| I can understand how you'd see that: let's go point by point. > repressive police state outside anybody's control Nah, mostly individual cops > properly evil government which is openly xenophobic No, we expect people to immigrate legally, and have less obligation to non-citizens. However, this can be countermanded with the sheer amount of military aid we provide for everyone. >one serious illness away from utter bankrupcy Yeah, that's the story, but it never seems to work out that way. In reality, people have safety nets, considerate bosses, savings, families, or any combination. > huge class divides that are getting bigger I guess? Nobody really pays attention to what the 1% are doing. Many of us are just enjoying the good job market and low taxes right now. > biggest (private) prison state in the world This is a serious problem, I agree > being caught with some weed in many places can still effectively ruin your professional life forever etc Yes, and? Being caught with a gun in Europe could also give you a criminal record. This is why we have different states. Someone wants to smoke before everyone makes it legal? Move! |
Yeah its great have one's saving wiped out by something that we in Europe just have our shared pool of resources covers for. So you only have to deal with (sometimes lifelong) consequences of some hard illness / accident, and you can continue your life unaffected financially and not compound misery and life getting significantly tougher.
THAT, my friend, is also freedom. We can call it freedom to be ill/have an accident. But don't expect any US politician / hollywood star to ever frame it that way.