Oh good. I've been wondering where I could get another uneducated opinion from some dick about how much house I'm supposed to own and what I'm supposed to think about the food in America.

Having been to Florence and, indeed, lived in Europe for 10 years, and another 4 years in Japan, frankly I'm confused about what to be happy about. Fortunately, this guy has provided me an alphabetic index to the quality of life there--it's "B". What a relief to finally know.

I'll add Cory Doctorow to my list of favorite baseless opinions and get back to you if he makes it to the semifinals this year.

Ok, so this blog entry is a bit tongue on cheek. But I thought you might like to know just what the infant mortality rate really was in Victorian England, though.

About 18 months ago I was visiting a museum in London when I came across a mind-boggling fact: The infant mortality rate in the 1850s in Shoreditch (then one of the poorer boroughs of London) was 75%! Things might not be the best in the US at present but they've gotta be a helluva lot better than that.

Very good entry. This is why I am so very proud to be Canadian. Universal health care, a constitution that has yet to be shat on by security-loving Neocons, and a government that is not run by a bunch of frat boy with rich friends. MOVE TO CANADA!

(I love Americans, I HATE the american government)

I would have to agree. I personally think that the united states is in big trouble when someone tries to justify why we are a great country. The pure fact that you have to explain why we are a great country says great deals of the lack of knowledge by others to understand. Essentially what I'm saying is, you don't see people trying to explain why much of Europe is a great place to live because they've gone past the notion that explanation is necessary and have started living a comfortable life style. Basically, if you want to find misery, you don't have to go beyond our own borders but rather just goto Appalachia, VA. one of the most impoverished Cities in the country, or goto the state of Kentucky, or Mississippi, or Kansas, or Michigan. Even my own State of California has horrific poverty. A good life style in my opinion is not having more, but having only what you need and being satisfied with what you have. The USA is more focused on Economics than the quality of life. In my opinion, it's the same as committing a crime for the sake of money, and in the court of law, it is a capital offense, and punishable by life in prison.

Probably the best thing to ever happen to much of europe was WWII. It gave much of europe a purpose to rebuild it's domestic and foreign policies. They rebuilt their society to serve the common needs of their people and not for the government to have the people serve it's common needs. In the USA, we need new initiative / mandate to kick-start us into repairing our countries values--I'm not talking about religion. To start smashing monopolies and to start brining education back from meaningless obscurity to the forefront of academic progressiveness. Without general education values hold almost no meaning what so ever. Children in the poorest of conditions who lack a good foundation of education, values, the ability to logically come to rational decisions grow up to prove that a society without education is doomed from the start.

Just my 2 cents.

You Americans do moan a lot, don't you?

Maybe you would like to spend most of your income on taxes, both direct and indirect - then you won't have the extra money to spend on all the toys you don't like others having!

Sounds to me like you can see the greenness of the grass!

You think Florence has racial diversity? There were no places in Europe that came close to the racial diversity of an average American city from what I've seen, and I've been to a lot. And you mention "free" universities which is generally bogus since it is paid by an enormous tax percentage (60%+). Universal healthcare that you speak of leaves people waiting years to get surgeries they should have immediately. You make it seem like the people in these "B" European cities live this amazing lifestyle, when it is riddled with flaws and excesses the same way ours is. The only thing that European cities have that is truly better than the US is public transportation. Besides that everything is the same or just as bad or good for different reasons.

It's true man. Life is rotten and miserable.

Most of us are stuck in wage-slavery. We're busting our balls, letting the system squeeze us dry for every drop we got. We get just enough money to stay in debt for our entire lives.

And the worst of all... we don't have time for each other anymore. We don't have time to learn new skills and develop ourselves. It's all work. It's all survival. All the way until we're too old to fight the fight.

We're all leading poor and miserable lives. It's not just Americans.

It is an outrage. We need nanotech to make products cheap, robots to do our work for us and nanobiotech to keep us healthy.

A few months ago I've written something relating to the miserable workings of our system.

http://jwbats.blogspot.com/2006/08/shorter-4-6-hour-workdays-would.html

um, so quit bitching and moaning and do something about it

thank you for saying exactly what I have been thinking for years now. Europe's quality of life is far beyond what we have.

hmmm
traffic
drugs
junk culture
fake smiles
consumer based
divorces
illicit sex/adultery
who-cares
.. thats what america is abt :) not bad eh ?

Cory Doctorow is an asshole. An asshole whose 15 minutes are just about over.

And you mention "free" universities which is generally bogus since it is paid by an enormous tax percentage (60%+).

Tax rates are higher, but that doesn't mean that universities aren't free, as the students don't have to pay for it, which provides an enormous aid to equality regardless of parental wealth.

Universal healthcare that you speak of leaves people waiting years to get surgeries they should have immediately.

This is just a lie promgulated by the media for a variety of reasons, primarily laziness, as health care is a complex issue. When you start looking at health care statistics instead of anecdotes though, you'll find the US health care system at the bottom of the first world countries on every measure from infant mortality to lifespan.

America is a wonderful place and its greatest asset is the ideals it holds up. Its greatest failing is that is does not even attempt to live up to those ideals.

It is the champion of democracy, yet it has none worth speaking of.

It is the advocate of peace and justice, yet it thrives on violence and power.

Its people speak of individualism and self-determination, though they are compliant conformists who seek a safe life of shallow approval.

It strives for reason and knowledge, but is steeped in superstition and ignorance.

It aspires to reward strength, vigor and ingenuity, yet is led by weak weasel lawyers and pale politicians.

I love America not because of what it is, but because of what it would be, could be, wants to be.

Americas failings are our own failings, cowardice, greed, ignorance, lazyness...

If only it had the humilty to look at itself through the fog of arrogance and hubris it would see the way to become everything it wishes to be.

Just a quick two cents.

Having lived on four continents, and currently living in DC, I have to say that America is schizophrenic. you can't judge it as a whole, because there are so many different cultures in its regions. The west is laid-back, open, more secular, liberal. The northeast is hectic, cold (in more ways than one), and never sleeps. The midwest is traditional, old, and not as worldly.

However, Europe has problems far greater than the US. The US's problems are in the limelight, but Europeans hide their problems. For example: US has had to deal with racism for its whole history. yet, the most racist countries on the planet, are the European ones. Racist not out of ignorance, like it is in the US, but out of arrogance. And let's not forget the Holocaust, Inquistiion, crusades...some history you guys gush about.

Again, having lived all over, I have to say the one country that has it right, is Canada. Even though most other canadians will say it is not representative of Canada, Toronto is the best city in the world to live in, in the best country in the world. I absolutely love the city. What's not to love? Multicultural, peaceful, open. You can find anything you want there. Its a nicer, smaller, version of NYC.

And to all you Europhiles, just to remind you...Toronto is in North America.

Probably the best thing to ever happen to much of europe was WWII. It gave much of europe a purpose to rebuild it's domestic and foreign policies. They rebuilt their society to serve the common needs of their people and not for the government to have the people serve it's common needs. PAID FOR BY THE FUCKING USA, IN BOTH MONEY AND LIVES. GODDAMN WHAT A BETTER PLANET THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN IF HITLER HAD BEEN ABLE TO RULE, AND THE JAPS HADN'T DRAWN THE USA IN WORLD WAR 2

Toronto is the best city in the world to live in, in the best country in the world.
GOOD DAY, TAKE OFF, EDMONTON IS THE BEST CITY.

C'mon Bob. I love Alberta too, but Edmonton is too small for my taste. And too cold. Toronto is a bit more cosmopolitan. I'll be moving there for good once I'm done with my stint in DC.

COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA is the best.

Honestly, the U.S sucks. The blame goes to feminist women. These cunts ruined this country since the 60s. Prior to that everything was good.

Now Europe has its share of feminists, but they are NOTHING compared to the cunts in the U.S.
Another reason Europe is Superior to the Inferior U.S. is because of culture.

The U.S. is an uncultured country. Even South America and Asia have a more superior culture than the U.S. Its not the fact that other places have more culture, but its the way Americans think they are the best, when in reality they are the worst especially the women - ugly fat obese pieces of trash or if hot, anitsocial and narrow minded.

It should not be a shock that most people in the U.S. are moron.

And Blade, I assume you are american? If you really want liberal politics and people (ie your feminists), go and live in Europe. I see you as one of teh people who wants abortion to be illegal in teh US. What a joke you are. you are the reason why america "sucks." Cause of close-minded buffoons like yourself. I am ashamed to be associated with you if you are indeed a US citizen. I am dual US/Canadian citizen in case you ask.

B, i have to say, Blade is right about the USA. Of course, the US does have culture, hell, Nazi Germany had culture, but not a sophisticated culture. America's greatness is passing. Within 10 years, they will no longer be the worlds richest country, China will, a communist country, i may add, and a developing country. You failed to beat your greatest enemies and know they are catching up to you and looking to surpass you. This just shows that communism can work if given time. Russia was one of the poorest counties in the world before the revolution and after that, under communist rule, their economy developed at a phenomenal rate. The US government knew this, and thats why, after the second world were they became such bitter rivals. But America hung on and defeated their greatest enemy in 1990/1. But, u have become lazy since and know you are paying for it. Another country is on the verge of surpassing you, China. And their still a developing country. Who knows what their potential is, or what the USSR's would have been. Also, abortion is murder. You hung on to the bitter end for your right to be the world's only super power. The other world powers were fading but one clung on and could easily have gained superpower status along side the US but you faught long and hard against this. But after you managed this, you kind of gave up the fight and you are no paying for this. Your economy is in decline. The number of graduates going on to do doctrines is declining, resulting in your grasp as the head of the science world declining. You have already been surpassed by Japan. Not to mention your numerous social problems. Don't take this the wrong way, this ain't a personal attack on America (i love the country) and you ain't the only ones, most of the worlds countries are in a bad state, including my own. But the whole point of this rant was for you to realize that. The problem with todays world, or rather today's western world is that people have know ideals and have lost their will to fight. Thats why the east is fastly gaining superiority over our world, which is a real shame. Which is also i reason i support Just wars such as the second world war because it brought people together and made people realize whats really important, which is something we have lost again.

Dave,

I see you give many examples of other countries that have surpassed america purportedly. However, the fact remains that in this current world, that the US is the most powerful country by a landslide (in most facets of the world, and most imporantly, in terms of economics).

1) even though the less grads in the US are going after doctorates, the system of higher education in the US Is UNPARALLELED. Everybody comes here to study.
2) Every country has terrible social problems. the fact that the US is large only compounds those problems. China has them too, but the media doesn't report it (b/c they are communist)
3) In now way is Japan beyond the US. the US is the prinicipal importer of all Japanese goods, and their economy would collapse (as woudl China's)
4) I really don't see where your arguments are going. YOu are basically saying that all these countries are going to pass teh US, but already have. However, there is no proof that they have. On teh contrary, they are the ones in which America's spoon feeds.

I have loyalty to this country because I have citizenship here. It is by no means perfect, but if you lived here (and the problem is that if you had sufficient money), it is among th best countries in teh world to live in. Read my previous arguments, and you'll see I advocate Canada even more. I have citizenship there too, but to attack the US as you have just doesn't make sense to me.

umm

While I agree a little on both sides I must say; America is fairly easy to survive, its lows are much better than say India's lows. Living here can really suck though! Our society is just wrong, kids these days are extremely rude in general and very unaware of anything outside the US. Illicit sex is so common these days it is unthinkable and so is use of marijuana! We may have some money and a lot of space but it can be damn hard to enjoy it, like if you just want to be a normal kid it is hard, you are expected to smoke or look perfect or be into everything mainstream! Seriously, American people, at least a majority suck. Really bad! We are too spoiled, we all have cars, no bike riding hardly unless you are wierd, and other enjoyable things are looked down upon as being nerdy! its all ridiculous!

Generalizing is always bullshit. There is good and bad where ever you go. People don’t know, only speak from their own experiences or idealize one place or the other when they are away. I think instead of being so nationalistic or anti...people should ask themselves what they can do to improve what they don't like and do something about it. There will always be some things that you don't like. Many Americans like to put Europe on a fucking pedestal. Europe's got its good and bad too. I know...I live there.

1. I've been to China. It'd be better described as 'fascist' than 'communist.' They've improved economically because they've gone capitalist hardcore. It's great to see businessmen reading Mao's little red book for business tips. But they're horribly corrupt, and they'll have to fix that if they want to become a power. They also have a ton of other internal problems, like pollution. Some of their best cities (like Nanjing , where I lived) are much worse than some of their best cities. Another friend of mine lived in China for a few months and got permanent kidney damage from cadmium poisoning. I'm GLAD I'm not in China.

2. The notion that the US has worse infant mortality than Europe is just wrong. Deaths are counted differently. In the US, if you're alive at birth and then die, you died at one day old. In Europe, that's counted as a stillbirth rather than an infant mortality. Differences in reporting like this skew statistics. And frankly, the European way of keeping track is less functional and less honest.

Comparing statistics between countries is absolute hell, and we need to be careful when we do it.

3. Europeans have more vacation time (since unions bargained for it when there wasn't money for extra pay.) Americans work more but get paid more. It's a matter of preference, but not the end of the world.

4. One of the biggest drains on efficiency is government corruption in various forms. Military spending is probably second (though necessary.) Premature death, especially death from sexually transmitted and parasite transmitted disease is also huge. It takes a lot of money to raise a person to adulthood and educate them. Africa will never develop till it addresses some of these issues, one way or another. A modern lifestyle requires parents who are married and willing to invest all they have in one or two children. If men spend time competing for women rather than raising children, that's an inefficiency.

I'm not sure you can really plan what you want to plan, though. I mean, how would you have 'planned' on the internet and the efficiency that it brings? How do you plan on faster, more efficient computers? If we could work while our cars drove to work for us, we'd have an extra hour each day of productivity, for instance. Same if we could work from home. And that's just the tip of the iceberg.

I regret that my parents came to USA from Canada just before I was born. The United States long stopped being a democracy and is now capitalism. Democracy died quite sometime ago here. The goverment messes with other governments where they have no business being while it's own country goes to ruin. The only thing in the USA that is important is money. There are so many poor, hungry, and without medical care. If one is rich, great life, if one isn't woe to you. Majority aren't rich by any means. Majority struggle to make ends meet, and fail. The middle class that paid for most of needs has been torn apart by the Reagan Administration. Much of the money here goes to other countries thru the government or thru those who come here to work and spend the money in the country they come from when they go back. So money earned here isn't necessarily spent here. USA jobs are going to other countries and the businesses receive big tax breaks for taking our jobs away. More money not spent here. The government shoves it's belief system anywhere it can stick its nose into.

The country is a mess, and there are no signs it will get better. Rather than for the people and by the people, it is for the rich and by the rich.

And I think that really sucks.

United States of America= Spoiled Capitalists Kids. As someone that lives in a territory of the USA and a is a citizen, I have to accept that their mentality is really sad.