Examples: What is better in your country than in the USA?

Originally posted by flexy123
And by the way, what i do NOT like about Europe.

We just moved to Spain...and i think it's SILLY, SILLY, SILLY that Spain literally closes up for Siesta every fricking day from 2pm to about 5:30pm - PLUS the countless of catholic Holidays (which are even more than in already very catholic Southern Germany). I just think its dumb that people in Spain complain about their economy all the time but the country is literally shut down every day for Siesta, even in Winter.

You cannot be productive if everything is CLOSED. Cheezus people....

edit on 5-9-2011 by flexy123 because: (no reason given)

Sounds like a great way to live, more holidays and a little nap during the day, who could complain about that?

Wouldn't it be quicker and easier to make a thread that says "what 'isn't' better in your country than America?"

Originally posted by thoughtsfull
reply to post by newcovenant

 

In all seriousness I can imagine an autobahn might seem like a great idea.. but is it really better?

Where I live one could say the roads are lousy compared to an autobahn.. so lousy that in an SHTF situation I have chosen bug out bikes for the family as the roads currently can't even cope with the day trippers.

But on the flip side they are single lane roads within a picture perfect landscape.. so to some it is better to get from A to B as quickly as possible but for others it is better to chill and drive the country lanes letting mother nature in to their souls.

I guess I am just saying it is all a matter of perspective...

But what the autobahn has done is improve situation and life for every town and shop and person all along the route. That is significant and change that matters and makes a difference in peoples everyday lives, in their pocketbook and in their sense of security peace and well being.

Originally posted by blupblup
Wouldn't it be quicker and easier to make a thread that says "what 'isn't' better in your country than America?"

Already been done to death.
And why do I want a bunch of bad ideas?
I am looking for the good ones.

Originally posted by newcovenant
reply to post by flexy123

 

* I fricking love the fact that we are liberal and not having that morality complex like the US has. The US is a country where a "nipple-slip" can cause panic and outrage...where people in EU can only laugh

This is true and it is such phony bull crap. You see more disgusting body parts falling out of clothing in Walmarts.
Meanwhile I'll bet we are right at the top when it comes to access, manufacturing and distribution of pornography.
It is a shame sex and the female and male forms are considered "naughty" but violence is revered and exalted at every turn in every medium.

*What is better?* I don't like the stereo-types and say what things are better and what things are worse..but after having lived in the US for almost a decade i value VERY HIGHLY what we have in Europe:

Trust me..I worked with a couple of different word choices. What I am after is information as our French poster gave regarding the shorter work week and more vacation, the energy plan you have.
What are the things that are really useful in our everyday lives? Things that matter to everyday people.
What are the things that make your life more free than mine? I know there are many things people can mention - and we have some few advantages here in the USA others don't have...they happen to escape me at the moment but I know there are a few. This isn't about how we are better though. It is about how we are worse. Thanks for the input.

edit on 5-9-2011 by newcovenant because: (no reason given)

Really,

the GENERAL differences are way less than what some people *think* or make it sound as it is.
I have seen people in the US saying European countries are "socialist" (which is total BS....sorry)...or the continued claim that people in the US are the "most free" people on this Earth and other people allegedly are not.
Now...there is nothing really which makes you feel more "free" in the US or in the EU, it's both WESTERN DEMOCRACIES...people can voice their opinions, people can vote..you don't get shot by crossing the borders

People say Europe is "socialist" because we have countries with a left-wing majority...but IF I hear "socialist" i am thinking about the former Soviet Union, China, Cuba etc.

BOTH our countries are free countries and there is very little difference in a broad sense how people "feel" they are free...you are free in the states and you are free in all the western European countries. Period.

Differences are indeed in more specific things, for example one thing is that in the US utilities is about 3 times cheaper than in Europe. Heck we pay out the **** for utilities, A/C, leaving computer on all day, plasma TV can cost you an arm and a leg..i am not even kidding.

And the other freedom is in regards to a tighter "social net"...if you are out of a job in the US you have it REALLY, really tough..while in EU you are still covered by health insurance etc. even if you are unemployed. And yes, my general impression is that the US in generally is working A LOT more for much less pay, in the EU people have a lot more free time on hands.

My contribution is the other way around, what is better in the US than in my country.

Gas Station Coffee in the States is superb and so so cheap.

I love the large line up of all the extras too, extra shots, Vanilla shots, French vanilla (My favourite), Hazelnut (yummy too)

Not only that but you can get a huge cup or even by a large thermos cup for a few dollars and have a free coffee fill up!!

Oh the simple pleasures of life on the road in good Ole US of A.

reply to post by flexy123


I will certainly agree with you about sex and nudity over here. To give you an example, the missus and myself were invited to dinner a couple of weeks ago. The evening was so hot, I mean high 30s. The hostess, a very shapely MILF just stood up, stripped off and jumped into the pool. So, of course, when in Rome, we all followed suit. Not a blush or a raised eyebrow, just so natural.

Originally posted by TheLoneArcher
What is better here?
Well French healthcare for one, as stated by the OP.
Also, we have 18 Bank Holidays and I get 34 days holiday a year. In addition to that, I only have to work 37 hours a week.

I would call that pretty good.

I like this one. Though 37 hour work weeks is not even considered full time here. 40 hours is.

24 hours being part time. I know lots of people who work part time here.

37 hours is about what I get per week ( They try to get me as close to full time as possible)

Thought i'd jump in here and add to what's better in NZ...

1. Nuclear Free
2. Our Police don't carry guns
3. A standard home is built on a quarter acre section
4. No natural wild predators
5. First country to see the sunrise

I could probably add more, but who's skyting

SnF

reply to post by newcovenant

But what the autobahn has done is improve situation and life for every town and shop and person all along the route. That is significant and change that matters and makes a difference in peoples everyday lives, in their pocketbook and in their sense of security peace and well being.

While that is true in one sense.. I know many in Germany who do not like those big roads coming close as they can bypass the smaller communities and take trade from other areas so at times that causes as many negatives as it brings positives.

I firmly believe one of the issues with todays society is that we keep adopting ideas from other areas as a fix for our own problems without first adapting them to our way of working/thinking and in the end it causes more harm than good.

While another system be it Autobahns or Healthcare might seem better but unless they are full integrated properly they fail.

Originally posted by TheLoneArcher
reply to post by flexy123

 

I will certainly agree with you about sex and nudity over here. To give you an example, the missus and myself were invited to dinner a couple of weeks ago. The evening was so hot, I mean high 30s. The hostess, a very shapely MILF just stood up, stripped off and jumped into the pool. So, of course, when in Rome, we all followed suit. Not a blush or a raised eyebrow, just so natural.

edit on 5/9/2011 by TheLoneArcher because: Spelling

LOL! Yeah, that sort of thing really shocked me at first, but I fell right in eventually. So nice to just get over that!

reply to post by studio500


Yes, your coffee is in plentiful supply and cheap.
I love French coffee, I just wish that when you order one, it is not always served as a bloody espresso. Sometimes I want a full cup.

Edit: And oh, a point of note. The photo proves that not all American women are fat.......

reply to post by flexy123

BOTH our countries are free countries and there is very little difference in a broad sense how people "feel" they are free...you are free in the states and you are free in all the western European countries. Period.

Really?

If one country has a work week that is shorter and they get more vacations and I am strapped 40 hours or more a week to a 50 week a year job with little benefits and few personal or sick days I would have to say for all practical purposes that person is more FREE to find the pleasure and fun in life than I am stuck at my job.

PERCEPTION IS REALITY.
REALITY IS ALSO REALITY.

I don't know if this counts or not... But I know here in the US... We are prudes about things such as Sex. I always thought we were pretty progressive about sex...Nope.... Go anywhere in Europe.....

So..... I guess one could argue that the sex is better outside of the US.

Gas in the UK must be far better than gas in the US!

I'm pretty sure it contains large quantities of liquid gold , it has too at the price we pay

Also Germany. They are a smart group of people.... They are removing all their nuclear power plants by 2022.

I like that.

Originally posted by tawewe
Thought i'd jump in here and add to what's better in NZ...

1. Nuclear Free
2. Our Police don't carry guns
3. A standard home is built on a quarter acre section
4. No natural wild predators
5. First country to see the sunrise

I could probably add more, but who's skyting

SnF

These are all pretty good pluses but I know a lot of Americans who enjoy hunting the big game and unfortunately they managed to kill them all too. It would have been wiser I think to manage the populations with hunting but to try and preserve at least a few for reproduction and to keep the species alive if only just to keep an area fir hunting. This doesn't work around civilized areas of course but there should be wide open plains with animals roaming free in my ideal world or region. We will have to bring a truckload to the moon. I can see cows weighted down with ankle weights now... Not that they are wild predators.

We vote on government policies, treaties and so on. It's routine and it's a good way of ruling a country. I think if the educational mean among the US population was improved, there would be no reason not to adopt the direct democracy system. Due to IT advancement size should not matter.
Switzerland

Originally posted by newcovenant
reply to post by flexy123

 

BOTH our countries are free countries and there is very little difference in a broad sense how people "feel" they are free...you are free in the states and you are free in all the western European countries. Period.

Really?

If one country has a work week that is shorter and they get more vacations and I am strapped 40 hours or more a week to a 50 week a year job with little benefits and few personal or sick days I would have to say for all practical purposes that person is more FREE to find the pleasure and fun in life than I am stuck at my job.

PERCEPTION IS REALITY.
REALITY IS ALSO REALITY.

I was working at Motorola in the states via some temp agency. There was no such thing as "being sick"....only the fact i worked for them for some years and they knew i was good a worker allowed me to take off once in a while "being sick"..as a courtesy basically. Yes.you have a point, of course...this was true hell in the states..but the irony that you were STILL happy to actually have a job ;/

Originally posted by CriticalCK
We vote on government policies, treaties and so on. It's routine and it's a good way of ruling a country. I think if the educational mean among the US population was improved, there would be no reason not to adopt the direct democracy system. Due to IT advancement size should not matter.
Switzerland

Truth.