6 LIES America Told Me! - Jovie's Home

[@catherinerobilliard7662]

I’m a European whose boss berated me for only taking two weeks holiday, when it was possible for me to take more. She insisted I take a month off and do something really special. I went travelling with my husband and came back feeling on top of the world, and raring to go. I still think of that holiday from time to time. She knew what she was doing.

[@ThePixel1983]

@Rita Roork Really? You have nothing else that you enjoy in your life except for work?

[@ThePixel1983]

@Rita Roork Okay, wow.

[@andrecarvalho9637]

@Rita Roork Wow, that is really sad

[@andrecarvalho9637]

@Rita Roork Because life is beautiful and short for us to waste. Time is precious and when I hear that people don't take time off, it blows my mind. Unless you are self employed and working on something really nice that deals with nature and you already enjoy everything that life can offer, then I agree with you.

[@OzixiThrill]

@Rita Roork There is really not much to understand there. You are either someone who really enjoys their work, or a workaholic, who pathologically obsesses over working; In either case, you are doing something that your psychology rewards you for already. A third alternative is that you have been psychologically abused into maniacally wanting to work, but I find that somewhat unlikely. Most people, however, are not workaholics and aren't fortunate enough to work in a field they enjoy, leading to them needing personal time to do things that they enjoy. It leads to their psychological states improving, allowing them to be "happier". It also leads to them having more energy to work.

[@sdm9099]

I worked and lived in US and have a US wife but we live in the UK - totally agree about what freedom is. Our friends and family in the US really dont understand that we feel truly safe and free. We were once, seriously asked how we defend ourselves without guns. Our reply was to ask "defend ourselves from what?"

[@INeed333Quid]

Seeing Americans having so much trouble trying to figure out how to solve all their gun related issues makes me facepalm.

[@INeed333Quid]

@Rita Roork Yeah, we want you to stay there don't worry

[@INeed333Quid]

@Rita Roork Still no free health service though

[@EOTA564]

I lived in a major US city in a Red State with a high crime rate for 4 years and to be honest I never felt unsafe there. There were certainly ‘no go’ areas but they were easy to avoid. The one place I did feel unsafe was San Francisco with all the gangs of drunken homeless bums staggering around harassing tourists. You will never hear anyone in mainstream media tell you the truth about crime in the USA because it simply isn’t palatable to modern sensibilities. The UK and rest of Europe are hardly crime free paradises. UK cities are awash with drunken violence on Friday and Saturday evenings. There’s a lot of violent crime in large European cities albeit no guns. But most guns used in homicides in the US are illegal in any case.

[@deason2365]

Human nature

[@KiffinGish]

Before I came here to The Netherlands, I was led to believe that I should feel sorry for Europeans because they were poor and suffered under a repressive regime of socialism. I had also been brainwashed that America was the best country in the world, whatever that means. Boy was I wrong. When I compare my life with that of my friends and relatives, I feel very thankful that I had the courage to stay here and start afresh, although at first it wasn't that easy at all.

[@mweskamppp]

Are there really people in the USA who tell others that the countries in the EU are socialistic?

[@carimavandijk1091]

@@mweskamppp yeah, some people in America see social democratic countrys as hardcore communist. Probably to do with the red scare of the cold war

[@dutchgamer842]

Parts of Europe are socialism and others aren't, since it's not one country. Most of Europe is in EU, they are EU member states, but still not one country

[@mweskamppp]

@@dutchgamer842 I don't know a socialist country in europe. Would you name one or some more, please?

[@Linda-hs1lk]

@@mweskamppp I knew an American who wondered how I could live in a communist country. I mean, what?? He also got pissed when I talked about insurances (we insure about anything and it's affordable) and wondered why I even thought I EARNED those insurances. Lol.

[@vapidrabbit198]

i've lived in germany for 20 years, and i've learned to appreciate time and experiences much more than material things. in the end, you aren't going to remember all those cool clothes or expensive cars... you're going to remember time that you spent with loved ones.

[@bunnymanmoe8819]

Facts

[@salatwurzel-4388]

Nothing but the truth.

[@Alfv2009]

This comment is gold!

[@shallnotbeinfringed5087]

You will own nothing and be happy

[@kev3d]

The two are not mutually exclusive. Expensive cars, or even ordinary cars, can and often create a bonding experience between friends and family, particularly for males. Same with tools. And sound systems. And clothes. And Bicycles. And possibly even things like video game systems or cookware or furniture. What did you do with the time spent with your loved ones? Sit in an empty room? No. You went places and did things using cars or planes or special clothes, or equipment and so on.

[@VRBLNSLT]

Bulletproof backpacks for kids should be the global indicator for a failed society 🤦‍♂️

[@helidude3502]

Lack of trash receptacles in public spaces are another.

[@TTTzzzz]

Even the police prefer shooting someone in the back. It think that 16 limes is the record.

[@erict.watson2460]

@@TTTzzzz oh, so it's not to protect the contents of the rucksack then.

[@helidude3502]

Peter And some thought those were for school shootings.

[@jeffgraham6387]

The US has 88 guns per 100 people......😨

[@FinallyFulfilled]

I left the states last October. I was tired of being told I was “free” while feeling trapped in a society that increasingly lacks humanity. I loved my country, but I also love work/life balance and health insurance. I’m now an EU resident snd do not plan to ever return.

[@jasondonovan1408]

And we are glad. Trust me.

[@logann-mackenziefroste563]

How were you able to move to the Europe ?

[@Julia-lk8jn]

Sad that you left a country you love, but I admire that you went through with it. I'm sure that half the people on this globe dream of spending some time living somewhere else - because there's a country /place /culture /language they just fell in love with, or out of necessity and most never really make the attempt. I hope you'll be well in the EU. Best of luck :)

[@eswarjj]

Unlike @jason donavan’s schadenfreude, I am truly glad you made it over there and are enjoying it.

[@Julia-lk8jn]

@@eswarjj Not so much Schadenfreude but rather hostility and ... I don't know, viciousness? That and the sort of intolerance that views critic / differing opinions as an attack and an insult. So basically: anti-democratic. You'll probably find them in any country, but once they approach being main stream and there's no escaping, I can certainly understand why somebody would want to leave. On some historical events, I wish from my heart that others had made the same decision while they still could.

[@rhondamiller421]

I’m Australian and your definition of freedom collates with mine. The freedom to see a doctor and not stress financially. The freedom to know that if I’m unemployed, sick, disabled or aged I’m not financially abandoned and the freedom to walk out my door and the last thing on my mind is getting shot

[@idaborgelt8751]

🇭🇲 Were so lucky here in Aust. We've almost beat covid19 as well. It takes reading & seeing how other countries function to appreciate what u have. I think Aust has the best of both worlds. 1st time ever today that I feel proud of my country. Altho, Nederland is awesome, fantastic culture & gezelligheid ❤

[@lancearn7332]

You hit the nail on the head Rhonda. We are so lucky. We may not live on the best country in the world, but it is pretty darn close. '' Oh, and a big thank you to Premier Mark McGowan for keeping all West Aussies safe and alive in '' a Covid 2020 world ''.

[@JosephKano]

They are trying to take away what we have in Australia and the LNP are getting their mates rich while doing it. We must fight to keep it.

[@gorillarawfare1963]

@@lancearn7332 West Aussies represent 👊. I also like you admitted we aren’t in the best country in the world, tbh no country is or can be, especially since the needs of each individual is different. But as long as it’s close, and we keep trying to be better, then you can be happy. My uncle was a state Liberal member for forty years, and my aunt has even said, I can’t vote for McGowan, but I also can’t fault him. Honestly you couldn’t understand how big of a praise that is.

[@JosephKano]

@@gorillarawfare1963 stay strong WA. I'm an easterner, I'd love to visit WA however I'm only going to do it once we have this thing beat. Then when it's safe I'll be bringing my tourist dollaryoos and catching up with my WA mates. McGowan has been a damn fine Premier. Kicked that F$& C$&t Palmer in the teeth repeatedly.

[@davewhetton8932]

Jovie, I am a Brit who has lived in America for over 20 years. The honeymoon period has totally worn off! I am utterly amazed speaking with some native born Americans regarding Communism and Socialism. The two words are used interchangeably in the US and most people don’t even realize they are not in any way the same thing. How can a society be so uneducated?

[@jasondonovan1408]

"Uneducated" is when you post to someone as ignorant as this "Jovie" and attempt to make it sound like an educated conversation between educated people. What a joke. Ignorance is worldwide apparently.

[@larryrivers6928]

The work ethics here in the america spelled with a lower case (a) is down right sad , job is number one , family life balance , really doesn't exist , try to achieve this and you'll be looking for another job , to take care of all , but still with the same work ethics,

[@fredcollins8919]

No Worries as it's nothing which can't soon be fixed

[@fredcollins8919]

@@larryrivers6928 that needs IMMEDIATE full reversal/changes for the better, towards a full European/Latín American modelo ASAP & more & despite all the trash news those changes in USA Are slowly starting to take shape & place (slow for Now but destined to speed up Big Time Very very soon) by both popular need & demand & more. A good work/life balance IS a top national/global priority, more so with each passing day (Long overdue)

[@Tony-q4f3t]

Because it is declared that America is the Greatest Nation in The World". If it is said often enough then it tends to be believed. It is like Baseball World Champion Series. When a team wins the fans go running around believing and declaring that they are "the world Champs", even though no team from other nations are allowed to participate. Sad, living life in a "Bubble"

[@jefflebuhn405]

A 66 yo American, who has lived in The Netherlands and Germany totaling 18 years now. We chose to retire in Europe (Germany) for practically all the reasons you’ve mentioned.

[@johnnyk3950]

nice to hear that you like it here. i'm glad i live in europe and most europeans don't know how lucky they are.

[@fizbanw.9157]

@@johnnyk3950 I live in germany and I think that Im lucky to be born here. I wouldnt want to live elsewhere. But I also think that germany could do much better. If I would put my words into numbers, it would be like this(1-10, 10 is best): South amerika gets 2-3 USA gets a 4 some others gets 5 germany, france U.K. and so on gets a 6 Denmark Sweden Finnland gets a 7 My numbers would be somethg like this(sry if I did offend anyone). So while Im lucky that I live in a coutry with good numbers, I still would like to live in a 10. Maybe thats why u hear a lot europeans complaining. Most know how lucky they are, but they still think it could be better.

[@newbris]

@@fizbanw.9157 Well said. A true patriot recognises the issues with their country and tries to help fix them. An anti-patriot tells people to go back where they came from or don’t come home whenever they hear criticism. They make their country worse.

[@jennifermenth-pavel1260]

When my military service was done I almost got what they referred to as a "European out". Not a day goes by that I don't regret that because I'm trying to figure out how to get back to Europe.

[@Stefan_Van_pellicom]

@@jennifermenth-pavel1260 You buy a plane ticket, fix lots of paperwork, and you’re done, no ?

[@Nimitz_oceo]

American here, living in Switzerland. Never going back

[@annmcdaniel1092]

Please adopt me!! I'm already 70 years old so I won't be a problem for long.😇

[@jasondonovan1408]

Cool because we don't want you back.

[@Nimitz_oceo]

@@jasondonovan1408 I checked you out, you wrote"I don't think a bum should get healthcare" it is rather sad to discover that you have been lied to your whole life, I check your profile too, you are filled with negativity and hatred of people for absolutely no reason. You really need help. And if you were in Europe you could have gotten counseling free of charge. You also had mentioned that you had to pay $400 a month to avoid late fee? Well my question is how did you get into that situation to begin with? You come across as someone who rather illiterate when it comes to all finance, fiscal policy and just basic Civic duty. Oh let me guess you don't know what that last one is, probably because you were among those who stormed the capitol recently. And yet you call yourself a patriot. Open your eyes, You have too hatred for a common man, and most of them you have never even met. Get help

[@jasondonovan1408]

@@Nimitz_oceo Wow....talk about someone who can't seem to understand what they read. You have gotten every one of your points regarding me incorrect. It's not even worth me going into each as they are so wrong. $400 late fee??? Do some research if you care to comment on other countries policies. It was a penalty if you don't have healthcare. Surprise.

[@Nimitz_oceo]

@@jasondonovan1408 dude you are fuming with hatred. You are lying to yourself into thinking that if you are part of nation wide health care System you are therefore paying for someone else. Get your head straight. I got everything right. And you are wrong. I am an American citizen and I have every damn right to comment on everything American. It is people like you who are so ignorant to point that you are often convinced by politicians to vote against your own interests. You do it every year, it's a shame you can't see that

[@TheAlja]

I think the Freedom of the US is easier to grasp as a concept, while the Freedom in Europe is something you have to experience to understand. The freedom to buy and have guns, thats easy to understand, while the freedom of not having to be afraid of people having guns is something one has to experience. Deciding for yourself what to do with your money, thats an easy to understand freedom. And it looks so unfree to have to pay high taxes, until you experience the benefits and how much weight it lifts off your shoulders having access to the stuff the government does with it.

[@bunmi6295]

Couldn't agree more!

[@MyMerryMessyGermanLife]

So well said. Love your comment!

[@boldvankaalen3896]

@@_alex_407 Which main support is telling you it will all get better after you die.

[@dreamingnight13]

Personally, even as a Dutch person, I get why gun ownership is a thing in the US, and I don't necessarily think guns should fully be banned. (I also think that would culturally be impossible) I know a lot of people who are weapon enthusiasts (swords, knifes, axes, etc) and I think guns fall in a similar category, so I feel like it would be okay to legally own them, even collect them. But what I can't wrap my head around is how you have to go through all this trouble to be allowed to drive a car, but you can just easily buy a gun in the US. I think in order to make gunowner ship a viable option for a functioning society it would require at least some screening, preferably obligated training/tests. Like you have for driving cars/working with dangerous machinery/etc 🤷‍♂️ Just makes more sense to me

[@joshuamotyl3219]

@@dreamingnight13 that was a well thought post. As Americans we take our rights very seriously. With the right to bear arms (with the main reason to defend against tyranny), the overwhelmingly majority of legal gun owners in the US have a better track record of firearm responsibility than the police. Every single gun purchase, minus private owner to private owner transactions is screened through a federal database. We do have some states that require training and licensing. We also have some that don't. Me personally, think that basic training in firearms should be required.

[@bcreason]

I’m Canadian and I often go on cruises where I meet Americans and discuss the difference between Canada and the US. The amount of misinformation is incredible. I got called a Marxist when I explained how financially inefficient having dozens of insurance companies with multimillion dollar salaries for their executives, sales staffs, marketing, and paying dividends is compared to a single government agency. I explained to one guy how the government uses bulk pricing to negotiate drug prices and was told that we must be using expired drugs.

[@DjWellDressedMan]

I grew up in the USA and Americans are Brain washed to think public healthcare is a commie threat. OHIP keeps me healthier, no costs and Canadians live longer than Americans.

[@FrankenHerzEuropas]

Capitalism in Europe: You buy things that you need or like. Capitalism in the U.S.: You buy things, which you don't need, with money that you don't have, to impress people, who you don't like.

[@arposkraft3616]

capitalism just means you use a fiat currency, the difference is a neolib neocon mentality vs a demlib and laboursocialist mentality in europe all of them functioning in a relative free market capitalist economy

[@JoviesHome]

That is pretty funny! In a sad sort of way.

[@karimaogden3875]

Yep! Gotta keep up with the Jones-ses!

[@zaklex3165]

Correction, the U.S. economy is not based on Capitalism, it's based on Consumerism(with a trifle of Capitalism thrown in for fun).

[@arposkraft3616]

@@zaklex3165 fair enough

[@charisma-hornum-fries]

Happiness in social democratic countries is not laughing hysterically every day. It’s about a general sense of contentment, inner peace, trust in people around you and a life without a general fear.

[@marybusch6182]

Great descriptions!!!

[@marybusch6182]

@Oliver Smith are you crazy. I guess you like 5 million people going bankrupt due to healthcare. Nice! It’s fine if you get “professional courtesy” but that is no longer guaranteed.

[@marybusch6182]

@Oliver Smith wow wow wow.

[@nazrtanginet1282]

@Oliver Smith are you drunk? Your lack of education is showing. Couldn't afford school?

[@TheAverlorn]

+ knowing that you will be looked after when you need it without being displaced into poverty.

[@rorygee482]

As a European living in the states I can tell you that Americans need your sympathy. I’ve traveled widely but I have never experienced the level of brainwashing I’ve experienced here. There are wonderful people in the States but unfortunately even the highly educated are automatons. Most of it comes from a constant bombardment of fear. That fear leads to two things that make America exceptional. It incarcerates more of its citizens than any other country in the world and it has a military bigger than the next 26 countries combined. It excels in fear whilst it ranks 27th in education and in the 30’s for healthcare. It has a higher infant mortality than Cuba. It’s a sad society of ignorance, arrogance and insecurity.

[@rorygee482]

@Oliver Smith The stats don’t lie. And nobody anywhere has free healthcare they just prioritize it the same way they do the military, it’s like an army but for healthcare. I think you make my point.

[@rorygee482]

@Oliver Smith That libertarian wet dream looks like a dystopian hell hole. Or commonly known as Texas energy.

[@asaenco]

@Oliver Smith yes and good hard working people are benefitting from it too

[@yegmeshjwp]

Yes! Watching their TV, Holiday, I have never seen such disconcerting adverts geared towards increasing anxiety.

[@asaenco]

And forgot to say, talk to you again after you were in a major trafic accident and need lots of surgery and hospital care

[@acooksla]

I agree 100% - as someone who spent my whole life living in America and now live in Spain, it’s so wonderful to be living here where we are safe, treated equally, where there are no dangerous ares, no guns. It’s a real pleasure to be in an integrated and loving society. They all take care of each other here and the health care is top notch. We are finally stress free in our lifestyle.

[@AngieStonesPhD]

same

[@Dutch1961]

Basically our society is based on solidarity. Everyone, no exeption, at one day can find themselves in a situation that they are unemployed, disabled or in need of an expensive medical treatment. Noone can bear these costs on it's own, but together we can bear these costs for all of us. Call it socialism, call it solidarity, I just call it human decency.

[@anneliesS04]

Well said!

[@Marianneduetje]

The whole concept of solidarity has to be ingrained from an early age. It is a difficult concept to grasp when living in a society that is focused in 'me, me, me'.

[@dinas2369]

@@Marianneduetje so true and so sad

[@dutchgamer842]

You pay insurance for that, if your insurance isn't good enough, you still have to pay part of it in the end. Well not the welfare, just the rest of it. Like those people that need voedselbank

[@Daniel-wn5ye]

Tell me about it. I'm not disable, but I'm very upset that not all public institutions at least in my eastern european country are not all wheelchair accessible.

[@nickgov66]

They have "death panels" in the US, they are called "Insurance company boards of directors".

[@urduib]

Valid point indeed

[@timothycsauer1]

Except no one seems to ever point out valid examples of people dying from decisions made by insurance companies. In the US if a person's life is in danger they get needed health care that is always immediately available. Under socialized health care systems people die on waiting lists all the time because the treatments are not immediately available. Although far from perfect, US health care is the best in the world. The fact that every European and Canadian who can comes to the US for all their health care needs says it all.

[@grahvis]

@@timothycsauer1 . Bollocks, emergency treatment is always available on the NHS and no large bills follow. At least no one has to beg people not to call an ambulance because they can't afford it, as seen in the US. US healthcare ranks lower in world rankings for quality than any European country.

[@timothycsauer1]

@@grahvis those "Rankings" are produced by people trying to promote socialized health care. Every day people in Europe and Canada die over health care rationing, not in the US. Health care is expensive in the US mostly as indirect results of Leftist policies. No one uses socialized health care if they have a choice. Every European or Canadian who can come to America for all their health care needs. The biggest single reason European countries and Canada can have socialized health care and other welfare state policies is from indirect subsidization from Americans.

[@nickgov66]

@@timothycsauer1 you really have been brainwashed by the far right, there is, I'm afraid no hope for you.

[@MarcelGomesPan]

”Socialism and Social Democracy are two different things”. Thank you. I’ve heard Americans describe Sweden as a socialist country. It is’nt and never has been. 🇸🇪

[@Helperbot-2000]

Same about here in Norway too, and denmark! 🇳🇴🇩🇰🇸🇪

[@sorencyrano1413]

🇩🇰🤝🇳🇴🤝🇸🇪🤝🇫🇮 Same her in Denmark, obviously. And Finland too. We know this. I have heard the misconception about Denmark from a few Americans.

[@DysmorphicP]

We Costaricans have the same issue explaining that we are a social democracy and that has nothing to do with communism... It's really hard for them to understand the difference because of all the brainwashing they've had.

[@Oumegi]

Capitalism is like fire, a good servant, but a terrible master. Europe put chains on it. We are also not socialist in majority of European continent, but actually capitalist with strong social policies. Extremes of either sides are, and should be, frowned upon. We are weary of both, as we do have history of abuse by both. That's my take on Europe as a Czech guy.

[@Helperbot-2000]

@@Oumegi have to agree there

[@manxx25]

Neighbor diagnosed Stage IV lung cancer. Worked at a hotel doing maintenance work. Had to work until a week before death because if he lost his job he lost his insurance. America seems hostile towards its citizens. She couldn't keep her slavery, but feudalism found a way. Middle Class shrinks and many learn the feel of lower-caste living. They punch down. They punch down.

[@marnienorris]

He could easily get Medicaid.

[@eksbocks9438]

They are hostile. Doesn't matter how hard you work. Or whether or not you're sick. Because they're just going to keep asking you to babysit them. It's not about what's logical or ethical to them. It's about their emotions and bias. It's not that we don't have kindness. We have plenty of it. But we don't do anything with the people who are unkind. And they push back against the rest of us. With as much weight (and money) as possible. They don't contribute anything. They don't mentor others. They just keep treating other people poorly. That's why we're stuck in this situation.

[@Baritone45]

@@marnienorris But there is such a stigma to that. He probably never even considered it, because that seemed unthinkably dishonorable to him.

[@sergarlantyrell7847]

Freedom? Try having more than 2 choices come election time...

[@roguesheep3083]

And there's barely a difference.

[@Julia-lk8jn]

But surely that'd be the dreaded socialism? Oh wait. It'sd actually be avoiding "the greatest political evil under our constitution", according to John Adams. My bad. _"There is nothing which I dread so much as a division of the republic into two great parties, each arranged under its leader, and concerting measuresin opposition to each other. This, in my humble apprehension, is to be dreaded as the greatest evil under our constitution."_

We do have more than two, those are just the main ones. Also not sure how that somehow means there's no freedom as if that's an indicator.

[@sergarlantyrell7847]

@ You know how long it's been since the last time a state (and therefore seats in the electoral college) was won by people other than from the 2 main parties...? Over half a century (53 years). Given that the average age in the US is 38, that means that for all intents and purposes, most people have never seen an election with effectively more than 2 choices.

[@jeanforest8060]

You don't have TWO choices, you only have ONE: between Republicans and Democrats. That sounds to me like a single choice, not two!

[@thehallswayy]

Living in the USA I think a lot of young people are starting to realize that we have a bad deal living here compared to European countries.

[@simplybookcovers4324]

I think you´re right. I moved to Europe when I saw no realistic life perspective for myself in the States. I asked myself questions and the answers to my questions were pretty shitty. I began to compare the rest of the world to the U.S. I spoke to friends overseas, informed myself, made a long list of pros and cons. And with each passing day I became more miserable knowing I was more likely going to fall under the poverty radar if I had approached my dreams. So, I moved over here at age 20. The sad part is: If America had only half of what Europe has to offer then I would´ve stayed. Now, I´m almost 40 and I don´t want to trade life here for a life in America- At least not in its current state.

[@SheIsTristine]

Then please leave!!

[@mtsenskmtsensk5113]

He has left America, is English your first language? What he has said is that he has a better deal where he is now and America is a poor choice compared to Europe. Well that is obvious to the rest of the world.

[@simplybookcovers4324]

@@mtsenskmtsensk5113 Exactly.

[@simplybookcovers4324]

@@SheIsTristine Why must anyone go when there´s an easier solution that doesn´t involve leaving the country.

[@beek014]

in the US they have Civil rights, in Europe they have Human rights. that is a BIG difference!

[@PAULLONDEN]

While they are hardly "civil" in the first place ........

[@PAULLONDEN]

@@davidcullen6797 Ofcourse ....Western Europe is hardly Utopia. Ofcourse the U.S. one party state where prisons are big business, has human rights. Especially for those who can buy themselves out of state retribution ? god bless the usa .....

[@sanSDI]

@@davidcullen6797 like your ignorance, many european countries have it in their constitution and second, your constitution is not more safe than others if the politicians wanted to change it.

[@carhac66]

@@davidcullen6797 actually the "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" were mentioned as divinely given (GOD), but have never been respected by the US. If this was the case, the Civil Rights laws would not have been necessary.

[@carhac66]

@@davidcullen6797 you failed to mention that many of those strom thurman democrats became republicans and used this racism to basically run the southern states, even today. you also failed to mention that the president that pushed the civil rights act thru was a Democrat! Byrd and some democrats spent the remainder of their years trying to correct their erroneous racist beliefs and changed. tell the whole story! Abraham Lincoln and the Republicans did not end slavery. You also failed to mention the 13th amendment which permanently cemented slavery as a truly american institution and it continues today (europe does not do this). you failed to tell them how the southern racist created laws to put black & brown people in jail (which makes them slaves forever in the usa). they have no right to vote, their homes and bodies can be searched at any time, and jailed without cause for a time period (in some states 48 hours or longer). tell the entire facts because the USA is not all that. this is not all the screwed up things in the USA.

[@sunnysnod7483]

I'm in the UK. Someone very dear just passed from cancer. She was young, healthy but had a blister, thought nothing of it. Went to a Dr for diagnosis far too late. With no chance of saving her the NHS acted fast, it still offered every type of medication and treatment possible, including new expensive treatments, just to give her more time with her children. No death squad wrote her off. She sadly lost her fight yesterday. We her family don't have any medication,, hospital, hospice or transport bills. Everything medical has been paid without our involvement, we have not had to think about any of it. When crisis like this hits, the last thing you need is to worry about how you're going to pay for it.

[@kennydianabrown7359]

My husband and I literally moved to The Hague from Seattle Nov 2, 2020 because of all the things you talk about here! I could not bare to raise my interracial babies in the US. My husband could not walk the streets without people looking at him with disdain and they don't know anything about him except that he has darker skin. It broke my heart. I am originally from the Ukraine. Seeing the diversity here has made us feel more safe than we ever have before. Our personal rights don't mean anything when they hurt our neighbors. We will do everything we can to stay here, learn from the culture here and contribute to a better world. ❤️ 100% agree. 🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌

[@moniquetata2146]

Welcome to the Netherlands and my best wishes for a good and prosperous life here 🌞💞

[@kennydianabrown7359]

@@moniquetata2146 thank you so much! We have loved it here so far! One month in The Hague today! 🎉

[@ramonwilts]

Welcome. I hope you will be happy here. ✌🧡

[@rolfvanas2397]

Best small big city the Hague 😁

[@mmsvisser]

You are welcome here!

[@motorcitykitty700]

I am an American in my 50s. I will never “not” be an American, I love my country so much. That said, I have lived 4 years in the Netherlands and 18 years in Canada. Everywhere I lived outside the United States, I enjoyed a *better quality of life.*. From health care, to comfortable living space, to work/life balance, the quality was just...better. It makes it difficult to want to live in the States again, despite how much I love it. Americans are stressed out about all these things (healthcare, jobs, work/life balance, even food on the table, safety) and it breaks my heart to go home and see friends and family worried and afraid. 😞

[@BlacksmithTWD]

There is a dutch saying which roughly translates as : "One doesn't move/replant old trees (as their roots are too deep)"

[@BramLastname]

So I watched a mini docu about North Korea, Then a year later I found out the same stuff was happening in the USA, With various cults and organizations. It's ridiculous that these things are a recurring theme in a large western country.

[@rogerwilco2]

The stress is on purpose. Stress makes people more selfish and cruel, and thus more likely to support selfish and cruel and evil politicians.

[@Flossie710]

@@rogerwilco2 bingo! " divide and conquer " , and how do you divide the People? By trapping them in the rat race. When theSupreme Court legalized bribing politicians, that was pretty much it. They had one candidate for President in 2020 who actually doesn't take corporate donations. Didn't rally behind him.

[@maulwurf62]

It's the old tribal mentality which has been dividing humans for thousands of years. It's instinctive to want to keep to "your" people and what you know. However, like many other instincts which we have to keep under control with logical thought and morality, staying within artificially conceived borders and making war, literally or economically, will not lead to a better world. Also, knowing that life is better elsewhere but still staying in America borders on masochism. ;-)

[@Driver2616]

There was an American guy here in Ireland a couple of months ago who couldn’t get his head around the fact that the emergency helicopter ambulance that brought him to the hospital, when he got sick, was free. He didn’t have to pay. And the treatment he got in the hospital, he didn’t have to pay….

[@bjornh4664]

My wife suffered a brain hemorraghe almost four months ago. She was flown by ambulance helicopter to one of the best clinics in Sweden, and was in intensive care for almost four weeks worth 8,800 USD a day. As she's recovering, she receives daily physiotherapy (she's still in hospital). All this for 11 dollars a day. I pay the equivalent of maybe 3,500 USD a year in taxes towards the healthcare system, and this year I've got that back so many times over.

[@rubenjanssen1672]

@@bjornh4664 exacly and that is why i gladly pay taxes \

[@bmw803]

@@rubenjanssen1672 Then it means it's not free. The problem is that when it's paid thru taxes, there is mismanagement and abuse, which escalates costs. Having a safety net paid by taxes is fine, but it should be a safety net, not the norm.

[@bmw803]

@@bjornh4664 Who pays the gap?? If you put in 3,500 and it costs 8,800, someone is getting in debt. That's why most western governments ARE DROWNING in debt, but you don't see it on the individual level. Now, they're printing money out of the wazoo to pay for all the free stuff. It's basic math.

[@brianmahoney3256]

I live in Ireland. Dislocated my knee. Attended by two paramedics, carried out of forest by 6 firefighters, ambulance trip to hospital, two trips to hospital, including x-ray. All 100 euros (which I could have got away with not paying). Excellent help when I needed it.

[@TheJohnDoe70]

I'm an expat from California living now 13 yrs in Amsterdam. It is only when you step out of America that you can see the differences. You have some great points here!!!

[@Zift_Ylrhavic_Resfear]

Expat? Oh, you mean immigrant.

[@zioqqr4262]

I tried to google but I didnt really understand,, whats an expat?

[@Bambotb]

America is full of amazing stuff man and you can make a lot of good money

[@HatsuneM1ku01]

Bruh Amsterdam is even more oppressive and tyrannical than Cali whatcha mean. You people are literally so blind. Just say you like saftey in the form of government over reach lol

[@andreavoros-marky4203]

@@zioqqr4262 it is the short form of expatriate. Meaning somebody who lives and works in a foreign country.

[@TheExplorder]

Food for thought: The "radical leftist" senator Bernie Sanders would be a centrist in the Netherlands.

[@juttalio1664]

That is what Americans don't understand. Everything and everyone who wants the people of a state to have a good live, is communist in their eyes. What a joke.

[@hape3862]

@@juttalio1664 Like Rutger Bregman (a Dutch himself) put it: "It isn't communism, it is common sense."

[@TheExplorder]

@@hape3862 his interview with Trevor Noah was great. I like it when Dutch people appear on American television.

[@KootFloris]

@@juttalio1664 That's the power of Red Scare propaganda for you. Over a 100 years of that, has made many Americans shout Marxism, when you just suggest something left of Biden. Crazy!

[@dimitrivisser27]

Trump about why to vote for him: You can choose between FREEDOM and SOCIALISM! ;-)

[@emmastarry2886]

If any Americans think we have death panels in Europe, they should look up the average age expectancy of countries. America comes 40th place, many European countries including the Netherlands and the UK (my country) live longer. If our health providers are supposedly killing us off, how come we live so long.

[@XxJay71xX]

@Rita Roork wrong on 90% of what you said, but please, show me your sources.

[@TimvanderWeyden]

@@XxJay71xX I am seeing so many @Rita Roork stuff, that I am sad that all those comments are gone now. Probably could have a laugh (and then cry about the level of stupidity). XD

[@joshuademoraes]

@@XxJay71xX sources: voices from my head

[@XxJay71xX]

@@joshuademoraes miss Rita Rook was saying à lot of non-sense, apparently she didn't like looking stupid so she deleted her comments

[@trevormillar2755]

You have death panels in the US, only you call them HMOs

[@B20C0]

"We buy shit we don't need, with money we don't have, to impress people we don't like." -- George Carlin

[@shbhchwh]

I am a 65 year old, retiree from the Midwest, born and raised, and still living in US. Everything you said is 100% spot on. Many years ago I started cringing every time I would hear someone say "We are the greatest country in the world!" It is a common refrain. Presidents say it all the time. There are many Americans who are isolationists, xenophobic and ethnocentric, and (this is the culprit imho) uneducated. There are many of us who don't know what to do about this at this point.

[@randrozguidroz6485]

I'm a mirror image of you from my age and the beliefs and opinions

[@JDavidHopkins]

The worst is “American Exceptionalism”.

[@tompiper9276]

I get the patriotic thing but all too often it's thrown in as an automatic expectation that everyone will rally to the cause. Irrespective of how good bad or indifferent it might be. I've lived in a number of countries, none of them perfect but at a basic level the acid test is the people that live there. Wealth and happiness don't go hand in hand. The title of 'the best country' is, in many ways, subjective. Where do you feel most comfortable?

[@daxbruce3491]

I just laugh at them

[@patrickchilds2987]

@Susan Hopkins There isn’t anything really to be done. American Exceptionalism is a construct used mainly by politicians to emphasise their patriotism. There is nothing wrong ibeing proud of your country, most people around the world also love their country. In order to construct a narrative that your the greatest country in the world then you have to establish clear parameters to demonstrate your exceptionalism over other countries. Freedom is often used as an example of American Exceptionalism, yet the majority of other nations could be referred to as free, certainly some that are have arguably more freedoms. Economies, military might ...are these measures of exceptionalism ? I think ultimately Americans can believe in their own exceptionalism if they want, there is nothing wrong with that, but perhaps they shouldn’t get so upset if others disagree.

[@DB-stuff]

I'm in Scotland but I love most things about America, but I'm stunned watching the recent election over there. You can judge a nation by how it treats it's most vulnerable citizens.

[@TTTzzzz]

@Three Brooklyn Cats It's terrible to be heartbroken and disgusted about your own country. You can fight or move to another country. Both are difficult. Choose what is best for you. The US will not change the coming years. Trump has left his mark. You can fight him or escape from him.

[@e.458]

@Three Brooklyn Cats As a German, let me tell you: a nation can recover from the darkest of places.

[@laurencekelly5081]

@Three Brooklyn Cats I can never understand this American thing of I love my country. I am more than pleased and delighted that i born and grew up in mine but if it was like america I can honestly I would be ashamed to say it. I notice a lot of Americans can be delighted to be mistaken for Canadians in Europe.

[@janisdeluca3028]

The administration of Donald J. Trump was a case of giving a person a try which turned into a nightmare. Living in Scotland, you got a good dose of Trumpism. Besides being the worst president ever, he was/is heartless hurting so many people and heaping lies on top of it. To compound the problem, a percentage of about 30% believed the lies. We are hoping now our elected officials will keep our will in mind and we are noting those with adverse minds. They will be voted out soon enough! It's not a perfect country but we still love it and we still care about our neighbors (biblically speaking).

[@debbiechia]

75 million of us are stunned too!

[@Helliconia54]

Living in Australia, My wife on a pension, NO private medical insurance has had TWO knee replacements over the last 5 years at NO cost. Try that in the states.

[@JoseMendoza-rr4mp]

Hey at least we got freedom. (Being sarcastic, had to say it cause people like this actually exists)

[@Bertuzz84]

@@JoseMendoza-rr4mp Don't take ma freedom to have massive debt!

[@flashrobbie]

@@JoseMendoza-rr4mp 15th freest nation in the world, according to the State of World Liberty so number one if one ignores New Zealand, Switzerland, Ireland, Finland, Canada, Australia, Luxembourg, Denmark, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Estonia, Iceland and the United Kingdom and the lack of a decent education system makes that easy.

[@DCUnderdog3000]

"Free", "No Cost". Lol sure man because the doctors all did that for her wothout pay.

[@danilopapais1464]

@@flashrobbie What? Germany is lower than the US?

[@JohnSmith-zv8km]

I traveled to the USA a lot on business and pleasure and while I got on well with the people that I met I was always surprised by people believing in the points that you have raised. Even sophisticated people held that America was so much better than Europe and confused socialism with social care.

[@janentomenkafka]

Hi John, I guess it has to do with size. As a US citizen you don't have to leave your country to go on holiday, whether you look for the sun or want to go skiing. Europeans are confronted with differences all the time. I guess we also have more "foreign" news in our media.

[@JohnSmith-zv8km]

@@janentomenkafka Hi Jan I think that you may be right. It was surprising also that a number of people I met did not have a passport, most did for business reasons. I have to admit though it is one of life pleasures meeting people from other countries. I have been lucky in working for global organisations who moved lots of people around the globe.

[@jamesbra4410]

Yeah well there really is no freedom of speech as they parrot because the society is extremely harsh to survive in so those that manage to do well are agreeable and often accept the narratives without questioning. That alternative well lets just say you can be homeless and removed from employment very fast. You don't even have to be arrested to be legally excluded from living you just need one blemish like an eviction, job termination, or missed monthly debt payment.

[@npickard4218]

I've been to 9 European nations, some of them several times. I also have lived in two of them for extended periods of time. My conclusion: I like Europe but America is better.

[@JohnSmith-zv8km]

@@npickard4218 The USA is not America. I am sure there are things in the USA that are better such as >>>>> I cannot think of any. I can think of ways that they are different and that is fine. WHat you mean I think is that you prefer the USA which is also fine.

[@davidschaftenaar6530]

I am currently 31 years old. When I was 29, I developed critical heart failure due to a birth defect I was unaware of. Had this happened to me in America, you would not be reading this right now. Universal healthcare saved my life.

[@mariacheebandidos7183]

far more people with far worse conditions get treated in the US everyday. don't believe the exaggerations. American health system maybe expensive if you don't have insurance, but it is still the best in the world.

[@davidschaftenaar6530]

​@@mariacheebandidos7183 There's not a whole lot of other conditions with survival rates below 10% a year out from onset. I spent about three weeks in the hospital, three days of which in the ICU. You can't honestly tell me that wouldn't have bankrupted most Americans. I've also seen the insurance rates charged for the same level of healthcare guaranteed to all citizens of my nation, they can run into the low thousands. The quality of your healthcare is top notch, yes - but I struggle to see how that's all that relevant if only a small fraction of your population can actually access it fully. Don't get me wrong, I didn't say what I said to put your country down in the slightest... it's a fantastic country; I was commenting on a specific policy that I think is holding America back tremendously. What benefits do you see to the U.S. healthcare system as it is today?

[@mariacheebandidos7183]

@@davidschaftenaar6530 the American health system is designed for insurance, no one expects people to pay those bills out of pocket. employers are required to provide insurance to employees but you could also add to it for a better coverage, depending on your needs. low income and old folks have medicaid and Medicare (government) don't know what country you are from but America is more diverse and more complex than any other country, so systems that may seem good in smaller, homologous countries probably wouldn't work here. even so, hospitals are required by law to treat every patient and those hospitals bills are not a crime so people who can't afford to, just don't pay them (those bills are meant/designed for ins. companies NOT for individuals) money does motivate, probably why a lot of smart medical professionals, researcher... come to the US, which helps in innovations and even inventions in the sector. chances are, most of the medicines and procedure used to treat your situation came from the US health system. and every year thousands of people from around the world come to US for treatment they can't get anywhere else. not one bit worried about putting the US down, just annoying that there's increasing amount of these "americans" adding to this misinformation (just for attention and clicks/views). wouldn't mind a well researched take, based on facts and in context. even point out the pro and cons of the different systems. America is not where it is today in the world because everything it does is all bad.

[@ratofvengence]

@@mariacheebandidos7183 "American health system maybe expensive if you don't have insurance, but it is still the best in the world." I guess that's why you have a sub-standard life expectancy... "the American health system is designed for insurance" The biggest cause of personal bankruptcy in the US is healthcare, over 44,000 die annually due to the cost of healthcare. "America is more diverse and more complex than any other country" Not even close lol. 13% of Americans were born overseas, that's over 26% in Australia for example. Several European nations have diverse cultural groups going back centuries.

[@bernardthedisappointedowl6938]

@@mariacheebandidos7183 If the US system is so great, how come people from the UK live longer on average than people in the US? ^oo^

[@travis1240]

So true about money vs happiness. The trouble is that in the USA you need to have a huge pile of money to even have stability, otherwise losing your job and getting a treatable disease simultaneously could kill you.

[@scrimshaw848]

black people take money, are given food and shelter and despite the propaganda..healthcare. and they dont give a shit about working. yeah, americans need to make a huge pile of money to be TAXED so as to ultimately pay for others before themselves. what do you think would happen to europe with not even a tenth the blacks the usa suffers from?

[@rendomstranger8698]

@@scrimshaw848 "black people" Do you honestly believe a single word that comes out of your mouth when you start with those 2 words? Because if you do, you truly are a lost cause. What makes you so different from the average black person? And how have you verified that your accusations and explanations are correct? Or are you just blindly spouting bullshit without even taking a single second to consider the possibility that you might be wrong?

[@YeahNo]

Let’s be really honest. Stubbing your toe and having a doctor glance at it can send you into bankruptcy in the USA.

[@valeriemacphail9180]

@@scrimshaw848 Your post seems indignant and ignorant. It is a literally racist statement, based on hearsay and prejudice, not documented facts. Produce the statistics to back your claims for someone to listen to your argument, ie that "black people" tend to lean on welfare any more than any other human coming historically from the poorest social strata. My stats show, climbing just one notch up the social ladder is a difficult aim, achieved by a mere 5%.

[@YeahNo]

@@valeriemacphail9180 He misspelt “orange guy” as “black people”. It’s his great American education at work.

[@DomingoDeSantaClara]

There's so many videos of Americans that have gone to a foreign country and have had the same revelation as you.....welcome to freedom.

[@markdemell3717]

freedom is an illusion pal ,wake up and see the evil.

[@ladybluelotus]

There are Americans in the US that know and understand this, they're just ignored.

[@markdemell3717]

@L M If you can't see it then there is not much hope for you!

[@NewBlueTrue]

I know this. That’s why I want to leave, but it isn’t easy

[@tompiper9276]

@@markdemell3717 C'mon..... An example... Something.. Anything..

[@tails18boy]

Growing up in Europe I just assumed that the States had some sort of NHS, that everyone gets healthcare, I assumed that there was no homeless problem, I assumed there was paid parental leave and strong labor laws. Then I went to the states and I was shocked, no labor laws, massive homeless problem because apperantly homes are considered investment first a home second. And when I looked at the healthcare, things was so expensive and confusing with in and out networks, deductibles and copays. Even with the ACA that allows people to get health insurance regardless of employer (because this wasn't common sense already) when I looked into it I saw yes it is possible for an Americano to get near 0 monthly premiums through the ACA... But if that American gets sick the deductible and copay was astronomical high and services not guaranteed. And I was like how in the world does an American in the most common jobs, literally 50% of the labor market in fast food, retail, warehouse, teamster, how could they afford this? What do they just pay a high premium and live pay check to pay check? Do they pay a low premium and pray they don't get sick the next 5 or 10 years because in either case they just go into debt if something happens to them? How could anyone think this is normal? This is insanity!

[@suspendedhatch]

ACA and other social programs are In Name Only. The existence of these programs alleviates guilt for the priviledged, but in practice they are not available to those that need them. Impossible Means Testing, defunding etc ensure that no money is “wasted” on social programs and instead is chaneled to the wealthy and their corporations.

[@s.stevens4520]

Yes! Most Americans live paycheck to paycheck and have a ton of debt. America is a house of cars waiting to fall.

[@jasondonovan1408]

Insanity is when you take a trip to the US and assume that the entire country is the same throughout as where you traveled. I can understand how this could be true for your tiny country so I get it....but use your brain when thinking about a country like the US. You can't get a feel for it with a vacation trip to NY. Sorry.

[@auggiet8380]

@@jasondonovan1408 *sigh* I have lived all over the US. Would LOVE to leave and move somewhere with more common sense and solidarity amongst its people. The US is garbage, no matter where you live here. Some places are worse than others, yeah, but none of it is “good” compared to other developed nations. I don’t understand you. The US does not need you defending it all over this comment section.

[@jasondonovan1408]

@@auggiet8380 So you would love to leave yet you don't? I may be assuming but based on what you wrote: 1. You can't afford travel. 2. You have never traveled nor lived abroad (especially Europe). 3. You have no concept of what "garbage" actually is (see #1.) With no actual knowledge to base any of your assumptions, your response is foolish. I have lived in Europe and traveled a lot. I've also lived in the US on both coasts and in the middle. I'm not poor but I can assure you that being poor sucks no matter what country you live in. If you have only lived in poor areas of the US (or any country), it sucks. Some parts of your post that stand out and lead me to my assumptions..... "more common sense and solidarity amongst its people". This is really ignorant. Europeans are definitely not in solidarity amongst themselves. If you spent any time with them you'd figure this out quite quickly. And this: "but none of it is “good” compared to other developed nations". Again, you have obviously not lived in a decent area of any country. All countries have their crappy areas but I can assure you (from experience) that there is nowhere in Europe or anywhere else where no comparable place exists in the US that either matches or surpasses it. So once you aquire some knowledge and first hand experience, maybe even some success economically.....then, and only then should you comment with authority. You aren't in a position to do that yet. The grass isn't always greener and if your idea of a great country is one that pays for you and does "for you".....with you contributing nothing, well.....read this: "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country". That's it. Nothing is free and nobody wants you to go to their country if you just want free stuff.

[@Charlatan-Parodyman]

Too often in the states, if the truth doesn’t fit our narrative or agenda, we will create a fiction that will.

[@eskiltester3913]

Alternative facts. Trump supporters love them

[@Harpazo_to_Yeshua]

@@eskiltester3913 As do Biden supporters.

[@timnewman1172]

The past four years is a testament to that!

[@johannaclemons9957]

@@timnewman1172 I would go back further than that.

[@idaborgelt8751]

Yes, look at Trump!

[@ronaldderooij1774]

We are the Dutch. Resistance is futile, you will be assimilated. Your individualism will be added to ours.

[@fransbuijs808]

If only that was true. Then we wouldn't have islamic schools and salafist preachers.

[@gyqz]

Trekkie spotted!!!!

[@martienvandenberg5181]

@@fransbuijs808 School met de bijbel, zwarte kousen kerken? Ze zijn geassimileerd.

[@luguy8347]

Impressive.

[@petertraudes106]

Diversiteit en migratie zijn altijd onderdeel van Nederlandse cultuur geweest.

[@realdigitalthangka]

Knowing how adamant some of your fellow Americans can be about the greatness of their country, I find this a very brave video. I salute you.

[@garryhennessee7538]

Yeah she's so brave that she crossed an ocean just to complain. She's the ultimate Karen.

[@JoviesHome]

I think you need to look up the definition of a Karen. Because giving constructive criticism about a genuine problem is not it.

[@realdigitalthangka]

@@garryhennessee7538 Thank you for proving my point.

[@garryhennessee7538]

@@realdigitalthangka There is nothing brave about running to another country and then crying about your former country.

[@Redactedlllllllllllll]

@@garryhennessee7538 don't you tell people who complain when they are here to go somewhere else? Lol

[@rzholland]

I am a Brit living in the US and I am constantly saying to people "Why do you all put up with this"

[@Kevin15047]

What you have to understand is the whole country has been brainwashed. We're told from the cradle this is the greatest country on Earth. And a good number of us are kept too poor to travel so what evidence is there to the contrary? For 12 years of school we're made to pledge our allegiance to a f****** piece of cloth and it has big North Korea energy. Coincidentally, to hear people talk you would think every other country on Earth was North Korea. And then we pat ourselves on the back for not being North Korea as if clearing THAT bar should be some kind of an accomplishment. I don't think I need to tell you how badly education has been gutted to hell. We are purposefully kept ignorant. In the words of George Carlin, "they want people just smart enough to run the machines, but not smart enough to sit around the kitchen table and figure out how badly they're getting f*****." And sadly most of us have no idea how badly we're getting f*****.

[@brianwalley2131]

As an Australian I have always been aware that my country has been good at some things but not so good at other things. I know that in some matters other countries are doing better than us. So it amazes me that when I hear an American say they live in the 'greatest country in the world' I know they are stating it as an article of faith, like religious dogma and these people usually know little or nothing about life in other countries, so they have no basis in fact for making such a comparison.

[@aperaruapeeta4309]

As a kiwi 🥝 I know we got it good 👍

[@Pfirtzer]

You do great now, I love it, it's a living concentration camp, you are the experiment that's going to be rolled out all over the world. If I am not mistaken Australia was a penal colony , Britain sent all the outcasts and mistfits there.Sadly there is a war against humanity waging most are asleep, too blind to see it.

[@YeahNo]

@@Pfirtzer You know MORE convicts were sent to the US right? Probably why guns and prisons are so popular there. America had plenty of penal colonies too, for example - Maryland, Virginia and Georgia. France had Louisiana as a penal colony.

[@chunglu]

@@Pfirtzer goodness, the amount of pearl-clutching in this comment is both sad and comical

[@colinbrown7305]

The "freedoms" and workers rights that the citizens of many European countries enjoy were hard faugt. Particularly by those who lived and worked between the two world wars and for a period directly after the Second World War. In Britain, where I'm from, things like social housing, the 5 day working week and the NHS came about mainly due to the rise in left wing socialist parties like the Labour Party. The devistation and heart ache that Two World Wars brought to the working people of Europe meant that they were no longer going to stand for poor living and working conditions. The working class people began to demand more. With communism on the door step of Western Europe, the upper classes and the political elite had no option but to introduce better social conditions. This wasn't the case in the USA, the American people have been subjected to decades of anti socialist propaganda that has made them blind to the fact that they are treated worse than any other country in the western world. Maybe now young Americans are beginning to see what a bad deal they have and they'll be able to force through change.

[@henrikduende]

Saw an American veteran saying that the war in Afghanistan taught him that the american ”freedom” is the freedom to pretend. Nothing else.

[@nickcox1408]

American Iraq veteran stationed in Germany. Once you see the U.S from the other side of the fence. You'll never look at it the same ever again.

[@jamesmorris1658]

THIS video was precise and to the point. When one is living in the states it's difficult to truly see the things you point out. When I became an expat and left the US these things became glaringly obvious. Thanks for the time you took to make this video.

[@calise8783]

Yes, this! My extended family in the US doesn’t get it, they have been inundated with propaganda and can’t hear what I tell them through personal experience. Only my parents ( originally from Europe actually wanted to move back) get it. No country is perfect. However, once living for a bit in Europe, you really see the difference and can not imagine moving back for many reasons even if it will always hold a special spot in my heart. How can it not, I grew up there.

[@paulhamrick3943]

@@calise8783 this is all true, but the vast majority of Americans who relocate to Europe are extremely privileged people. Additionally, after going through a period of my early adulthood where I self righteously spoke the same way as this KZbinr and you commenters, once you start thinking more systemically and more historically, you start to view these *STATIC* comparisons of countries with VASTLY different histories as grossly simplistic, and these sort of testimonials like the one in this video start to thoroughly annoy you. This KZbinr gives herself credit for living amongst lower class people in the Netherlands. Wow, huge accomplishment! Try doing the same in an American city.

[@mikebegonia6134]

@@paulhamrick3943 That's her point, Mr. Knowall.

[@peterkoller3761]

@@paulhamrick3943 Your statement about living among poorer people in Europe vs the USA: separating out the poor and ghettoisation of classes is exactly what caused this problem in the USA. (and also leads to world views like calling someone "lower class" just because they have less money, btw.)

[@dalstein3708]

@@paulhamrick3943 Compared to the US as it is today, Eisenhower's America was commie-land: high income taxes for the rich, strict anti-trust laws, affordable college tuition, and jobs with decent pay (often unionized). In the 50s and 60s, both the US and Europe were building their welfare state. Europe has stuck with it, for the most part. It's the US that has changed track.

[@c.williams6903]

I am an average American with an immigrant wife. It’s not until I started seeing the United States through her eyes that I started to realize I have been living in a red white and blue lie all my life. She has describe what the average day/year is in her home country, and it makes me extremely envious. Especially when you realize that they make more if not the same amount of money as Americans per year. And as you age you will realize how very important it is to be able to have access to affordable healthcare. I once was a Republican, a conservative, and a member of the US military. But once you visit other countries can you see what the average citizen is afforded, you begin to realize how badly you have been lied to. We are currently planning our immigration out of the US permanently.

[@Venusbabe66]

As a citizen from an American ally country, I applaud your remarkable honesty, courage, intelligence and foresight to understand and accept the ugly truth of... how and why the corrupt, immoral, power and greed-driven unfettered capitalist US system is failing its majority non-elite population and is on the brink of a 2nd civil war. I travelled much of the USA in 1991 and was initially very shocked and saddened at the extent of the poverty and homlessness - whole families living and begging on the streets in San Francisco, LA, NYC etc. I would have loved to visit family, friends and places I missed the first time, however, I probably will never return. It's so sad because the USA has such amazing natural beauty and so much potential to be better. Best wishes for you and your family from Australia.🇦🇺👍

[@Beedo_Sookcool]

I don't believe in luck, so I'll wish you success, mate.

[@ashleighsparkle8810]

You will be back. There is a reason she moved to our country.

[@vickifenlon2235]

Nice to find you Jovie. I moved to Ireland 6 years ago at 62 years old. I have never felt freer. I have no car and after age 66 have a free travel pass for buses and trains. I live in a smallish town with a fishmonger and butcher. I buy fresh food every day instead of driving to the store and buying two weeks worth of food at a time. Although my entire family lives in the US, I could never live there again!

[@gerardnolan2939]

And you are welcome

[@jas1049]

Glad to hear you’re enjoying your time in Ireland Vicki.

[@AlignmentCoaching]

How can you successfully immigrate past 50? I’m trying to find a place in Europe...

[@MFPRego]

@@AlignmentCoaching depends on the country. Mind you that the UK is not part of EU anymore, wich will have diferent rules. In Portugal, you can aply citizenship if you proof that you had abportuguese ancestor, up to great grandfather. You can also get if you start a business that will employ portuguese citizens, and after 2 years, you can aply for citizenship. By marriage will also give you citizenship, after 2 years. Also, if you learn the language, it will speed up.

[@pamelarangel7104]

@@AlignmentCoaching Me too!

[@robertmahler8894]

American ex-pat here, the thought of going back to the US to live again, sends me into a very, very dark place.

[@CallistaZM]

Where did you move to? I want to leave but it's so far out of my budget it feels like and I have no idea where I would want to go.

[@lekholokoelekotsoanamoloi9593]

@@CallistaZM if you are white , you can move to Denmark , Portugal , Norway or South Korea .

[@Rottnwoman]

@@CallistaZM Here's a hint. Australia only takes Doctors, Engineers or "those in occupations that can't be filled by Australians" - like MacDonald's employees! No kidding, we had heaps of South Koreans working here because we as adults wouldn't. It's only $22 an hour but you can live on that. Just a thought. You have to be under 45 though.

[@CallistaZM]

@@Rottnwoman yeah I've been in retail for 20 years. I hate customer service so much I cannot describe it.

[@JW-gl4yp]

@@lekholokoelekotsoanamoloi9593 or any other European country

[@michaausleipzig]

Whenever an American claims that european countries were socialist I usually reply that if he really thinks that it would only proof that socialism works. They usually either shut up or reconsider after that... 😅 And I fully agree with everything else you said. 😊

[@JoviesHome]

That is one of the best answers I have heard to that claim. Thank you!! 😂

[@Daxboy16]

Europe is not socialism though, it's a social democracy. Big difference.

[@marcelkuhne8856]

@@Daxboy16 But it works ;-)

[@Daxboy16]

@@marcelkuhne8856 Yes the social democracy works, but it's not socialism.

[@markdemell3717]

No earthly system works ,period .

[@daveking3494]

All of your points are 100% correct. I’ve lived in Germany for 50 years and I’ll never go back to the US. What I love here as well is the fact that within an hour or two, I can go to 7 different countries, eat seven different cuisines and hear seven different languages. In the states, no matter where you go, you see the same fast food restaurants everywhere and the people are all basically pretty much the same.

[@aprilgeneric8027]

hmphm... i've got somalians, russians, india, naitive americans, vietnamese, chinese, and koreans all in my little western minneapolis town of 80,000 i only have to go 5 minutes to hear non english. and i didn't even bring up the hispanics from south of the u.s. border that are every where since the 1990's. i grew up hearing german from my own family that came over during statehood. stay in germany, you won't be able to cope

[@jaysontraver3354]

I've been all over Europe touring with my band. I absolutely agree with all of this. Unfortunately it's rather difficult to get citizenship in European countries. Anybody have any suggestions on the best way to up my chances? George Carlin is so right when he says "It's called the American Dream, because you have to be asleep to believe it"

[@jennifermenth-pavel1260]

I traced my family tree to locate some blood relatives. So far I have found family in Germany, France, Bulgaria, Holland and the Netherlands. My hope is that they can reveal a loophole for me to use. If that doesn't pan out it's not a big deal because it will be so interesting to talk to them. After living in Europe for 3 years it was a mistake coming back to the states. Covoid pushed regret to action and consequently I'm trying to move back to Europe.

[@Micha-qv5uf]

Marriage is the easiest way :D

[@costinhalaicu2746]

Hey Jayson, easiest way is to get married to an EU citizen. Leaving that aside, landing a job in the country where you want to live and then applying for a residency permit is the path to citizenship. After a few years (variable from country to country), you will be able to apply for citizenship. It will have certain requirements, also different from country to country, but generally relating to learning about the social and political system, the history of that country, as well as a language test. For example, in my country, you need to have been a resident for 8 years before you can apply for citizenship. This waiting period is reduced to 5 years if you are married to someone that has the citizenship of the country, and any time period can be reduced to half if you have investments in the country of over 1 million euro. Another thing to consider is that most (but not all) EU countries base their citizenship on the principle of "jus sanguinis", which means the right of blood, as opposed to "jus soli", or the right of land. This means that if your ancestors held the citizenship of that country and you can prove that, you have an easier path to citizenship. I'd assume many Americans would have European ancestry, though I'm not entirely sure how it could be proven if it wasn't relatively recent.

[@rosemaryfeeney4625]

If you have an Irish grandparent you can automatically claim Irish citizenship and thereby have access to the EU.

[@tuanoini]

Learning the country's language is very helpful! At least where I live, the "citizenship exam" is heavily based on cultural knowledge and language skills - basically just testing your motivation to integrate in here. If your first language is English, Sweden, Germany or Spain could be easy options. Pro tip is also pick a country with only one official language :D

[@matthewfusaro2590]

I'm an American expat living in southeast Asia and everything you said was spot on. I especially liked what you said about freedom. Most 'Muricans just don't get it because they never left the country. Don't let the haters get to you because chances are they have no clue of what they are talking about.

[@SteveMrW]

Most Americans are frightened of there own shadows.

[@clintfalk]

Where in Southeast Asia? How can I believe you if you can't even tell us which nation you live in.

[@YeahNo]

Expat - a word Americans call themselves to avoid the more accurate “immigrant”.

[@LunaJo67WDHTMJ]

Talking to my American friend I can't make him understand there's more ways of living than working yourself to death so you can make more money for your house and cars, but barely having the time to enjoy them because you're always working....Sad.

[@koioo2]

are car shows and chapters and yes i remeber ICC int camaro club and yes people enjoy there camaros.depend on the work

[@jasondonovan1408]

That's a personal choice. Not and American choice. Then again....look at all the things that American "workaholics" created. Being lazy doesn't change the world.

[@jasondonovan1408]

@zhu hunk America created war??? I don't think you are really worth replying to.

[@MLWJ1993]

@@jasondonovan1408 we created Flevoland... Literally reclaimed land from the sea. Definitely not something lazy people would do 🙃

[@jasondonovan1408]

@@MLWJ1993 And we created Disneyland. :D

[@suzannahmontreal1051]

I'm a Canadian living in Montréal like 70 miles from the US border and there's a huge difference between the two countries. Everything you've mentioned about the Netherlands we have the same in Canada. The way America sees itself and the way the rest of the word sees America, it's a giant chasm. I feel bad for America bc they have been brainwashed and kept in ignorance for so long that they became blind about their own reality. American people could treat themselves way better 💜

[@wendytruscott1609]

And if you’re like us in Ontario, we are among thousands who have lost any desire to even visit the U.S. on a holiday. This could mean millions lost in tourism dollars, especially from “ Snowbirds”. For the last fifteen years or so, we would spend a month or two in Florida. The good weather was the only reason. Now, even that isn’t enough of an incentive. Fear of violence and insane attitudes to so many things make us too uncomfortable. We once saw a young woman on a bike get knocked down by a car. Despite her pain from a probably broken arm, she begged people not to call an ambulance, as she had no insurance. Then she phoned her boyfriend and apologized for her accident, which wasn’t even her fault. That’s tragic.

[@isabelleblanchet3694]

Why would any Canadian want to go to the US when Canada is ranked #1 country in the world for the quality of life?

[@kontiuka]

@@isabelleblanchet3694 According to one study for one year. I'm not American but the States is unbeatable in so many ways. And of course it has many problems. So, it's never cut and dry.

[@andrecostermans7109]

about brainwashing ; yep, sometimes I feel there is little to less difference when hearing a North-Korean and North-Americans about their achievements, ... great, amazing, unbeatable ...

[@hassandavis]

@@isabelleblanchet3694 Unless you are Native American, of course. But, otherwise, indeed.

[@37Raffaella]

Jovie....I am an American , living 26+ years in Spain (Heathcare #7) never going back to the USA....

[@37Raffaella]

@Rita Roork no problem.....I am living the most amazing life!!!

[@Jacob_._Roberts]

I live in the United States, and I agree with you completely. I wish I was lucky enough to be born and live in The Netherlands.

[@Zentiu]

Immigration is a thing. I say welcome! :) You cant control where you were born. But you can control where you wish to live. Coming from a dutch person who lived 3 yrs in portugal. :P

[@Jacob_._Roberts]

@@Zentiu Thank you.

[@thiloreichelt4199]

You can at least partly change the way you look at life even without moving somewhere else. Freeing yourself from the shopping craze and stopping to max out the credit card does contribute to a less stressful live. Ok, explaining to your neighbours that more guns decrease savety instead of increasing may be a savety risk in itself in some places in the US :-(

[@resi3794]

You can move here, youre welcome in the Netherlands

[@Jacob_._Roberts]

@@resi3794 Thank you.

[@MsBabbi]

When I went to Los Angeles, I was so shocked by the poverty divide you describe. Homeless people living in tents by the railway line in plain sight, but completely ignored by everyone

[@JesusChrist5000]

Los Angeles is the socialist state of California. High taxes and overly regulated. It is a disaster and people are fleeing to Texas

[@souljastation5463]

@@JesusChrist5000 so in Texas people live like in Europe?( I mean without divide between rich and poor).

[@JesusChrist5000]

@@souljastation5463 No silly. There will always be rich and poor people. What i mean is that the taxes, regulations, and cost of living are relatively low in Texas compared to California. We here in indiana also have alot of California refugees. In Indiana it is possible to make a living, pay rent, and make a car payment etc on the same salary that would be considered impossible to do in the California socialist republic.

[@beckywaytoomuch]

It's the same in all major cities here. It's absolutely disgusting.

[@beckywaytoomuch]

@@JesusChrist5000 Who are you to say "there will always be the rich and the poor?" That kind of thinking is so defeatist and not useful amd not even possible to prove factually true...If women and Black people and people of color accepted that line of thinking, they wouldn't have been able to achieve the (although not nearly enough) gains in their standard of living.

[@ChrisDragon531]

I'm an American Expat living in Japan. I love having the freedom to not worry about getting shot walking out my door. The freedom to afford Healthcare and not worry about going into debt. The freedom to travel to different places (in Japan) without worrying about getting mugged at the airport. Also the freedom to travel without needing a car. And so much more.

[@omi4470]

How was the process moving there??

[@williamhalejr.4289]

How is ex Prime Minister Abe feeling about YOUR freedom not to get shot today in Japan??

[@TheRevDel]

@@williamhalejr.4289 Given this guy is not a politician, he's probably still feeling very safe. Because, you see, that was an assassination not some random wandering into a school and deciding the best way to protest his growing dissatisfaction is to shoot the kids.

[@Mugtree]

I have to say I’m so glad I’m European. The US model seems very broken to me. Glad you are happy here 👍

[@alswearengen6427]

Question: Is it common for people living in a European country to refer to themselves as European rather than the country they live in? I've seen this quite a bit and it seems strange to me.

[@Mugtree]

@@alswearengen6427 good question and it depends. I’m from the UK and I’ve found if you are a brexiteer then you refer to yourself as British. If you are a remainer then you most likely thinking yourself as European. For me I’m European first then Scottish then British. I think this is the same in other European countries.

[@alswearengen6427]

@@Mugtree Interesting. Thanks for answering. I've always had an interest in Scotland so let me ask you a couple more questions if you don't mind. Are the Highlands mostly wilderness or scarcely inhabited or more developed perhaps? Also, what do the Scottish think of the movie Braveheart? I know it's wildly inaccurate, but still one of my favorites.

[@chrisk5651]

Mugtree - where do you think that the USA got its model from? I saw that you clarified that you are from Britain which has done a lot worse in the world than the USA (although both have also done a lot of positive things as well). I then saw that you had specified that you are actually Scottish not English so not as bad but the Scots were not altogether innocent. The founding fathers of America were what some called WASPs - White Anglo-Saxon Protestants which included Scottish, Welsh & even Irish (if they were Protestant) & other descendants of northwestern Europe (again if they were Protestant or converted & adopted English). They made their culture the official elite culture of the country and set up institutions that allowed their group to dominate the country.

[@tomcat8662]

It’s interesting that you say that. Here in the US we have a state called California with its own set of safety nets layered on top of the federal mandated programs. In fact, there are no other states that have anything close to the amount of state-level social programs that California has. It is in a league of its own. However the homeless problem in California is on a scale that boggles one’s mind. When I visited there years ago, I was shocked to say the least. Los Angeles has its own city of homeless people living within a city. San Francisco has homeless people sleeping on the ground in some of the nicer business districts and sticking needles in their arms in plain sight-the smell of human feces wafting in the air. For someone like myself visiting from Texas, I was shocked to have experienced a young able-bodied person(around 20 years old) hitting me up for money when I was there. In my state, our cities are pretty clean and the few homeless we have are usually people who have some sort of mental handicap. This guy was well within his ability to go out and find some sort of employment, even if it’s pushing a lawn mower around. So no, I don’t think it has anything to do with a “US model” as you put it. Because if anything, California follows the European model closer than any other state. And they by far have the greatest amount of social ills. Over the past decade half a million people have left California to move to Texas. And we are the polar opposite of California. But I honestly don’t know why your model has worked for you. Maybe it’s because you don’t share a border with a third world country that drugs can be smuggled in from. Maybe it’s because the culture there is more cohesive and values are shared because of less immigration than what we have. Or maybe it’s coincidental. But I’m not here to tell you your system is wrong. I’m just giving you a background as to how the implementation of a European style system of social safety-net dependency has backfired for the state of California and how people in large numbers are picking up and leaving those places to move to the places where they can experience the greatest amount of freedom and the lowest taxes. And even if that means some have to pay for their own doctors visits, then so be it.

[@nagalosh]

@ 8:00 we dont "take" a sick day. The term: "taking" a day sounds like a decision. You are either sick or your not. If your sick you stay home, if you feel wel, you work. Beeing sick is not a choice, it just happens.

[@nagalosh]

@chronicreader well, again that word :"take" a sick day. Wich implies it is a decision to TAKE one. You are not 'taking' anything. you are sick or you aren't . US: hello, i am taking a sick day. NL : hello, i am sick. im sorry, but the word "taking' is just so wrong, i wish Amercians would understand that beeing sick is not a choice. ( ye, there are those who abuse it, but most people actually care about their job, but prob in US a job is there to take adavantage of you, so you take adventage of them.. nice cycle.......)

[@kirk5152]

@@nagalosh Companies "OFFER" a minimum amount of sick days to their employees. Where there is an offer, there an option to "take" what is offered. When you are sick you "take" one of the sick days they have "offered" you. Not that difficult.

[@vigilantecornflakes5014]

@@kirk5152 Your explanation is clear but doesn't make the situation any better, 'being offered a number of days for you to be sick'....?! Don't you see the irony or do Americans all have the gift of knowing how sick they will be this year and why does an employer decide how sick you can get?

[@kirk5152]

@@vigilantecornflakes5014 Your argument is very clear, but blurred by the fact that you are assuming that these sick days are given without pay. No...they are offered with full pay. That's why it is something you can either take or not. You can still have the day off if your sick, but it is your choice to take one of the sick days offered, and still get paid, Once all the sick days on offer have been taken, it is just regular old, calling in sick.

[@ecenbt]

@@kirk5152 in my opinion this argument is even weirder and doesn't make much more sense? Because in europe if you're sick and don't go to work, you still get paid? It's not like this is a blessing only provided by US companies?? Like in european social security system, you have a right to be sick and stay at home and rest and be paid! Your payment may be provided by your conpany or the state social security depending on the duration of your sickness and laws of your country, but you still get paid. So your companies are not doing you any favor by choosing to give you a couple of "sick days" where they decide how long you can be sick

[@wohlhabendermanager]

I've actually had US Americans describe to me how they thought that "having more holidays by law is a modern form of slavery". Like, how do you even respond to that while keeping a straight face? And there are sooooo many misconceptions of how public health care works, you could write a whole book about it. I think it has a lot to do with the general mindset that most US Americans have, like how the USA is "God's own country" and "the greatest nation on earth" and so on. If you grow up with such a mindset, of course you have to think that a person is lying if they say "Hey, there are countries that really are better in how they do things".

[@AJ-yw7hf]

The Republican party funnels a lot of corporate baloney ideas to a lot of Americans for the sake of selling capitalism to them.

[@harrycooper5231]

It actually works the same way when explaining why American healthcare is better. Having universal healthcare is "communism." Communism is always bad. Therefore having no healthcare is better than having healthcare.

[@travis1240]

Yeah the indoctrination of the public by the political right wing in order to benefit the plutocracy is quite disgusting.

[@peterdubois65]

@@harrycooper5231 a life saving course of aids drugs on average will cost $8 TO SAVE A LIFE. In the US the exact same thing costs $2000

[@jmitterii2]

It's like the plutocrats have completely removed the brains out of large sloth of the population in our country. The sheer amount of illogical dumb that they have propounded upon the people, and how effective it has, it's like a creep cult; the more dumb and illogical and against your own interest, the more this segment of brainwashed people ask for more. Was talking to another coworker, that if some of these parties (particularly the republican party, but even the democratic party has become one in the same in many regards particularly economics) if they told their supporters to take a sledge hammer to their groin and hammer home 10 times as hard as they can, they all would do it. All 10 times... and the 10 more times to show how free they were! OR some other idiocy non logical stupidity on an open fire... bloody mess of crush crotch, and this wouldn't deter them. My coworker lamented, should direct them instead to take the sledge hammer to their heads; and we wouldn't have to deal with them.

[@dianyadira]

When my husband and I were dating, we talked about these things and agreed with pretty much everything you said. We always talked about moving to a better structured country. Now we have a 5 month old baby and we are seriously looking into leaving. The brainwashing here is scary. My husband is selling his business (as it is a local business) and we are looking at leaving soon after the sale. Hopefully everything works out for us.

[@JoshuaSchwarz107]

I am sure it will work out for you guys 😊 Where will you go ?

[@reddragonready]

As a European..here's to hoping you will leave silly religion behind as well

[@judithhope8970]

Good luck.

[@akaMokassin]

I wish you all the best for your future. I would say come to Austria, but I feel there are better alternatives out there :)

[@karl-heinzdauben39]

All the best. I mean that you can live well in the Netherlands or Germany. The Dutch speak better English, but we Germans speak it too.

[@nicoleonus]

I really wish there were more Americans like you. Thank you from the UK!

[@carriemartinez2933]

Contrary to popular belief, there are a lot of us out there, with the same mindset!!! As an American, I KNOW I’m lied to daily, and we ARE brainwashed, I would LOVE to escape!!!!

[@MA-zg2pz]

If you go to major cities, you'll find the majority of people are self aware of these points and more.

[@jfergs.3302]

Here here.

[@solbutton1611]

@@MA-zg2pz not just major cities. I’m from a small town and I wanna get out of here because I know how corrupt our system is

[@markhall6306]

@@solbutton1611 big cities in America suck run by liberal Democrats with high crime and junky schools. European cities also have problems for example Paris a lot of problems with the Muslim population not integrating into French culture. I think this woman has a very biased opinions as owning a house or land in Europe is not easy and extremely expensive. I agree, Europeans have a better work and life balance.

[@frankteunissen6118]

The argument about gun ownership was definitively closed for me when I read this comment on-line: “Your dead children don’t invalidate my Second Amendment rights.” Bang! Case closed. Over. Done. Any society that prizes its guns more than its children is doomed.

[@timnewman1172]

This is literally true. When I was growing up most people had a hunting rifle, a shotgun, and maybe a pistol. Today people have enough firearms and ammunition to go to war, literally! The obsession with guns here is crazy, it is almost like it's sexual...

[@helidude3502]

That is a shitty thing to say, but there is truth to that comment. But, just because my neighbor has lost his leg in an accident, do I no longer have the right to walk? Driving under the influence kills more people than guns do world wide, yet it’s still legal to drink in most any country. If there were truly a concern for innocent lives, prohibition would be in effect and vehicles would be subject to the same laws proposed for gun control. Your only choice of a vehicle would be a Prius painted an easily visible color with a breathalyzer installed. Incidentally, prohibition didn’t work.

[@a.westenholz4032]

@@helidude3502 False equivalency, as a car is a basic form transport and for many the only means of transport from where they live (regardless of country) and unlike a gun therefore a necessity. And even so it is against the law to drive drunk in most countries. There are periodically police spot tests (especially now during the holiday season) to enforce those laws, with penalties, and even a temporary or perhaps permanent revoking of a license, despite the necessity a car can be, because of drunk driving. When you further add than in most countries the cost and testing to get a license to begin with is hardly easy, requires quite a few hours of certified instruction and a much more difficult examination than the one in the US. It in no way compares to the ease of acquiring a gun and license, especially not in the US.

[@ivanheffner2587]

@@helidude3502 I’d rather we apply the same standards we do to guns that we do for cars. 1: Every gun must be registered with the state and county government. 2: Annual fees for every gun you own. 3. Mandatory licensing and insurance for gun owners. 4. Civil and criminal citations, fines, and other penalties for mishandling/misusing guns. 5. Mandatory safety equipment installed on all newly manufactured guns. That seems like a reasonable start.

[@resi3794]

@@helidude3502 you no why driving under the influence kilss more people than guns ? Because countrys with a bit good state of mind don't allow guns, so that worldwide is only apply to country's as the usa. I bet if you compare the statistics in the usa, dead by dronk driving and dead by guns that the guns are winning. What does that tell you ? If you go compare do it the right way.

[@twilightroach4274]

Try telling Americans that all full time employees in Australia get 4 weeks annual leave a year, and that is paid with an extra 17% loading on top of it! After ten years working for the same company we get 3 months paid long service leave!

[@crowwasabi3698]

My warm greetings to you '''Colonizers'' ^^^^^ XOXOXOXO

[@skasteve6528]

@@crowwasabi3698 Isn't everyone a coloniser if you look far enough back in history.

[@LJBP2319]

@@skasteve6528 Those are the arguments they give when they have nothing to back up their crap,,, sad people

[@YeahNo]

AND we have additional sick leave that starts accruing from day 1 of our employment.

[@davidhuett3579]

@@YeahNo We also have 'Superannuation' that will set us up financially for use after we retire .. as long as the bloody 'conservative' LNP governments .. LEAVE IT ALONE!!

[@theeclecticlifewithsam]

As an American still living in America, I agree with everything you said. Great video and thanks for your insights!

[@SJDharmaBum]

I’m an American and I went to the Netherlands in 2018. I was blown away at how well EVERYTHING worked there. Amsterdam is a very crowded city, but everyone there knows how to make it work. They are all very mindful of everyone else. It seems that The Netherlands is what the whole world would look like if people were raised right lol.

[@adrien5834]

@Oliver Smith lol, what?

[@arnodobler1096]

@@adrien5834 it´s a troll

[@adrien5834]

@Oliver Smith What is this truth that I can't handle , psycho?

[@saltymonke3682]

@@adrien5834 yep, you can go to jail for defending yourself from burglars. It happened before as I recall. If you attack the burglar back, you can be detained for a couple of days or even charged. Because apparently in the NL Burglar has their own "Rights". I lived there for a couple of years. even the Dutch ridicule that law doctrine. LOL Oh, Swedish also had similar cases, 2 of them. An old grandpa shot burglars in his cabin with a hunting rifle. He was charged for 2 years I guess. Poor old chap.

[@adrien5834]

​@@saltymonke3682 He wasn't defending himself, he was defending his property. If you are not intelligent enough to understand the law regarding self-defence, you are not intelligent enough to own a firearm.

[@windsorSJ]

A few days ago I watched a youtube video of a Texan man. He stated "I'm not a gun nut, I've only got five". I think that says it all.

[@AudieHolland]

Nah, five is not that many guns. He probably has a couple of hunting rifles and maybe one or two pistols. I think that gun lovers in other countries will have a similar amount of guns as a minimum (if they're also hunters). I mean, a real gun nut would have at least five pistols, five hunting rifles and five semi-auto 'assault rifles' (although a true assault rifle can fire full-auto, which is not allowed for most people in the US of A. To be allowed to have a fully automatic assault rifle you'd have to be in the military almost I guess.

[@DominusRexDK]

im Danish, and yeah my Dad has 5 if not more. he´s not a gun nut, he´s just a hunter.

[@Elementalism.]

Probably has a few bows as well, and a knife collection. A civil war cannon Tank in the backyard And a search history of "can i legally own a missile"

[@JesusChrist5000]

Most of what you hear in the media about shootings is fake news, and I can prove it, or i have seen significant proof of it. it is domestic propaganda to get public opinion behind banning private ownership of guns, and this fake news has been going on for a long time. The reality is that governments are the biggest mass murderers in history, not private owners of guns The whole point of the second amendment right to bear arms is a last check and balance against government tyranny "When the people are afraid of the government, there is tyranny. When the government is afraid of the people, there is liberty" -Thomas Jefferson

[@Elementalism.]

​@@JesusChrist5000 The idea that your politicians are trying to take your guns away is ridiculous. there is a difference between taking away your guns and responsible gun ownership, like background checks. contrary to popular belief, most other nations do allow gun ownership, but they do require things like background checks, several years of gun club membership with regular attendance of the shooting range etc. here in the Netherlands there are just shy of half a million privately owned guns, which is not bad for a country of 17 million people, which has an army of about 80.000 troops. in theory the people could band together and overthrow the government, just like the US. ... at least if it wasn't for those dam tanks, aircraft and navy... because while sure, you could have overthrown the US government in 1776 through gun ownership, with only the navy uselessly being able to resist you... we live in 2021, and things have changed, armies are no longer on horseback, and no longer just fought by land and by sea. And so Jefferson's idea has become a suicide mission.

[@Kauritree08]

New Zealand has social democracy. I understand your definition of freedom. My opinion is that you can't have freedom when it's foundation it built on fear.

[@churblesfurbles]

The country run by Karen is exactly that, a country built around fear.

[@adrien5834]

@@churblesfurbles No man, that's the USA. Fear of everything, and everyone. Let it go, you'll be happier.

[@fenraven]

Fear is how Americans are controlled. That and religious extremism.

[@icebergrose8955]

Yep living in New Zealand, a social democracy, and i love it. The USA seems scary because everyone is afraid of something. And they're all working themselves to death. Na we're all good.

[@victorhopper6774]

@@icebergrose8955 bullshit. who or what should i be fearing?

[@lindze7116]

I am in the states, African American, and I know the world is messed up. But these videos i have been watching give me so much insight. I appreciate them and I understand why you do them. Makes me think more and more about living somewhere else.

[@crowbar9566]

Try it for a while and see if you like it. Come to the UK where you'll never have to pay health insurance, or Europe, or just head north to Canada, but pack your thermals.

[@georgefuters7411]

Best of luck, mate there are few countries in the world where you wouldn't feel safer, healthier or more home, outside the US. Be safe, be free🤗

[@ibelieveinjesuschrist8911]

go

[@lindze7116]

@@ibelieveinjesuschrist8911 thank you 😊

[@jasondonovan1408]

You are a fool if you somehow believe that Europe loves blacks. You have another thing coming.

[@AllisonHShamrell]

In a way I wanna say I'm glad to not feel so lonely in the "America lied to me about the rest of the world" club, but it's tragically clear that the America is #1 narrative is endemic and horribly pervasive in our society. So, thanks for articulating and sharing these thoughts, because I have thought them all but have maybe become too apathetic to brave the backlash. No matter what people say, you are right, and they don't have the experience or knowledge you do.

[@ViniSocramSaint]

Interestingly enough the "my country is #1" narrative is not endemic. I am brazilian and here in the "united states of south america" we do a lot of nationalism for the heck of it too, just with less flags and more dumb agreeableness. Turns out looking for ways to show off or believing in propaganda is "a condition of human nature". We do it even if it means nothing or the things being shown do not back up the claims. And we see nothing wrong with it at all, heck, even after visiting or living in other countries it's still very hard to not see with the nationalist lenses.

[@peremeesz]

It is OK to think one's country is #1. But try telling any European their country is just great whatever its policies! Many Americans, especially on the right, seem to think their country is something given, with default settings. The U.S.A. does have enduring democratic institutions and liberties. It really could have become the model society par excellence of the world, not #1 in incarceration, racial divides, student debt and gun violence. And unsustainability as a global model because of its spendthrift consumerism.

[@Julia-lk8jn]

I remember some US citizen saying that wanted his child to learn that "the worst day in the US is still better than the best day one can have anywhere else in the world". My first thought? It's not the schools job to teach your child fairy tales. Mind, you, you could swap pretty much any other country for "US" and I still wouldn't believe it.

[@janstaes2172]

the polarisation is everywhere these days, it is one of the biggest problems right now in society.

[@Venusbabe66]

@@janstaes2172 Yes, unfortunately it's like history repeating... like the 1930's mindset all over again, but with social media, it is on steroids. Bleak times.

[@damonasberry288]

First time viewer here! This is a great video. As a 45 year old American, I think that this list is pretty accurate unfortunately. I have a hope that America can moved past these ideas eventually and truly become the progressive nation it has the potential to be. Thanks for sharing this!

[@alexlauff8658]

The USA needs a president or politicians in general who adapt european policies (universal health care, security, education system, etc.) otherwise, nothing will improve. I always had the dream to live one day in the US, because I got brainwashed from americans and did not see how bad the country really is. Now after watching those kind of videos, I realize how lucky I am to live in Europe

[@jennifermenth-pavel1260]

Stop hoping and get out, the pendulum has passed the mean!

[@LilLingLing6789]

Getting rid of that constitution would be a great start

[@HeroCollapqseWader]

Revolution is the waye

[@theroyalpotato8390]

I always laugh when an american says the netherlands is a socialist country..... like we damn near invented capitalism lol

[@blackcoffeebeans6100]

They say that about Nordic countries as well.

[@Elementalism.]

And not as some backyard experiment either, what started the stockmarket is what led to the most valuable company ever created, the founding of new amsterdam, which became new york, which is now the stockmarket capitol of the world. (And for "those" Americans, no, apple did not take first place, not even close, it wasn't even America's most valuable company ever)

[@Richardtv1968]

First Stockmarket in the world was in Amsterdam. First multinational and the richest multinational ever the Dutch East India Company called VOC US Declaration of Independence was an enhanced copy of the dutch Akte van Verlatinghe ...... so, in fact the US copied alot of the Dutch

[@rosemaryhannah3467]

@@blackcoffeebeans6100 and the UK! They must think every country in the world is socialist......except themselves of course.

[@thewizzard3150]

they say that about all foreigners, but they dont know what a socialist is. all people are taught that exploiting the poor is good and the rich are morally superior.

[@MyIRISSS]

Well said! I am from Slovenia, free education, almost free medical service. And we have plenty of holidays, paid of course. We love a healthy way of life, going to nature and sports. But there are some downsides, too. We are friendly people but not so self confident as you Americans are. Because of the lack of self confidence we have a lot of work to do. It was a pleasure to hear your thoughts and we should learn from each other. Good job!

[@MustBe1980]

I’m a young adult American, & I’ve been saying these things since I got into politics/history/philosophy since I was 12. Ive felt so alone sometimes talking about this stuff, although this past year I do think many are starting to realize these things. I hope for a better future in the US, thank you for making these videos 🙏

[@san8524]

I live in the UK, the norm here is to have 25 days of paid holiday a year. Healthcare free at the point of delivery (paid through taxation). We are not a socialist (communist) country.

[@MustBe1980]

@@san8524 yes! Y’all have the NHS! I know that the UK isn’t communist because the means of production aren’t owned by the people! But people in the US seem to think communism is when the government does stuff 😭 so people are very put off by Heathcare for all

[@MustBe1980]

@@yorkshirehousewife784 I absolutely agree! Our insurances are so expensive, the cheapest one is like $250 a month (that I’ve seen) and isn’t even good!! & US drug prices are also much higher than other countries! I think it goes deeper than the idea that socialism is for “lazy people” but also the effects of the Red Scare/McCarthyism/Cold War propaganda. It’s also sad that people value those with more money than those with less money. People need to wake up & realize a person’s economic worth doesn’t equate to their value in a society. For example, teachers make very little in the US yet they are essential to a society! Also, in the US we aren’t very collectivist/community-oriented, which you can see by our mishandling of COVID. It’s a society and culture that only looks out for ourselves. A sort of “if it doesn’t affect me why should I care” mentality. Sadly, what is considered “lazy” in the US is just considered “living” in most modern countries. In the US, we live to work. In other places, they work to live. This mentality seeps into everything from healthcare to education, parental leave, vacation time, etc.

[@san8524]

@@MustBe1980 it’s odd really, what is government for, unless it does stuff?

[@danielharvison7510]

@@MustBe1980 Odd...I mean I've read similar thinking of course, but why have a government and pay tax to them and vote them in if they don't DO things for you?? I mean, if they get the job, shouldn't they take care of all the crap that a government usually does in other places?

[@Majse0812]

Hi. I'm from Denmark and have lived in the US. I agree with everything you say and I'm SO glad you've made this video. Maybe you can change some minds in the states. 😃

[@gunillahartgers1746]

When I have started to talk with people in the USA about how comfortable life is in Sweden they want the same, especially after they realize they pay more for everything than we do all costs added up. That's when they learn what social democracy is.

[@jjakjjak5231]

@Peter Newhouse it's semantics, terminology. In Europe there are democratic parties that started from a strand of socialism and evolved from there. They're not socialist anymore, but as they were social Democrats to start with, most Europeans will have those parties in mind when they refer to social Democrats. Now you can be a stickler about the original or official definition, but then you will discuss a lot about semantics rather than contents. If that is what you want to do, no problem. Just don't be surprised if others don't care to much about doing the same.

[@blackmarketvoices]

As an American who still lives in the states and stopped believing these lies a long time ago, I'm actively working towards moving to the Netherlands! My family left during WWII and I dream of bringing us back where we belong, with all the good things that entails. Thank you for keeping me hopeful!

[@theoccasionalvideo]

Why don't you vote for change in America?

[@jenniferalvarado8892]

@@theoccasionalvideo It’ll take the US a looong time to change..

[@townview5322]

I live in Sydney and have spent random periods of time in America. I think the unfortunate situation is that the vast majority of American people just don't have anything to compare with. Here is a statistic which reflects my opinion: 80% of Australians have a passport: 80% of Americans don't. Clare, Sydney

[@victorsamsung2921]

_"Here is a statistic which reflects my opinion: 80% of Australians have a passport: 80% of Americans don't."_ This is *why* voter fraud is a fact and that it occurred on mass in the 2020 election. You know, like Trump's lead in Pennsylvania standing at almost 700.000+ when the decision was suddenly made to stop counting at midnight and continue the next day,and then, during the night and following morning there were all these massive ballot dumps of like 10k or 50k votes that all went to Sleepy Joe. It's so easy to fraud if you can use cheap drivers licenses as a voting tool.

[@coreyv8150]

So? you just go to Bali with it.

[@Donnah1979]

As a European I really appreciate videos like this. I hope you can get through to some of your fellow Americans - they deserve better!

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

💖💖

[@robertkennedy6397]

Actually I don't think we deserve better, people in this country deserves worse in my opinion.

[@hansonel]

Agree 100% with every point as an American. Toxic work culture, lack of universal healthcare (especially in these pandemic times), lack of gun control after multiple school shooting over the decades, major divisions between social classes, consumer culture and seeing being a millionaire as "success", etc.... planning to move to The Netherlands or a similar progressive socially democratic country after COVID gets under control.

[@ewaldhouba]

And you will be welcome!

[@JoviesHome]

I wish you lots of luck in your transition!

[@hansonel]

@@JoviesHome Thanks Jovie!

[@frankmustermann7272]

as a German. you will be welcome. I hope you realize your plan. excuses don't count;)))

[@lindaraterink6451]

We are very privileged and should remember that a little more often. Compaired to countries like the U.S. we Dutchies should never complain again about our healthcare and education for everyone. Then again if you don't complain nothing gets changed.. It could.. no, should! be even better.

[@fordprefect9296]

Any Dutchy who's ever travelled outside western Europe (or even just within) and paid attention, should know NL is just about the best country to live in.

[@NicoVeenkamp]

@@fordprefect9296 I totally agree. I’ve traveled all over the world and loved it. But am glad I’m back home in The Netherlands.

[@cynthiahernandez2166]

Yes! I feel like a broken record saying this to Dutchies! Luckily, due to the pandemic, a lot of the problems in the US have been laid bare for the world to see and I'm hearing more Dutch people feel grateful for living in such a highly functioning country.

[@MLWJ1993]

God forbid it rains, is cold, it snows, its hot, the sun shines, the sun doesn't shine & anything in between though! 😂

[@homoerectus6953]

Damn, I get 32 paid holiday's a year, plus bank holidays. Get 12 months sick pay if I'm ill. Full heath care without having to worry that I would have to sell my house, my life or go bankrupt if I get a serious illness...... love being British.

[@darylwilliams7883]

Judging from your name, the Viagra must be free too! LOL!

[@rubybuttons668]

@@darylwilliams7883 It is. 😂

[@Priscila98245]

@@darylwilliams7883 OMG! 🤣🤣

[@minigrande1939]

Yep im a proud Brit living in Spain .Health care welfare Education are all fantastic levels on a global platform yet many arrogant Brit somehow thought we have it bad and blamed europe.Try explaining housing benifit (The goverment will pay a certin percent of your home rent upto 90 percent if you have a landlord who acsept it .ye ls the government will pay your rent )

[@capitalb5889]

32? That's good. I only get 26.

[@PsychicSploob]

It makes me really emotional watching this video. Having lived in the United States all my life, I've always had intuitions of the tyranny that exists as a byproduct of consumerism and overpowering work demands, but hearing it articulated in a way that makes it obvious that this isn't the case in the rest of the world feels like a slap to the face. I want out!

[@Vernetti7]

To be honest, for us on the other side (i´m Danish) seeing some of these video´s and the reaction from American´s can be emotional too. Especially when it comes to maternity leave and lack of support during the early months after having a child. Barely having the opportunity for time off is borderline barbaric to me. Also the idea of constantly beeing afraid to get sick, the risk of bankrupcy if its serious and not fully covered by whatever insurance you might have, it must be incredably stressful. Sure we pay more in taxes here (the benefits of our system is obviously not free of cost but it can feel that way when you´re use to a specific tax rate and like anybody simply build your life around what ends up in your bank account) but barely anybody lives on the street, everybody can get support from the government if you fall on hard times and by far most people still have a very comfortable lifestyle while never paying out-of-pocket for going to the hospital or education. When my wife had our two kids she had a full year off with pay and I had the three first weeks, which is our right by law. On top of that anybody has 5-6 weeks paid vacation a year, by law. No one can ever tell me that paying less tax and keeping the money for yourself at the expense of loosing all that is worth it in any shape or form. I hope you get out!

[@PsychicSploob]

@@Vernetti7 Thanks for the reply. It’s very illuminating to hear about what it’s like in more reasonable parts of the world. Currently learning German and plan on moving there in the foreseeable future. Thanks for the encouraging words!

[@Vernetti7]

@@PsychicSploob your learning German, thats great. I really hope you get there and find the life you want. Germany is just 60 miles from where I live and like here its a very safe place to be. If you have any questions you where wondering about I will be happy to help if I can.

[@alwayslernin4400]

@@Vernetti7 as an American, I'm not so sure we pay less taxes when you add up fed/state income tax, property tax, sales tax and who knows what else. The media nor the politicians accurately represent us.

[@Vernetti7]

@@alwayslernin4400 You could be right, in any case I am pretty sure the difference isn’t as enormous as they make it out to be.

[@jennyh4025]

Thank you for your „mum talk“ to the USA! As a European (German) with family in the USA I can only say: you found the words to say how I feel, when I hear my family in the USA! Thank you!

[@Steve-zc9ht]

Is your family socialist liberal progressive or Democrat and if they have European culture here if so they can send all that back to Germany thank you

[@jennyh4025]

@@Steve-zc9ht my family is „US-brainwashed“ and believes, that there are two truths: the Bible and the constitution. Fortunately, they (unlike other US Americans I have talked with) don’t believe, that the president is „the second coming“. You on the other hand seem to buy in all the things, that Jovie described as „lies“, which makes it hard for people from Europe to argue with you. If you believe, that your country is the best and no other country can come even close, it makes it hard to imagine, that others can be just as good or even better at some things.

[@Steve-zc9ht]

@@jennyh4025 I don't believe my country is best but I HATE Europeans/white people I just can't

[@thereisnofinishline5773]

@@Steve-zc9ht low level bait

[@sharenedrennan1602]

Australua is also a social democracy, as is new zealand, in that the goverment takes responsibility for their peoples human rights i.e. the right to be safe (police), the right to an education (public schools) the right to be healthy ( universal healthcare) etc, etc. We consider these things rights and pay for them through our taxes. We expect our government to provide high quality health and education to all. Social democracy just means that public money must be used primarily for public good.

[@thatbird2]

Um. What's your stance on Aboriginal Rights? Can't do Social Democracy without including Aboriginal Australia, and considering that there has never been a treaty, nor has Sovereignty ever been ceded by the traditional owners of this continent, there appears to be no such thing as true Social Democracy here in Australia. Definite can of worms here... Not looking for an argument per se, but open discussion might be fruitful.

[@sharenedrennan1602]

@@thatbird2 agree with all of that, and probably more, but in this instance I was using the term in the context of trying to explain a very specific set of parameters re. Health and education in relation to taxes.

[@williamhalejr.4289]

Well, in the USA we have this thing called the US CONSTITUTION where it tells us exactly what the powers and duties of the government are and tax payer paid government healthcare is NOT a right in the USA, FREEDOM and INDIVIDUALITY mean more here to us than SUPPOSED free healthcare! IF the PEOPLE actually wanted govt healthcare in the USA, they could pass a constitutional amendment to it, but it will NEVER PASS because the vast majority do NOT want our government involved in OUR healthcare! Our government does ONE THING well and that is the military And how is that working for Australians with the police crack down on anti-shut down protestors being beaten by the Australian police??

[@sharenedrennan1602]

@@williamhalejr.4289 All i can say is you get what you ask for.....so how is that working for You???

[@crowbar9566]

Yeah for the public good, not 800+ military bases abroad to maintain a military empire for the benefit of corporations.

[@Ssuusssje]

I as a dutchy was shocked how much hate you got on that video about why you wouldn't move back to te US. Like you weren't entitled to your own opinion towards american culture and politics. Those haters showed why you shouldn't move back.😄

[@michellezevenaar]

There are alot of closed mined brainwashed people in the US unfortunately. They just don't understand that there are different ways of living and doing things. I'm American living in the Netherlands and i definitely don't plan on moving back to the US. If i had to emigrate it would be to New Zealand.

[@michellezevenaar]

@Martin OnTheWeb i like their work life balance. New Zealand has been our favorite moving destination for more then 10 years.

[@JohnVanRaak-yx6cb]

@Martin OnTheWeb 25 deaths with 2060 cases.

[@tyronevaldez-kruger5313]

Suus I as a German of African heritage can't understand ppl who portray themselves as The Nation of the Free but react like an asteroid was about to shape the earth clean as soon as you have a different political view, feel affiliated to another cultures etc. I've experienced this „It's good as long as it's in my bubble" approach in person during visits to my sister who lives there since years. Her surrounding is just terrible, I figured you always need a backup story for the case you might „say something wrong". No America bash, God forbid! 🙌🏿😇. But still...

[@Colonist83]

Yup, A lot of people in thr US are too proud and our politicians are shit

[@roguenerdd]

I appreciate you talking about poverty. I grew up very poor in the projects and what you said is true. I’d like to also mention that in school they also kept all the students in on group on one side of the cafeteria and the “richer” kids from the nicer parts of town on the other. (I’m from Staten Island NY) also, the “better” kids also got access to better classes that we were not allowed to take and it used to make me sad. Good video! 💕

[@soundproofist]

Same was true when I went to school in S.I., only the kids in the "poorer" group lived in orphanages (not housing projects). At that time, it was Mount Loretto and one other (St. Michael's?).

[@jacelpobre]

Wow, I keep hearing from Filipinos over there that America is free and great. I’m shocked by Americans sharing their cons of their own country.

[@allanlank]

Sitting "cheek to jowl" with the Americans, I'm Canadian, I find your observations SO TRUE.

[@silverknight4886]

As one Canadian comedian put it, he was always being asked how is it living at 668

[@djopdam199]

Great points , personally I would have added freedom of election. Gerrymandering,electoral college, voter registration are all tools to pick your voters not as it should be that the voters pick you

[@JoviesHome]

Oh yes! I hate the electoral college! It's ridiculous!

[@rogerwilco2]

I think the first-past-the-pole election systems are at the core of the current political problems in both thee USA and UK. It's not just a contributing factor, it is the core of the issue. The system has been too easy to corrupt for the past 30 years, since computers became capable enough.

[@pedromrgdias]

@@rogerwilco2 I fully agree. While all other issues are relevant, first- past-the-post is an extremely flawed system. You risk that 49.9% of the votes are ignored. A representative/proportional system, with different parties in legislative and executive branches is much better. The US have set up an extremely developed democratic system upon its creation. But has not kept it up with times.

[@jjakjjak5231]

@@pedromrgdias it was a great system until the 20th century however ... The willingness to gerrymandering and strategically suppress votes is an even larger problem. It favours politicians who disagree with democracy on a very fundamental level.

[@tompiper9276]

@@jjakjjak5231 it wasn't that great before the 20th century... The prevalence of 'Rotten Boroughs' where a man could be elected by an electorat consisting of his own staff, tenants and a passing horse was a thing. Since then politicians have lurched from one philosophy to another and back expending considerable effort negating the achievements of the previous administration. It's crap!

[@MsSbunny1]

I am an American. I have lived within the UK for over 20 yrs. I agree with all of your comments.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Where in the US were you from?

[@Bob_just_Bob]

As an American who’s been living in Asia nearly a quarter century I thank you for this because it’s all very true and my feelings and experience has been very similar. Thanks,

[@npickard4218]

I'm glad your happy in Asia, please stay there. I'm being sincere when I say that Americans want people to be happy. If you are not happy in your native country, live in a different one.

[@Bob_just_Bob]

@@npickard4218 Umm thanks, that is what I am doing.

[@leealexander3507]

When I visited Europe for several months and spent some time in Canada I felt more at home in both places and far more safe than I do in the United States. I also had significantly more freedom than I do here.

[@monkeydui7241]

Maybe you felt like you did

[@Pfirtzer]

Should ask if Canadians have more freedom now, Trudeau is introducing a dystopian society.

[@williamhenderson1521]

@@Pfirtzer I'm pretty sure most Canadians wouldn't agree they live in a dystopian society. Living in a country with 25,000 gun deaths a year sounds dystopian to most people.

[@cicimimi741]

@@Pfirtzer idk how many school shootings did the usa have again this year?

[@crowbar9566]

@@cicimimi741 Its sad. It's like America has somehow come to the conclusion that seeing children mass murdered in school on a regular basis is somehow more bearable than any meaningful gun control.

[@michielvdvlies3315]

in America it seems when you even drop the word "social" they start ranting about communism

[@harrydehnhardt5092]

This is the classical communism paranoia. Started way back to the 40’s under McCarthy (google “second red scare”) and works perfect til today.

[@harrydehnhardt5092]

@Rita Roork „This post was brought to you by the American Education System.“

[@tompiper9276]

@Rita Roork Hi Rita. Which period in history did you study??

[@josef-peterroemer6235]

@Rita Roork Ha!,Ha!, Ha!, He! He! He! Studied History in the USA, which comic books did they use????

[@josef-peterroemer6235]

@Rita Roork I see so due to your history degree you are above the intelligence of others. If you would like to compare degrees I have a JD which allows me to practice law. Your degrees are worthless unless you want to continue the propaganda and teach Propaganda you call degrees to others.

[@anneliesegberink8281]

I totally agree with everyone that tells you you are brave. And by the way, free speech means that you have a right to your own opinion. Ignore the haters.❤️

[@JoviesHome]

Thank you! That's what I'm going to do!

[@koioo2]

agree

[@koioo2]

@Peter Newhouse and the democrats with biden

[@jjakjjak5231]

@Peter Newhouse really? I see s lot of opinions and people complaining that they cannot voice those very same opinions. And those very same opinions are often based on 'fact-free' stories, e.g . total lies. Insofar as these stories are also designed to incite hatred, sedition and violence, I think they deserve some counterplay. Calling lies lies is not censorship. And no private or public organization is required to spread lies and hatred. However much some governments or presidents may try.

[@leojansen2773]

I'm an Dutch man living in Australia and your video is spot on about the Netherlands i loved it all i do miss the Netherlands a little bit but i love Australia more especially the weather i really don't miss the rain and keep up the good work can't wait for the next vlog 😀 ❤

[@francinewillemsen7214]

When i read comments from Americans it seems to me as if there isn't any education about the world outside America in American highschools. I think it is strange to see yourselve as "worldleading nation".

[@johnmc128]

I'm afraid most Americans and no one should use that term really, because America is not the U.S. The U.S. is part of America as is Canada etc but they see the States as The World and know little outside it and some not much in it.

[@gracielabretschneider2687]

And tia are right

[@hannesorisson1200]

USA has lost its place in the world as a leader in the west.

[@gillchatfield3231]

Demonstrated by the fact that World Series 'something' is contested almost exclusively by teams from the USA.

[@sagittariusa9012]

Best thing an american said: "I Love the US, but it seems like the US don't love me"

[@cballgriz]

I'm an ex-pat in europe and you are full of crap....

[@marialindemann1847]

ты один не можешь за всю Америку ответить.

[@sagittariusa9012]

@@marialindemann1847 Google says that you comment mean "you alone cannot answer for the whole of America." When did i say that?

[@crowwasabi3698]

My warm greetings to you '''Colonizers'' ^^^^^ XOXOXOXO

[@zeroxcqt2862]

@@crowwasabi3698 Well if you are in the US ,you came from a family of colonizer or slaves ...So id be you I'll just shut tf up

[@LeTrashPanda]

You're a beautiful soul, Jovie. I worked for a German company & got 4 weeks vacation yearly & half day Fridays. Our company was so much more productive than any I've worked for in the USA....

[@SarthorS]

Studies have shown that, regardless of how many hours you work, most people only have a few hours of productive time during the day.

[@Erintii]

I am European who moved to Canada and went back to Europe to live as ex-pat in Switzerland. I grew up in mentality of not taking sick days, learned to be over-archiever. I was told this is wrong and was told to take holidays. Switzerland is wealthy but people are money cautious so in general do not shop if not need, but on the other hand Dior and Chanel perfumes can be purchased in the drug store. Work and life balance is crucial for people. Working more annoy people. They will tell you to go hike if don't have plans for a free day.