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I lived in Europe (Germany) for several years. Although I wasn't living on the German "system" because I was a US citizen (Army) living in an apartment I fell in love with the place. Frankly, if I could find work there I would return in a heartbeat. Europe is a fantastic (really, really fantastic) place, and that doesn't diminish my love for the USA one single bit.
Same here. I lived in downtown Wiesbaden with my German girlfriend and loved it.
Naturally, I told the yank to shut the **** up screaming....
I asked the lobby attendant to take my bags up to my room and walked back over to this scumbag.
Grabbing him by the shoulder, I escorted our friend outside.
He nearly **** himself
....
As I said this to him, I made sure to apply the pressure to the scruff of his neck to re-enforce the point.
I then dragged him back in to the hotel and explained to the hotel employee that this man had something to say to him.
So let me get this straight. You used violence against a person whose only crime was having a big mouth, and YOU'RE trying to claim the moral high-ground here?
I cant claim to have all the details mastered but there has to be some truth to this "waiting list" thing I keep reading about. I may have missed the mark applying the list to home ownership?
Fair enough - it is tricky to gain insight in how other countries do things.
There's zero waiting list for ownership - you talk to your bank about what sort of mortgage they'll approve you for with your income and credit history, then go find a home for sale, then buy it. Nothing to it. Actually, in my experience, less red tape than in the US.
Gvt. doesn't get involved except for getting the sale on the public record. (And to start charging you property tax, obviously.)
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But with rentals, it hints at close to a truth as it is repeated quite often on very neutral web sites. Here is one, Put your name down on a building association waiting list: Finding a place to live - Renting or owning? - Life in Denmark (http://www.lifein.dk/notes/index/show?noteKey=Finding_a_place_to_live_-_Renting_or_owning%3F - broken link)
Here's the thing: You do not have to rent through a building association. Lots of people want to, because it's a great model - they're typically run as non-profits, so rents can stay low. Many have been in operation for decades, so the properties are fully purchased. And as they can't make a profit, the deals can be amazing. Which means that everybody wants to get in and nobody's moving out who doesn't have to.
On the flip side, some are not attractive at all and so have no waiting list - I've seen some offer incentives like 90 days rent-free just to move in.
Also, some non-profits have received public backing in return for giving the local authorities (city councils) the right to place tenants in a percentage of their units. Typically used for people in need - victims of domestic abuse, refugees or the like. I am not crazy about that particular intermingling, but then again, I never bothered with the non-profits.
Never heard of that case before. Apparently there were problems with Mr. Mostafa's immigration status and he chose to go the UN rather than press civil charges, which strikes me as a bit weird. The crossover between public authorities and the non-profits can get people in unusual circumstances in trouble. I'd not be the least bit surprised to learn that Mr. Mostafa got an offer for refugee housing, then it turned out that he was in fact an immigrant or some other bureaucratic BS like that. Paper-pushers can make your life miserable, that is universal. Still, nobody forced him to go through the non-profit.
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If you prefer an urban lifestyle and want to live in a nice place in the city (attractive), you have to get on a list and wait.
Or open your wallet and rent privately, like I did back when - which was of course more expensive. However, thanks to the non-profits, people with relatively low incomes at least get a chance to live in attractive areas.
I would say that the friendliest countries in europe are Denmark, Holland, Scotland, and Ireland. Great places to see, but the people in those countries really make the trips great.
I'd have to add Greece. Yes, there is some anti-American stuff (due to our meddling in their govt years ago) but a lot of them also have relatives who immigrated to America and most of all, they ask questions and are willing to listen and understand without jumping into conclusions.
They are warm, gracious, hospitable, and actually quite conservative in the island villages.
That is, if you get past the fact that they don't always speak English. They learn French in school.
Denmark and other socialist countries are great for underachievers, who don't have a shred of guilt for working as little as possible at the expense of those who produce.
America doesn't work that way. America didn't become the greatest economic superpower in the history of the world because those who worked less got things for free from those who worked more.
While Denmark is a great place to be an underachiever, America is the place to become the next Warren Buffet, Bill Gates, Michael Dell, etc. America is where you find real life rags-to-riches stories. The system may not seem fair, but capitalism is the system with the greatest opportunity for economic and social mobility.
Those wealthiest bunch of people in the world who happen to be Americans do not represent the majority of us who aren't basking in wealth. You're using rare examples. Just what PERCENTAGE of Americans have a rags-to-riches story?
Opportunity is one thing, reality is another.
And as far as Danes "who don't have a shred of guilt for working as little as possible at the expense of those who produce" -- why wouldn't they? Why should they have to become a workaholic and pay over 65% tax? I'd do the same thing, wouldn't you?
I'd have to add Greece. Yes, there is some anti-American stuff (due to our meddling in their govt years ago) but a lot of them also have relatives who immigrated to America and most of all, they ask questions and are willing to listen and understand without jumping into conclusions.
They are warm, gracious, hospitable, and actually quite conservative in the island villages.
That is, if you get past the fact that they don't always speak English. They learn French in school.
Your idea about GR & Greeks is totally wrong.
USA never meddled in GR politics,that is an antiamerican myth propagated by GR leftists.
97% of them are antiamer & antisemites.Their thought is full of conspiracy myths.
Of course they smile to tourists,to get their money...
The only tourists with some money are the Amers...
Your idea about GR & Greeks is totally wrong.
USA never meddled in GR politics,that is an antiamerican myth propagated by GR leftists.
97% of them are antiamer & antisemites.Their thought is full of conspiracy myths.
Of course they smile to tourists,to get their money...
The only tourists with some money are the Amers...
Well, I happened to have stayed with my sister's friends in Athens. So they weren't being fake. They didn't even know what time I was flying in and still, got up at 6 AM and picked me up at the airport. This is last minute stuff. And they were happy and gracious, not annoyed and rude.
Have you actually been there and do you personally interact with Greeks to come up with your views? I got lost in Athens and didn't know how to get back to their house. The entire bus I was on found out and all chatted with each other to find out where my street was. Finally, a little old man told me to follow him so we both got off. He walked with a cane and hobbled up and down till he led me to the house. He didn't have to do it, and didn't do it for money.
Have you watched the decorating channel lately? The one that helps people find houses, apartments and places to live? They do a segment on other countries and it makes one sad really.
I can't believe how little living space other countries have and how dumpy the places are. Then they have to pay a high price to live that way. No way are Americans use to that. We may see high prices in the larger cities and that is even bad but most Americans have a huge house in comparison. We have a large back yard and lots of square footage in our homes. I don't want to live on top of my neighbors like they need to do in Europe. Nope I will take America anyday over other countries.
Have you watched the decorating channel lately? The one that helps people find houses, apartments and places to live? They do a segment on other countries and it makes one sad really.
I can't believe how little living space other countries have and how dumpy the places are. Then they have to pay a high price to live that way. No way are Americans use to that. We may see high prices in the larger cities and that is even bad but most Americans have a huge house in comparison. We have a large back yard and lots of square footage in our homes. I don't want to live on top of my neighbors like they need to do in Europe. Nope I will take America anyday over other countries.
Excellent post & totally true.
The euros live in Lego / Barbie doll "houses"...
It is in their soul,in France for example they have plenty of land...
Grs show courtesy to tourists so as to show off,in reality they hate...all foreigners. That's why it is almost impossible to get Gr citizenship.
Have you watched the decorating channel lately? The one that helps people find houses, apartments and places to live? They do a segment on other countries and it makes one sad really.
I can't believe how little living space other countries have and how dumpy the places are. Then they have to pay a high price to live that way. No way are Americans use to that. We may see high prices in the larger cities and that is even bad but most Americans have a huge house in comparison. We have a large back yard and lots of square footage in our homes. I don't want to live on top of my neighbors like they need to do in Europe. Nope I will take America anyday over other countries.
Population density is MUCH higher here though so what do you expect? We've no space for mcmansions everywhere. Besides there are a few benefits- mainly you can get around without a car! Anyway there is a solution to lack of space- you build up. Most Victorian/Georgian buildings are 3/4/5 stories. But they look smaller inside because of the lack of open plan and are not 1/2 storey as in the US. However house prices here are ridiculous.
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