I know that many Redditors heavily dislike the US for various reasons, and I also disagree with many things happening in the states, especially regarding the current administration. However, we need to ask ourselves why every single action the US takes is held to such an intense, global level of scrutiny while the rest of the world gets a pass.

I believe the historical concept of America as a "City on a Hill" still holds true today, but it has become a curse illuminated by the global press. Because all eyes are locked on the US, European nations are allowed to hide their own systemic failures and growing radicalization in the shadows.

If we look at Europe, the hypocrisy is staggering. In Denmark, the government formed coalitions that relied on right-wing extremists and passed incredibly harsh, inhumane laws targeting immigrants (Article: Denmark’s Turn to Temporary Protection .. | migrationpolicy.org). This was largely ignored by the global press, and many Europeans do not even know it happened. In Germany, we are witnessing a dramatic, structural surge in right-wing extremism with the AfD. Countries like Sweden and the UK are experiencing a massive rise in right-wing populism, with Reform UK gaining significant ground. (Swedish parties agree coalition with backing of far-right | Sweden | The Guardian)

Yet, when these factions gain power or dictate policy in Europe, the world glances for a second and then looks away. But when a political event happens in the US, the entire globe stops to watch. During a US election cycle, Europeans hold their breath and obsess over the coverage as if it were their own country.

All of this hyper-fixation is happening to our own detriment. We watch reports of police violence in the US and smugly think to ourselves that it could never happen to us, completely ignoring the fact that police violence is on the rise within our own borders and is often vastly underreported.

Even worse is our economic arrogance. We look at the US welfare system and call it a joke, insisting we have absolutely nothing to learn from them. In doing so, we ignore the reality that several European countries have the highest social contributions and tax burdens in the OECD, yet we receive increasingly strained, bureaucratic, and inefficient public services in return. Our state-funded, pay-as-you-go retirement systems are facing a brutal demographic cliff, leaving the younger generation to foot an unsustainable bill for pensions that likely won't exist when they retire. Instead of clinging to a failing status quo out of pride, perhaps we should actually look at market-based, individual wealth-building solutions like the US 401k system. Tax Burden on Labor in Europe | Tax Foundation Europe

This blindness extends directly to innovation and economic growth. The majority of successful tech unicorns that manage to start in Europe eventually decide to pack up and leave for the US, and the most ambitious new companies open in the States from day one. While access to capital is a factor, the primary reason cited by entrepreneurs is Europe's suffocating over-regulation. Yet, if you dare to mention that Europe needs to deregulate to stay competitive, the immediate, knee-jerk reaction from the public is: "If we deregulate, we will become like the dystopian US!" This defensive attitude destroys our competitive ability, the very thing that funds the luxury and high standard of living we take for granted. EU startups move to the U.S. for looser tech regulations

This immense, disproportionate critique towards one single country allows us to completely ignore our own domestic issues. Instead of solving our own existential problems, we use America as a convenient scapegoat to feel morally superior. In the process, we are only radicalizing our own populations, stifling our own growth, and letting our own systems quietly decay.

Edit: I am taking a break for a bit

Edit2: For some reason I can't see new comments? If any mod could message me about this it would be much appreciated. I can't even see my own new comments, haha.