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The work ethos is different as well, europeans tend to regard extreme outliers in wealth as extreme outliers, less as role models. I think part of these stems
by rmc 14y ago
The work ethos is different as well, europeans tend to regard extreme outliers in wealth as extreme outliers, less as role models.
I think part of these stems from the fact that some of the extreme outliers in europe (in terms of wealth or political power) often inherited their wealth. Whereas the USA has the attitude that "This is America, the land of oppertunity, where an illiterate immigrant can step off the boat in ellis island and if he works hard enough, he can own a skyscraper in Manhatten". Whereas, in Europe, there are many people who inherited their wealth. There is also a much more noticable class system.
Strong employee rights comes from blue collar people who, being aware of the class system, do not believe that they will ever be mega rich, and hence fought for more rights & laws for themselves.
(Not to say either 'meme' is correct, I'm just pointing out what people think, which informs what they think.)
- oscargrouch 14y agoI disagree with you, i think it has much more to do with the concept of happiness.. In US where the capitalism is too strong, people tendo to believe that wealthy = happiness Despite not been a european, but a brazilian, i think europeans understand that happiness its a more tricky and uneasy concept to conquer.. and is made of much more values.. even the simplest ones.. They are far more sophisticated in human relationships and the concept of happiness.. but lets not generalize..i know a lot of sophisticated americans.. but is much harder to get there.. cause it needs one to get free from its own dominating culture.. In Brazil we have similar regulations, and labor parties are stronger and popular.. We try to work and be happy with our work, and make a living, but also we want time to have fun, to be with the family.. even if you have to earn less money.. those are different perspectives from the life quality we all want and spect.. different equations, different answers.. who are right? i think it always depends.. what is good for you may not be good for me.. and this means it cannot be enforced by the stronger part of the relationship.. freedom is based on choice.. on the capacity and possibility of choosing.. if someone stronger, be it a enterpreteneur or a country, enforce someone to take a path, that is just limiting individual freedom.. and that is a real threat.. People are different, and have different life values.. we should protect that.. not enforce the "everyone should fit into this box, please!" behavior I tend to like more the way europeans live life than our brothers from north.. because its everything about happiness not about (just) money, and i think they(europeans) are more conscious about it. Life should be driven by passion, making a living, money, wealthy.. should be just a consequence of that.. or not :)
- rmc 14y agoInteresting perspective, I hadn't thought of that.