7 Cultural Reasons why a European Never Wants to live in America
01-29-2012, 10:49 AM
firstshowing.net/2012/must-watch-crazy-red-band-trailer-for-bobcats-god-bless-america/
Quote: (01-28-2012 10:24 PM)chochemonger1 Wrote:
Quote: (01-28-2012 10:05 PM)InternationPlayboy Wrote:
Quote: (01-28-2012 10:00 PM)chochemonger1 Wrote:
Quote: (01-28-2012 09:40 PM)mofo Wrote:
In my opinion the US is the best place to go from rags to riches. If anybody thinks differently than please tell me where it is easier to go from zero to hero in terms of money.
Not anymore my friend. This according to the Brookings Institute
ECONOMIC MOBILITY OF FAMILIES ACROSS
GENERATIONS IS LOWER IN THE UNITED STATES
THAN IN MANY OTHER COUNTRIES
While Americans have an optimistic faith in the ability of individuals to
get ahead within a lifetime or from one generation to the next, there
is growing evidence of less intergenerational economic mobility
in the United States than in many other rich industrialized countries,
at least according to the relative mobility measures commonly used
in economic research.
The earnings of American men are more closely tied to the earnings of their fathers than are those of men in other countries. Both the United States and the United Kingdom stand out as having higher associations between fathers’and sons’ earnings—and thereforeless economic mobility—than do seven other industrialized countries, according to a comprehensive review by Corak. After reviewing dozens of studies of the earnings relationship between fathers and sons in the United States and other countries, and adjusting the statistics for comparability to the extent possible, Corak ranked the ninecountries in the order shown by
the bars in Figure 2.
• Low-mobility countries. In the United States and the
United Kingdom, about half (50 percent) of parental earnings advantages are passed onto sons. If trends hold consistent, it would
take an average of six generations for family economic advantage
to disappear in the United Statesand the United Kingdom.
• Mid-range countries. France, Germany, and Sweden were in
the mid-range of mobility measures for these nine countries.
• High-mobility countries. Paternal earnings had the least
effect on sons’ earnings in Canada, Norway, Finland, and Denmark, where less than 20 percent of income advantages are passed onto children. The implication of these statistics is that in these countries it would take three,
not six, generations, to essentially cancel out the effects of being
born into a wealthy family.
Recent studies suggest that Italy may be in the same “low-mobility” range as the United States and the United Kingdom, while both Spain and Australia join the list of countries with higher rates of mobility than
the United States.
Yeah, but when you say that, "The earnings of American men are more closely tied to the earnings of their fathers than are those of men in other countries." Is that really a big deal if the average dad is making $52k a year? Thos high mobility countries in scandinavia get taxed out the ass and if you've read a lot of info on the forum, it seems to be a very dull places to live.
Im not trying to say that America isnt full of financial opportunities. Only that it is way less relative to other countries NOW compared to 20 or 30 yrs ago. And that it is a myth that the US is number one with regard to economic mobility.
IN CONCLUSION (not according to me but the Brookings Institute)
The findings from cross-country research challenge the traditional view of the United States as a land with more mobility and opportunity than other countries. While cross-country comparisons of relative mobility rely on data
and methodologies that are far from perfect, a growing number
of economic studies have found that the United States stands out as
having less, not more, intergenerational mobility than do Canada and several
European countries. American children are more likely than other children to end up in the same place on the income distribution as their parents. Moreover, there is emerging evidence that mobility is particularly low for Americans born into families at the bottom of the earnings or income distribution.
Not wanting to listen to cold hard facts about their own country is one pet peeve that I would add to Pilgrims list of 17 about America. I´m American but when i see strong evidence I dont look the other way.
Quote: (01-29-2012 02:39 PM)billy Wrote:
Yanks are convinced that AMERICA is best, which is fine but please shut the fuck up about it.
Quote: (01-29-2012 05:52 AM)chochemonger1 Wrote:
Quote: (01-28-2012 11:11 PM)InternationPlayboy Wrote:
Quote: (01-28-2012 11:05 PM)chochemonger1 Wrote:
Quote: (01-28-2012 10:52 PM)InternationPlayboy Wrote:
Dude, I have a job that requires very little experience and I make a good living. I'm always able to save money and live comfortably (Even go out and drink at expensive places 2-3 times a week), and that's with no college degree, trade school, nothing. You're acting like the average person has to struggle to make a living in America, and that's simply not the case. Most "poor" people by American standards live better than most other citizens of the world.
Youd be surprised how much a bit of capital, can go a long way in a 3rd world country. I got out of the US a few years ago and started investing in real estate in a small South American country. Ive been there for 4 years and now I have enough passive income to live all year round in whatever country Id like(except for maybe Japan and Norway). And that with working 20 hour weeks and being my own boss all these 4 years(thus being able to travel to Brazil and Colombia for 4 or 5 months each year). I´m pretty sure id still be in a cubicle working my ass off and just being able to travel 2 weeks each year if I´ve stayed in the US. And that unfortunately is the reality for most Americans.
This is basically my plan. I was planning on doing the same thing in terms of investing in properties in South America. I'd be happy to hear some more insight on how you got where you are. Did you just save up a lot working your ass off in the states to invest in these properties? That's basically my idea.
Yes i will start a thread soon as to not sabotage this one. Ive been living in Quito, Ecuador for more than 4 years now and I did take my savings from the US there. Bought a cheap house in cash(property prices are the lowest in South America), remodeled, subdivided it and started renting out the sucker. Best to buy a property close to a University as it is way easy to rent out small units to students. Saved up the money from the rentals and with some more capital I had, bought another property. Now I have 4 properties that produce a very good cash flow without paying any income taxes (just property taxes which are dirt cheap compared to the States). Though I dont particularly like the country, financially it has been pretty good to me and it has alllowed me to explore Colombia and Brazil, which are the 2 best countries to live in the Americas.
Quote: (01-29-2012 03:08 PM)Luckystar Wrote:
Quote: (01-29-2012 02:39 PM)billy Wrote:
Yanks are convinced that AMERICA is best, which is fine but please shut the fuck up about it.
In general, Europeans have no business making this complaint. The level of pretentiousness in Europe about everything from food to fashion to finance is nauseating.
From any other continent in the world, I'd accept this complaint.
Quote: (01-29-2012 03:54 PM)billy Wrote:
Quote: (01-29-2012 03:08 PM)Luckystar Wrote:
Quote: (01-29-2012 02:39 PM)billy Wrote:
Yanks are convinced that AMERICA is best, which is fine but please shut the fuck up about it.
In general, Europeans have no business making this complaint. The level of pretentiousness in Europe about everything from food to fashion to finance is nauseating.
From any other continent in the world, I'd accept this complaint.
EUROPE again, really, seriously the WHOLE of Europe is pretentious ?????
Quote: (01-29-2012 03:59 PM)Aliblahba Wrote:I think most of us can tolerate alot of bad things from every culture and are pretty adaptable and open minded. What we have in common is that we CANT tolerate feminazis, fatties, paper pusher women, ignorant girls with no style, masculinized females etc. With that in mind, I´ll take Europe, even with its annoying pretentiousness, any day over America.
Quote: (01-29-2012 03:54 PM)billy Wrote:
Quote: (01-29-2012 03:08 PM)Luckystar Wrote:
Quote: (01-29-2012 02:39 PM)billy Wrote:
Yanks are convinced that AMERICA is best, which is fine but please shut the fuck up about it.
In general, Europeans have no business making this complaint. The level of pretentiousness in Europe about everything from food to fashion to finance is nauseating.
From any other continent in the world, I'd accept this complaint.
EUROPE again, really, seriously the WHOLE of Europe is pretentious ?????
Haha. Just certain parts. Um, where are you from again?
Quote: (01-29-2012 03:54 PM)billy Wrote:
Quote: (01-29-2012 03:08 PM)Luckystar Wrote:
Quote: (01-29-2012 02:39 PM)billy Wrote:
Yanks are convinced that AMERICA is best, which is fine but please shut the fuck up about it.
In general, Europeans have no business making this complaint. The level of pretentiousness in Europe about everything from food to fashion to finance is nauseating.
From any other continent in the world, I'd accept this complaint.
EUROPE again, really, seriously the WHOLE of Europe is pretentious ?????
Quote: (01-29-2012 06:44 PM)Deb Auchery Wrote:
We have history, style and culture in Europe; of course we're going to be pretentious.
Are you trying to say that America is as culturally different as Europe?
Quote: (01-29-2012 06:44 PM)Deb Auchery Wrote:
We have history, style and culture in Europe; of course we're going to be pretentious.
Quote: (01-29-2012 07:00 PM)Luckystar Wrote:
Quote: (01-29-2012 06:44 PM)Deb Auchery Wrote:
We have history, style and culture in Europe; of course we're going to be pretentious.
Are you trying to say that America is as culturally different as Europe?
No America isn't, more culturally diverse than Europe, but Russia, China, and India are just as culturally diverse.
Ever hear an Indian person get pretentious about how people HAVE to understand that being Punjabi is so uniquely different than being Tamil? Nope. Yet, an Indian is an Indian to every European.
Just get over yourselves, guys. You're nothing special. I seriously think to many of us put Europe on a pedestal. Great place, great people, better than you and I...fuck no.
Quote: (01-28-2012 09:26 PM)P Dog Wrote:
Quote: (01-28-2012 09:23 PM)InternationPlayboy Wrote:
Quote: (01-28-2012 09:18 PM)chochemonger1 Wrote:
Maybe 30 or 40 yrs ago it far outpaced most countries in economic and financial opportunities. But not anymore.
America still by far has the most dominant economy in the world. It should be that way for at least the next 15 years. Even if and when China surpasses us, the US is still gonna be a major world economy. And even though China has a huge economy, the quality of life probably doesn't touch the US.
If China and the U.S had economies of roughly the same sized (predicted to happen in the 2020's), China's GDP per capita would only be a quarter of Americas.