(Marcus Andersson) wrote:

uhm... the EU does have far too much government... but not nearly as
much as the US...

Tell that to the European, UK, Canadian and Australian friends of mine
who immigrated to the U.S. so as to enjoy our MUCH greater freedoms
and opportunities.

In the EU (unlike the US) you don't have to make a written application
in three copies plus pay and administrative fee before getting
permission to go to your toilet, for instance.

If it's such a piece o' cake to go to the toilet over there, then why
do so many Europeans smell like they haven't bathed or brushed
their teeth in months?

At least that example isn't *that* far from the truth when it comes to
the situaiton in the US.

Apparently the situation in Europe is a desperate lack of fresh
water that requires all the wussified little folk of perfume-creators
to walk around with body odors and make love to women with
hairy legs and armpits. Ohh babee!

yeah... this is probably the clearest example for Europeans of the
low standard of living for Americans... you simply cannot live
without a car...

Huh? You're the first person I've ever heard say that having an
automobile or two (or three or four...) equates to a "low standard
of living." Thanks for informing me of this revelation, but I still
won't be trading in my dependable Chevy for five year's worth
of unlimited rides on the state-subsidized public transit system
anytime soon.

You are forced to sit in your home without being able to go anywhere.
Unless you want to make yourself the trouble of bringing your car with
you, that is.

1) If you don't understand why Americans opted for "motorcars" and
cheap oil instead of European-style public transportation, then you're
either incredibly naive and ignorant or just plain stupid. Simply
because motorcars are an unnecessary pain to YOU (as parking is
difficult even with your dinky and slow little econoboxes that you
drive over there not to mention your narrow, one-way streets that
appear unpredictably out of nowhere) doesn't mean that we have the
same problem here in the states. And as it has already been mentioned,
a paltry gallon of "petrol" doesn't cost us $5.56 here in the U.S.
either. ****...no wonder you dislike "motorcars" so much!

2) We don't necessarily need an automobile, er' "motorcar" to go
anywhere. I've used other modes of transportation to get from
point 'A' to point 'B' including taking buses and trains that you
Europeans are so fond of using. Granted, there is somewhat
of a stigma attached to utilizing public transportation (esp. buses)
here in the U.S., but the fact remains that we don't necessarily
need a "motorcar" to go places.

3) Almost every day I use my electric bicycle (designed by Lee
Iacocca) to zip around town while running errands. The level of
workmanship is typically American -- very good quality components
and hugely stylish. But guess what Marcus, due to your oppressive and
draconian laws, my innovative and practical "ebike" is illegal in
Europe and Canada simply because it has a 500 watt motor!

4) Amazingly, in the UK, Europe and Canada any bicycle with more
than a 250-watt motor is outlawed because A) your government doesn't
want y'all to have too much fun and B) any bicycle powered by more
than 250-watts becomes a viable mode of transportation and therefore
must be registered and....you guessed it: TAXED.

5) The way I figure it, Marcus, life is too short to let the *******s
making all the laws get what they want all the time. Be a rebel,
push the envelope, make the traffic cop in the Vauxhall think his
"motorcar" has slowed down as you pass him on your stealthy
"cheater bike" without even pedalling. Now THAT is the American
Way!