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Our poor people have bigger homes, more cars, and way more amenities than european middle class. Just a fact. I lived in Norway and Ireland and saw it with my own eyes.
In most places, even in the villages there is an extensive public transportation system. Most people still have a car or two and a garage to keep it in. The houses are smaller by choice not by necessity, in most cases. That's just the way they do it here, the population density is way higher in most European countries and much of the countries are still mostly forested or farmland. They conserve by tradition, recycle, use less etc. A smaller house is easier to heat, uses less materials to construct and leaves more room for a larger garden. Though the materials they do use are often massive and generational. They generally build well and build to last.
I've had DSL (underground cable) for about ten years now and live in an outlying community. All the services are underground in most of the countries in Europe. I live in a lower middle class area, Police, Firemen, school teachers, bank employees and can look out the window and see about half the families have upper end cars. The ones that don't, probably by choice not by circumstance.
Like I said, the Germans and many other countries are a bit behind, many had to start from scratch again after WW II, Germany often seems to be years to a decade or so behind the States in gadgets and fashion anyway.
The infrastructure is generally better than the states in most places. The houses are built to last, most of the roads well maintained, tunnels and bridges kept in good repair.
Air conditioning north of France is an unnecessary luxury, though most all of the cars have one.
I see more bling and a bit more extravagance, but largely don't see a drastically higher standard of living in the states. I can drive around all day here and not see any obviously depressed areas.
Even in the European countries East Of Germany, most do OK there and own a Home.
A few things you don't see here, is boarded up houses and trash in the streets, at least in northern Europe.
Most seem to live a bit smaller and a bit more in tune with the surroundings. Many of the conservation initiatives you see in the states, is the way it's always been done here. Save were you can, reuse what you can and put your trash where it belongs.
Typically my unrecycled trash is around four cubic feet every two weeks, often less for a family of three.
A lot of people live years in the past, by choice, not by circumstance. My little town is something like 800 years old. Actually the area the brothers Grimm are from.
i know one old lady who lives in a cottage on about a quarter section right across the river from a major port. She could probably sell and live a fairly extravagant life. She grows her own potatos, raises chickens and goats.
I guess standard of living or quality of life can be relative terms. she doesn't watch much flat screen TV.
What's the name of that song, you don't always get what you want, but you always get what you need.
