Why Don't Americans Understand How Poor Their Lives Are? • Hacker News Board

Re: Why Don't Americans Understand How Poor Their Lives Are?

#151

Post by robenkleene » Thu, Apr 04, 2019, 1:08 PM UTC

kodt wrote: post #127

robenkleene wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why does this sounds farcical? I’ve spent some time in Europe, lived a couple of different countries for a year or so each, and this comparison seems generally fair to me. And wouldn’t that be the expected outcome of more socialist economic policies?

It may be true in some broad sense but does he expect me to believe he is unable to find a quality croissant or coffee in New York? And just has to watch mindless reality television, instead of documentaries while in the states?

Did he say you can’t find those things in New York? I read his point as generally Europeans value things like fresh bread and leisurely spending time in a cafe more than Americans. This is backed up by my own personal observations from the time I’ve spent in Europe.

Re: Why Don't Americans Understand How Poor Their Lives Are?

#152

Post by pgrote » Thu, Apr 04, 2019, 1:08 PM UTC

jlawson wrote: post #71

exelius wrote: post #28

Americans don’t travel. If we did, we wouldn’t buy the myth of American exceptionalism. But then, we are largely becoming a country controlled by global financial interests rather than the population. Money is the deciding factor in our elections, and the most concentrated forms of wealth out there are sovereign wealth funds and large multinational corporations whose executives are largely above the law. Which means…

Money is not the deciding factor in American elections. Hillary Clinton spent twice as much as Donald Trump during the 2016 campaign.

>Money is not the deciding factor in American elections. Hillary Clinton spent twice as much as Donald Trump during the 2016 campaign.

I understood the comment to reference the special interest money behind elections not so much the total amount of money. Corporations vs. individuals.

Re: Why Don't Americans Understand How Poor Their Lives Are?

#153

Post by johan_larson » Thu, Apr 04, 2019, 1:08 PM UTC

Well, yeah, the Europeans have good work-life balance. But that comes at a price. European rates for software developers are way below what they are the US. Also, there are far fewer big opportunities. There simply aren't any FAANG-tier companies in Europe. They're all American, and there are a few players in that league in Asia. But Europe doesn't have any.

Re: Why Don't Americans Understand How Poor Their Lives Are?

#154

Post by SolaceQuantum » Thu, Apr 04, 2019, 1:09 PM UTC

bepotts wrote: post #106

cribbles wrote: post #63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> One reason that Europe has very few innovative new companies created in the last 25 years is that everyone is at the coffee shop writing poetry. This does not dispute the central point of the quoted piece, which is that the quality of life of most Americans is very poor contrast to that of the average person in some subset of European countries. I would wager that most coffee shop employees are more concerned with…

Americans don't believe the onus is on the whole to make sure the individual lives a happy life. We just don't have the collectivist culture the Europeans have. I think this is a great thing, and is why America is where most of the innovation, cultural, and political power is. I personally have lower taxes, high quality healthcare, and live in an awesome location, and I got all of that through an education and traini…

"I personally have lower taxes, high quality healthcare, and live in an awesome location, and I got all of that through an education and training. That is available to almost every American if they just put in the work."

I don't know if that's true. If I'm a child with food insecurity, my lack of nourishment, poor home life, overtaxed regional social programs, and government disincentives will cause me to be unable to focus on my education at my overtaxed school program, thereby setting me back for the rest of my life through no fault of my own.

If I'm one of many children born in a county or state with no access to clean water, I am more likely to develop a chronic illness that will prevent me from putting in the work necessary to achieve your lifestyle through no fault of my own.

If I'm one of many blue collar workers who destroyed my body in my 40s putting in work, I no longer have access to my way of work and the industries I can go into are plagued with known ageism. I am now stuck through no fault of my own save for a lack of future-sight that technology will be the thing to get into 40 years ago.

Moral correctness is all well and good, but if we are gleaning over those less fortunate with our morals, we're not being moral at all- we're just providing justifications for why we deserve what we have and more importantly why people who do not have what we have deserve their poverty.

Re: Why Don't Americans Understand How Poor Their Lives Are?

#155

Post by mosselman » Thu, Apr 04, 2019, 1:09 PM UTC

wozniacki wrote: post #44

lupire wrote: post #19

This is the blathering of spoiled rich kid on vacation. > In London, Paris, Berlin, I hop on the train, head to the cafe — it’s the afternoon, and nobody’s gotten to work until 9am, and even then, maybe not until 10 — order a carefully made coffee and a newly baked croissant, do some writing, pick up some fresh groceries, maybe a meal or two, head home — now it’s 6 or 7, and everyone else has already gone home around…

Absolutely, lets sweep the pandemic of knife crimes currently sweeping Europe - among a whole host of other related malaises and social evils too long to list here - neatly under the rug and call it a day.[1] [2] [1] Ten charts on the rise of knife crime in England and Wales https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-42749089 [2] Germany: Stabbings and Knife Crimes at Record High https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/13802/germany-sta…

Bold move, trying to critique Europe on violent crime statistics versus those of the US.

Re: Why Don't Americans Understand How Poor Their Lives Are?

#156

Post by taneq » Thu, Apr 04, 2019, 1:09 PM UTC

rat9988 wrote: post #120

huffmsa wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Regulations. Plain and simple. Your employees aren't allowed to work their asses off. They're going to expect to be able to get to work at 10, and be home by 5.

Huh? You can be an employee and have a side project independent of your boss.

Depends on your employment contract.

(OK, so given the general vibe I don't expect Europe to have the same kind of repugnant clauses I've seen elsewhere, but...)

Re: Why Don't Americans Understand How Poor Their Lives Are?

#157

Post by username223 » Thu, Apr 04, 2019, 1:09 PM UTC

jlawson wrote: post #71

exelius wrote: post #28

Americans don’t travel. If we did, we wouldn’t buy the myth of American exceptionalism. But then, we are largely becoming a country controlled by global financial interests rather than the population. Money is the deciding factor in our elections, and the most concentrated forms of wealth out there are sovereign wealth funds and large multinational corporations whose executives are largely above the law. Which means…

Money is not the deciding factor in American elections. Hillary Clinton spent twice as much as Donald Trump during the 2016 campaign.

How does that follow? A charismatic demagogue won against a singularly uninspiring lifetime politician, despite receiving fewer votes (because Electoral College). Money isn't the only factor, but it's still one of the largest.

Re: Why Don't Americans Understand How Poor Their Lives Are?

#158

Post by themagician » Thu, Apr 04, 2019, 1:09 PM UTC

keiferski wrote: post #72

As an American who has lived in Europe for 5+ years: the single biggest issue with the States is that everything is filtered through a money-first mentality. Reading a book? It better be nonfiction, because fiction “isn’t real” and won’t help you get ahead. Writing a book? It’s only a success if it’s a best-seller. Studying a new language? Only worth it if you can monetize it somehow. Hate your job? Not a problem if…

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Re: Why Don't Americans Understand How Poor Their Lives Are?

#159

Post by jfk13 » Thu, Apr 04, 2019, 1:10 PM UTC

bepotts wrote: post #106

cribbles wrote: post #63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> One reason that Europe has very few innovative new companies created in the last 25 years is that everyone is at the coffee shop writing poetry. This does not dispute the central point of the quoted piece, which is that the quality of life of most Americans is very poor contrast to that of the average person in some subset of European countries. I would wager that most coffee shop employees are more concerned with…

Americans don't believe the onus is on the whole to make sure the individual lives a happy life. We just don't have the collectivist culture the Europeans have. I think this is a great thing, and is why America is where most of the innovation, cultural, and political power is. I personally have lower taxes, high quality healthcare, and live in an awesome location, and I got all of that through an education and traini…

> I personally have lower taxes, high quality healthcare, and live in an awesome location, and I got all of that through an education and training. That is available to almost every American if they just put in the work.

I'm sure that's nice for you personally. From what I've observed, this simply isn't true for many in America, who face desperate struggles despite hard work.

Re: Why Don't Americans Understand How Poor Their Lives Are?

#160

Post by agrippanux » Thu, Apr 04, 2019, 1:10 PM UTC

jlawson wrote: post #71

exelius wrote: post #28

Americans don’t travel. If we did, we wouldn’t buy the myth of American exceptionalism. But then, we are largely becoming a country controlled by global financial interests rather than the population. Money is the deciding factor in our elections, and the most concentrated forms of wealth out there are sovereign wealth funds and large multinational corporations whose executives are largely above the law. Which means…

Money is not the deciding factor in American elections. Hillary Clinton spent twice as much as Donald Trump during the 2016 campaign.

Trump got billions of free media exposure https://www.thestreet.com/story/13896916/1/donald-trump-rode.... He didn't have to outspend Hillary with that kind of advantage.