4 ms·

Doesn't explain why European countries don't seem to have the systemic failures that the US is prone to.

simonbarker87 6y ago
Maintenance. European countries seem much more bothered about maintaining things than America ... perhaps because US culture focusses more on new and making money with new rather than maintaining the existing. When I travel to the US I am always astounded at the level of disrepair, things just look broken and dilapidated, not everything but just enough that it feels like I'm in a "poor" country, which it is clearly not. Miami is the worst level of richness and poverty next to each other I've seen, New York looks like it is falling apart and San Fransisco clearly has no social services for the homeless at all. I've loved my time visiting America but there is a vibe of wear and tear that I don't feel in other developed nations.
- da_big_ghey 6y ago
  There are a number of reasons why this is the case. America is very spread out: we have hugely more infrastructure to maintain per person than Europe. We also underwent a colossal post-war expansion fueled by a once-in-a-nation's-lifetime economic boom, and the results of that are very costly to maintain. I also believe that Americans are more price-sensitive with respect to taxes than Europeans are: we are willing to put up with worse stuff to avoid tax hikes. You're right that there is a problem, but the traditional solution of just maintaining it better does not appear to be a workable answer.
disabled 6y ago
The European Union has strong regulation, and you pay for the stability in your taxes. As a dual US|EU (Croatian) citizen, who is culturally American, the EU can be quite a good deal. They have dealt with populism before, unlike the US, and have much more resilience against this. Even places like Croatia do not look so bad in comparison to the United States. Regardless, my family lives in Texas, while I am living abroad. I am already making serious plans to take care of my family for the next time this happens. It really is ridiculous, when you think about it.

Maintenance. European countries seem much more bothered about maintaining things than America ... perhaps because US culture focusses more on new and making money with new rather than maintaining the existing. When I travel to the US I am always astounded at the level of disrepair, things just look broken and dilapidated, not everything but just enough that it feels like I'm in a "poor" country, which it is clearly not. Miami is the worst level of richness and poverty next to each other I've seen, New York looks like it is falling apart and San Fransisco clearly has no social services for the homeless at all. I've loved my time visiting America but there is a vibe of wear and tear that I don't feel in other developed nations.

da_big_ghey 6y ago
There are a number of reasons why this is the case. America is very spread out: we have hugely more infrastructure to maintain per person than Europe. We also underwent a colossal post-war expansion fueled by a once-in-a-nation's-lifetime economic boom, and the results of that are very costly to maintain. I also believe that Americans are more price-sensitive with respect to taxes than Europeans are: we are willing to put up with worse stuff to avoid tax hikes. You're right that there is a problem, but the traditional solution of just maintaining it better does not appear to be a workable answer.

disabled 6y ago

The European Union has strong regulation, and you pay for the stability in your taxes. As a dual US|EU (Croatian) citizen, who is culturally American, the EU can be quite a good deal. They have dealt with populism before, unlike the US, and have much more resilience against this. Even places like Croatia do not look so bad in comparison to the United States. Regardless, my family lives in Texas, while I am living abroad. I am already making serious plans to take care of my family for the next time this happens. It really is ridiculous, when you think about it.