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A comment on European Alternatives. Parent comment

Re:European Alternatives by hermanzegerman on Friday January 23, 2026 @07:31PM (#46739827)
As the other guy said you're completely deluded. Nobody "gave" us cheaper credit card fees from MasterCard or Visa. They were the result of a regulatory process.

MasterCard or Visa also aren't operating as a charity in Europe.

Before the capping of fees was introduced, their acceptance was shit at most businesses, and most bank consumers also didn't have one, as opposed to cards of the national scheme which had lower fees both for customers and merchants

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:European Alternatives by 0xDEAFBEAD on Friday January 23, 2026 @07:37PM (#46739855)
So initially MasterCard/Visa profits in Europe are "protection money".

Then it comes out that MasterCard/Visa fees in Europe are actually far lower than in the US.

Now the Europeans are laughing at the Americans for being suckers.

This interaction basically sums up the entire EU/US relationship and the absurdity of Europe's rhetoric around it. Copy/paste this template, change a few words, and it applies pretty much everywhere.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:European Alternatives by hermanzegerman on Friday January 23, 2026 @07:43PM (#46739892)
We don't laugh at Americans for being suckers, we feel sorry for them that they have to live with all this nonsense, and their current horrible administration.

And we also look with horror because most of the bullshit in the US is coming to Europe with a 20 year delay

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:European Alternatives by 0xDEAFBEAD on Friday January 23, 2026 @08:14PM (#46740119)
I'll feel very sorry for you and your country's horrible administration when the Russians are invading your country.
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Re:European Alternatives by corford on Friday January 23, 2026 @09:33PM (#46740522)
Lol. Might be time to put the crack pipe down and go for a walk.
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Re:European Alternatives by 0xDEAFBEAD on Friday January 23, 2026 @10:33PM (#46740811)
Interesting how Europeans react when Americans talk about Europe the exact same way Europe has talked about America for decades. Isn't it interesting?
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Re:European Alternatives by corford on Saturday January 24, 2026 @06:30AM (#46742719)
Not really
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Re:European Alternatives by hermanzegerman on Saturday January 24, 2026 @04:06PM (#46747668)
I would worry more about the secret police in your state murdering randomly people if I were you
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:European Alternatives by 0xDEAFBEAD on Saturday January 24, 2026 @06:57PM (#46749064)
OK so can we at least agree that the US needs to withdraw from NATO in order to focus on our own domestic issues, and so Russia will no longer interfere in our elections?

I need to worry about secret police in my state murdering randomly people. I have no time to think of Europe. Hence it is best to withdraw from NATO. Agreed?

[ Parent | on HN ]