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“What Are Some Things The USA Actually Does Better Than Europe?” (30 Answers)
Interview
Although Europe is often praised for its diverse cultures, historical landmarks, and easy-to-travel countries, we have to admit that there are still some aspects that could be worked on. Such as air conditioning or Mexican food, just to name a few.
Seeing this as an opportunity to get an upper hand in the friendly debate between the US and Europe, Americans started listing all the things their country does better than the EU.
From national parks to burgers, there are definitely some aspects in which the land of freedom shines brighter than its neighbors across the pond.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
I am not American but their National and State Parks system is f*****g glorious. Services, lands set aside and protected, information, knowledgeable employees, infrastructure. NO ONE else is even close. I have lived in 6 countries and traveled to more than 60, I still dream of American parks.
Nathaniel He/Him Cis-Het 6 months ago
Those bears in the state parks, I can pet them and feed them right?
#2
The blues. Most music genres that came after the blues were influenced by the blues or based on the blues, especially rock.
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 6 months ago
Especially Rock! Emphasis added. Example Led Zeppelin. Classic rock band who borrowed heavily from the blues. And we wouldn't have the blues without Jazz. Buddy Holly and The Beatles may have mainstreamed Rock and Roll but they got it all from African Americans.
#3
Not paying to use the toilet
WindySwede 6 months ago
That's ok, I like paying for no gap and a clean toilet. 🤷♂️🙃 (No hate, just friendly stuff).
The person who started this discussion told Bored Panda that what led them to ask this question online were all the things they were hearing about that are supposedly much better in Europe. “I figured there must be at least a few things America does better,” they add. Because they had never been to Europe, they became even more motivated to share their inquiry with the AskReddit community.
Something that the people under this question were most passionate about was the American National Parks. Indeed, America has an impressive number of 62 national parks, which puts it in 7th place overall in the world.
#4
Free water in concert venues and restaurants. I was at a concert in Europe, and one bottle of water was the same price as wine and beer at the venue. It was really hot, and some people fainted during the show
#5
BBQ and smoked meats. USA USA USA!
detective miller's hat 6 months ago (edited)
Didn't eat American bbq until like a year after we moved to the US from England. F*cking delicious. My ability to eat an entire rack of ribs in one sitting is unparalleled.
#6
Here in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles we have a Japanese restaurant owned by Koreans, chefs are mostly Mexican, and somehow no one is really fluent in English except for a few servers.
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 6 months ago
Yeah, sounds about right for the West Coast. Latinos and East Asians doing a lot of the work and I'm damn glad they're doing it.
Since the U.S. National Park Service (NPS) started keeping records in 1904, it has registered more than 16 billion visits. People visiting are mostly drawn to the vastness and variety of “America’s best idea.” The NPS encompasses 85 million acres, 150,000 miles of rivers and streams, and over 21,000 miles of trails.
#7
Dealing with hot weather. I hear so many Europeans crack jokes at how we have A/C everywhere and how we dress in loose, baggy clothing that is mostly made up in t-shirts and shorts, how we have to have ice in all of our drinks, how we are always thirsty and are drinking every other second. But then Summer hits them and there are always a rash of articles of Europeans dropping like flies in the heat.
Put in some window A/C units if you can't put in Central Air. Wear baggy clothing. Stay hydrated. For Pete's sake, take some tips from people who live through this sort of weather every year.
David Fox 6 months ago
Houses in the UK are built differently, they're built to keep the heat IN as our winters are long and our summers are pretty short. It's not unheard of a heatwave (25°c) to last a few mere days to only go to 18°c. We're more used to the cold and gloom. ACs cost a lot of money to only use it a few times a year.
#8
From what I read, disabled folks' accessibility, like handicap parking, accessible bathrooms, ramps, etc. I've seen this relatively often. is this correct?
Aileen Grist 6 months ago
As a wheelchair user, I can get into most places in the UK. The main ones I can't are historical buildings and they usually have an iPad or computer that I can use to 'visit' the areas that aren't accessible. Strangely enough my main complaint is over the lack of kerb drops on road junctions.
#9
The one thing I would really miss is the cultural diversity in every large city. Any night of the week, I can go get great Mexican, Ethiopian, Cantonese, Sichuan, Japanese, Korean BBQ, Soul Food, Jamaican, Vietnamese, Thai, Memphis style BBQ, other latin countries, tiki bars, Filipino, Mediterranean...
It really is nice to be a melting pot.
Jean-Louis Bolomey 6 months ago
Have you been to Europe? In the small Swiss town I live in, Vevey, I would suggest you Google the list of restauranrs : Japanese, Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese,Suchi, kebabs...everything. Visit Europe and see for yourself.
Yellowstone National Park, which was established in 1872, is generally considered to be the first one in the world. Since its establishment in Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho, it has lost none of its natural beauty. The park offers such sights as geysers, hot springs, and grand canyons, making it one of the world’s most unique environments.
#10
I concur with this. I'm from New Zealand and have lived on both continents. The US is far easier to meet people and settle in
#11
Lack of cigarette smoking (although vaping has picked up in recent years)
Nathaniel He/Him Cis-Het 6 months ago (edited)
Cigarette smoking is becoming rarer and rarer in the UK.
#12
Free refills
Marcel Godferdom 6 months ago
Surprisingly, the 'free refill' stuff is forbidden by law in France, to avoid over-consumption of sugar.
#14
The interstate roadway system is pretty damn impressive considering how huge the US is and that only one country was involved in its construction.
#15
Canadian here who has been to Europe and asia. This is subjective, but FOOD. Everyone assumes American food is bbqed burgers and hotdogs, but in reality the restaurant industry in the USA is competitive and delicious. They've got a good representation of many cultures with plenty of variety. People make negative remarks about huge portions contributing to obesity and whatnot. Just order smaller meals, or split it with your partner or family members and skip sugary drinks.
Adam S 6 months ago
Weird, but my experience of food in the US (from 5 trips of at least a week) is the food quality is pretty low, even in upscale places. I was in an Italian restaurant in 2017, charging about $25 for a plate of pasta and they couldn’t tell me what was in the sauce “because they bought it in” (I have a dietary need). For that price I’d have expected them to actually make the food!
Jrog 6 months ago (edited)
Consider this: Lot of american food cannot be legally sold in the EU due to health concerns over ingredients and processes used. Many american foods requires reclassification for export because of over-processing. Among them, several brands of bread, that had to be classified as pastry; potato chips that underwent a decade-long legal battle because they did not meet the minimum legal potato content standards for chips; or some Budweiser products that -despite stealing the name for a real European beer- cannot be classified as beer in Germany because they do not meet the minimum quality regulations for malt and hops. Generally, meat can't be imported because it's treated with chlorine and processed in a way that exposes it to escherichia coli.
A Happy Doggo 6 months ago
Yeah, brands and processed, pre-packaged food is pretty gross. We're not even talking about that, we're talking bout restaurants
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SirWriteALot 6 months ago
Everything the USA eats is americanized. You import food from other cultures that has been perfected for centuries and then mess with it.
Pittsburgh rare 6 months ago
Same we've done with Chinese food in Europe.
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StrangeOne 6 months ago
"Doggy bag" it. You got left overs for lunch tomorrow. Some restaurants don't allow sharing of plates, oddly. Some places do. Ask beforehand if it's okay. When I'm at a restaurant I know has bigger portions than I can handle I order from the appetizers. Fountain drinks are usually "bottomless". Some places don't do that, but they will state if they do free refills or bottomless in the fine print on the menu. Or ask.
Donkey boi 6 months ago
I liked the food in the US, but then I have a sweet tooth. The quality of food is mediocre at best, but it's the ability to make poor quality taste good that wins me over.
A Happy Doggo 6 months ago
So you're saying that every single restaurant, bakery, kitchen, and store in a radius of 3.8 million miles was all mediocre? Really?
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Roan The Demon Kitty 6 months ago
...does the US realise it's cuisine is just cuisine taken from other countries? I mean, there's burgers in the picture, which are in fact German. Also, a lot of US food can't be sold in the same manner over in the EU because of differing ingredients or processes used. Sure, you have a good restaurant culture, but that doesn't mean the food is actually all that great.
marcelo D. 6 months ago
"Everyone assumes American food is bbqed burgers and hotdogs, but in reality the restaurant industry in the USA is competitive and delicious. " those 2 things aren't mutually exclusive. Just cause you can get food from different cultures doesn't mean that is american food
A Happy Doggo 6 months ago
They're talking about food in America, not necessarily food that ORIGINATED in America.
Load More Replies... #16
Central air conditioning is something we take for granted in the US. I realized this when I started hearing countries in Europe getting summer heatwaves and people dying by the thousands
#17
Ice! I am originally from Eastern Europe and have been living in the USA for over 20 years. I was visiting my grandma over there and on a particularly humid day, I ordered an iced latte. The barista looked at me horrified. she said they don’t have ice, so I asked her not to make my latte hot. She said ok… it was still piping hot.
#18
USA has the friendliest people in the world. This is coming from an immigrant who lived in many places around the world and the U.S due to my profession. It is also the easiest place in the world to do business as a foreigner because of how welcoming people are. In Europe and other places people put more emphasis on you being foreign when conducting business with you.
#19
I like that the streets are arranged as grids. It makes it a lot harder to get lost.
ConstantlyJon 6 months ago
To quote Mulaney, "How'd you get lost in New York? The streets are numbered! It's a grid system, m**********r. Where are you at? 24th and 5th? Where you wanna go? 35th and 6th? 11 up and 1 over ya simple b***h."
#20
Sending people to the moon.
WindySwede 6 months ago
NASA have done som much more than this, and resulted in stuff we use everyday!
#21
Movies/cinema/entertainment
Upstaged75 6 months ago (edited)
This one is talking about all the media that is CREATED/FILMED in the US. Not actual movie theaters. I'm confused why everyone didn't understand that.
#22
Software. Yeah, a lot of software sucks, but somehow, USA Software are most of the time the fist or the better option. There are a couple of exceptions like Tik Tok or SAP, but mostly USA software all around us
BROmanicus85 6 months ago
Well... agree to disagree, somewhat... Sure, American companies are responsible for most software development on the market, but it would be interesting to find out how much of that work has been outsourced to other countries....
#23
Comparing as someone who had lived in France, the USA, and the UK:
Salaries. Vastly superior in the USA. Customer service is also notably better!
#24
Dryers. This was at least true comparing the US to the UK, who usually hang their clothes to dry, or have awful hybrid washer/dryers that don’t really work. Not sure if this is true across Europe.
Aythya 6 months ago
Why pay for the device and electricity when you can dry your clothes for free? And, when you have garden or balcony, you can hang your laundry outside where it dries faster and UV light from the sun also sterilizes it. In my house, we only use dryer in colder months, when it would take ages to air dry.
#25
Technology innovation. Think back over the last 50+ years, microwaves to iPhones.
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 6 months ago
The IPhone uses chips mostly made in China. The cavity magnetron that enables microwave ovens was invented in England. OP needs to try harder.
#26
US it is still more open to entrepreneurship than it is in Europe. Lot of bureaucracy and all sort of regulation is holding back enterprising people. In the US all you need is good idea and willingness to put the hours into it and you can make it into sustainable business. You feel you can make it and have your chance in US, in Europe you are easily persuaded not to follow your dreams. Here in EU it is more going for socialistic utopia where you get cushy job and work until retirement mindset.
#27
Mortgages. Thankfully we still have FDR's 30 year fixed rate mortgage policy. I know buying a house is tough right now, but it would be a lot tougher, and for everyone, if our system worked like the 1920s or like Australia or the UK.
Jrog 6 months ago
Eh? Fixed rate mortgages also exist in Europe. You always have the option to choose fixed or variable, and to choose the length of your mortgage, with 25 and 30 years being the most common lengths. Also, the current interest rate for TYFRM in Europe is in the 2,8%-3% ballpark, in the USA is 7,3%
#28
Salaries for almost any kind of skilled labor. If you're in the bottom 20% you'll make more in Europe. If you're anywhere above that you'll make significantly more in the US.
#30
Work Ethic - the number of times I've seen Americans get up at 4:00am to hack ice off their pickup, before driving 200 miles to run an excavator all day, drive home in the dark and then work on building their mountain house for another 18 hours. It's just ridiculous
Their DIY stores are better too, they have everything, you can't even buy Sonotubes in my country without a trade account
Nathaniel He/Him Cis-Het 6 months ago
Working yourself into an early grave is not a good work ethic . Rather than work ethic think work/life balance.
What do you think ?
Adam S 6 months ago
Why does BP think there’s only the US, “Europe” and Japan in the world? And why so insistent that “Europe” is one homogenous mass?? These posts (and AITA plane travel ones) are getting really dull and repetitive, unlike the ones that focus on showcasing interesting or unusual things from around the world. More of those please!
Learissa 6 months ago
These "America wins" and "Europe wins" lists are becoming cringeworthy ...
Betta Fish 6 months ago
Agreed, almost all countries are great. I say almost because some have bad situations and stuff but yk what i mean
Load More Replies...
Shayne Randlett 6 months ago
I've never seen so many butt-hurt comments on BP before. Every single entry has people raging about how some other place does whatever better. Relax guys - this is BP, not some official world ranking competition!
The Original Bruno 6 months ago (edited)
Well, I don't need to wrap myself in the USA flag, but I thought, "well, at least it's not a BASH-the-USA thread." WRONG. Every post had to be rebutted by the hate-America crew. OK, some clearly deserved a "uh, what we have that, too!" reponse, like the "nationalized" postal service. But we didn't need the claim that the interstate highways system was Nazi, or even conflating barbecues with cookouts (something some of us Northerners have been guilty of.). I'm surprised the post about how friendly Americans are wasn't met with, "Well, actually a Germanic caveman was actually the first person to smile at someone who wasn't from his own clan."
Becky Samuel 6 months ago
I think the barbecue thing is a cultural misunderstanding. Most of the English speaking world uses the term " barbecue" to mean grilling outside over heat. I'm not even exactly sure what the American term means, but it seems to have something to do with smokers and stuff.
Load More Replies...
Bouche and Audi and Shyla, Oh My! 6 months ago
So, we bashed Americans again, and now we're supposed to bash Europeans again? How about if we shrink the freaking pond, and title threads like "This is what my country is stereotyped as, how about yours?" Bring us together, not set us against each other. We're all Pandas, no matter where we live!
R Dennis 6 months ago
Sadly, even on the positives of America, Europeans can't handle it in the comments... their fragility will be my downvotes for this statement.
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The Problem With Censorship Is ******* 6 months ago (edited)
I thought people here were so tired of USA bashing articles... Yet somehow there's a comment under every post that yells "What!? But at least in Europe bep bep bep bep bep...!!1!!" I'm not an American, but wow... Some things ARE better in America, and they deserve credit for it.
D0C 6 months ago
But.. But.. America is bad! Everyone in America is an obese, gun toting, bible thumping racist! I would know, I've never been and get all my knowledge about it from Internet propaganda!
Load More Replies... 
Menacing Duck 6 months ago
I find it funny that the majority of comments on the posts in here are pretty much "Oh, other places have this too"
PFD 6 months ago
Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight! Oh well, rage farming is an effective way of getting lots of engagement.
Tamra 6 months ago
Yep. That's precisely why BP posts these things pretty regularly, because it typically gets lots of comments and traffic.
Load More Replies...
Dragons Exist 6 months ago
To everyone: the title isn't "things that America has that Europe doesn't", it's things the US does better
John Harrison 6 months ago
"... ACTUALLY does better ..." What's this? Condescending assholery from BP "authors"? Well I am shocked. Shocked. SHOCKED, I tell you.
JustAnotherPanda (she/they/he) 6 months ago
I love all the comments!!! So positive!! /s but really. You all need to stop. Every post I’ve seen has not technically been untrue, and while you guys do make good points, it’s really too much. I would love to see some positive comments
JustAnotherPanda (she/they/he) 6 months ago
Also I would really like to say thank you to everyone who commented about the irony of the comment section and them not understanding the title, and smashing the US when you all wanted a positive US post. Thank you
Load More Replies... Mimi M 6 months ago (edited)
Well, gotta appreciate that hell freezes over - a positive US post from BP, whodathunk. But why not just make it positive - no need to throw shade on Europe in the process... And even the original was 'actually does better' - which was snide to the US as well. Can't BP realize that we *actually* don't like these posts that bash, stereotype, throw shade, condescend, etc?
SheamusFanFrom1987 6 months ago
Sorry not sorry, but the major thing US does better than the rest of the world in my opinion: Triple H's WWE!!!
Adam S 6 months ago
Why does BP think there’s only the US, “Europe” and Japan in the world? And why so insistent that “Europe” is one homogenous mass?? These posts (and AITA plane travel ones) are getting really dull and repetitive, unlike the ones that focus on showcasing interesting or unusual things from around the world. More of those please!
Learissa 6 months ago
These "America wins" and "Europe wins" lists are becoming cringeworthy ...
Betta Fish 6 months ago
Agreed, almost all countries are great. I say almost because some have bad situations and stuff but yk what i mean
Load More Replies... Shayne Randlett 6 months ago
I've never seen so many butt-hurt comments on BP before. Every single entry has people raging about how some other place does whatever better. Relax guys - this is BP, not some official world ranking competition!
The Original Bruno 6 months ago (edited)
Well, I don't need to wrap myself in the USA flag, but I thought, "well, at least it's not a BASH-the-USA thread." WRONG. Every post had to be rebutted by the hate-America crew. OK, some clearly deserved a "uh, what we have that, too!" reponse, like the "nationalized" postal service. But we didn't need the claim that the interstate highways system was Nazi, or even conflating barbecues with cookouts (something some of us Northerners have been guilty of.). I'm surprised the post about how friendly Americans are wasn't met with, "Well, actually a Germanic caveman was actually the first person to smile at someone who wasn't from his own clan."
Becky Samuel 6 months ago
I think the barbecue thing is a cultural misunderstanding. Most of the English speaking world uses the term " barbecue" to mean grilling outside over heat. I'm not even exactly sure what the American term means, but it seems to have something to do with smokers and stuff.
Load More Replies... Bouche and Audi and Shyla, Oh My! 6 months ago
So, we bashed Americans again, and now we're supposed to bash Europeans again? How about if we shrink the freaking pond, and title threads like "This is what my country is stereotyped as, how about yours?" Bring us together, not set us against each other. We're all Pandas, no matter where we live!
R Dennis 6 months ago
Sadly, even on the positives of America, Europeans can't handle it in the comments... their fragility will be my downvotes for this statement.
Load More Replies... The Problem With Censorship Is ******* 6 months ago (edited)
I thought people here were so tired of USA bashing articles... Yet somehow there's a comment under every post that yells "What!? But at least in Europe bep bep bep bep bep...!!1!!" I'm not an American, but wow... Some things ARE better in America, and they deserve credit for it.
D0C 6 months ago
But.. But.. America is bad! Everyone in America is an obese, gun toting, bible thumping racist! I would know, I've never been and get all my knowledge about it from Internet propaganda!
Load More Replies... Menacing Duck 6 months ago
I find it funny that the majority of comments on the posts in here are pretty much "Oh, other places have this too"
PFD 6 months ago
Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight! Oh well, rage farming is an effective way of getting lots of engagement.
Tamra 6 months ago
Yep. That's precisely why BP posts these things pretty regularly, because it typically gets lots of comments and traffic.
Load More Replies... Dragons Exist 6 months ago
To everyone: the title isn't "things that America has that Europe doesn't", it's things the US does better
John Harrison 6 months ago
"... ACTUALLY does better ..." What's this? Condescending assholery from BP "authors"? Well I am shocked. Shocked. SHOCKED, I tell you.
JustAnotherPanda (she/they/he) 6 months ago
I love all the comments!!! So positive!! /s but really. You all need to stop. Every post I’ve seen has not technically been untrue, and while you guys do make good points, it’s really too much. I would love to see some positive comments
JustAnotherPanda (she/they/he) 6 months ago
Also I would really like to say thank you to everyone who commented about the irony of the comment section and them not understanding the title, and smashing the US when you all wanted a positive US post. Thank you
Load More Replies... Mimi M 6 months ago (edited)
Well, gotta appreciate that hell freezes over - a positive US post from BP, whodathunk. But why not just make it positive - no need to throw shade on Europe in the process... And even the original was 'actually does better' - which was snide to the US as well. Can't BP realize that we *actually* don't like these posts that bash, stereotype, throw shade, condescend, etc?
SheamusFanFrom1987 6 months ago
Sorry not sorry, but the major thing US does better than the rest of the world in my opinion: Triple H's WWE!!!
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