> She has a compost in her backyard, is a
> vegetarian, has parties at her house to put
> together care packages for people in Iraq and,
> most importantly, hates Bush

If you described this person without naming nationality, it is obvious it is an American since no other nationality fits all the points.

The description of your friend sounds fairly typical of the kind of American I encountered as a kid. Then there was the tough guy cops and soldiers on the telly that I couldn't get enough of. Later on there was the various kinds of yanks at Uni. Naturally fell in with the guy who spent most time at the bar - he was the exception, on the whole my personal experience of U.S. exchange students was that they were pretty hard working and conscientious. Then there was this 21 year old NYC student who appeared in the small town one summer....Know a few Americans via work now. So what one's typical ? Screwed if I know,and I have only scrcatched the surface.
I don't know how you can let someone elses ignorance be your problem.
It's not as if I have never read any sweeping generalisations regarding Europe, or Britain (usually as England)on this site.

I should be used to these ignorant generalizations. However, no matter how many times it happens, I cannot fathom how someone can stand in front of me and put down my nationality. Why do they think it's okay to do this, when if the tables were turned, I would be the one labeled as close-minded and ignorant?

I guess one could argue that it's better to say these things to my face, rather than behind my back. Who knows. I've overheard plenty of comments not meant for my ears, and I can't tolerate either, really.

I'd say the right treats anti-Americanism the way the left treats racism- totally intolerant of it free speech or not.

As a committed centrist, I pretty much hate both equally.

Steve, Did you see Avenue Q? Everyone is a little bit racist. :-)

Silly immigrant, the point of my story about Whoppers in China or talking in a British accent in Cambridge is not that I "don't care" what people think -- it's that when someone says "are you american" or "you're american aren't you" - I smile broadly and say "yes, I'm from New York, where are you from?" I'm not offended when people assume I'm American -- I love it, because dude, that's what I am. (That's what your brother was trying to teach you with his response.) Stop being so self-conscious and assuming that "american" is a bad thing...I love mac 'n cheese (although compost heaps...dunno about that)
Now, if someone spits in your eye or rolls you around in the mud, then umbrage ought be taken.

But they're thinking 'I can't believe this retardo American is eating Burger King in China', so, clearly, what you're saying is you don't care what they think.

Since WWII the foundation of all left-wing parties in Europe and Britain is Anti-Americanism. If you are not Anti-American, you cannot be left-wing. The media is left-wing over there just as it is here and the people get a steady diet of Anti-Americanism. So much of Anti-Americanism is due to ignorance.

Another component of Anti-Americanism is envy. They are envious of our ability to defend ourselves and our standard of living. Their standard of living continues to drop. The average European now has a standard of living lower than our poverty level.

Since I travel a lot in Europe, I am shocked on how low the standard of living is over there. So my pity for the average Eurocitizen’s plight overwhelms my angry due to Anti-Americanism.

Steve, Did you see Avenue Q? Everyone is a little bit racist. :-)

Yes yes, and the internet is for porn.

"But they're thinking 'I can't believe this retardo American is eating Burger King in China'"

Not so, the best that I could figure, they were thinking "how can I get this woman to marry me," as I received no fewer than five proposals during my trip.

Jake:

I don't think that the average European has a lower standard of living than American poverty levels. From where do you get your information?
Are you including newly admitted countries to the EU like Poland?

Productivity in Western Europe is about the same as in the U.S. They work less so they make less money, but I do not think that their choice of more leisure time makes them impoverished.

I'm still feeling to see your problem. From what I know, you are all comfortably well off, residing in a city which you all appear to absolutely love, in a country which you seem to be as passionate about.You live pretty full lives, surrounded by friends. Why do you give a sh*t about the opinions of others ?
I mean, Jakes comment isn't exactly 100% accurate, but I couldn't care less.
Dawn obviously doesn't care about other peoples opinions of her eating BKs in China. In a similar vein, on Friday I was treated a diatribe (half serious) about drinking Budwieser from a NY tourist. It wasn't even my bottle, but I happen to like Bud - crisp, goes down easy, does the job. She was drinking Stella Artois. Hope that she felt sophisticated when she woke up with the massive headache. Brought back memories of nose's turning up when I ordered Bud in NY. As far as I can tell Bud is the beer equivalent of a Big Mac in some eyes.

Your brother makes a good point. Americans try way to hard to please everyone and to not act so "American". Why do we even care what they think? I'll learned along time ago that you will never be able to please everyone. I talk loud, love the 2 cheeseburger meal @McDonalds, and always try to be friendly. Most British people get freaked out when a smiling and friendly Lisa tries to engage them in conversation.

Karol/Jess if I came to you really upset b/c someone insulted me. Let's say they called me a dumb blonde. You would say something like "Why do care what they think? By getting upset your just giving them power, the important thing is that you know that you are not a dumb blonde! And they are only saying this b/c they don't really know you."

My parents went abroad recently and I couldn't be more proud of them. Both of them were born and raised in Brooklyn and it was their first time in Europe. I can picture with their fanny packs, asking a million questions, talking very loud, and mispronouncing words.

The bottom line being that they were just being themselves. If people are judgmental or don't like the way you are then f*** them!

I think there's a difference between putting down someone because they drink Bud/is blonde/talks loud/listens to country music/eats mac n' cheese/etc. and putting down someone because of their nationality/religion/race, things that people have been killed as a result of.

Competely, but I never brought the fast food reference into play.
When it boils down to it Europe and the States have more in common than divides them. As far as I can tell the anti Amricanism referred to is the harmless ignorant variety as opposed Jihadi's with a completely different world view.
The anti Englishness prevelant amongst many Scots says more about them than it does the English. The fact that the English don't give a toss only riles them more.

I got my data comparing US standard of living to countries of Europe here:

http://www.timbro.com/euvsusa/

If they are the kind of people that put down people b/c of their race/religion/nationality than all the more reason to not care what they think.

I couldn't agree more. It is so funny you wrote this today. Just this morning a colleague at work, a Jamaican, when discussing the Olympics, stated that Americans in general are "obnoxious and ignorant." His feeling was that because, in his mind, there was a lack of American TV coverage of non-american Olympic teams. Hmm, perhaps NBC will get the highest ratings in America showing AMERICANs playing events rather than Jamaicans? It was all I could stand not to go nuts, but, it is work afterall. So, I just made sure he knew I was offended, made my point about ratings, fired up the ol Ipod, cranked the new fabulous George Michael CD and went back to work.. Ha! I'll show you obnoxious and ingnorant.. I need not develop this thought any further... Na!

>>>Another component of Anti-Americanism is envy. They are envious of our ability to defend ourselves and our standard of living. Their standard of living continues to drop. The average European now has a standard of living lower than our poverty level>>>>

Are they envious of our federal minimum wage ($5.15 since 1997), unemployment rates, poverty levels, and the rich-get-richer, poor-get-poorer schemes that make capitalism thrive? If they were so envious, why aren't they here? America is still an experiment and many people think or hope it will fail. The "freedom" we so proudly hail, isn't it really just a freedom to buy things and walk around and say things without getting shot or hung by the dictator???

Haha, Georgina. They ARE trying to get here! And they ARE jealous of our federal minimum wage, or don't you know how people live in most of the world? And they ARE jealous of our employment rates in good jobs that usually pay far more than minimum. The federal poverty line is horribly inaccurate, but we're doing pretty well.

I also don't know about the "poor getting poorer." Try John Edwards and his "Two Americas" on for size -- going to Wendy's and having a bite for his news clip and then having ridiculously expensive catered lunch with the campaign.

Sure sounds like a terrible country for a mill worker to raise his family in!

Who are THEY exactly ? So you think everyone else in the world is totally dissatisfied with thier lot? It doesn't strike you one minute that some others around the world might like where they live ? There is a lot of immigration into the U.K. It can't be that bad. Do you think nothing goes on here except obsessing about the U.S. in a negative way ?
Again, who do you mean by they ?

candace: i think you are missing my point. how much does the person at wendy's make and will that person ever be able to have a catered meal on a luxury tour bus? probably not, but i guess that is the struggle and point of coming to america right? have you ever tried to live on 5.15 an hour when your lunch costs 7.50 and you have to buy diapers and food for your 4 kids? mr. edwards is not the person i think of when i write about this - i think of the person who works at wendy's for a living. mill workers too. they are the back bone of america and people would not have wendy's or catered meals if there were not minimum/low wage workers to prepare the food. that's all i'm saying. i know plenty of people who are not trying to get here and are quite happy living where they are, and they're doing just fine. sure there are others with the american dream - the dream to make money.

Jake. No offence but you are talking crap.

If the US minimum wage is $5.15 per hour then there is no way in hell that average europeans have a lower standard of living than the US poverty level.

$5.15 is £2.81 at the current exchange rate. The british minimum wage for those over 22 is £4.50 per hour until october when it goes to £4.85 per hour. For those like myself aged 18-21 the figures are £3.80 going up to £4.10. For 16-18 year olds it is £3p/h. In US Dollars this equates to $8.23 going up to $8.87. For 18-21 US is $6.95 to $7.50. Lastly £3 = $5.49.

For the record I am 20 years old and have not earnt under 4.15 an hour since i was 17. That includes working in Devon which is an area of traditional high unemployment and low wages. Please explain to me how a 17 on minimum wage can earn MORE than anyone on US minimum wage and still be below the US poverty line. In addition unlike a large number of americans on minimum wage EVERY SINGLE PERSON in Britain is covered by the NHS. National insurance contributions and our rate ofd tax which is currently 40 odd percent at the highest bracket. Therefore we earn more and don't have to pay a fortune for medical expenses.

Nick, how do you imagine the evil American health care system works? You come to the hospital bleeding out of your head and the unsmiling nurse says 'I'm sorry, you don't have insurance, either pay cash or go home'. Every hospital will treat you and if you are low-income, there are a lot of different free healthcare options. There is the federal Medicaid and several state programs. I would rather have no insurance in the US than NHS in Britain. I've lived in Britain. I've gotten sick in Britain. I would rather be in the US healthcare system any day of the week.

Everything is a lot more expensive in Britain. Every day items are astronomically priced. I remember that my toothpaste cost 7 pounds (don't have the pound sign on my keyboard) while it costs the equivalent of around 3 pounds here. So, yes, maybe your minimum wage is higher, but so is the cost of living. Also, the whole system of being paid according to your age instead of according to the job requirements is so wacky to me. If I'm 17 and doing the exact same job as an 18 year old, why should they get more? It's exactly this type of system that discourages hard work. Don't get me started on your tax system.

Finally, having lived in both places I can say from experience that there is much more opportunity in the US. There is a lot more hope that you will someday own your own business and be your own boss. My British friends can correct me if I'm wrong but I never heard similar sentiment in Britain. A lot of my American friends own their own businesses or plan to and these are mostly children of immigrants whose parents came America with zero.

Come on K, that toothpaste example is nonsense. The most expensive brand I have seen is around £4. The average is much lower. Keeping an eye out for 2 for one offers etc (like the canny Scot that I am) I probably pay on average about £1.20 for a pretty decent known brand. What a boring subject, but I don't see why you resort to downright distortion ?
I was surprised in NY at the amount of parity in everyday items. I was expecting it to be much cheaper. Admittedly I didn't stay long enough to be able to tell fully.
The sentiment of self employment is growing in the UK. You lived mainly in Scotland I believe, where admittedly the mindset is adapting more slowly - mainly due to the industrial past. That said, I wonder just how different Scotland is from some of the rust belt states in the U.S.

Urbane,

I found Scotland to be comparable in price (for everything except rent) with NYC, which is one of the most expensive cities in the world. Some things were so much more expensive in Britain: like heat or needed things like socks. And I swear, my toothpaste was sooooo expensive there my parents used to mail it to me (it's called Rembrandt).

Must be pretty special toothpaste. Will try it if they do a 2 for 1 sometime. From ignorance, via fast food, to toothpaste in 27 easy steps.

I wonder how much toothpaste costs in Uganda. Or Uzbekistan. Do they have toothpaste in these countries? Do people brush their teefs in these countries? Tom's of Maine is pretty good. I pay about $4.00 US for that stuff. And it's really best to get toothpaste without the fluoride. Fluoride is not so good for you.

There is a good column about EU envy of the US in Wednesdays NY Sun. It mentions that the productivity gap is large between the US and the EU with GDP per person around 37K a year in the US. Norway (or Denmark) was next at 32 k a year. The the big dropoff to the UK at 26 K and then even lower in France and Germany at around 20K.

They also mention the much higher taxes and the fact that they do not work as much as we do in the US. They cited studies in the EU which show the average worker in the EU works 48% of the US workday. There is one country (I am not looking at the article) that has 25% of its workforce calling in sick every day.

To take care of this the taxes are incredibly high as even if they wanted a private system like we have for healthcare and how to make it work better than ours there would be no way to fund it. We do have problems but people don't die on the street, hospitals are required by law to treat you in an emergency and don't ask first if you have insurance.

We also don't have 1000s of people a year dying from heat even though millions live in our deserts.

If someone is sick and never goes to an emergency room or doctor and dies in the street there is no system in the world that could have saved that person.

Karol.

I know roughly how the american healthcare system works. My point was meant to be that in the UK the cost of healthcare is already taken care of. A patient will not see a bill unless they go private. I know that in America no nurse will refuse to treat someone who is obviously in dire need of treatment but as i understand it the person will recieve a bill later on. I also would much prefer to be treated in an american hospital than a british one as ours are disgracefully bad. However the healthcare system in France and Germany is first rate. i don't know how it compares with America but compared to hear it is light years better.

The cost of living in Britain is horrendously expensive yes but the same is not true of France and i live in both countries. The French do not work as much as we or you do because they do not need to and they have a standard of living that is comfortably above the US poverty line. The same is true for Germany and NORTHERN Italy.

The main point of my post is that it is ludicrous to claim the average european lived below the US poverty line, it is just not true. I will accept that in comparable areas in both the US and Europe the living standard in America is higher. I also accept that there is greater opportunity in America than over here. However to say that as an average European i live below the US poverty line is ridiculous.

One point worth noting (and Dan might be able to help me here). Economic research is trying to take into account a defination of happiness as part of a growth measurement. Despite the steady growth of all Western societies in the post war period, it woul appear that people aren't really any more satisfied (think of the growth in counselling or the prescriptions of anti depressants, or obesity). It's all relative when it comes to the stats.
Anyway, to suggest that everyone is sitting in Europe envious of the U.S. is ridiculous.D

I did not mean to suggest that just mentioning the story in the Sun. However Germany is looking to revamp their social welfare program and cut taxes and the other countries will have to as well.

We need reform here as the current programs will break this country in the next 30 years. Privatization is the only way to fix this or at least some partial privatization. Short of raising taxes on the Gen X and Baby Boom II generation to exorbitant amounts to cover the retiring baby boomers something will have to be done.

Raising taxes and relying on the government to fix it as many european countries have done does not work. We have problems here and they have problems there so someone whether a dem or republican needs to look at both systems and take the good and drop the bad and create something that will work for everyone.

The looming pension crisis has been a major concern for every party for years now. The problem is that there is one national cake in any given country. X amount of that will be required for pension funding whether it is coming from the private sector or public. European gvernments are going down the route of encouraging private provision whilst cutting back on the states share (and have been for the best part of 20 years in the UK). New problems arise all the time - lately it has been the under provision in the pension funds of large firms. Before that it was misselling to first generation of those who opted out of the state system. The UK govt was looking to Chile (of all places) as a benchmark for provision. Not sure what they have got going there.
You are right though, it is a shared problem, but one brought about by increased prosperity.

Catching up here - can I just quickly advertise that Rembrandt is available in Big W for £3.49. Personally I prefer a more organic one, not pulling the enamel away.
The whole bashing whoever from wherever is a crazy argument! I don't care if people bash where I come from. It's like everywhere else - has it's bad points. I like it and I know the people who live here permanently who are not from here originally like it too.
By the by my boyfriend is American and if we do stay together and make babies then we are mish mashing the world into one hey hey hey (q scary echoey dramitic laughter)!!!!