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>Many Americans used to admire the UK’s National Health Service, but right now the whole system is ailing. As a byproduct of the austerity measures from the pa

by bkq 4y ago

>Many Americans used to admire the UK’s National Health Service, but right now the whole system is ailing. As a byproduct of the austerity measures from the past 12 years. Though, I'd much rather have an NHS over what the US has, where healthcare is rationed through private insurers and drives people into debt. Another commenter mentioned this coming off as a weird article. I think it comes off as just plain arrogant. Pointing to Europe that has suffered from the pandemic, and now suffering from the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and going "Now the US is doing better than Europe". It's a pretty disgusting attitude to have. Overall, this just reeks of that arrogant American exceptionalism.

throwaway642012 4y ago
I felt the same, as if the author was relishing the Schadenfreude in EUs misfortune.
mantas 4y ago
> Another commenter mentioned this coming off as a weird article. I think it comes off as just plain arrogant. Pointing to Europe that has suffered from the pandemic, and now suffering from the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and going "Now the US is doing better than Europe". It's a pretty disgusting attitude to have. As a european, a lot of european „suffering“ was brought by ourselves. Pandemic especially hard on regions that shifted from industry to service to tourism economy. Which, as it turns out, is super fragile. Russian invasion is the result of several european states being buddy-buddy with Russia bankrolling it's war machine even after Georgia and Crimea. Energy crisis is mostly because of stupid anti-nuclear stance. Which is only our own fault. Well, and our corrupt politicians. But it's we the voters who didn't keep them accountable. We're also quickly going down the same neoliberalism drain as US with marketising everything. We're going to loose euro advantages while getting US disadvantages.
TMWNN 4y ago
>now suffering from the Russian invasion of Ukraine As mantas said, the energy/economic issues Europe faces from the Ukraine War is 100% self-inflicted. First, Poland, the Baltics, and other ex-Warsaw Pact countries have by and large done their best to wean themselves off the Russian oil and gas teat they fed from during the Cold War, even while Germany and other far wealthier countries did their best to suckle ever more from the same teat. Since energy is fungible, the far higher prices they are now having to pay affect the rest of the world, even those like the US and UK that never relied on Russian energy themselves. Second, it's entirely possible that greater European investment in defense might have dissuaded Russia from the February invasion. Or, at the least, be able to contribute now more than the relatively paltry sums and supplies they have so far sent. Again, the ex-Communist countries by and large both met the 2% GDP spending guideline that their far wealthier NATO fellow members have mostly ignored, and are sending as much gear as they can without endangering their own defense. Consider two moments four years ago: 1) Trump and NATO secretary-general and former Norwegian PM Jens Stoltenberg argue on camera (video <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vpwkdmwui3k https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vpwkdmwui3k>, article <https://pbs.org/newshour/politics/at-nato-trump-says-germany-is-totally-controlled-by-russia https://pbs.org/newshour/politics/at-nato-trump-says-germany...>) about dependence on Russia. Who turned out to be right? Who turned out to be completely, totally, 100% wrong? 2) Trump at the UN warns that Germany is endangering itself by increasing dependence on Russia. German envoys laugh <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfJv9QYrlwgepe https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfJv9QYrlwgepe>, including foreign minister Heiko Maas. Who was right, Trump or the Germans? Both incidents got much coverage in the US and European press, with the usual bien-pensants describing them as yet another example of Trumpian foolishness versus the sensible Europeans. Had the sensible Europeans listened to the Trumpian foolishness even four years ago, Europe would now be secure against Russian threats. Germany (and thus Europe) would not now face an existential threat to its economy and industry from 200%-1000% rises in gas bills, that is if there is gas to purchase at all regardless of price. This is the greatest bungling by German and Europeans in 75 years and, again, it is 100% self-inflicted. (This is now where the same bien-pensants' sycophants now pull out the "Even a broken clock is right twice a day"/"Trump said everything about anything so was bound to get something right"/"Trump also said uncomplimentary things about NATO so should have been arrested as a traitor" canards. And yes, I've seen all three responses, almost word for word, when I point to the above videos.)
foogazi 4y ago
> Pointing to Europe that has suffered from the pandemic, and now suffering from the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and going "Now the US is doing better than Europe". What’s wrong in pointing that out ? Europe has spent money on social services but can’t keep it’s citizens safe No covid vaccine production, land war on the continent - things are great until they are not

by bkq 4y ago

throwaway642012 4y ago

I felt the same, as if the author was relishing the Schadenfreude in EUs misfortune.

mantas 4y ago

> Another commenter mentioned this coming off as a weird article. I think it comes off as just plain arrogant. Pointing to Europe that has suffered from the pandemic, and now suffering from the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and going "Now the US is doing better than Europe". It's a pretty disgusting attitude to have. As a european, a lot of european „suffering“ was brought by ourselves. Pandemic especially hard on regions that shifted from industry to service to tourism economy. Which, as it turns out, is super fragile. Russian invasion is the result of several european states being buddy-buddy with Russia bankrolling it's war machine even after Georgia and Crimea. Energy crisis is mostly because of stupid anti-nuclear stance. Which is only our own fault. Well, and our corrupt politicians. But it's we the voters who didn't keep them accountable. We're also quickly going down the same neoliberalism drain as US with marketising everything. We're going to loose euro advantages while getting US disadvantages.

TMWNN 4y ago

>now suffering from the Russian invasion of Ukraine As mantas said, the energy/economic issues Europe faces from the Ukraine War is 100% self-inflicted. First, Poland, the Baltics, and other ex-Warsaw Pact countries have by and large done their best to wean themselves off the Russian oil and gas teat they fed from during the Cold War, even while Germany and other far wealthier countries did their best to suckle ever more from the same teat. Since energy is fungible, the far higher prices they are now having to pay affect the rest of the world, even those like the US and UK that never relied on Russian energy themselves. Second, it's entirely possible that greater European investment in defense might have dissuaded Russia from the February invasion. Or, at the least, be able to contribute now more than the relatively paltry sums and supplies they have so far sent. Again, the ex-Communist countries by and large both met the 2% GDP spending guideline that their far wealthier NATO fellow members have mostly ignored, and are sending as much gear as they can without endangering their own defense. Consider two moments four years ago: 1) Trump and NATO secretary-general and former Norwegian PM Jens Stoltenberg argue on camera (video <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vpwkdmwui3k https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vpwkdmwui3k>, article <https://pbs.org/newshour/politics/at-nato-trump-says-germany-is-totally-controlled-by-russia https://pbs.org/newshour/politics/at-nato-trump-says-germany...>) about dependence on Russia. Who turned out to be right? Who turned out to be completely, totally, 100% wrong? 2) Trump at the UN warns that Germany is endangering itself by increasing dependence on Russia. German envoys laugh <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfJv9QYrlwgepe https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfJv9QYrlwgepe>, including foreign minister Heiko Maas. Who was right, Trump or the Germans? Both incidents got much coverage in the US and European press, with the usual bien-pensants describing them as yet another example of Trumpian foolishness versus the sensible Europeans. Had the sensible Europeans listened to the Trumpian foolishness even four years ago, Europe would now be secure against Russian threats. Germany (and thus Europe) would not now face an existential threat to its economy and industry from 200%-1000% rises in gas bills, that is if there is gas to purchase at all regardless of price. This is the greatest bungling by German and Europeans in 75 years and, again, it is 100% self-inflicted. (This is now where the same bien-pensants' sycophants now pull out the "Even a broken clock is right twice a day"/"Trump said everything about anything so was bound to get something right"/"Trump also said uncomplimentary things about NATO so should have been arrested as a traitor" canards. And yes, I've seen all three responses, almost word for word, when I point to the above videos.)

foogazi 4y ago

> Pointing to Europe that has suffered from the pandemic, and now suffering from the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and going "Now the US is doing better than Europe". What’s wrong in pointing that out ? Europe has spent money on social services but can’t keep it’s citizens safe No covid vaccine production, land war on the continent - things are great until they are not