Let us compare America with Europe

[Losos]

Ok let's keep the politics out of this thread and just compare the 51 (Or is it 52 :?: ) States which make up the USA with either the four UK states or if you wish the 21 (or is it 27) states which make up the EU

America - Richest nation in the world - High standard of living, Single language, single currency, unified standards (almost) huge natural resources, large well educated population (OK not all are well educated but you get the idea)

European Union - Population now exceeds America, huge natural resources, pretty well educated, BUT:-
No common language
No common currency
No unified standards

So, we are always bemoaning the low cost of good quality tools in America, and the 'rip off Britain' effect (even to the extent of trying to find folk over there who will bring tools over as hand luggage when they visit here)

It could be like that in the EU, but of course it won't be, not in my lifetime anyway.

Sorry Tony I wanted to wade in on the EU thread which is now locked, please feel free to lock this as well if politics enter I would just like to see if people have considered the above facts.

BTW please feel free to correct me with the number of states, Americans I particularly apologise to in advance as I should know . The EU number, well it keeps changing doesn't it :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[Rich]

Hi Losos, sounds like a very interesting thread, unfortunately I can't reply without bringing a political slant on it, to me it's impossible as it encroaches into every single thing we do nowadays, happy hunting,

Rich.

 

[Jake]

It could be like that in the EU, but of course it won't be, not in my lifetime anyway.

The USA, of course, wasn't formed in 1958.

 

[MrJay]

Also, the grass is greener in America.

Thing is, I like Europe. Lots. I like that we have languages, I like our history and where it's got us. I like the varied political and social landscapes. I like the fact that we're in the middle. I like our art and literature, architecture and science. Europe rocks. Even the Italians.

 

[Jake]

and the 'rip off Britain' effect (even to the extent of trying to find folk over there who will bring tools over as hand luggage when they visit here)

In order to avoid customs duties and VAT (frequently complained of), which are what you have to pay to import from and export to countries which are not a member of a common market or customs union.

 

[Slim]

Well, for starters, the US is a single country. The EU has 27 member countries. I think purely on that basis it is difficult to compare them on the criteria you have mentioned.

As for standard of living, I think the poorest citizens in the US, may disagree with "High standard of living"

Incidently, the UK is expected to overtake the US in standard of living this year based on GDP.

 

[SketchUp Guru]

Ok let's keep the politics out of this thread and just compare the 51 (Or is it 52 :?: ) States which make up the USA...

Alright ! No one tells me anything around here! :evil: When did we get one or two new states? And how come they don't get to have stars on the flag? :lol: :lol:

 

[BradNaylor]

As far of Standard of living, I think the poorest citizens in the US, may disagree with "High standard of living"

Incidently, the UK is expected to overtake the US in standard of living this year based on GDP.

Our impression of the US is generally taken from TV and the movies, 90% of which are set in the affluent areas of Manhattan and California.

I travelled extensively though the southern states 15 years ago, and in very many areas conditions are more akin to the third world than the richest country on the planet.

Millions of people in America are living in conditions that would be considered completely unacceptable in eastern, never mind western Europe.

Ultimately, The Jerry Springer Show gives a truer representation of the USA than Friends or Cheers.

 

[Smudger]

Dave - I think at least one of them must be the State of Confusion, the other is still Uncharted Territory...

 

[StevieB]

Don't forget the state of denial!

Steve.

 

[Vormulac]

Ok let's keep the politics out of this thread and just compare the 51 (Or is it 52 :?: ) States which make up the USA...

Alright ! No one tells me anything around here! :evil: When did we get one or two new states? And how come they don't get to have stars on the flag? :lol: :lol:

You must have missed them Dave, they put the new stars on the back. :lol:

 

[tnimble]

Alright ! No one tells me anything around here! :evil: When did we get one or two new states? And how come they don't get to have stars on the flag? :lol: :lol:

Missed out on the news the last couple o years?

The 52 states:
Afghanistan, Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Iraq, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Virgin Islands, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming

 

[White House Workshop]

tnimble - you've missed a lot there! 10 in fact....

As someone who is married to an American (20 years) and has permanent residency (and a home) there as well as here my impressions are that it's not that different really. All the states complain about the feds, just as the European countries complain about 'Brussels' - political interference in their internal affairs, excessive taxation and waste, not having a loud enough voice, pork barrels (CAP?) and so on. Just like here 95% of the people are simply out there working hard and making a living for themselves. They have some of the same worries (mortgage rates, pensions, retail prices, fuel prices) and some others we don't have (medical insurance is the big one followed closely by huge college costs for their kids).

My son-in-law has a mortgage at 5.5% - not that different from mine.
He pays almost $1000 a month for family medical and dental insurance.
He only gets a tax break on pension savings of less than $10,000 a year.
His overall tax rate is within 2% of mine for similar incomes.
He needs to save at least $300,000 towards putting his kids through college - and they are all high IQ kids.
Local sales tax is only 5% instead of 17.5% VAT, and 10 miles north in New Hampshire there isn't any!
His property tax, = council tax, is almost $5000 a year for what we'd call a band C home.
He pays far more tax on his cars than we do - based on its value as defined by the department of motor vehicles. £300 a year road tax is peanuts to him.
He only pays $3.30 a gallon (US) for fuel, though.
and so on...

We experience that food prices are about the same in both countries, unless you go for organic, which are more expensive there. Clothes and 'stuff' tends to be cheaper, so there's an awful lot of junk for sale, and people buy it!

When you travel around the US it can be like moving from country to country as the local customs, food and society values can vary wildly. New York city is nothing like the rolling hills of Tennessee, and that's nothing like the deserts of Wyoming or Nevada, and so on.

Both the US and Europe are being whipped up into a state of constant fear by their governments. In the US it is exacerbated because people are allowed to carry guns, even concealed in many states. You don't push your luck unless you're armed or stupid..... but that does have a restraining effect. Anyway in 12 years of living there I never saw one dangerous incident other than road rage, which is all too prevalent around the big cities due to the massive amount of traffic.

My biggest complaint about the US is that it's illegal to lane split through stationary traffic when on a motorbike. You just have to sit there and fume with everyone else. My biggest 'like' about the US is that on the whole I have found them to be very friendly and helpful - except Harley riders! :roll:

 

[tnimble]

tnimble - you've missed a lot there! 10 in fact....

Indeed the bottom 10 fell off, prob a copy and paste fault.

 

[RogerS]

tnimble - you've missed a lot there! 10 in fact....

Indeed the bottom 10 fell off, prob a copy and paste fault.

You missed Guantanamo Bay :wink:

 

[tim]

WHW - I think you are spot on - my mum is a US citizen (been there over 15y years) and while she likes living there very much also misses lots from here.

We are about to become residents in Canada (my wife is already a citizen) and it becomes clearer as times moves on that there are huge up sides to going but there are also significant things to give up. I'm seeing it as a huge and exciting adventure and am very much looking forward to it.

I do think I would feel slightly less excited if it was the US though which was a real possibility until we decided against an offer. This is not against Americans on a personal level but I think that culturally we are very different indeed (as they say, separated by a common language) - whereas for me anyway, there is a clearer kinship with Canada.

Time will tell......eh?

Cheers

Tim

 

[White House Workshop]

Good luck in Canada Tim. Which province? I've lived in Montreal and loved every minute of it, even when the temperature dropped to MINUS 51 CELCIUS! I have a cousin near Toronto that we visit - I prefer Quebec as the healthcare is better there, but each to their own. Enjoy the trip!

We have the best of both worlds as we have homes in both the US and the UK. I even have a motorbike in each country! When we get fed up with one we move to the other for a while. For example, we said if GWB was elected we were leaving, so we did, and in a cuple of years' time it'll be the right time to go back for a while - determined by the time it'll take for my wife to complete her PhD.

I just checked a few of my old wood suppliers - wood prices are creeping up to extortionate levels in the US. American Cherry can be bought here for the same price now!

 

[tim]

Good luck in Canada Tim. Which province? I've lived in Montreal and loved every minute of it, even when the temperature dropped to MINUS 51 CELCIUS! I have a cousin near Toronto that we visit - I prefer Quebec as the healthcare is better there, but each to their own. Enjoy the trip!

We have the best of both worlds as we have homes in both the US and the UK. I even have a motorbike in each country! When we get fed up with one we move to the other for a while. For example, we said if GWB was elected we were leaving, so we did, and in a cuple of years' time it'll be the right time to go back for a while - determined by the time it'll take for my wife to complete her PhD.

I just checked a few of my old wood suppliers - wood prices are creeping up to extortionate levels in the US. American Cherry can be bought here for the same price now!

Ontario - my wife has a job at the Sick Kids hospital in Toronto. Where does your cousin live?

Cheers

Tim

 

[White House Workshop]

Ontario - my wife has a job at the Sick Kids hospital in Toronto. Where does your cousin live?

Cheers

Tim

Erin - about 30 miles westnorthwest. Well technically she's in Erin but you can only see 2 other houses from her place and the coyotes are frequent night visitors! Plenty of black bears, too. Cool place.

Enjoy the Toronto traffic. :wink: It's worse than New York, Paris and London put together.......... but all depends on where you live relative to workplace of course!

 

[tim]

Ontario - my wife has a job at the Sick Kids hospital in Toronto. Where does your cousin live?

Cheers

Tim

Erin - about 30 miles westnorthwest. Well technically she's in Erin but you can only see 2 other houses from her place and the coyotes are frequent night visitors! Plenty of black bears, too. Cool place.

Enjoy the Toronto traffic. :wink: It's worse than New York, Paris and London put together.......... but all depends on where you live relative to workplace of course!

We are looking to live out along the Niagara escarpment near Milton/ Burlington so Sarah will be going in by Go train (about 40 mins) because as you say, driving is nuts!

Cheers

Tim