.
Media: The thing is, I don’t think you can accurately call anything in America a monolithic “media.” Maybe you were just talking about Fox News when you say that American News is totally Americanised, but just to test your point, I turned on my TV to the cable news channels, of which I receive approximately 15-20 on my Verizon Fios. I saw news of the war in Afghanistan, I saw Pres. Lula da Silva of Brazil speaking for several minutes, I saw on CNBC a Chinese businessman speaking about the World Economy (subtitles), I saw CNN talking about Brit Emma Thompson’s efforts against Human Trafficking, I saw on ABC news an American reporter in East London eating Indian food. And of course, BBC news channels. Of course, there was healthcare reform debate, too. That was in a couple of minutes of clicking around. Is it geared toward American audiences? Well, of course. But not “negatively biased” at all.
One thing that I don’t think anybody mentioned is public transportation. I’ve only been to Germany when I was about 5 but my mother has always told me they are very organized and they have among the best public transit in the world
I’m an American and I completely agree with Aby… Though a little bitter towards the American side, but overall I agree. The biggest problem I find with us Americans (or most of the ones I’ve met in my lifetime here)is that we are CONVINCED that America is the greatest and ONLY greatest place in the world, most couldn’t imagine why anyone would want to live anywhere else. And I also agree with the false-patriotism in America. Everyone I have asked why they love America so much has simply answered “Because it’s the greatest country in the world” without any facts to support it. We often either justify or tend to overlook our many flaws. I completely agree that the majority of Americans are completely clueless to what’s going on in the world around them. I’ve learned more about Europe in my last year of (personally) studying it then I have my entire school career. I could go on and on with America’s flaws (I notice atleast one a week), but I tend not to dwell on America’s flaws, I look at it’s positives, understand why some people would prefer to live here, and count down the days til I can pack up and move out of this place!
As a US citizen born and raised in Alaska I would like to point out one thing no one here has mentioned about America. The Continental United States and the people who live there fit nearly every description I have read throughout the course of this conversation, however, it is not widely known that many Americans consider “America” to be only the lower 48 states. The people fortunate enough to be raised in Alaska and Hawaii share a very different perspective from those raised “Outside” (as we say in AK).
), white-river rafting, skiing/snowboarding (if you are willing to hike or can afford a heli), and much, much more. Anchorage, the largest city which is near where I live, has symphony orchestra, opera, and broadway shows such as the Lion King as often as once or twice a month. As many of you mentioned, restaurants in the US are either overpriced or not worth eating and Alaska is no different but most Alaskans know this and avoid chain restaurants. This leads to a tendency to eat at home with their families instead of ordering out. More family time and more family adventure adds up to a happy, satisfied life. Alaska is a far cry from the rest of the US and I’m quite sure Hawaii is too, though I’ve only been there once. I believe these two states are more progressive, not because of their policies, but because of their states of mind. However, there are always exceptions to every rule…. Sarah Palin was a great governor for our state UNTIL she accepted Senator McCain’s offer. She is the perfect example of how greed and the promise of power can ruin an individual. Finally, I would like to ask that none of you consider moving to Alaska because we like it the way it is and we don’t need any more poeple…
I spent a year in Florida and I was appalled at how idiotic, ignorant, superficial, and just plain stupid the people I met were. Alaska has some of the lowest education “ratings” in the states and I felt like a damn genius around them. I was attending a private university dedicated to aviation and I had a senior Aerospace Engineering student confess to me that she always thought Alaska was an island in the Gulf of Mexico until I told her I drove through Canada! These are people who are training to work for NASA and they don’t even know what a globe looks like. Needless to say I was anxious to get home after a year of idiocy. That being said there are many intelligent Americans out there who do understand the world and how ignorant most Americans really are but we are definitely the minority. Alaska and Hawaii are unique and distinguished from the rest of the US in many ways. Yes, we are governed by a country that treats us as little more than vacation destinations (and, in Alaska’s case, an oil jackpot) but unlike the rest of the states we retain our native peoples and their cultures. This, along with the large number of immigrants from Asia, Russia (in Alaska), and all over the Pacific give us a wide range of diversity. As for geography, no place in the world can match Alaska. We have the largest, if not the only, temperate rainforest in the world; Mt. McKinley which is taller than any mountain in Europe by over 500 meters and the tallest in North America; beautiful, green summers; plenty of snow in the winter; everything from sand dunes to tundra; more lakes than the rest of the US put together; more coastline, including islands, than the rest of the US or Europe; an estimated 100,000 glaciers; over 3,000 rivers; volcanoes; caves; and canyons. You can see more natural beauty in one flight tour in Alaska than two months spent driving around the lower 48. There was a lot of talk about the quality of life in the US vs. the quality of life in Europe. Alaska combines the best of both worlds. Hardworking Alaskans are rewarded with higher than average wages, though with a higher cost of living, than most Americans and on their off-time they have the world’s grandest playground at their disposal. World-class fishing, hunting, hiking (I recently ran into two Germans while hiking in the back-country
Americans just steal ideas, most of the “clever people” in America were not Americans, Americans are dirty, uncivilised morons and liers.
Europe is the best, no question about it, period.
I want to leave this stupid country one day and live happy with other happy people in a european country.
I read most of the article’s comments and they are really constructive, interesting, particularly for a person who is interested in tourism and is planning an over-the-seas trip to USA. My opinions are probably not totally realistic, as a matter of fact, I’ve never been to USA, but they are actually just opinions that might change after I see the living alive.
First, regardless of any stereotypes, I would really like to mention one thing - and I am not the first one here to mention it: “It is certainly wise to look at the problem, hence Living in EU vs USA, from both sides and all aspects.”
Problem #1: MENTALITY
I can’t blame American mentality speaking individually, but generally as a nation with its own presenters (politicians, stars and people who are there to show culture of USA to outer world) it is quickly seen that the priorities base on rich living without any major humankind warmth. Of course, IT’S AN OPINION ABOUT THESE THINGS LOOKING FROM THE SIDE OF SO CALLED “CULTURE SPREADERS”, THESE ARE INSTRUMENTS LIKE MEDIA, POP-CULTURE, POLITICS AND SIMILAR.
It is totally possible and probably true that this does NOT apply for generally speaking individual Americans.
You can imagine the whole thing like a giant mirror with reflections - these reflections spread voice about nation. And it is up to you to decide whether they are all bad or all good. Shooting involved certainly means no good about culture!
Problem #2: DIVERSITY:
Let me explain this one a shorter way. The diversity of the continent itself is really bigger in Europe, however the circumstances are totally different. But what I’d really like to say (not willing to advertise anything), our country is a wonder for most people, not just Americans, all Europeans! People aren’t used to such things we meet here, like more than 200 accents (with 2.0 mil people, that’s 10k people/accent!).
Comparison can’t be done straight just by looking at language, but the other aspects like folclore, tradition, is a big lack - a hole in US culture.
A huge plus in US is an experience of meeting someone new that shows you things about his/her homeland, so you see it without having to go there! That is truly a big opportunity to explore.
Problem #3: KNOWLEDGE:
I can’t really talk in long way here. Few facts make it clear! The percentage of people who CARE of getting to know more than they need is big here. Europeans are generally more ready to discover something new. On average, the schools are better here, just to look at the comparison between number of languages spoken per capita. I don’t have information, but I’d say around 40-60% of Europeans understand 3 or more languages. What is the % in US? Way lower, believe me.
Now, sorry if i make it a bit complicated, but for the end, come see Slovenia and you will see what a joyful diversity is! (yes, that IS a bit of advertising for the end).
I am sure noone will be sorry.
The Real But Unspoken
Reasons For The Iraq War
From Independent Media Center
http://www.indymedia.org:8081
2-3-3
Summary
Although completely suppressed in the U.S. media, the answer to the Iraq enigma is simple yet shocking - it an an oil CURRENCY war. The Real Reason for this upcoming war is this administration’s goal of preventing further OPEC momentum towards the euro as an oil transaction currency standard. However, in order to pre-empt OPEC, they need to gain geo-strategic control of Iraq along with its 2nd largest proven oil reserves. This lengthy essay will discuss the macroeconomics of the “petro-dollar” and the unpublicized but real threat to U.S. economic hegemony from the euro as an alternative oil transaction currency.
I agree with Martin. U.S gets intelligent people from all over the world using their money. If you visit these good Universities in U.S., a lot of them are Asians and Europeans.
One of the biggest differences between EU and USA seem to be that Americans live to work, while European work to live.
I quite don’t understand why these people are talking rubbish without justifying their points? US food is full of calories! Hollywood is nothing special! Living std is way way less!! students are dull!! Makes me laugh.
Clearly you guys don’t like USA.But like it or not the greatest country in the world ever is USA. I do not want to see any other country in the same position as USA.
Everything i like is from USA. All the things i have dreamed of are from USA. and accept it guys even you like those things too.
Europe is a nice place. But USA is a nice place too. Some may like EU better, some may USA. For me it’s USA, the mighty eagle.
So stop complaining, USA has got everything that you can ever imagine. Read some books, watch documentaries, and stop using FACE-BOOK too much. hahahh
sadly Germany doesn’t have a free education anymore
I’m Italian. So i’ll speak about italy, as part of europe, but just Italy.
i think Aby is a little bit pro-european and a little bit anti-american… anyway I’m agree with him… but be carefull:
EDUCATION: in Italy education is very cheap but the quality is not good. The other problem is that there are too many graduates and nobody controls the number of the the work places.
For example there are thousends of people studyng business economy.. but how many manager (or similar) places there are in Italy? you know what i mean? we need some kind of selection, it can’t be the cash, obviously.. but we have to do something.
“culture must be for free” is right, but we have to be carefull.
MEDIA & NEWS: In Italy media SUCKS! more than in the US, trust me. it’s pure shit.
HEALTHCARE: 100% agree. I met a friend of a friend of mine, he’s from San Francisco. He got impressed when he discovered that in italy, healthcare is for free even if you are an illegal immigrant. In fact in the italian hospital there is a writing in thae waiting rooms, something like: “if you are an illegal immigrant, don’t be scared, we are not allowed to call the police. so just stay here and let us fix you”.
DIVERSITY: 100% agree. But is a little bit unfair. Europe is a group of different contries melted togather few years ago. USA in basically an english colony. You can’t match difference between a continent and a colony.
however, really nice essey!
sorry for my bad english.
peace
I want to discuss education in the USA: I am a science teacher that works in NYC public schools. I need to say that the first year I arrived from my country to the USA I took the NYC public teachers exam and I pass it (I am from Panama) I found the exam so easy. Lately, when I got a job, dealing with students and parents, I realized that in NYC 70% - 80% of the population are not interested in getting an education, I will add that (even among professionals) education is not as important as money, the car they drive and the house they have.
Math tests exams and Science exams are so easy to pass and the majority of the students do not pass them. As a teacher, I am always in meetings with the principal because the Board of education is really concern that we (the country) is so far behind in math and science from the rest of the world (in this category I will include latin america and everybody else).
The Board of education every year is lowering the standards so at least more kids can pass the exams. Even doing this the kids dont pass the exams. For example, to pass the Living Environment regents exam ( that is a stupid equivalent of Biology with Ecology) we need to teach a curriculum that doesnt make any sense ( because it is supposed to be something called Biology that in my country we study in three years) here in the USA it is only taught in one year and in order to pass the exam the student only needs to get 35 points of a 200 points exam. Not even half of the exam. In addition, principals manipulate the numbers of students taking the exam ( sending only the ones that can pass the exam) so they and the school can get more money (MONEY again) for the next year.
And private schools are not good neither. I just want to say one last thing, the education sucks, the administration in the schools doesnt care about the students at all. If you can study somewhere else please do it.
I married a math teacher( he was born in the USA) from my school and we are completely decided in sending our son to Panama to study, as a matter of fact with the money that we make here we will be able to send our son to one of the best schools in Panama where he will learn different languages, and math and science are stressed through all high school.
I still hope that things will get better in the USA, but when I hear news like the one I heard last night, 20 schools in NYC will close because the kids are not passing the exams and are underperforming, I just feel sad for these people.
is was a well spend hour reading this.
Love EU !
Ovi, here you go:
AMERICAN DIET:
-http://www.expatify.com/news/the-worlds-top-10-fattest-countries.html
-http://www.beveragedaily.com/On-your-radar/Alcohol-Regulation/US-obesity-due-to-more-calories-not-less-exercise-Study
-http://www.askmen.com/sports/foodcourt_100/140_eating_well.html
QUALITY OF LIFE:
These results were based on many factors
-http://www.forbes.com/2009/04/27/cities-best-live-lifestyle-real-estate-best-places-to-live_slide_2.html?thisspeed=25000
EDUCATION:
-http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/09/13/national/main838207.shtml
And keep in mind, I live in America, I know the people, I’ve traveled all over here, I go to school with them, and if America is to remain ONE OF the world’s leaders, I fear for the future of this planet…
HOLLYWOOD:
(Opinionated)
Oh and the last time I saw an American (that wasn’t known as an outcast or loser) read a book,,,,, I can’t even remember… And documentaries????? Have you been to an American cinema? Everything is either computer generated or cost 8 trillion dollars to make, or both. But Facebook is great, I’m not saying America is shit, all I (and many others) are saying is that they need to get off their high horses and stop claiming they are the best because 1. There is no “best” (what an American way of viewing things: win or nothing) and 2. If there was, they would NOT be it, no one would.
Hmm, i have too totally agree with the author. (Well I’M European… and very proud)
First of all, Health care in Malta(its a European Nation, search it up please
) is totally absolutely free (the hospital is one of the largest medical buildings in Europe). Going to hospital won’t cost a penny, and while in hospital you can opt to buy a card (just 20 euro) and have access to some 100 channels, telephone and internet.
Secondly, the education is definitely better than the US, with all due respect. Our education is similar to the British (here in Malta) and after primary and secondary school, one can choose one of a number of private or public collages. Public schooling is provided for free (from primary to University, all of it) and students in college and university are *paid* (stipends). Once you get into university, a number of courses will give you around 1,600 euro initially and another 300 monthly. And another point about education, someone (like me) can be in possession of a Master’s Degree in IT by the age of 25 or younger, apart from the fact that the scientific knowledge here in Malta is one of the highest too.
Finally, I want to make a point about entertainment. Well, i know this is controversial, but the Americans are almost all of them rockers. In Europe, the diversity is enormous, but speaking of music, i have to say that the kinds of parties organised in Europe are unmatched in the US. (i.e. the very best DJ’s are almost all European).
anyway as you must have surely noticed I am simply European-ised
and i don’t mean to offend anyone too
@prova
I agree with you. Europe (with exception of England) is more liberal in everything than the USA.
Let me ask you one question: Do they air “Seinfeld” (which got away with R-rated crude humor for being on US network television [NBC]) and “Curb Your Enthusiasm” in Italy?
Just very curious.
@prova
Cause I hear it’s beautiful. And because the USA (which I live in), everything is taken from England, its Protestant history, its law, language, culture. I’m also wondering, was crime high in London in 1989, because I know we had a high crime rate here in New York, the USA in 1989?
@prova
I’m pretty sure they do air it.
hmmm nice conversation going on here.
I’m european and I would consider myself really open to many other cultures and tolerant in different ways of life; however I’m still young, about to graduate from high school. I’ve lived in many european countries, visited almost all of Europe’s capitals and almost every school I went to I’ve had experience with a few classmates from the USA.
What I noticed is that the mentality of people from the united states differs. Usually the people that I’ve met during my life that were from the USA lived in many other countries, therefore were more experienced with other cultures and were rather open to many other views. I have a friend who’s just graduated (he’s american) and went to university in DC, and says that he ”prays” to come back and live in europe. According to him the life in Europe is much more open minded, tolerant, better etc then life in the USA. He says he loves europe and wants to come back cause simply according to him the USA sucks. Many of the other USA kids don’t resemble anything of the typical American stereotype mentality full of ignorance and egocentrism, yet all of them say that Europe is the place to be.
peace
1. European healthcare is free for all including immigrants and tourists and it is of a very high quality.
In the USA healthcare is expensive, many people get turned away from hospitals because they can’t afford it. And evin if you can afford it the quality is terrible anyway.
2.European education is also 100% free and of a very high quality and european students are always years ahead of American students in the same year. Plus EU students can all speak another two languages aswell as their mother tounge.
3. Lots of people in the US “DON’T” have homes to live in! In Europe housing has been free for 100 years if you can’t afford it, how stone aged are the Americans, If you don’t agree follow this link.http://www.worst-city.com/small-photos/Slums-houses-cardboard-boxes-poor-living-conditions-of-Detroit.jpg
4.100% of roads in the EU are paved however in the US there are over 200,000km of unpaved roads.
Money, money, money, what’s the meaning of life here?
Yeah, work yourself off and lost all your cash in some substandart hospital in the US. Large numbers of US citizens come to Asia just to get higher quality of healthcare treatments and surgical operations, don’t they have hospitals in the US?
Im not saying the USA Is not great, I love its movies, Its food, Its inventions, And appreciate its help in the wars also :), But Europe made the USA, If we never found America, You’d still be a bunch of sacrificng loonaticks. Im English and im 15, I cant talk to most my Friends about English history or any other country history either, I think its pathetic they dont even know the “British Empires” Exstent, There own national heratage. For lifestyle id go Europe anyday, But like any country, I cant walk around my area, Without the fear of some kind of thug/Kid (We call em Chavs) Mugging me
, To prove that they are harder then me 
(Which i know there not :))
@ Paul…thats a good point,the number of Americans going to Thailand and the Philippines for medical care is amazing.
To be honest, I think your whole comparison is moot because you’re essentially comparing a continent (Europe) with a country (America)… That’s like comparing Asia with Britian. Obviously a continent is going to have more diversity.
Compare US and UK alone - both countries btw, I’ve been to both places and US, as a country, is definitely more diverse than UK in my opinion.
If you want to compare, why not compare the whole continent of America with Europe? Or even North America alone with Europe - you’ll find they both are equally diverse.
I’ve been living in Canada for the last 5 years and I’m still shocked at how quality of life is low here. These guys simply don’t seem to understand how to enjoy their lives (with the exception to some extent of Quebecois). All my relatives and friends think (based on all that nonsense rankings) that I live in the paradise.hahaha, I’m really ashamed to tell them the truth. The truth that food is so terrible that even after 5 years I can’t get used to it (it’s just bland since , I guess, it’s all modified) and after a couple of years I realized that I eat because I have to, not because I want to. Some people say that in North America you just need to look around for the right stuff. Well, you can buy groceries at Whole Foods where prices are listed per 100 grams (for example, $3.5 per 100 grams of beef!!!). Indeed, groceries there are better than in major chains, but not better than in any supermarket back home (typical mid size city in Eastern Europe) and the choice is MUCH worse. I can’t accept the fact that in order to eat more or less well, you need to spend at least $1500 per month for a family of two (I can’t afford it, as well as millions of other people). It is also depressing when it comes to quality of furniture, clothes,houses, home appliances,virtually everything. I can’t believe my eyes. You go to Sears,Leons (whatever chain) and they sell all this old fashioned furniture. I swear they don’t manufacture something like that in Europe since 70’s or maybe even 60’s. It’s like you went back in time (amazing feeling). Hence most immigrants buy furniture in IKEA (although few of them like IKEA in the first place). I also refuse to buy a shitty house for $600000 (at least) which is actually made of plywood,not bricks as it might look from outside. I don’t care how expensive is the land here in Toronto, it’s just against my principles to pay 600K for low quality housing.
The biggest shock I’ve experienced was moving from urban environment to rural. In Canada everything except Montreal is rural. Even Toronto is one big village (from a european perspective). I didn’t change my mind even after living downtown Toronto. It is MUCH less urban that any average city in Europe.
Also, in general I find Europeans being more straightforward, sometimes on the line of being rude, and genuine whereas Canadians are quite cynical.On numerous occasions I witnessed people hanging out together, smiling, laughing and then saying some nasty stuff on each other behind the back. I still can’t get used to that cynicism, that’s pretty disgusting. I’d rather prefer “rude” Germans. I find Canadians to be more POLITE than Americans, not better. Of course, you can meet good people everywhere, but I haven’t met many here (I mean among born in Canada).
Everything negative said by previous posters about the work environment, universal greed,two weeks of holidays, stupidity,dismal restaurants in the States is also true in Canada
It might be hard for Canadians to admit and I apologize for saying that, but Canada is way behind ANY developed European country in terms of urban development and quality of life in general. Sorry, guys, after I finish my grad school, our ways are drifting away! I tried to be a good citizen, it just didn’t click:-)
P.S. After I saw a ranking of countries with the highest quality of life in The Economist with Canada and the US being ranked higher than most European countries, I just laughed. What a b.s.!
To Droid, you really are a great example of making Americans looks stupid. My question to you all is why must everything be a contest? Yes, Europe has some amazing advantages as does America, yet neither are perfect. What both Europeans and Americans need to do is accept each other for who they are and stop trying to ‘beat’ each other. If not then how will we move forward?
@Sonia, well in many areas, comparing the USA to the Europe is equal because many of these factors to make comparisons can be based on size (which even all of europe included isnt as big as mainland USA), when there are more people, there is more diversity, more people to put towards the gdp, and more resources to use: USA has the bread basket for agriculture, the east coast for industry, woods for wood-related insustries, rivers, lakes and oceans on either side for fishing, etc. which can’t be fairly compared to a country that just didn’t get lucky in resources/ didn’t want to kick out/kill off a whole race of people and steal their land (ehemmm, USA)
@Sonia. And if you find it hard to compare USA to Europe then just compare EU to USA (P.S the EU without Switz and Norway have a higher overall gdp than USA and a much much better economy)
@Sonia
USA is HUGE, thus comparing UK to the US would be totally unfair. If you want to compare UK, try it with Florida etc.
And more people does not mean more diversity, you could have 100 million Americans who think the same while in Europe, you could find another language and culture just by crossing the border such as England and Scotland, they are UK but with totally different language and accent!
If you don’t want to compare both that is fine, but if you want things to get better in the USA you need to compare, because then HOW ARE WE GOING TO GET BETTER OR IMPROVE????
As I said before the Board of Education is always comparing the students results in Math and Science not only with EU but with the rest of the world, just to find out that WE ARE WAY BEHIND. So if you want to stay behind keep thinking (Oh we need to accept each other……) No that is not the answer, that is a very Poetic and subjective way of thinking and it also removes our responsibility in this world and as human beings. Something has to be done, corrections at all levels have to be done and if EU is doing something good (I and everybody else must be willing to learn from them) that is the whole point why presidents of different countries get together and discuss world economy, world peace etc. so they can help each other.
We are not an island we need to seek for help and change.
@Sonia
If you don’t want to compare both that is fine, but if you want things to get better in the USA you need to compare, because then HOW ARE WE GOING TO GET BETTER OR IMPROVE????
As I said before the Board of Education is always comparing the students results in Math and Science not only with EU but with the rest of the world, just to find out that WE ARE WAY BEHIND. So if you want to stay behind keep thinking (Oh we need to accept each other……) No that is not the answer, that is a very Poetic and subjective way of thinking and it also removes our responsibility in this world and as human beings. Something has to be done, corrections at all levels have to be done and if EU is doing something good (I and everybody else must be willing to learn from them) that is the whole point why presidents of different countries get together and discuss world economy, world peace etc. so they can help each other.
We are not an island we need to seek for help and change.
As an Asian political and economic analyst, I could say that Europe is floating way higher than America does. In Europe, I’ve noticed and studied their land of politics as if as quiet as a deep river while in America, it’s freaking stained with dirt and trouble.
When we talk about attitude and culture, America turns down again. I think it’s because of their sex mentality and pig-like flexibility brought it lower. I can actually say that because I’ve been with American college for 11 years. I saw how they act and how racist they are when it comes to racial talk. They often discriminate people who belong in India, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Philippines.
About education, well, America was placed on top, perhaps it’s because of the quality of the universities and standards or education, but still, the first geniuses were pranged from Europe.
Places and surroundings. In america, you will just see high buildings, restaurant, hotels, bank etc which is naturally common and even people from mountains could easily recognized. Unlike in Europe where land of romance and historical landmarks were located. They had the highly different essence when it comes to that. Europe for me, is the birthplace of romance!
And when we talk about currency, most people all over the world tend to find job in Europe because of their higher money rates. Again, in Economic talks, Europe still excel.
Conclusion : Overall, Europe indeed is way much better than America.
this report is so bias, infact most of the stuff aint true. Europeans= racists America= cultural diffusion
We Americans have more advance technology then Europe.
We Americans provide more opportunities in education
We Americans are the Best
THIS ARTICLES WERE MADE BY RETARDS
@Nathan 02 Apr 2009
Welfare State of socialism? Meh this is pathetic!!! Ever opened a book to find out what socialism means? Where you’ve seen socialism in Europe? Big government to think for us? What exactly you are describing? Are you drunk? Isn’t the USA the biggest police state in the planet? Isn’t US an obsessed for law and security consuming mass?
The fact that there is bigger welfare state in Europe means that we simply have more social attitude. If you study European culture and history you will understand more but with attitudes like yours I am glad that you are off to the US where you can plan your independent materialistic lifestyle without even thinking about those who sleep out in the streets, those who die because they cannot even grant the basic health welfare. Ever tried to identify the root of the word idiot? It is a Greek word (idiotis=a very selfish person that cares only for his personal life ignoring if even others die)!
In Germany!!! Ever tried France? Spain, Sweden, Greece, UK? Doubtful?
Back to the basic question? Is the European lifestyle better than the American? Definitely I would go for Europe as I agree with the article. The US society is very materialistic and that has to do with the media of course. It is really hard to outline the whole American society in just a comment but the main problem is that most of the Americans are very reluctant to fight for changes and they seem to be trapped in the “work, buy, consume, enjoy” neo-conformist lifestyle.
Thanks for the informative posts guys, have been following your blog for the past several months while trying to lose weight for my wedding on the Cambridge diet and it’s going really well. I’ve lost about 20 pounds in the past couple of months and this website has really inspired me to keep trying. Great job.
Hello everyone, I am not sure how active the string is, but here goes. I am very surprised at the lack of concrete literature on this subject. Everything compares poverty rates based on income levels, with a few mentioning hunger rates. I just moved to Austria and cannot get over how superior it is to life in the states. Certainly, American’s negative attitudes towards socialism in Europe (esp. Healthcare right now) is related to the deep level of denial about equal levels of socialism that exist in the USA. I believe that this denial prevents Americans from experiencing the positive aspects while taking on all of the negative ones (big governments with high costs). It is the positive aspects that set Europe apart. It is these that I am working hard to find real literature about. Has anyone seen Winter Bones, the recent movie set in the Ozarks? I grew up in that area and it is dead on. People are living in America in absolute squalor. There are places where you should be afraid to go. In Europe, I have traveled extensively and have yet to find one of these places. People take pride in their homes and their property. They all have the means to do so. It makes life better for everyone. The trains are clean and pleasant. There are so many nice parks, it blows the mind. The public swimming pools are off the chart and in almost every village. There is no doubt that the bottom 20% of the socioeconomic demographic in Europe live better than the bottom 20% in the USA. I just cannot find a study with hard numbers. Any help out there? The money and individualism that Americans take such pride in is exactly what is ruining an otherwise great country. The Plutocrats have played a good game and got the populace to bite on the Horatio complex hook, line, and sinker.
Hello everybody, I was born in the U.S. but raised in Nicaragua (a third wold country which I hate, since my house was robbed less then two months ago, my dad was stabbed twice and I got hit in the head with something sharp, and yesterday my dad and I got robbed, he lost his Blackberry and I, my iTouch, but that’s not the matter here) although travel to the U.S. a lot. When I was younger (I turned fifteen 9 days ago) I believed the U.S. was godly, (of course, it is in most aspects when compared to Nicaragua), but nowadays, after being a whole month in Hannover, Germany, taking part on a German Nicaraguan School-Region Hannover Exchange, I must say I definitely prefer Europe. It was so nice, the first day, after meeting my Gastschwester, (I believe there’s not term for this in English, let’s just call it host sister) we went to a restaurant in the town, and I was amazed by how healthy they eat and how they do not waste any food, even at McDonald’s the cups are recycled.
Families are much more united, we ate supper every day at 8 together, we discussed our days and had some fun.
I cannot comment much on education as I do not know the U.S. system, but the people I’ve met, especially online, are simply said, stupid. Trying to explain to one of them that Germany was not filled with Nazis was comparable to explaining an ant why the sky is blue. I play CoD: Black Ops, if you also, you know you can have an emblem, I’ve met both young and adult people who have a Hakenkreuz (Nazi version of the Swastika, with red, black and white) and think it’s hilarious.
I could keep on writing about other subjects, but I gather this is enough.
PS: I can’t wait to go back to Germany on June next year, as I won a prize from the German Goverment for my grades in german. Hopefully I’ll visit the girl who hosted me and whom I will hopefully host on April next year.
And in two years I’ll hopefully be studying Airspace Engineering at the TFH Wildau.
Thanks for reading.
In the U.S., we are smart in technology. We are unknowingly cruel to animals, and the other countries in the world though. We seem to care for ourselves…(which isnt THAT bad) but as for the animals… it is harsh
AMERICANS= a nation of wretched yes-men AND yes-women - and a dump!
Dentists and high-pressure showers are great, though.
I find it amazing how many people look down on Americans because of the American government. heck, even Americans themselves don’t like their own government.
On the other hand, I don’t see Americans looking down on Europeans. They are fascinated with their culture and cities. Whatsup with all the hate?
Hi. Let me begin with short talk introduction of myself: I am from Prague, actually living in Scotland. I visited many places all over Europe in all directions (unfortunately I did not travel further north than Ukraine), lived in Catalunya and Berlin for a while. I have never been to USA myself, but my girlfriend is from California, borned in Florida, and I have some friends in Pensylvania and Baltimore. Therefore I compare things I have heard from them about USA with my experiences from Europe.
I can see many different things I could compare:
EDUCATION:
Statistics shows (as well as all my friends say) that USA totally sucks in primary education, universities are usually on the same level like in EU, but much more expensive for students (tuition fees, accessibility of scholarships and bursaries).
BUT there are differences within Europe as well, for example here in UK education seems to be on lower level than for example in Czechia, Germany or in northern states. With the White book of higher education slowly approaching to many countries we are going to pay for schools, education will be more dependent on business and so on. In other words soon we will be there where USA is now and it makes me only sad… Last example is England - tuition fees raised to up to £9000, even when some “social brakes” applied like conditions of paying back. Here in Scotland I get £400 a month bursary for being a student, have at least 90% attendance and passing exams, which are for now pretty easy for me, as Czech education I consider much harder…
WAY OF LIFE:
American dream is probably still much more American thing. Quoted from above, Europeans work for living, Americans live for working. In other words for Americans are in general money much more important than for Europeans. I think it is because of internal values within people here and external values in people in the US. Also I think in US people are more obsessed with things what are not only more expensive, but also better, faster, bigger… not only to show off, but for personal satisfaction as well (again, different values).
BUT through export in culture, we can see around here more people who care more and more about money only on the first place. Values are changing and less people choose books rather than listening to new American pop-stars and so on.
RELIGIOUS THINKING:
Americans are much much much more spiritual (believe in some higher power) than Europeans. In certain countries religion still plays an important role (Poland, Ireland, Italy, Greece, Portugal, Ukraine, Serbia, Bulgaria…), but most of the people here don’t give a damn about what churches say. In US there is apparently more believers in southern states, but even northern American states you cannot compare with eg. Estonia or Czech republic which are mostly atheistic. My guess is that power of religions in Europe will be lower and lower, in US will be stable.
POLITICAL THINKING:
Europeans are more international, more aware of differences in between nations and elsewhere in the world. For our grannies war was the very real experience and majority of people do not want it any more and therefore look for peaceful solutions.
Also, people in west of EU know better that they need to fight for their rights. Here is tradition of labour unions and strikes what somehow disappeared from US (thank you IWW Chicago for 8-hours shifts!). In the east of Europe there is raw capitalism after 89′, hand by hand politicians and businessmen steal what their ancestors didn’t manage in 20 years before… Well, in west it is actually very similar (Cameron’s privatisation of UK bigger than Thatcher could even dream of), but with exemption of Berlusconi in Italy they are not as cheeky as they are in the east.
Also, Europe has some tradition of social state, again different in west+south and east and north. Sweden and Finland are still the most socialist states in EU and everybodu would love to live there. East does not have tradition, but there are still people who can compare Bolshevik version of real socialism with new era of capitalism and want to preserve the good things from the old era. West has tradition of unions.
In general political thinking here is much different, accenting more issues than in US (well, EU is still in progress as institution, federal government is not voted for and so on). In most of the countries are socialists (social democrats) powerful party, these could be seen in US as left extremists, but not here.Some countries has still powerful communist parties (and we have two communists-run states: Belarus and Moldavia).
BUT political thinking here tends to be more right wing and more authoritarian due to massive media massage of people and changing values of people towards money-like individualistic attitudes:-( In both Europe and USA politicians are closely connected to capitalists and work for elites, not for people, and everybody hates them. Same sh*t.
LANDSCAPES AND ENVIRONMENT
Both continents have a great deal of nature, but America rules here as they have deserts as well. In Europe is a loads of historical architecture what USA does not have, and seems to be protecting these unique heritage.
BUT unfortunately here we build skyscrapers and gentrification of the cities is popular amongst many councils as it is opportunity for mayors and officers to make money… Still, I guess here is better public transportation network and more green projects. In western Europe the way of life bit changed and it is more common to travel by car every day to work instead of having a local job.
CULTURE
I would lie if I wouldn’t say that culture here is not influenced by Hollywood and American pop-culture. You can find less and less folklore in these times, but there are traditions that do not disappear so quickly and are still popular (celebrating Easters, October Fest and so on). Still, each country has its own unique way of celebrating, having fun.
LANGUAGES
In USA there is only one language and majority of Americans cannot be bothered learning another language (unless they have many Spanish-speaking friends or just are interested). In Europe almost everybody from young generation speak English as it is taught in primary school, and usually they speak another for them foreign languages. In places it is necessity (eg. in Belgium you kind of have to speak English, French and Dutch, In Catalunya at least Catalan and Spanish and so on). Btw. French people don’t like to speak English as they think French should be superior:-D It makes Europeans more developed in thinking as every language has its unique way how to understand things…
CUISINE
I think there are differences in local stereotypes of cooking in America, but it is still less various than in Europe as almost every state differs quite dramatically from each other.
BUT fast foods are more and more popular than restaurants and therefore you can see also differences like people in Glasgow like fish and chips and vinegar while in Edinburgh fish and chips and brown sauce… But I think you can still see haggis over here as unique dish and when you talk about bread or dumplings, people here imagine different thing than people in Poland.
ATTITUDE
There are many jokes about attitude of different nationalities in Europe. In USA you can also notice that people from Texas will have a bit different attitude than those from California. I think in general people from USA are more friendly, but also let you down more quickly (you can understand that like more superficial). In this case I would say British people are different than the rest of Europe, having closer to Americans. In continent people either have more distance (north and west), but they are still helpful, or they are behaving like beasts to each other (east), but their friendships mean something to them, or they are warm, friendly, but sometimes over-temperamental (south). Also I would say that people on continent are more direct, say what they think to your face whether you like it or not. Depends on level on politeness (more in west, and north, less in east and south).
ECONOMY AND NATURAL RESOURCES, PRODUCTIVITY OF WORK ETC.
I don’t want to compare this as I think it isn’t really cheerful topic. Anyway we both can blame bankers and corporations for our misery. The only thing I consider interesting to say is that in USA you have usually 2 weeks paid vacations, here is usually 4 weeks, if you work in Scottish NHS for 30 years you will get 14 weeks paid holidays…
HEALTH
In USA there are the best hospitals in the world by both equipment and staff. There is also loads of money in it. Everybody will receive emergency treatment everywhere, but for most of the things you have to either pay or have the right insurance. Problem is to get one as it can either be too expensive or insurance company will not give it to you because of some pre-conditions you might have.
In most of Europe there is a universal health care. In EU there is an obligation for every citizen to be insured in at least one member countries. In most countries there is just public insurance (like National Insurance here in UK) that your employer takes automatically out of your wages - how much you pay depends of how much you earn. Or you pay it by yourself if you are self-employed. In many countries you have also private option - money you earn are given to private insurance company by your choice. Hospitals here might be older than those in USA, but I would say here is about the same level of quality of treatment. Though the most difficult operations are usually performed in USA as there are the best specialists (they take much better money there). In eastern Europe problem is not in level of quality of treatment, but in low numbers of staff, therefore there is a lots of space for corruption and “family-related doctors” giving treatment to relatives first. Waiting time there might be really long.
SOCIAL SECURITY
All countries in Europe maintain some level of social welfare state. Though with political turn towards right in many countries many services are being cut nowadays. Still, most of the countries run state pensions (yet nobody hopes to receive them in twenty years as money there were in many countries used to bailout banks) with some cooperation with private schemes. I do not have idea if there is public option for people in USA. When you leave the job or being sacked in every country is some jobseekers welfare and many other benefits to support children, families in troubles and so on. Generally speaking (not only) because of social security network the number of homeless people in USA is far higher than in Europe. I think in some states of USA there are something like “food cheques” or forced work. Maternal leave to one parent differs country to country from 3 months to 4 years (we are “dying out” out here, so that’s a good reason why to support births of more children) with secured place at job after end of maternity leave. In USA it is much lower and usually unpaid. Thanks to trade unions workers cannot be sacked for redundancy unless agreed with unions. It maybe makes market less flexible, but it secures employment and income of families. And of course nobody can be sacked for striking as it is in every country’s constitution in Europe, but I think it is in the US one, too…
GENERALLY
You can find good and bad (stupid/clever, interesting/boring, fat/slim, conservative/liberal, racist/tolerant…) people everywhere. Stereotype does not mean that every person is this or that. I also think that it matters much more who are your friends and how are your relationship, what’s your job like, if you like it, if your needs are met, what are your values and so on, than what country you live in.
But if you want to hear it - for myself I prefer Europe:-)
All im going to say is that I studied in Boston for a semester and nt only was it a daylight robbery but I honestly felt that I was becoming more stupid being there. I mean the people are FUCKING IGNORANT!!!!
Thank you for the information. I enjoyed reading the last post.
I find life more comfortable in the US in terms of ammenities and the huge choice of merchandise available (clothes, products, etc.), but more difficult in terms of quality of life, which I find is not a high priority here.
America is a country to live in if you want a nearly unlimited choice of options in terms of work. If you are willing to defer enjoyment of daily life for the pursuit of goals (career, financial, etc), the world is your oyster here. In that respect the US is certainly the land of opportunity. You have to be willing to work very hard; you really have to have a workaholic mentality and a strong focus on future goals.
If you are used to European life that can be difficult, because life can be a bit mercenary and lacking in daily pleasures of beauty, nature (living in a city like New York that is), and “savoir vivre”. Yes people are sophisticated in New York, but it’s very fast paced, and I miss the “vie douce” of French life, or the more balanced life in the UK.
It is definitely all about work here, and taking pride in how exhausted from you are from your non-stop daily activities. You can’t really do much else here, unless you’re very wealthy, because having a life here is demanding. What you get for your money is often not enough to have a pleasant life.
I feel the market rules here as does commercialism. I had an image the other day in my mind of Americans attached to pods feeding their energy into a huge corporate/market host. The system supports working and buying, ad infinitum.
All the same, there is a spirit in America which is wonderful if you can tap into it; a spirit of enterprise, optimism, adventure, and a never say die positive outlook and determination. That is part of the mystique of America that makes it a great country. However, I find some of that has been suffocated by corporate interests.
Europe is more here and now, the US future oriented. When I’m in the US I feel I have to get somewhere. When I’m in Europe, I feel I’m already there. Europe seems to agree with me more, whereas I come back from a year in the US exhausted usually.
I am American and have lived here my entire life. I would first like to say for many of the Europeans stating that American thinking is selfish and the media is biased… I agree. Depicted by many of the post here Americans can be narrow minded, cocky, and biased. Our media is atrocious; it is biased, filled with sensationalism, and worst of all disturbingly concentrated on America itself. I agree with all this; however, for the Europeans out there I beg you to realize that not ever American is like this. Not every individual meets these characteristics. For the most part Americans are nice people, I sure as hell don’t have an attitude. Therefore, it pains me to see some one saying “I dislike Americans because of their attitude”. I simply ask judge a person on that individual person, not their government, media, or whatever else. I am 18 years old and plan on traveling the world. It sucks to know that when I meet people they have the preconception that I am a dick, simply because I am American.
…. Apologize if it’s random only read the beginning.
The fact that you have to display your clearly biased “hatred” for another country is enough of a reason for anyone to hate you. What a sad life you must live, get off your high horse and come live with the rest of society.
I’m an American who has lived in Asia for over eight years and England for one year. I’ve recently moved back the US and am hating it. This country’s “culture” is devoid of knowledge of how to enjoy life. As many above have stated, the main focus is upon fattening one’s wallet, and survival. This is a country based upon conservative, individualistic religious Christian ideals - the straight and narrow path to making and saving money is the only path to “freedom”. Every individual for himself or herself, watch your back, have faith, and compete, compete, compete. There’s nothing beautiful about it. It’s a “sin” to enjoy beauty, it seems.
You are all my children! Don’t fight! I made you every one different and everyone special… And you are all here to respect each other and learn from each other. Don’t forget from where you’re all becoming… In next life maby you Americans will be your opponent European or African or Japanese or Tonga or Sao Tome in Principe, or Turkmenistan or Russian, and the same opposite…
I found this post while doing a little research on working in Europe. I do so love europe! So many countries, most with fabulous public transit, cafés and irish pubs a plenty, and, if none of those are available…there is always Starbucks ;).
It’s important to look outside your own country, which unfortunately many Americans do not, as it’s not really a priority in our culture due to many of the reasons stated above. But we know this, we’ve known it for awhile. I originally read the article and thought of it as an attack, but it isn’t really. It’s just a bunch of broad statements by one person, and I think the reason I take a bit of an issue with it is because we are ACTUALLY DECENT PEOPLE….most of us ;).
There are many people in this thread confirming and denying things all over the place, but I feel like the post that started all this is so inflammatory because it draws a broad mark on a nation with over 300 million people, most, from all over the world.
As in Europe, we have wonderful people here, and people who are not so wonderful. We have great food, and fast food. We have people who are fat, and people who are thin. We have some titans of industry (GE, Google, Facebook, WORDPRESS, which your site uses, Apple, Microsoft, Adobe, Ford, Boeing, NASA, Coors, Budweiser, Lockheed, Starbucks, Procter & Gamble, Intel), weather the world is better having some of those companies is one thing, but you can certainly say that we don’t sit still.
Where are the cons of living in Europe? One thing we seem to be missing here is issues the EU is facing, with a public debt nearly rivaling that of the United States (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_external_debt), a few issues with the socialist model, your own healthcare and education concerns, high taxation, energy costs, religious pressure and division, your own currency and economic issues (bailing out Greece, and trying to keep the Euro from devaluing like crazy and find a way to make countries accountable for their own economic issues), and also dealing with China.
The funny thing about the post above is that most of it is a matter of opinion and perspective. I am surprised at how many people took this directly to heart. But not that surprised, as I think if you wrote something like France Vs. Germany and used this kind of broad language I bet you’d have quite a turnout too.
I’m going to do an example of one such post using ONE of the European countries:
FRANCE:
NEWS AND MEDIA:
French film is generally boring, not sensationalized enough, and the special effects pale severely in comparison to almost anything Pixar has produced. Who are the Michael Bay and James Cameron in France?
LANGUAGE:
French people are irritated that you don’t speak french, and if you try, they get even more irritated, and will slap you. This means that if you go into any hospital in france, and no matter how injured you are, you will get slapped. All French people are mean spirited to outsiders, irritated and slap-happy.
EDUCATION:
People rural areas of France do not speak any other language other than French. This means that the french school systems are inferior to that of the Dutch school systems, who’s students can speak 4 languages and also smoke marijuana. French universities, due to their administrative structure, are fraught with red tape. It’s impossible to get anything done, and thousands of hours are wasted every year on people doing NOTHING who should be DOING THEIR JOBS. The educational system of South Korea is vastly superior to the French system.
DIVERSITY:
French people hate diversity, and they all want you to speak French. They believe that if you do not speak French, and choose to visit France, then you are a daft idiot.
HEALTHCARE:
I watched SICKO, from the looks of it, the French healthcare system seems absolutely wonderful. I have never experienced it, but it sounds great. The french healthcare system is free of any understaffing, supply, quality problems, technological deficiencies, funding or logistical issues.
CULTURE:
France has the Louvré, a monstrosity of a museum containing artifacts the french monarchy stole from nations around the world. French food is all….pretty much French. The typical diet consists of tepid water, cold fries, and a room temperature chicken leg. All french meals are this way.
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See? Broad, sweeping statements, and a very, very tiny part of it true, and based on a handful of negative experiences. The economic stuff though, that shit is real. We’re with you though. Debt is a bitch!
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I love Europe, and for the most part, the USA too. Maybe I’ll be able to move and spend a little more time in Nice with my 4 week vacation. In the meantime, I’m going to go get a burrito at 2pm. Just try to do that in Paris!
I have to agree with this, my only dealings with the USA for many years were via the media and American companies like most people and I think Europeans have grown tired of the constant assault on our culture, sorry to say, everything American is about “dumbing down” and we are largely resisting it.
Hollywood for example is going bust, blaming a variety of things but itself, and I think it is a great example of where American industry is going in general. The reality is, it has grown tiresome, largely ranging from un-intelligent to downright ignorant, until it realises that it has to entertain the world not just one nation then the slide will continue.
The US car industry is going through the same pain, and will end up like the UK’s car industry, same story, arrogance and blaming everything and everybody except the essential truth, they make crap products.
Since moving to China to work, I have had many more dealings with Americans and my opinion has simply hit rock bottom, suffice to say, the USA, like the British Empire before it, is in decline and only has itself to blame. I can tell you this, the US has been reliant on immigrant brainpower for years and that is the problem, they are coming here not going there, the immigration figures speak for themselves. My wife recently went to the US on business and was interrogated on her arrival, a story I hear a lot, she is unlikely to return unless totally necessary.
US citizens can’t all be bad but one look at You Tube would convince you otherwise. I am actually pleased that the lie of the UK-US “special relationship” is finally coming to an end, the truth is that a strong Europe is absolutely necessary to counter catastrophic US foreign policy and also to counter failed US style Capitalism, two major world recessions in 100 years is enough to convince that you don’t know what you are doing. European Capitalism has a sprinkling of socialism, not perfected yet by any means, but it will get there, and it explains the major difference between the continents.
Hi. I’m a 36yo. Spanish man, I’ve lived most of life in Europe, mostly in Madrid, Spain, but also in London and Berlin. I’ve been, unfortunately, only a couple times in the US, specifically in Florida (for leisure) and NY/NJ (as an engineer for a couple months). I really love to travel, I really love people and I find many positive things in America and in Europe. Also many negative things in both places.
Interestingly, positive and negative things tend to be complementary: many American problems are already solved in Europe, and many European problems are already solved in America.
A 5-minutes improvement for America? Probably the first thing I’d do is to, totally, absolutely, ban any firearm. I’d use all American hi-tech to take out every gun from the streets. No exceptions. Yes, the fourth ammendment blah blah blah, but if you ban cigarrettes (a dictatorial measure, everybody should be free to smoke) I can’t see why you can’t ban firearms. Just to try. I’m confident that just by taking this measure your parks, cities and beaches will have the people interaction that most Americans miss. Stop blaming Alcohol and teens, our teens here drink many many times more than the equivalent US teen (it’s legal to drink Alcohol at 16 in many European countries). Our teens also consume more recreational drugs in Europe: In any big city you can see teens smoking pot / taking pills / etc… But by taking the guns out of the equation, the biggest risk you have is to be kicked or punched.
How would I change Europe? Bureoucracy… endlesss… it has to end. Entrepeneurship, we need to copy American model. Universities, definitely we could learn a thing or two about places like Harvard or Stanford, while it’s true the no-Ivy league universities could learn a thing or two about our mainstream university system.
I think Europe and America have a great responsibility. We should make the world work. In the 21st-online century, we could certainly do things much better. Both nations should be the mirror where the rest of civilizations look at, to get inspiration for a better world.
We’re pretty far from that. America invade countries, sell weapons, etc … yes they do, but Europe is cinically silent, only opposing to it “in the photographs”. Europe is as guilty as America. Our countries here also sell all kind of weapons to developing countries. We do have nuclear bombs. “Evil American Corporations” have their cousins at the other side of the Atlantic doing exactly the same. We demand and buy as much cocaine from Colombia, Mexico, etc… as the USA, and after we blame these countries.
Excuse my pathethic english.
Here is my response to what Aby stated in 2007, but first let me present some hard facts about the USA that most Europeans will not agree with:
1. The USA is an autonomous sovereign and Europe is not. Europe is a continent. When comparing autonomous sovereign to autonomous sovereign then please do so. Compare the USA to Spain or the UK but not autonomous sovereign to continent. It would have been more appropriate to compare North America to Europe.
2. The USA is not the best country in the world. No country is and real Americans know this. The USA is not the world policeman and real Americans also know this too.
3. There are a lot of Americans that are just as intelligent as Europeans and Asians but you do not see or hear about them. American and international journalism (radio, newspapers, magazines, internet, and television) does not portray or has not portrayed Americans accurately in the last 50 years. I do not think they ever will. Europeans and Asians would have to live and travel to many parts in the USA for at least 20 years to get a proper perspective of the USA. One to eight years is not enough. Getting back to Americans, there are a lot of Americans who are very smart and very worldly. It is just that for most people outside the USA you will never hear, read, see, or meet them. It is such a shame. There is a lot of the USA that Europeans, Asians, Africans, South Americans, and rest of North America do not know about. It is worth exploring and in the end you will see a lot of beautiful things not just in the landscape but in the people as well.
3. There are Americans that are loud, rude, abrasive, ignorant, stupid, condescending, and egotistical but that is a small percentage of the American population. This is what the press and entertainment displays to the world. The same can be said for Europe and Asia.
4. Europeans countries are just as xenophobic as the USA is. There is nothing wrong with that. All countries have the moral and legal right to control their borders. This is not prejudice and all countries have the right to preserve their cultures, languages, way of life, etc. Just look at Japan.
5. The majority of US Citizens are descended from Europe, Asia, and Africa. So they can trace their ancestry thousands of years too just like the Europeans, Asians, and Africans can.
6. The American patriotism is not mindless and there is simply nothing wrong with putting American flags on every house. If I went to Europe and Asia and saw national flags sticking out of their homes, I would not think it is mindless. A lot of patriotic Americans do criticize their own government, religion, private sector, and culture when it is necessary. A lot of Americans do know that North America was stolen by their European ancestors but there is nothing they can do to change history. They can only learn from the past, remember it, and move forward for the better.
7. The USA is made up of 56 political divisions and began as an autonomous sovereign on 4 March 1789. Real Americans know this.
8. The USA is a heterogeneous nation and European nations are homogeneous nations. The European nations are not untied into one autonomous sovereign and do not have a single political voice.
Now is my 2011 response to Aby’s comment:
Healthcare – The American healthcare is broken but to fix it by socializing it is not the answer. What is needed is proper and realistic regulation that reduces costs, bureaucracies, delays, fraud, waste, and abuse. Hospitals do not deny poor patients and there is Medicare for the poor. Middle-income people do work and can afford their own health insurances.
Diversity – There is plenty of diversity in the United States. Unfortunately, there is no uniform and homogeneous culture to an outsider or even an insider. The closest that the Americans have to a uniform and homogeneous culture is in the US Military. There is no civilian equivalent. The culture is not the same. Americans think very differently from coast to coast and practice many different life styles throughout the whole country. People in Chicago, San Francisco, LA, New York City, or Denver do not live or think the same way. Even within in their own cities and small towns, they do not live or think the same way. There are many kinds of European, Asian, African, Caribbean, South American, and fusion foods throughout the USA. While there are many similarities in both New Jersey and Virginia, there are plenty of differences between both states in life styles and in geography. About languages, every country should have one official language for practical reasons such as domestic commerce and government. They should not be de facto languages like in the UK and USA. Anyway, there are a lot of Americans that do speak more than one language but not as much as the Europeans do. This is one area that Europeans do win over Americans in. However, the USA is a very large nation and cannot afford to have three or four official languages like Switzerland, which is very small. It is just not practical. Europe does have its fair share of differences in street crimes.
Education - The quality of public education in United States varies from city to city, county to county, and state to state. In general, poor neighborhoods have a lower quality of education as compared to middle-income and rich neighborhoods. But there are a lot of American high school students that are aware of world history and politics, have mathematical and scientific skills, and possess reasoning and judgment capabilities just as much as their European counterparts do. There is a problem in financing students for post-secondary education but it varies from state to state. Improvements should definitely be made for reducing costs in this area. However, government sponsored schools (college and university) are a lot cheaper than private schools and also provide very good to high quality education.
Media and News – As mentioned before American and international journalism (radio, newspapers, magazines, internet, and television) does not portray or has not portrayed Americans accurately in the last 50 years. It is very anti-American. However, Americans do have access to British, German, Italian, and French news (mostly text, public TV, and public radio) not to mention the internet. There is simply no American point of view to suit ‘Americanised’ tastes because it is simply anti-American. Yes, American news tends to present biased opinions rather than facts. But Americans are also seeing this in European news as well. The media in United States does not exclude the rest of the world and it does not consider it an amusement park. However, the American and international news paints the USA as an amusement park or an evil place to live. As for sex and sexuality, it is shown for what it really is which is not always glamorous.
I don’t even know how I stopped up here, but I believed this put up was once good. I do not recognize who you are but definitely you’re going to a famous blogger if you are not already
Cheers!
The United States of America have more sex maniac compared to Europe. This is one of the most obvious difference between the Americans and Europeans. No offend, just pure facts.
Glad to know there is a rel American who knows better. I thought USA was full of unreal Americans like Homer Simpson. Silly me!
+1 Europe
I am lebanese and live in the Us since 1990. My wife is Chines and lived in Europe for a long time. So, we kinda spend a lot of time between all these countries and have friends that we host frequently. We always discuss where is better to live. I think if I have to chose a place, it would be Florida. Nice weather, very low crime rate, healthcare is descent, we don’t eat out a lot since most restaurants serve canned food heated in microwaves. We are both highly edcuated and have no kids, so we dont care if education sucks. I wish our politicians can learn abstinence. I mean abstinence from making the defense buget bigger and bigger every year. The money we spent in Iraq and Afghanistan would suffice to send every high school grad to any 4 years college of their chosing. Imagine what we could have achieved by that now.
we think that by hanging Saddam we resolved the terrorism issue but in the mean time what do you think those thousands of fatherless boys in Iraq think of America? by going to Iraq, America created it’s own long term enemy.
I agree and disagree. I think many of the Americans’ faults cited here can be easily found in other countries. BTW, hospitals ARE required to provide medical care. End of story! So that claim in the original post is just false. You see, I guess the US media isn’t the only biased apparatus out there. I wish people were more open to dialogue rather than screaming at the top of their lungs, “We’re Better!” Sadly, the few people on this forum who seem open to dialogue are ignored. If you’re so convinced that the EU is better, then why bother coming up here? Objectively, more Europeans seem to come up here to bash the US rather than the other way around.
As an American who speaks two languages fluently and admires the positive contributions of all countries, I think anti-American Europeans need to just stay home because their attitude is not healthy. Yes, the United States has its problems, education and healthcare being among them. Nonetheless, many countries in Europe, such as Spain, Greece and Italy, scored lower than their American counterparts on the PISA study. Yes, wikipedia does wonders
So before Spaniards start to claim that they’re more culturally advanced due to their educational system, mmmmmm, think again 
I even spent time in Amsterdam and was called a yank by a cocaine-snorting Irishman. Who’s the savage there? My goodness, I think people everywhere are pretty stupid to be honest with you. Americans don’t have a monopoly on that one.
Take care everyone.
So then,
I am European and feel every bit like it(I’m Greek born and raised) but I do like being objective in my criticisms.
America is a better place for a power hungry man, somebody like the Governator for instance, who’s ready to tread over his opponent’s dead bodies, with no regard for society whatsoever to achieve their goals. If somebody tries to argue against that then, excuse me, but you’re a damn fool. Yes, this system provides the means for such men, and women, to realise their dreams in ways that cannot be possible in most, if not all, European countries. There’s pros and cons to that. Many times in my lifetime I wished that I could rise above the rest of society and use my superior intellect to impose my will upon the lesser people. Because let us not fool ourselves in an effort to be humane. Most people are fucking stupid or at least ignorant today. Less so in certain parts of the world than in others admittedly, but still that’s pretty much the bigger picture globally. That’s because we’re human and that’s how we are. Most human beings are content with digesting regurgitated beliefs, principles, opinions and then presenting them like their own. Like Americans, and the “Greatest nation on Earth” slogan which of course is utter and total bullshit. I really can’t believe you people still buy that and really expect the rest of us to fall for it, too. You got the biggest economy on the Earth and that’s it. And, mark my works, that won’t be the case for much longer either.
But we in Europe have managed or are trying to manage something that has never happened before in human history. To take a collection of ethnic states, that have mostly spent the past 2 millennia at each other’s throats, and attempt to merge them into a single entity which shares common principles and ideas rather than ethnic ties is, or was, unthinkable so far in human history! Sure there were multiethnic empires in the past but there always was a ruling ethnicity and the rest were “subjects”.
Now, most of you Americans, will protest that’s exactly what you did over 200 years ago. Well that is not the case. You just created a White Man’s Union where the only common principle tying you together is: “Let’s get richer than the other guy, or die trying!”. And spare me the bullshit about American democracy. If you want to know the true face of American democracy just ask an “African-American”, old enough to have been around during the 60’s. They’ll tell you all about freedom and democracy in ways you never wanted to know. Or if you want to go even further back maybe you could, theoretically, ask the Italian and Greek immigrants of the mid to late 19th century and early 20th about the warm welcoming they received when they first arrived to the “Land of the Free”.
All that made you great, is that you were lucky enough to leave the congested and overly competitive environment of the European metropolis and start anew on a virgin continent full of wealth and the only competition coming from guys who still lived in tents and thought that living spirits resided within the forests and rivers. And of course it was your European heritage that gave you the tools to carve that “great” nation of yours out of the lands you grabbed. Let’s not forget that.
Today, I mostly view America as the spoiled brat offspring of Europe. It is a young thing in it’s prime and now it thinks it can boss around the elders. Well we know how these stories usually end and 1000 bucks that I don’t currently have says that’s the way this one will end,too. The brat will be finally beaten into submission and will eventually find realize it’s place in the world.
I know most Americans will laugh at this, but that is only because they’re young and naive as a nation. You’ve been sole superpower for what? The last 30 years now? And, ok, you’ve been a leading contender for at least the last 70. You Americans, probably figure that’s a lifetime but you’d be excused to believe that since your “ancient” history goes back to 250 years. Gee, here in Europe we call that “old news” not history. And that’s what you cannot realise. You are indeed young, reckless and stupid with an emphasis on stupid.
And unfortunately, for your guys, other older and wiser cultures are once again on the rise. Cultures that had been dominant on the world stage for millennia way back when America wasn’t even on the map. They rise, slowly but steadily and you’d better start behaving yourselves or when they finally take over they might just send you to your room without dinner first and leave you there grounded for centuries! I couldn’t care less but as stated above, I am European, and I view Americans as bratty descendants. Essentialy, those relatives you never want around your house, but are still relatives. So, I’d rather you pulled your head out of your anuses before somebody has to get hurt.
That being said, I won’t make the mistake of attributing all the rights and wrongs about America to all Americans indiscriminately. We’re all human being after all, one and the same. So, there’s nothing wrong with American people. Just their country…
But still all the “good” Americans seem to be too bored to vote or too few to make a difference. Either way America still is what it is.
Oh, and one last thing. I hate all the criticism that the stupid Republicans throw at Obama but I’d have to admit from a European’s point of view that he was highly overrated, unfortunately…
I’m from the U.S., and I’m sure I’m guilty of some American flaws that have been observed here (believe me, I don’t for one second think we’re perfect!). I’m not going to try and say if the U.S. is better than Europe, or vice versa, but I do notice an interesting dichotomy with how other cultures relate to the U.S. On one hand, much of the world likes to emulate the clothing of the U.S., watch our movies, act like us, get into our higher-end colleges, etc. On the other hand, it seems like the cool thing to do is to bash the U.S. I wonder how many Europeans here are closet U.S.A. admirers? And I wonder how many Americans posting here are truly ignorant of what goes on outside their borders? The answer to both questions is probably “a lot.”
Food for thought. We’re all seeing the same facts, but looking at them through different “glasses” of culture, value, religion, norms, life experiences, biases, etc. Perception is reality to an individual, and if you want to hate the U.S., go for it. But in all your U.S.A. bashing and mocking, are you really any better than the people whose faults you are pointing out? Same goes for Americans ripping on Europe, of course. I think anytime “cultural superiority” is claimed, it screams arrogance and elitism, and undermines any point you are trying to make.
@ AndyB
There is no dichotomy here, Mr. AndyB. Europeans are ideologically individualists, so while some Europeans have a distaste of Americans and their culture, there are Europeans who like the same.
Coming to the world emulating United States, you must live in a really small world. Most Europeans are still characteristically European - they wear European clothes, act European, watch European movies and go to European universities. The biggest complaint Americans make in Europe is that Americans are not as ‘cool’ as they thought they’d be. Comes as a shocker to them, I suppose, after being fed the idea for ages that American is ‘cool’ everywhere, by their media and government (which passes trends from teenagers of 3rd world nations as a universal phenomenon).
Elitism and cultural arrogance exists when people have something that makes them elite and culturally superior. A European is elitist and culturally arrogant to an American the same way an American is elitist and culturally arrogant around poor third world denizens. It is all human nature, really.
Hi, why can’t we all live in peace and accept we have different ways to live!?
I’m American and im definetly getting the heck out of here and leaving for europe. the things i see commented are things that i felt myself. even before i knew U.S. history, i didnt like this place. It doesnt feel like home. Theres so many issues and ideals here i cant stand, but theres nothing i could do about it but wait until im atleast 18, get enough money, make a few connections, and get out.
I am from East Europe, living and working 10 years in Germany, for a mixed USA-EUROPE company. I know how our colleagues from USA are living. I will make just one difference:
-Here, I have 31 working days of vacation, and I am allowed to take it as I like, even 62 times half a day. This allows me to enjoy life, to work to live and not live to work. I am able to have 2-3 week vacation with family in summer, one week of skiing, one week of sailing with friends, and still enough days to join with Public Holidays and make more short trips here and there…
-In USA? You can not have this. This is sad. You can convince yourself that 2 weeks are enough. But when you try something different, you can never accept this any more.
I apologize to start because I was only able to read about 2/3 of this thread. To about 2009, however I have enjoyed reading it. Some observations, the Americans are clearly prejudice against Europe, and the Europeans in this thread are clearly prejudice against the States. I am from the U.S, and I will not pretend to have ever lived in Europe, or even visited. I am way too poor to afford the ticket, let alone the expenses once I got there. I also want to point out that I favor a welfare state over a military state, and if you really take the time to think about it, that is what we really do have here. In Europe they spend money on medicine and education, we spend ours on guns. Obama made an effort to nationalize healthcare, but I don’t believe he did a very good job, and I am going to be surprised if the law even holds up. That being said, as an American, I admit that we are very backward thinking here but I want to say that all Americans are not dumb, we do not pee in our sinks, we value education, we are sad that our teachers are being laid off, and there is a strong desire for change. I am disappointed that so many of the European posters in this thread have pigeon holed us like that. There are a lot of good, educated people in the United States who want to grow, learn and become better. I should know, I am one of them.
That being said, I have no problem with Europeans thinking their lives are better, their countries are better.. That’s only natural, and hey they are probably right, but it’s not so bad here. I kind of like it. One more side note, I do plan to visit Europe some day, it sounds like an amazing place. I am sorry if my post came as overly defensive, but I felt like American people were being attacked, instead of the Americans who govern. People abroad need to understand, the corporations run our government, we do not.
As a continental European in the UK, I would say that the UK is a very bad example of quality European education. While a some UK universities are truly excellent, mickey mouse degrees (and associated performance criteria) can also be found at non red brick universities and “colleges”. To put this into perspective, I was shocked to learn that so called “colleges” in the UK are actually training for trades rather than anything professional, so higher education statistical figures mean very little. This kind of unregulated structure is demonstrated best by the habit of Brits to consider a plumber, washing machine mechanic, or photocopier maintenance guy an “engineer”, and the average muppet really doesn’t see any significant difference between those working on fusion reactor prototypes and repairing their garage door.
Surprisingly enough, however, some of the best in proper education (science & engineering) still get their education in the UK, and not without reason, as despite all the above, postgraduate education in particular is outstanding in the UK if you pick a good enough university, excellent academic freedom, widely used research grants, very supportive and acknowledging atmosphere.
Secondary education is straight terrific, first of all, there is GCSE, many people finish their studies at this level (age 16), ridiculed by most continental countries, many of which render it illegal not to attend school under 18. The standard is very low compared to nearly any continental Eurtoean country, to the extent that partial illiteracy is a common problem (people make trivial grammatical mistakes on a regular basis, they often can’t understand a sentence consisting of more than 10 words IN THEIR OWN LANGUAGE), and this is far from being restricted to the bottom end of the scale, I am talking about medical administrators, employment consultants, receptionists, even tradesmen seem to have difficulties calculating areas of surfaces that are not rectangular.
This is merely to demonstrate that the UK is far from being anywhere near top of the bunch in Europe with regard to general education figures, so if you’re amazed by the standard of education in the UK as a well informed American, now that, is serious cause for concern. In addition, buildings are by far the worst in the UK within Europe, they just can’t build or design, their entire economy is dominated by sales and banking. I wonder when they plan to wake up and realise that eventually you may have to build something new to be able to sell anything apart from marketing, repairs, and life insurance. It is truly excellent to do research in the UK (although can be expensive if you’re not getting one of the thousands of government funded grants), but if you want to build it after, go to Germany (land of working public transport, up-to-date construction industry, professionalism, and the associated tendency of actually getting things right, for the first time).
P.S.: It may be just my perception, but the stereotype actually seems true: an overwhelming proportion of the British female population is indeed fat, and ugly as the devil, there is also some strange genetic pattern with them often picking up fat on their backs (I do mean it, I have never seen this anywhere else in Europe). Strange f*cking island.
There was one comment here that said that the US education is better than Spanish, Portuguese, Greeks or Italian, but for your information every person I know that went to the US to study says that it is way easier than, in this case, Portugal. If you think it is easy in High school to have good grades, you’re really wrong, we have to work our ass of to be able to go to college because it isn’t easy to get in. Also, there are friends of mine that went to study in the US for a year and when they came back they had to do an exam to show what they learn and some of them failed and had to repeat some subjects.
I disagree about Europe diversity, I have been in Europe and they are more racist and less acceptable of minorities than the United States. Many of the people that have migrated to the US from Europe say that the healthcare in Europe isn’t nearly as good as the United States. You basically have to be in a waiting list and the quality of treatment is poor.
As a Dutch-European that has never visit the US. Can only say about this.
Each Union has its own diversity (cultural and political). And who’s to say which is better.
If take a look at Europe. We are a union of different countries that all speaks a different language.
We have a long , rich and violent history together. From what we ,more or less, learned from.
But because of these differences we need to work together and need to learn from our differences.
to be able to work together. We are all neighbours.
All in all we could say that Europe is in its 20th and still growing.
And when we were in our teens we were colonizing the world (sorry about that for all countries that suffered about that) and trying to force our way of life onto other countries.
At the other hand if we take a look at the US. It relatively still a young country trying to make it mark in the world. And they are leaving a mark, good or bad is not the issue.
But we could say that they are still in their teens.
Even they have cultural diversity within the country. But because of their geological location there a lesser need to learn/handle this diversity of cultural differences, because of language and unity.
And I think that’s also the cause, that we “Europeans”, feel that they are ignorant about some things in the world. We got some really stupid people over here also.
But I think it’s the interest in other countries is larger in Europe. Because this is being fed by upbringing and education.
Even spending years (or a lifetime) on a continent. You still would be able say that which is the best..
And let’s be honest. Your opinion is partly fed by the media and for, some, local experience. On both continents. And maybe the US-media is more biased that the European. So what…
You should still be able to look beyond this and form your own opinion.
And even though I have travelled thru Europe I can’t speak for the whole but :
The schooling, healthcare system and living standard’s differs from each country. Some are good some are lousy.
I live in one of the few countries where there is a mandatory health insurance.
Some US citizens say : That’s against my freedom of choice.
You could say : You’re right. But we have the freedom of choice in insurance company. And in this way it stays affordable. And people don’t always know what’s good them.
But children, up the age of 18, do not need to pay for this insurance. It’s for free……!!!
We also have poverty, racism and intolerance’s. But I believe that it is not different in the US.
And we have to keep improving/educate ourselves and the next generation to solve these issue’s.
But there one thing that we do not do or think : We are the greatest country in world. Or continent in our case, because we are still split in different countries.
And that is what we get over here. This endless US patriotism and trying to police the world mentality. And someone made the remark that it’s not the US people but government. But all of you did choose this government.
In short : Live and let live. Enjoy life to the max. Because it is too short. And all people who have been commenting on this site shouldn’t complain. Because they seem to have solved all there problems. That they have time to worry about the problem which is the best continent or not.
Someone made a remark about the UK women. You are right, lots of them are fat and most women are ugly as hell. “Exception confirms the rule ”
I have lived in the USA for around 5 years and now living in Germany. Though Europe is a better place to travel, I find that the US was a much better place to live in. Health Care in the USA was much better than I have in Germany. My daughter was born in the USA and naturally, I paid visit to the doctors and hospital many times.
Customer service is very poor in Germany as compared to the US. Not always people are polite here. And because many people speak different languages, is actually a problem. We live in the border of Netherlands and Belgium, and whenever we go shopping in these countries, its a pain to shop and talk to local people.
And things are not so open and transparent in Europe as it is in Germany. When I first moved to the US, I found out options of renting an apartment, buying furniture etc mostly online. And the policies are mostly transparent and available online e.g. rent of an apartment, tenure etc. You could even see the property online, make an appointment and book without the intervention of any third party. But when I landed in Germany. I learned that you have to go via an agent and that costs a lot of money. You could get properties from newspaper etc, but you need time and the ability to correspond in German. You don’t really have apartment management like you have in the USA. And not only this, people try to cheat you out just because you do not speak the language and hence cannot read your contract (unless you have time and resources to get it thoroughly translated). That has been the case with us at least.
I am neither an American, nor a European. So I see this from a neutral point. I would love to go back to the USA at any time than staying in Europe.
In America, despite the common European misconception, it is not legal in any state for hospitals to refuse emergency service to non-citizens or those who are critically ill and do not have health insurance. That being said, I personally am not a big fan of the U.S. health care system. Those who are poor qualify for Medicare, which is basically socialized medicine in the U.S. Those who are rich can afford their own treatment, it is people who are middle class, those who are not poor enough to qualify for Medicare nor rich enough to pay for services on their own that are the most inconvenienced. Hospitals provide emergency care to them, but an over priced doctor’s bill awaits.
to Mormons, Jews and not too mention the African-Americans in the south who still practice voodoo that was passed from generation to generation since they were brought over as slaves from Africa. As for language, there are southerners who still speak caijun french, Mexicans, Puerto Ricans, Cubans, etc. Who speak Spanish and there are quite a few different accents throughout the country. By the way, there are plenty of differences between Hawaii and Alaska 
) rock, country rock, classic rock, jazz, rap, etc. I personally love classic music, like the works of Scott Joplin and Erik Satie (Erik Satie is french, I know.) I don’t only like American media, I enjoy foreign film quite a bit, Pan’s Labyrinth, The girl with the dragon tattoo and the lord of the rings are my favorite movies, I appreciate the work of Guillermo del Toro quite a bit. I also enjoy Japanese comics such as Death Note, Dragon ball Z and Naruto. Not to mention English comics, mostly done by Alan Moore 
I personally suffer from Ehlers-Danlos syndrome as well as catatonic schizophrenia and since I am middle class, it is very difficult for me to get treatment for either of those conditions. Ehlers-Danlos is a connective tissue disorder in which collagen is very thin. As a result, I have very stretchy skin, painful, hyper mobile joints and my skin is very delicate and tears open very easily. I have many large scars over my body as a result, and most people are frightened by them. I’ve had to suture myself up a few times, because I was unemployed for a while and didn’t have health insurance. I just didn’t want to get stuck with an over priced doctor’s bill, it was painful, since there was no lidocaine so it was very painful, but there was no infection, I cleaned and dressed the wound every night, and the laceration healed up nicely
Psychiatric practice in the U.S. is horrible beyond belief. The country is over drugged on psychotropics, because insurance companies pay for drugs, but most do not cover therapy, which is very expensive and not worth the money, since most of the therapists here are incompetent ass-hats.
I’ve had problems with the constricted affect of my emotions, and apatite loss. It got so bad that I stopped menstruating, so I set a timer on my cell phone reminding me to eat every six hours.
I’m doing much better now than I was, even without the neuroleptics I’m still getting better. The side effects were awful and they only constricted my emotions more, so I quit taking them.
As far as diversity is concerned, there’s only three landlocked countries in North America, in Europe there are 48 if I remember correctly. European countries are much older, with much more cultures, languages and peoples in one continent. So I don’t think its fair that North America, the U.S. in particular is criticized for its lack of diversity. There’s definitely more diversity in Europe, but there’s more in the U.S. than given credit for. As far as religion is concerned, we’ve got everything from Christian creationist conservative extremists
As for similar artistic styles, there’s a vast difference between, say Andy Warhol’s work and that of Grant Wood. Not to mention music as an art medium, there are too many different styles to count, blues, folk, bluegrass (I personally am a banjo enthusiast
As for food, there’s plenty of restaurants that are Chinese, Indian, Mexican, Caijun, etc. In Utah, buffalo meat is sold in specific places, while in Louisianna, they eat Alligator eggs and meat.
I couldn’t agree more on the education and media. Unfortunately, both work hand in hand to keep the U.S. population as ignorant and stupid as ever. Here, education is a privilege for the upper classes, while the middle and lower classes are stuck in a shitty, half-assed public school system
Gosh. What a place to learn about what people feel and believe about the US and Europe. A little scary, too.
My 2 cents:
I’m an American citizen who grew up in the South S.F. Bay Area of N. California. I am 60 years old and have lived in Europe (Scandinavia) for most of the past 40 years, so please bear with the meanderings of an old guy…
My children have grown up here, have good carriers in science and management. The State and the high taxes everyone gripes about paying here, covered a large part of their expenses and offered low cost student loans as well. I love griping about the taxes too, but here I actually get something for my money and always remind myself that it’s very, very different in the States… where the taxes are pretty high, but the a lot of the cash ends up in the war machine (military industrial complex), the over-policing and the prisons.
In the 60/70′ies higher education was very inexpensive at the state- and junior college levels in California. My college courses cost a pittance and registration fees were very low. Later, the state’s economy tightened for various reasons and rates went up and kept on going. I am pretty sure it had to do with taxes and politics. The “Watching out for Number One” thing you hear so much about in the States. The sort of thing that makes it easier for some people to get ahead in a society and nearly impossible for the majority of certain minorities. ( Suggestion: Read some of Gore Vidal’s essays for more insight into what America is all about)
The average American has been brought up with a “you are the master of your own destiny” mindset in a multiracial, multicultural environment that encourages people to be egocentric and judgmental. Them and Us. The preachers of this doctrine are to a high extent the media, endlessly re-telling the same story over and over again. You can read the results of this sort of indoctrination in the comments above by Americans. Some minorities enjoy more affirmative action than others and some have their own extended family based systems that ensure a greater chance for success in the US and other regions of the world.
I am not passing any sort of moral judgement on the U.S., merely thinking out-loud about what it means to be “American” to have my part in this strange debate between Europeans of current type and 2nd, 3rd of 4th generation Europeans now known as Americans. Let’s face it, because there is only one type of “real” American - the one we took the land from and treated so unkindly.
I recall the racial/economic/cultural divide becoming very clear to me, first as a 12 year-old on a buss to San Francisco in 1964. I traveled through Oakland and was shocked and amazed by the unusual people who boarded the bus there, as well as seedy look of the town. I’d never shared space with a black person before! This is the truth about large sections of America , segregated by social/economic factors that could just as well be a Berlin wall. My guess is the the “old” white America still has a lot to learn/swallow and that the States will, for good and bad reasons continue to be a melting pot divided.
Tired of writing this now… doesn’t really matter anyway. Just more words on the wires.
Good luck and good-bye
sorry, but 2/3 of america is a developping Country…