Let's get it started: USA vs. Europe

[hetron]

Enough of the right wing people on this forum trashing of Europe and the "European nanny state". If things were so bad over there, we would be seeing tons of immigrants from Western Europe these days. That immigration isn't happening, generally because people from there don't want to leave to come here. Obviously the nanny state ain't doing too bad.


Forget for a second about the world of theoretical economics where "socialism must fail" and other talking points we hear bandied about on this forum. Let's talk about what is really going on.

I would like to haer some observations from people who have spent significant amount of time living in both Europe and the US make a comparison between the two. Here are some things I noticed in terms of differences between the two.


The average European works to live, the average American lives to work. On average I would say European workers are happier working less hours, with more frequent vacations, in exchange for a slightly lower salary in comparison with their american coworkers.

What's wrong with that? If you make more money but don't have time to enjoy spending it, what's the point.

Both Americans and Europeans have high tax rates, but more of the European tax money goes into social programs, rather than defense spending.

Again, what's wrong with that? If I pay high taxes, I want the money spent on good public education and socialized health care. I don't want the money spent on bombs and guns that I frankly don't feel make me any safer.

- more talking points to come! in the mean time, flame away! [img]/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]