Benefits of living in the eu?

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crazywednesday
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Benefits of living in the eu?

#1

Post by crazywednesday »

I pulled this quote from the "map" thread. I believe my question is better suited for off topics.
bh49 wrote:
Vivi wrote:Sounds like it might be worth making a thread exploring solutions to that issue.
Europeans are not first day here and I am sure that they figure out the best way to get Spydercos.
High Spyderco cost for them it is a pity, but they have their own benefits living in EU. Some benefits Americans even cannot imagine. But like you said this is better for different thread.
Now I have two question: "What is the next Spyderco to buy?" and what will be your next Spyderco in 2018? :) :) :) :D :D
Or may be this is the topic for another threads as well?
And the last question:" Where is my Rhino?".
What are the amazing benefits of living in the eu (I'm clearly an American)? This question is 100% curiosity of Spyderco owners opinions. I've already read what the internet has to say.
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awa54
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Re: Benefits of living in the eu?

#2

Post by awa54 »

Went to the ER in Croatia for 21 Euro, in Austria for 150 Euro, this was the price for someone who isn't on their universal health care, it's free if you live there, a GP visit was free even for me as an out of country patient. Care was excellent, as good or better than what I'm used to at home and each of those ER visits in the US would have cost over a thousand bucks (and taken hours longer). The roads are in fantastic condition, the drivers are held to a higher standard that in the US (much more courteous and usually more skilled), the streets are clean, the restaurants are cheaper for the meal quality (at least for higher end ones), there is no such thing as a sub-liveable wage for working people, excellent (and often free) education... there's more, but for those who reflexively hate any hint of socialism it's all ruined by the fact that you have to pay the Government lots of taxes to gain the benefits ;)

Not many mass shootings either.
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Re: Benefits of living in the eu?

#3

Post by cELLiBAIt »

awa54 wrote:Care was excellent ... The roads are in fantastic condition ... the drivers are held to a higher standard ... the restaurants are cheaper ... there is no such thing as a sub-liveable wage for working people
Don't come to the UK if you like those things, you'll be unpleasantly surprised!

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Re: Benefits of living in the eu?

#4

Post by bh49 »

I am sure that Europeans will answer much better.
Few years ago my wife's friend with family, who lives in Germany visited us. Vacations: four weeks plus. Universities are free. Unemployment compensation significantly higher and last years. Most depends on country. Taxes higher. In some countries pay is higher. It is different. I believe Europeans know much better than us how to enjoy the life.
Last edited by bh49 on Wed Dec 06, 2017 8:45 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Benefits of living in the eu?

#5

Post by ChrisinHove »

Do you mean the EU as the political entity, or geographically within Europe?
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Re: Benefits of living in the eu?

#6

Post by crazywednesday »

ChrisinHove wrote:Do you mean the EU as the political entity, or geographically within Europe?
My question was not about the geography, so it must be about the political entity. I have heard and read lots of opinions about living there and I have my own, but I am refraining from what I already think and I am curious about what the spyderco community thinks.
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Re: Benefits of living in the eu?

#7

Post by Peter1960 »

crazywednesday wrote:What are the amazing benefits of living in the eu (I'm clearly an American)?
I'm clearly an Austrian and Austria in member within European Union. When you speak you are an American, what kind of American (North/Central/South America)? Same differences are in the EU, therefore it's hards to say what the benefits exactly are, as there are a lot of different countries with different cultures and economical strengths or weaknesses.

In general I would say: less crime rate, good education, welfare, ecological standard and infrastructure, all in exchange to higher taxes.
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Re: Benefits of living in the eu?

#8

Post by crazywednesday »

Peter1960 wrote:I'm clearly an Austrian and Austria in member within European Union. When you speak you are an American, what kind of American (North/Central/South America)? Same differences are in the EU, therefore it's hards to say what the benefits exactly are, as there are a lot of different countries with different cultures and economical strengths or weaknesses.

In general I would say: less crime rate, good education, welfare, ecological standard and infrastructure, all in exchange to higher taxes.
North American, USA specifically. Ill update my profile. Thank you for your input.
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Re: Benefits of living in the eu?

#9

Post by ChrisinHove »

crazywednesday wrote:
ChrisinHove wrote:Do you mean the EU as the political entity, or geographically within Europe?
My question was not about the geography, so it must be about the political entity. I have heard and read lots of opinions about living there and I have my own, but I am refraining from what I already think and I am curious about what the spyderco community thinks.
That's the harder question to answer! The European Union (EU) developed from the European Economic Community (EEC), and as the titles suggest has been about ever closer economic and political ties, and the free movement of people, goods and services. It has involvement in a great deal that happens within it's member states, and the line between what issue is EU and what is national government is increasingly blurred.

One of the obvious visible effects to me has been the further increase in diversity of nationalities I come across. Of course, due to our history this has long been a feature in the UK, but from the EU this has been without any discernible ghettoisation.

The EU at it's heart reflects the liberal-social-democratic, or centre left, political position that has dominated most European national governments since WW2. It has created things like Human Rights legislation which may sound far-left-wing to many Americans, but bear in mind (in the U.K.) we've never before had a written constitution or Bill of Rights to protect the "subject" from their "sovereign government".

What's it like to live in the EU? If I were to ask what it's like to live in the USA, you would have to ask, where? NYC versus Texas! It's the same here but it's even more varied. If I had to generalise I would say : It's safe, diverse, has pretty much free health care, often overpopulated, fascinating in it's history, 4-6 weeks paid holidays are pretty normal, relatively high taxes (I'm told, but I know no different), excessive benefit dependency (I'm sure), the best whiskys, the best beers, the best wines ...

I can't easily own a firearm, & knife laws are almost as severe, but we have a very low homicide rate and very rarely have mass shootings. When you consider how many weapons were floating around after 2 massive wars in the first half of the twentieth century, that's incredible.
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Re: Benefits of living in the eu?

#10

Post by vivi »

As an American, I am jealous of the rich history many European nations have. I can't visit castles and thousand year old churches very easily living where I do.
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Re: Benefits of living in the eu?

#11

Post by The Mastiff »

I lived in Germany for 2 years but that was a different time. I have no idea what things are like now. It was beautiful in many areas and the food sure was good. The produce was nicer than what I was used to and I was impressed but that was before I had been to Mexico.

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Re: Benefits of living in the eu?

#12

Post by Bloke »

I certainly haven't seen much of Europe but I've visited Belgium, France and Greece. The architecture in Belgium and France was marvellous and eye opening to a couple of young Australians as were the ancient ruins of Greece. The food and drink were sensational and the vast majority of people were nice and friendly and fair to say we had a fat time but for me the old adage rings true and there's no place like home and no home like Australia! ;)

If there are any benefits to living in Europe ... they escaped me. :rolleyes:
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Re: Benefits of living in the eu?

#13

Post by Doc Dan »

As for the crime, statistics do not show the UK being any safer, but in the UK and in the EU, medical care for everyone makes better sense that the insurance company dominated malfunction Americans call medical insurance and care.
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Re: Benefits of living in the eu?

#14

Post by standy99 »

Another Aussie that has traveled a fair bit to both the EU and USA so maybe easier to compare for the OP

Food - EU wins hands down. Fresh, unprocessed, selection due to all the countries national dishes and they wouldn't dream of putting cheese in a can ( or sugar in potato salad and coleslaw which I still can't get over )

Coffee - EU

Steak- USA Texas knows what it's all about and steak deserves its own category in my book

Clothing - Even. USA half the price and twice the range of EU. But for high end clothes and shoes EU has a greater selection and quality standard.

Beer- EU with the USA catching up in leaps and bounds inthe last 10 years

Security - USA as not much chance of being shot really as a tourist, and pickpockets are rife in most tourist spots in the EU

History - EU

Wilderness outdoors - USA

People - Even as everywhere has good and bad

Funny thing as the USA is similar really to the EU as all the little quirky state foods and geography/climates are so similar to EU countries and USA accents from north to south etc are almost like different languages :D

So as Bloke said above the winner is Australia ;)
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Re: Benefits of living in the eu?

#15

Post by cELLiBAIt »

Best thing for UK in long term is to become state of USA.
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Re: Benefits of living in the eu?

#16

Post by ThePeacent »

To me, the best of living here is the easy access to a good health care system, the food and relative safety in most EU countries and places, as well as the history and culture you can breathe, see and discover visiting the cities, towns, as well as the outdoors (castles, monuments, landmarks, villages...)
Also nice are the cultural variations (food, attitude, architecture...) to be found in a few thousand kilometers along EU countries

the bad is the exaggerated laws in some places, especially cities, the growing "Big Brother" acting and evolution of our government, corruption and also the disparity of languages, opinions and traditions that you find not going too far from where you live (different people talking other tongues and having opposite mindsets in a few hundred miles in any direction, crossing borders)
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