What is wrong with striving and possibilities? And starting from nothing and ending up somewhere that you did not have imagined for you for you more or less by birth on the basis of class? Some country has to offer these opportunities. And the immigrants who have come here do seem to "make good" over time, if not they themselves, then their children, millions coming from some really hellish experiences in their own country of origin. It may be a dirty job to offer these opportunities (indeed there ARE tradeoffs) but some country has to do it.
Completing an education, hard work and further learning on the job, and pro-active planning and responsibility (e.g planning your retirement and financial goals -God know why we don't thoroughly educate people on this) go a long way go a long way toward achieving desired ends. Finding our own best skills, talents and interests are and finding work that incorporates them does a lot to make life interesting, if not totally secure.
I too have lived in Western Europe (Vienna, Austria), and I have to admit, it has its charms. When I was unemployed, I was even given tram tickets so I could get myself to the unemployment office! Life was less challenging and more pleasant in many ways. America is a challenge, and the fact is, we as Americans are also offered the opportunity to address these perennial challenges we are faced with and find new and improved ways. Even as individuals we can have a part in this - through politics, through volunteer work, and in any creative way we can find.
Like the author, I think America is the best place to live, particularly since you have 50 states to pick from, in terms of your preferences for weather, culture, density, governance. For comparison, it might be more relevant comparing Seattle/Washington state to Denmark, California to Italy, or Massachusetts to France. There's no other way to compare the entirety of America to a small select set of countries in Europe. And really, many people in the United States love where they live, because they focus on the family they have and the community around them. And when they don't like the policies of a particularly state, they don't have a problem picking up and leaving for another state!
What is wrong with striving and possibilities? And starting from nothing and ending up somewhere that you did not have imagined for you for you more or less by birth on the basis of class? Some country has to offer these opportunities. And the immigrants who have come here do seem to "make good" over time, if not they themselves, then their children, millions coming from some really hellish experiences in their own country of origin. It may be a dirty job to offer these opportunities (indeed there ARE tradeoffs) but some country has to do it.
Completing an education, hard work and further learning on the job, and pro-active planning and responsibility (e.g planning your retirement and financial goals -God know why we don't thoroughly educate people on this) go a long way go a long way toward achieving desired ends. Finding our own best skills, talents and interests are and finding work that incorporates them does a lot to make life interesting, if not totally secure.
I too have lived in Western Europe (Vienna, Austria), and I have to admit, it has its charms. When I was unemployed, I was even given tram tickets so I could get myself to the unemployment office! Life was less challenging and more pleasant in many ways. America is a challenge, and the fact is, we as Americans are also offered the opportunity to address these perennial challenges we are faced with and find new and improved ways. Even as individuals we can have a part in this - through politics, through volunteer work, and in any creative way we can find.
Like the author, I think America is the best place to live, particularly since you have 50 states to pick from, in terms of your preferences for weather, culture, density, governance. For comparison, it might be more relevant comparing Seattle/Washington state to Denmark, California to Italy, or Massachusetts to France. There's no other way to compare the entirety of America to a small select set of countries in Europe. And really, many people in the United States love where they live, because they focus on the family they have and the community around them. And when they don't like the policies of a particularly state, they don't have a problem picking up and leaving for another state!