Just in case you are interested in a European perspective, and aren't just commenting to let off some steam because of perceived injustices:
> we work longer hours and take less vacation.
Yes, but people working longer hours doesn't necessarily translate to more output, especially when quality is taken into account.
Anecdotally, from what I've heard from people working in international companies, the American work culture doesn't seem to be very efficient when looking at the end result. The studies of 32 hour work weeks seem to indicate similar findings, though like the anecdotes, should be taken with a grain of salt of course. But I truly believe that in most cases, a developer who works 10 hours a day will not produce more than one who works 6 hours a day, at least after a couple of days.
>Europe makes fun of us for our defense spending yet demands protection
You do realise that until very recently, America has gained an absurd amount of soft power through this defence spending, right? And was able to convert this soft power into a lot of GDP through indirect subsidies of its international companies? Just because the current administration has squandered this advantage, doesn't mean you did not get out more than you paid for the last couple of decades.
>I just can't shake the feeling that Europeans see Americans as suckers.
I agree with you on that point,but not for the reasons you might think. I see the "temporarily embarrassed millionaire" phenomenon, people constantly against their self-interest and the like, and and it's hard not to. I have relatives in the US, and I still feel sympathy for your people.
But it's getting harder and harder to not see you as suckers when you look at the tariffs or the cuts to welfare, science and education, all while the rich get massive tax cuts. And all is being done in the name of "draining the swamp", by a billionaire who is incredibly well-connected with 90% of the corrupt elite he publicly opposes.
>You do realise that until very recently, America has gained an absurd amount of soft power through this defence spending, right? And was able to convert this soft power into a lot of GDP through indirect subsidies of its international companies? Just because the current administration has squandered this advantage, doesn't mean you did not get out more than you paid for the last couple of decades.
People always claim this, but they're rarely able to give compelling concrete examples.
It's hard to say for sure. For all we know, if it weren't for NATO, the US would've been able to sell much more military gear to Europe, since they would have greater need for it.
The US economy generally performed quite well in the pre-WW2 era, before NATO was created. I don't think our current relationship with Europe is at all essential.
It is pretty amusing to see Europeans gloating over their low-cost/public healthcare while part of its treatment structure is subsidized by Americans through what they pay for the same to the same companies.
So you're basically admitting that the "soft power" we supposedly got from anchoring NATO for the past 70 years is worthless, and Europeans view Americans as suckers.
Well, that situation has a bit more complexity, my comment was getting rather long anyway, and I didn't think it would help anyone if I also tried to address it. I also suspect that this comment won't help, either, but I'll try.
But as we are supposed to steelman others on hn, I will pretend that your comment was made in good faith, and that you are actually amused by "Europeans gloating" and just want my take on the rest of the parent comment.
Of course, some of the price difference between US and the rest of the world comes from research and development, along with price segmentation, the latter being pretty much standard in capitalism on a global scale.
But as long as your drug companies spend so much on marketing and making intermediaries rich beyond measure, and your government doesn't negotiate the prices down and doesn't properly regulate them, it seems a bit strange to me to completely focus on the r&d part when talking about the 10x difference.
While the US isn't willing to meaningfully address any of the other major issues with healthcare pricing, it feels like this issue is just an excuse for some Americans to see themselves as victims on the global stage, which has become rather fashionable with supporters of the current administration. To an outside observer, the situation looks very similar to the ongoing embarrassment about the tariffs, or the examples I have already given about
defense spending and vacation time.
Obama repeatedly referred to Europeans as "free riders" on matters of defense: https://archive.is/cvJ8d
Historically, with American Exceptionalism, Americans didn't care as much about getting a fair deal as long as they were making the world a better place. It's you Europeans who decided to gloat and undermine American Exceptionalism. That's why Americans from both parties are now focused on getting a better deal for ourselves. American Exceptionalism is over, and smug Europeans are on their own now.
> we work longer hours and take less vacation.
Yes, but people working longer hours doesn't necessarily translate to more output, especially when quality is taken into account.
Anecdotally, from what I've heard from people working in international companies, the American work culture doesn't seem to be very efficient when looking at the end result. The studies of 32 hour work weeks seem to indicate similar findings, though like the anecdotes, should be taken with a grain of salt of course. But I truly believe that in most cases, a developer who works 10 hours a day will not produce more than one who works 6 hours a day, at least after a couple of days.
>Europe makes fun of us for our defense spending yet demands protection
You do realise that until very recently, America has gained an absurd amount of soft power through this defence spending, right? And was able to convert this soft power into a lot of GDP through indirect subsidies of its international companies? Just because the current administration has squandered this advantage, doesn't mean you did not get out more than you paid for the last couple of decades.
>I just can't shake the feeling that Europeans see Americans as suckers.
I agree with you on that point,but not for the reasons you might think. I see the "temporarily embarrassed millionaire" phenomenon, people constantly against their self-interest and the like, and and it's hard not to. I have relatives in the US, and I still feel sympathy for your people.
But it's getting harder and harder to not see you as suckers when you look at the tariffs or the cuts to welfare, science and education, all while the rich get massive tax cuts. And all is being done in the name of "draining the swamp", by a billionaire who is incredibly well-connected with 90% of the corrupt elite he publicly opposes.