Quote from bigdavediode:
Just as you cited the Stalin film to support your beliefs. (You didn't, but since you're making things up I feel I can too...)
I've lived in Vancouver (Burnaby, actually). Does my opinion count since you're disregarding statistics in favor of anecdotes?
Great! I've lived in Mexico, the US, Finland, Canada (Alberta and British Columbia)... what's the point again? That anecdotes are relevant? Well then I win.
Sweet! Then I win again! I've been to England at least five times, Norway, Finland (for months), Sweden, Russia multiple times, France multiple times, Germany multiple times, Estonia multiple times, Holland multiple times, etc. etc. etc. etc.
So my anecdotes should beat your anecdotes by a kilometer. (Little metric joke there.)
Well I can assure you that I've been pretty much everywhere more than your friends, your relatives and yourself combined, and for greater durations.
Well that's true. In Norway I paid about $32 for two Big Mac Meals. But then you pay nothing for healthcare and about the same for groceries. It's a good trade.
I have and I have lived it as well. When I first visited Norway I mentioned what I earned (which was a very good wage for the work I was doing) -- they laughed. That income would be what a laborer would make over there.
That opened my eyes.