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10 things we are worse at than Europeans


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2014 Jul 11, 12:44pm   9,027 views  70 comments

by tovarichpeter   ➕follow (6)   💰tip   ignore  

http://www.salon.com/2014/07/11/10_things_america_does_so_much_worse_than_europe_partner/

The term American exceptionalism is often tossed around by politicians. Neocons, far-right Christian fundamentalists and members of the Republican Party in particular seem to hate it when anyone dares to suggest that some aspects of European life are superior to how we do things.But facts are facts, and the reality is that in some respects, Europe is way ahead of the United States. From health care to civil liberties to sexual attitudes, one can make a strong case for European exceptionalism. That is not to say that Europe isnt confronting some major challenges in 2014: neoliberal economic policies and brutal...

#politics

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1   bob2356   2014 Jul 11, 12:52pm  

10. Europeans More Likely to Speak Foreign Languages

Courtesy of my friends when I lived in France.
What do you call someone who speaks 2 languages. Bilingual.
What do you call someone who speaks 3 languages. Trilingual.
What do you call someone who speaks 1 language. American.

2   New Renter   2014 Jul 11, 12:56pm  

4. Anti-GMO Movement Much More Widespread

Anti-GMO activists are fighting an uphill battle in the U.S., where the Monsanto Corporation (the leading provider of GMO seeds) has considerable lobbying power and poured a ton of money into defeating GMO labeling measures in California and Washington State. Some progress has been made on the anti-GMO front in the U.S.: in April, Vermont passed a law requiring that food products sold in that state be labeled if they contain GMO ingredients (Monsanto, not surprisingly, has been aggressively fighting the law). And GMO crops have been banned in Mendocino County, California. But in Europe, GMO restrictions are much more widespread. France, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland and Greece are among the countries that have either total or partial bans on GMOs. And in Italy, 16 of the country’s 20 regions have declared themselves to be GMO-free when it comes to agriculture.

This part is bullshit. The European anti-GMO has nothing to do with science and everything to do with protectionism.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/27/opinion/27iht-edkogan_ed3_.html?_r=0

3   Ceffer   2014 Jul 11, 12:59pm  

Americans are better at lighting their farts. Europeans think it a waste of good perfume.

4   Strategist   2014 Jul 11, 1:24pm  

bob2356 says

10. Europeans More Likely to Speak Foreign Languages

With funny accents.

bob2356 says

What do you call someone who speaks 1 language. American.

Not in Southern California.

5   bob2356   2014 Jul 11, 11:41pm  

Strategist says

bob2356 says

What do you call someone who speaks 1 language. American.

Not in Southern California.

Visa holders and illegal immigrants are don't count. The 50 or so actual Americans in southern california probably don't speak another language.

6   Strategist   2014 Jul 12, 2:38am  

bob2356 says

Strategist says

bob2356 says

What do you call someone who speaks 1 language. American.

Not in Southern California.

Visa holders and illegal immigrants are don't count. The 50 or so actual Americans in southern california probably don't speak another language.

You don't know So. Cal. They are Americans who don't speak American.
This is what I see at times in the top 5 languages:
1. Spanish Spanish Spanish
2. Chinese
3. Vietnamese
4. Indian
5. Arabic
6. English

7   Blurtman   2014 Jul 12, 2:44am  

I'd put living well at the top of the list.

8   marcus   2014 Jul 12, 2:46am  

tovarichpeter says

10 things we are worse at than Europeans

Yeah, but Europeans aren't exceptional like us. That more than makes up for all that other stuff.

Our ability to do 'shock and awe' ®, is better than all of theirs put together.

9   FuckTheMainstreamMedia   2014 Jul 12, 2:51am  

Strategist is right Bob.

In So Cal, Central Valley, NV, AZ, and TX there's a LOT of Americans that speak English and Spanish fluently, even Caucasians. Remember that people born here to parents who immigrated from abroad are US citizens. Tagalog, Mandarin, and Vietnamese are also in the mix in So Cal though Spanish is dominant. And unlike previous generations of immigrants, the current ones seem intent that their kids learn both English and their ethnic tongue.

And lol that Europe does civil rights better. Europe has restrictions on free speech. /end argument.

10   FuckTheMainstreamMedia   2014 Jul 12, 2:55am  

Oh and btw, article is yet another liberal strawman. I don't know anyone who disdains Europe not uses the term "American exceptional ism" except perhaps a dinosaur like Pat Buchanan.

So yeah, let's go write an article attributing things to a non specified group of people and well use that as our premise to debate! Excellent commentary IMO.

11   Strategist   2014 Jul 12, 3:04am  

dodgerfanjohn says

Strategist is right Bob.

In So Cal, Central Valley, NV, AZ, and TX there's a LOT of Americans that speak English and Spanish fluently, even Caucasians.

When my kids had to pick a second language in high school, I told them ofcourse it has to be Spanish. How else will we communicate with Tony , our gardner? For years he has been chopping off the flowers before they bloom, and I need someone to tell him in Spanish he should not.

12   The Original Bankster   2014 Jul 12, 6:49am  

Americans only speak one language because everyone wants to SPEAK OUR LANGUAGE.

How would you like to leave a dreary hellhole like Denmark where your native language is useless if you drive 3 hours in any direction from any point. YAY CULTURE!

Europeans MUST know English today to have any sort of job including retail.

Europeans generally wish they could be in the US- but they know the US hasnt imported white europeans for decades and thus it's easier emotionally to pretend as though you actually look down on the place. Here's a few hints:

Europeans consume American culture like crack addicts consume crack.

Europeans rely almost entirely on American markets for their economies.

Europeans rely entirely on American military force, so much so that they even forgot so and have taken to ridiculing American power.

13   Bigsby   2014 Jul 12, 7:29am  

The Original Bankster says

Europeans rely almost entirely on American markets for their economies.

Completely untrue.

The Original Bankster says

Europeans consume American culture like crack addicts consume crack.

Some things. More in some countries, much less in others.

The Original Bankster says

Europeans rely entirely on American military force, so much so that they even forgot so and have taken to ridiculing American power.

A number of European countries have sizable military forces. The need for and reliance on American forces has greatly diminished in recent decades for obvious reasons.

14   bob2356   2014 Jul 12, 7:54am  

dodgerfanjohn says

Strategist is right Bob.

Humor son, that was humor.

15   Bigsby   2014 Jul 12, 7:59am  

dodgerfanjohn says

And lol that Europe does civil rights better. Europe has restrictions on free speech. /end argument.

There's a little more to civil rights than that. And I don't know any country that has complete freedom of speech.

16   Strategist   2014 Jul 12, 8:00am  

Bigsby says

Europeans consume American culture like crack addicts consume crack.

Some things. More in some countries, much less in others.

Fast foods, coke, Disneyland, movies. They're hooked.

17   New Renter   2014 Jul 12, 8:31am  

dodgerfanjohn says

Strategist is right Bob.

In So Cal, Central Valley, NV, AZ, and TX there's a LOT of Americans that speak English and Spanish fluently, even Caucasians. Remember that people born here to parents who immigrated from abroad are US citizens. Tagalog, Mandarin, and Vietnamese are also in the mix in So Cal though Spanish is dominant. And unlike previous generations of immigrants, the current ones seem intent that their kids learn both English and their ethnic tongue.

And lol that Europe does civil rights better. Europe has restrictions on free speech. /end argument.

So do we.

18   FuckTheMainstreamMedia   2014 Jul 12, 11:28am  

Bigsby says

dodgerfanjohn says

And lol that Europe does civil rights better. Europe has restrictions on free speech. /end argument.

There's a little more to civil rights than that. And I don't know any country that has complete freedom of speech.

Lol I'd try to figure out why you want to control human populations, but I figured out a long time ago that the answer will almost always be bullshit and therefore I'm better off just stomping a mud hole in whomever espouses such views and chanting USA USA

19   Tenpoundbass   2014 Jul 13, 1:49am  

America is becoming a better commie fascist state than Europe we should all be proud of that.

20   indigenous   2014 Jul 13, 1:23pm  

bob2356 says

when I lived in France.

That explains a few things

21   NDrLoR   2014 Jul 13, 2:04pm  

bob2356 says

10. Europeans More Likely to Speak Foreign Languages

That's because there are a lot more foreigners in Europe.

22   NDrLoR   2014 Jul 13, 2:18pm  

7. Universal Healthcare

They do and they pay between $7 and $9 a gallon for "petrol" to fund their government's benevolence and "free" health care? How many people in this country would be willing or even able to pay $150 every time they filled their tanks so that they could get "free" stuff and services? And how would such transporation costs by extension affect the costs of everything else? How long do you think people would be able to drive the big pickups and SUV's they love so well due to living on a continent where you can drive 75-80 MPH for 500 miles and still have 500 miles to go the next day? What would it be like if you had, not through legislation but financial necessity, to be limited to a 1 litre, three-cylinder Pobeda with 85 HP? $3-$4 a gallon seems high, but that's mostly because of zero interest rates--gasoline was selling for about $1.80 a gallon in 2008--by European standards, it might as well have been free and it's still a bargain by comparison.

23   New Renter   2014 Jul 13, 2:29pm  

P N Dr Lo R says

What would it be like if you had, not through legislation but financial necessity, to be limited to a 1 litre, three-cylinder Pobeda with 85 HP?

I drove a 68 HP 1.4 5 door diesel wagon not too long ago. I liked it. It took a while to get up to speed but no worse than a 1980's vintage economy car but this one had much more torque, working A/C and navigation.

It was fine - get over it.

24   Bigsby   2014 Jul 13, 2:48pm  

P N Dr Lo R says

7. Universal Healthcare

They do and they pay between $7 and $9 a gallon for "petrol" to fund their government's benevolence and "free" health care? How many people in this country would be willing or even able to pay $150 every time they filled their tanks so that they could get "free" stuff and services? And how would such transporation costs by extension affect the costs of everything else? How long do you think people would be able to drive the big pickups and SUV's they love so well due to living on a continent where you can drive 75-80 MPH for 500 miles and still have 500 miles to go the next day? What would it be like if you had, not through legislation but financial necessity, to be limited to a 1 litre, three-cylinder Pobeda with 85 HP? $3-$4 a gallon seems high, but that's mostly because of zero interest rates--gasoline was selling for about $1.80 a gallon in 2008--by European standards, it might as well have been free and it's still a bargain by comparison.

Actually, the US spends vastly more per person on its healthcare than any other country, so commenting on the price of petrol doesn't really do much for your argument.

25   bob2356   2014 Jul 13, 6:25pm  

P N Dr Lo R says

They do and they pay between $7 and $9 a gallon for "petrol" to fund their government's benevolence and "free" health care?

They know it's not "free" heath care it's universal health care. Just like the caption says.

P N Dr Lo R says

How long do you think people would be able to drive the big pickups and SUV's they love so well due to living on a continent where you can drive 75-80 MPH for 500 miles and still have 500 miles to go the next day?

Big pickups and suvs spend 95% of their time going to the mall and soccer practice.

26   MMR   2014 Jul 14, 1:35am  

Indian.....is that what those people in India speak?

Strategist says

You don't know So. Cal. They are Americans who don't speak American.

This is what I see at times in the top 5 languages:

1. Spanish Spanish Spanish

2. Chinese

3. Vietnamese

4. Indian

5. Arabic

6. English

27   Peter P   2014 Jul 14, 1:41am  

Foreign Language is overrated. In fact, language is a major weakness of the EU.

People in Europe tend to be less wealthy because they do not think out of the box. Many governments are downright anti-wealth.

28   indigenous   2014 Jul 14, 1:47am  

Peter P says

Many governments are downright anti-wealth.

Bingo

29   indigenous   2014 Jul 14, 1:50am  

I think a language that is useful to know is Latin. As you better understand the etymology of the language.

Not that I speak it other than 2 words that I have to use often when speaking to liberals. (non sequitur)

30   dublin hillz   2014 Jul 14, 2:12am  

English language was always considered the language of business so other cultures in europe learned it in order to be competative with and interact with other marketplace participants. It was a purely business matter. English language is the antidote to babylon.

31   bob2356   2014 Jul 14, 2:13am  

Peter P says

People in Europe tend to be less wealthy because they do not think out of the box. .

If you mean there is a lot less of the wealth held by the 1% and a lot more held by the rest of society then you are correct. Miiddle class families in a lot western europe makes almost as much as middle class families in the US. But they work 35-40 hours a week, take 6-8 weeks off a year, are frequently single earner, and pursue a much less consumer orientated lifestyle. A walk after dinner rather than a trip to walmart or the mall is the norm many other places.

Peter P says

Many governments are downright anti-wealth.

Governments are the will of the people. Those societies have chosen to be anti-wealth. It's pretty arrogant of you to assume that the greed is good american consumer society should be the goal of everyone around the world. There are a lot of people who look west over the atlantic and say why the hell do the americans want to live like that? Are they crazy?

32   NDrLoR   2014 Jul 14, 2:14am  

New Renter says

I drove a 68 HP 1.4 5 door diesel wagon not too long ago. I liked it. It took a while to get up to speed but no worse than a 1980's vintage economy car but this one had much more torque,

I bought a new '04 VW TDI 5 spd and loved it--its acceleration in high gear at highway speeds was phenomenal. However, by '06 it was already having problems at only 16K miles--a recall for the EGR cooler and a replacement of the tandem pump assembly 1,000 miles later, covered by warranty, made me feel skittish, so I traded it in on a new Altima 3.5 SE. It was perfect, but when it was five years old it had only 19K miles on it so I sold it back to a dealer for a nice price and bought an antique for half the money. I'm now driving a '96 Roadmaster with 52K miles--the perfect size, around 4,200 lbs., with the 260 HP LT-1 engine.

33   MMR   2014 Jul 14, 2:18am  

Interesting article from daily mail related to this post:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2687696/Could-smelling-farts-GOOD-Potent-gas-flatulence-help-prevent-cancer-strokes-heart-attacks-claim

Ceffer says

Americans are better at lighting their farts. Europeans think it a waste of good perfume.

34   dublin hillz   2014 Jul 14, 2:23am  

I've been to several countries in western europe and for the most part found that things there cost more than in united states. The one exception being portugal where going out to eat is a significantly better value proposition compared to united states especially where seafood and wine are concerned. In england, surprisingly some things were also better priced compared to united states (such as brazilian steakhouses) but others such as chinese restaurants were considerably more expensive. Items in stores such as clothes and television seems much more expensive than here for equivalent quality. I do like the european custom of restaurant establishment not presenting you the bill, the customer asks for it when they are ready to leave. They are not all about the table turnover ratio like here in united states. It's also nice how for the most part over there people are compensated better so that it's not expected how you "have to" tip the employee 15-18% like here. And no separate "sales tax" to hike up the food bill, the VAT is baked into the price.

35   dublin hillz   2014 Jul 14, 2:25am  

bob2356 says

A walk after dinner rather than a trip to walmart or the mall is the norm many
other places.

This is a stereotype. Plenty of people where I live go walking after dinner and have no interest whatsoever to go to walmart regardless of what time of the day....or what time of the year.

36   NDrLoR   2014 Jul 14, 2:27am  

bob2356 says

There are a lot of people who look west over the atlantic and say why the hell do the americans want to live like that? Are they crazy?

Well they can stay over there and live the way they want to and we can live the way we want to and we'll both be happy.

37   MisdemeanorRebel   2014 Jul 14, 2:30am  

New Renter says

This part is bullshit. The European anti-GMO has nothing to do with science and everything to do with protectionism.

But US GMO has more to do with bullshit exportation; versus naturalized hybrids, GMOs have a mixed record. It's not awesome massive increased productivity 100% of the time like Monsanto and the USG promulgate.

(I don't believe that GMOs are going to kill you, but I also don't believe they're going to save the planet and are wonder weapons against starvation that marketing has made them out to be - their job is to redirect limited cash surpluses back to the US in the form of next year's seed grain instead of saving seed).

bob2356 says

If you mean there is a lot less of the wealth held by the 1% and a lot more held by the rest of society then you are correct. Miiddle class families in a lot western europe makes almost as much as middle class families in the US. But they work 35-40 hours a week, take 6-8 weeks off a year, are frequently single earner, and pursue a much less consumer orientated lifestyle. A walk after dinner rather than a trip to walmart or the mall is the norm many other places.

And nobody loses a home or their life savings due to medical bills.

Oh, and you get free tech ed - you don't graduate with some generic HS diploma.

38   Peter P   2014 Jul 14, 2:35am  

bob2356 says

f you mean there is a lot less of the wealth held by the 1% and a lot more held by the rest of society then you are correct.

What's the point of working if "making it" is not as satisfying?

bob2356 says

Those societies have chosen to be anti-wealth. It's pretty arrogant of you to assume that the greed is good american consumer society should be the goal of everyone around the world.

This is why they are going nowhere.

There are exceptions though. Denmark is quite successful. Everything is awesome. They have pro-business policies.

No, greed is NOT good. Greed is the only fear of missing out. However, the sheer will to satisfy oneself is holy. Consumerism is not that bad. It is a platform with which regular folks can satisfy some of their wants.

39   bob2356   2014 Jul 14, 2:36am  

dublin hillz says

English language was always considered the language of business so other cultures in europe learned it in order to be competative with and interact with other marketplace participants. It was a purely business matter. English language is the antidote to babylon.

French was the language of business until the last 20-30 years. With 40 countries that are french speaking french is one of the three top languages for business around the world especially in africa and se asia . French is on the decline, but it's still important for doing business in big chunks of the world.

40   Peter P   2014 Jul 14, 2:37am  

dublin hillz says

English language was always considered the language of business so other cultures in europe learned it in order to be competative with and interact with other marketplace participants. It was a purely business matter. English language is the antidote to babylon.

English is also a PUN-tastic language. No wonder the two countries with the best comedians are UK and USA.

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