Even something as simple as crossing the road is unnecessarily complicated in America. Some roads you seem to need a car to get from A to B. It just doesn't seem peaceful but very chaotic and intense.
The actual problems: we’ve made it impossible and insulting to get a tourist visa. And we’ve made pissing on our tourism partners our foreign policy.
This isn't a counterpart because nobody is trying to explain a significant drop in tourism numbers to Paris.
Actually there isn't much to explain. Every single person I know that has been to Paris has been disappointed by it and complained how there are way too many people everywhere. Maybe there were just too many tourists in Paris?
I can. Again, this is like refusing to visit CDMX because you heard about gang violence or avoiding Sicily because there is crime. Those singular events aren’t false. But they don’t make up the majority of the context. Someone refusing to travel because of these low-probability events (note: because of fear of them, not out of protest, which is separate) is almost certainly behaving irrationally.
I can. Again, this is like refusing to visit CDMX because you heard about gang violence or avoiding Sicily because there is crime. Those singular events aren’t false. But they don’t make up the majority of the context. Someone refusing to travel because of these low-probability events (note: because of fear of them, not out of protest, which is separate) is almost certainly behaving irrationally.
Where your argument might have purchase is in America having previously been a good tourism destination for someone with such anxieties. But the truth of the matter is folks like that don’t tend to travel in the first place.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/21/karen-newton...
https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/us-travel-detentions-1.7489525
Statistically speaking, it's very safe for a white American to go to Dubai/Doha these days.
Would you fault them for not going?
Unsurprisingly, most people don't like hearing they might go to prison for no real reason.
It's simple, as a technologist, you live in Europe if retirement isn't important for you. Because you'll have almost nothing to show for it after 30 years in tech in Europe.
Wouldn't the robust social safety net found in many European countries offer a dignified retirement for most people?
Depends on which big tech. 15 days of vacation, BTW, doesn't even come close to comparing with much of Europe.
And I didn't mention London. London is crap. Probably all of UK is.
Most Europeans I know in certain countries travel a lot more than Americans at big tech.
My first SWE job was at an older fortune 500 company where tech was not its main focus. You started with 14 days of vacation and slooooowly worked your way up to 4 weeks after like 20 years of service lol.
My point is, in the U.S. your experience varies WILDLY based on your employer. Not saying the U.S. is perfect or does things the right way. Just pointing out that you’re off base with your “15 days of vacation for big tech” comment. That’s a false generalization for big tech. Accurate for white collar jobs in general though!
What if I told you, that even mentioning this shows how little free time people get in the US?
There is actually no SWE job (and I do mean actually 0 positions, I watch job postings way more than average person) in CZ that offers less than 5 weeks of paid vacation. When you look for companies that give actually nice benefits you can get 7-8 weeks, big chunk of it being sick days that you can claim whenever you want.
And that all is on top of MUCH longer parental leave, often shorter work week (lol @ 40h a week being noteworthy), much more leeway given to people with health issues and generally shorter commutes.
Not even mentioning difference in cost of living . . . The values are just different here.
That’s all i’m pointing out. I agree that the U.S. really lags in terms of taking care of its people. I am NOT recommending the U.S. as a great place to work for most people.
Acknowledged in my original comment. The key word is "some".
And my point is that people earning half that in Europe tend to go on more vacation travel than those earning the same amount in the US.
Yes i’ve run the numbers and that’s possible even in a HCOL city. Could probably retire at 45 if i moved to europe (i have dual citizenship). Cheap healthcare and college goes a loooong way…food is cheaper too.
so i’m not sure i understand the joke but that’s fine. I’ll continue enjoying my 4+ weeks off a year and retiring early. Cheers :)