If you need a reason to feel grateful to live in Europe, just take a look at the things we take for granted, but which for millions of people in the United States of America are still luxuries.
From healthcare and education, to security and work-life balance, the European reality offers a standard of living that is not related to luck or privilege, but to basic rights.
Here are five examples that clearly show this contrast:
1. Accessible healthcare for all
In many European countries, universal healthcare is guaranteed and not tied to employment. Although it is financed by taxes, in practice basic services are affordable for everyone.
Maternity leave for mothers and fathers is standard, often paid, and a visit to the doctor is not accompanied by the fear of financial bankruptcy.
2. Affordable higher education
In Europe, public universities are free or cost-effective, and students benefit from subsidized meals, free transportation, and discounts on services. In the US, by contrast, the cost of studying often plunges young people into long-term debt, making higher education a privilege.
3. Work-life balance and occupational safety
Paid vacation (usually 5 weeks per year) and vacation bonuses are the norm in Europe. In the US, the lack of these guarantees often leaves families with impossible choices.
4. Safety from gun violence
Europeans consider it normal to live without the constant fear of mass shootings. The ability for children to go to school and return home safely is unfortunately a luxury in the US.
5. Fresh and affordable food
Fresh bread, local produce, and reasonably priced staples are easily accessible in Europe. In the US, rising prices and processed food make quality food an economic burden for many families.
The main difference between “American luxury” and “European normality” can be summed up in one word: social safety net. Simple things like health, education, and food, which in Europe are treated as rights, are often experienced as privileges in the US.
