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"Having lived 25 of my 60 years in Europe (until late '98), I find the comparison silly. Europeans live in 'country-states' that have been supporting people for over 1000 years in a pretty civilized manner." Nonesense. Ever heard of the Dark Ages? World Wars I and II? The Napoleonic Wars? The 7, 30 or 100 year wars? " Additionally we spoke one common language and utilized a common monitary unit." Common language? The settlers of America were initially Spanish. Then came a good deal of Germanic (IE, Dutch, English and German) settlers, many Black slaves joined (lessening cultural homogeneity) then came Poles, Italians and Irish. TODAY, the US has basically only 1 language. But that was not the case when the US was born and the US has been constantly subject to immigrants of new and different languages. "Now comes the bad part. Europeans own property in greater percentages than Americans. Europeans owe less money due to less credit than Americans." Both of these are common in perception, but untrue. In proportion to their income, Europeans have more debt (Americans have more in absolute terms, but have more money to pay it off). "Work for 20 years and get your 4 weeks of vacation, or be European and get it from the 1st year. Work hard and MAYBE get a bonus at Christmas time, or be European and get 14 monthly paychecks a year (an extra in July to use for your month of August off, and another in December)." Guess what? Europeans get payed less. You can institute all the backward social policies you want, they will in the short term increase your salary. However, because of those selfish policies, economic growth will be stopped, and thus, "Suffer in silent agony without health insurance, or be European and have all your medical needs taken care of - including medications." The wait can be substantial. Though I agree, the government should help for health. Nonetheless, Americans have more money to spend on health anyway. "Couples hook-up early in life and work for their future." Not where I live. Both Europe and America have shoddy cultures. America with its consume all, get fat, dumb and if your lucky, happy. Europe with its lazy, go on strike and bitch until the gov gives me the money I haven't earned. The difference is, Europe's bad side arises for shoddy government policies and on top of that, is bad economically for europeans (and ultimately, social issues can be resolved through $ ).
"Durch Nacht und Blut das Licht"
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