I'm unsure if you're being cheekily ironic about American stereotypes, but everything you mention as an example of "level of life" is stuff, and how stuff's bigger and better and cheaper.

"Large cars, very large houses, every product they buy is at least 20 to 30% cheaper"

Ahhh, large-ness and cheap-ness make a better living?

(Oh my. Thread answered, in a way, though.)

Since it appears that you weren't just trolling with that comment, I have to ask, have you ever actually been to Europe? The north-western countries offer pretty much the same abundance of material goods and lifestyle opportunities as the wealthier areas of the USA. (I will grant you that the average European passenger vehicle is less wastefully enormous than its North American equivalent.)

And can you give us an example of a cutting-edge consumer technology that is widely available in the USA, but not in Europe?

Cutting-edge consumer technology that is widely available in the USA, but not in Europe:

1. Weapons. There may be a few exceptions in Europe, such as the Czech Republic, currently fighting the EU. There are certainly exceptions in the USA, such as California. Overall though, availability is superior in the USA.

2. Private aircraft. If you want to build an experimental airplane in your garage and then fly it, you can do so in the USA. Licensing is pretty easy, especially if the aircraft is lightweight and doesn't carry much fuel or many people.

I was about to comment on how ridiculous this statement is, but on second thought I’m not sure, is this a parody?

I never realised buying crap you don't need equated to a better life.

> you don't need

technically you don't need anything to live. Maybe a roof. A cover to sleep at night and keep you warm. Food to eat everyday, and that's about it. So where you draw the line as to "crap you don't need" is going to be an interesting question. Do you need a computer/phone to post comments on HN to live?

I use don't need not in an existential sense but in a "you won't ever use it to it's capacity sense". For example a big car you drive alone within the speed limit in a city. A big house you only use 2 of the 10 rooms in regularly. An iMac Pro you use to browse Hackernews and read emails. You get the idea.

I don't think many Europeans dream of unnecessarily large pick up trucks, McMansions, and spending surplus income on an cache of AR-15s.

You define success in terms of houses, cars, and tech gadgets? This is in view of widening wealth gap and increased isolation, depression, and an opioid epidemic. Meanwhile people in Europe have less stressful lives and enjoy hobbies and relationships. I think I’d prefer having a smaller house, last year’s tech, and smaller car with more friends and neighbors than being isolated in my McMansion.

I’m not sure I’d associate gluttony with opportunity, but to each their own I guess.