To put American poverty into perspective. Some years ago, a group of US American officials were visiting my home country The Netherlands, to learn how the Dutch government copes with poverty in our cities. After an initial meeting they were shown a neighborhood that is considered poor in NL. Their - somewhat embarrassed - comment: " This is considered middle class in the US."
Uhhh. Could you elaborate, my brain is shitting it's self trying to understand your comment. I get it but my brain is having a shit fit right now, trying to comprehend this.
@@eddover6876 Yeah, I'm American sad to say. Like I get it, I understand what the comment is saying. My brain however, is trying to comprehend. How the fuck does a politician not feel embarrassed that they let that shitty statement. Blow pass their lips and not understand how much of a "SHIT" job they're doing. That's my brains problem right now.
I find it strange that when I have spoken to Americans about these issues in the past they just say “We don’t want communism or socialism in America!” But 90% of the countries that do these things are not anything near socialist countries at all. 🤷♂️
That's where the wilful Ignorance comes in, unfortunately.The lack of passport ownership by citizens, doesn't help. They don't learn about alternative ways of living.Poor Education standards doesn't help.
US folks are as brainwashed as Russians are, just by a different entity. In Russia it's the oligarchs and tsar and his followers, in USA it's corporates and different lobby groups, like NRA, that basically own the politicians.
Yeah. Social Democracy doesn't mean Socialist. We just pick up the best ideas from both socialism and capitalism and mix them into a system that works for both rich and poor
@@0Quiwi0 🤣🤣🤣🤣Americans are always good for a laugh. Countries globally have been laughing at America for decades. America has the biggest domestic debt per person than any Country in the world. 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Back in the 70's & 80's when I was a teenager in the UK, I dreamt of moving to the USA to start a better life. Sadly for the boy I was, that dream never came to fruition. Now, over 30 years later, I am so glad that dream never happened. Over the last few years I've learnt a lot about the way American corporate works compared to other countries in the world - and I am sad to say it, but the USA is not the land of opportunity that it purports to be. Now that I'm more aware of corporate policy I'm glad that I live in the UK and have the opportunity to be someone who, when I did work full-time, worked to live rather than being a person who lives to work. My advice Alan, if you can ever afford it, escape the USA ASAP!
I lived that dream for 2 years and i am never ever going back unless its short term and a holiday. The US is so skewed towards corporate bollocks i was managing a team for my London based firm in Nebraska for the first year and a half i worked in the states. I had a new starter come in litereally break down in tears and begged like hands and knees not to fire her because shed taken two days off sick. I got her to calm down and re assured her i wasnt going to fire her because she needed a couple days off to get over flu, just the fact she thought it was a possibility pissed me off. Another thing annual leave Yanks dont take it no idea why you get given paid leave fucking use it I used all mine made damn sure i did that is a fully paid day where you get to do whatever you want you earnt it take it. Other things they expect off the clock working (staying behind do get ahead) overtime is a FAILURE of management if you need to work extra hours to get your daily tasks done that means you have too many tasks and they need to hire additional people.
I’m 45 and my dream was to go to USA too, my parents nearly moved there in early 90s I was so excited as have a house with pool!! But we didn’t!! I dream of visiting one day!!! After seeing videos of how bad your rights are and hardly any holidays, health care and guns puts me off sadly.
The biggest strange concept for me is tipping in the US, outside the US tipping is mostly a reward for staff doing a good job and going above and beyond what is expected, in the US staff need tips to actually survive.
That's just another stroke of "genius" business practices in US - why increase prices and pay their workers a decent wage when you can CONVINCE people that tipping is mandatory ALWAYS and have customers subsidize their staff ?
So how do they react to how their Police/Firemen/Librarians/School teachers etc are funded then? As its taxpayers money that pays their wages! Then theres the Army... That they are so proud of... Tax Payers pay their wages as well! - So then I ask... Whats the diff between that and having a free healthcare system paid for by taxes? And before any of you say its cos it will increase taxes, well for one it wont. The USA is the most taxed nation on Earth towards healthcare, EVERY US citizen pays $10,000 of their taxes per person towards healthcare yet Americans have to pay on top their insurance and then on top of that any co-pays and on top of that any bills their insurance doesnt cover and yes then on top of that insanely high prescription charges!! Making a free healthcare by taxes your US government can force the big pharma companies to reduce their prices. Free healthcare for all will SAVE you money you Americans! Dont you understand? In the UK we pay in taxes just $4,000 per person and everything is free (Barring a £9 (11-12USD) cost per prescription no matter what drug or EpiPen etc it is, its just £9 in England alone, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland gets it all for free) Can you understand now? We get it all free and our taxes are less than yours!!! Yet you also pay massively out of pocket for co-pays/insurance and prescriptions.
@@CrazyInWeston why are you arguing with someone that is actually on the same page as you…? He was being sarcastic and trying to say that’s how the AMERICANS see it..and Unless I’m very much mistaken he is British…🙄🇬🇧
@@Ionabrodie69 I'm not at all, where you get that from? I'm simply asking that from nicks comment, that its a "dirty" word on their basis (usa) that free healthcare is bad mmm'kay... How they react when its the same thing that funds their police/army/fire etc but having healthcare funded this way is communism?
I think something i've noticed that is far more prevalent in the US than i've seen elsewhere, is the actual distain and disrespect shown to menial workers (fast food staff, delivery drivers, shop attendants), like real hostility and meanness towards them like they are just scum. I've virtually never seen this in the UK or Western Europe.
There's a reason for that grimble. Look up a video made by knowing better about the end of slavery and I think you'll understand that mentality a lot better.
As a European I think it's because your job has way less an effect on HOW you live. My parents were a teacher and simple nurse. They lived a few houses away from 2 doctors. Those of course earned more and they placed a pool at one point. Talking long time ago. But other than that there wasn't really a difference. In the US on the other hand people with different incomes tend to move to different places. If you earn enough to go live in a place that would allow your coming child to go to a better school...you do... That's not really a thing here. A baker lives next to a lawyer lives next to a firefighter, etc. That's not to say that wealthier people can't go and live among other wealthy people but there is less of a motivation too. My grandparents lived in the same place for 60 years. Both while they were struggling and while they were incredibly wealthy later on.
Yeah, in the US, we (collectively, baked into the culture) *HATE* the poor. It begins very early and it is fierce. From the way an elementary school kid will be brutally embarrassed by a teacher for having “Lunch Debt” to the way children are told, “don’t look at the filthy homeless man”, it’s not just a mild distaste. America teaches it’s children to *HATE* anyone in poverty. It keeps the precarious working hard because everyone is made to fear what might happen.
The way they treat menial workers in UK is terrible, truck drivers deficate in rest aeras no toilets, France has toilets at all rest aeras, minimum wage workers having to be subsidised by the state, Zero hours contracts prolific, Amazon treating workers like animals in UK, still safety net far better in UK, than US The pension in UK is worst in the developed world, the class system in UK is same as it was 30 years ago, students enter university from all corners of UK with individual accents, come out sounding like Lord HA HA class system at its worst in university's
When you see all the US medical TV dramas that have been shown all round the world, including the UK, from Doctor Kildare to ER and House and everything in between, it's funny that you never seem to see the cash register or credit card machine in the corner of the doctor's office or operating theatre.
Well, I believe US hospitals have a law bound duty to attempt to save a patients life when they arrive (regardless of payment). What they do not have, is a law bound duty to keep the patient alive to the best of their ability. They can kick you out on to the street, if you can't pay for treatment or aren't insured. And they can still send you a bill for life saving treatment that has already been given.
The show ends once the patient has been treated. What they don't show is the financial aftermath during their recovery from the moment they're discharged. That would be a very good episode on any medical drama. Forget the life and death situation. Money worries do lead to stress and ohh dear likely health issues that stem from it too. When faced with a five digit bill do you offer $50 a month for the rest of your life and hope they accept? If there's $20 at the end of the week should you give that up because the co-pay amount is too high, or the medication you were given isn't covered by the insurance company? Or the doctor available wasn't pre-approved by the insurance company that takes their money from your account on a regular basis? It's a messed up system and Americans should be demanding far far better, but it is ignorance as they don't know any better. It's Nationalism Brainwashing as they don't see the benefits of tax payer funded social programmes. While there's always some issues with those programmes, individuals usually don't die nor go bankrupt because of them in civilised countries.
Can confirm - Been living here for a year and this is so true! Even with good insurance you have a sizeable medical bill at the end… it’s friggin crazy! It’s a shame, I’ve dreamed of living here ever since being a kid in the 80’s, now that I’ve experienced it, I’m not sure I want to stay here.
Think about the show "Breaking bad". The whole idea of a teacher becomming a drug lord because he can not afford treatment for his cancer would just not work in the rest of the western world. Why? Because he would go to his doctor and getting everything he need to survive for free.
I live in a Nordic country. I got disabled ~10 years ago. It took 2 years of care to recover, plus 3 years to get a new education. I got paid 80% of what I earned before for the whole time. I've been working ever since. I'll never complain about my tax rate because of the care I received. Had I not received the care and financial support.. I would've never recovered and become a productive member of the society again.. something to think about.
Which is the result here in 'Murikkka. The truth is that Americans don't care about Americans. This is not a country, it is a corporation. We don't even have a facade of a society, community, anymore. (Excepting the fascist theology uprising in progress.) There is absolutely nothing here left for those that didn't win the birth lottery into general wealth and the so-called middle class doesn't really even exist already. Nobody cares about anybody but themselves and their material shit. Despite the mountain of bona fide evidence that neoliberalism "trickle down" doesn't work, is destroying us and everything else, we now have that fascist theocracy base shoving a permanent installment of it (by the The Heritage Foundation again that was responsible for these past 43 retched years of it). We're done. Nobody in the bottom 90% really wants to do any of this shit anymore especially the bottom 10-20% that aren't even afforded the opportunity to play this sick little game of chasing the plastic carrot. (Those of us that are on literally pocket change). Then there's that not really existing middle class that, yes, gets pinched in-between. Because this system is purposely designed to make us resent, and to be perpetually infighting, each other. Because it has been purposely designed to disadvantage the majority of people. Problems, incumbent of poverty, of being barely able to sustain basic standards of living, are very profitable and the generation of infinite profits for shareholders IS all that matters in this damned country under neoliberalism. It was purposely designed to be unsustainable. We now have legions of disenfranchised under-40s since 2007 because we weren't afforded the opportunity to climb a rung up the social mobility ladder because that doesn't exist here anymore. And still we have the Boomers, pro neoliberalism, in charge. Whom benefitted off of it. Against the now roughly equal disenfranchised that can't actually subsist within the system they had made. There's no give from them and we're giving up. There's barely any hope left of change that would benefit the majority instead of only the minority at the top.
When my goddaughter moved to the US she got a job in HR with a sizeable company. She was asked what they would need to change about working practices to open up in UK/Europe. Her answer of everything didn't go down well. Her written report cancelled their plans.
What are you on? Everyone is up in arms. They only thought they could get away with it because the ships are not registered here, so as to not come under our law.
The reason this has been allowed to happen is because Americans are not taught the difference between socialism and communism. Americans are frightened that if they start looking after their citizens they will be on the slippery slope to communism, and that's simply not true. All countries have some degree of social welfare including the USA but the problem is for the richest country in the world its just not enough.
You're talking about social democracy, not socialism. Socialism is the transitional state that Communists can't get past before they break up the state into self governing soviet councils.
I would say money in politics is the root cause, because politicians don't need to do what voters want anymore. Which was initiated by the Lewis Powell Memo in 1971
Not only are they not taught about social democracy, but they are taught against it by their political elite especially the GOP who in turn is funded by large corporations. It's all about money
Funniest part is many American people call Bernie Sanders a “radical” for simply fighting for these same social standards for the American people 🤦♂️ (plus the same healthcare and education social standards that we have too)
You don’t think the guy who shilled for the Soviet Union isn’t radical? Wow! And let’s talk about him no longer calling out millionaires ever since he became one.
@@CynicalGear He didn’t “shill” for the Soviet Union. He literally said they had some good programs, specifically public housing and transportation, that the US could learn from to improve their own systems. Facts matter, and when your only way to counteract a logical point is to deflect and attack the person and falsely label them a “shill”, it only serves to highlight how desperate you are to make up something to deflect because you aren’t able to logically rebuke the substance of the point. Either that’s because there is no logical rebuttal OR you’re too inept to be able to formulate one. In this case it seems to be both.
@@joshkleine21fact he had his honey moon there and then the next year he went to Cuba who was also a communist country. and then praised them as well. A lot of people that actually live in those countries would disagree with what he said. Here is a quote for you. "When I lived in the Soviet Union, everything was falling apart," Anna Borshchevskaya, a senior fellow at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, told the Washington Examiner in 2019. "People don't realize how many people Stalin killed by building the Moscow subway station. Sure, the trains worked, but that other factor is dismissed. I have no doubt Bernie was sincere in what he said, but there was a whole disregard for life and safety in every aspect of Soviet life, including infrastructure." Also Sanders’ history with communism, socialism and Marxism has roots in his youth. In 1963 when he was a college student, Sanders was the guest of a Marxist youth movement founded by communist Ya’akov Hazan. In the ‘70s he helped found the socialist Liberty Union Party in Vermont. By 1972 he said he didn’t "mind people calling me a communist." And in 1985, he also made a trip to Nicaragua and called Marxist Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega "an impressive guy." your very gullible to think he is not a socialist.
Stopped video early on to get my thoughts out. McD's / KFC or where ever workers, work bloody hard. It's a job that I'd not like to do. It is a fast paced chore and dealing with the general public who can be down right rude and obnoxious. I also feel for the humble bus driver, a day of road rage, noisy children and people who are intoxicated etc. I'm gonna stop before this turns into a rant...
I was shocked when you said that working construction you were earning $9 per hour. The average construction worker in Australia earns $49 per hour, with entry-level positions start at $68,250 per year, while most experienced workers make up to $150,000 per year. So you're earning in construction about the same per hour as a worker at McDonalds. Wow.
Yeah, plumbers here are salaried around $50/hour basis pay. There's a shortage of them at the moment. A trained plumber here is regarded 'as educated' as someone with a technical degree or a bachelor from a University.
Australia has a much higher cost of living compared to the US though. Jobs in Australia are far more limited. Most of Australia is uninhabitable waste, and the recent floods have destroyed many areas. I do think Australia is a fine place, but it's not as great as you think.
@@Lemonboy132 Yeah people tend to forget that fact. Also cars and fuel are extremely cheap in the US compared for example to Europe (of course that is not necessary a good thing if you think about the enviroment and European countries are largely more advanced in creating enviroment friendly solutions)
24:55 Even that is not an argument. 70% of people in the EU own their own home. In the USA, that homeowner rate is only 65%. In Belgium where i live, homeownership rates are 72-73% consistently. And we have some of the highest tax rates in the world. Even with the capped workweek, paid vacation days, and higher taxes, people "own things" in the rest of the developed world...
When someone says "you're not supposed to survive on minimum wage", I've always wanted to know what the hell they though the "minimum" referred to. Their IQ maybe?
@@LoveCats9220You're not. You were supposed to have been born to winners with some general wealth willing to buy you your seat at the winners table like them. Never mind the fact that the social contract we'd had from The New Deal allowed born losers to work up to the consolation winners table prior to 1980s neoliberalism, which is the actual problem here but never mind that because we're not supposed to discuss that putrid elephant in the room. Nor the entire industries and nearly all of the subsistable jobs it offshored leaving not much else beyond poverty jerbs there aren't enough of to go around anymore in this delightfully horrific consumer based ponzi scheme we're forced to exist (not live!) within the constraints of.
I vwas born in the USA because my parents went to grad school there. They had had a great time, but as soon as i was born they decided to go back to Denmark. The us was fine as long as they were young and free, but to raise a family withall the responsibility that follows just seemed insane.
I'm lucky, as I live in Jersey in the Channel Islands. sure, it is not a cheap place to live, but even the unemployed have a roof over their heads and food in their belly. which is something every human on this planet should be entitled too.
@@naycnay I'm not "stuck on the rock". I chose to live here. I have lived in the UK and in France. you cant feel any safer than being in Jersey. the benefits are worth the price.
@@jeanlongsden1696 It's an old Jersey phrase that gets thrown around! Agreed, Jersey is very safe and if you aren't financially drowning, incredibly comfortable to exist in.
Paid for with fees on black money and tax evading schemes in other countries. Lovely people, lived on Guernsey for a while, but let's be honest here: The British Channel Islands are parasitic countries.
My dad said that he thought America was a begging bowl, purely because in most parts of the world people mainly pay what the asking price is, in America they don't count tax until you get to the tills, also the fact that if you don't tip in America then the employee doesn't get much to any pay, in other places the company pays their employees
You commented that workers in countries with good maternity leave must be really loyal to their companies. Well, no, that's the point! Any other job will give you the same. It's a right not a benefit, so there's nothing special to "thank" the employer for. They're just doing their social duty, not doing you a favour.
In the netherlands maternity leave is payed by the goverment...........the goverment pays the employer and he pays you. So it is not a burden for the employer.
@@Hansen710 no it's the fucking law, trust me if that law was lifted it'd be shorter and shorter parental leave etc sooner than you'd ever dare think. Companies here don't give a fuck about you more than the US, they just aren't legally allowed to abuse us as badly.
@@Oi.... It wasn't even that long ago they did work people to death in Europe. Child labor was also common. And now they are hellbent on undoing all that was achieved by the social moments of the late 1800's and early 1900's. Despicable.
The problem here with US capitalism is that people forget that all of those countries in Europe and even most of the world are also capitalist countries. It is just that they don't see that capitalism should be against humans.
It makes me feel so bad for Americans. How can people still say it's the greatest nation in the world? Is it merely pure ignorance of how things are in the rest of the world?
@@Lemonboy132 Yeah...I have seen many of your comments under this video. You don't bring up evidence for your points at all. Just the debate with the one guy from australia already showed your flaws. So don't act all big here.
@@SardonicSoul all your research and you're still wrong. I only state the obvious because I watch a lot of news networks and I am more knowledgeable than you.
@@Lemonboy132 No, you're only stating the propaganda, from your home media. But seeing, that you admitted to watch mostly news network, it's no wonder that you lack in outside america knowledge and perspectives. Alone that you had to ask the guy _What inventions came from australia?_ proved, how low you had to go.
A few years ago I'd have never believed America was like this. But since then watching videos like this one, and having a cousin move out there, I'm shocked how badly Americans have it. From working conditions all the way up to retirement. Practically no paid holidays, no "free" healthcare, and probably the worst of the lot, pensions. My cousin works in a restaurant, and tells me they just keep on working to old age. No retirement age and no state pension. Shocking.
In EU we have laws against working too much. Every employee is required to rest at least 11 hours between working days (so if you worked to 8pm, you can't arrive at work before 7am). And 36h rest per week (for weekends). This came about to stop the rampant insane hours that the truck drivers were doing, but they extended this law to everyone.
When a country relies on the obscenely rich to keep it's politicians of whatever colour, in power, you will never get fair treatment of the general population. When a politician accepts large donations for their campaigns from such companies, they will always be beholden to the wishes of those companies. The U.S. needs laws that limit the amount of political donation that candidates can receive.
Actually, we've done the opposite. With our Supreme Court's Citizens United decision, it essentially gave the spending of money similar rights and protections as freedom of speech. So now corporations have nearly unfettered access to spending money to help elect politicians, and of course those politicians will be inevitably beholden to those corporate interests.
Exactly. It should be straight up illegal for any company to donate any amount of money to any political organization or effort. Corporations are NOT people and should have no say in any political matter. ALL political positions should have term limits. Politicians should never have been allowed to sit in office for 40-50+ years getting rich off of our taxes while we slave away and can barely scrape by. Many of those politicians have never done anything else. They should also only get payed what the average income in their constituency is, at best. And get just as few days of absence as the rest of us do. Watch how fast things change then.
Australia. Im currently on 10 weeks paid leave (accrued recreation leave - we get 4 weeks per year). Here we get Leave Loading, which is an extra 17.5% pay when you take recreation leave. While superannuation is compulsory, employers are required to match contributions - tou can elect to put more towards it above the standard amount and employes match that.
Don't forget Long Service Leave too. Best Aussie invention ever! Long Service leave is given to every employee who remains with a company, or government service for 7 years or more. You can bank it, have it paid out, or use it how you wish. It's paid leave on top of annual leave. And I bloody love it.
You can thank the shiftworkers of Oz for that loading. It was awarded to them originally to make up for the penalty rates / allowances they did not receive while on annual leave (flat salary only). The politicians decided it was a lovely idea and awarded it to themselves which meant the general workforce got "money for nothing".
Your last sentence was really interesting to me. In my eyes America was founded as a "Republic of the People, by the People, for the People (John L. Haney)" and developed into a "Republic of the Companys, by the Companys, for the Companys" That's one reason why the biggest and wealthiest companys of the world are all American. Sadly Americans don't profit from it, because your companys barely pay any taxes and often don't even bother to care for their own employees. Really interesting video. Greetings form Germany.
Also take note of how the two big parties of US governance are ALWAYS in bed with big money. They can rant and preach and scream all they want but, in the end, actions speak louder than words. Regardless if a Republican or Democrat is in office, nothing ever really changes. Not for the better of the average US citizen, anyway. Because, in the end, it's always going to be the politicians pleasing the guys who contribute to their campaign funds. And big money organizations and individuals supporting politicians who will legislate and rule in their favor. It's a great big circle jerk but, We The People are the ones getting screwed. From both ends.
Hi from UK….your reaction to this excellent video was sadly no surprise….. I’ve just been watching a documentary on the homeless in L.A, all I could see was a refugee camp full of decent people whose dream had become a nightmare…you and your family, keep safe and well, love from little old Blighty ❤
People who lay pipes, be it for water. electrics or sewage are essential to citizens' well being. Likewise for 'garbage' collectors. No-one should be disrespected for doing such work. I don't know if you've seen this YT vid 'David Cross: Why America Sucks at Everything'. I'm in the UK and I think it's just very sad
In some Asian cultures, jobs such as garbage collectors are extended courtesy and respect, because they are willing to perform tasks that others don't WANT to do.
I realise, as a Brit, the UK is a sort of sweet-spot nation when it looking at balance of wealth/population/health and care systems. We can be envious of some smaller, wealthier (per head of population) European countries who seem to have it good in that regard...but I think, if the U.S. people ever wanted an all-in 'caring' system, then it would need to be a state-by-state system as the population is too large. It would be a great experiment to see one state adopt a public health/welfare system...and fuck it...zero guns policy :-))
man you won't have any time to do your hobbies with that much work. i'm french so a total slacker and i don't have enough time to do all my hobby and activities ( sport, reading, music, going out with friend etc) with 30h of work.
I'm English, from manchester. The industrial revolution literally started here and we are known for being industrious and hardworking... but there is NO WAY I'd ever work a 70hr week. Not in a million years. 👌 40 hrs is my limit. And I don't see why anyone would NEED more than that... leave some money for other people to earn. 👍 think the main difference is socialism. Americans are TERRIFIED of socialism thanks to their cold War propaganda confusing them into thinking socialism and communism is the same lol.
I don't usually enjoy react channels but you're so well informed about the topics you watch, it's really interesting to listen to. Definitely a cut above the rest!
I once saw an englishman explain the time after the 2. ww. "If we can afford war, we sure as hell can afford healthcare". England didn't have national health care prior to ww2 apparently. Good on them.
I'm from South Africa. I'm with my current employer for 23,5 years, working 8 hrs a week. We get 24 working days paid leave (almost 5 weeks), 80 sick days every 3 years, 5 days compassionate/family responsibility leave, and mothers get 3 months maternity leave and daddies get 5 days paternity leave. We have medical aid where the employer pays 60% of the premium, and have a good pension benefit, where employer contribute an equivalent of 22% of gross salary and employees 7,5% of gross pay towards pension fund per month. Thus, a total equivalent of 29,5% of gross pay is contributed towards pension fund.
Not an American but an Indian here. Moving to France changed me. I always knew things were difficult in India, ofcourse..and somewhat understandably so and I couldn't possibly compare India to any place in Europe. However, it was still shocking to me to find out that a "low wage worker" in France gets paid at MINIMUM what a college graduate who's graduated from a prestigious university could only hope get freshly recruited to an MNC. Mind-blowing! With my 3 degrees there's no way I'm ever going back to India! So to think that another "well off" country like America is closer to India than it is to European countries is shocking to me.
When someone has to constantly assert something like: It's a free market, we are a free people, I respect women, you can trust me, etc. that usually points towards it being the opposite.
They were my thoughts too. I've mostly worked in accounts all my working life. I'd be useless in McDonald's, or any similar outlet. I just wouldn't be able to hack it. 🙄
Thank you for recognising that "low skill" isn't. Serving customers requires social skills. Using a checkout is a skill. Using a tool, or machinery is a skill. Even cleaning is a skill. I've had to teach people how to wash dishes, how to use a washing machine, how to mop a floor, even how to properly answer a phone. Everything we are capable of doing is a skill, and no matter how simple a skill may seem to be, there's a good chance that someone out there is better at it.
The US tipping culture is buisness using customers to subsidize paying their staff properly themselves. People do tip in the UK and Europe for a job well done, but not for just doing your job like the US. Also the disdain shown to fast food and serving staff by my US colleagues was a shock to me when I worked there.
We don’t tip in Denmark for anything. We would get pissed if people didn’t get paid enough to be shown appreciation by their employers. A MdC worker works their asses of but no one would dream of tipping them as we expect them to be paid properly.
Ok, I don't disagree with your comment but.. I gotta point out, why did you type "UK & Europe" as if they are completely separate?? The UK is European. Cuz it's *in* Europe. This is like saying "This thing happens in China & Asia." Just say "People do tip in Europe". Sorry for this. I just think the way typed that out was really weird.
In Australia, I had a 10 hour operation and 7 weeks in hospital, Chemo for 5 months and it cost me nothing.... My meds got put on the PBS system which cost me $40per month. Apparently these (my dosage) tablets from Astra Zeneca cost $7,000 per month in the USA.....
I've worked for two different companies (in England) and the best/last one was: - 37.5hrs a week, 34 days holiday + bank holidays. Anything over was time and a half, or double time for Sundays/bank holidays. It also had flexi-time, so if you wanted to arrive early you could leave early, or arrive late and leave late, or work extra/less one day and work extra/less another day. - You could also choose to work more hours and take an extra day off a month if you wanted to, or if agreed by your manager you could stack those extra days and take up to a week off a month as long as you'd worked your hours. - The pension scheme was great, the company would match up to 25% of what you added to your pension every month from your wages no matter what your salary was. You could also buy shares in the company on the cheap. - They also gave you about £2,000 ($2,617.17) a year for training/college courses of your choice, as long as they were related to your job/a different position in the company you wanted to work in eventually. You could do the training/courses one day a week instead of actually working and you still got paid as if you'd worked your hours. It could go up to £5,000 ($6,543.64) a year depending on how long you'd worked there. - The company also provided insurance if you had to take an extended period of time off due to ill health so you could still earn the same amount per month to pay your bills etc. Why am I not still working there when it was so good? An American company bought it and made sweeping changes, so it was either accept the new employment contract and reduction in various benefits, or be made redundant and they'd give you a payoff for X amount depending on your salary and how many years service you had there. I took the latter and had a fantastic year or so of not doing any work and just having a damn good time. In hindsight I should've saved some of the money, but I was in my late 20's at the time! lol (sadly the company, which was founded in the 1800's, is no more) Healthcare is not an issue in the UK due to the NHS so no-one's ever looking for that to be part of their contract, but if private healthcare is part of it then that's just a bonus. Plus medication costs are only £9.35 ($12.24) per item in England. (they're free in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland)
And as I am sure you're aware, American insurance companies (with the help of the govt.) have been working aggressively to get the British govt. to move the NHS toward a more privatized model. They are running out of people to extract value from here, and so they have to go looking elsewhere. I have been lucky enough to have jobs in the U.S. with some of the benefits you mentioned, but never a job with all of them. For the low-wage worker here, it's essentially 'work every second we tell you to, or go die in a ditch somewhere'.
@@dmwalker24 This nonsense about the NHS, if they wanted to convert it to a private system they would have done so, it's political crap like that which keeps excusing the NHS for the failings that it does have, I am all in favour of the NHS but having worked some time within it, it is a crazy resource management system that wastes so much and is monolithically inefficient, it needs reform but as soon as this is raised the left go straight to the "Privatisation" alarm and we are left with this mess. Just a foot note, the NHS in Scotland and Wales are both run by devolved left wing governments who by any metric are failing massively to run services and are way behind NHS England.
@@dmwalker24 people really didn't see the potential of brexit to move the UK towards the American system. It was the EU that pushed for a lot of these work/life balances. Now the UK is free from that, the UK Government can be as corrupt as they want.
@@dmwalker24 no politician in the uk would ever dare to fully privatise the NHS and switch to US system they would be out of government in seconds there party would never get elected again it would destroy them not that such a bill would ever get threw parliament
@@spaceycakey1987 Certainly in one act. I would just say, whether or not they would, there are American executives desperate to get them to try, and also always beware of policy creep.
Im a boiler maker i make 35 aussie dollars an hour , ive had Americans rage at me call me 'unskilled' and say im 'overpaid' . I chuckle at them , it takes skill to read a plan , cut the metal , roll it into shape and then weld a pressure vessel so that it doesn't explode the first time someone pressurise it . I also get 16 public holidays a year plus 4 weeks leave with a 17% leave loading .
Living in NZ my wife and I own a home reno / restoration business. Prior to our first 10-week lockdown we were a company of ten. As work started becoming more than a trickle (then a damned flood), we had to employ more. Another five. One of them was one of those so-called 'unskilled' workers. He's been with us for 18, almost 19 months now. He's already one of our better people due to the fact of the mindset / skillset he developed from a 'mere' three years at MacD's. At current rate, he'll be a team lead before long.
New Zealands cost of living is outrageously high, job opportunities are lacking, and houses are a fortune. The progressive politics are the main good thing about NZ.
The biggest lie ever told to the American people is that they are free and treated equally.... Look how well that's going but I can't say too much as UK is in a pretty dire situation
its a global issue. politicians care about holding power not delivering results. I've worked with all sorts of nationalities, none of them are impressed with their nations leadership....
@@Lemonboy132 at least our kids can go to school safe in the knowledge no-one will be shooting them, at least our police force don't shoot people before asking questions, at least we are not the fattest country on the earth, at least we don't want to have a war every few years, at least we don't assassinate our leaders, at least the UK can actually change our laws to be fitting with the times, I could go on forever with this but yeah the UK has no ground to stand on at all
Wise comments, and I just need to ad, as to the fear of socialism: my country, Sweden, is capitalistic. With a free market, some many think too much so, for instance we have lots of private schools owned by venture capitalists, but still all education is free payed by taxes. With free choice of school. We have the second highest number of billionaires in the world per capita. Low corporate taxes. One of the highest rates of enterprises per capita, since the Wellfare system allow you to take a chance on your dream. With affordable healthcare, free education all the way and support if you loose your job. Something’s working when you add up, right?
This biggest issue is as you said a different mindset. In the USthings like paid holiday, sick pay, maternal/parental leave are seen as benefits. In all other countries n Europe and most of the world there are minimum 'rights' and backed by law. They will differ from company to company but are in all aspects way above what is offered in the US.
Americans live in a big bubble and believe everything they are taught from childhood onwards about how fantastic America is and how lucky they are to be Americans. Brainwashing is a very powerful tool. It is great to see some Americans having a glimpse outside America and see just how other Countries workers are treated. Keep learning Beard, there is a whole lot more to learn yet and don't even try and compare the American health system to other Countries as that will really blow your mind. Great reactions. Take Care. 👍
It is also the mindset. The term "hard working guy" that is something very positive in the US. It is not a negative thing in Europe, it is just not something that most people care about or strive for. People strive to do things they like, not work their asses off. Generally speaking, there are some workaholics here too. But i know more than a handful of people who always or for a period of time have decided to only work part time to have more time for other things in their lives or because they are ok with a little less money and more free time. And that is not really looked down upon. And on the other hand, americans don't want handouts. Well, why not? The government is not giving out free stuff, it is giving out stuff that was payed for by tax payers, including you. Thats why a lot of europeans have less issue with paying taxes, they get something in return and thats just how things are. They don't feel like they are being robbed or that they might be freeloaders. I mean in general, i think every european could name a lot of taxes that are not ok the way they are, but most are not against taxes in general.
That is truly hilarious as if Europeans live in some highly informed society, the groupthink in Europe is massive the most brainwashed people in the world are European and Scandinavians. America has zero to learn from Europe, Europe is in a terminal demographic death spiral it has made large swathes of its population into welfare recipients while importing even more welfare recipients from the third world. But they do love to pretend they are better than those greedy Americans, thankfully America is still a vibrant society where most of the advances we see in the world come from. Europe is going no where and has no future.
What's insane is that plenty of Americans can SEE the benefits people get in other countries because those people are sometimes our coworkers working on the same exact projects! It's complete bullshit to see how differently people get treated working in a single company, on a single project, on calls daily with each other. Because the parent company doesn't have to provide the same kind of vacation, holidays, parental leave, etc. in each country, they don't. So I work side by side with people that get more holidays just because they are in another country. Recently we were told to rejoice because the company has decided to offer 8 week maternity benefits for ppl in the US. The employees on our same team in India get 6 months.
Things have changed a fair bit now. But Bob Menzies, Australian Prime Minister from 1949 to 1966, was a conservative who had a national referendum to try and have the communist party banned, allowed the British to test nuclear weapons in Australia, and sent troops to Vietnam to support America. He said "I don't worry about the rich.The rich can look after themselves, I will focus on the centre". So he kept the wealth tax high. He also said " If every working man has a chance to own their own home they won't become a communist". And by the time he had retired home ownership had risen from 1/4 to 3/4 of the population
Instead a fair number of Australians have become Nazis instead. Seriously, the rise of Christian fundamentalism and the far right in Australia, a country that has had a problem with racism since its founding, terrifies me.
@@jackdubz4247 it seems like across the world politicians are no longer interested in chasing the centre vote . only interested in their increasingly extreme support base
@@jackdubz4247 Australia is nearly 55% atheist as of 2023 and not following a religion as they used to do is going to fall futher, there are a FEW NAZIS here but the Facist Left are also absurd
It always feels to me, viewing from the UK, that American optimism causes the reluctance Alan mentions to finding out that the US isn't the best in each category.
In Finland it's not just that you get parental leave but new mother gets baby box which has clothes, nappies and other newborn necessities and box itself can be used as bed for baby early on before you get proper one.
Just a parentesis, that probably have been mentioned earlier: 52 weeks paid maternity-leave are counted in days. So at least in Sweden, you are in charge of how you dispose those days. You can spread it out for 12 years. (At least when I had my kids 20 years ago.) Cheers from Italy!
People are born with a built in skill. I'm a musician who learned to play guitar at the age of 4. I never had lessons but can play 7 different instruments. This is my natural talent and should therefore be my occupation. Don't ask me to do maths or even be able to organize my life. People should be given the opportunity to make their living at what they're naturally good at instead of struggling to do a job that would better suit someone else.
We'll put coot couldn't agree more I am a tiler my maths is good just because I use it day in day out my English grammar is crap I've had people try and make you feel stupid on quota because of it were all good at dif things that's just life
I'll be 60 in June and despite spending most of my life in rock bands playing some pretty substantial gigs & doing studio work with some famous names I've never been able to earn a stable living from music & had to work mundane jobs which I dreaded going to. The music business is a fickle thing & out of millions of excellent musicians in the UK alone so few get to do what they were born to do.
as a french we work usually 35/39hours a week (max) or you have to be compensated with money and you can say no if you don't want to, you can't be fired for that (some exceptions can be made but you are aware of it and sign for that possibility), you have full coverage for healthcare (even for worker with part-time job), and lots of paid vacations. For me the condition of the US workers are so backward it's saddens me.
Great video. I am British but have visited America many times. I have met some great people there. Love visiting but would hate to live there. Having a social conscience is not the same as being a communist. Modern slavery is alive and well, living in the home of the free and the land of the brave. Do hope that your channel gains traction with actual Americans rather than preaching to us converted. Good luck with your mission.
I’m living in CA right now. I dreamed of living here ever since I was a kid. I’ve seen homelessness living in the UK but I’ve never seen it as bad as out here! People literally shouting at themselves in the streets, people raking through bins to collect recycling to get paid by the recycling centres. So much rubbish being blown around the streets. I will NEVER slag off the NHS ever again!! - I’ve had medical appointments here, anything you can complain about the NHS is the exact same or worse over here - the major difference is when your treatment is done you get a medical bill at the end regardless of what insurance you have, it only changes the amount you have to pay at the end! (Think of the UK’s pet insurance companies, except instead of £100’s it could be $1000’s you have to pay each time). I’ve had to goto ER twice and the waiting times were exactly the same as in the UK - 3 hours both times! So that’s on par with the NHS, BUT you don’t have the pleasure of signing a declaration saying that if the insurance doesn’t pay, then you are responsible for the full amount after your appointment in the UK!
It should be noted that despite what a lot of Americans think the Scandinavian countries are not socialist states. They're actually capitalist countries with private enterprise. It's just that they govern as social democracies where the citizens welfare and the social fabric is considered as a high priority.
I had a baby a few years ago I had a lot of complications so I had to stop working when I was 4mth pregnant, I got paid my full wage for the 5mths I was off sick, then once I had the baby my maternity pay kicked in so I had 1 year off paid, when I returned I had accrued my PTO while I was off which is 28 day a year so I had 60 days to use and I was able to work part time for the rest of that year and be paid my full time wage, I can't begin to imagine what it would be like to not have all of that support there for us. 🇬🇧
I'm amazed anyone in the US can afford to have children. It costs a fortune just to give birth. Then you either have to give up working to look after them, or pay for childcare.
Plenty of people aren't having kids in the US because the lack of support. During pregnancy, throughout birth and once the child is born support is lacking. We don't have huge extended families to rely on that live nearby. We have huge college debts or daily living debts, housing can be expensive and out of reach very easily when you are single or have any dependents, don't have a stable job or don't have a good paying full time job. Insurance and other benefits are tied to employers or through limited relationships like marriage (when people are getting married later and less of the population is married.) People can't afford childcare. Even once kids can start school, schools still have summers and short days and more holidays and vacation than any adult ever gets from a job. Unmarried people without kids don't get legal allowances for nieces, nephews, god children or other unofficial extended family, but parents need that help, even in 2 parent households where it's not uncommon for both parents to HAVE to work. And then we wonder why people are so stressed? Eating badly and dealing with health issues? Not getting enough exercise? It's pretty much how the US has designed it. Humans are just another disposable, replaceable element in a business plan.
@@melissaf5262 a few years ago I wouldn't have believed how the US is. All you heard about (by Americans) was how great the country is and their freedoms. Tbh they don't have it that great at all, pretty bad in fact. I still haven't worked out the freedoms part lol.
One of the reason why the minimum pay is 22$ in Denmark is because the unions have negoatiated the minimum wage with the employers. We also have free healthcare, but the tax is 39%, which also covers health care, so we don't need private Healthinsurrence. you can choose to have it, but it's a free choice.
You guys need to call a day for a general strike where every worker not happy with conditions takes the day off so the bosses find out how much they lose with no workers
Don’t mind the pausing if you have stuff to add or comment on, which you do, so all the better, that’s why we watch commentary channels. Keep it up man 👍🏼
I am a dane, and I do believe that one the main reasons for the difference is how strong worker unions are in the different Countries. One of the things I hear from companies in Denmark is that, they prefer you to be less at work (compared to other countries), but when you are at work you are there 100%. So in Denmark the philosophy of most companies is if your base (home) is working you are more focused while you at work, and it reduces blunders, and blunders can be quite expensive no matter if you are a blue collar worker or a office guy. And if you are happy at your work you will not start looking for another job. No matter what the Company tells you, it is expensive to replace an employee and even worse do you leave for a competitor and bringing your knowledge with you. 1. You loose experience, both work experience (how many years you have done the job), and how long time you have been at the Company, each Company does things differently. You might have some courses the new guy doesn't. 2. You need someone new, the new guy, does he have your work ethics (be on time, etc.), does he "click" with his co-workers, or does the chemistry not work. etc. And it takes time to get people interviewed for the job (read the applications, 2-3 people at the interview, etc.). 3. And if you get a new guy that is what you hoped for (and not just a guy faking it at the interview), it still takes time for that person to get up to speed and "how its done around here". I don't understand why we don't talk about our wages more with our co-workers, the only ones that benefits from us being quiet is the Company, don't get me wrong, I wouldn't talk to strangers on the internet about my salary either, but your co-workers I would, you would be surprised how many people who are doing the same job, gets paid differently. Often when a company don't have so much to do, like seasonal work, we start sending some of our employees on courses, to gain new skills or improve those skills we already have so we are ready when there are plenty to do. In Denmark we can never compete with places like China when it comes to Salaries so we have to compete on knowledge, stability and quality. Oh yeah I hate when the rich say we are in this boat together, no we are not, I'm in my little row-boat, and you are on a cruise ship, we might be in the same Ocean but the experience of this storm will be different. Greetings from Denmark
True about the strong workers unions. We just need to make that clear to the younger generations who has no idea what value there is in being unionized. We also need to talk more about our paychecks. It’s a valuable tool for negotiations when we’re negotiating collective bargains in private sector jobs. Secrecy only benefits the employers. The public sector is much more transparent in showing wages at the taxpayers is paying for their jobs.
True, Americans are controlled easily by buzzwords. You don't want to be a "communist" by advocating universal Healthcare. Last time I checked, Germany (where I come from) is far from being communist.
The role of government should be to take care of the citizens it represents, not to exploit them and be the "neglectful parent". As much as I could fault the UD on that, it is also slowly creeping into other countries, like here in Australia. Governments want to attract business, give them incentives and tax breaks, slacken regulations, etc. In the end they reduce unemployment which looks good on their books, and companies generally walk away paying no taxes, and over working staff.
The tax breaks are what piss me off. They give them to large corporations but the small mom and pop shops, and other independent businesses don't get the same breaks and it kills them more times than not having to pay what the corporations don't.
@@TheEclecticBeard It's basically socialism for Big Corporations in the US (I'm an European but I follow US news because the Political circus there somehow affects my life in some way. An anecdote on the side: Ask an American to criticize Socialism and he will describe Capitalism.
Nothing wrong with working at Maccy D's. Here in the UK it doesn't have a negative connotation. You meet a girl in a pub, she says she's a Maccy D employee then the next question out of your mouth is, cool, can you get me a discount? Also $21 billion... Wow that's a big number, right? WRONG. $21 Billion means that everyone on Earth spends about $3 each per year. But it's not $21 billion profit. It is $21 Billion taken at the checkout before the cost of produce, rent, wages, taxes. And don't forget that big big number is just $3 a year from every person on the planet. Obviously not everyone is able to buy a meal from Maccy D's. But, and I'm pretty certain on this, that if I was homeless without any cash and sitting under some boxes trying to keep warm I could still manage that $3 a year. lol Put me at the North-pole and I'll still find $3 a year. In all honesty I probably accidentally swallow more that $3 a year... Hahahaha
I’m a Brit who lived in the USA for 5 years. I take home the same money working 40-45 hours a week in the UK that I did in the USA working 60hrs+ after taxes, SS and pension contributions (UK only, no pension in USA) working the same kind of job (construction and property maintenance). Throw into that 32 days paid vacation in the UK, sick pay provisions, healthcare fully covered, 30hrs free childcare every week at any childminder/daycare I choose, compared with none of the above in the USA. Rent and food in the UK was cheaper (utilities a little higher in the UK, but not significantly so), no health insurance premiums or deductibles to pay, plus a far more generous social security net should something happen that reduces or removes my ability to work that would mean I could still maintain my family at least to a basic standard (as in house, food, utilities and healthcare covered). In the USA my family could barely sustain a household - we lived in an apartment that was too small for us and scraped by paycheck to paycheck. In the UK we have a more suitable sized apartment, my daughter attends a great daycare and preschool, and I can spend far more time with her going places etc, and still not only have the ability to start building up some savings, but am able to start working on a pension pot so I can realistically look to retire in the future. I loved my time in the USA, make no mistake - I had some great times, met some great people and enjoyed my work, but without a doubt I have a better standard of living back here in the UK
There it is again. "I love my country." I'm really starting to get fascinated by this statement, because it seems to me people from USA can't say anything critical about their country without amending with those four words.
If you don't you get shunned by the rest of the country and you are a traitor. It is called brainwashing, it really isn't exclusive to dictatorships. I mean they have some very shady practices that are normally asociated with places like facsist or communist countries. Just the flags everywhere, the freakin anthem at every oppertunity, kids pledging every day, the millitary whorshipping etc. I haven't heard our anthem in years i think. Flags only come out once a year. In school we are tought the horrible shit we used to do to people in other countries. And sure, we are notorious for being some of the most extreme supporters in international sporting events turning entire grand stands orange and bringing entire big bands along in order to play music and sing all freakin day. But that is in good fun and the pride of being very high achievers in a lot of things for such a small country, we are also the most critical citizens of our own government in the world. Being a politician here is hard. They get grilled and kicked out for smalles missbehaviour.
In my opinion you can’t love your country without being critical of what the flaws are and need improvement, because you actually care. How can anyone say that without giving a shit about all the horrible things that happen in their country? Saying ‘I love my country’ without any effort to make things better for each other is just an empty statement. But I’m not American so…
As a Nursing Aid in SC I got 8/hr in 2015. The hardest work physically, mentally and emotionally that I loved. I go independent and work in my hood for my neighbors.
You have a very interesting take on it all, and not wrong at all. Having friends all around the world I can safely say that almost all think that their country is the best. It seems though that in America people are more ready to be told, and believe, everyone thinks America is the greatest. Every country has its pluses and negatives. Some are worse than others, for sure. I agree, I don't just think it's because capitalism rules the US. But I do think in the US people are told they can have it all, the dream, so are reluctant to see the reality of what is going on. The majority of people, a very high majority, in all countries are only a few paychecks away from being homeless! But people still want that dream of having it all! Believe me, though the UK and I'm sure other countries are being fed the same illusions of dreams that they can have it all. Big business only makes money, big money, by exploitation of its workforce and avoiding taxes. Keeping everyone on that bottom run of the ladder. Take Amazon for instance. After making his first Five Billion ( enough to last plenty of lifetimes) They could have afforded to increased wages by at least 50% minimum, and still made huge profits. Instead, he was more interested in going into space! Should tell you all you need to know about the big business M.O. But while people all over the world are made to think that if they work hard enough then that could be them, the wheel will keep turning.
In Belgium, if you work in heavy industries e.g. machinery building, longer week (40h instead of 38h) means you get 20wd + 12wd (1 day per month) paid vacation + National Holidays. Oh, and transportation to/from work is paid for partially or in full by the company, depending if it's a car, train or bicycle.
Thank you very much for this great video! And thank you for beeing so open minded! Almost every American whines about The taxes. And I understand cause you do not get anything back / Return for your taxes. But we do! A lot! Education, healt care, mandatory vacations, parental leave for the father also. And for the Mother up To 3 YEARS (government Will compensate). And it creates a Job for somebody Else To have the opportunity To start or gather work experience To move on. And the tax money keeps coming. But there is no paradise, every system can do better. It is mostly the culture and attitude, like you said. Regards from Finland! "The happiest country In the world" for 5th time on a row! Stupid name "happiest"! Maybe: More satisfied people than Others or some think like that.
As a Swede i totally agree with everything you wrote. But it's really hard to explain to most Americans since they are so indoctrinated in to believing their own greatness.
It's the same here in the uk the minimum wage is less than the living wage If u put in ur 40 hours per week you should be able to cover rent tax food etc. But that's not the case (zero hour contracts is another story)
While the US is probably a good place to live I dont think it stacks up to a lot of places across europe and east asia in terms of public services and how workers are treated. People from the US like to believe that the US is the best at literally everything, even speaking english, but thats because they are either not educated on other countries or dont want to face reality and admit the truth that the US is not the best at everything, while it may do certain things very well, they are only best at throwing money at a problem and hoping it will fix it. Glad there are people like you that can educate themselves and see why the US could be better if certain systems were changed to be aimed at benefitting the public rather than private corporations.
A decade ago, I wanted to move to the states, I have a lot of friends over there and thought I'd be happier. In contrast now, I realise how good I have it as a UK citizen: better employee rights (eg: no at will employment, manditory holidays, better pay, paid sick days and dependancy leave), the NHS, taxes taken from my wage before I get it so I don't have to do anything at the end of the tax year (and get money back if they over taxed me), the price I see in shops is the price I pay. My fiancee is going to be moving over here now when we're ready to get married.
Not willful ignorance. It's willful mindset that everything has to lead to utter profit before all else and all else is that terrifying and always misunderstood word "socialism". Most Americans don't understand that word, they all think it means "communism". That's the bogey man that lives behind every Americans settee. Sigh! Slava Ukraine.
Great comparison, in lockdown in Uk you couldn't get a mcdonalds for about 9 months they was completely shut EVERYTHING to do with food cafes etc was shut. Only supermarket for food shopping, and not social places.
WOW, just wow, I just looked up tax rates in the USA vs Australia, where I live, expecting a major difference in how much tax we pay (that's the excuse I always hear about why we have Medicare and the USA does not) and the tax rate is similar, at least in Florida (i figured that would probably be a good middle ground) for $75k a year you pay about 20% on income tax, for $100k here ($75K USD) we pay about 23% income tax. that includes our health care, so we don't have to pay for health insurance. that also includes our welfare system where if you cannot find a job or are unable to work at all, you can get government payments.
You do understand Australia has a far higher cost of living. The houses are more expensive, the food is more expensive, everything is. Australia also lacks job opportunities compared to the US. And boy I hope you're not in the flood zone.
Here in Australia full-time workers receive (at least) four weeks paid vacation leave PLUS an extra 17.5% pay called 'leave loading'. We get paid extra to have holidays.
Also the quantative easing has basically been keeping capitalism on life support since 2008. You have socialism for the capital class and neo feudalism for everyone else.
the fact that in the United States there is no payment for parental leave. will make many workers all over the world heartbroken. because all countries even the poorest countries in Africa guarantee an average of 14 weeks with 100% paid parental leave. and developed countries in Europe have an average of 52 weeks of 100% paid parental leave.
Is it “wrong” to feel sorry for American peoples? I am sitting here, thinking of “my” work/life balance, safe in the knowledge that I can take a holiday and still be paid; that if I was be taken ill, I would have no fear of seeing a Doctor; calling an ambulance; not having to pay for any prescription medicines should I need them … that my Employer cannot “force” me to work overtime (just ask me nicely 😅) Why isn’t the American population up in arms about how and the way they are being regarded by the large Corps and those “running the country”? Now knowledge of how other countries operate and treat their populace is being gained through these”reaction” videos on YT, I am just surprised that the average American Joe & Joan Soap are just sitting back and accepting it - it’s unreal… so glad I live in good old England, for all its faults (and it has them 😉😖) I feel safe and secure… this lovely green and sceptred island - I thank you 😌
I know it seems crazy to us, but to Americans it's normal. It's the system they've been brought up with. From an early age they're told they live in the greatest nation on earth, with freedoms other countries don't have. Most simply don't question it.
@@101steel4 In schooling they pledge allegiance to a flag, thats the first step to indoctrination and the brainwashing of believing the lie that America is the best place on earth which in turn makes most Americans unwilling to learn about the outside world as they think they have it best and that no nation on the planet has it better. Most of their education revolves around the US and not the world. This is why 'They' think they have it best, and because of that, unwilling to learn about the rest of the world. "Wilful ignorance" is the correct term as the video says. 'We have it best' they will say, why need to learn about France or Germany or the UK? 'We have the freedom' They will say etc... yeah right! If only every single American was learned the truth, but their media and education stays US centric because of that lie they have been drip fed through their own education and media that the USA is the best country in the world when the rest of the world knows that it isnt!
Yep. I have money saved here in Belgium. I can lose my job for an entire year, get cancer, etc. and I'll be fine. Sure, I'll lose money but I'll be looked after, I won't become homeless, etc.
It seems stupid and crazy to us but Americans are practically programmed from birth to believe that they're the best at everything, that nothing can be as good as it is in America. It's the whole American Exceptionalism mindset, a mindset that the corporations exploit ruthlessly and completely. So glad I like you live here in the UK, at least we care about the welfare of our people unlike our callous cousins across the Altantic.
I seen a comment from someone saying they are so happy they don’t live in America..(they are from Kazakhstan) if that doesn’t tell you all you need to know, I don’t know what does 😂😂
(British here) that whole 40hr week thing is nonsense. if you aren't an office worker chances are you work 50-60 hours a week. if you are paid an hourly rate you are incentivised to work more hours. people in office jobs moaning they want a 30hr week drive me nuts.
@@grahamsmith9541 bollocks. It's an opt out system, if you sign out of the working time directive willingly you can work much more. Companies offer 60hour/week contracts knowing that need the money. If you agreed to that going in its totally legal
We started in the right direction during the New Deal. Labor unions (before corruption took hold) and social safety nets did wonders for not only the middle class but the whole economy. But over the last few decades, the working class has been persuaded that in unfettered capitalism employers could, I don’t know, be trusted to act in the best interests of their employees. News flash: they don’t. They act in the best interest of their owners, executives, shareholders and their bottom line. They will squeeze employees for every penny. Defined benefit pension plans used to be common-now you only see them with government entities-and there are a lot of well-funded lobbyists doing everything they can to get rid of those. They also try to arouse jealousy in the private sector so workers don’t want government employees to have it either, instead of having those private sector workers fight to regain what’s been taken from them. GOD forbid that huge corporations like McDonalds and Walmart, which turn in massive profits every year, have to share any of that with the people who actually help them make those profits. And if we INSIST that they raise wages, instead of cutting into million dollar bonuses, who are they going to hit up? Customers. Capitalism is wonderful, but history has shown time and again that without any kind of regulation, businesses will rob customers and employees blind and compromise safety in the name of profit. And yet somehow they’ve managed to brainwash workers to think regulation, unions, etc., don’t help them.
And being chronically overstressed, impoverished and subsisting on a nutritively poor diet - more often than not laden with excess additives, for example, excess consumption of sugars in all their forms - is just what - for example - viruses and cancers love to take advantage of.
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The is uncountable places in my country where social care is lacking , but I just cannot understand how the most advanced industrialised nation on the planet with such immense wealth , where finding a $billion for weapons to be sent to the Ukraine wasn't a problem , can have such places as Kensington in Philadelphia where so many poor souls are living a daily nightmare and in desperate need of help. It just doesn't make sense to me.
I retired 8 years ago. Worked on the railway. I got $40/hour. Average 35 hour/4 day week. The average was over the timetable period. Anything over was paid. Which was a nice occasional bonus for summer leave and Christmas. Anything under, written off. Oh, and Sundays were extra. I was also in the Royal Auxiliary Air Force (Reserves). I worked at the Royal International Air Tournament at RAF Fairford a few times. One time we were in the back of a Hercules from the Air National Guard Nashville drinking their beer. One of them actually used the phrase 'Our great nation'. We managed to avoid an embarrassing moment, but only just. How we kept straight faces I'll never know.
To put American poverty into perspective. Some years ago, a group of US American officials were visiting my home country The Netherlands, to learn how the Dutch government copes with poverty in our cities. After an initial meeting they were shown a neighborhood that is considered poor in NL. Their - somewhat embarrassed - comment: " This is considered middle class in the US."
This is where wilful ignorance comes into play. You can't teach stupid but you learn ignorance.
I can easily see that happening in Belgium as well.
Our "poverty zones" are basically a bunch of small appartments.
Uhhh. Could you elaborate, my brain is shitting it's self trying to understand your comment. I get it but my brain is having a shit fit right now, trying to comprehend this.
@@gantzuka Are you an American?
@@eddover6876 Yeah, I'm American sad to say. Like I get it, I understand what the comment is saying. My brain however, is trying to comprehend. How the fuck does a politician not feel embarrassed that they let that shitty statement. Blow pass their lips and not understand how much of a "SHIT" job they're doing. That's my brains problem right now.
I find it strange that when I have spoken to Americans about these issues in the past they just say “We don’t want communism or socialism in America!”
But 90% of the countries that do these things are not anything near socialist countries at all. 🤷♂️
Not to mention that roads, schools, and the military are funded that way. So why not health care?
That's where the wilful Ignorance comes in, unfortunately.The lack of passport ownership by citizens, doesn't help. They don't learn about alternative ways of living.Poor Education standards doesn't help.
US folks are as brainwashed as Russians are, just by a different entity. In Russia it's the oligarchs and tsar and his followers, in USA it's corporates and different lobby groups, like NRA, that basically own the politicians.
Yeah. Social Democracy doesn't mean Socialist. We just pick up the best ideas from both socialism and capitalism and mix them into a system that works for both rich and poor
@@0Quiwi0 🤣🤣🤣🤣Americans are always good for a laugh. Countries globally have been laughing at America for decades. America has the biggest domestic debt per person than any Country in the world. 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Back in the 70's & 80's when I was a teenager in the UK, I dreamt of moving to the USA to start a better life. Sadly for the boy I was, that dream never came to fruition. Now, over 30 years later, I am so glad that dream never happened. Over the last few years I've learnt a lot about the way American corporate works compared to other countries in the world - and I am sad to say it, but the USA is not the land of opportunity that it purports to be.
Now that I'm more aware of corporate policy I'm glad that I live in the UK and have the opportunity to be someone who, when I did work full-time, worked to live rather than being a person who lives to work.
My advice Alan, if you can ever afford it, escape the USA ASAP!
I was the same Steve - lucky escape!!!
@@johntomlinson6849 Damn straight!
I lived that dream for 2 years and i am never ever going back unless its short term and a holiday. The US is so skewed towards corporate bollocks i was managing a team for my London based firm in Nebraska for the first year and a half i worked in the states. I had a new starter come in litereally break down in tears and begged like hands and knees not to fire her because shed taken two days off sick. I got her to calm down and re assured her i wasnt going to fire her because she needed a couple days off to get over flu, just the fact she thought it was a possibility pissed me off. Another thing annual leave Yanks dont take it no idea why you get given paid leave fucking use it I used all mine made damn sure i did that is a fully paid day where you get to do whatever you want you earnt it take it. Other things they expect off the clock working (staying behind do get ahead) overtime is a FAILURE of management if you need to work extra hours to get your daily tasks done that means you have too many tasks and they need to hire additional people.
I’m 45 and my dream was to go to USA too, my parents nearly moved there in early 90s I was so excited as have a house with pool!! But we didn’t!! I dream of visiting one day!!! After seeing videos of how bad your rights are and hardly any holidays, health care and guns puts me off sadly.
yea its the land of opportunity, the opportunity for me to rip you off 😂
Bro, you got it spot on when you said it's not "why can't they, it's why won't they?" Greed is the only answer.
The biggest strange concept for me is tipping in the US, outside the US tipping is mostly a reward for staff doing a good job and going above and beyond what is expected, in the US staff need tips to actually survive.
That's just another stroke of "genius" business practices in US - why increase prices and pay their workers a decent wage when you can CONVINCE people that tipping is mandatory ALWAYS and have customers subsidize their staff ?
The problem is not the tipping, the problem is that they are hiring pepople as employees but they are paying them as freelancers and that is not fair.
@@TheDarkTower91no they are refusing to pay them a livable wage and are treating them as wage slaves
The American mindset is that social democracy, as practiced in Europe, is akin to Communism. And that is a dirty word in the USA.
So how do they react to how their Police/Firemen/Librarians/School teachers etc are funded then? As its taxpayers money that pays their wages!
Then theres the Army... That they are so proud of... Tax Payers pay their wages as well! - So then I ask... Whats the diff between that and having a free healthcare system paid for by taxes?
And before any of you say its cos it will increase taxes, well for one it wont. The USA is the most taxed nation on Earth towards healthcare, EVERY US citizen pays $10,000 of their taxes per person towards healthcare yet Americans have to pay on top their insurance and then on top of that any co-pays and on top of that any bills their insurance doesnt cover and yes then on top of that insanely high prescription charges!! Making a free healthcare by taxes your US government can force the big pharma companies to reduce their prices.
Free healthcare for all will SAVE you money you Americans! Dont you understand? In the UK we pay in taxes just $4,000 per person and everything is free (Barring a £9 (11-12USD) cost per prescription no matter what drug or EpiPen etc it is, its just £9 in England alone, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland gets it all for free)
Can you understand now? We get it all free and our taxes are less than yours!!! Yet you also pay massively out of pocket for co-pays/insurance and prescriptions.
@@CrazyInWeston why are you arguing with someone that is actually on the same page as you…? He was being sarcastic and trying to say that’s how the AMERICANS see it..and Unless I’m very much mistaken he is British…🙄🇬🇧
@@Ionabrodie69 I'm not at all, where you get that from? I'm simply asking that from nicks comment, that its a "dirty" word on their basis (usa) that free healthcare is bad mmm'kay... How they react when its the same thing that funds their police/army/fire etc but having healthcare funded this way is communism?
Most Americans will say Socialism is evil, but i guarantee almost noone can tell you WHY it is evil
@@CrazyInWeston A lot of Republicans are working hard to defund these institutions and make them private businesses
I think something i've noticed that is far more prevalent in the US than i've seen elsewhere, is the actual distain and disrespect shown to menial workers (fast food staff, delivery drivers, shop attendants), like real hostility and meanness towards them like they are just scum. I've virtually never seen this in the UK or Western Europe.
In the US, your human value is your dollar value.
There's a reason for that grimble.
Look up a video made by knowing better about the end of slavery and I think you'll understand that mentality a lot better.
As a European I think it's because your job has way less an effect on HOW you live.
My parents were a teacher and simple nurse. They lived a few houses away from 2 doctors.
Those of course earned more and they placed a pool at one point. Talking long time ago.
But other than that there wasn't really a difference.
In the US on the other hand people with different incomes tend to move to different places.
If you earn enough to go live in a place that would allow your coming child to go to a better school...you do...
That's not really a thing here.
A baker lives next to a lawyer lives next to a firefighter, etc.
That's not to say that wealthier people can't go and live among other wealthy people but there is less of a motivation too.
My grandparents lived in the same place for 60 years. Both while they were struggling and while they were incredibly wealthy later on.
Yeah, in the US, we (collectively, baked into the culture) *HATE* the poor. It begins very early and it is fierce. From the way an elementary school kid will be brutally embarrassed by a teacher for having “Lunch Debt” to the way children are told, “don’t look at the filthy homeless man”, it’s not just a mild distaste. America teaches it’s children to *HATE* anyone in poverty. It keeps the precarious working hard because everyone is made to fear what might happen.
The way they treat menial workers in UK is terrible, truck drivers deficate in rest aeras no toilets, France has toilets at all rest aeras, minimum wage workers having to be subsidised by the state, Zero hours contracts prolific, Amazon treating workers like animals in UK, still safety net far better in UK, than US The pension in UK is worst in the developed world, the class system in UK is same as it was 30 years ago, students enter university from all corners of UK with individual accents, come out sounding like Lord HA HA class system at its worst in university's
When you see all the US medical TV dramas that have been shown all round the world, including the UK, from Doctor Kildare to ER and House and everything in between, it's funny that you never seem to see the cash register or credit card machine in the corner of the doctor's office or operating theatre.
Yeah, where's the little bean counter with the Chargemaster in the corner?
Well, I believe US hospitals have a law bound duty to attempt to save a patients life when they arrive (regardless of payment). What they do not have, is a law bound duty to keep the patient alive to the best of their ability. They can kick you out on to the street, if you can't pay for treatment or aren't insured. And they can still send you a bill for life saving treatment that has already been given.
The show ends once the patient has been treated. What they don't show is the financial aftermath during their recovery from the moment they're discharged.
That would be a very good episode on any medical drama. Forget the life and death situation. Money worries do lead to stress and ohh dear likely health issues that stem from it too. When faced with a five digit bill do you offer $50 a month for the rest of your life and hope they accept? If there's $20 at the end of the week should you give that up because the co-pay amount is too high, or the medication you were given isn't covered by the insurance company? Or the doctor available wasn't pre-approved by the insurance company that takes their money from your account on a regular basis?
It's a messed up system and Americans should be demanding far far better, but it is ignorance as they don't know any better. It's Nationalism Brainwashing as they don't see the benefits of tax payer funded social programmes.
While there's always some issues with those programmes, individuals usually don't die nor go bankrupt because of them in civilised countries.
Can confirm - Been living here for a year and this is so true! Even with good insurance you have a sizeable medical bill at the end… it’s friggin crazy!
It’s a shame, I’ve dreamed of living here ever since being a kid in the 80’s, now that I’ve experienced it, I’m not sure I want to stay here.
Think about the show "Breaking bad". The whole idea of a teacher becomming a drug lord because he can not afford treatment for his cancer would just not work in the rest of the western world. Why? Because he would go to his doctor and getting everything he need to survive for free.
I live in a Nordic country. I got disabled ~10 years ago. It took 2 years of care to recover, plus 3 years to get a new education. I got paid 80% of what I earned before for the whole time. I've been working ever since. I'll never complain about my tax rate because of the care I received. Had I not received the care and financial support.. I would've never recovered and become a productive member of the society again.. something to think about.
Which is the result here in 'Murikkka. The truth is that Americans don't care about Americans. This is not a country, it is a corporation. We don't even have a facade of a society, community, anymore. (Excepting the fascist theology uprising in progress.)
There is absolutely nothing here left for those that didn't win the birth lottery into general wealth and the so-called middle class doesn't really even exist already.
Nobody cares about anybody but themselves and their material shit.
Despite the mountain of bona fide evidence that neoliberalism "trickle down" doesn't work, is destroying us and everything else, we now have that fascist theocracy base shoving a permanent installment of it (by the The Heritage Foundation again that was responsible for these past 43 retched years of it).
We're done. Nobody in the bottom 90% really wants to do any of this shit anymore especially the bottom 10-20% that aren't even afforded the opportunity to play this sick little game of chasing the plastic carrot. (Those of us that are on literally pocket change).
Then there's that not really existing middle class that, yes, gets pinched in-between.
Because this system is purposely designed to make us resent, and to be perpetually infighting, each other. Because it has been purposely designed to disadvantage the majority of people. Problems, incumbent of poverty, of being barely able to sustain basic standards of living, are very profitable and the generation of infinite profits for shareholders IS all that matters in this damned country under neoliberalism. It was purposely designed to be unsustainable.
We now have legions of disenfranchised under-40s since 2007 because we weren't afforded the opportunity to climb a rung up the social mobility ladder because that doesn't exist here anymore.
And still we have the Boomers, pro neoliberalism, in charge. Whom benefitted off of it. Against the now roughly equal disenfranchised that can't actually subsist within the system they had made.
There's no give from them and we're giving up. There's barely any hope left of change that would benefit the majority instead of only the minority at the top.
When my goddaughter moved to the US she got a job in HR with a sizeable company. She was asked what they would need to change about working practices to open up in UK/Europe. Her answer of everything didn't go down well. Her written report cancelled their plans.
P & O have shown the way that Britain IS going after Break$hit. NO worker's rights and the Privatisation of...EV£RYTHING.
@@ennesshay5040 Nothing to do with Brexit.
the 11min 15sec ''Brexit: Endgame - The $20 Trillion Secret, with Stephen Fry,'' by Pindex.
@@grahamsmith9541 nothing is ever brexit's fault though, right?
What are you on? Everyone is up in arms. They only thought they could get away with it because the ships are not registered here, so as to not come under our law.
The reason this has been allowed to happen is because Americans are not taught the difference between socialism and communism. Americans are frightened that if they start looking after their citizens they will be on the slippery slope to communism, and that's simply not true. All countries have some degree of social welfare including the USA but the problem is for the richest country in the world its just not enough.
Free healthcare = COMMUNISM
Maternity leave = COMMUNISM
Paid holidays = COMMUNISM
etc.
@@goose300183goose183 pathetic.
You're talking about social democracy, not socialism. Socialism is the transitional state that Communists can't get past before they break up the state into self governing soviet councils.
I would say money in politics is the root cause, because politicians don't need to do what voters want anymore.
Which was initiated by the Lewis Powell Memo in 1971
Not only are they not taught about social democracy, but they are taught against it by their political elite especially the GOP who in turn is funded by large corporations. It's all about money
Funniest part is many American people call Bernie Sanders a “radical” for simply fighting for these same social standards for the American people 🤦♂️
(plus the same healthcare and education social standards that we have too)
Sad fact is you can't when Americans will fight to keep themselves where they are. It's not that people hate change. They trained to be afraid of it.
You don’t think the guy who shilled for the Soviet Union isn’t radical? Wow! And let’s talk about him no longer calling out millionaires ever since he became one.
@@CynicalGear He didn’t “shill” for the Soviet Union. He literally said they had some good programs, specifically public housing and transportation, that the US could learn from to improve their own systems.
Facts matter, and when your only way to counteract a logical point is to deflect and attack the person and falsely label them a “shill”, it only serves to highlight how desperate you are to make up something to deflect because you aren’t able to logically rebuke the substance of the point.
Either that’s because there is no logical rebuttal OR you’re too inept to be able to formulate one. In this case it seems to be both.
@@joshkleine21fact he had his honey moon there and then the next year he went to Cuba who was also a communist country. and then praised them as well. A lot of people that actually live in those countries would disagree with what he said.
Here is a quote for you. "When I lived in the Soviet Union, everything was falling apart," Anna Borshchevskaya, a senior fellow at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, told the Washington Examiner in 2019. "People don't realize how many people Stalin killed by building the Moscow subway station. Sure, the trains worked, but that other factor is dismissed. I have no doubt Bernie was sincere in what he said, but there was a whole disregard for life and safety in every aspect of Soviet life, including infrastructure."
Also Sanders’ history with communism, socialism and Marxism has roots in his youth. In 1963 when he was a college student, Sanders was the guest of a Marxist youth movement founded by communist Ya’akov Hazan. In the ‘70s he helped found the socialist Liberty Union Party in Vermont. By 1972 he said he didn’t "mind people calling me a communist." And in 1985, he also made a trip to Nicaragua and called Marxist Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega "an impressive guy." your very gullible to think he is not a socialist.
@@CynicalGear Tell us you’re a Fox News simp without telling us you’re a Fox News simp
Stopped video early on to get my thoughts out.
McD's / KFC or where ever workers, work bloody hard. It's a job that I'd not like to do.
It is a fast paced chore and dealing with the general public who can be down right rude and obnoxious.
I also feel for the humble bus driver, a day of road rage, noisy children and people who are intoxicated etc.
I'm gonna stop before this turns into a rant...
I was shocked when you said that working construction you were earning $9 per hour. The average construction worker in Australia earns $49 per hour, with entry-level positions start at $68,250 per year, while most experienced workers make up to $150,000 per year. So you're earning in construction about the same per hour as a worker at McDonalds. Wow.
Yeah, plumbers here are salaried around $50/hour basis pay. There's a shortage of them at the moment. A trained plumber here is regarded 'as educated' as someone with a technical degree or a bachelor from a University.
I worked as an electrician in the us and made 10$ an hour and thought I was being paid well.
Australia has a much higher cost of living compared to the US though. Jobs in Australia are far more limited. Most of Australia is uninhabitable waste, and the recent floods have destroyed many areas. I do think Australia is a fine place, but it's not as great as you think.
@@Lemonboy132 fair point across the board sir.
@@Lemonboy132 Yeah people tend to forget that fact. Also cars and fuel are extremely cheap in the US compared for example to Europe (of course that is not necessary a good thing if you think about the enviroment and European countries are largely more advanced in creating enviroment friendly solutions)
24:55 Even that is not an argument. 70% of people in the EU own their own home. In the USA, that homeowner rate is only 65%. In Belgium where i live, homeownership rates are 72-73% consistently. And we have some of the highest tax rates in the world.
Even with the capped workweek, paid vacation days, and higher taxes, people "own things" in the rest of the developed world...
When someone says "you're not supposed to survive on minimum wage", I've always wanted to know what the hell they though the "minimum" referred to. Their IQ maybe?
Some people: "You're not supposed to survive on minimum wage."
Uhh..?? You guys do realize that's bad, right??? ಠ_ಠ
Exactly. So what are you supposed to survive on?
@@LoveCats9220You're not. You were supposed to have been born to winners with some general wealth willing to buy you your seat at the winners table like them.
Never mind the fact that the social contract we'd had from The New Deal allowed born losers to work up to the consolation winners table prior to 1980s neoliberalism, which is the actual problem here but never mind that because we're not supposed to discuss that putrid elephant in the room. Nor the entire industries and nearly all of the subsistable jobs it offshored leaving not much else beyond poverty jerbs there aren't enough of to go around anymore in this delightfully horrific consumer based ponzi scheme we're forced to exist (not live!) within the constraints of.
I vwas born in the USA because my parents went to grad school there. They had had a great time, but as soon as i was born they decided to go back to Denmark. The us was fine as long as they were young and free, but to raise a family withall the responsibility that follows just seemed insane.
I'm lucky, as I live in Jersey in the Channel Islands. sure, it is not a cheap place to live, but even the unemployed have a roof over their heads and food in their belly. which is something every human on this planet should be entitled too.
My fave place is Jersey, got married there, normally go at least once a year pre covid, can't wait to go back. We in the UK are so bloody lucky 🌟
Wow. Another one stuck on the rock.
Not a cheap place is an understatement! I fear it's going to get really bad in the next few years.
@@naycnay I'm not "stuck on the rock". I chose to live here. I have lived in the UK and in France. you cant feel any safer than being in Jersey. the benefits are worth the price.
@@jeanlongsden1696 It's an old Jersey phrase that gets thrown around!
Agreed, Jersey is very safe and if you aren't financially drowning, incredibly comfortable to exist in.
Paid for with fees on black money and tax evading schemes in other countries. Lovely people, lived on Guernsey for a while, but let's be honest here: The British Channel Islands are parasitic countries.
My dad said that he thought America was a begging bowl, purely because in most parts of the world people mainly pay what the asking price is, in America they don't count tax until you get to the tills, also the fact that if you don't tip in America then the employee doesn't get much to any pay, in other places the company pays their employees
You commented that workers in countries with good maternity leave must be really loyal to their companies.
Well, no, that's the point! Any other job will give you the same. It's a right not a benefit, so there's nothing special to "thank" the employer for. They're just doing their social duty, not doing you a favour.
In the netherlands maternity leave is payed by the goverment...........the goverment pays the employer and he pays you. So it is not a burden for the employer.
its both about loyal workers, and about companys you can trust to do the right things..
its win win
@@Hansen710 no it's the fucking law, trust me if that law was lifted it'd be shorter and shorter parental leave etc sooner than you'd ever dare think. Companies here don't give a fuck about you more than the US, they just aren't legally allowed to abuse us as badly.
@@Oi.... It wasn't even that long ago they did work people to death in Europe. Child labor was also common. And now they are hellbent on undoing all that was achieved by the social moments of the late 1800's and early 1900's. Despicable.
The problem here with US capitalism is that people forget that all of those countries in Europe and even most of the world are also capitalist countries. It is just that they don't see that capitalism should be against humans.
Very well said
It makes me feel so bad for Americans. How can people still say it's the greatest nation in the world? Is it merely pure ignorance of how things are in the rest of the world?
They are being brainwashed from childhood in schools etc, and travel very little so it's not being corrected.
Why don't you tell us your country so I can list it's flaws then?
@@Lemonboy132 Yeah...I have seen many of your comments under this video. You don't bring up evidence for your points at all. Just the debate with the one guy from australia already showed your flaws. So don't act all big here.
@@SardonicSoul all your research and you're still wrong. I only state the obvious because I watch a lot of news networks and I am more knowledgeable than you.
@@Lemonboy132 No, you're only stating the propaganda, from your home media. But seeing, that you admitted to watch mostly news network, it's no wonder that you lack in outside america knowledge and perspectives. Alone that you had to ask the guy _What inventions came from australia?_ proved, how low you had to go.
A few years ago I'd have never believed America was like this. But since then watching videos like this one, and having a cousin move out there, I'm shocked how badly Americans have it. From working conditions all the way up to retirement. Practically no paid holidays, no "free" healthcare, and probably the worst of the lot, pensions. My cousin works in a restaurant, and tells me they just keep on working to old age. No retirement age and no state pension. Shocking.
poor people indeed most Americans compared to other "real developed nations"
Couldn’t pay me to move to the US to
In EU we have laws against working too much. Every employee is required to rest at least 11 hours between working days (so if you worked to 8pm, you can't arrive at work before 7am). And 36h rest per week (for weekends). This came about to stop the rampant insane hours that the truck drivers were doing, but they extended this law to everyone.
When a country relies on the obscenely rich to keep it's politicians of whatever colour, in power, you will never get fair treatment of the general population.
When a politician accepts large donations for their campaigns from such companies, they will always be beholden to the wishes of those companies.
The U.S. needs laws that limit the amount of political donation that candidates can receive.
Not only in America also in australia.
And it's not an open business either. Who is paying whom, for what.
They are all related. They are part of the elites.
Actually, we've done the opposite. With our Supreme Court's Citizens United decision, it essentially gave the spending of money similar rights and protections as freedom of speech. So now corporations have nearly unfettered access to spending money to help elect politicians, and of course those politicians will be inevitably beholden to those corporate interests.
Exactly.
It should be straight up illegal for any company to donate any amount of money to any political organization or effort.
Corporations are NOT people and should have no say in any political matter.
ALL political positions should have term limits. Politicians should never have been allowed to sit in office for 40-50+ years getting rich off of our taxes while we slave away and can barely scrape by. Many of those politicians have never done anything else.
They should also only get payed what the average income in their constituency is, at best. And get just as few days of absence as the rest of us do. Watch how fast things change then.
Australia. Im currently on 10 weeks paid leave (accrued recreation leave - we get 4 weeks per year). Here we get Leave Loading, which is an extra 17.5% pay when you take recreation leave. While superannuation is compulsory, employers are required to match contributions - tou can elect to put more towards it above the standard amount and employes match that.
Don't forget Long Service Leave too. Best Aussie invention ever!
Long Service leave is given to every employee who remains with a company, or government service for 7 years or more. You can bank it, have it paid out, or use it how you wish. It's paid leave on top of annual leave. And I bloody love it.
You can thank the shiftworkers of Oz for that loading. It was awarded to them originally to make up for the penalty rates / allowances they did not receive while on annual leave (flat salary only). The politicians decided it was a lovely idea and awarded it to themselves which meant the general workforce got "money for nothing".
Your last sentence was really interesting to me. In my eyes America was founded as a "Republic of the People, by the People, for the People (John L. Haney)" and developed into a "Republic of the Companys, by the Companys, for the Companys"
That's one reason why the biggest and wealthiest companys of the world are all American. Sadly Americans don't profit from it, because your companys barely pay any taxes and often don't even bother to care for their own employees.
Really interesting video. Greetings form Germany.
Also take note of how the two big parties of US governance are ALWAYS in bed with big money.
They can rant and preach and scream all they want but, in the end, actions speak louder than words.
Regardless if a Republican or Democrat is in office, nothing ever really changes. Not for the better of the average US citizen, anyway.
Because, in the end, it's always going to be the politicians pleasing the guys who contribute to their campaign funds. And big money organizations and individuals supporting politicians who will legislate and rule in their favor.
It's a great big circle jerk but, We The People are the ones getting screwed. From both ends.
Hi from UK….your reaction to this excellent video was sadly no surprise….. I’ve just been watching a documentary on the homeless in L.A, all I could see was a refugee camp full of decent people whose dream had become a nightmare…you and your family, keep safe and well, love from little old Blighty ❤
People who lay pipes, be it for water. electrics or sewage are essential to citizens' well being. Likewise for 'garbage' collectors. No-one should be disrespected for doing such work. I don't know if you've seen this YT vid 'David Cross: Why America Sucks at Everything'. I'm in the UK and I think it's just very sad
In some Asian cultures, jobs such as garbage collectors are extended courtesy and respect, because they are willing to perform tasks that others don't WANT to do.
@@TheAussieLeo Exactly my point
I realise, as a Brit, the UK is a sort of sweet-spot nation when it looking at balance of wealth/population/health and care systems. We can be envious of some smaller, wealthier (per head of population) European countries who seem to have it good in that regard...but I think, if the U.S. people ever wanted an all-in 'caring' system, then it would need to be a state-by-state system as the population is too large. It would be a great experiment to see one state adopt a public health/welfare system...and fuck it...zero guns policy :-))
What you don't get as a brit is how inferior your quality of life is in England compared to the US.
Britain has its faults but I rather be here than America any day of the week it’s miles better than America in every way
States can’t have a zero guns policy. The 2nd amendment prevents that. The Supreme Court is attacking state restrictions right now
If you see no problem with working 60-70 hours a week, that shows you are American :-)
man you won't have any time to do your hobbies with that much work. i'm french so a total slacker and i don't have enough time to do all my hobby and activities ( sport, reading, music, going out with friend etc) with 30h of work.
You should be able too, but you shouldn't 'have' too.
And what about your children...Spend some quality time with them ?
I'm English, from manchester. The industrial revolution literally started here and we are known for being industrious and hardworking... but there is NO WAY I'd ever work a 70hr week. Not in a million years. 👌 40 hrs is my limit. And I don't see why anyone would NEED more than that... leave some money for other people to earn. 👍 think the main difference is socialism. Americans are TERRIFIED of socialism thanks to their cold War propaganda confusing them into thinking socialism and communism is the same lol.
I can choose to do overtime or not but cannot be forced coerced threatened by law if I choose not to work overtime
I don't usually enjoy react channels but you're so well informed about the topics you watch, it's really interesting to listen to. Definitely a cut above the rest!
I once saw an englishman explain the time after the 2. ww. "If we can afford war, we sure as hell can afford healthcare". England didn't have national health care prior to ww2 apparently. Good on them.
I'm from South Africa. I'm with my current employer for 23,5 years, working 8 hrs a week. We get 24 working days paid leave (almost 5 weeks), 80 sick days every 3 years, 5 days compassionate/family responsibility leave, and mothers get 3 months maternity leave and daddies get 5 days paternity leave. We have medical aid where the employer pays 60% of the premium, and have a good pension benefit, where employer contribute an equivalent of 22% of gross salary and employees 7,5% of gross pay towards pension fund per month. Thus, a total equivalent of 29,5% of gross pay is contributed towards pension fund.
Not an American but an Indian here. Moving to France changed me. I always knew things were difficult in India, ofcourse..and somewhat understandably so and I couldn't possibly compare India to any place in Europe.
However, it was still shocking to me to find out that a "low wage worker" in France gets paid at MINIMUM what a college graduate who's graduated from a prestigious university could only hope get freshly recruited to an MNC.
Mind-blowing! With my 3 degrees there's no way I'm ever going back to India!
So to think that another "well off" country like America is closer to India than it is to European countries is shocking to me.
When someone has to constantly assert something like: It's a free market, we are a free people, I respect women, you can trust me, etc. that usually points towards it being the opposite.
Isn't it strange that some people call jobs low-skilled when they would be out of their depth on the first day!
I doubt it would take that long.
They were my thoughts too. I've mostly worked in accounts all my working life. I'd be useless in McDonald's, or any similar outlet. I just wouldn't be able to hack it. 🙄
Thank you for recognising that "low skill" isn't. Serving customers requires social skills. Using a checkout is a skill. Using a tool, or machinery is a skill. Even cleaning is a skill. I've had to teach people how to wash dishes, how to use a washing machine, how to mop a floor, even how to properly answer a phone. Everything we are capable of doing is a skill, and no matter how simple a skill may seem to be, there's a good chance that someone out there is better at it.
The US tipping culture is buisness using customers to subsidize paying their staff properly themselves.
People do tip in the UK and Europe for a job well done, but not for just doing your job like the US.
Also the disdain shown to fast food and serving staff by my US colleagues was a shock to me when I worked there.
We don’t tip in Denmark for anything. We would get pissed if people didn’t get paid enough to be shown appreciation by their employers. A MdC worker works their asses of but no one would dream of tipping them as we expect them to be paid properly.
Ok, I don't disagree with your comment but.. I gotta point out, why did you type "UK & Europe" as if they are completely separate?? The UK is European. Cuz it's *in* Europe. This is like saying "This thing happens in China & Asia." Just say "People do tip in Europe".
Sorry for this. I just think the way typed that out was really weird.
In Australia, I had a 10 hour operation and 7 weeks in hospital, Chemo for 5 months and it cost me nothing.... My meds got put on the PBS system which cost me $40per month. Apparently these (my dosage) tablets from Astra Zeneca cost $7,000 per month in the USA.....
Great work EB, I love your extended reactions. I love hearing your views.
Cheers and thanks!
I've worked for two different companies (in England) and the best/last one was:
- 37.5hrs a week, 34 days holiday + bank holidays. Anything over was time and a half, or double time for Sundays/bank holidays. It also had flexi-time, so if you wanted to arrive early you could leave early, or arrive late and leave late, or work extra/less one day and work extra/less another day.
- You could also choose to work more hours and take an extra day off a month if you wanted to, or if agreed by your manager you could stack those extra days and take up to a week off a month as long as you'd worked your hours.
- The pension scheme was great, the company would match up to 25% of what you added to your pension every month from your wages no matter what your salary was. You could also buy shares in the company on the cheap.
- They also gave you about £2,000 ($2,617.17) a year for training/college courses of your choice, as long as they were related to your job/a different position in the company you wanted to work in eventually. You could do the training/courses one day a week instead of actually working and you still got paid as if you'd worked your hours. It could go up to £5,000 ($6,543.64) a year depending on how long you'd worked there.
- The company also provided insurance if you had to take an extended period of time off due to ill health so you could still earn the same amount per month to pay your bills etc.
Why am I not still working there when it was so good? An American company bought it and made sweeping changes, so it was either accept the new employment contract and reduction in various benefits, or be made redundant and they'd give you a payoff for X amount depending on your salary and how many years service you had there. I took the latter and had a fantastic year or so of not doing any work and just having a damn good time. In hindsight I should've saved some of the money, but I was in my late 20's at the time! lol
(sadly the company, which was founded in the 1800's, is no more)
Healthcare is not an issue in the UK due to the NHS so no-one's ever looking for that to be part of their contract, but if private healthcare is part of it then that's just a bonus. Plus medication costs are only £9.35 ($12.24) per item in England. (they're free in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland)
And as I am sure you're aware, American insurance companies (with the help of the govt.) have been working aggressively to get the British govt. to move the NHS toward a more privatized model. They are running out of people to extract value from here, and so they have to go looking elsewhere. I have been lucky enough to have jobs in the U.S. with some of the benefits you mentioned, but never a job with all of them. For the low-wage worker here, it's essentially 'work every second we tell you to, or go die in a ditch somewhere'.
@@dmwalker24 This nonsense about the NHS, if they wanted to convert it to a private system they would have done so, it's political crap like that which keeps excusing the NHS for the failings that it does have, I am all in favour of the NHS but having worked some time within it, it is a crazy resource management system that wastes so much and is monolithically inefficient, it needs reform but as soon as this is raised the left go straight to the "Privatisation" alarm and we are left with this mess. Just a foot note, the NHS in Scotland and Wales are both run by devolved left wing governments who by any metric are failing massively to run services and are way behind NHS England.
@@dmwalker24 people really didn't see the potential of brexit to move the UK towards the American system. It was the EU that pushed for a lot of these work/life balances. Now the UK is free from that, the UK Government can be as corrupt as they want.
@@dmwalker24 no politician in the uk would ever dare to fully privatise the NHS and switch to US system they would be out of government in seconds there party would never get elected again it would destroy them not that such a bill would ever get threw parliament
@@spaceycakey1987 Certainly in one act. I would just say, whether or not they would, there are American executives desperate to get them to try, and also always beware of policy creep.
Im a boiler maker i make 35 aussie dollars an hour , ive had Americans rage at me call me 'unskilled' and say im 'overpaid' . I chuckle at them , it takes skill to read a plan , cut the metal , roll it into shape and then weld a pressure vessel so that it doesn't explode the first time someone pressurise it . I also get 16 public holidays a year plus 4 weeks leave with a 17% leave loading .
Boiler maker is definitely a skilled job.
@@TheEclecticBeard yup im like royalty to my boss , just saying what some Americans have said to me . I realise you get it .
How dare you make 35 aussie dollars an hour. You’re not a doctor, you’re not a lawyer. You’re just a boiler maker. lol
Living in NZ my wife and I own a home reno / restoration business. Prior to our first 10-week lockdown we were a company of ten.
As work started becoming more than a trickle (then a damned flood), we had to employ more. Another five. One of them was one of those so-called 'unskilled' workers.
He's been with us for 18, almost 19 months now. He's already one of our better people due to the fact of the mindset / skillset he developed from a 'mere' three years at MacD's.
At current rate, he'll be a team lead before long.
New Zealands cost of living is outrageously high, job opportunities are lacking, and houses are a fortune. The progressive politics are the main good thing about NZ.
Very informative. Thank you for reacting. Just because you work in retail etc does not mean you are stupid.
Well said. 👍
The biggest lie ever told to the American people is that they are free and treated equally.... Look how well that's going but I can't say too much as UK is in a pretty dire situation
its a global issue. politicians care about holding power not delivering results. I've worked with all sorts of nationalities, none of them are impressed with their nations leadership....
Amerikkka home of the thevies land of the slaves
Yes, But it's not about the same the same situation.
Yeah, if you are from the UK you have no ground to stand on. Your quality of life there is even worse than the US.
@@Lemonboy132 at least our kids can go to school safe in the knowledge no-one will be shooting them, at least our police force don't shoot people before asking questions, at least we are not the fattest country on the earth, at least we don't want to have a war every few years, at least we don't assassinate our leaders, at least the UK can actually change our laws to be fitting with the times, I could go on forever with this but yeah the UK has no ground to stand on at all
Wise comments, and I just need to ad, as to the fear of socialism: my country, Sweden, is capitalistic. With a free market, some many think too much so, for instance we have lots of private schools owned by venture capitalists, but still all education is free payed by taxes. With free choice of school. We have the second highest number of billionaires in the world per capita. Low corporate taxes. One of the highest rates of enterprises per capita, since the Wellfare system allow you to take a chance on your dream. With affordable healthcare, free education all the way and support if you loose your job. Something’s working when you add up, right?
"Pull yourself up by the bootstraps" was originally intended to mean "do something actually impossible".
pull yourselfs up by the bootstraps is ok but what happens if you have no boots Martin Luther King 1963
This biggest issue is as you said a different mindset. In the USthings like paid holiday, sick pay, maternal/parental leave are seen as benefits. In all other countries n Europe and most of the world there are minimum 'rights' and backed by law. They will differ from company to company but are in all aspects way above what is offered in the US.
Americans live in a big bubble and believe everything they are taught from childhood onwards about how fantastic America is and how lucky they are to be Americans. Brainwashing is a very powerful tool. It is great to see some Americans having a glimpse outside America and see just how other Countries workers are treated. Keep learning Beard, there is a whole lot more to learn yet and don't even try and compare the American health system to other Countries as that will really blow your mind. Great reactions. Take Care. 👍
It is also the mindset. The term "hard working guy" that is something very positive in the US. It is not a negative thing in Europe, it is just not something that most people care about or strive for. People strive to do things they like, not work their asses off. Generally speaking, there are some workaholics here too. But i know more than a handful of people who always or for a period of time have decided to only work part time to have more time for other things in their lives or because they are ok with a little less money and more free time. And that is not really looked down upon.
And on the other hand, americans don't want handouts. Well, why not? The government is not giving out free stuff, it is giving out stuff that was payed for by tax payers, including you. Thats why a lot of europeans have less issue with paying taxes, they get something in return and thats just how things are. They don't feel like they are being robbed or that they might be freeloaders. I mean in general, i think every european could name a lot of taxes that are not ok the way they are, but most are not against taxes in general.
That is truly hilarious as if Europeans live in some highly informed society, the groupthink in Europe is massive the most brainwashed people in the world are European and Scandinavians. America has zero to learn from Europe, Europe is in a terminal demographic death spiral it has made large swathes of its population into welfare recipients while importing even more welfare recipients from the third world. But they do love to pretend they are better than those greedy Americans, thankfully America is still a vibrant society where most of the advances we see in the world come from. Europe is going no where and has no future.
What's insane is that plenty of Americans can SEE the benefits people get in other countries because those people are sometimes our coworkers working on the same exact projects! It's complete bullshit to see how differently people get treated working in a single company, on a single project, on calls daily with each other. Because the parent company doesn't have to provide the same kind of vacation, holidays, parental leave, etc. in each country, they don't. So I work side by side with people that get more holidays just because they are in another country.
Recently we were told to rejoice because the company has decided to offer 8 week maternity benefits for ppl in the US. The employees on our same team in India get 6 months.
Things have changed a fair bit now. But Bob Menzies, Australian Prime Minister from 1949 to 1966, was a conservative who had a national referendum to try and have the communist party banned, allowed the British to test nuclear weapons in Australia, and sent troops to Vietnam to support America.
He said "I don't worry about the rich.The rich can look after themselves, I will focus on the centre". So he kept the wealth tax high. He also said " If every working man has a chance to own their own home they won't become a communist". And by the time he had retired home ownership had risen from 1/4 to 3/4 of the population
pig iron
Instead a fair number of Australians have become Nazis instead. Seriously, the rise of Christian fundamentalism and the far right in Australia, a country that has had a problem with racism since its founding, terrifies me.
@@jackdubz4247 it seems like across the world politicians are no longer interested in chasing the centre vote . only interested in their increasingly extreme support base
@@jackdubz4247 fortunately they are still the minority. But I guess we will see next election if UAP get many candidates up.
@@jackdubz4247 Australia is nearly 55% atheist as of 2023 and not following a religion as they used to do is going to fall futher, there are a FEW NAZIS here but the Facist Left are also absurd
This is the second in a row, of your Reaction's that has really impressed me. Well done fella. Good to hear American voices like yours.
It always feels to me, viewing from the UK, that American optimism causes the reluctance Alan mentions to finding out that the US isn't the best in each category.
Optimism is for the foolish and naive. Far better to be a realist in the long run.
In Finland it's not just that you get parental leave but new mother gets baby box which has clothes, nappies and other newborn necessities and box itself can be used as bed for baby early on before you get proper one.
Just a parentesis, that probably have been mentioned earlier: 52 weeks paid maternity-leave are counted in days. So at least in Sweden, you are in charge of how you dispose those days. You can spread it out for 12 years. (At least when I had my kids 20 years ago.) Cheers from Italy!
People are born with a built in skill. I'm a musician who learned to play guitar at the age of 4. I never had lessons but can play 7 different instruments. This is my natural talent and should therefore be my occupation. Don't ask me to do maths or even be able to organize my life. People should be given the opportunity to make their living at what they're naturally good at instead of struggling to do a job that would better suit someone else.
We'll put coot couldn't agree more I am a tiler my maths is good just because I use it day in day out my English grammar is crap I've had people try and make you feel stupid on quota because of it were all good at dif things that's just life
I'll be 60 in June and despite spending most of my life in rock bands playing some pretty substantial gigs & doing studio work with some famous names I've never been able to earn a stable living from music & had to work mundane jobs which I dreaded going to. The music business is a fickle thing & out of millions of excellent musicians in the UK alone so few get to do what they were born to do.
as a french we work usually 35/39hours a week (max) or you have to be compensated with money and you can say no if you don't want to, you can't be fired for that (some exceptions can be made but you are aware of it and sign for that possibility), you have full coverage for healthcare (even for worker with part-time job), and lots of paid vacations. For me the condition of the US workers are so backward it's saddens me.
Great video. I am British but have visited America many times. I have met some great people there. Love visiting but would hate to live there. Having a social conscience is not the same as being a communist. Modern slavery is alive and well, living in the home of the free and the land of the brave.
Do hope that your channel gains traction with actual Americans rather than preaching to us converted. Good luck with your mission.
I’m living in CA right now. I dreamed of living here ever since I was a kid.
I’ve seen homelessness living in the UK but I’ve never seen it as bad as out here! People literally shouting at themselves in the streets, people raking through bins to collect recycling to get paid by the recycling centres. So much rubbish being blown around the streets.
I will NEVER slag off the NHS ever again!! - I’ve had medical appointments here, anything you can complain about the NHS is the exact same or worse over here - the major difference is when your treatment is done you get a medical bill at the end regardless of what insurance you have, it only changes the amount you have to pay at the end! (Think of the UK’s pet insurance companies, except instead of £100’s it could be $1000’s you have to pay each time).
I’ve had to goto ER twice and the waiting times were exactly the same as in the UK - 3 hours both times! So that’s on par with the NHS, BUT you don’t have the pleasure of signing a declaration saying that if the insurance doesn’t pay, then you are responsible for the full amount after your appointment in the UK!
It should be noted that despite what a lot of Americans think the Scandinavian countries are not socialist states. They're actually capitalist countries with private enterprise. It's just that they govern as social democracies where the citizens welfare and the social fabric is considered as a high priority.
I had a baby a few years ago I had a lot of complications so I had to stop working when I was 4mth pregnant, I got paid my full wage for the 5mths I was off sick, then once I had the baby my maternity pay kicked in so I had 1 year off paid, when I returned I had accrued my PTO while I was off which is 28 day a year so I had 60 days to use and I was able to work part time for the rest of that year and be paid my full time wage, I can't begin to imagine what it would be like to not have all of that support there for us. 🇬🇧
I'm amazed anyone in the US can afford to have children. It costs a fortune just to give birth. Then you either have to give up working to look after them, or pay for childcare.
Plenty of people aren't having kids in the US because the lack of support. During pregnancy, throughout birth and once the child is born support is lacking. We don't have huge extended families to rely on that live nearby. We have huge college debts or daily living debts, housing can be expensive and out of reach very easily when you are single or have any dependents, don't have a stable job or don't have a good paying full time job. Insurance and other benefits are tied to employers or through limited relationships like marriage (when people are getting married later and less of the population is married.) People can't afford childcare. Even once kids can start school, schools still have summers and short days and more holidays and vacation than any adult ever gets from a job. Unmarried people without kids don't get legal allowances for nieces, nephews, god children or other unofficial extended family, but parents need that help, even in 2 parent households where it's not uncommon for both parents to HAVE to work. And then we wonder why people are so stressed? Eating badly and dealing with health issues? Not getting enough exercise? It's pretty much how the US has designed it. Humans are just another disposable, replaceable element in a business plan.
@@melissaf5262 a few years ago I wouldn't have believed how the US is. All you heard about (by Americans) was how great the country is and their freedoms.
Tbh they don't have it that great at all, pretty bad in fact.
I still haven't worked out the freedoms part lol.
One of the reason why the minimum pay is 22$ in Denmark is because the unions have negoatiated the minimum wage with the employers. We also have free healthcare, but the tax is 39%, which also covers health care, so we don't need private Healthinsurrence. you can choose to have it, but it's a free choice.
1:05 thank you for your honesty
You guys need to call a day for a general strike where every worker not happy with conditions takes the day off so the bosses find out how much they lose with no workers
Don’t mind the pausing if you have stuff to add or comment on, which you do, so all the better, that’s why we watch commentary channels. Keep it up man 👍🏼
I am a dane, and I do believe that one the main reasons for the difference is how strong worker unions are in the different Countries.
One of the things I hear from companies in Denmark is that, they prefer you to be less at work (compared to other countries), but when you are at work you are there 100%.
So in Denmark the philosophy of most companies is if your base (home) is working you are more focused while you at work, and it reduces blunders, and blunders can be quite expensive no matter if you are a blue collar worker or a office guy.
And if you are happy at your work you will not start looking for another job.
No matter what the Company tells you, it is expensive to replace an employee and even worse do you leave for a competitor and bringing your knowledge with you.
1. You loose experience, both work experience (how many years you have done the job), and how long time you have been at the Company, each Company does things differently. You might have some courses the new guy doesn't.
2. You need someone new, the new guy, does he have your work ethics (be on time, etc.), does he "click" with his co-workers, or does the chemistry not work. etc. And it takes time to get people interviewed for the job (read the applications, 2-3 people at the interview, etc.).
3. And if you get a new guy that is what you hoped for (and not just a guy faking it at the interview), it still takes time for that person to get up to speed and "how its done around here".
I don't understand why we don't talk about our wages more with our co-workers, the only ones that benefits from us being quiet is the Company, don't get me wrong, I wouldn't talk to strangers on the internet about my salary either, but your co-workers I would, you would be surprised how many people who are doing the same job, gets paid differently.
Often when a company don't have so much to do, like seasonal work, we start sending some of our employees on courses, to gain new skills or improve those skills we already have so we are ready when there are plenty to do. In Denmark we can never compete with places like China when it comes to Salaries so we have to compete on knowledge, stability and quality.
Oh yeah I hate when the rich say we are in this boat together, no we are not, I'm in my little row-boat, and you are on a cruise ship, we might be in the same Ocean but the experience of this storm will be different.
Greetings from Denmark
True about the strong workers unions. We just need to make that clear to the younger generations who has no idea what value there is in being unionized. We also need to talk more about our paychecks. It’s a valuable tool for negotiations when we’re negotiating collective bargains in private sector jobs. Secrecy only benefits the employers. The public sector is much more transparent in showing wages at the taxpayers is paying for their jobs.
True, Americans are controlled easily by buzzwords. You don't want to be a "communist" by advocating universal Healthcare. Last time I checked, Germany (where I come from) is far from being communist.
3:40 A very accurate, fair point.
The role of government should be to take care of the citizens it represents, not to exploit them and be the "neglectful parent". As much as I could fault the UD on that, it is also slowly creeping into other countries, like here in Australia. Governments want to attract business, give them incentives and tax breaks, slacken regulations, etc. In the end they reduce unemployment which looks good on their books, and companies generally walk away paying no taxes, and over working staff.
The tax breaks are what piss me off. They give them to large corporations but the small mom and pop shops, and other independent businesses don't get the same breaks and it kills them more times than not having to pay what the corporations don't.
@@TheEclecticBeard I'll give Amazon a tax break - they pay their taxes I won't break their legs
Uk is heading that way as well.
@@TheEclecticBeard It's basically socialism for Big Corporations in the US (I'm an European but I follow US news because the Political circus there somehow affects my life in some way.
An anecdote on the side: Ask an American to criticize Socialism and he will describe Capitalism.
@@lordbungle6235 It's been like that for a long time. It's time some started doing their own research into businesses.👍
Nothing wrong with working at Maccy D's. Here in the UK it doesn't have a negative connotation. You meet a girl in a pub, she says she's a Maccy D employee then the next question out of your mouth is, cool, can you get me a discount?
Also $21 billion... Wow that's a big number, right? WRONG.
$21 Billion means that everyone on Earth spends about $3 each per year. But it's not $21 billion profit. It is $21 Billion taken at the checkout before the cost of produce, rent, wages, taxes. And don't forget that big big number is just $3 a year from every person on the planet. Obviously not everyone is able to buy a meal from Maccy D's. But, and I'm pretty certain on this, that if I was homeless without any cash and sitting under some boxes trying to keep warm I could still manage that $3 a year. lol
Put me at the North-pole and I'll still find $3 a year. In all honesty I probably accidentally swallow more that $3 a year... Hahahaha
I'd rather do without accountants, lawyers and hedge fund managers than have to try to survive without the so-called "low-skill workers"
Agreed. A lot of it is just bloat. But promoting fast food by having more of it is not good either.
I’m a Brit who lived in the USA for 5 years.
I take home the same money working 40-45 hours a week in the UK that I did in the USA working 60hrs+ after taxes, SS and pension contributions (UK only, no pension in USA) working the same kind of job (construction and property maintenance). Throw into that 32 days paid vacation in the UK, sick pay provisions, healthcare fully covered, 30hrs free childcare every week at any childminder/daycare I choose, compared with none of the above in the USA.
Rent and food in the UK was cheaper (utilities a little higher in the UK, but not significantly so), no health insurance premiums or deductibles to pay, plus a far more generous social security net should something happen that reduces or removes my ability to work that would mean I could still maintain my family at least to a basic standard (as in house, food, utilities and healthcare covered).
In the USA my family could barely sustain a household - we lived in an apartment that was too small for us and scraped by paycheck to paycheck. In the UK we have a more suitable sized apartment, my daughter attends a great daycare and preschool, and I can spend far more time with her going places etc, and still not only have the ability to start building up some savings, but am able to start working on a pension pot so I can realistically look to retire in the future.
I loved my time in the USA, make no mistake - I had some great times, met some great people and enjoyed my work, but without a doubt I have a better standard of living back here in the UK
There it is again. "I love my country." I'm really starting to get fascinated by this statement, because it seems to me people from USA can't say anything critical about their country without amending with those four words.
If you don't you get shunned by the rest of the country and you are a traitor.
It is called brainwashing, it really isn't exclusive to dictatorships.
I mean they have some very shady practices that are normally asociated with places like facsist or communist countries.
Just the flags everywhere, the freakin anthem at every oppertunity, kids pledging every day, the millitary whorshipping etc.
I haven't heard our anthem in years i think. Flags only come out once a year. In school we are tought the horrible shit we used to do to people in other countries.
And sure, we are notorious for being some of the most extreme supporters in international sporting events turning entire grand stands orange and bringing entire big bands along in order to play music and sing all freakin day. But that is in good fun and the pride of being very high achievers in a lot of things for such a small country, we are also the most critical citizens of our own government in the world.
Being a politician here is hard. They get grilled and kicked out for smalles missbehaviour.
In my opinion you can’t love your country without being critical of what the flaws are and need improvement, because you actually care. How can anyone say that without giving a shit about all the horrible things that happen in their country?
Saying ‘I love my country’ without any effort to make things better for each other is just an empty statement.
But I’m not American so…
@@hagelslag9312 exactly. Otherwise you are just trying to stay part of the cult.
As a Nursing Aid in SC I got 8/hr in 2015.
The hardest work physically, mentally and emotionally that I loved. I go independent and work in my hood for my neighbors.
You have a very interesting take on it all, and not wrong at all.
Having friends all around the world I can safely say that almost all think that their country is the best. It seems though that in America people are more ready to be told, and believe, everyone thinks America is the greatest. Every country has its pluses and negatives. Some are worse than others, for sure. I agree, I don't just think it's because capitalism rules the US. But I do think in the US people are told they can have it all, the dream, so are reluctant to see the reality of what is going on. The majority of people, a very high majority, in all countries are only a few paychecks away from being homeless! But people still want that dream of having it all! Believe me, though the UK and I'm sure other countries are being fed the same illusions of dreams that they can have it all. Big business only makes money, big money, by exploitation of its workforce and avoiding taxes. Keeping everyone on that bottom run of the ladder. Take Amazon for instance. After making his first Five Billion ( enough to last plenty of lifetimes) They could have afforded to increased wages by at least 50% minimum, and still made huge profits. Instead, he was more interested in going into space! Should tell you all you need to know about the big business M.O.
But while people all over the world are made to think that if they work hard enough then that could be them, the wheel will keep turning.
So Well Said. It is refreshing to see you doing this new 'Social Comment' stuff. Please do Continue. Peace and Love
This treatment is why Walmart failed miserably in Germany.
They also failed in the UK. When they sold Asda it was for less than they paid for it.
'But how ya gonna pay for it ?' The 19min video ''Banks Get $1.5 TRILLION Bailout Over Coronavirus,'' by The Jimmy Dore Show.
Work to Live,
Don't Live to Work...
.
In Belgium, if you work in heavy industries e.g. machinery building, longer week (40h instead of 38h) means you get 20wd + 12wd (1 day per month) paid vacation + National Holidays. Oh, and transportation to/from work is paid for partially or in full by the company, depending if it's a car, train or bicycle.
Thank you very much for this great video! And thank you for beeing so open minded! Almost every American whines about The taxes. And I understand cause you do not get anything back / Return for your taxes. But we do! A lot! Education, healt care, mandatory vacations, parental leave for the father also. And for the Mother up To 3 YEARS (government Will compensate). And it creates a Job for somebody Else To have the opportunity To start or gather work experience To move on. And the tax money keeps coming. But there is no paradise, every system can do better. It is mostly the culture and attitude, like you said. Regards from Finland! "The happiest country In the world" for 5th time on a row! Stupid name "happiest"! Maybe: More satisfied people than Others or some think like that.
As a Swede i totally agree with everything you wrote. But it's really hard to explain to most Americans since they are so indoctrinated in to believing their own greatness.
About parental leave in most of north europe. The 52 weeks are the mothers parental leave. The father often get 16 weeks parental leave to.
the uk is heading closer and closer to america and i HATE it!!
yes under the torys we are
@@12presspart yup
It's the same here in the uk the minimum wage is less than the living wage
If u put in ur 40 hours per week you should be able to cover rent tax food etc. But that's not the case (zero hour contracts is another story)
While the US is probably a good place to live I dont think it stacks up to a lot of places across europe and east asia in terms of public services and how workers are treated. People from the US like to believe that the US is the best at literally everything, even speaking english, but thats because they are either not educated on other countries or dont want to face reality and admit the truth that the US is not the best at everything, while it may do certain things very well, they are only best at throwing money at a problem and hoping it will fix it.
Glad there are people like you that can educate themselves and see why the US could be better if certain systems were changed to be aimed at benefitting the public rather than private corporations.
A decade ago, I wanted to move to the states, I have a lot of friends over there and thought I'd be happier. In contrast now, I realise how good I have it as a UK citizen: better employee rights (eg: no at will employment, manditory holidays, better pay, paid sick days and dependancy leave), the NHS, taxes taken from my wage before I get it so I don't have to do anything at the end of the tax year (and get money back if they over taxed me), the price I see in shops is the price I pay. My fiancee is going to be moving over here now when we're ready to get married.
Not willful ignorance. It's willful mindset that everything has to lead to utter profit before all else and all else is that terrifying and always misunderstood word "socialism". Most Americans don't understand that word, they all think it means "communism". That's the bogey man that lives behind every Americans settee. Sigh! Slava Ukraine.
Great comparison, in lockdown in Uk you couldn't get a mcdonalds for about 9 months they was completely shut EVERYTHING to do with food cafes etc was shut. Only supermarket for food shopping, and not social places.
WOW, just wow, I just looked up tax rates in the USA vs Australia, where I live, expecting a major difference in how much tax we pay (that's the excuse I always hear about why we have Medicare and the USA does not) and the tax rate is similar, at least in Florida (i figured that would probably be a good middle ground) for $75k a year you pay about 20% on income tax, for $100k here ($75K USD) we pay about 23% income tax. that includes our health care, so we don't have to pay for health insurance.
that also includes our welfare system where if you cannot find a job or are unable to work at all, you can get government payments.
You do understand Australia has a far higher cost of living. The houses are more expensive, the food is more expensive, everything is. Australia also lacks job opportunities compared to the US. And boy I hope you're not in the flood zone.
Here in Australia full-time workers receive (at least) four weeks paid vacation leave PLUS an extra 17.5% pay called 'leave loading'. We get paid extra to have holidays.
Also the quantative easing has basically been keeping capitalism on life support since 2008. You have socialism for the capital class and neo feudalism for everyone else.
the fact that in the United States there is no payment for parental leave. will make many workers all over the world heartbroken. because all countries even the poorest countries in Africa guarantee an average of 14 weeks with 100% paid parental leave. and developed countries in Europe have an average of 52 weeks of 100% paid parental leave.
Is it “wrong” to feel sorry for American peoples? I am sitting here, thinking of “my” work/life balance, safe in the knowledge that I can take a holiday and still be paid; that if I was be taken ill, I would have no fear of seeing a Doctor; calling an ambulance; not having to pay for any prescription medicines should I need them … that my Employer cannot “force” me to work overtime (just ask me nicely 😅) Why isn’t the American population up in arms about how and the way they are being regarded by the large Corps and those “running the country”? Now knowledge of how other countries operate and treat their populace is being gained through these”reaction” videos on YT, I am just surprised that the average American Joe & Joan Soap are just sitting back and accepting it - it’s unreal… so glad I live in good old England, for all its faults (and it has them 😉😖) I feel safe and secure… this lovely green and sceptred island - I thank you 😌
I know it seems crazy to us, but to Americans it's normal. It's the system they've been brought up with.
From an early age they're told they live in the greatest nation on earth, with freedoms other countries don't have. Most simply don't question it.
@@101steel4 In schooling they pledge allegiance to a flag, thats the first step to indoctrination and the brainwashing of believing the lie that America is the best place on earth which in turn makes most Americans unwilling to learn about the outside world as they think they have it best and that no nation on the planet has it better. Most of their education revolves around the US and not the world. This is why 'They' think they have it best, and because of that, unwilling to learn about the rest of the world. "Wilful ignorance" is the correct term as the video says. 'We have it best' they will say, why need to learn about France or Germany or the UK? 'We have the freedom' They will say etc... yeah right! If only every single American was learned the truth, but their media and education stays US centric because of that lie they have been drip fed through their own education and media that the USA is the best country in the world when the rest of the world knows that it isnt!
Yep.
I have money saved here in Belgium.
I can lose my job for an entire year, get cancer, etc. and I'll be fine.
Sure, I'll lose money but I'll be looked after, I won't become homeless, etc.
It seems stupid and crazy to us but Americans are practically programmed from birth to believe that they're the best at everything, that nothing can be as good as it is in America. It's the whole American Exceptionalism mindset, a mindset that the corporations exploit ruthlessly and completely. So glad I like you live here in the UK, at least we care about the welfare of our people unlike our callous cousins across the Altantic.
I seen a comment from someone saying they are so happy they don’t live in America..(they are from Kazakhstan) if that doesn’t tell you all you need to know, I don’t know what does 😂😂
Quite a telling comment. Love my country but we are so messed up in so many ways.
(British here) that whole 40hr week thing is nonsense. if you aren't an office worker chances are you work 50-60 hours a week. if you are paid an hourly rate you are incentivised to work more hours. people in office jobs moaning they want a 30hr week drive me nuts.
One point you are missing out on in that comment. The legal Maxim of 48 hour contracted working week in the UK.
@@grahamsmith9541 bollocks. It's an opt out system, if you sign out of the working time directive willingly you can work much more. Companies offer 60hour/week contracts knowing that need the money. If you agreed to that going in its totally legal
Self employed tiler in UK work about 50 hour week at least and that's not counting measuring jobs and invoices or working out prices 40 hour my arse
Wow! That's crazy, I didn't know it was so unfair!
I'm glad to be French when I hear that.
We started in the right direction during the New Deal. Labor unions (before corruption took hold) and social safety nets did wonders for not only the middle class but the whole economy. But over the last few decades, the working class has been persuaded that in unfettered capitalism employers could, I don’t know, be trusted to act in the best interests of their employees. News flash: they don’t. They act in the best interest of their owners, executives, shareholders and their bottom line. They will squeeze employees for every penny. Defined benefit pension plans used to be common-now you only see them with government entities-and there are a lot of well-funded lobbyists doing everything they can to get rid of those. They also try to arouse jealousy in the private sector so workers don’t want government employees to have it either, instead of having those private sector workers fight to regain what’s been taken from them. GOD forbid that huge corporations like McDonalds and Walmart, which turn in massive profits every year, have to share any of that with the people who actually help them make those profits. And if we INSIST that they raise wages, instead of cutting into million dollar bonuses, who are they going to hit up? Customers. Capitalism is wonderful, but history has shown time and again that without any kind of regulation, businesses will rob customers and employees blind and compromise safety in the name of profit. And yet somehow they’ve managed to brainwash workers to think regulation, unions, etc., don’t help them.
I love listening to your sensible point of view.
And being chronically overstressed, impoverished and subsisting on a nutritively poor diet - more often than not laden with excess additives, for example, excess consumption of sugars in all their forms - is just what - for example - viruses and cancers love to take advantage of.
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The is uncountable places in my country where social care is lacking , but I just cannot understand how the most advanced industrialised nation on the planet with such immense wealth , where finding a $billion for weapons to be sent to the Ukraine wasn't a problem , can have such places as Kensington in Philadelphia where so many poor souls are living a daily nightmare and in desperate need of help. It just doesn't make sense to me.
I've seen the videos on Kensington. Absolutely shocking. Apparently the same thing is happening in other US cities too.
@@101steel4 Hard to believe those very same streets were once walked by the men who signed the declaration of independence. 🥺
@@hiramabiff2017 bet they wish they hadn't bothered now. As this video proves 😁
@@101steel4 Best quote from Al Murray.......American's see the War & Declaration of Independence as Freedom...Britain see's it as a Lucky Escape.
I retired 8 years ago. Worked on the railway. I got $40/hour. Average 35 hour/4 day week. The average was over the timetable period. Anything over was paid. Which was a nice occasional bonus for summer leave and Christmas. Anything under, written off. Oh, and Sundays were extra.
I was also in the Royal Auxiliary Air Force (Reserves). I worked at the Royal International Air Tournament at RAF Fairford a few times. One time we were in the back of a Hercules from the Air National Guard Nashville drinking their beer. One of them actually used the phrase 'Our great nation'. We managed to avoid an embarrassing moment, but only just. How we kept straight faces I'll never know.
But excellent blokes I must add.