What aspects of other countries would you like in your own country?

[MeiganMcSeinna6]

I would say
More table service

You can blame racists for co-opting the flag for that, not minority people. Get a clue.

DH is Dutch. Things I'd like to import from the Netherlands include:

Networks of cycle paths
Cheaper trains
Bigger houses
Decriminalised drugs

A strong leader. Putin for example, puts his country and his people first.

The clean, well-designed hospitals for women and children. The multiple times daily bin-emptying. (Spain)

@Galassia

A strong leader. Putin for example, puts his country and his people first.

Are you serious? Someone who sanctions the poisoning of people ? He is the definition of genuine evil.

I can't remember which country it is - Germany perhaps? - but I would like to import the ethos that it's not acceptable to make noise at a level that it disturbs your neighbours. Days to day living noise fine, but excess noise - music, screeching in the garden all hours, DIY at unsociable hours - shouldn't be allowed.

I disagree with the 'families everywhere all evening'. You can do this now if you want to an extent, but there's nothing wrong with children going to bed early and sleeping well. Who wants children in pubs or restaurants at 10pm? No thanks! 7-7 is a perfectly reasonable time for younger children to sleep given that the school day starts between 8:30-9. It's well known that they perform better at school if they're well rested and also who enjoys tired children?!

Spanish street/public space cleaning and the responsibility of dog owners to clean the pavement after wees

@Galassia

A strong leader. Putin for example, puts his country and his people first.

Right. Every country really needs a Putin.

More Halloween parties
More beaches
More activities for teenagers

Siesta and young children being allowed to be more independent so travelling to school alone from around 6 years old like Germany and Switzerland (and probably other places)

Better public transport

justamomentplease

In Spain, it's also customary not to make noise that disturbs your neighbours. Well constructed apartment blocks do help with this, as does the weather and the availability of clean, safe public spaces (e.g. parks with picnic tables, toilets, bins where you can have family/friends' gatherings instead of cramming into a flat).

I disagree with the 'families everywhere all evening'. You can do this now if you want to an extent, but there's nothing wrong with children going to bed early and sleeping well. Who wants children in pubs or restaurants at 10pm? No thanks! 7-7 is a perfectly reasonable time for younger children to sleep given that the school day starts between 8:30-9.
Typically it's during the holidays (particularly summer, when the sunset is really late), at weekends and on special occasions that this would happen. Young children will siesta during the hottest part of the day (and older children will rest).
I prefer kids in restaurants at 10pm than groups of drunks.

@memberofthewedding

I spent a year working in the USA. One thing I have always admired about Americans is their unashamed patriotism and pride in their country. In the small towns you see the flag on many houses and people stand at football games for the national anthem. Americans also value their troops and their veterans.

In the UK you dare not fly a flag because its might upset some minorities. British people shuffle out awkwardly rather than stand for the anthem.

You are not allowed to express pride in being British because you might upset the woke/snowflake brigade.

While I agree with most of this I have to say that the reasons I wouldn’t fly a flag would have nothing to do with being worried about offending minorities.

Free childcare
Better education
Street food on every street please
Afternoon naps

Thanksgiving...

One of the places we lived school hours were 7.30am-1pm. (And office hours 6am-2pm!). Then home for a rest in the heat of afternoon if needed, then extra curricular stuff from 3pm (or 2pm indoors) The work/school vs life balance was brilliant.

I'd love school hours like that again.

@justamomentplease

I can't remember which country it is - Germany perhaps? - but I would like to import the ethos that it's not acceptable to make noise at a level that it disturbs your neighbours. Days to day living noise fine, but excess noise - music, screeching in the garden all hours, DIY at unsociable hours - shouldn't be allowed.

I disagree with the 'families everywhere all evening'. You can do this now if you want to an extent, but there's nothing wrong with children going to bed early and sleeping well. Who wants children in pubs or restaurants at 10pm? No thanks! 7-7 is a perfectly reasonable time for younger children to sleep given that the school day starts between 8:30-9. It's well known that they perform better at school if they're well rested and also who enjoys tired children?!

DH is German, if you make noise before 9 on a Sunday your neighbours will come and tell you off. You also can’t mow the lawn on Sundays. I actually love how Germans (especially Oma’s) are more than happy to tell you off and point out your shortcomings. I think this country would be a much better place to live if there were bands of wandering Oma’s handing out bollockings (and cakes)

@midsomermurderess

Government serving its people, like in the Nordic countries, rather than being a vehicle for enrichment of ministers and incompetents who are awarded contracts to provide inadequate services.

Agree. And from the outside, those Nordic countries seem less focused. on appearance, which is a good thing, too. I noticed on a trip to Berlin ( not quite Nordic, I know)that very few women wore heels/fake eyelashes and that clothes seemed to be about practicality.

I do like how we've now got a bit more of a cafe culture, I love being able to sit outside a cafe/pub.

@Hoppinggreen The problem is the culture in England would mean that most Oma's would be told to fuck right off by said inconsiderate neighbours!

I would happily have a neighbourhood Oma!

@pinksquash13

SCHEDULED NAPS FOR ADULTS

🙌🙌🙌🙌

@marcopront

All those of you who want the free childcare of Scandinavian countries - do you want the higher taxes to go with it?

Yes, obviously. My friends and family in Scandi countries are better off despite being in similar jobs. When I had nursery fees to pay things were really tight. Now that they’re bigger I’m earning more I could afford it easily. Why on earth wouldn’t I want reasonable return for my taxes? It just makes more sense.

As a Brit living in Croatia, I would love to get rid of the corruption here. It still fascinates me how extreme it is and how imbedded it is in society.
In the UK I hate seeing out of season fruit and veg being sold in the supermarkets. It is bad quality and overpriced and has been shipped across half the world.

Living in city/town centres. If you go to many continental cities/big towns, it is quite clear that people of all ages, including families, live in them, so they remain more alive and civilised in the evenings and at weekends, and this also means that small local shops such as bakers and facilities like playgrounds to serve them. This only works because there's a culture of city centre apartment living there (although I'd accept its being eroded in some tourist areas by Airbnb).

@marcopront

All those of you who want the free childcare of Scandinavian countries - do you want the higher taxes to go with it?

I would imagine most people would go for that. If you are a high income earner in Sweden, the maximum you can pay for full time nursery is £125 per month. Taxes are higher, but on a regular income you pay 21% here and 30% in Sweden so you still end up with much more money in your pocket if you are on let's say £2000/month.

Plus, the taxes obviously in not only spent on childcare, you also benefit from many other aspects such as a long paid maternity/paternity leave, better state pension, dole (80% of your latest salary) etc.

Better cycle infrastructure.

People to take better care of public facing areas. Fed up with front gardens looking like dumps. Kind of ties in with being respectful of others and where you live - more community minded, less fuck you, I’ll behave how I like.