Yes, Non-Americans, Usually From Western Europe, Do Not Understand the "Quirks" of America

I'm always interested in what non-Americans like about the US. Usually they preface their list with things they do not like. I find this odd given they tend to feel the strong urge to tell what they don't like first even when asked the opposite. If they don't like it first it's at the tail-end. After listing the positive they go ons saying "With that said, there are many things I dislike .... " Below are the most common, if not universal, issues non-Americans, usually Europeans, have with the US

• gun "culture"
• no universal healthcare
• "no" work-life balance and paid annual leave (Western Europe in general work less than 30 hrs per week)
• lack of paid maternity leave (they will then boast "we have 1 year paid maternity leave!")
• "only" two week (paid) vacation (instead of 1 month)
• apparently it's seen as unfair for the government to make its citizens do their own taxes
• no "free" university be it undergrad, masters or professional school (i.e. med, law)
• no "proper public transportation" (it's not enough that Chicago and NYC have comprehensive systems since they're not 'good enough')
• the government (America is seen as imperialistic)
• Orange Man Bad

I would argue that there isn't that much of a gun "culture" within the States besides guns existing, whether they're obtain legally or illegally. I will say there are gun enthusiasts though. Most gun deaths are self-inflicted. After that it's gang wars. The minority are deranged people gunning down people for either political reason or just because.

As with leftists in the US, Europeans in general are just simply scared of guns. I wouldn't say it's a phobia, but it's definitely a foreign concept to them hence their fascination and disgust with gun ownership in the US. A good number who travel to the US for leisure have visited gun ranges, so I cannot say they are phobic to it. 

I myself do not own a gun simply for the fact I never felt the need to have one, and that guns aren't a social norm in my family. There are a couple friends who at one time did own a gun which wasn't taboo, granted they were middle class and were relatively responsible people. I sorta wanted to follow them so I filled out the paperwork for a FOID card but for whatever reason never completed it.

The absence of universal healthcare really makes Europeans scratch their heads. Even after the explanation that although many are without healthcare, there is Medicaid for the poor and those with limited financial means, Medicare for the elderly and robust healthcare through ones employee. They sometimes then move the goal posts stating that access of decent healthcare through the employee makes the person a slave to the employee system. Oddly enough I find this complaint bizarre since I believe in the saying of "honest day's work for an honest day's pay." Europeans are just too married to the concept of universal healthcare.

I don't care much for the government complaint. Only a handful of non-Americas have truly studied the American government system whereas many of the complaints of those who haven't are just surface complaints anyways. 

The most amusing thing I find that non-Americans take issue with is Trump. Orange Man Bad. If American leftists refuse to understand why someone would for Trump, and then later think his presidency was a stain on everything good in the world, then I can't see why a non-American would have a better understanding of the Trump Era. After all, if the US MSM can paint him as many bad things the likes of BBC will probably double their efforts. Often times non-Americans are equally as daft as the leftist who froths from the mouth when Trump is mentioned. 

One comment by an American who also reflected on what made her irate about non-Americans is when they talked about Trump. "He's not your prime minister." She made a very good point. It's similar to when a Swedish man said he despised the US because of some random law he learned about in Minnesota or Idaho or whatever state it was. The law wasn't even used; it was an old law that no longer recognized. 

Many non-Americans think that the idea of the American Exceptionalism, though somewhat admirable in their eyes, is ultimately misguided. Why? They say that is creates horse blinders on Americans. To be perfectly honest, I don't really see how places like the UK are anymore worldly given their mentality is the complete opposite of the US - "we're not special" to a pessimistic attitude. I suppose this belief is why they have a hard time understanding the MAGA (Make American Great Again) concept. A British woman said that the slogan didn't make sense to her since America wasn't great for everyone in the past. Obviously she has very clue on what she's talking about.

If there's one thing I never bought about Europe is the idea they are wise while America is not. I'm not saying the US is wise, it's just that the whole "European spent hundreds of years solving human issues yet America doesn't listen" is almost pure posturing. All I've experienced was a lot of hot air on their part.

For all its faults, give me America over the UK any day. Its people - heck, even its government. It's not perfect since it's made up of imperfect humans. And yes, I don't mind the religious fervor in the US.