[rightbyte]

> I think the more interesting question is could Europe maintain their standards _and_ also have a strong tech industry that could compete with the US?

Those things are not contradictions. Outside of Microsoft, Apple, Facebook and Google's fields the competition level in tech is quite good. And honestly, I only want one of those around me at all.

> People quickly jump to point out how the average quality of life in Europe is so much higher than in the US. And rightly so, that's not even up for debate.

I would not say that. Europe is stretching from Portugal to the Urals.