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Take the back seat for once, ‘Merica

32 Ways the Rest of the World Is Light Years Ahead of the U.S.

May 26, 2024

For all its faults, America is still quite the global powerhouse that has a lot to beef up its ego with. This makes ‘Mericans think that they’re all that and a bag of ranch dressing.

Well, there’s a whole bunch of other countries that can show it/them a thing or two — if it’ll drop the ego for a second to take a few notes.

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32

CRACKED COM In the US, it's normal to go to college for four years. BIOLOGY HISTORY ENGLISH sociology POLITIC GEOMETR MATHEMATICS - ELIGION ECONOMY PHYSICS TUC ARTS OG EDUCATION MISTRY In Europe, it's usually just three years, as lots of the general education that US students take is taken care of in high school. — Source

31

CRACKED THE UKRAINE TAKES A BREATHER BEFORE A TRIP. In Ukraine and Russia, it is traditional to sit down as a family for a few minutes before leaving on a trip. This grants good luck on the journey, and leaves an opportunity to remember anything you may have forgotten. — Source

30

CRACKED THE U.S WORKS WAY TOO MUCH. INSURICARE adidas I I SERVICE Americans work almost 25% more hours than Europeans, 137 more hours per year than the Japanese, and 499 more hours per year than the French. Americans retire later, and take fewer vacations than most other countries. — Source

29

CRACKED WEARING SHOES IN THE HOUSE. The rule is household to household in the U.S., but it's considered rude and offensive in most of Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Canada. — Source

28

CRACKED BOSNIA'S FESTIVAL OF SCRAMBLED EGGS. The U.S. might celebrate spring with a spring cleaning, but Zenica, Bosnia, kicks off the season with Čimburijada - a tribute to scrambled eggs. They cook them in a large pan in a city park, then spend the day partying, BBQing and jumping in the river. — Source

27

GRACKED WORLDWIDE DRINKING AGES. 64% of the world's drinking age is 18 or under. Canada is split between 18 and 19, but America's age of 21 is only behind the Eastern African nation of Eritrea (25 years old) and, of course, the 11 countries where alcohol is banned altogether. — Source

26

GRACKED NO WATER WARS ON EASTER. In Poland, Ómigus-dyngus (aka Wet Monday) is an ultimate water fight held each year on Easter Monday in Poland and Ukraine. This could be huge in The U.S. — Source

25

GRACKED BALI'S DAY OF SILENCE. In Bali, New Year has 24 hours of silence and meditation known as Nyepi. There is no talking, travel, work, or activities, and the only people outside are the Pecalang - Security enforcing the rules. Doesn't this sound better than a hangover at brunch? — Source

24

The U.S. is 1 of only 4 countries in the world that does not require paid maternity leave. The U.S. ranks last among developed countries when it comes to paid parental leave. While many U.S. companies offer paid parental leave, the United States is the only advanced country without a federal law mandating it. CRACKED.COM — Source

23

Unlike many other countries around the world, America doesn't officially embrace the tradition of napping. It's a cultural expectation in places like Italy, Spain, Greece, the Philippines, Nigeria & others, but viewed as slacking here. CRACKED.COM — Source

22

37% of Americans skip going to the doctor or refilling prescriptions because of the cost. In Great Britain and Sweden, that number is 4-6%. $ A hip replacement costs $80,000 in the U.S. and less than $14,000 in Europe. Nexium costs $215 in the U.S. and $20-60 in Europe. http://www.usnews.com/opinion/articles/2014/ CRACKED.COM 05/30/no-the-us-doesnt-have-the-best-health-care-system-in-the-world — Source

21

America incarcerates more of its citizens than Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Switzerland combined. x 2. The U.S. incarceration rate is 698 per 100,000 people. In Finland, it's 55 per 100,000. Sweden: 57 per 100,000. Denmark: 67 per 100,000. Norway: 75 per 100,000. Switzerland: 84 per 100,000. http://www.prisonstudies.org/highest-fo-lowest/ CRACKED.COM prison_population_rate?field_region_taxonomy_tid=All — Source

20

RWANDA CRACKED.COM In the country's race towards zero carbon emissions, Rwanda has committed to restore 2 million hectares of degraded land by 2030, and is well-placed to pull it off, as it recently planted over 43 million trees nationwide. — Source

19

THE GAMBIA CRACKED.COM The country has launched a large project to restore 10,000 hectares of forests, mangroves, and savannas. It is also replacing flooded rice paddies with dry upland rice fields to conserve water and decrease methane production. — Source

18

FINLAND CRACKED COM Finland is one of the most environmentally friendly countries, with an unbelievable achievement of having 0% of its population exposed to unsafe levels of air pollution. Environmental goals include reducing greenhouse emissions, increasing renewable energy, and protecting forest and farmland habitats. — Source

17

COSTA RICA CRACKED COM Costa Rica leads the world in carbon neutrality. For several years now, Costa Rica has run on entirely renewable energy for about 300 days per year. Just how impressive is that? Portugal was recently praised for running on 100% renewables for 4 days. — Source

16

NORWAY P - = GRACKED.COM Norway leads the world in percentage of electric cars. With tax exemptions on zero emissions cars, sales rose by 25% in 2021 to a record 176,276 cars (that's 65% of car sales), and it's on track to hit 80% in 2022. They also have a deadline to end petrol and diesel powered car sales by 2025. — Source

15

MOROCCO GRACKED.COM Morocco's National Energy Strategy calls for generating 52% of their electricity from renewables by 2030, with projects like the Noor Ouarzazate Complex-the largest concentrated solar farm in the world, covering an area the size of 3,500 football fields. — Source

14

NEW ZEALAND CRACKED COM Those clear skies in The Lord of the Rings are not CGI. New Zealand has 0% of its population exposed to unsafe air pollution levels, has protected almost 1/3 of its terrestrial and marine area, and has met targets for reducing greenhouse emissions with additional goals for 2030 and 2050. — Source

13

IN PORTUGAL, IT'S ILLEGAL FOR RESTAURANTS NOT TO OFFER VEGAN MEALS. In 2017, it became the first country where all food services (including schools, hospitals, and prisons) are required by law to provide vegan options in their menus. This started as a petition signed by more than 15,000 people in 2016. GRACKED.COM — Source

12

in stockholm, sweden, you can win cash FOR obeying the speed Limit. The Speed Camera Lottery photographs the license plates of all passing cars. Speeding cars are fined, and those obeying the speed limit are entered into a lottery for a portion of the fines. http //www thestar com/news/world/2010/12/09/ GRACKED.COM speed_camera_lottery_pays_drivers_for_slowing_down.html — Source

11

In the Netherlands, disabled citizens receive a stipend from the government to pay for sex services 12 times a year. Reports show that the program has resulted in reduced rates of depression and sucide among the disabled. GRACKED.COM — Source

10

In Germany, as many hungry American tourists have discovered to their shock and delight, you can get a beer to accompany your Big Mac. McDonald's CRACKED.COM — Source

9

In 2013, Nepal introduced a third gender option for IDs of individuals not identifying as male or female. GRACKED.COM — Source

8

Cars are rare in Cuba, and as a result, all government vehicles are required to pick up hitchhikers (space permitting) to ensure they reach their destination safely. Hitchhiking is actually encouraged, and there are designated hitchhiking spots. CRACKED.COM http //globerove.com/cuba/cuba-hitchhiking-guide/255 — Source

7

McDonald's in Norway serves fresh-caught salmon sandwiches. McDonald's INM - - Artes - They're called McLaks, and you can enjoy them in a classy building that used to be a bank. CRACKED.COM — Source

6

in GeRMANY TRASH IS WeIGHeD, AND COSTS AS MUCH AS $2 PeR POUND TO THROW OUT. THE RESULT? people ARe COMPOSTING AND RECYCLING INSTEAD, AND PER-CAPITA WASTE HAS DROPPED 50% since 1994. CRACKED.COM http://www.arc.cat/jornades/joradaprevencio2010/pon_4.pdf — Source

5

All 40,000 of Chile's firefighters are volunteers. BOMBEROS MUÑOA They even have to pay monthly contributions to their stations, and they largely don't want to be paid - this is a tradition that dates to the founding of the service over 150 years ago. CRACKED.COM — Source

4

FINNISH DADS SPEND MORE TIME WITH THEIR KIDS THAN MOMS DO. It's the result of policies that greatly encourage a father's presence, considered crucial for the child's development. Paternity leave can last nine weeks and pays 70% of a job's salary. This turned Finland into the first country where fathers do most of the childcare. CRACKED.COM — Source

3

BHUTAN IS THE ONLY CARBON-NEGATIVE COUNTRY. While most governments struggle to become carbon-neutral, this Himalayan kingdom is the only country that absorbs more carbon emissions than it produces. Its constitution says that forests should cover at least 60% of the territory, making it the greenest nation on Earth. CRACKED.COM — Source

2

In Singapore, you automatically become an organ donor when you turn 21. ser You can opt out, but if you do, you're lower priority for organ transplants. CRACKED.COM — Source

1

In China, kids' video game time is strictly limited. On week days, minors can play online games up to 90 minutes per day, but they can't play at all between 10 PM and 8 AM. On weekends, they can play for up to three hours a day. CRACKED.COM — Source

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