Current Events > Think America is on the decline? Think again!

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The_Sock 06/04/23 4:20:14 PM #1:	https://www.humanprogress.org/dear-americans-define-worse-off/ The United States is doing quite well. You wouldnt know it if you read the headlines, listened to the bombastic political disputes, or even asked Americans. In a March poll, a majority of Americans had low confidence that life would be better for their children. A CNN poll published in April showed that less than a third of respondents would call economic conditions good. A McKinsey survey released in December fully captured the negative sentiment, with pessimism cut across all income groups and demographics: Americans are feeling opportunity slipping away. In stark contrast, The Economist (https://tinyurl.com/mrp984p5) in April ran a cover story in a diametrically different flavor, pointing to all the good things happening in America. Yes, you read that right. In between the bank collapses, looming recession, runaway national debt, culture wars, political sandbox, Trump obsession in both political camps, shootings, opioid epidemic, runaway costs for food and health care, millions of men out of the labor force, fears of nuclear conflict, etc., there are fundamentally good things going on. The magazines editors and contributors arent trying to brush over the troublesin slanted whataboutism or the style of the everything is fine meme (a carefree dog in a room engulfed in flames). Rather, they are trying to balance the overharsh thrashing that American life, economy, and society have endured recently. One strategy used by those of us trained in history to trivialize the present is to look back far enough. Compared to the miserable toil and pain that was most of humanitys plight until recently, our present ills look quaint. Striving to get work-life balance right? Struggling to make ends meet? Energy bill unusually large this year? Try having three failed harvests in a row, starving to the point that you boil the leather off your shoes for evening soup; watch nature take most of your children; or huddle together for shared body heat since there is precious little fuel to stave off the winter cold. The list of ills troubling Americans in 2023 is astonishingly long and of a different kind altogether. But in strictly economic terms, its much harder to see what millions of Americans are so pessimistic about. U.S. unemployment is around record-low levels. Real earnings, while theyve come down from the recent years pandemic-infused turbulence, are on par with pre-pandemic levels, noticeably higher than ever before. Inflationa nominal rather than real metric that worries households much more than it does economistsis also coming down. The U.S. economy, as a share of the G7an international grouping of the United States and seven other rich economiesis larger than it was 30 years ago. Adjusted for purchasing power, only those in ber-rich petrostates and financial hubs enjoy a higher income per person, concludes The Economist. The poorest states in the United States are on par with the richest European countries. The stylized facts about U.S. and European economiesfound in economics textbooks or old social policy reportsused to be that Americans work harder and longer for higher income, but Europeans live better lives with better social safety nets. These days even that seems to be changing, as the U.S. welfare state is approaching European levels both in comprehensiveness and total spending. Richer Americans spend more of their resources, public and private, on social ills. According to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development statistics, government social spending (as a share of gross domestic product) is above Australia, Iceland, and Norway, trailing socialist Sweden and Canada only by a few percentage points. (America is second only to France when adjusting for net social spending that includes private spending and tax breaks for social purposes.) --- Sit-up champion of the 27th century. #BlackLivesMatter #IStandWithUkraine <cite>The_Sock posted [p:973925198] in Think Amer... [t:80466413]...</cite> <quote>https://www.humanprogress.org/dear-americans-define-worse-off/The United States is doing quite well. You wouldnt know it if you read the headlines, listened to the bombastic political disputes, or even asked Americans.In a March poll, a majority of Americans had low confidence that life would be better for their children. A CNN poll published in April showed that less than a third of respondents would call economic conditions good. A McKinsey survey released in December fully captured the negative sentiment, with pessimism cut across all income groups and demographics: Americans are feeling opportunity slipping away.In stark contrast, The Economist (https://tinyurl.com/mrp984p5) in April ran a cover story in a diametrically different flavor, pointing to all the good things happening in America.Yes, you read that right. In between the bank collapses, looming recession, runaway national debt, culture wars, political sandbox, Trump obsession in both political camps, shootings, opioid epidemic, runaway costs for food and health care, millions of men out of the labor force, fears of nuclear conflict, etc., there are fundamentally good things going on.The magazines editors and contributors arent trying to brush over the troublesin slanted whataboutism or the style of the everything is fine meme (a carefree dog in a room engulfed in flames). Rather, they are trying to balance the overharsh thrashing that American life, economy, and society have endured recently.One strategy used by those of us trained in history to trivialize the present is to look back far enough. Compared to the miserable toil and pain that was most of humanitys plight until recently, our present ills look quaint. Striving to get work-life balance right? Struggling to make ends meet? Energy bill unusually large this year? Try having three failed harvests in a row, starving to the point that you boil the leather off your shoes for evening soup; watch nature take most of your children; or huddle together for shared body heat since there is precious little fuel to stave off the winter cold.The list of ills troubling Americans in 2023 is astonishingly long and of a different kind altogether. But in strictly economic terms, its much harder to see what millions of Americans are so pessimistic about. U.S. unemployment is around record-low levels. Real earnings, while theyve come down from the recent years pandemic-infused turbulence, are on par with pre-pandemic levels, noticeably higher than ever before.Inflationa nominal rather than real metric that worries households much more than it does economistsis also coming down. The U.S. economy, as a share of the G7an international grouping of the United States and seven other rich economiesis larger than it was 30 years ago. Adjusted for purchasing power, only those in ber-rich petrostates and financial hubs enjoy a higher income per person, concludes The Economist. The poorest states in the United States are on par with the richest European countries.The stylized facts about U.S. and European economiesfound in economics textbooks or old social policy reportsused to be that Americans work harder and longer for higher income, but Europeans live better lives with better social safety nets. These days even that seems to be changing, as the U.S. welfare state is approaching European levels both in comprehensiveness and total spending. Richer Americans spend more of their resources, public and private, on social ills. According to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development statistics, government social spending (as a share of gross domestic product) is above Australia, Iceland, and Norway, trailing socialist Sweden and Canada only by a few percentage points. (America is second only to France when adjusting for net social spending that includes private spending and tax breaks for social purposes.)</quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
BloodMoon7 06/04/23 4:22:06 PM #2:	Okay but I would like free healthcare pls. --- My maid will hear about this. <cite>BloodMoon7 posted [p:973925233] in Think Amer... [t:80466413]...</cite> <quote>Okay but I would like free healthcare pls.</quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
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The_Sock 06/04/23 4:23:21 PM #4:	The demographic problem hopelessly plaguing many other countries is much smaller in America, which has a younger population and a higher fertility rate than other rich countries. Americans still work more hours than most Europeans or Japanese, and the hours they put in are, on average, more valuable than those of labor forces elsewhere. Despite millions of (mostly) men making a beeline for the labor market exits, the United States has proportionately added more workers this century than its peers. Still, the number of prime-age American men out of work is rising and is higher than in most European countries. Some reasons men arent working include opioids, manufacturing decline, mental illness, and defective care for returning soldiers. They indicate that despite the nations economic success, not all is well. The United States has deeper financial markets, issues the worlds preferred money, has more funds available for venture capital, and fewer rigid labor laws, which allows its world-class managers to hire and fire at need. It is home to the best universities, which still attract the smartest minds from across the world, and dominates innovation; the Silicon Valley powerhouse unquestionably upped Americans productivity in the 2010s, its recent spout with banking failures and Californian exodus aside. How to account for this negativity bias? One gut-fueled answer is that the numbers are wrong. The stats showing the marvels of the U.S. economy just arent correctthink mismeasurement or corrupt statisticians. Another is that recent bias clouds our judgment: we forget the pains of the good old days and romanticize how glorious they really were. There is always something bad somewhere that we can hone in on and conclude that, therefore, things are going in the wrong direction. Bad things happening in front of ones eyes or slapped on newspaper headlines can overshadow the gradual improvement of most things going well or moving in the right direction. Monetary economists often talk about money illusion, where sticker shocks at the store give us the impression that we are poorer simply because the numbers are biggereven if our wages kept pace with inflation or even exceeded it, which they historically have done. If prices in aggregate increased by roughly 8 percent last year, but the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment raised benefits by 8.7 percent, it takes a lot of statistical wiggling to conclude that pensioners therefore are (much) worse off. The grand irony, concludes a story from The Economist, is that knee-jerk reactions from a political class obsessed with the decline that they think they see may create that very decline: Most of these potentially self-harming policies have their roots in a declinist view that, economically at least, simply does not reflect the facts. The diagnoses are that China is getting ahead, or that immigrants are a menace, that large corporations are bastions of woke power and free trade a form of treachery. Disaster and declinism, as appealing and captivating as they are on a personal level and as persuasive and all-encompassing they become in the political arena, remain poor guides to the modern world. --- Sit-up champion of the 27th century. #BlackLivesMatter #IStandWithUkraine <cite>The_Sock posted [p:973925260] in Think Amer... [t:80466413]...</cite> <quote>The demographic problem hopelessly plaguing many other countries is much smaller in America, which has a younger population and a higher fertility rate than other rich countries.Americans still work more hours than most Europeans or Japanese, and the hours they put in are, on average, more valuable than those of labor forces elsewhere. Despite millions of (mostly) men making a beeline for the labor market exits, the United States has proportionately added more workers this century than its peers. Still, the number of prime-age American men out of work is rising and is higher than in most European countries. Some reasons men arent working include opioids, manufacturing decline, mental illness, and defective care for returning soldiers. They indicate that despite the nations economic success, not all is well.The United States has deeper financial markets, issues the worlds preferred money, has more funds available for venture capital, and fewer rigid labor laws, which allows its world-class managers to hire and fire at need. It is home to the best universities, which still attract the smartest minds from across the world, and dominates innovation; the Silicon Valley powerhouse unquestionably upped Americans productivity in the 2010s, its recent spout with banking failures and Californian exodus aside.How to account for this negativity bias? One gut-fueled answer is that the numbers are wrong. The stats showing the marvels of the U.S. economy just arent correctthink mismeasurement or corrupt statisticians. Another is that recent bias clouds our judgment: we forget the pains of the good old days and romanticize how glorious they really were. There is always something bad somewhere that we can hone in on and conclude that, therefore, things are going in the wrong direction. Bad things happening in front of ones eyes or slapped on newspaper headlines can overshadow the gradual improvement of most things going well or moving in the right direction.Monetary economists often talk about money illusion, where sticker shocks at the store give us the impression that we are poorer simply because the numbers are biggereven if our wages kept pace with inflation or even exceeded it, which they historically have done.If prices in aggregate increased by roughly 8 percent last year, but the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment raised benefits by 8.7 percent, it takes a lot of statistical wiggling to conclude that pensioners therefore are (much) worse off.The grand irony, concludes a story from The Economist, is that knee-jerk reactions from a political class obsessed with the decline that they think they see may create that very decline:<quote>Most of these potentially self-harming policies have their roots in a declinist view that, economically at least, simply does not reflect the facts. The diagnoses are that China is getting ahead, or that immigrants are a menace, that large corporations are bastions of woke power and free trade a form of treachery.</quote>Disaster and declinism, as appealing and captivating as they are on a personal level and as persuasive and all-encompassing they become in the political arena, remain poor guides to the modern world.</quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
Justin2Krelian 06/04/23 4:25:03 PM #5:	So far it seems 2023 is the best year of the decade for the US. Not exactly saying much, but yeah. --- -J2K Currently Streaming: Beef, Daredevil, Jack Ryan, Shadow & Bone, Servant <cite>Justin2Krelian posted [p:973925282] in Think Amer... [t:80466413]...</cite> <quote>So far it seems 2023 is the best year of the decade for the US. Not exactly saying much, but yeah.</quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
Dakimakura 06/04/23 4:25:05 PM #6:	Ameirca on da rise baby! https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/7/3/3/AAe_4aAAEidl.png --- "Let the bears pay the bear tax I pay the Homer tax." - Bart Simpson <cite>Dakimakura posted [p:973925284] in Think Amer... [t:80466413]...</cite> <quote>Ameirca on da rise baby!https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/7/3/3/AAe_4aAAEidl.png </quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
KhlavicLanguage 06/04/23 4:40:01 PM #8:	housing is completely fucked in the areas that people actually want to live and it's only getting worse this will be responsible for 90% of the street-level attitude surrounding the economy regardless of what other metrics these dumb magazines try to point at <cite>KhlavicLanguage posted [p:973925576] in Think Amer... [t:80466413]...</cite> <quote>housing is completely fucked in the areas that people actually want to live and it's only getting worsethis will be responsible for 90% of the street-level attitude surrounding the economy regardless of what other metrics these dumb magazines try to point at</quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
CoyoteTheGreat 06/04/23 4:41:46 PM #9:	The Economist, lolz. If they think we are doing great, it is pretty obvious we aren't. --- Disobedience is the stamp of the hero. -Ragnar Redbeard Also, this is Kagata.. <cite>CoyoteTheGreat posted [p:973925601] in Think Amer... [t:80466413]...</cite> <quote>The Economist, lolz. If they think we are doing great, it is pretty obvious we aren't.</quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
LinkDaLunatic 06/04/23 4:42:29 PM #10:	the majority of people agree it's bad, but actually, it's good! please... please shut the fuck up lol --- There's a time and place for everything... but not now. <cite>LinkDaLunatic posted [p:973925615] in Think Amer... [t:80466413]...</cite> <quote>the majority of people agree it's bad, but actually, it's good!please... please shut the fuck up lol</quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
drclaeys 06/04/23 4:45:00 PM #11:	Friends, NOT the decline of gun deaths. NOT the decline of School Shootings. NOT the decline of Drug overdoses. this article shows 21 things that are getting worse in the USA. https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2019/12/30/21-things-that-have-changed-for-the-worse-since-2010/40864927/ --- Dr. Darrell of Michigan Riden with Biden, Vote Democrat, everyday, every year, every election. Help repair the USA. <cite>drclaeys posted [p:973925662] in Think Amer... [t:80466413]...</cite> <quote>Friends, NOT the decline of gun deaths. NOT the decline of School Shootings. NOT the decline of Drug overdoses. this article shows 21 things that are getting worse in the USA. https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2019/12/30/21-things-that-have-changed-for-the-worse-since-2010/40864927/</quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
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CyborgSage00x0 06/04/23 4:45:26 PM #13:	Man, if these are the points made to make us feel better, then it's actually more grim than thought: *Real earnings, while theyve come down from the recent years pandemic-infused turbulence, are on par with pre-pandemic levels, noticeably higher than ever before.* I mean, good that we are back to pre-pandemic levels, but those levels also weren't good. Because "higher than ever before" is a good statement in a vacuum, and economics doesn't work in a vacuum. Wages are worse than ever before compared to executive pay, and Purchasing Power of households have fallen thanks to inflation, unchecked rent and housing markets, etc. Getting more money only matters if everything else isn't also getting more expensive. Inflationa nominal rather than real metric that worries households much more than it does economistsis also coming down. I know it's the Economist, bug big yikes brushing off inflation as just more of a problem for households...you know, the ONLY THING THAT MATTERS. No one cares what economists think about it when it objectively is making life harder for everyone sans the rich. The U.S. economy, as a share of the G7an international grouping of the United States and seven other rich economiesis larger than it was 30 years ago. Adjusted for purchasing power, only those in ber-rich petrostates and financial hubs enjoy a higher income per person, concludes The Economist. This is a big "who cares", since it doesn't matter to the actual people and working class. *The poorest states in the United States are on par with the richest European countries.* Lel, this is factually false. California is rich enough on it's own to be the 3rd richest country in the world, only behind the rest of the US and China. But states 2-50 after CA do not beat our Germany and the like. In fact, it's much of the opposite: the best Alabama has to offer is likely on par with the worst of Germany. What a ridiculous statement. The stylized facts about U.S. and European economiesfound in economics textbooks or old social policy reportsused to be that Americans work harder and longer for higher income, but Europeans live better lives with better social safety nets. These days even that seems to be changing, as the U.S. welfare state is approaching European levels both in comprehensiveness and total spending. Richer Americans spend more of their resources, public and private, on social ills. According to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development statistics, government social spending (as a share of gross domestic product) is above Australia, Iceland, and Norway, trailing socialist Sweden and Canada only by a few percentage points. (America is second only to France when adjusting for net social spending that includes private spending and tax breaks for social purposes.) Man, this is such an intellectually dishonest article. Yeah, pure dollar amounts, the US spends a lot on healthcare...because US healthcare is ridiculously and needlessly expensive. It's not being spent on Universal Healthcare or proper safety nets, but to deal with the vast amount of poor and lower class, caused by our expensive and unfair healthcare system. SS and stuff like Medicare counts, but is grossly inflated by our for-profit system. That article is trash. --- PotD's resident Film Expert. <cite>CyborgSage00x0 posted [p:973925673] in Think Amer... [t:80466413]...</cite> <quote>Man, if these are the points made to make us feel better, then it's actually more grim than thought:Real earnings, while theyve come down from the recent years pandemic-infused turbulence, are on par with pre-pandemic levels, noticeably higher than ever before.I mean, good that we are back to pre-pandemic levels, but those levels also weren't good. Because "higher than ever before" is a good statement in a vacuum, and economics doesn't work in a vacuum. Wages are worse than ever before compared to executive pay, and Purchasing Power of households have fallen thanks to inflation, unchecked rent and housing markets, etc. Getting more money only matters if everything else isn't also getting more expensive. Inflationa nominal rather than real metric that worries households much more than it does economistsis also coming down. I know it's the Economist, bug big yikes brushing off inflation as just more of a problem for households...you know, the ONLY THING THAT MATTERS. No one cares what economists think about it when it objectively is making life harder for everyone sans the rich.The U.S. economy, as a share of the G7an international grouping of the United States and seven other rich economiesis larger than it was 30 years ago. Adjusted for purchasing power, only those in ber-rich petrostates and financial hubs enjoy a higher income per person, concludes The Economist.This is a big "who cares", since it doesn't matter to the actual people and working class.The poorest states in the United States are on par with the richest European countries.Lel, this is factually false. California is rich enough on it's own to be the 3rd richest country in the world, only behind the rest of the US and China. But states 2-50 after CA do not beat our Germany and the like. In fact, it's much of the opposite: the best Alabama has to offer is likely on par with the worst of Germany. What a ridiculous statement. The stylized facts about U.S. and European economiesfound in economics textbooks or old social policy reportsused to be that Americans work harder and longer for higher income, but Europeans live better lives with better social safety nets. These days even that seems to be changing, as the U.S. welfare state is approaching European levels both in comprehensiveness and total spending. Richer Americans spend more of their resources, public and private, on social ills. According to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development statistics, government social spending (as a share of gross domestic product) is above Australia, Iceland, and Norway, trailing socialist Sweden and Canada only by a few percentage points. (America is second only to France when adjusting for net social spending that includes private spending and tax breaks for social purposes.)Man, this is such an intellectually dishonest article. Yeah, pure dollar amounts, the US spends a lot on healthcare...because US healthcare is ridiculously and needlessly expensive. It's not being spent on Universal Healthcare or proper safety nets, but to deal with the vast amount of poor and lower class, caused by our expensive and unfair healthcare system. SS and stuff like Medicare counts, but is grossly inflated by our for-profit system.That article is trash.</quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
andel 06/04/23 4:48:37 PM #14:	just because americans are better off than the dystopian hellhole that was the trump/covid era doesn't mean it is 'good' for most by any metric. --- I am thinking about just walking into the river now that Megaupload is gone and condoms are in porn.-Fubonis <cite>andel posted [p:973925732] in Think Amer... [t:80466413]...</cite> <quote>just because americans are better off than the dystopian hellhole that was the trump/covid era doesn't mean it is 'good' for most by any metric. </quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
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CyborgSage00x0 06/04/23 4:54:13 PM #16:	[LFAQs-redacted-quote] My favorite is the "world-class manager" line...wtf does that even mean? I never heard of anyone claim a country has better "managers" than others. --- PotD's resident Film Expert. <cite>CyborgSage00x0 posted [p:973925807] in Think Amer... [t:80466413]...</cite> <quote><cite>[LFAQs-redacted-quote]</cite> My favorite is the "world-class manager" line...wtf does that even mean? I never heard of anyone claim a country has better "managers" than others.</quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
Billyionaire 06/04/23 4:54:49 PM #17:	Thank you President Trump --- The immutable bringer of righteousness and relentless changer of small minds. <cite>Billyionaire posted [p:973925819] in Think Amer... [t:80466413]...</cite> <quote>Thank you President Trump</quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
mercurydude 06/04/23 4:56:59 PM #18:	The_Sock posted... Americans still work more hours than most Europeans or Japanese, and the hours they put in are, on average, more valuable than those of labor forces elsewhere. Despite millions of (mostly) men making a beeline for the labor market exits, the United States has proportionately added more workers this century than its peers. Still, the number of prime-age American men out of work is rising and is higher than in most European countries. Some reasons men arent working include opioids, manufacturing decline, mental illness, and defective care for returning soldiers. They indicate that despite the nations economic success, not all is well. No mention of not being paid a living wage. Looks like the typical corporate propaganda. --- God forbid you ever had to walk a mile in her shoes, 'cause then you really might know what it's like to have to choose. - Everlast <cite>mercurydude posted [p:973925860] in Think Amer... [t:80466413]...</cite> <quote>The_Sock posted... </cite><quote>Americans still work more hours than most Europeans or Japanese, and the hours they put in are, on average, more valuable than those of labor forces elsewhere. Despite millions of (mostly) men making a beeline for the labor market exits, the United States has proportionately added more workers this century than its peers. Still, the number of prime-age American men out of work is rising and is higher than in most European countries. Some reasons men arent working include opioids, manufacturing decline, mental illness, and defective care for returning soldiers. They indicate that despite the nations economic success, not all is well.</quote>No mention of not being paid a living wage. Looks like the typical corporate propaganda. </quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
Unsuprised_Pika 06/04/23 5:00:07 PM #19:	"fewer rigid labor laws, which allows its world-class managers to hire and fire at need." https://youtu.be/jJZ--fcguDY --- I post clips of my cool, stupid and glitchy MH Sunbreak and Tears of the Kingdom gameplay here just for fun. https://youtube.com/user/linkachu1000 <cite>Unsuprised_Pika posted [p:973925922] in Think Amer... [t:80466413]...</cite> <quote> "fewer rigid labor laws, which allows its world-class managers to hire and fire at need."https://youtu.be/jJZ--fcguDY</quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
Tyranthraxus 06/04/23 5:03:10 PM #20:	The_Sock posted... In a March poll, a majority of Americans had low confidence that life would be better for their children This is not the same thing as "America isn't doing well" --- It says right here in Matthew 16:4 "Jesus doth not need a giant Mecha." https://i.imgur.com/dQgC4kv.jpg <cite>Tyranthraxus posted [p:973925984] in Think Amer... [t:80466413]...</cite> <quote>The_Sock posted... </cite><quote>In a March poll, a majority of Americans had low confidence that life would be better for their children</quote>This is not the same thing as "America isn't doing well" </quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
The_Sock 06/04/23 5:04:09 PM #21:	CyborgSage00x0 posted... Man, if these are the points made to make us feel better, then it's actually more grim than thought: *Real earnings, while theyve come down from the recent years pandemic-infused turbulence, are on par with pre-pandemic levels, noticeably higher than ever before.* I mean, good that we are back to pre-pandemic levels, but those levels also weren't good. Because "higher than ever before" is a good statement in a vacuum, and economics doesn't work in a vacuum. Wages are worse than ever before compared to executive pay, and Purchasing Power of households have fallen thanks to inflation, unchecked rent and housing markets, etc. Getting more money only matters if everything else isn't also getting more expensive. Inflationa nominal rather than real metric that worries households much more than it does economistsis also coming down. I know it's the Economist, bug big yikes brushing off inflation as just more of a problem for households...you know, the ONLY THING THAT MATTERS. No one cares what economists think about it when it objectively is making life harder for everyone sans the rich. The U.S. economy, as a share of the G7an international grouping of the United States and seven other rich economiesis larger than it was 30 years ago. Adjusted for purchasing power, only those in ber-rich petrostates and financial hubs enjoy a higher income per person, concludes The Economist. This is a big "who cares", since it doesn't matter to the actual people and working class. *The poorest states in the United States are on par with the richest European countries.* Lel, this is factually false. California is rich enough on it's own to be the 3rd richest country in the world, only behind the rest of the US and China. But states 2-50 after CA do not beat our Germany and the like. In fact, it's much of the opposite: the best Alabama has to offer is likely on par with the worst of Germany. What a ridiculous statement. The stylized facts about U.S. and European economiesfound in economics textbooks or old social policy reportsused to be that Americans work harder and longer for higher income, but Europeans live better lives with better social safety nets. These days even that seems to be changing, as the U.S. welfare state is approaching European levels both in comprehensiveness and total spending. Richer Americans spend more of their resources, public and private, on social ills. According to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development statistics, government social spending (as a share of gross domestic product) is above Australia, Iceland, and Norway, trailing socialist Sweden and Canada only by a few percentage points. (America is second only to France when adjusting for net social spending that includes private spending and tax breaks for social purposes.) Man, this is such an intellectually dishonest article. Yeah, pure dollar amounts, the US spends a lot on healthcare...because US healthcare is ridiculously and needlessly expensive. It's not being spent on Universal Healthcare or proper safety nets, but to deal with the vast amount of poor and lower class, caused by our expensive and unfair healthcare system. SS and stuff like Medicare counts, but is grossly inflated by our for-profit system. That article is trash. @CyborgSage00x0 I'll be damned. Thanks for the insight. I don't think I'll be reading The Economist from here on out. (I'm not being sarcastic btw!) --- Sit-up champion of the 27th century. #BlackLivesMatter #IStandWithUkraine <cite>The_Sock posted [p:973926004] in Think Amer... [t:80466413]...</cite> <quote>CyborgSage00x0 posted... </cite><quote>Man, if these are the points made to make us feel better, then it's actually more grim than thought:Real earnings, while theyve come down from the recent years pandemic-infused turbulence, are on par with pre-pandemic levels, noticeably higher than ever before.I mean, good that we are back to pre-pandemic levels, but those levels also weren't good. Because "higher than ever before" is a good statement in a vacuum, and economics doesn't work in a vacuum. Wages are worse than ever before compared to executive pay, and Purchasing Power of households have fallen thanks to inflation, unchecked rent and housing markets, etc. Getting more money only matters if everything else isn't also getting more expensive. Inflationa nominal rather than real metric that worries households much more than it does economistsis also coming down. I know it's the Economist, bug big yikes brushing off inflation as just more of a problem for households...you know, the ONLY THING THAT MATTERS. No one cares what economists think about it when it objectively is making life harder for everyone sans the rich.The U.S. economy, as a share of the G7an international grouping of the United States and seven other rich economiesis larger than it was 30 years ago. Adjusted for purchasing power, only those in ber-rich petrostates and financial hubs enjoy a higher income per person, concludes The Economist.This is a big "who cares", since it doesn't matter to the actual people and working class.The poorest states in the United States are on par with the richest European countries.Lel, this is factually false. California is rich enough on it's own to be the 3rd richest country in the world, only behind the rest of the US and China. But states 2-50 after CA do not beat our Germany and the like. In fact, it's much of the opposite: the best Alabama has to offer is likely on par with the worst of Germany. What a ridiculous statement. The stylized facts about U.S. and European economiesfound in economics textbooks or old social policy reportsused to be that Americans work harder and longer for higher income, but Europeans live better lives with better social safety nets. These days even that seems to be changing, as the U.S. welfare state is approaching European levels both in comprehensiveness and total spending. Richer Americans spend more of their resources, public and private, on social ills. According to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development statistics, government social spending (as a share of gross domestic product) is above Australia, Iceland, and Norway, trailing socialist Sweden and Canada only by a few percentage points. (America is second only to France when adjusting for net social spending that includes private spending and tax breaks for social purposes.)Man, this is such an intellectually dishonest article. Yeah, pure dollar amounts, the US spends a lot on healthcare...because US healthcare is ridiculously and needlessly expensive. It's not being spent on Universal Healthcare or proper safety nets, but to deal with the vast amount of poor and lower class, caused by our expensive and unfair healthcare system. SS and stuff like Medicare counts, but is grossly inflated by our for-profit system.That article is trash.</quote>@CyborgSage00x0 I'll be damned. Thanks for the insight. I don't think I'll be reading The Economist from here on out. (I'm not being sarcastic btw!)</quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
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Current Events > Think America is on the decline? Think again! (+) Yeah! (+)

Current Events > Think America is on the decline? Think again!