zlacker

It may be difficult to understand, but maybe the EU has other things where they want to be competitive instead? Maybe, I don't know, quality of life...?

Please stop measuring the EU using US standards.

>>CrLf+(OP)
> Maybe, I don't know, quality of life...?

I’m very happy with my public healthcare. I think every American would be as well.

And not to mention that our kids don’t need to do active shooter drills in school.

>>CrLf+(OP)
Maybe ask yourself how is EU going to pay for all that if it misses on all trends in the industry and over-regulating anything that could be the next growth factor.

>>rbanff+T4
Public healthcare? You mean the free healthcare for 1000EUR that single German freelancers have to pay monthly? For $1k you can get a US insurance for the whole family!

>>trepri+Au
Doesn't seem to be working too bad so far.

>>CrLf+OO
I must be living in another world then. GDP of EU is stagnant since 2008 whereas US and Chinese GDP exploded during that time. Ultimately whoever has the most money is going to win so let's not try to redefine economical indicators and say that GDP is no longer relevant etc.

>>trepri+TQ
As a member of eastern EU block, I sometimes look at avg. salary in China (114029.00 CNY/Year per [tradingeconomics](https://tradingeconomics.com/china/wages)) and wonder when will they earn more (though the wages are basically incomparable due to different taxes). It won't take a long time.

15% inflation in 2022 was fun, 11% in 2023 even more fun.

>>mnau+jS
AFAIK Chinese workers are already more expensive than eastern EU ones (but tight logistic integration makes the overall manufacturing cheaper) and so are Indian devs in India already more expensive than eastern EU devs. "Prosperity"

>>trepri+TQ
Japan's GDP has been stagnant since 1995.

>>trepri+Qu
It’s tax funded, so you have a point. Still, it covers everyone so you never see anyone doing gofundmes just to stay alive.

>>rbanff+pR1
Well, maybe try not to pay your health insurance as a freelancer and the insurance company promptly disowns you and you are at the same spot as uninsured US folks immediately. In Germany. Just because fees are hidden from you doesn't mean they aren't there and a failure to pay them results in similar consequences to US.

>>trepri+Cl2
I wouldn't know, but I live in Ireland anyway, and while we have a two-tier system, we pay insurance only for the better hotel services in hospitals - things such as single-patient apartments.