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Comment by stouset | Hacker News Reader

Somehow, other nations have managed to figure this out. Of the developed world, seemingly only Americans are resigned to the belief that such things are sadly impossible.

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That's because we're richer and can object. The Europeans get bulldozed by their governments. It's why they're always protesting some online ID law or some "show your photo ID to browse Wikipedia" shit but no one listens to them.

Yes, Europeans are completely distraught over their (checks notes) functioning public transit systems.

On time some 65% of the time? The only thing that gets them to stop complaining is knowing that Americans are listening.

Approximately all of the people complaining want improved service, not zero service.

Yeah but standards aren’t that high. After all, they do apparently consider 65% on-time as functioning.

[citation needed]

<ref> https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=44870235</ref>

Hmm yes, a perfect system isn't in place so clearly it's far better to have nothing at all.

Second time you used that stat. You really seem to love it.

> we're richer and can object

> some online ID law

Texas and Utah in the US also have similar online age verification laws. Texas is the second richest state in the US by GDP per capita, but even that was not enough.

the important part of the American system you're not addressing is that it makes sure no one accidentally gets something they don't really deserve.

It has far more to do with respect for private property due to the existence of a class of sophisticated, politically literate professionals capable of opposing development. Europe and Canada are similar; the extent to which this retards the economy is more obvious in Europe. It isn’t hard to build a road when you can just expropriate all the land and completely disregard environmental impacts.

"no one" = poor people.

All the old money already got a ton of wealth they didn't really deserve (conquest through Native american genocide)

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