UK, Italy, France quality decline, now poorer than all 50 states

[Anonymous]

I like everything more in the US aside from food supply quality and healthcare costs. It's much better healthcare, but I hate that it is so unpredictable in terms of cost and hard to navigate. Still would not go back for much lower salaries and a life that feels more rigid and small with no possibilities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not everything is about money. These countries have fewer social problems and live longer in better health.

This. Quality of life in the US sucks for that majority of us at this point.

I actually don't think it does! I think we just have a morale problem. We somehow think that everyone else has it better, but they don't. I think we need a big campaign to bring happiness back to the US and that starts with less complaining and more looking internally at all the great things you do have. Of course, Americans also fritter away too much money on consumer items, the latest car, etc and then complain about spending 10k a year on health care. I know I complained about my unpaid maternity leave, but I make 3x what my counterpart in Europe does (165k vs 50k). Even with 12 weeks unpaid, I still made more that year.

Yes, some things do need fixed in America, but the average person has so many great things going on in their lives. We just can't see it because we're blinded by nonstop complaining on tiktok and reddit (I'm convinced some of these are foreign bots).

But do you pay a lot of tax on what you made and what do you get for those taxes? And those premiums, which I'm know are huge? I just feel like I'm spending all my money and not getting much for it. Wars.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not everything is about money. These countries have fewer social problems and live longer in better health.

This. Quality of life in the US sucks for that majority of us at this point.

People in those countries live longer with less.

Less WHAT?

You’re still not getting it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not everything is about money. These countries have fewer social problems and live longer in better health.

This. Quality of life in the US sucks for that majority of us at this point.

I actually don't think it does! I think we just have a morale problem. We somehow think that everyone else has it better, but they don't. I think we need a big campaign to bring happiness back to the US and that starts with less complaining and more looking internally at all the great things you do have. Of course, Americans also fritter away too much money on consumer items, the latest car, etc and then complain about spending 10k a year on health care. I know I complained about my unpaid maternity leave, but I make 3x what my counterpart in Europe does (165k vs 50k). Even with 12 weeks unpaid, I still made more that year.

Yes, some things do need fixed in America, but the average person has so many great things going on in their lives. We just can't see it because we're blinded by nonstop complaining on tiktok and reddit (I'm convinced some of these are foreign bots).

Agree with this. On the internet American women constantly complain about their lack of leave or unpaid leave, but rarely mention their much much higher salaries.

At one point I was planning to be a trailing spouse in the UK and facing a $100k+ salary cut. Everyone kept going on about the paid parental leave (which from the government is around $400 a week), as if 12 more weeks of paid leave makes up for a six figure salary cut over decades. Who would trade millions of dollars for 12 weeks of paid leave??

The truth is we don’t have parental leave because it’s less necessary. Women in most European countries don’t have a spouse or partner who can support a family. It takes 2 office job salaries to equal almost 1 office job salary in the US. Here if an American woman wants to stay home, she can do so and isn’t dependent on the government.

Oh dear, the clown escaped from her bubble again and is bothering every rational adult she encounters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I worked for a NY based US company bought be a large German company. I was part of sr. Mgt team. A few things shocked the Germans in their visits to NYC.
1) big Dunkin’ Donuts coffee cups!! Very jealous
2) amount of kids we have. All of my mgt team had 3-4 kids and nearly all had SAHM wives.
3) salaries and bonus much higher.
4) our commutes were longer than the expected

The Germans all seemed to have working spouses, most rented, most lived close the office in smaller places.

My second job an English company and my boss was shocked I mentioned I have a 2,000 sf basement!!! He never heard of such a thing. Once for fun I walked laptop around. It is finished, he was also shocked I had 4 cars

Basements are not common in houses in the UK. He was probably secretly judging you or at the minimum somewhat bemused re the four cars.

+1

This person is delusional if s/he thinks the notoriously efficient Germans are “totes jealous” of their profligate spending and wasteful lifestyle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not everything is about money. These countries have fewer social problems and live longer in better health.

This. Quality of life in the US sucks for that majority of us at this point.

I actually don't think it does! I think we just have a morale problem. We somehow think that everyone else has it better, but they don't. I think we need a big campaign to bring happiness back to the US and that starts with less complaining and more looking internally at all the great things you do have. Of course, Americans also fritter away too much money on consumer items, the latest car, etc and then complain about spending 10k a year on health care. I know I complained about my unpaid maternity leave, but I make 3x what my counterpart in Europe does (165k vs 50k). Even with 12 weeks unpaid, I still made more that year.

Yes, some things do need fixed in America, but the average person has so many great things going on in their lives. We just can't see it because we're blinded by nonstop complaining on tiktok and reddit (I'm convinced some of these are foreign bots).

But do you pay a lot of tax on what you made and what do you get for those taxes? And those premiums, which I'm know are huge? I just feel like I'm spending all my money and not getting much for it. Wars.

Have you ever lived in Europe? Do you have European friends?

I have more money and investments that provide me freedom
A larger, nicer home with less mortgage debt
More space
A safer, new vehicle
More disposable income

Go do some research on effective tax rates and various metrics so you can see how much less you pay in taxes when considering things like state taxes, VAT etc.

[Anonymous]

Taxes are high in Europe even for low wage earners. I’m over here right now and I can’t really see what people are getting for all of these taxes.

[Anonymous]

The UK and Europe with a few exceptions learned too late what unfettered immigration had done to their economic and social well being. The tide toward nationalism is rising and eventually economic recovery will follow.

The US was fortunate to put an end to open borders before a final tipping point was reached. But it will take time and expense to right the ship.

[Anonymous]

I'm waiting for 2008 Nobel Prize winner Paul Krugman™ to pop up and tell us how wrong we all still are and promote his substack newsletter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The UK and Europe with a few exceptions learned too late what unfettered immigration had done to their economic and social well being. The tide toward nationalism is rising and eventually economic recovery will follow.

The US was fortunate to put an end to open borders before a final tipping point was reached. But it will take time and expense to right the ship.

The UK is an intriguing tale. 30 years of mass migration, virtually unrestrained, major population growth, but the average Brit is effectively poorer than they were in the 1990s. Especially when factoring in much higher housing costs due to housing shortages on top of terrible salary growth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The UK and Europe with a few exceptions learned too late what unfettered immigration had done to their economic and social well being. The tide toward nationalism is rising and eventually economic recovery will follow.

The US was fortunate to put an end to open borders before a final tipping point was reached. But it will take time and expense to right the ship.

The UK is an intriguing tale. 30 years of mass migration, virtually unrestrained, major population growth, but the average Brit is effectively poorer than they were in the 1990s. Especially when factoring in much higher housing costs due to housing shortages on top of terrible salary growth.

So you’re blaming immigration for the UK’s economic woes rather than the impact of the global financial crisis and Brexit?

Did you know that the UK’s population increased by 20% in 30 years while Australia’s increased by 50%? And Australia has gotten wealthier. Make of that what you will.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The UK and Europe with a few exceptions learned too late what unfettered immigration had done to their economic and social well being. The tide toward nationalism is rising and eventually economic recovery will follow.

The US was fortunate to put an end to open borders before a final tipping point was reached. But it will take time and expense to right the ship.

The UK is an intriguing tale. 30 years of mass migration, virtually unrestrained, major population growth, but the average Brit is effectively poorer than they were in the 1990s. Especially when factoring in much higher housing costs due to housing shortages on top of terrible salary growth.

So you’re blaming immigration for the UK’s economic woes rather than the impact of the global financial crisis and Brexit?

Did you know that the UK’s population increased by 20% in 30 years while Australia’s increased by 50%? And Australia has gotten wealthier. Make of that what you will.

NP- Apples and oranges. You're comparing a country 30+ times the size of the UK with 42 million fewer people...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The UK and Europe with a few exceptions learned too late what unfettered immigration had done to their economic and social well being. The tide toward nationalism is rising and eventually economic recovery will follow.

The US was fortunate to put an end to open borders before a final tipping point was reached. But it will take time and expense to right the ship.

The UK is an intriguing tale. 30 years of mass migration, virtually unrestrained, major population growth, but the average Brit is effectively poorer than they were in the 1990s. Especially when factoring in much higher housing costs due to housing shortages on top of terrible salary growth.

So you’re blaming immigration for the UK’s economic woes rather than the impact of the global financial crisis and Brexit?

Did you know that the UK’s population increased by 20% in 30 years while Australia’s increased by 50%? And Australia has gotten wealthier. Make of that what you will.

And they all have universal healthcare and better food than the US.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The UK and Europe with a few exceptions learned too late what unfettered immigration had done to their economic and social well being. The tide toward nationalism is rising and eventually economic recovery will follow.

The US was fortunate to put an end to open borders before a final tipping point was reached. But it will take time and expense to right the ship.

The UK is an intriguing tale. 30 years of mass migration, virtually unrestrained, major population growth, but the average Brit is effectively poorer than they were in the 1990s. Especially when factoring in much higher housing costs due to housing shortages on top of terrible salary growth.

So you’re blaming immigration for the UK’s economic woes rather than the impact of the global financial crisis and Brexit?

Did you know that the UK’s population increased by 20% in 30 years while Australia’s increased by 50%? And Australia has gotten wealthier. Make of that what you will.

NP- Apples and oranges. You're comparing a country 30+ times the size of the UK with 42 million fewer people...

Huh? I’m a little confused. I’m comparing the UK and Australia.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The UK and Europe with a few exceptions learned too late what unfettered immigration had done to their economic and social well being. The tide toward nationalism is rising and eventually economic recovery will follow.

The US was fortunate to put an end to open borders before a final tipping point was reached. But it will take time and expense to right the ship.

The UK is an intriguing tale. 30 years of mass migration, virtually unrestrained, major population growth, but the average Brit is effectively poorer than they were in the 1990s. Especially when factoring in much higher housing costs due to housing shortages on top of terrible salary growth.

So you’re blaming immigration for the UK’s economic woes rather than the impact of the global financial crisis and Brexit?

Did you know that the UK’s population increased by 20% in 30 years while Australia’s increased by 50%? And Australia has gotten wealthier. Make of that what you will.

NP- Apples and oranges. You're comparing a country 30+ times the size of the UK with 42 million fewer people...

Huh? I’m a little confused. I’m comparing the UK and Australia.

Yes, exactly. Australia is 30 times larger than the UK and has 42 mil fewer people than the UK. These are not figures you can compare in the way you are trying to.