The nordic countries point and laugh at both.

Um, I'm pretty sure the American's are the "yanks".

well, the British do know how to do a proper breakfast. It's difficult to find proper British bacon over here!

Man, I hate those goddamn Americans what with their Top of the Pops and stupid Millenium Dome.

It is because the U.S. has a relatively large underclass - the American income distribution is far wider than the U.K.'s.

Also, what role do exchange rates play in the calculation?

Meh. This has nothing to do with actual standard of living, it's just the plummeting value of the dollar. Also, the US had a higher standard of living than the UK in 1908? Am I the only one who has trouble believing that?

Ron Paul raised an interesting point in the debate last night. In the past ten years, oil has increased 350% in dollars, 200% in euros, and has remained flat against gold. Make of that what you will.

Yeah, but they still live in England... so it all works out in the end.

dgc360: well, the British do know how to do a proper breakfast. It's difficult to find proper British bacon over here!

They have tastier sausage and beer too. Even though we produce plenty of good sausage and beer in the U.S., you still don't see it on the menu of your average cafe or dive bar.

helchose: dgc360: well, the British do know how to do a proper breakfast. It's difficult to find proper British bacon over here!

They have tastier sausage and beer too. Even though we produce plenty of good sausage and beer in the U.S., you still don't see it on the menu of your average cafe or dive bar.

and the fish and chips over there are awesome. yum.

helchose I don't know what dive bars you go to but alot of the bars by me have bangers and mash and some quality beer.

No Brit thread complete without:

We're making fun of the yanks?

ok.

Stupid straight toothed Americans. Go eat a McWhopper.

P.S. American Armoured Wankball ("football") SUCKS!

bronyaur1: It is because the U.S. has a relatively large underclass - the American income distribution is far wider than the U.K.'s.

that depends entirely on the dive bar

dgc360: well, the British do know how to do a proper breakfast. It's difficult to find proper British bacon over here!

I had one of those this morning - black pudding, white pudding, bangers, greasy beans, ham, and eggs.

turtlissa: Um, I'm pretty sure the American's are the "yanks".

Yuppers.

What's wrong with England?

Yoo?

Can we make fun of Armored American Wank Ball too?

I blame Bush

Shag and a scone?

Knock me up and call me Roger!

Cmon now...

Food, Beer, Cars and Housing is still cheaper in the states.

The standard of living in the UK may only be better if you are rolling in dough. Even then, I would use said dough to move to a sunny part of southern Europe, or the U.S. coasts.

Still no comparison in me mind.

The only thing I miss are the british women, mainly from a mental, not looks point of view.

However, If you meet an American girl who is well travelled, can and has roughed it a little, that takes care of the problem.

I love British bangers. I know they're the equivalent of hot dogs but with less meat and more sawdust, but dayum they're great pub food.

British girls are more likely to sleep with you. That alone should have sealed the deal 50 years ago.

bronyaur1: It is because the U.S. has a relatively large underclass - the American income distribution is far wider than the U.K.'s.

So America has a lower standard of living because it has a lower standard of living? You learn something new every day.

Yoo may make fun of American illiteracy as well, if yoo so please.

you can thank the shrub's "strong dollar policy"

Ah, it doesn't matter how good Britain apparently is, because we'll always manage to find something else to complain about.


/is British
//is of a small minority which is PROUD of being british

Well there is a bright side to things... Americans are less and less able to afford the basics (house, cars, health care, schooling... children), but at least they can scamper down to Wal-Mart and buy lots of cheap stuff.

I wonder how much a month (in taxes) the average British individual is paying for health services. I don't doubt it's less than the $250+ average people over here pay (if you've got, have ever had, or are even thinking of having, anything at all wrong with you, you'll be lucky to pay that little). A friend pays over $800 a month for his whole family of three, just for the privilege of having the insurance company take forever to pay out a claim. All the while, the elderly have to choose between food and which ailment they'll medicate this month.

Ahh well. That's capitalism: Just don't be poor and you'll be OK.

dgc360: helchose: dgc360: well, the British do know how to do a proper breakfast. It's difficult to find proper British bacon over here!

They have tastier sausage and beer too. Even though we produce plenty of good sausage and beer in the U.S., you still don't see it on the menu of your average cafe or dive bar.

and the fish and chips over there are awesome. yum.

Fish and chips are awesome here too. You need to get around more. And we have buffalo, rattlesnake, and alligator. Do you have those?

We buy super cheap goods "Made in China." Those goods put some American companies out of business. Other American companies adapt by relocating factories over there, shiat canning their employees. The employees go find lesser paying jobs. Buying cheap goods becomes a necessity, with less money. Which puts some American companies out of business. More American companies adapt by relocating factories over there. And the beat goes on.

Don't do what we did.

TFA

Although this is partly due to the current strength of the pound against the dollar....

But the average Briton does not actually feel more wealthy than his or her American counterpart. Goods and services are cheaper in the U.S., meaning that even if they are earning less, they can afford to buy more.

Uh, I thought was a huge part of the definition of 'standard of living.'

There's nothing to see here. Currency trade rates have bumped up briton's GDP per head to slightly above America's.

That's it.

sluck604: I blame Bush

Well, part of it IS his fault.

All this means is Poles >>>>> Mexicans.

/ticket

moops: dgc360: well, the British do know how to do a proper breakfast. It's difficult to find proper British bacon over here!

I had one of those this morning - black pudding, white pudding, bangers, greasy beans, ham, and eggs.

I thought there were supposed to be fried tomatoes? Or is that called a fry-up with the fried bread and fried tomatoes, etc?

Less vacation, less healthcare, less public transit.

But hey we can buy more cheap useless plastic crap at Walmart.

Quantum Apostrophe: Can we make fun of Armored American Wank Ball too?

Link (new window)

Sure. Are you going to be wearing these cute little Richard Simmons soccer shorts while you do so?

This article in nonsense. It makes the comparison in nominal terms, instead of PPP terms (which is the proper way to make standard of living comparisons).

Using purchasing power parity, the US is still far ahead of most of Europe (Luxembourg, Norway, and Ireland being the generally held exceptions)

Wait, we had a better standard of living?

Shut up, you American. You Americans, all you do is talk, and talk, and say "let me tell you something" and "I just wanna say." Well, you're dead now, so shut up.

/American
//Always laughed at that part anyway.
///Surprised it hasn't been done yet.

mmmm...yeast sludge on bread, th' breakfast of brits.

We're all the subjects of Emperor Drew on here anyway.

Why is this guy holding his knife and fork funny?

Quantum Apostrophe - Can we make fun of Armored American Wank Ball too?

As one of those Yanks that you guys read about, I say go for broke, kid.

Since this thread will eventually turn into a flame war, let me begin.

*ahem*

Of course this country is going to pot. You have a nation full of people who refuse to *grow up*. The boomers still run around like they are teenagers trying to keep it cool rather than be the parental figures that this country needs. Their kids, thanks to their parents upbringing are even worse. Self centered, ego driven, shallow, idiotic brats who were raised to think they were all unique and beautiful snowflakes who should look out only for number one.

Of course, I am not leaving out the greatest generation. Who do you think raised the boomers? The greatest generation went through so much that they ended up spoiling their children to make up for the hardships that they, the generation of the Great Depression and WWII, went through. Dumb move.

America, right now, is a country full of kids without a parent. Someone needs to step up to the plate and be brave enough to look "uncool" in order to do what needs to be done.



/flame on

natewill: Yoo?

crank that soldier boy

/photo from the celebration.
//seen better teeth in 3rd world countries
/not actually from celebration, but he is British

Standard of living =/= cost of living.
Standard of living =/= GDP per capita

Comprises generally of factors such as healthcare, education, crime, and GDP per capita over cost of living.

/and the absense of chavs, mugs, and mingers

They also have higher taxes which according to everyone here they are the debil. Because higher taxes means 100% unadulterated socialism. Free heatlhcare = socialism, proper bride, roads, infrastructure maintenance = socialism, keeping the poor above water so the majority of them are not living in highway off ramp shantytowns = socialism, paying for a multibillion dollar war with tax payer money = socialism.

I am not saying we should tax the hell out of our populace, but this whole let's give the middle class and poor a $500 dollar tax break so the richest 1-2% of the country get millions in tax breaks so we give the illusion of cutting taxes needs to stop.

Look at Canada, Norway, England, Germany and all these heavily taxed countries, their standard of living is beginning to surpass our standard of living. Of course there could be a lack of causation in my argument, but we need to figure out a secret formula fast instead of focusing on the various scapegoats our politicians keep strutting out in front of its populace.

Verse 1

I'm the kid that's all the candy,
I'm a Yankee Doodle Dandy,
I'm glad I am,
So's Uncle Sam.
I'm a real live Yankee Doodle,
Made my name and fame and boodle,
Just like Mister Doodle did, by riding on a pony.
I love to listen to the Dixie strain,
I long to see the girl I left behind me;
That ain't a josh,
She's a Yankee, by gosh.
Oh, say can you see,
Anything about a Yankee that's a phony?

Verse 2

Father's name was Hezikiah,
Mother's name was Ann Maria,
Yanks through and through.
Red, White and Blue
Father was so Yankee-hearted,
When the Spanish war was started,
He slipped on a uniform and hopped upon a pony.
My mother's mother was a Yankee true,
My father's father was a Yankee too:
That's going some,
For the Yankees, by gum.
Oh, say can you see
Anything about my pedigree that's phony?

Chorus

I'm a Yankee Doodle Dandy,
A Yankee Doodle, do or die;
A real live nephew of my Uncle Sam's,
Born on the Fourth of July.
I've got a Yankee Doodle sweetheart,
She's my Yankee Doodle joy.
Yankee Doodle came to London, just to ride the ponies;
I am the Yankee Doodle Boy.