Country Size Vs the Good Life! Fight!

[dv8nation]

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2013/0108/1224328563655.html

A recent study has listed the best countries to born in as of right now.

1 Switzerland

2 Australia

3 Norway

4 Sweden

5 Denmark

6 Singapore

7 New Zealand

8 Netherlands

9 Canada

10

Comments

[ddstory]

If the US consists of 50 states with their own specifics and a relative sovereignty of legislation, then I don't see much of a reason why successful models cannot (or shouldn't) be ganked from smaller countries. I mean, most US states are comparable in size and population to most countries from the above list.

[sophia_sadek]

State sovereignty in the US is fairly limited. States with higher, more diverse populations, such as New York and California, tend to dominate in some areas and states with higher levels of ignorance, such as Texas and Florida, dominate in other areas.

[chron_job]

The thing is, they don't really have much of any sovereignty of legislation to speak of, and what little they do is shrinking. Things left to the states like business licensing are less important when all business is international, much less interstate. Heck, they can't even stand up to federal pressure when it comes to setting their own speed limits.

[ddstory]

And I thought fundamental issues like family, social policy, industry, and labor are approached in a myriad of nuanced ways that differ from state to state. I must've missed something.

[chron_job]

That sounds like the sales pitch from the State's rights guy :)

Anyone who has had to move from one state to another knows that there are differences, which can be a pain (especially if you move to a state that has an income tax, when the old one did not) but ultimately the day to day of life is pretty much the same, only intruding on our consciences occasionally... Heck, crossing from a wet county to a dry county involves more life changes than crossing from Florida to Georgia.

The big exceptions being where social conservatives have dug their heals in and tried to turn back the social justice clock (like trying to get an Abortion in Mississippi)

[ddstory]

ultimately the day to day of life is pretty much the same, only intruding on our consciences occasionally

What you've just described is pretty much what most of Europe has become, so where's the fundamental difference anyway?

I'd say it's cultural. It's not about size and not about geographical or demographic diversity. It's this central tenet of "Americanness" which is extreme, even harsh individualism. The "what's mine is mine, step off my lawn, hippie" sort of approach. It can be a driving engine for personal progress, granted; but it can also be an enormous detriment when brought to an extreme.

The funny thing is that no matter your prior nationality or race, once you've settled in the US, you inevitably endorse this kind of mentality. So it doesn't matter what the surname is. Jack Napolitano or John van der Merwe, they've all become American. And very, very individualist.

[geezer_also]

So Europe is a hive mind and/or you don't encourage individuality? (serious question)

[ddstory]

Serious answer to a serious question: I call bullshit on your simplistic generalization.

[geezer_also]

" central tenet of "Americanness" which is extreme, even harsh individualism. The "what's mine is mine, step off my lawn, hippie" sort of approach. It can be a driving engine for personal progress, granted; but it can also be an enormous detriment when brought to an extreme."

"The funny thing is that no matter your prior nationality or race, once you've settled in the US, you inevitably endorse this kind of mentality."

Ah, but mine was a simplistic question, based on your insightful generalization.

[ddstory]

Ah, yes this proves everything then. Indeed, Europe is a hive mind that does not encourage individuality. You were right! And so insightful!

[Insert innocent cartoonish "Shrug" icon]

Happy?

[abomvubuso]

Let's turn the question back at you. What do you think?

[geezer_also]

Perhaps I should have used the word "collective" (as opposed to individuality

[abomvubuso]

Having seen lots of places and lots of people in my rather short life so far, I tend to agree with you. There are a myriad of people with a myriad of backgrounds and stories, and generalisations seldom work. On the other hand, there are specific traits that distinguish one society from another, and if we go beyond the individual stories of the people that make up a society, I'm sure you'll agree we can detect some characteristics of a society (as in, a society as a whole) that distinguish it from the next one. I suspect that's the purpose that's being intended whenever someone does what you call throwing a simplistic generalisation. Are they simplistic? Sure! But the alternative is spending hours upon hours in explaining a phenomenon as complex as a society, and I'm afraid none of us has the time to go into such detail.

[mahnmut]

Yes. They're a buncha evil soshulizt drones after all. Next question?

[dv8nation]

Anyone who has had to move from one state to another knows that there are differences, which can be a pain (especially if you move to a state that has an income tax, when the old one did not)

Oh, boohoo. That only applies to Oregon last I checked. Welcome to what the other 49 states deal with every day.

[chron_job]

I'm not sure how Oregon is special. The various states are a mishmash of processes. A quick Wiki check reveals:

States with no individual income tax:

Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire*, South Dakota, Tennessee*, Texas, Washington, Wyoming.

* = No wage income tax, but various kinds of taxes on investments.

States with a flat rate personal income tax:

Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Utah.

Other states have personal income tax rates of varying degree, the highest being New York, with %12.696