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Even though both Europe and the USA belong to the Western World and agree on most fundamental democratic principles, they don't see eye-to-eye on everything. According to a recent study, Americans and Europeans often have different perspectives on the way of life - individualism, the role of government, free expression, religion, and morality.

However, Reddit user IBringTheGinger wanted to know how these differences manifest themselves in everyday life. So they created a post, asking Europeans to list the funny problems that are too American for them to understand. It immediately blew up, and, as of this article, has nearly 64K upvotes and 57,5K comments. Scroll down to read some of the most popular first world problems and let us know if you agree with them!

#1

Here is one I can't understand:

Strong violence on tv: No one bats an eye...

Nipple slip: Everybody loses their minds.

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Kaisu
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Also everyone having guns is not a problem, but a girl daring to wear a sleeveless shirt to school when it's a super hot day? Everyone loses their minds

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"Since Reddit is US-centric, I've seen many posts and comments about problems that seemed typically American to me such as being broke because of student debt or postponing going to the doctor because you can't afford it. So I was curious to see if other Europeans like myself ever felt the same way or if they had heard about other 'American problems' that I didn't know about," IBringTheGinger told Bored Panda.

#2

Why doesn't the guy with the most votes just win the election?

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Kaisu
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I know, it's not actually democracy if it doesn't work like this

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John L
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The American system, isn't an actual democracy. It's a republic.

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Isidien Gudmundsdottir
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Because, due to the electoral voting, it's NOT who wins the most votes, it's he/she who does the best gerrymandering in the districts because it's all about who gets the most electoral votes. The very rule put in place to avoid dishonesty has been turned into a complete dishonest thing.

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Venic
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's because we have a weird system where we pretend landmasses get to vote, so "California's" vote has to be balanced against "Wyoming's" vote. We wouldn't need to balance these if we just had a popular vote and each person had exactly one vote, but we use this system to help balance a problem we created and have inexplicably decided to sustain.

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Kimberly Young
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm American (unfortunately) and I agree that it's complete nonsense.

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Ben Smith
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Because candidates would only spend their time in major cities and never go to smaller cities and states. The system we have, while imperfect, actually gives a voice to all Americans regardless of where they live.

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Perpetual Peripheral Persons
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Their reasoning is "It would be Mob Rule!" Sorry, but the "Mob" (Public) sounds better than whoever is Pulling Strings right now

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Eel Music
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

... because we don't want the people in small towns to be made into serfs. The electoral college method makes it so big cities do not have a voting advantage!

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K.Kobayashi
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

But why should your vote count more than mine, just because you live in a small state?

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Paul Jordan
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Coz then Donald Trump wouldn't have won. Ironically, Trump has been on record as saying that the Collegiate System is anti democratic. Bet he loves it now though... as Hillary Clinton won more people votes than Trump.

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Meami
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There are many of us here that are wondering that...

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Ruth Beaty
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

America is not actually a democracy, it is a republic run on (hopefully) democratic principles. And I don't mean as in the sense of two parties with those names. The names just evolved that way. I mean in the original Greek/Latin sense of the words.

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Dan Fawber
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So cities like New York City, Philly, and other cities with high populations don't control the country.

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Pug Pug
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Because our founding fathers didn't trust the common idiot to make the right choice so they created the stupid electoral college which makes sure that we will never have any real control

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Victoria Yaste
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

the electoral college - which are the votes that matter - are voted for by rich relatives of the local government. it was invented so that slavers could get more votes from their slaves. generally a nightmare

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Eddie
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Because then candidates wouldn't care about the rest of the country and only focus on New York, Texas and California.

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Christina Uhlir
Community Member
4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

.....but in those states - NY, TX, CA are both democratic and republican districts, and the will of the people should be honored and the rule of majority should count, especially when each state has right to govern itself and only will of the people of that state is considered. The laws of the federal government shall be based on prudent judgement - what's good for the entire country not for an individual state.

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Rich Dix
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This can happen in parliamentary systems as well. Total number of seats don't always equate to total number of votes.

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Magpie
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why does it 12 months???? In Australia they decide on a date, election is done in about a month.

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Josh Yates
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't care where you're from but I see a lot of complainers throughout this entire article. Being negative and generalizing anything is ignorant and shows your intelligence. You talk about how bad Americans all are yet you are the one taking time out of your day to express negativity. Maybe get away from technology and do something good.

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Thomas Durkin
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The reason that the person with the most votes wins because 5 states out of 50 would have the major vote due to their heavy populations. That is why the founding fathers came up with the electoral college so everyone in every state had their votes mean something.

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Rae
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The US isn't a Democracy. Its a Democratic Republic.

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Hugo Raible
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Many European countries have similar elements in their democracy. Bundesrat in Germany, the Ständerat in Switzerland.

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Gwen Wrich
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Because the President of the United States is supposed to represent diversity. Not just mob rule. The diversity of all the different regions, states, economic concerns, federal lands, geographic borders, resources, rural, urban. We are a REPRESENTATIVE REPUBLIC. NOT a democracy.

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Christina Uhlir
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The democracy is the rule by the people represented by elected officials, so U.S. is a Democratic Republic.

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Lisa Weibel
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Or when you vote for something so important you need to win both. States and people vote, we in swiss do it that way. Sure you may need to revote till you get a president but would be worth it.

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Lindsay J
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Jesus the Americans here - It's because we're a republic, not a democracy.

cjucz22 avatar
Christina Uhlir
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A Republic can be governed by totalitarian regime or a Republic can by governed by it's people through representation, so USA are a Democratic Republic!!!!

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Tiny Dynamine
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You want to start talking about corruption in US politics? How many years have you got free? E.g. Trump didn't get kicked out of office because there were enough liars on his side to sway the vote. Then everyone just carries on.

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Alberto do Vale
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

To be honest, its perfectly possible to win an election and not be abble to form a government. See Portugal's exemple for that matter.

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J Rob
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It is not actually a democracy it is a democratic republic.

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Phil DeBlanc
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Like many of the ills that plague America, racism is at the heart of that: https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/11/electoral-college-racist-origins/601918/

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Christina Uhlir
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Phil, why didn't black voters turn out to vote in big numbers in 2016, as they did in 2008 and 2012??? Because they believe that Trump is not racist who calls African countries a s--t holes?

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I’m Foxxy and I know it 😉
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4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was shocked when I found out how the voting system works in the US. It is seriously flawed. If I remember rightly a states votes didn’t even get taken into account at the last election. Can’t remember why though but every persons (legal age and citizens) vote should count.

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Falcon
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

From what I understood is that each state has a representative that ultimately makes the decision. So the state can vote one way, but the representative can go another. I'm assuming it's so populism doesn't win and the vote goes to somebody competent, but judging from the previous one... not so much. I might be wrong though. 🤔

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Thien Nhat La
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Imagine if in the UN, the vote is based on the number of people instead of one country one vote. China would be deciding everything.

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Larry Sprott
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Because he’s representing of all the United States, not just the largest states with the most population.

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Louise Brigance
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Huh...funny you should ask, we've been asking the same question for almost four years now.

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Alejandra Dayton
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It was designed to keep the majority from oppressing the minority - so Los Angeles and New York don’t rule the entire country. Kind of like how blue Portland dictates everything for the rest of the primarily red Oregon. 🤷‍♀️ Also, the United States is not a democracy. It is a constitutional republic. Not enough people study civics...

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Christina Uhlir
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Every state has it's own government. The federal government should make laws which are good for the entire country not for individual state.

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Alejandra Dayton
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4 years ago

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Diana Hockley
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Because they have the Electoral College system which was devised to make sure that the majority doesn't win unless they're Republican.

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Mer
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

...too simple? Not enough room for creepy cheaters to maneuver results in their favor? Cheaters gotta cheat???

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Jace
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Is the USA the only self-proclaimed democracy to actually work as a republic? I thought this was more common. There are actual concerns with direct democracy, in that you can end up with “the tyranny of the majority”. Our “electoral votes” are supposed to be what PROTECTS us from s**t like trump, but instead it has given us at least two presidents who didn’t win the popular vote. All I know is I didn’t break it and I’m voting for the most anti-corporate Democrat offered in the next election (and that’s not to say I like that party much more than the other duopoly party).

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Christina Uhlir
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Joyce, it comes down to voter turn out; conservative republicans and the religious right are more disciplined and show up to vote for their interests, while those who could benefit from progressive agendas, usually pushed by democrats, don't even bother to vote.

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Octopus Messiah
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

With W and Trump, it's the guy cuts to the front of the queue the fastest. 1/3 of the voters are angry he q-jumped, 1/3 see it as inspirational and 1/3 of the people are on their phones. The teller gives them a pass.

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Id row
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I couldn't agree more. I could have voted 2 billion times and it wouldn't have made a difference. In fact, my one vote made no difference. They really need to get rid of the Electoral College. We wouldn't have been saddled with dum dum Bush or the cheeto if it was a true democracy. Let the people decide as it should be.

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BingeFest1
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's to make sure every voice across the country is heard. If it was just majority rules, politicians would only focus on big cities, develop a mob mentality, and basically tell smaller states like Wyoming and Delaware to f off

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Victoria Yaste
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They already tell the more populated states to f**k off. Wyoming is a nightmare state, anyways. Every single time I've ever been there I've seen a dozen anti-abortion bill-boards

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Sam Kunz
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Because of the Electoral College which ensures that the vote in Omaha has the same weight as the vote in Los Angeles. In other words, if we went purely by popular vote, the President would always be picked by California and New York Voters. I didn't understand it at first either, but then I went to college and studied Political Science. Sometimes, a little education, goes a long way.

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Christina Uhlir
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

...but in CA and NY people have a choice too, they do not vote for the same candidate. I understand that the Electoral College system was pushed by the Southern states out of fear that their slavery would be overturned and deemed illegal. It's time for change.

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Dean Wolterman
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Because the population of 5 cities would then decide the election over the rest of the entire country...not happening.

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Zillyboy
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's like the disabilities act, you give some advantage to the weak. In this case, it's so that California and New York can't completely rule our elections, and it's brilliant.

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Molly Block
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hillary Clinton would be our amazing President right now instead of this jack*ss we have in the oval office, this hate filled bigot, because of the damn Electoral College! What a bunch of b.s.!

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Carol Emory
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's electoral votes. The public votes for who they want for a candidate, then the electoral college is the fat cats who ignore us on the bottom and vote for who they want. We are trying to get the electoral votes abolished. But it's hard to run an election when you have over 160 million people voting.

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Symtpom
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

abraham lincoln wouldnt have been president if this were the case

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Paul B. Jones
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Because it isn't a fair system for our smaller states.....the system we have now levels the playing field.....

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jknbt jknbt
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

we have representative government here, not town-hall style government...

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Nancy Roccapriore
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Because California and New York would elect the person into office.

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ArmyDog07
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's because the more populated states like New York, California, etc, would dictate who the president would be, that is why we have the electoral college. Read a damn book!

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Christina Uhlir
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Maybe the damn book assumed that voters are educated and rational in every state.

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Jeff Boone
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Because direct democracy is a proven failed system. Even Brexit, voted for by the majority, was resisted by the minority.

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WilvanderHeijden
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The UK left Europe, just as the majority wanted. How is that proof of a failed system?

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D H
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4 years ago

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The system is only flawed when (1) your candidate loses and (2) you are not from here and (3) do not understand our election process

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Andrew Yarke
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4 years ago

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Because you would have politicians visit only the large population states and all the large population states would influence the election. With the electoral college, every state and people get a chance at a fair election.

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Venic
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you need a politician to physically appear inside of the same imaginary border as you in order to decide whether you want to vote for them, you've got much larger problems, possibly with literacy. Where they physically travel to tell people things they can already learn from newspapers, the internet, etc. should not matter whatsoever.

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Don Pe
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4 years ago

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Same here - sometimes they have some "elections" multiple times over again because they are unhappy with the results. :D Democwhat?

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4 years ago

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Because then you'd have the big cities deciding the elections for the entire country since some cities have way more people than entire states. It ensures that everyones voices are heard. In Canada the conservative party won the popular vote but lost the election too. Notice how only the left bitches about this? Nobody in Canada complained because they know if it was reversed they'd happily accept the results too.

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Anon Yymi
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

People get to vote, thus their voice IS heard. Why does empty land in the US have more voting power than actual people?

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The amount of attention their post got really surprised IBringTheGinger. "From what I've seen on r/AskReddit, how many upvotes you get can be extremely random depending on the day and hour you post at and there's nothing you can do about it. I never managed to get past like 300 upvotes before. Almost 60k comments is just crazy."

Even though they knew a lot of the things that were mentioned in the replies such as problems in the healthcare system or excessive swearing-censoring on the TV, they made IBringTheGinger understand the different culture better. "I learned about others and seeing all those issues combined in one place really made me realize I'd never want to chase the American dream myself. Well, not if I wouldn't be hugely compensated for it at least, like a job offer or something. But I doubt that would ever happen anyway."

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#4

Why tipping is considered part of someone's paycheck.

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#5

You Americans eat like you've got free health care.

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Isidien Gudmundsdottir
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Have you seen the ridiculous large portions we get here? In most European countries that's considered a meal for at least a family of 4 at minimum!

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#6

Why the big amount of flat-earth and antivax people?? Is your education system not doing well??

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#8

21 Drinking age like whaaaat you can vote , go join the army , get married , have children and drive but you're too immature to drink ???!!???!

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Daria B
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This one I also don't understand. I'm not "a drunk" myself, but it's BECAUSE nobody was strict about it with me.

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#9

The idolization of politicians. They are public servants, similar to a courthouse clerk or a city hall coordinator. They are not rock stars. You don't need to scream their name, buy their merch, fully commit your life to them and believe everything they say. Just... treat them like public servants. Sure, they get power and position but hold them accountable when they abuse it. Don't let corporations and politicians take over, the political system is created by the people, FOR the people. It just... boggles the mind.

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#10

Not being able to afford to study

Not being able to afford to pay medical bills

Not being able to afford school lunch

Not being able to have schools without security guards

Not being able to drink water straight from the tap

Not being able to walk because you are morbidly obese

toddlers involved in politics

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#11

Their obsession with celebrities, media and “perfect” looks. How often do I read comments from Americans saying:”Bad European teeth“ while in reality they are totally healthy, just aren’t bleached.

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#12

People going bankrupt for getting sick. Stupidly expensive "education". Gun control. No repercussion for police brutality.

Why are you paying taxes for?

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Kaisu
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's crazy that American police can straight up murder people based on their skin colour and there's no repercussions for it. In my country if the police uses a gun even once, even to just injure a suspect, there's massive investigation launched into whether that use of force was called for

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#13

I'm too European to understand how swearing and curse words are such a big deal in movies and songs, but violence and guns are taken with a grain of salt

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Full Name
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That whole "right to bear arms" thing was written when it took 15 seconds to load one shot of round lead, haha. They didn't envision AR15's. They need to revisit those laws. Badly.

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#14

You have $4.50 in your pocket. The fancy drink is advertised at $3.99. Do you have enough money to buy it? Dunno!

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troufaki13
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You have to always calculate tax and tip like we're some kind of math geniuses or something!

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#15

The lack of maternity rights and maternity leave.

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#16

The American Dream. Basically every other developed county is living the ‘American Dream’ while Americans really just think they are, but if you describe the way their country works to someone it sounds like you’re describing a third world country.

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Jace
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And whenever to tell someone that there’s something wrong with how the USA does things, people do one or more of the following: A. Yell at you “if you don’t like it, then leave!” (mindless nationalism, not patriotism)... B.They refuse to believe it’s better anywhere else... C. They tell you that any place with a seemingly better system is still actually worse because it’s “socialism” (and they are fully convinced by obsolete and never correct Cold War propaganda to reject anything that has the scent of “USSR” on it, whether legit or not)... D. They go as far as comparing the USA to some third-world hellhole or theocracy just to make the USA seem better by comparison (sinking to that low a bar is really f*****g revealing!!!).

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#17

The confusing Imperial measurements system and US customary units.

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#18

I don't understand the concept of punching holes in the wall. If you tried that here in Ireland, you'd just break your hand.

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Kaisu
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Same here, are American houses just made out of cardboard or what?

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#19

Double standards. E.g. being prude but having the largest porn industry in the world, praising religion but disregarding Christian values IRL.

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Kaisu
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Many American Christians are so weird, yelling things like "Jesus hates f**s" when if they'd read the bible they would know Jesus never said anything about homosexuality

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#20

The fact that Americans refer to a 24h clock as “military time” you mean just regular time?

Also, suing culture. Got injured? Sue! Fell down some stairs? Sue! Fight with neighbour? Sue!

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#21

Paying for an ambulance. Seriously, like wtf?

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Rissie
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We all pay for ambulances. The problem with the American healthcare system is how it's handled and the strange effect of liability beyond anyone's control on the prices

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#22

I will NEVER understand why you guys allow children to not be guaranteed free health care and dental care! Why aren't you up in arms over this, protesting in the streets? They're CHILDREN, why on earth would a rich country not guarantee free health care to all children?! I don't get it.

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Roxy Eastland
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They won't even protect their children from getting shot dead. We had one school shooting in the UK and even gun owners were so sickened they supported the changes in the law. In the US children getting shot in the face is less horrifying than not being allowed to walk around showing off a gun.

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#23

Having to take out a second mortage because you twisted your ankle in the wrong state.

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Iggy
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Flying to Europe and paying full private hospital fees would still be cheaper!

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#24

Not having taxes already put into the prices of items at stores

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Magpie
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In Australia we do have goods and services tax. The item price shown on the shelf / advertising is exactly what you will pay.

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#25

Why Americans are so proud of being American and their obsession with military. Like what did they do other than being born American? What good does military do other than wasting money they could use for e.g. health care.

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Kesam
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It took me a while to wrap my head around the fact that, if they say that the US is the best country in the world, it's not a joke! THEY ACTUALLY MEAN THAT!!! 😱

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#26

European here, why are all your houses made from cardboard if you have a problem with hurricanes? My country has no natural problems and our houses are made from reinforced cement.

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Francis
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

well, if i recall it right, the idea is, that it is cheaper to rebuild your cardboard house after every event. The materials are a lot cheaper. but those events will happen more often so i think it is just plain stupid now!

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#27

Not using the metric system. Counting in football fields/moon landings instead... I don't get it.

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#28

Why do you guys wear shoes in the house??

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troufaki13
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Or put their feet with the shoes on, on the bed!! I mean, hygiene people!!

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#29

While watching Chelsea vs Manchester United yesterday on NBCSN, during halftime there was a Good Rx commercial where the guy is asking a woman if she would like to fill her prescription, he pulled up the phone and showed her that the same pill can cost from $10 to $90 depending on the area. And that Good Rx can help her fill the prescription with the cheapest prices. Now someone please explain to me how in the ever-loving f**k is it possible for a drug to cost 10x more depending on your location !? Don't they have constant prices like in the rest of the civilized world !?

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Isidien Gudmundsdottir
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

First off: What makes you think we have a civilized world here? The Civil war here is still going on in some people's mind albeit not physically. In answer to your question about the Rx pricing: Yes, it does depends where you live because we here live the good life of out of control predatory greed.

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#30

Joining the army for college money and free healthcare. Also how religious they are

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Kurisurin Sutaringu
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The religion stuff has always bugged me. It annoys me how people dont see freedom from religion as part of our freedom to religion. Not to mention Christianity is everywhere

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#31

Expensive required textbooks that you HAVE to buy to take a university class

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Kaisu
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I did uni in Finland for five years, never had to buy a single textbook, my library provided all the textbooks for free

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#32

How much do I tip? 10%? 15%? Do I tip everywhere? Why isn’t the tax included? Why does the tip vary? Why are the waiters so underpaid?
Also, why do you have to do your tax bill? You could literally go to prison but it’s like a guessing game from what I heard?

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WilvanderHeijden
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In the Netherlands we do our annual taxes in an online app where most of the data is already entered. All you need to do is check, enter your deductibles and hit "Send" and you're done. But that isn't possible in the US because some greedy software companies managed to block the IRS from setting up a similar system as a free service.

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#34

How strongly Americans feel about the flag. I saw a photographer get torn to pieces online because someone was standing on the tiniest bit of the flag and people went fuc**ng ape s*it. In the UK most people probably couldn’t spot if the Union Flag was round the wrong way.

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Kaisu
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Also children having to pledge allegiance to the flag in school sounds like some North Korea s**t to me. The only time in my country we give a s**t about the flag in school is independence day and even then no one is forced to pledge allegiance to it or sing to it

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#35

Nipples, or in general the hyper-sexualization of nudity.

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Kesam
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love going to my local sauna. Everyone is naked. Boys and girls. You might see your boss or teacher naked. It's just completely normal, and I love it. But for my American friends, when I tell them, the first thing they ask is if people have sex orgies there or how I avoid getting a boner. 😖

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#36

Don't know if it's already mentioned but your delivery drivers just leaving packages outside your front door. I can't wrap my mind around this, how did this ever came acceptable?

Here you sign for deliveries. If you're not there they'll leave a note when they'll come again. If still not delivered you can pick it up yourself. Also if you didn't sign for delivery it's marked as not delivered.

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ADHORTATOR
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is not an american problem, it happens as well in Europe..Trust me, I am working in the logistics business for over 30 years :-)

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#37

Student debt. I pay €20/Semester tuition in Austria.

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Ole Peder Amrud Hagen
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We do have student loans in Norway, too, but that's to pay for food and rent. The interest rates are low, however, and I've never heard of anyone not being able to pay it back.

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#38

Many people do not vote because they cannot get time off work to do so.

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Anne
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We have voting leave! (not so useful anymore, but used to be voting was 8-6 so if you worked, you couldn't make it, so you get to come late/leave early so you can vote - now voting is 6-22 most places so no need anymore)

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#39

Why people censor swears that are totally obvious

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Kaisu
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't know who censoring is supposed to be for, especially in written the text. It doesn't matter whether I write f**k or f*ck, children aren't stupid, they know what the word actually is

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#40

30 degrees fahrenheit

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troufaki13
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They say "it's like 70 degrees outside" and I never understand if it's cold or hot!

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