is life in france better than america?

Answer 1

Rillifane says it all in his post and I think this is by far the best response of all those on here.

I live in France and have done for the past eight years. I'm totally opposed to the politics of the current US administration and have absolutely no time for uninformed fanatical nationalists but the fact remains, in my humble opinion, that for all the screaming and shouting from all sides of the American political spectrum, the USA remains the country on earth where one is most free. As long as you're prepared to contribute something to society.

France is the antithesis of this and whilst I love living here for the standard of living, my job, my friends and the fantastically accessible countryside which is both entertaining (skiing, hiking, painting, outdoor sports, cheap boat hire) and truly magnificent, I cannot and have never been able to extract myself from the inherent rascism that exists here.

As an Irlando-Scot living in France I have absolutely no problem whatsoever, on the contrary, people tend to respect me for my work ethic and frequently ask me to help them plan their journeys to my countries of origin. These same people, many of whom have become good friends over the years, are institutionally and irreversibly rascist. Rascism in France doesn't (usually) take the form that it does in the UK or in Britain - ie. I've very rarely come across skinheads going out to beat up people because they have a different skin pigment. Rascism in France is so much deeper, so much more complex and so much more intelligently constructed than that. It runs through every aspect of society.

You don't have to be a mathematical genius to calculate that the people who run the government, the assemblée nationale and the senate are of an age and social status that makes them the children of those who accepted the Nazis with open arms during World War II.

I won't repeat what Rillifane has said about the existence of a multicultural government (although I'm not suggesting that it's easy for minorities in the US) in America in comparison to the all white, all male government of France. The country is about to be throttled by Sarkozy and whilst I abhor his rascist attitude, I believe that the French are in dire need of a Thatcherite leader in order to kick them into the 20th century. When they've arrived, young people such as myself and other young Europeans will hope that we can glide into the 21st. I constantly strive through hard work and perseverence for a France that maintains its wine and cheese but sheds its backward attitudes and "c'est comme ça" approach to glaringly obvious defects in the administration of the country.

I love France and life is amazing here - I'm sure (though not certain) that it is better for me in France than it would be for me in America but I'm also aware that your question is simple and globally encompasses more than just me. In light of this my answer is "no".

Answer 2

Both countries have positives and negatives and a great deal depends on the individual, his or her tastes and personal situation.

I adore Paris and visit there frequently. I gave serious thought to settling there when I retired ten years ago. After a very careful and objective examination of the situation I decided that, for me, the USA was a better place to live.

I concluded that, in the long run, the general economic and social condition of America is better than France.

The USA has gone thru a lot of turmoil trying to resolve the problems of a diverse multi-racial population. We haven't solved all those problems but we are way ahead of everyone else.

Turn of the TV and watch the news. You'll see many non-white faces. In France there is precisely ONE non-white national TV news presenter. Look at our Congress. There are Blacks, whites, Arabs, Hispanics, Asians, Jews and Gays. In France there are NO non-whites representing Metropolitan France in their congress (the Chamber of Deputies). In the administration of a Conservative Republican President some of the most important and powerful people are non-white. A Black woman, Condi Rice, is the President's most influential adviser. In France the only non-white in the cabinet is in charge of, you guessed it, affirmative action. An offical study by the French government concluded that the police tend to be crudely racist.

The American economy is the driving force of the entire world. Our unemployment rate is less than 5%. The French economy is unsteady and unemployment hovers just below 10%. Among the young, unemployment is more like 20%. If you think the $3.00 a gallon you paid for gasoline this summer was terrible, they pay more than twice as much in France. The average French family has a house of about 1100 square feet which they rent rather than own. Even the very poorest 20% in America average 1200 sq.ft and there is almost a 50/50 chance they own it. Overall, more than 70% of Americans own their own home while less than 50% of all Frenchmen do. It is instructive that a poll taken of French students indicated that a mjaority of them aspired to being a government functionary.

The French are some of most heavily taxed people in the world and those taxes support one of the most suffocating, overbearing, officious, arrogant bureaucracies anywhere. Every French citizen I have ever talked to about this complains about it. The business atmosphere is so filled with regulations that bright young Frenchmen move to England or Ireland when they want to start a new business.

America is politically very stable. For all their yelling, there is only a small difference between Democrats and Republicans and the chance of a genuine radical or extremist coming to the forefront is nil. In the last French election a Neo-Nazi ran second. France, while certainly democratic and free, has an unfortunate propensity for people taking to the streets. Riots by students and left wing radicals last spring paralyzed the capital for several days. Prior to that street riots by poor, mainly Muslim, youth saw battles between them and the police and thousands of cars burned. The chance of political instability in the future is very high. Remember, France is a country that has had about two dozen forms of government since the French Revolution. The USA has had one.

The bottom line is that the USA is more secure and more stable, there are more opportunities and, if you do become a success, you get to keep most of your money.

Answer 3

Well the major advantage in living in France are the vacations for those who work as employees! We have 25 days off plus 10 or more for intermediate levels positions. The weather is ok, the country is verrrry beautiful, Paris is a beauty, and cultural life is very well developed. For the US I cannot say except that there are more opportunities for professional success, but I am not well placed to talk about the USA because i only visited the country for 2 weeks (still I loved New York)

Answer 4

I think you should go for it. No you are not too old. Go to any community college here in the US. You will see people in their 50's starting over. I can't recommend a specific program for you, but just look in the back of the economist magazine or some other trade publication like that and you will see plenty of foreign MBA schools offering their services. If for some reason one of those schools doesn't meet your needs, apply directly through to an American one and do a study abroad program or internship through it. I think you should call a few business schools up and ask them specifically about there semesters abroad and internship possibilities and you will be surprised about what you will discover. I think it is a great idea and I hope that if it is right for you that it works out. Their is a lot of unemployment in France now. It is not a fairy kingdom over there. But there are aspects of there culture which are great to learn about. IE: the desire for quality over quantity with regard to food etc.... France has always influenced minds - often for the better. David McCullough just wrote a book about the impact of France on young minds - he is the one that wrote 1776.

Answer 5

I have lived in each country for more than 5 years. You will find idiots, ignorants and haters in both. Just look at most answers above. Classic. It really depends on what you want to do with your life in the end.

If you want to prioritize your career and make money, America is definitely the way to go because the whole culture there is based on professional and material achievement. However, the culture is socially very shallow, individualistic and boring in the end. If you don't have money in the US, you're out of luck.

If you want to prioritize the quality of your life, go to France. French people work very little compared to americans although most of them are kinda lazy and make a lot less. Socially, they are very warm and only care about being unique, as opposed to being popular in America. That provides social interactions with them with a lot more depth and attractiveness. People really do take the time to enjoy life, every minute of it.

On top of that, there is no match for french girls class and sensuality. American girls do not even come close. But that is a guy's standpoint.

Answer 6

I am French to start with.

I believe, we don't spend money like Americans do, we try to save the planet by limiting pollution. we are less concerned about security and don't see the evil everywhere. we have a real freedom of speech.

But I think life is hard in both countries. Both countries have its advantages and drawbacks. So most French will say France and Americans the USA.

oh I forgot, in France we have real delicious food ( and not only snail and frogs' legs ) unlike the US junk food.

Answer 7

I have lived in both. I think France is better if you are French. The French can be very rude to foreigners. People in other countries(Japan, Netherlands, Belgium..have lived in all) are much nicer and understanding to newcomers.
That being said, if you can overcome the French attitude towards non-Frenchies than it is a great place to live.
Note: We put our kids in French school and the first day on their lunch break had to teach them how to say help me. They had been bullied and didn't know it...never had that problem in the US or elsewhere. The only words of English the French kids knew were "American Pig B*st*rd." I had to explain to a 7 and 9 year old what that meant.

Answer 8

France and America are two different cultures, I do not know why you try to compare, there is no comparaison at all.

In america there are more spaces but no culture and in France no spaces at all but a huge history.

And also France is my home.

I live overseas for many years and France is stil in my heart.

Answer 9

Let s rephrase your question...

You have two choices... if you want to be logical with yourself...
- Is life in Europe better than America?
- Is life in France better than in the U.S.?

Now that was the first information...

Second... You could ask yourself...
- Is life in Alaska better than in Florida?
- Is life in Peru better than in the U.S.?

do you get a bit more information?

In any case, for a french life in France is better as for a yank life in the US is better, it is a question of hometown, as well as culture.

Answer 10

Until you live in FRANCE or AMERICA,How can you compare!Personally I believe the USA is the best country to live in !!