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As they say, the grass is always greener. I’m lucky to have worked with enough colleagues who have immigrated from Europe to realize that the situation there is

As they say, the grass is always greener. I’m lucky to have worked with enough colleagues who have immigrated from Europe to realize that the situation there is far from perfect. For example they are making 30-50% the pay of a software engineer in California or New York, and that’s in a “rich” european country like Germany or France. The chance of owning a house is almost impossible. They don’t have access to open spaces even remotely like Colorado. Obviously what you prefer will be up to you, but the US has a lot more options in terms of the lifestyle you can choose from.

anovikov 2y ago
That. And more generally, there's almost no chance to change your life for the better. Rich people there are those who became rich before this system was put in place (before WWII that is, sometimes in the XIX century or before), and then just pass the wealth down the generations. Or those who immigrated having earned (or stolen) the wealth abroad. For others, there's really no hope of breaking out of endless toil for mediocre wage. And yes, on the flip side, it's really hard to fall through the cracks completely, but that's what it is: to prevent people from losing, we also need to prevent them from winning - you can't have one without the other. And, collectively, they just stagnate. There's no progress at all in any side of life, while America still enjoys relatively quick - even if very unevenly distributed - economic growth.
- troyvit 2y ago
  Why be rich when you can be comfortable? I know many Europeans (and immigrants to Europe) who make plenty of advancement in their careers. I hear you about house ownership though.
- moi2388 2y ago
  I honestly don’t know what you’re talking about. Wages are lower, yes, but if I compare myself with my friends from the USA I have more disposable income corrected for purchasing power. I agree that working as en employee you will never get ahead. Which is why you should start your own company or invest if this is something you desire. Also Europe might fall behind ik economic growth, there is a lot of innovation coming from Europe, exactly because of stricter governmental regulation regarding green enerfy, recycling, consumer rights ef cetera
troyvit 2y ago
I had a starkly different experience. The Alps are different than the Rockies in terms of isolation but definitely no less beautiful. And taking a bus or train to a trek vs fighting up I-70 was a dream. I lived part time in New York and have plenty of colleagues on both coasts and saw how that pay was eaten up by massive rent and house payments and food costs. Not saying Europe is perfect but living in Colorado, where I was born, is like watching a best friend become a whore. Such beauty and light consumed by the hunger of the people using it.

anovikov 2y ago

That. And more generally, there's almost no chance to change your life for the better. Rich people there are those who became rich before this system was put in place (before WWII that is, sometimes in the XIX century or before), and then just pass the wealth down the generations. Or those who immigrated having earned (or stolen) the wealth abroad. For others, there's really no hope of breaking out of endless toil for mediocre wage. And yes, on the flip side, it's really hard to fall through the cracks completely, but that's what it is: to prevent people from losing, we also need to prevent them from winning - you can't have one without the other. And, collectively, they just stagnate. There's no progress at all in any side of life, while America still enjoys relatively quick - even if very unevenly distributed - economic growth.

troyvit 2y ago
Why be rich when you can be comfortable? I know many Europeans (and immigrants to Europe) who make plenty of advancement in their careers. I hear you about house ownership though.
moi2388 2y ago
I honestly don’t know what you’re talking about. Wages are lower, yes, but if I compare myself with my friends from the USA I have more disposable income corrected for purchasing power. I agree that working as en employee you will never get ahead. Which is why you should start your own company or invest if this is something you desire. Also Europe might fall behind ik economic growth, there is a lot of innovation coming from Europe, exactly because of stricter governmental regulation regarding green enerfy, recycling, consumer rights ef cetera

troyvit 2y ago

I had a starkly different experience. The Alps are different than the Rockies in terms of isolation but definitely no less beautiful. And taking a bus or train to a trek vs fighting up I-70 was a dream. I lived part time in New York and have plenty of colleagues on both coasts and saw how that pay was eaten up by massive rent and house payments and food costs. Not saying Europe is perfect but living in Colorado, where I was born, is like watching a best friend become a whore. Such beauty and light consumed by the hunger of the people using it.