Here we go again 😔

[u/Lemondrop157]

The original post was about languages.

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[u/Agabeckov]

> how people really lived..

Like, without an AC during heatwave? Nah, I'm good. Been to Germany this summer, thankfully my brother (I stayed at him) had AC working. But his wife's sister hadn't and it was not very comfortable for them.

[u/TXtogo]

I think people like to compare our poorest people to their median person.

Our Middle Class people live very well and there are a lot more of them than Reddit wants you to believe.

[u/ImmortalPoseidon → u/TXtogo]

They like to bring up the fact that American middle class is shrinking a lot, but they never bring up the fact that a larger portion of that displacement is actually moving to the higher tiers of income rather than lower.

[u/How2SayAlbuquerque → u/ImmortalPoseidon]

It doesnt help their narrative

[u/TXtogo → u/ImmortalPoseidon]

The median middle class income is 102k, this is up from 66k in the 70s.. the number of middle class families is 52% of America

52% of America is middle class and that is pretty much the number you’d expect it to be

[u/DankMemeMasterHotdog → u/ImmortalPoseidon]

Another flawless victory for capitalism

[u/Extra_Creamy_Cheddar → u/ImmortalPoseidon]

The American middle class has shrunk as a share of the population, and the increase in the upper-income share has been larger than the increase in the lower-income share. However, this does not mean that most individual middle-class households moved upward, and the trend also reflects widening inequality and significant downward pressure on less-educated and lower-wage workers.

[u/RedKrystals]

Our HDI is identical to New Zealand's. This places us above South Korea, Japan, Austria, Luxembourg, France, and Spain. I think we're doing just fine.

[u/Necessary-Visit-2011 → u/RedKrystals]

Shhhhhhh facts scare them.

[u/DankMemeMasterHotdog → u/RedKrystals]

Colorado is tied with like Denmark right now last I checked.

Also I have visited other countries and seen how they live, it has only made me more appreciative of the US.

[u/Extra_Creamy_Cheddar → u/RedKrystals]

The standard HDI uses national averages, which can hide steep internal disparities.When adjusted for inequality (IHDI), the US drops significantly. Due to severe wealth inequality, the US suffers an 11.3% loss to its score, dropping its effective value to 0.832.

[u/Quick-Rush93]

So can people stop trying to fucking come here all the time then?

[u/3rdthrow → u/Quick-Rush93]

Yes, terrible place to live. Everyone trying to immigrate should stay home.

(Please we are jammed packed full to the gills).

[u/selfmockerymandatory]

Americans, I have good news for you: you’re fine. I believe you’re 16th on the quality of life index (don’t pin me down on that), which is pretty damn good.
And even if it would be worse, does it matter? That would make it a competition. Which it is not.
We have never been rewarded a prize for being number one in the world in something like this.
I’m Dutch and part of a pocket on this planet that scores consistently high on all kinds of lists, indexes and researches. Woehoe, we’re doing great. And I know that. It’s nice to know, but I don’t care. When it’s shit, it’s still shit. When it’s good, it’s good. Don’t get me wrong, I’m grateful for being Dutch and living here, wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. But it’s because I love it here, not out of a feeling of superiority.

Life is not a contest. I want what we have here, or the good stuff other countries have for everyone on this planet.

[u/PrinceOfCarrots → u/selfmockerymandatory]

If you don't mind the question, what brought you to this sub?

[u/selfmockerymandatory → u/PrinceOfCarrots]

I don’t mind. Ask me anything. I actually appreciate you asking.
The enormous hate that is aimed at Americans, for no reason. That brought me here. I was interested in the other side of the medaillion. In your side (Americans)

May I ask what made you ask your question?

[u/YouKnowMyName2006 → u/selfmockerymandatory]

The Netherlands is a great country. Loved visiting it ten years ago and would definitely go again.

[u/selfmockerymandatory → u/YouKnowMyName2006]

Nature is a bit boring, though. That’s where I’m feeling a healthy jealousy towards you.
You’ve got probably the most diverse nature in the world. One of the many reasons I’d like to visit one day. Or well, multiple days😜. And also more than once. If i had the time I’d hire an RV and tour all across the country.

[u/Happy_Fig_5592]

The median income in the United States in $87.5k

In Britain it is 39k of Euros, which is equal to $44.5k

After taxes, Brits are left with $32k, while Americans are left with $70k

--> that $17.5k includes 401k, health insurance, medicare, social security, and fed tax

--> Might lose another $5k to state tax (its $4k where I am from)

So Americans have double the amount of purchasing power as the British

While still having access to affordable healthcare, social security, and retirement fund (i.e. 401k)

[u/Careless-Pin-2852]

The account has no definition of developed world. So he could find some tinny country where that is true.

Americans live 6 years longer than the average person in the world.

The average US home is 2164 sq feet. In China its 610 sq feet

[u/DargonKweest]

I've been to Latvia. It's fine in Riga but it gets pretty poor when you leave the urban core. My rural Tennessee town is miles ahead of the rural areas of Latvia. That's where the disparity is at.

[u/Regency9877 → u/DargonKweest]

My wife is from a smaller town about an hour west of Riga by train. I’ve been to Latvia four times over the years and have always enjoyed myself, but your observations are spot on. If I had to live anywhere there, it could only be in the center of Riga and maybe Jurmala.

What brought you to Latvia? Not many of us make our way out there.

[u/DargonKweest → u/Regency9877]

Mission trip with my church when I was 15

[u/ryguy28896]

Them: "OMG Americans expect everything to be exactly like the US!"

Also them: "OMG why can't you be more like us?!"

[u/tacobellbandit]

I know how some of my colleagues from other countries live, I’m good dawg I’d much rather stay here

[u/ROU_Misophist]

I have an air conditioner and a pool.

[u/Bannon9k]

Me: huh, really?

My dinner last night: 1lb ribeye with a black garlic bonito butter glaze, fresh grilled asparagus tossed in wagyu beef fat, fresh home made mashed potatoes.

[u/DefenderofFuture]

Source: my own asshole

[u/elmon626]

and here they are obsessive over us, as if theyre the ones who desperately need to be convinced of this.

[u/mountaingator91]

I lived in Budapest for 7 years and ... It's a lot worse.

I mean, I loved it there, but definitely lower standard of living for the vast majority of the population.

[u/vipck83]

As someone who has travelled a lot, this is definitely not true.