Seems we have two camps here..the European "best in the world" and the rest of the world. Here's my bit:
I've flown with american private pilots who I couldn't sign off for their BFRs as well as rental checkouts to UK private pilots who were so rusty in their skills, it doesn't suprise me that (UK) accident reports show problems with takeoffs and landings.
I am a Brit living and working here in the USA working for a small pt 61 school. Sure, we don't have the resources of OATS, Flightsafety et al..but I personally insist students know visual nav by pilotage and dead reckoning, including flying into busier airspace. GPS is great but is just one tool to use.
Sure, the US system is different. It's like comparing apples and pears, but I don't think one can seriously argue that a British Airways captain is a "better" pilot than a United Airlines captain. Once an individual has gained enough practical experience and knowledge, it doesn't matter how or where they trained.
What IS different is avgas @ $2.00 per gallon, less restricted airspace, less risk of military low-flying accidents and a far more user-friendly and economical offical body to deal with.
Long live Uncle Sam! :-)