Reply to I know why Millenials can't afford houses and pay off their student loans..

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]European here. A lot of Americans don't appreciate the finer things in life, even though they can afford so much more. A Frenchman is fine renting, a small space too, because they want to be able to buy a niece piece of cheese and wine and fresh fish and a beautiful jacket. So if the millennials are doing what you say they are doing, kudos to them. [/quote]

You really cannot compare Europe to the US.  You have cradle to grave social benefits - we do not.  What happens when these folks who have screwed off their entire life arrive at retirement with no money?  They become a burden on their children or the state.[/quote]

[b]Those benefits are paid for by significant taxation and coupled with much lower salaries. I think net net it evens out over a life time[/b]. In any case, I think it's a philosophical difference. As I mentioned, given X amount of disposable income, a Frenchman will chose to rent vs. owning, in order to afford small luxuries/quality. Many Americans overemphasize housing or cars to the detriment of many many other things that make life pleasurable. I am most surprised by the very well educated and well off couples who seem to squirrel away millions while leading Spartan lives. Many post here. So no I don't judge a millennial, who is saddled with debt and facing crazy housing costs for not buying in to the current scheme.[/quote]

Well, kinda.  For the average worker, yes.[b]  But tell me about the last Microsoft, Apple, Google, Uber, life changing Pharma, Telsa, etc that came out of France?[/b]  You are paying with a lack of dynamism in the economy.  That is unique to the US.  You cannot wish for only one component of European model - you will get them all.  The US is the innovation engine for the world, France - not so much.  [/quote]

None of those things are irreplaceable; there's an entire world of OSS that could easily replace Microsoft and Apple, search engines besides Google, electric car companies besides Tesla, and taxi services besides Uber. It's also ironic that you mention Uber because the founder got the idea when visiting France. I'd also take France's transportation network over the US' any day; it's safer and far more diversified and less car-dependent. And the "life-changing pharma" is useless if you can't afford it, which the vast majority of Americans can't. That average worker you mentioned will live longer in France than in the US, and that's been the case for years.[/quote]

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