General Discussion

gollygee

(22,336 posts)

25. Europe and the US are very different

Thu May 1, 2014, 01:11 PM

May 2014

Most people in the US NEED cars to get to work. Working people can hardly afford gas prices as they are. If we had the kind of public transportation options that exist in Europe, it would be another thing, though I don't know how that would work with how big our country is.

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Europe Pays Almost TWICE As Much For Gas To Drive Cars [View all] KittyWampus May 2014 OP

They also have superb public transit LittleBlue May 2014 #1

They use the gas taxes to subsidize public transportation Major Nikon May 2014 #4

Makes me so damn mad. Mira May 2014 #5

That's not really true. JVS May 2014 #16

Yes. I understand. We would like little personal hovercrafts provided at birth. Mira May 2014 #18

This message was self-deleted by its author JVS May 2014 #21

I'll make a note of it, maybe I will once Mira May 2014 #23

Point-to-point travel is going to be more expensive for obvious reasons Major Nikon May 2014 #24

I did not think it was that great hfojvt May 2014 #30

Europe also has superior modern public transit. myrna minx May 2014 #2

Message auto-removed Name removed May 2014 #9

Russia is much more spread out than the US and has much more extensive rail coverage Recursion May 2014 #13

And wonderfully walkable spaces in most cities Blue_Tires May 2014 #50

That's been true since forever frazzled May 2014 #3

Yeah, but 'Murka. We drive for dirt cheap or it stops being America. Or something. Recursion May 2014 #6

Al Gore might have become president if he'd voted the other way FarCenter May 2014 #8

Yup, that and the Assault Weapons Ban Recursion May 2014 #10

Why on earth do you think farmers wouldn't be affected by tolls? Lars39 May 2014 #34

Their combine doesn't Recursion May 2014 #36

They still have to get their produce to market and yes, that is done on the interstate system, too. Lars39 May 2014 #43

Sure, most things are transported using roads, which is why gas taxes are regressive Recursion May 2014 #44

And quite a few of them already get subsidies that help cover that cost. Lars39 May 2014 #45

So the fuck what? We pay way more for a far shittier healthcare system. JVS May 2014 #7

Heh. +1000000000000 nt Zorra May 2014 #11

Exactly! +a couple of million. Gemini Cat May 2014 #39

It's all tax and they get something for it. hobbit709 May 2014 #12

What are you trying to link this to? NCTraveler May 2014 #14

she thinks that paying a toll to travel the interstate system is just ducky.. frylock May 2014 #42

I'd rather have the higher gas price than tolls. More efficient and reliable. randome May 2014 #15

One huge difference is that America is huge PumpkinAle May 2014 #17

They have streetcars that at the edge of town can leave the town, Mira May 2014 #19

Wow! I had no idea...it's a lot better than the first time I went across the pond. sir pball May 2014 #20

That kind of tax here would absolutely kill rural Americans. Nye Bevan May 2014 #22

Yes and no. Xithras May 2014 #29

Europe and the US are very different gollygee May 2014 #25

They also pay twice as much for food, twice as much for housing and their salaries are twice as high dilby May 2014 #26

What gave you that impression? FBaggins May 2014 #31

I am just going with the UK. dilby May 2014 #32

Ah... that's more granular. FBaggins May 2014 #38

Europe =/= Florida Harmony Blue May 2014 #27

I just heard on the radio about a new rail that opened today for Orlando. tammywammy May 2014 #37

Closer to three time as much in Italy FBaggins May 2014 #28

Rail is also much more available in Europe liberal N proud May 2014 #33

Public Transit - National Health Care - Better schools truebrit71 May 2014 #35

I know, I've spent time in Europe. Crunchy Frog May 2014 #40

they also have socialized healthcare, shorter work weeks, longer vacations.. frylock May 2014 #41

Norway "uses oil profits to fund free college education" Estrella Fugaz May 2014 #46

the interesting question is German rafeh1 May 2014 #47

My state is larger than most European countries. Throd May 2014 #48

There's a map, too? 1000words May 2014 #49

To be fair, they offset this cost with trains, buses and bikes shenmue May 2014 #51

I would glady pay EU prices. deathrind May 2014 #52

Europe also does not allow straights to discriminate aginst gay people, but the US does and I've Bluenorthwest May 2014 #53

And how do they compare on health care costs? Did you advocate for European style health care Bluenorthwest May 2014 #54