Myth of European Social Equality

The myth of European social equality is that the wars and revolutions of the 19th and 20th centuries dislodged the nobility of Europe and that high taxes and generous welfare state has made everyone comfortably middle class post-WW2. The reality is that the old money is mostly still there, and welfare state simply entrenches the continent's centuries old hierarchy with the cover of comfort.

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[AFNick]

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[lennyf]

Hey Nick awesome video. When I was younger I wanted to move to Europe because I went there a few times and it seemed so great to live there, but as I got older I explored the idea of being an entrepreneur more. Off of the top of my head I could not think of any known European entrepreneurs and did some research on starting a business in Europe, and you got it right on the ball. Since then I've decided to stay in the US so that I have a better chance with social mobility.

[allisonhowmann]

Finally someone talking about this! I have been yelling about how ridiculous it is for Americans to romanticize Europe when you could NEVER EVER buy a place in Paris without being of generational wealth.

In Europe they give people just enough to not revolt, but no new rich.

[erichanson]

This is interesting. There are many mechanisms that decrease social mobility in Europe. Social programs that transfer risk of individuals to the state reduce the autonomy of individual citizens due to the law of requisite variety. College is free in Germany, but the state tests students into tracks after elementary school. Only 33% of german students are college educated compared to 66% in the us. Students with the resources to prepare for the test or study abroad get to be in the educated class, while students without resources often get locked into a lower social status before they enter middle school.

[tawnybrawn]

My mother’s mother’s family arrived with William the Conqueror & helped conquer Britain. I was shocked to discover they had the same land & titles from 1060AD & remain in communication with relatives in Normandy.

[willlockler]

Interesting. America must seem like chaos to this old money.

[fireblade]

As a european, I can confirm that this video is mostly accurate, especially in southern europe. Northern Europe, with the protestant reformation became more capitalistic, whereas catholic southern europe remained quite feudal. In my home country of Portugal, it is very evident that most of the people that have money are descendents of aristocracy (which even have a different physiognomy, they look northern european) and politicians and their families, which are usually commoners that a few generations ago were even poor. There are exceptions though, you do get industrious entrepreneurs that manage to become "new rich", but this is done by understanding the complex bureaucracy and working around it and managing your own business. It is impossible to become wealthy just by working a middle class job, unlike in america (although its becoming harder in america too).

[loopsearcherbot]

This video put everything I lived through into words. I am originally from the Balkans, and have spent 6 years living and working in the EU - Germany and Austria and now I am happy in the US.

The entire EU system is set up so it completely disincentivizes entrepreneurship or any other attempts to get out of your box (especially if you are an immigrant, oh boy is that a lost cause) - You have extensive social safety nets making you comfortable where you are and at the same time you have high taxes actually keeping you where you are. As a lower-middle class you are paying for the entire society functioning.

At the same time old money is collecting rents from apartments, companies, land and cities they owned for hunderds of years.

Even if you manage to break out of the lower middle class and become a successful business owner you still end up having to pander to the upper class in one way or another. And if you managed to break out most probably because you were in some way already connected.

What is interesting is the chasm between the managerial class and the middle class. They are miles above you - you address them formally - herr this, herr that. I feel more equal with Jeff Bezos than I did with my actual manager at work back in Europe.

[hhkk]

Old money in Europe, don't pay taxes at all: trusts, tax exemption, and all kind on schemes 😅

[hhkk]

Fun fact: in Europe most of people don't own homes, they are renters in 5th-10th generation. In some (rich) countries 80% of people rent small apartments 😮😮😮And somehow it's considered a good thing 😂

[hhkk]

Another thing is, American living standards were heavily inflated by global reserve currency ( money printer) but it's coming to an end

[timog]

great video. youtube algo is on point again

[AndreasJohansson-wd]

This really puts a new, pretty maddening, perspective on my own life, even though I was already not a huge fan of the social democrats. I live in Sweden with a low income job, still living with my parents and not really sure what I should do.

So happy I found this channel, looking forward to more knowledge and insight in the future!

[Robboa]

Large vehicles are liabilities - don’t misconstrue those as a sign of wealth in America.

[kobalt]

Bro I think that is how pre-modern China operated. The state prioritized stability over innovation which led to its humiliation during the middle and late 19th century.

[e.t.theextraterristrial]

They're stuck in the past over here and they're waaaay more discriminating not only in terms of race/ethnicity but also class.

I'm obviously generalizing here, some countries are better at this, especially Nordic countries because of how Viking societies worked.

[psikeyhackr]

The social psychology of European Culture is imperialistic. Capitalism, socialism and communism do not matter. The social psychology of the culture will bend them all to be imperialistic.

When has mandatory accounting in the schools been discussed regarding any of them? Do they use money?

[HarmKaban]

There are two types of people:
1. Smart people
2. People who believe the official unemployment statistics

[bevbevan]

Tremendous video.

It was fascinating how the European upper class’ expectation that all systems were rigged made them among Madoff’s leading pigeons.

[josephang]

It's a very stagnant economy. In the past Europe grew by colonialism, opening options for people to go up in the hierarchy, but now they are just good enough to not even try to progress economically. Most of them also hate children or despise de idea of relying on family, so they overrely on the state. Why build wealth and accrue assets if you have no children anyway? It is basically demographic nihilism. I see no real future in such society, nor I see stable geriatric states, but rather only a few people on independent small towns and cities that hopefully change the trend and keep European culture alive, like they did in Orania.