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Nearly half of EU citizens no longer see US as most important ally, survey shows (www.euronews.com)

submitted 3 weeks ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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A new survey reveals EU citizens are growing more and more US-sceptic, and think it's time for the bloc to pursue its own foreign policy and reduce ties with Washington.

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[–] [email protected] 55 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (3 children)

I remember in the nineties and early 2000s everybody wanted to go to the U.S. on holiday: visit New York, the romantic city that never sleeps, where you can buy Levi's 501s and iPhones for cheap, because everyone wanted those back in the day.

Or California, the birthplace of surfing and skateboarding, where the weather was nice and the beaches and people are beautiful. It was spurred by what people saw in movies and on t.v. shows.

These days I don't hear many people speak positively about the US anymore. Lots of people think it's dangerous, with all the guns around and lots of violence in the streets and even in schools that are supposed to be safe places for children. Donald Trump getting elected is also a big part of it of course. It says something about the mindset of the American people and the course they want to follow.even as a tourist you don't feel safe or welcome anymore.

The culture of freedom and innovation many people admired has dwindled and is pretty much gone IMHO.

The feelgood movies about america seemed to have dried up. Any real news coming from across the pond is pretty dire, or at least negative.

Innovation is slowing. In my mind the iphone was the last really innovative physical good that was invented in the US which everyone was excited about.

I for one miss the old U.S. We need a better role model.

[–] [email protected] 30 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

The signs were there though. Take for example the fact that the USA is the only first world country without some form of decent public healthcare. We'd always joke about it but it has always been a red flag signalling how many Americans felt about their fellow countrymen.

Same for guns etc. And now finally the chickens have come back to roost.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 2 weeks ago

It's like black stains growing in the corners of the room that you didn't really notice. By the time you see them, look closer, realise it's mold and started pulling off the floorboards to check how deep it goes, the whole damn place is infested.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

It's funny because the US hasn't really changed all that much. If anything, violent crime since that time is down overall. NYC is still the same city. People in California still surf. It's only perception that's changed. And that perception is driven by media.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 3 weeks ago

I miss that too.

I've described it as losing your big older brother that was always there for you to a crippling addiction. It's really sad for everyone involved.