Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm 56 and my big stressor right now is getting two kids through college, plus care of my disabled spouse.

We have some college money saved but not a ton. I was planning on paying for much of college from my paycheck but then my spouse had to leave work so now we are living on my paycheck plus his disability. Even with our reduced income, there's not a lot of financial aid for our kids, though. I'm also still trying to save for retirement, and to keep my job to keep our health insurance.

I don't know what our life would be like with the equivalent circumstances in different EU countries, but I think they may have better support for the disabled, and I think college costs are less of a factor as well.

Many kids don't go to college in the UK. They get funneled to trade schools.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: So, after one dinner party, you decided ALL Europeans are healthy and ALL Americans are tired out?

Of course OP never said that.
She was struck by the contrast and posted her observation.

I also think Europeans have a better quality of life.

They have an objectively better health care system.

They feel no need for McMansions and big cars. They value family, good food, etc.

If you think our country is so enviable, you have not been paying attention to what is going on politically or the gun violence we have grown accustomed to.

Yet all of the European doctors that work in the US all own large McMansions and luxury big cars.

Anonymous wrote:Cheerios in the states contain chemicals not permitted in Cheerios in Europe.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These were friends of friends who live in Europe. They were French, German, Portuguese, and Swedish. Most people were 55+. They were decently well-off but not rich. Many were already retired.

Throughout the whole night, nobody compulsively looked at their phones. The only phone use was to take pictures and play music.
Not a single person was overweight.
Everyone looked 10-20 years younger. And yes one of them smoked, they all drank, they all spent time in the sun.
Everyone was vibrant and happy.
Everyone had so much energy and positivity, much more than 30-40something Americans. Nobody was tired.
Nobody complained of ailments or back problems or excessive medications.

I asked how everyone lived so well and looked so great. They said it was because they had universal healthcare, less stress, great food, and didnt feel beaten down by work throughout their lives.

America is doing it wrong.

France can no longer sustain the low retirement age. They have serious financial problems and have to raise the minimum retirement age.

Greece has ongoing serious financial issues. Everyone wants to work government jobs, i.e. get paid for not working. Those with hustle only want payment in cash. Everyone wants to retire at 40. No one pays taxes. This model is not sustainable.

You forgot to add Italy to your list. My uncles, aunts, cousins all live there. I'm from there. Those cousins of mine are lucky to have the jobs they have, which are low-level municipal office jobs or blue collar jobs which were basically handed down to them by their fathers or uncles. Try being an outsider looking for a halfway decent job, very difficult. My uncle was a mail carrier for his entire working career. He was looked upon by his friends as one of the lucky ones that got such a coveted and secure job. There's very little in the way of entrepreneurship in much of Europe. It's a different mentality. You are born into your socio-economic class and there's a high chance that this is exactly where you'll stay. So if you know this already at the age of let's say 25, why bother working hard to try to achieve anything greater - it's likely never going to happen so just go on vacation for the entire month of August. It's not like its going to kill your career, or that all of your peers are leapfrogging over you in their careers while you lounge around on the beaches of Positano. No because they're all right there on the chaise lounge right next to you.

Trust me when I tell you, life there (most of Europe) is not that great if you're anything below upper middle class. At least in the US you can be born to a single mother, living in a shelter, and somehow make it out and make something of yourself.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These were friends of friends who live in Europe. They were French, German, Portuguese, and Swedish. Most people were 55+. They were decently well-off but not rich. Many were already retired.

Throughout the whole night, nobody compulsively looked at their phones. The only phone use was to take pictures and play music.
Not a single person was overweight.
Everyone looked 10-20 years younger. And yes one of them smoked, they all drank, they all spent time in the sun.
Everyone was vibrant and happy.
Everyone had so much energy and positivity, much more than 30-40something Americans. Nobody was tired.
Nobody complained of ailments or back problems or excessive medications.

I asked how everyone lived so well and looked so great. They said it was because they had universal healthcare, less stress, great food, and didnt feel beaten down by work throughout their lives.

America is doing it wrong.

France can no longer sustain the low retirement age. They have serious financial problems and have to raise the minimum retirement age.

Greece has ongoing serious financial issues. Everyone wants to work government jobs, i.e. get paid for not working. Those with hustle only want payment in cash. Everyone wants to retire at 40. No one pays taxes. This model is not sustainable.

Anonymous wrote:The Japanese work more overtime than the U.S. or Europe, but they still look young and fit. Must be diet.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cheerios in the states contain chemicals not permitted in Cheerios in Europe.

I want to hear more about this and other foods that are different, and how do I start avoiding them in the US

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These were friends of friends who live in Europe. They were French, German, Portuguese, and Swedish. Most people were 55+. They were decently well-off but not rich. Many were already retired.

Throughout the whole night, nobody compulsively looked at their phones. The only phone use was to take pictures and play music.
Not a single person was overweight.
Everyone looked 10-20 years younger. And yes one of them smoked, they all drank, they all spent time in the sun.
Everyone was vibrant and happy.
Everyone had so much energy and positivity, much more than 30-40something Americans. Nobody was tired.
Nobody complained of ailments or back problems or excessive medications.

I asked how everyone lived so well and looked so great. They said it was because they had universal healthcare, less stress, great food, and didnt feel beaten down by work throughout their lives.

America is doing it wrong.

France can no longer sustain the low retirement age. They have serious financial problems and have to raise the minimum retirement age.

Greece has ongoing serious financial issues. Everyone wants to work government jobs, i.e. get paid for not working. Those with hustle only want payment in cash. Everyone wants to retire at 40. No one pays taxes. This model is not sustainable.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These were friends of friends who live in Europe. They were French, German, Portuguese, and Swedish. Most people were 55+. They were decently well-off but not rich. Many were already retired.

Throughout the whole night, nobody compulsively looked at their phones. The only phone use was to take pictures and play music.
Not a single person was overweight.
Everyone looked 10-20 years younger. And yes one of them smoked, they all drank, they all spent time in the sun.
Everyone was vibrant and happy.
Everyone had so much energy and positivity, much more than 30-40something Americans. Nobody was tired.
Nobody complained of ailments or back problems or excessive medications.

I asked how everyone lived so well and looked so great. They said it was because they had universal healthcare, less stress, great food, and didnt feel beaten down by work throughout their lives.

America is doing it wrong.

That's why OP's post is rather myopic. It deals with ppl who already "made it" and probably care less what younger generation has to go through. Health of a nation is determined by large where it's young gen is and their upward mobility, mental and physical health, access to healthcare/education and ability to retire one day.

France can no longer sustain the low retirement age. They have serious financial problems and have to raise the minimum retirement age.

Greece has ongoing serious financial issues. Everyone wants to work government jobs, i.e. get paid for not working. Those with hustle only want payment in cash. Everyone wants to retire at 40. No one pays taxes. This model is not sustainable.

Anonymous wrote:Cheerios in the states contain chemicals not permitted in Cheerios in Europe.

Anonymous wrote:These were friends of friends who live in Europe. They were French, German, Portuguese, and Swedish. Most people were 55+. They were decently well-off but not rich. Many were already retired.

Throughout the whole night, nobody compulsively looked at their phones. The only phone use was to take pictures and play music.
Not a single person was overweight.
Everyone looked 10-20 years younger. And yes one of them smoked, they all drank, they all spent time in the sun.
Everyone was vibrant and happy.
Everyone had so much energy and positivity, much more than 30-40something Americans. Nobody was tired.
Nobody complained of ailments or back problems or excessive medications.

I asked how everyone lived so well and looked so great. They said it was because they had universal healthcare, less stress, great food, and didnt feel beaten down by work throughout their lives.

America is doing it wrong.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry, PP above, just realized that this was a health-specific post and not a general life post. But I guess it's all related.

The universal health care discussion belongs in politics and the work one belongs in jobs.
But yes, our health care (tied to our jobs) and our jobs that we need so we can eat and not be homeless suck. I don't know OP's point in rubbing that in our faces? Thanks?