Great news for Europeans! If only the US actually cared about their citizens.
- people dying earlier than their European counterparts
- the price of insulin and healthcare in general is hundreds of times bigger than in other countries
- people being less free than anywhere in Europe: https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/freedom-i...
- school shootings numbers rising each year
It feels that the US is "improving" in the wrong direction.
As the rules says “ Please don't use Hacker News for political or ideological battle. That tramples curiosity.”
> Europe can keep doing its regulatory thing while the US works to improve. At least someone is doing something.
is perfectly fine.
On the other hand, somebody questioning what's actually improving in the US is a low quality comment because "it's politics".
The US has regressed down in every possible human development index in the last 2 decades, from happiness and freedoms, to longevity, inequality and societal division.
Here are some receipts:
- Freedom index https://sites.uci.edu/energyobserver/2020/01/15/the-united-s...
- Longevity https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/03/25/1164819...
- Inequality https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Income_inequality_in_the_Unite... (inequality, by the way, is inversely correlated to strength of labor unions)
- Medical costs https://www.statista.com/chart/8658/health-spending-per-capi...
Since when are statistics and facts considered low quality posts and "politics"?
My point is that the low amount of regulation in the US is part of the reasons why US consumers are taking a hit, whether it's monopolistic app stores that can crank prices, exorbitant medical costs, plummeting living standards and rampant inequality, and crashing longevity and happiness.
In this thread, Europe has shown regulation is possible. The US has as well, with the FTC and DOJ actions of late. So while there are lots of problems left to solve, it’s okay to appreciate what has been solved so for, and to work to understand the burden of work that remains. Lets not rant, lets solve problems. And stay hopeful!
Tangentially, I think sentiment has declined and “low effort posts” are more frequent because the world has become an objectively worse place over the last 10-15 years. Posts are simply reflecting reality.
1. Freedom: https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/freedom-i...
2. Longevity: https://www.worldometers.info/demographics/life-expectancy/
3. Happiness https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/happiest-...
One thing you are a winner in is school shootings: https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/school-sh...
I am happy that the lack of regulation + the ability to exploit your workers creates massive companies. Not sure if it's good for your society, but you do you, America.
Have you bothered to look up the statistics?
https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php...
https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2024/07/22/key-findi...
The US has 46.1 million immigrants, while the EU has 27.3 million. Hardly the "barely accepts anyone", don't you think?
> anyone and is a white monoculture,
Yeah, I see your knowledge of Europe is 0. We have 24 official languages, how many do you have?
https://www.statista.com/statistics/1378084/migrants-stock-w....
Norway is frequently mentioned by US leftists as a country we should emulate. Not even 5.5 million people, fewer than the single US state of Massachusetts, with the overwhelming majority white natives. The EU also has very strict requirements for residency, including language and skill requirements, while the US takes in foreigners without any education, skills, or money to support themselves. It's not even remotely close, and by pretending it is, shows you know literally zero about immigration.
I thought the US required a visa, same like the EU. Your subjective opinion that the US allows everybody but the EU is too strict might be wrong, have you thought about that. Here is, for example, info how to get a worker visa for Sweden:
https://immigration-portal.ec.europa.eu/sweden-employed-work...
"If you wish to work in Sweden as an employed worker for more than three months, you must have:
- a work and residence permit; and
- a valid passport.
Workers in certain sectors need not apply for a work permit."
Are those the "very strict" EU requirements you were referring to?
You also didn't answer my question, we have 24 official languages, how many do you have?
The fact is that the EU has a combined 30 million immigrants, and the US has 46 million. Hardly a difference to warrant your false statement that the EU: "barely allows immigration", would you not agree?
> Norway is frequently mentioned by US leftists as a country we should emulate. Not even 5.5 million people, fewer than the single US state of Massachusetts, with the overwhelming majority white natives.
Have you heard of Vermont? A state with 94% Caucasian population. You called Europe a "white monoculture" (although we speak 24+ languages) based on Norway, one of the many countries in Europe (keep in mind Norway is not in EU) comprises of, what does that make Vermont?
It reveals you have no idea of immigration, what countries the EU comprises of (Norway is not in EU), and haven't checked the stats showing we have more cultures, official languages and ethnicities than the US.
Total impact up to this point was maybe man-month to make sure we're GDPR compliant, while Apple opening up NFC may bring at least a few nice contracts (from local players no less).
I think we'll be fine.