Freedom in USA vs. Europe: Perspectives Explored
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- Опубликовано: 23 дек 2024
- Dive into the complex landscape of freedom as we compare its meaning and implications in the USA vs Europe. This video explores how individual rights, societal responsibilities, and government regulations shape our concept of freedom differently on each side of the Atlantic. Discover the nuances that define true liberty in varied cultural contexts.
#FreedomUSA #FreedomEurope #CulturalDifferences
As a German, I truly do not miss the "freedom" to get shot by my neighbour for accidentally stepping a toe on his lawn. But I also see an issue with our insane bureaucracy that, in parts, seems to be a means to its own preservation and nothing more. Germany is a good place to live, one of the best that currently exist, I think, but it still needs reforms to become even better and remove the sand from the gears.
As a Dutch man... the German bureaucracy is legendary in the rest of Europe. All Europeans make fun of it.
My dad spent more than 2 years "Arbeitseinsatz" during WW2 in Chemnitz. So living in Germany, first 1 1/2 year boarding in a German family, the last period in a barrack on the factory premises. He had stories about that bureaucracy for every part he fabricated. I did and internship at Siemens Medical in Amsterdam in the 1970's... everything German bureaucracy. My wife was the Betriebsleiterin of a Schlecker pharmacy shop in The Netherlands... she spent more time on her (paper)administration as on the shop. Yes Germany is an exception and can improve a lot on that. The Netherlands is sometimes close to Germany on bureaucracy, but is improving.
On the other hand Germanies past has led Europe to the present state of human life with the absence of certain horrible registrations the Nazi's used, but the US still daily uses!... like official registrations of race, color, ethnicity, sexual orientation, political affiliation and religion. In Europe politicians don't have that data anymore, so they only are able to decide about "people".
Our bureaucracy, or lets say, the rules and regulations, are not the issue IMO, or at least not mainly.
Whats more important is its speed (1), the interconnectivity between public offices (2) and an education of the general public in the German bureaucracy (3).
Someone defined US freedom as "freedom TO ... do something, express yourself, whatever" and European freedom as "freedom FROM ... being oppressed, from surveillance, having to worry whether you can afford to see a doctor or not, whatever".
I've also used that definition after I stumbled across it a few years ago. I liked it a lot.
Obviously an American nitpicking wisea$$ decided that the USA has exactly the same freedoms by formulating the sentence in a negative. Like "I have the freedom not to be oppressed by my government." At which point I decided to quit discussing the point with him as he obviously doesn't understand the difference of freedom to and freedom from. There is a principle behind the freedom to which includes specific actions, vs a freedom from which covers an entire spectrum of negative actions.
This "Freedom From" does not just apply to European countries, but also, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and many others.
The children in all these countries enjoy FREEDOM from being shot at school.
I believe Western Europe is a great place to live and bring up a family. People pay high taxes but they get a lot in return. Here in Austria up to two years (payed) maternity leave, mostly free healthcare, a guaranteed old age pension once you retire, it depending on how much you earned over the years, almost free medicine, free access to universities (no crippeling student loans for useless degrees), young children being able to walk to school savely..... I could go on and on. No society is perfect. People have it good here in Austria, many just don't appreciate it for lack of a wider perspective
I've taught civics/politics and ethical education - a substitute subject for religious aka Catholic or Protestant education - for decades here in Germany.
One of my fundamental principles was and still is:
My freedom ends where yours begins . And I fully agree with the European definition of freedom FROM compared to the US American idea of freedom OF !
Happy Holidays, dear Jay and Stephan, whatever you might celebrate ! 😊🌈
I know americans who live in Switzerland, they all say the same thing, America is not as free as most people think. we have more freedom here in Europe than in our own country.
SO TRUE !
USA is 100x better than Switzerland and France lmao.
All Europeans want to live here.
Makes totally sense what you say. And I could listen to you for hours, I love your calm and smooth voice.
Thank you I😀
Americans are very good at selling themselves. No offence folks, you just see yourselves as a whole bigger and better and often for no reason. Rather I am glad to see a few smartest, brightest Americans like Jay and others who think differently. Kudos to you Jay.
@@dandac3648 you're right, yet I'll add the US teaches us propaganda starting at a very young age, and it never stops. It takes a great deal of effort to break free of the US mindset, even for someone who gets a glimpse of life elsewhere, and can be near impossible for the poor.
In the US , there is a limited sense of freedom TO do things, whether it’s to bear arms, open carry a gun, start a business with little (relatively speaking), fire an employee at will, buy food that hasn’t been vetted for any dangerous chemicals and additives. In Europe, there is largely freedom FROM socio-economic insecurity, dangerous situations with armed persons, fear of not getting medical treatment due to finances, losing one’s job and health insurance, worry about childcare costs, higher education costs which pose significant financial hardship. And that freedom FROM those things create a sense of safety and overall well-being. In the US, freedom TO do and have certain things may create an opposite feeling of insecurity, chaos and a paralysis of choice if not channeled well.
The right to carry arms was created in a time, an elite soldier could fire 2 shoot per minute, with doubtful precision, the colt was not invented. Had the founding fathers any idea of automatics or MPs, they never had allowed it
Please tell this Lady about HOAs and that they can take away Your house if You use the wrong color, NO TRESPASSING vs freedom to move
Or tell them my question, I use to silence US citizens
After a 60 hours week, no holidays, at what days do You make use of Your freedom?
Freedoms I enjoy here: Protection against scammers, consumer protection. That does, practically not exist in the US, despite those big famous lawsuits against McD. If you get scammed for 10000$ then "you lost 10000$, your fault for trusting the wrong people in the US, you should have known". 10000$ loss by being scammed, even by big famous corporations, does not get prosecuted since the cost of such a lawsuit is way too high for normal people - unless you can combine with A LOT others affected.
So the definition for Europe is more like: Freedom from being scammed, being shot, be able to walk in the night in most part of Europe - even as a woman, freedom of Education (which means more equal chances for education, independent from parents money), freedom to actual neutral news enforced by our German constitution, freedom for your children so you can let them play outside unsupervised without fear..... Oh, and things like the social security of course....
What freedom do we have in common: Freedom of religion, freedom of travel, freedom to choose the field to work in, freedom to choose what to buy (former DDR as counter-example), Freedom of speech (With some differences I skip here), freedom to choose your life partner....
Your freedom should not harm others/lessen their freedom. Maybe that's the difference?
You, saying that, with this "exterminate" avatar :D
I think you expressed this perfectly well. Europe is more: "My freedom has its limits, where it infringes on the freedom of others" No society is perfect and there are always upsides and downsides on each, but I do by far prefer our seemingly more regulated freedom.
Another youtuber said in the USA it is freefom to in (most of) europe it is freedom from
As a German, I say thank you for this differentiated view and portrayal of freedom from the perspective of a US citizen living in Europe.
Ooo. I really like your observations. Consider that 'freedom' is not a concrete term. The definition is so amorphous that has a wide variety of semantic meaning in any context. I do like the way you have defined it for us here. I think in the U.S. we put so much emphasis on individual freedom and the fear that we might somehow loose it, that we neglect the lack of regulation given to non-dying sociopathic individuals known as corporations.
years ago there were plans to privatize waterworks etc.. How good this idea works can be seen in the USA. Daseinsvorsorge (service for the public) should never be driven by aspects of earning money.
Governmental protecting regulations and securing the public order for the common / collective good is the duty of a country that cares for the well-being of all its citizens.
Americas' motto is Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.
Canadas' is Peace, Order and Good Government.
I really like your definition of freedom and your explanation. I think the biggest difference for me is that most new development in Europe is regulated to death before it even exist. So if you are someone who sees cultural change you feel really kept on bay in Europe. I mean in the end it does not make a big different that you get shot or got run down as a cyclist by another SUV.
Your unease is palpable in this video, but you continued, I tip my cap to you for making this. I used to give talks with others at a prison in the city near where I live, we have disabilities and spoke about lack of life choices because of this, many people in prison are there through lack of choices in life and this helped us to relate to one another (not everyone of course), what we expect in life is often decided before we are born and as you said about the differences between the US and Europe and how that affects how each country thinks of what freedom is. Being disabled my choices are different from someone without a disability, so Europe is better for me than the US world be, but it's not perfect of course, nowhere is, but I like that, it means that I have to try harder, but I also have to rely on others when I would like to be able to do things for myself, but these things are sent to try us "no, I don't believe in a god" I'm not knocking it, it's just not for me. I think that it was brave of you to post this video, thank you :)
All I know is that I left the US in 1965 for Germany and I have never missed what Americans call freedom. I can say without hesitation that the quality of life is far better in Europe than in the US and that is important to me.
I think our American freedom is now becoming just neglect. Yes, the roots are maybe that wild west mentality, but with so much of that purely in our history, not the present, and where the present feels like we're out of control, where is your safety? How can you truly be free when you're actually and literally not safe except for how you can have a buffer between you and danger which in the USA means money. Money is your buffer and you better have it or else. You don't matter except in that your purse and your consumerism matters.
So... your background is basically off-white? Is it woodchip wallpaper or just plain?
The US ranks 17th in the Global Freedom Index.
This video discusses different perceptions of freedom.
Freedom is not one-dimensional and hard to compare or quantify!
European freedom is all about being protected by the state.
I won't say there's no paranoia here, but the US is at another level.
Of course we're all socialists in the eyes of Americans, but I prefer that over fearing everything.
Yet they expect "Social Security"
I've lived in a bunch of countries over the last 25 years, including 5 in the US on top of many other visits there over a 25 yr period. What I've noticed about many Americans' comparisons of life in other countries, is that the comparison seems to be based on what the world was like 200+ years ago, where the British Empire was pervasive, and the US was one of the few democracies. There's an implicit assumption that the rest of the world has never moved on, or exists only in relation to the US.
Freedom's just another word, for nothing left to lose... _Janis Joplin_
"Workin' for the Yankee dollar"
Freedom is regulated in every country but in different ways. Some would prefer the european "freedom" like hea,thcare, free education, communit. Work ( Ehrenamt), some will prefer the 'freedom' the US provides.
So people can choose, at least some can, what fits them best.
Both the USA and Germany enable a certain type and degree of freedom in the sense of possibilities of individual choices. Sometimes freedom is confused with egotism, but if you live as part of a group (relationship, family, neighbourhood, city, state, country, world) it’s probably sensible to come to certain types of arrangements that govern a way of living together. At the end of the day there’s only so much space or means that enable an individual to separate itself and the mutual consequences of everyone’s actions. Since there’s no planet B we are sitting in the same boat.
I like the new back ground and the shirt is also a huuuuuge improvement.
As a German living in the U.S. I definitely feel I had more freedom in Germany. My U. S. husband who lived in Germany for 30 years says the same. Healthcare, no gun violence, women’s rights are one of the main issues.
Baguette bound said it great: we pay more taxed here in france and ww love it. We get the freedom of not going broke from kids education and medical bills. They got the freedom to be human and living their version of their version of the American dream in Europe. Happy they found their place. I found it incredibly cheap Thailand 🙏
I'm from the Netherlands. For me, freedom is freedom from tyranny, freedom to be you who are, freedom of expression, freedom to critize the government, freedom to choose your path in life. I think these freedoms in Europe have boundaries and are not absolute and total. In my opinion that's fine, as long as the boundaries are fair and reasonable and benefit all of us. I think Americans believe more in absolute freedom, no restrictions to your freedom. This may seem more beneficial but it may come at the cost of someone else's freedom or security. In Europe freedom is more of a balance. It's a matter of perspective, to an American this may seem less free or not totally free, but total absolute freedom is not the end goal. The end goal is the happiness of the people. Freedom with some restrictions, but a more livable society is preferable IMO.
There is a saying that one's own freedom ends where it affects the freedom of others. My impression is that in the USA it's about how far I can extend my own freedom until the other person can no longer tolerate the restrictions on their own freedom. I think it's good if the state partly defines these limits and thus protects those who can't defend themselves.
As seen from my Danish village, there are several countries which are relevant comparisons for our level of personal freedom. USA is not one of them.
I have found Germans obsessed with regulations and seeing that other people obey the regulations.
I cycled through Germany some years ago, and I have never been spoken to as much anywhere else as to where I could or couldn't cycle.
In most other countries, people don't bother what others do, but not in Germany. There might be just as many regulations in other countries, but it doesn't feel that way when people are not obsessed with them.
In my opinion, your bicycle example does not work. Try riding your bike in the USA. Drivers will very quickly show you where not to ride. That's also the reason why nobody rides a bike except for exercise.
Are you from one of the Scandinavian countries? Your name speaks for it. Germany is much more densely populated than the countries in the north. That's why rules are needed among road users here.
So, the equation is Freedom from versus to.
Freedom from is reactive and thus reactionary, because it needs existing conditions to safeguard from.
Frredom to is proactive and thus activist, since it leaves open the universe of things to aspire to.
I live my life in the 'Freedom To' mode because I was getting tired and annoyed of the reactionary mindset of the other option.
Oh, and my favorite variation of the 2nd amendment deals with: The Right to Arm Bears.
the US is a bit like north korea. they think theyre the best place, with the best everything
Agreed, except the propaganda in the US is even stronger and more deeply ingrained in us. It's incredibly difficult to break free of the mindset.
Wealthy people have more freedom than less wealthy people. This freedom also represents an imbalance of power that allows the rich to take advantage of poor people. In my opinion, the state has a duty here to pass laws (employee laws, consumer protection laws, etc.) that protect the poorer population.
Britain has the same right to bear arms in their unwritten constitution bit it is never practised .
02:42 That's what I dislike about many U.S. Americans: Know a lot of legends, but no real history. Public debate did not become obsessed about the 2nd Amendment before the 1970s. It was a White reaction to the Civil Rights Movement. Same background before the Civil War: the Slave Patrols. After the Civil War, during the Reconstruction: the State militias (State rights!). The 2nd Amendment has absolutely nothing to do with being afraid of foreign rule or aggression.
04:39 Here in Europe, freedom is more considered like a societal compromise: Everybody has to give up some freedom, so everybody can have more of it. Nevertheless, the degree of protection of the individual's rights is a good marker for the degree of freedom within a society as a whole.
USA: freedome, Europe: freedoomed
The comparative to free is freer.
I feel here in Europe we have freedom from whereas in the US there is freedom to!
Read up on the Rhineland economic model
I just hate this nation bashing. When I was young the us gave me everything I adored. Skateboarding, windsurfing, music, even chewing gum. I just wish we were friends.
I read the comments about the freedom of the individual beeing big in the us. But I may not end my pregnancy, i cannot drink beer in the park and I cannot lay nude at the beach...., what is the individuel freedom in the us except guns?
didn´t you recognize that freedom during the "pandemic" got lost in germany?
Have you any understanding of infectious diseases?
edit s/tioos/tious/
Apart from the fact that that was a very sensible way to handle the pandemic at that time, many, many countries practised far more rigorous rules than Germany ever did. All distance rules were implanted temporarily, our freedom was taken away for a short time to give it back to us as soon as possible. And we got it back. So what exactly are you getting excited about?