It is hellish. I don't recognize the country any more in which I was born and raised.
Assuming you haven't lived in the US I think you're severely underestimating some of the stupidity going on.
So let's say your house has a thatched roof in California where it's bone dry and hot. At that point, the person lighting the fireworks will still say it's none of your business. Even if it's illegal and every year houses burn down as a result.
I don't think you get how much of an 'I don't care about anyone else, because FREEDOM... Murica' mindset exists unless you've lived there
And if someone wanted to and had a bunch of reasons why it was a good thing you would turn around and be all "but the law" and point to the fire risk.
You mean like a temporary shelter in woods or maybe it’s a translation issue?
> Assuming you haven't lived in the US I think you're severely underestimating some of the stupidity going on
Speaking of, having a thatched roof in a dry fire prone area would sort of fall in the same category.
Native born German. Calling BS on that crap.
I recommend reading up on "freedom from" vs. "freedom to". Explains quite a lot of differences between the European tradition of ensuring people are "free from" an potentially oppressive state vs. the US tradition of "freedom to".
In each "freedom of speech" index I know, Germany fares better than the US, or Britain, or Australia. Or quite a lot of different countries tbh.
RSF World Press (lower is better): - Germany 14/180 - Britain 18/180 - Australia 33/180 - USA 64/180
Freedom House (higher is better): - Germany 95/100 - Britain 92/100 - Australia 95/100 - USA 84/100
Edit: Typo
They use so many bullshit and mental gymnastics to "score" Germany well despite their appalling "free speech" laws. I think it's very fair to say anyone appealing to either of these index's isn't even attempting to argue in good faith.
https://theintercept.com/2026/05/11/real-estate-expo-israel-...
In practice, wondrous things may start to happen already long before you reach that threshold, such as police forgetting their own laws, your venue, backup venue and second backup venue suddenly all deciding they cannot host you, politicians trying to fire you - or you suddenly realizing that you're unable to access any kind of bank account or credit card because the EU put you on a sanctions list (behind closed doors, without telling you, with no option to appeal).
But none of that has to do with overregulation - on the contrary, those measures are often in violation of the law and courts have frequently decided in favor of pro-palestinian activists and axed them.
Like, actual Nazis.
If you think Nazis should be given a seat at the political table, especially in Germany, then I don't think I can take you seriously.
Try calling up rt.com via a German phone network.
And calling our chancellor a liar will get your house searched.
The culture described extends far into things that are my business, like being able to walk around without being shot.
But a sane discussion should be had how far this should go. Regulating things which are dangerous to the person taking a risk knowingly is over the top in my book.
It was a panoramic display of unregulation.
But also the US pretty much care too much when you for example try to blow your head off with drugs instead of a gun or explosives so the grass is not that green on the other side either.
I live in the EU. There is no war in the EU, that's surely a success by your own count. And it's cute to mention several "jobs" as one job. Perhaps you would like to narrow down your argument, if there is one.
The solution of choice in tech seems to be rent-seeking by institutions. The eu is dying and good riddance. Maybe its successor can be better.
Reality be the absolute and not a social construct at all. Either deal with it or become another USSR that tries to wing it while lying to itself to the bitter end.
Edit: before 1989.