An American asked when Europeans are going to realise ‘how poor they are’ and the entirety of Europe responded as one
To the pages of the Wall Street Journal now, where writer Joseph Sternberg has been thinking about Europe.
Specifically, just how poor Europe is compared to the United States and what Europeans will do when they finally wake up to the fact.
From @WSJopinion: What happens when Europeans find out how poor they are? The Continent trails far behind U.S. economic output. Politics is bound to catch up sooner or later, writes Joseph Sternberg.https://t.co/A5ObYF7zds
— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) May 3, 2026
Ooh, get him!
And we mention it because it prompted quite the reaction on Twitter – mostly if not entirely from Europeans, obviously – and it’s surely one of the more satisfying things you’ll read today.
1.
European reaction to the “economic output” https://t.co/qj7S4jRLRq pic.twitter.com/Osuyu1nuce
— Mads (@europemaxxed) May 5, 2026
2.
Your article has reached me during the summer café latte-sipping season. Normal hours will resume in September. pic.twitter.com/tLNg4zflzQ
— Model Troglodyte (@4thTroglodyte) May 5, 2026
3.
Most Europeans genuinely don’t give a a shit about the per-capita income of Americans. https://t.co/eAGtX3aFId
— Georg ‘Maverick’ Löfflmann (@gloefflmann) May 5, 2026
4.
Americans are ranked 15th in median wealth. Your per Capita numbers are massively distorted by the presence of fantastically wealthy billionaires.
The EU has a lot of problems to fix, but take the beam out of your own eye first. The “europoors” thing was always cope.
— Teodor Zhechev (@tzhechev) May 5, 2026
5.
Europeans finding out how poor they are compared to Americans https://t.co/4HvPaKNFfC pic.twitter.com/jScwAaCdjZ
— Alex Sakalis (@alexsakalis) May 5, 2026
6.
1/ The American right needs to terrify the American people into believing working until you drop then begging on GoFundMe to pay your medical bills is a sign of national greatness.
2/ Americans do not understand what ‘rich’ is, but it looks like this…👇 pic.twitter.com/JitpVh4pmn
— Jon Burke 🌍 (@jonburkeUK) May 5, 2026
7.
These almost weekly articles tell me two things:
1/ The American right needs to terrify the American people into believing working until you drop then begging on GoFundMe to pay your medical bills is a sign of national greatness.
2/ Americans do not understand what ‘rich’ is. https://t.co/bl3Zbq67D3 pic.twitter.com/NlJzPkgWQW
— Jon Burke 🌍 (@jonburkeUK) May 5, 2026
8.
Americans: We're so much richer than you!
Europeans: Thanks for your email. I'm currently out of the office on summer holiday until the 30th Sept. pic.twitter.com/GRKN4yyPDI
— Joel Willans (@VFinnishProbs) May 5, 2026
9.
What happens when Americans find out how poor they are? https://t.co/Onz9rRLjlm pic.twitter.com/3p3pOhHobh
— Hrøríkʀ (@DessieSPolitics) May 6, 2026