Are Europeans jealous of American wealth?

I've only lived in Europe for a year due to my mother's stupid job, but on a recent trip to Monaco, I noticed how desperate people were to display their 'wealth'. All of the women were wearing fur coats, and the men thought they were all it because they wore Rolex watches. I was in the mood for a burger and bought one from a street vendor, and he proceeded to get a plate with a knife and fork and serve it under a sun-umbrella. I was enjoying it until I saw the bill and it was 15 euros for the burger and a bit of salad. It just struck me as so pretensious and ostentatious. To me, as an American, I've always been used to being surrounded by wealth but not having to brag about it like Europeans do. I suppose this is the reason that Monte Carlans were desperate to show off; to kid themselves that they have life as we do in the States. Do you agree?

Lulz:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_%28nominal%29

Being pushed off your pedestal biatch?

No. It still puts my country well-ahead of yours. 2 trillion? Pfft.

To all who say that America has a lower standard of living than Europe (or vice versa):

How do you measure the standard of living? (and please dont say HDI), sheer real gdp per capita? $/hr worked? what is your measure? and if you take into account multiple variables (crime, education, poverty, etc), will all of them have the same weight? (not to mention that things like education aren't really quantifiable)

I've only lived in Europe for a year due to my mother's stupid job, but on a recent trip to Monaco, I noticed how desperate people were to display their 'wealth'. All of the women were wearing fur coats, and the men thought they were all it because they wore Rolex watches. I was in the mood for a burger and bought one from a street vendor, and he proceeded to get a plate with a knife and fork and serve it under a sun-umbrella. I was enjoying it until I saw the bill and it was 15 euros for the burger and a bit of salad. It just struck me as so pretensious and ostentatious. To me, as an American, I've always been used to being surrounded by wealth but not having to brag about it like Europeans do. I suppose this is the reason that Monte Carlans were desperate to show off; to kid themselves that they have life as we do in the States. Do you agree?

Access to health care (and not only basic health care), access to education, life "security" (unemployment benefit, benefit for disabled, illness benefit etc.), pollution, median income (taking into account what American have to pay which is provided by government in Europe), access to culture, minimum wage etc... Life seems to be way easier in western Europe.

Speak to an ordinary American and they won't think of Europe as some socialist hell-hole

No. It still puts my country well-ahead of yours. 2 trillion? Pfft.

Most Americans seem to think they live in a socialist hell-hole in the USA.

Exactly. Americans' pathetic fear of taxes on people on higher incomes and fear of government help means that they can't get the things which we take for granted in Europe, maybe we should start a charity to help them...

But the American government still has a furious desire to spend taxpayers money as fast as it can. Hence them having a nasty fiscal deficit.

I've only lived in Europe for a year due to my mother's stupid job, but on a recent trip to Monaco, I noticed how desperate people were to display their 'wealth'. All of the women were wearing fur coats, and the men thought they were all it because they wore Rolex watches. I was in the mood for a burger and bought one from a street vendor, and he proceeded to get a plate with a knife and fork and serve it under a sun-umbrella. I was enjoying it until I saw the bill and it was 15 euros for the burger and a bit of salad. It just struck me as so pretensious and ostentatious. To me, as an American, I've always been used to being surrounded by wealth but not having to brag about it like Europeans do. I suppose this is the reason that Monte Carlans were desperate to show off; to kid themselves that they have life as we do in the States. Do you agree?