> Europeans weren't drowning in poverty

How come the US has a higher rate of struggling with groceries (12.2% US vs 8.5% EU), healthcare (44% US vs. 18.6% for costs) EU, education costs, etc.?

> they would also buy more expensive cars.

Price != quality. European cars have better safety standards, as well as being cheaper to own and run. American cars… the vibe I got from them on trips was the expectation for them to serve as an additional air-conditioned entertainment room that just happened to be on wheels, whereas the European ones are mostly a mode of transport unless you're specifically into luxury brands.

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Ray20 11 hours ago | parent [-]

> How come the US has a higher rate of struggling with groceries (12.2% US vs 8.5% EU), healthcare (44% US vs. 18.6% for costs) EU, education costs, etc.?

Reliability of statistical data. The more totalitarian a state is, the more out of touch with reality it can be in its statistics. If we look at the statistics provided by North Korea, they have zero on all the points mentioned. Europe isn't there yet, but it's moving at full speed. Their cars even safer and cheaper to own and run than European ones.

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ben_w 11 hours ago | parent | next [-]

> The more totalitarian a state is, the more out of touch with reality it can be in its statistics.

That's more of an American problem than an EU one at the moment.

We're not the ones shooting unarmed protesters in the head ten times after removing their legally owned gun, nor faking arrest photos, etc.

Even before that, our leaders have not* called for the death penalty to be used against politicians reminding troops of their existing obligations to not follow illegal orders.

Even before that, the US government shutdown at end of last year means some economic data was never collected at all.

Even before that, DOGE having Musk at the helm had obvious conflicts of interest with regards to e.g. ongoing investigations against Tesla.

* to my knowledge, but TBH wouldn't be surprised if Orban has, but also Hungary is to the EU as, IDK Wyoming perhaps, is to the USA.

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AlexandrB 7 hours ago | parent [-]

> We're not the ones shooting unarmed protesters in the head ten times after removing their legally owned gun, nor faking arrest photos, etc.

To be fair, can you even "open carry" a firearm anywhere in Europe? Isn't the UK trying to ban pointy kitchen knives[1]?

[1] https://www.msn.com/en-us/crime/general/uk-considering-point...

	▲	littlestymaar 5 hours ago \| parent [-]
		With the appropriate permit, yes. Which is also the case in Minnesota. (The permit requirements differ a lot between countries, but that an implementation detail, you should not be killed while respecting the law)

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blipvert 5 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Ah, you’re talking about the regime that fired the commissioner of the Bureau of Labour Statistics because the president didn’t like the figures, right?

Right?

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littlestymaar 5 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

Scary to realize how some people in the US have been brainwashed into thinking European countries are totalitarian states drowning in poverty