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America vs the World: Quality of Life

Short Read

Some of the claims in the article are untrue (70% of taxes going to the military) and others are just nuts (the government is going to lock the place down...they don’t want their “recruits” escaping. They don’t want YOU escaping)

However, let's take a look at the primary claim:

"You (Americans) have the worst quality of life in the developed world – by a wide margin"

and some of the supporting claims

Americans have:

-less access to health care

-poorer diets (less healthy)

-Low quality food (more processed, more contamination, etc)

-More reliance on meds

-Less vacation time (more stress)

-Expensive education (starting life with high debt)

-Greater Debt Overall

-Higher Bankruptucy rates (see above on debts)

-Less freedom (drug tests, surveillence)

-Misinformed citizenry (Fox News, Right/Left wing media)

-An uneducated population

-Corrupt politicians

-Crushing Debt

-etc, etc, etc.

I'd love to hear from anyone, but especially those of you who reside outside of America and can provide objective viewpoints.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by LarryL on January 27, 2011 at 11:35am

Missed one:

-Greater religiosity

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Permalink Reply by Jennifer Nicole on January 27, 2011 at 12:59pm

And crappy maternity leave/nonexistent paternity leave.

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Permalink Reply by Maia Rodriguez on January 30, 2011 at 11:55pm

Oh ain't that the truth???!!!

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Permalink Reply by Park Bierbower on January 27, 2011 at 1:41pm

yeah, the defense budget stat was wrong. according to the CBO, in 2009-2010 it was 42-57% of tax revenue. That makes me feel better.

I can't argue with anything in this treatise, really. I've been planning on leaving this country for several years~ Have to wait until I'm done with my military service, or find somewhere that won't extradite me lol

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Permalink Reply by Will Faithless Sophia on January 27, 2011 at 1:46pm

Are there not a few states in the North East of the US that buck the trend?

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Permalink Reply by LarryL on January 27, 2011 at 1:55pm

Yes, I suppose Vermont and New Hampshire are considered more "European like" for the dozen or so people living in each state (maybe slightly higher).

For the 99.5% of people who don't live in the liberal havens of NH/VT, woe is us.

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Permalink Reply by KillerDiller on February 1, 2011 at 7:02pm

I live in New England and have to say that New Hampshire is by no means a liberal utopia. People tend to think that Vermont and New Hampshire are the same state, but this is far from the case. New Hampshire is arguably the most conservative of the New England states. In my experience, it is more known for fireworks stores, liquor outlets, and tattoo parlors than organic farms.

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Permalink Reply by Maia Rodriguez on January 31, 2011 at 12:00am

It's hard to know whether or not we have more corrupt politicians. I'd say those run rampant in just about every country. Do we have more? Is that subjective?

As for misinformed Citizenry, I'd say that goes hand in hand with the lack of education. I grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, and made lots of trips to Canada since it was right around the corner. They always joked (and rightly so) that Americans had NO idea about the Canadian government, yet Canadians know about the American government. Why do we always seem so concerned about our own country? There are other governments literally attached to us at the hip. Wouldn't we want to inform ourselves better?

I also remember talking to my old boss from Budapest. He said he noticed a gradual change in his 3 daughters behavior upon coming to this country. There is more of a respect and discipline in Budapest that is not seen here in the US. Let's face it. We're getting fat and lazy. We eat fast food because we can. We don't learn how to cook right, eat right, or use our brains. What can I say but that America is due for a wake up call.

And how does one get a work visa in Europe? I'm ready to move to London or Barcelona any day now!!

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Permalink Reply by LarryL on January 31, 2011 at 4:50pm

Hi Maia,

re politics and corruption, I'm not sure how we could quantify that, but it does seem that the more "civilized"??? countries get more for their tax dollar we do in the US. Germany, Holland and the Scandanivian countries come to mind as the best examples of good ROI on the Tax dollar. Of course, I have nothing to support this claim except the higher standards of living in these countries.

"Why do we always seem so concerned about our own country?" I don't know, but I'm sure the ideology of "American Exceptionalism" has a lot to do with this thinking. America is perfect afterall, so why should we look at the 2nd and 3rd rate countries for ideas? :')

I'd move to Europe in a second if I was 30 years younger. Alas, family and other oblibations anchor me here in the "Corporate States of America"