Europe vs USA

[Stylin']

I’m an American and I completely agree with @Ecstasy… 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!

[Registration]

Well, I'm basically a common American, and I'm very well read on a lot of these things that you're saying I am "extreemly ignorant" about, so you assumption that we don't know these unstated facts is basically unfounded and can not be proven, so just drop the idea that you can successfully debate this issue (Well it's not really an issue, more of a hypothetical difference) in your favor.

America is the most powerful and influential nation on Earth, period. In my opinion that makes us the best, but opinions are opinions.

You think that "I have a strong feeling that this is actually done on purpose. To keep the American people ignorant and focused on nonsense"... Well, the thing is, I want to debate foreign policy, and you're stuck on superficial issues like "Americans are uncultured jerks blurrblahhbloo". Seems like you're the one that's stuck on the nonsense...

You go on to try and point out minority youth being disadvantaged... I'd like to remind you that there are PLEANTY of white people in the same situation, but they are all afforded oppertunity in America to succed. I was poor as a kid. I was very poor actually... but never starved or denied education or the abbility to gain a scolarship to go to college(which I did even though I dropped out). People always have options... Although i do admit that due to our current economic situation unemployment is pretty high, but we are working on solutions. no one is starving denied medical attention or education in America

And yes... ofcourse I am aware of American history, but don't sit on a high horse. WOuld you like me to point out some of the horrid things europien nations have done over the years? ROFL, don't get me started...

@RJ

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.

[RJ]

I'm a common American, and I can intelligently communicate my stance on very many world issues. We are not dumb, lol, don't you realise that EVERY COUNTRY HAS PEOPLE LIKE THIS.


EDIT: @Registration I'm hardly a moron... and it's nice to see you so fustrated you devolve into name calling
Socalized medicine is bad, but we can debate that elsewhere.

I'd like to point out a few things. Our economy is the largest, in spite of our massive debt. Also, in spite of student test scores, we are still, as I said before, the most powerful and influential nation on Earth. Maybe one day that will change, but I doubt it.

[Registration]

I'm a common American, and I can intelligently communicate my stance on very many world issues. We are not dumb, lol, don't you realise that EVERY COUNTRY HAS PEOPLE LIKE THIS.


EDIT: @Registration I'm hardly a moron... and it's nice to see you so fustrated you devolve into name calling
Socalized medicine is bad, but we can debate that elsewhere.

I'd like to point out a few things. Our economy is the largest, in spite of our massive debt. Also, in spite of student test scores, we are still, as I said before, the most powerful and influential nation on Earth. Maybe one day that will change, but I doubt it.

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. 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…

GOING TO SLEEP SINCE I live in japan not shitty amerfag.

[RJ]

Honestly I think when attempting to measure the greatness of a nation these are the key issues; personal freedom, economic oppertuniy, foriegn policy, and millitary force projection.

Right now Americans are more limited in their personal freedoms then ever (which is why I'm supporting Ron Paul).

Economic oppertunity is underminded by crony capitalism that prevents small buisness from competing with large companys (which is another reason I'm supporting Dr. Paul, to end crony capitalism).

Our foreign policy is a mess in my opinion. It causes so much negitive blow back, and I feel as if we should stop nation building and promote diplomicy (Ron Paul again).

And as far as our force projection goes... it's nothing like the world has ever known. So our abbility to defend ourself is far greater then any other nation, or collection of nations EI: the EU, but this does not mean we have to, or should police the world.(RP)

[Stevenom]

USA can bomb the shit out of Europe so you guys would lose nearly everyone.

[Registration]

USA can bomb the shit out of Europe so you guys would lose nearly everyone.

Your Country is such a Fail.

. Beer Does Not Come in Pints.
The Pint unarguably is the proper and correct serving size. It’s impossible to feel cool ordering a schooner and having a tiny little girly glass.

2. Assigned Seats in Movie Theaters.
I can see no earthly reason for this, aside from pissing me off by slowing down the lines.

3. Book Prices are Ridiculously Jacked-up.
Prices in general seem high even for a San Franciscan, but books seem disproportionately pricey. The latest fluctuations of the dollar and Australian dollar have helped somewhat, but this poor reader is still out of luck. First stop when I get stateside: Powell’s.

4. High Hippie Density.
Maybe its something to do with the prevalence of surfers and backpackers who populate Bondi, but it seems like there are quite a few unnecessarily dreadlocked individuals. I can barely walk down the street some days without wanting to retch a little from the patchouli stink.

5. Coffee is more complex than it needs to be.

6. High Douchebag Density.
This is actually a much bigger problem than the hippies. I see alot of bling and hat-tilts in the male population. Others have written more extensively on the geopolitical ramifications of this topic, to which I have to add only: Amen, brother.

7. High Deadly Animal Density.
Sydney is an urban area, and encroachments from angry mother nature are rae. But I can never forget about all the thousands of animals and plants out there who are plotting my death.

8. They Only Speak English in the Loosest Sense of the Word.
Australia’s unique linguistic heritage has created a hodge-podge of unlikely names and words that just sound weird to my American ears. Coupled with a racial incliniation to shorten/infantilize every word they come across, it can become inscrutable. For example: breakfast is often “shortened” to breakie. But you’ll notice that they both have the same number of syllables (2) and are therefore the same length. Same for “football/footy” An Australian friend introduced himself as “John, but you can call me John-Oh for short.” He lengthened his name for short.

9. Disappointing Scarcity of Kangaroos.
Despite having signs like this:
There weren’t that many kangaroos hopping around. I expected the people to ride them to work in the morning and store their valuables in the safety of their pouches. Imagine my dismay when I learned that not only was this not true, they don’t box or rap either. And upon my return to the United States and the inevitable debriefing of my family and friends I find that they tend to be more disappointed with the things I didn’t see (Kangaroos and the Outback) than the awesome things I did see.

[Stevenom]

Your Country is such a Fail.

. Beer Does Not Come in Pints.
The Pint unarguably is the proper and correct serving size. It’s impossible to feel cool ordering a schooner and having a tiny little girly glass.

2. Assigned Seats in Movie Theaters.
I can see no earthly reason for this, aside from pissing me off by slowing down the lines.

3. Book Prices are Ridiculously Jacked-up.
Prices in general seem high even for a San Franciscan, but books seem disproportionately pricey. The latest fluctuations of the dollar and Australian dollar have helped somewhat, but this poor reader is still out of luck. First stop when I get stateside: Powell’s.

4. High Hippie Density.
Maybe its something to do with the prevalence of surfers and backpackers who populate Bondi, but it seems like there are quite a few unnecessarily dreadlocked individuals. I can barely walk down the street some days without wanting to retch a little from the patchouli stink.

5. Coffee is more complex than it needs to be.

6. High Douchebag Density.
This is actually a much bigger problem than the hippies. I see alot of bling and hat-tilts in the male population. Others have written more extensively on the geopolitical ramifications of this topic, to which I have to add only: Amen, brother.

7. High Deadly Animal Density.
Sydney is an urban area, and encroachments from angry mother nature are rae. But I can never forget about all the thousands of animals and plants out there who are plotting my death.

8. They Only Speak English in the Loosest Sense of the Word.
Australia’s unique linguistic heritage has created a hodge-podge of unlikely names and words that just sound weird to my American ears. Coupled with a racial incliniation to shorten/infantilize every word they come across, it can become inscrutable. For example: breakfast is often “shortened” to breakie. But you’ll notice that they both have the same number of syllables (2) and are therefore the same length. Same for “football/footy” An Australian friend introduced himself as “John, but you can call me John-Oh for short.” He lengthened his name for short.

9. Disappointing Scarcity of Kangaroos.
Despite having signs like this:
There weren’t that many kangaroos hopping around. I expected the people to ride them to work in the morning and store their valuables in the safety of their pouches. Imagine my dismay when I learned that not only was this not true, they don’t box or rap either. And upon my return to the United States and the inevitable debriefing of my family and friends I find that they tend to be more disappointed with the things I didn’t see (Kangaroos and the Outback) than the awesome things I did see.

Your country had a nuclear meltdown.

[[MPGH]Ethereal]

Not sure where you found this, but it's mostly horse shit,
and if I wanted to waste my time finding all the evidence to show you I would,
but you're lazy enough so I think you should go find the truth your self.

Doctors can't refuse treatment from a critically injured person...

[Registration]

Your IQ number is #1 Congratulations

Your country had a nuclear meltdown.

[nevs666]

So... the OP mad?

[Empire]

I'm not gonna quote the first post and take up the page but here:

1. Healthcare: There is problems in europe and america with this. My person preference is pay or don't get it. For some reason everyone thinks living old is a right. Its not, its a privilege and should be treated as so. I'm pretty sure ALL hospitals in america take mortally injured people in without question, as gunshot victims and ambulances sometimes don't have an id on the person. So yeah, you are wrong.
+1 me.

2. Diversity: Your talking about several countries and comparing it to ONE. America has more diversity by FAR than any of the single countries in Europe. Which you are probably not smart enough to tell the difference though.
+1me.

3. Education: yeah........third world countries? Do you even know what that means? And talking of universities, i'm sure europe has its harvards and such.

4. Media: Wait, so sex on public tv is ok, but porn is not? Might as well be completely hypcritical in everything there.
me +2


Empire:4
@Ecstasy : 0

[RJ]

Op isnt even smart enough to understand what he c&p'd

[Stevenom]

Your IQ number is #1 Congratulations

Thank you.
Fucking whaler.

Op isnt even smart enough to understand what he c&p'd

He even made up bullshit about atheists.
Like just some dumb lies.