NYT : How Europeans See America

[Celerity]

We asked young, ordinary Europeans to take a look at U.S. policies on everything from food to guns. As they discover facts about America, they’re not impressed.

Video at the link

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/28/opinion/europeans-view-americans.html?action=click&module=Opinion&pgtype=Homepage

Sometimes it’s useful to get an outside perspective. In the Video Op-Ed above, Europeans are shocked to learn that the American government does not guarantee social protections that citizens in other advanced economies take for granted.

Their reactions reflect how European governments prioritize citizen welfare, offering national assurances like universal health care and affordable education. Americans have grown accustomed to the exorbitant costs of basic human services, the absence of parental leave protection and the unregulated presence of chemicals in food — things that would “cause riots” in Europe.

It’s true that the United States grapples with a larger and more diverse population than that of any European country. But with the resources of the world’s largest economy and as keepers of the American dream, can’t policymakers find solutions?

[Turbineguy]

1. Well, it does seem pretty strange to sacrifice all those lives

to bring freedom to others and then take it away for yourself.

[tanyev]

2. I've wondered if one of the most horrifying things about Trump's presidency

is that it confirms that our government really is vulnerable to wild swings of policy if the insurgent group is sufficiently motivated. Europe was horrified by the Bush presidency, but when Obama won in 2008, it must have seemed like the U.S. was finally coming to its senses and was on its way to catch up in all those areas where we lag so far behind. Nope. The Trump presidency hit the ground running, not only trying to undo the gains made under Obama, but also going much further than the Bush team ever did in so many ways. And there was no real opposition until Dems took the House two years later. Even now, there’s no guarantee we can turn this back around.

[BeyondGeography]

3. They still have a spot in their hearts for us as people which is good to see

Imagine how nice we’d be if our country wasn’t a friggin hellhole in so many basic ways.