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by Jgrubb8 hours ago |
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upvoteby whatsThisBtn43 hours ago|
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Get off Facebook and get on Wikipedia.

Or go visit there.

Even in rich cities, it felt like I was in the lower middle class area in my suburban area.

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upvoteby Jgrubb2 hours ago|
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I haven't been on Facebook in 15 years. I spend every night on Wikipedia, following random links. I worked for a Parisian company for a decade and have been around western EU more than most Americans.

Probably dial back your assumptions a little bit. I've earned my opinions just as much as you have.

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upvoteby will42747 hours ago|
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If you're middle class in America and you'd like to be middle class in Europe, you can just do that.
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upvoteby jbs7897 hours ago|
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I have to imagine in several years when you have a wife/husband and kids and ageing parents your views will change.
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upvoteby will42747 hours ago|
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The point is about economic mobility - of course, people get tied down as they get older.

Middle class people from wealthy nations who move to poor countries are relatively rich by the standards of their new country. Middle class people from poor countries who move to rich countries are relatively poor by the standards of their new country.

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upvoteby vouwfietsman5 hours ago|
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Depends. If you are middle class in US with little savings, moving to Europe will probably make your life worse as relative wages are lower for many professions (e.g software eng).

If you are middle class in EU and have little savings, moving to US will do the opposite and you would be better off.

Your comparison holds for the inverse: getting most of your quality of life from static wealth.

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upvoteby yladiz1 hours ago|
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Define worse/better.
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upvoteby newswasboring7 hours ago|
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People always make this case, if you're not satisfied then move. As someone who has changed countries twice and continents once, I can attest it's not an easy or convenient thing to do. Money or lifestyle is one thing, but you're also leaving behind family and culture. Statements like these are so dismissive to that struggle that it's almost offensive to me.
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upvoteby satvikpendem5 hours ago|
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No one said it was easy, just that it's possible, saying this as someone who's also moved continents.
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upvoteby Jgrubb2 hours ago|
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I have no idea why you're being downvoted, because you're absolutely right. I have circumstances that make moving abroad something like a nuclear option. I could take my job with me, but that's the least of it.
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upvoteby will42747 hours ago|
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The point is that middle class Americans can become middle class Europeans, but middle class Europeans can't become middle class Americans, because they can't afford it.

I didn't say it'd be easy. I'm just pointing out that only one of the two groups being discussed has a real choice in the matter.

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upvoteby newswasboring5 hours ago|
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That is the entire point I'm trying to make. You can win the argument by being pedantic about the precise thing you were saying, or we can recognize the broader implication of what you are suggesting people to do. Only economically viable means nothing when it comes to life decisions.
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