[mschuster91]

> I really wish Europeans weren't always so cynical about the agency

It's hard to be anything else but that given the colossal failures of so many so expensive European projects. So much inefficiency and waste just because we can't get our shit together.

We try to be a second USA, but we lack the willpower to do so - we have no clear, democratically backed European leadership (just look into how von der Leyen got into office!), the leadership that we do have is 90% incompetent duds that were shifted off to Brussels because their host countries wanted to get rid of them, the parliament can't even submit own proposals for laws, and the EU barely has any federal tax income so its budget is almost exclusively member state contributions and debt. On top of that, many countries choose to propose highly unpopular laws in Brussels, get them passed there, and blame "the EU" when local voters get enraged.

[ClumsyPilot]

> colossal failures of so many so expensive European projects

This is simply fiction.

EU is mules better than USA at building infrastructure, cost per mile is 4 to 9 times lower for bridges / roads / tonnels than USA/UK. The financial times has a report on it.

The EU is / has built like 5 record holding tonnels in the past five years, the base tonnel in the alps, the underwater tonnel in scandinavia, etc.

Each of those projects is in the same sort of scale as the much beleaguered Californian rail, or HighSpeed 2 in UK, and is completed 4 times faster and cheaper per mile, with less political in-fighting and sabotage.

I would argue that civil infrastructure is actually one of the most important things for an average joe

https://youtu.be/kc29axOAzRs?si=8YBTIhKqM0jtOoIW

https://youtu.be/QiYvXKQksgI?si=41sQX-rYW38iW1x7

https://youtu.be/30foJiPUrBA?si=UTkoMR_ZlrVCnzkp

[izacus]

> It's hard to be anything else but that given the colossal failures of so many so expensive European projects. So much inefficiency and waste just because we can't get our shit together.

I'm seriously wondering what kind of brainwashing are you reading to think that - and why are you ignorring all the "colossal" successes many of the projects also are.

Maybe cut out on american media a bit?

[wkat4242]

Well when you want to look at the absolute maximum waste of resources just look at SLS. It's just government space that's inefficient. This is not limited to Europe.

And I personally don't want us to be a second USA. I don't want that high level of crime and social inequality, low level of social welfare etc. Extreme prices of medical care in the US. Ubiquitous firearms. Here we do care about the climate, about privacy, work-life balance (holidays) and so many other things the US doesn't care about. The US measures everything in money. We don't. Quality of life is not about who produces the most billionaires.

The EU is not a great institution I have to admit but I wouldn't trade it for the US. Here I just go to the doctor when I'm sick and I don't have to even whip out my wallet.

Von der Leyen is not the sharpest tool but EU presidents are chosen to be the least offensive to everyone's national interests, not to be some strongman leader. I'd much rather have her in that position than someone like Trump. We don't have a political system trying to tear itself apart.

We're doing just great and launch capability is a tiny rounding error in the equation of what being in the EU means to citizens. It's like Africa laughing at us because we're so inefficient at producing bananas. Sure if you ignore literally everything else it looks like they're better.

[admissionsguy]

> Here I just go to the doctor when I'm sick and I don't have to even whip out my wallet.

Except when your state provided healthcare ends up inadequate and you find out there are no other options.

Except when your family member ends up uninsured and you find out insurance is actually tied to employment, just like in the US.

Except when you need dental care which costs as much as in the US, but your salary is 4x lower and taxes 2x higher.

[binarno_sp]

What are you talking about? The insurance is not tied to the job, it is tied to the income. No income = free insurance.

[admissionsguy]

> No income = free insurance

Depends on the location and various factors. It's not universal.

[guappa]

I thought von der leyen was picked to be the most offensive to all of southern europe?

Anyway, there is no such thing as president of the eu.

[ginko]

SLS already did a successful moon orbit last year. Starship hasn't even made it into orbit so far.