America Compared: Why Other Countries Treat Their People So Much Better

We're taught to believe that America is the greatest country on earth and that it couldn't possibly get any better. Let's put that claim to the test. In this episode, we'll compare the US to other wealthy nations using several key metrics: "low-skilled" job compensation, vacation time, length of the work week, and paid parental leave. The results may surprise you.

Further Reading:

Cited RD Article:

Out of Reach Housing Report:

Dept. of Labor Definitions:

Parental Leave Comparisons:

1969 Meat processing wages:

America Compared: Why Other Countries Treat Their People So Much Better – Second Thought

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[darkawakening]

What Americans call "benefits", Europeans call "standards".

[shababhsiddique]

"Even countries that we bombed into oblivion take better care of their workers" - best line ever.

[james]

The highest form of patriotism is being able to critique your country. That's the only way to improve it

[vesselinkrastev]

I'm from Bulgaria. We're basically considered the black sheep of the EU but, based on this video, I still feel we're better off in many respects. I had no idea there's no such thing as maternity leave in the US...

[xanderxalamander]

I am a german and every time i learn something new about America i think:
"I knew it was bad, but i didn't think it was THIS bad."

[deomnibusdubitandum]

“Socialism never took root in Аmerica because the poor see themselves not as an exploited proletariat, but as temporarily embarrassed millionaires.”
― John Steinbeck

[aikotitilai]

I remember getting in an argument with an American telling me that public health care sucks because they would have to wait to get an appointement but with private health care you can get your appointement right away because there's less people in the line so it's better... How selfish do you have to be to prefer a system that let your fellow people dying over one that take care of them just because you can't bear to wait.

[mauriciovillegas]

One thing to consider about maternal leave in other countries is that it may not even be optional. In Costa Rica, where I live, it starts one month BEFORE the expected childbirth date so the mother can rest and/or organize whatever needs to be done before; and after the birth it extends for 3 months.

[algimantasbagdonas]

When I was a kid, America actually sounded like a dream country, when I grew older I realized how happy I am that I'm a European.

[wamsang]

"Americans are willfully ignorant"
As an American, I can say this is true for most Americans

[wolverinequeen]

When I was in Kindergarten I remember my teacher teaching us about America and said very excitedly "WERE THE GREATEST NATION IN THE WHOLE WIDE Everyone dreams to be us!" and as a kid, never questioned it at all. Even though a good portion of class was hungry and under the poverty line, I just didnt think on it at the time, and I remember they took a kid's food tray away because he couldn't pay the lunch debt. As I grew up, I interacted with people from all walks of the world, not just within my country's bubble and learned wow! They just, can do what we call impossible? We can see these people just, go on Holiday, stay home with their babies for many months at a time with pay, and travel the world and not be that burdened down with healthcare woes.

[dern_ikos]

Funfact: I work in a full time Job in Germany. In my industry full time means 35 hours a week

[MrXcvbnmjhg]

As a german student I always wondered why there are not more us citizens coming to europe to study. I'm almost finished with my master in comp science, have a great job lined up and around 3000€ in student debt. When I compare this to students in the us, I feel like I'm in heaven

[burnoutvista]

"Just get a better job."
It is a FULL-TIME job. The whole point of a full-time job is for a person to be able to provide for themselves and their family. When a proper, legitimate, profit-producing full-time job doesn't pay enough, the problem lies with the company, not the employee. People who say that all too common phrase don't realize that SOMEBODY will have to work that job. And NO, it's not a free market where people can choose a better job and therefore force the magical invisible hand of the market to raise wages. People are STUCK and held hostage by potential homelessness.

[marcplatapus]

I nearly fell of my chair when he said minimum waige in the US is $7.25 an hour. I’m Canada it’s nearly $15 an hour, which is over double that in the US!

[archdukefranzferdinand]

I took a study abroad trip to Italy with my college class and I was in utter shock at the change in standards. Us Americans couldn’t even fathom it. They took multi hour lunch breaks! “Siesta” they call it there. Around midday most businesses close for a couple of hours hour some close earlier in the day and open up earlier some later and open up later, some don’t even open up again at all. Some stores didnt even have set schedules or hours they just played by ear, they put up the “closed for siesta” sign when they felt like it and returned when they felt like it. That was of course more local or family businesses. Everything there was just so laid back, when I returned to the U.S. I looked around and only then realized how insane we are. Everything is go go go go go at 20 million mph 24/7 it’s debilitating to see and experience. It’s a wonder why we have such a massive amount of depressed people in this country. There all being worked to death to live paycheck to paycheck and nothing more.

[morzh]

“Socialism never took root in America because the poor see themselves not as an exploited proletariat but as temporarily embarrassed millionaires.”
"The paradise of the rich is made from the Hell of the poor."--Victor Hugo

[rboy]

I live in Sweden and my neighbour is american (I think he’s from San Diego). He said that he moved here to try something new and he says he never wants to go back. ”I’ve seen what life can be” he said. He has now lived here for 10 years.

[TheJesusFreeke]

It's stressful to be in America and try to be well-informed, as so many of us have to have our nose to the grindstone constantly, can't even look up long enough to see what's really going on.... even then, if you cite a source in conversation that is not based on the US, you are ridiculed, discouraged from using "outside" sources. We are so egocentric here. It breaks my heart we are so prideful, when there is so much we could learn from other countries and peoples.

[fankrys]

This video needs to be spread far and wide across the country. If there ever was a vital need for a video to go viral, this is it