| > I have amazing dental, health, and eyecare. I do have it too, albeit the only one I pay for is the dental one - but more importantly, the barista at my favourite coffee shop has them too. At the same quality level. > Free routine health checkups such as physicals, My doctor calls me to get those done. They chase me! for free! but more importantly, they also chase the barista guy :) > heck I even get a free gym membership. Incidentally I do. I don't think the barista does. Gym fees are between £10 and £30 around here. Of course you an always splash out for David Lloyd's and pay 12x that... > I drive a 350HP luxury sedan. I either cycle 10 minutes or take a bus for 15 minutes. Why would I need a 350HP luxury sedan? I am already wasting money having a 170BHP Alfa Romeo hatchback parked in front of my house 24x7. > Oh and I've never shot anyone, had to shoot anyone, or been the victim of a crime other than petty theft where my car was broken into one time. Same here. Even better, I don't even think about it. Even better, as anyone is allowed to free healthcare there is less desperate people. > But I do have the freedom to participate in shooting sports (and I do) whenever the heck I want You can play shooting sports. My uncle does it regularly. Part of my family are actually hunters. > and I don't need to ask mommy for permission. Please, don't be disrespectful. > If that's not high quality living standards, you must make 500k a year and be rich because I don't know what is. Those are everyone's quality standards in great part of Europe. You are missing the point. > I think your media has drastically altered your perception of what America is and is not. Oh, our media - and I thought we all read TechCrunch, Gizmodo, CNN, BBC, ... Luckily we have you to open your eyes. THANK GOD. > Tech workers are well compensated and I'd rather be making six figures in America. Good for you, but I am making six figures in Europe. Anecdotal data is anecdotal. But even better, the guy not making six figures has free healthcare too. > I'm sure your country is very nice as well, but there is not enough freedom. I guess your freedom to play shooting sports (which you can in Europe too) is more important that your freedom to get free or affordable healthcare should you be in a rough spot. You are privileged, I am privileged. However, I might not be who I am without free healthcare, cheap public nurseries, free quality schools, almost free universities, ... All paid by taxes of those who can, for those who can't. Remember you can be in one of those groups today and in the other tomorrow. |
I think it's safe to say tech workers are well compensated in both places, which was my point. The OP was acting very arrogant as if American tech workers didn't have healthcare, vacations, etc.
> You can play shooting sports. My uncle does it regularly. Part of my family are actually hunters.
I think you're deluding yourself. No offense, but I don't need to justify my gun ownership through the guise of "hunting" like you do in Germany or other European countries. I don't shoot animals, only paper and steel. I like guns so I own them. Also you would be outmatched in gun competitions such as 3 gun races simply because you are not allowed to purchase modern firearms like AR15s. You will just tire out faster than the guy carrying a 5LB AR15.
> You are privileged, I am privileged. However, I might not be who I am without free healthcare, cheap public nurseries, free quality schools, almost free universities, ... All paid by taxes of those who can, for those who can't. Remember you can be in one of those groups today and in the other tomorrow.
Agreed. Let's see how well your system copes with the refugee crisis. I'm eager to see if "those who can" can really feed the mouths of all the refugees. A number of important litmus tests for our modern society are taking place in Europe as we speak. A positive outcome might tip the scales here in America.