These are just a few things with which I think America needs to [re]acquaint itself, and embrace to some extent or another.
1. Stoop sitting
‘Nuff said.
2. “Rent is the thing that beats us” or “self-created life”
Poppa Neutrino’s life philosophy is full of gems.
3. Siestas
Leave it to Americans to create the “power nap” instead…
4. Drinking in public
I’m not necessarily advocating public drunkenness. Just the opportunity to sit in the park with a glass of wine or a good beer and get down to people-watching. Let’s add a good piazza to the mix too.
5. Rush hour – with bikes!
6. Taking your time to end a film (and allowing yourself patience when watching a film)
Fassbinder got it right with The American Soldier.
7. Free post-secondary education
If this is too much to ask for, then let’s at least ban rankings by publications like U.S. News & World Report, which cause schools to compete for top spots via increased spending on stuff like state-of-the-art athletic facilities and dorms. We don’t need rock-climbing walls and former hotel rooms. We need more accessible educational opportunities for all.
8. Metric system
It’s the official system of measurement for all nations except Burma, Liberia, and the United States. It’s based on powers of ten. Wouldn’t it just make things a little simpler?
9. The autobahn
The facts are there: higher speed doesn’t mean more fatalities or accidents. Differences in speed are the main factors in highway accidents; more liberal speed limit laws actually improve the flow of traffic and reduce the number of accidents. Having cops lying in wait along the side of the road proves a dangerous distraction and disrupts the traffic flow as drivers attempt to quickly hit the brakes in order to avoid a ticket.
10. Extended paid parental leave
This practice is rooted in the belief that more time spent together makes for a stronger family, and stronger families mean a stronger society overall.
America, take a note.
This is obviously just a handful of ideas that deserve greater attention/adoption in the States. My list could go on (decriminalization of drugs, free healthcare, same-sex marriage, and of course, cooler cars…). Add your own thoughts to the list and then we can really get to work on implementation.
