Meme for people who haven’t updated their worldview since the 1980s.
I work in the US at a German owned auto manufacturing plant. Lots of Germans here. They have extremely high rates of smoking compared to the US employees. The difference is especially stark with younger people.
The rates of smoking in Europe vary widely. Sweden is down under 5%, which is better then the US rate that’s about 10% these days.
Overall, it’s trending in a good direction. I’ve seen much lower rates in Germany even in the last five years, though too much of those quitting tobacco end up vaping instead.
Even the German government has finally started pushing back on tobacco. More education, higher taxes, and removing it from more public spaces. It feels today relatively like the US did in the late 90’s in regards to smoking in public. It’ll take generations to stamp it out.

Reminded me of this album cover


I’m not sure if this is the originator of the meme, but it’s the one I’m familiar with

Have you seen the world outside? At this point I think the people in the lighter shades of that map are the ones winning at this point.
Seen some of it. I’ve been to about a dozen countries. Central Asian, Sub saharan, European, South American.
If I made a list of countries I’d like to live in it would be roughly same as whatever list you like of HDI, Happiness, health, regardless of income percentile.
… Is she smoking sushi?
Well, I have do die of something



