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The US Suffers from Not Enough Government

jpn

Retired Navy Commander
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The US ranks 28th in overall social welfare, and is dropping.

A measure of social progress finds that the quality of life has dropped in America over the last decade, even as it has risen almost everywhere else.

The index, inspired by research of Nobel-winning economists, collects 50 metrics of well-being — nutrition, safety, freedom, the environment, health, education and more — to measure quality of life. Norway comes out on top in the 2020 edition, followed by Denmark, Finland and New Zealand. South Sudan is at the bottom, with Chad, Central African Republic and Eritrea just behind.

Out of 163 countries assessed worldwide, the United States, Brazil and Hungary are the only ones in which people are worse off than when the index began in 2011.

The United States now lags behind significantly poorer countries, including Estonia, Czech Republic, Cyprus and Greece, because those nations have more robust government supports for their people.

The United States ranks No. 1 in the world in quality of universities, but No. 91 in access to quality basic education. The U.S. leads the world in medical technology, yet we are No. 97 in access to quality health care.
 
The US ranks 28th in overall social welfare, and is dropping.

A measure of social progress finds that the quality of life has dropped in America over the last decade, even as it has risen almost everywhere else.

The index, inspired by research of Nobel-winning economists, collects 50 metrics of well-being — nutrition, safety, freedom, the environment, health, education and more — to measure quality of life. Norway comes out on top in the 2020 edition, followed by Denmark, Finland and New Zealand. South Sudan is at the bottom, with Chad, Central African Republic and Eritrea just behind.

Out of 163 countries assessed worldwide, the United States, Brazil and Hungary are the only ones in which people are worse off than when the index began in 2011.

The United States now lags behind significantly poorer countries, including Estonia, Czech Republic, Cyprus and Greece, because those nations have more robust government supports for their people.

The United States ranks No. 1 in the world in quality of universities, but No. 91 in access to quality basic education. The U.S. leads the world in medical technology, yet we are No. 97 in access to quality health care.

That's great news!!!!!

I'm not interested in social welfare as it is not your neighbors responsibility to be supporting you.
 
The US ranks 28th in overall social welfare, and is dropping.

A measure of social progress finds that the quality of life has dropped in America over the last decade, even as it has risen almost everywhere else.

The index, inspired by research of Nobel-winning economists, collects 50 metrics of well-being — nutrition, safety, freedom, the environment, health, education and more — to measure quality of life. Norway comes out on top in the 2020 edition, followed by Denmark, Finland and New Zealand. South Sudan is at the bottom, with Chad, Central African Republic and Eritrea just behind.

Out of 163 countries assessed worldwide, the United States, Brazil and Hungary are the only ones in which people are worse off than when the index began in 2011.

The United States now lags behind significantly poorer countries, including Estonia, Czech Republic, Cyprus and Greece, because those nations have more robust government supports for their people.

The United States ranks No. 1 in the world in quality of universities, but No. 91 in access to quality basic education. The U.S. leads the world in medical technology, yet we are No. 97 in access to quality health care.

I disagree. It is not that we do not have enough government but how it is used. In my view, our government is used to support corporate interests over the people, so we pay plenty into it and get very little out as a society. It seems like only the wealthy really benefit from our government.
 
I disagree. It is not that we do not have enough government but how it is used. In my view, our government is used to support corporate interests over the people, so we pay plenty into it and get very little out as a society. It seems like only the wealthy really benefit from our government.

Yes, you make an interesting point. I wonder if we total up all tax dollars that go to subsidize already profitable companies, what the total would be? And include below-market leases of federal lands to miners and drillers. And everything else. I wonder what the total is?
 
That's great news!!!!!

I'm not interested in social welfare as it is not your neighbors responsibility to be supporting you.

Wow, what a lovely sentiment.
 
Interesting. I agree that our government is not aiming to help most people, but I wonder how much our own stubborn behavior and contrarian refusal to believe anything except conspiracy theories and hateful rhetoric plays in. We eat fast food until we are obese, pride ourselves on being armed to the teeth in every confrontation, disbelieve any science about the environment, and appear to have a coronavirus death wish causing us to view masks as an affront to freedom ... maybe we are just a uniquely stupid people who earn our low ranking with our own choices?
 
Wow, what a lovely sentiment.

Well, you didn't say he was wrong. If you had, it would be relatively easy to show that you don't actually believe it.

But your virtue signalling is on point, and I'm sure other progressives here believe you are a wonderful, compassionate person.
 
Well, you didn't say he was wrong. If you had, it would be relatively easy to show that you don't actually believe it.

But your virtue signalling is on point, and I'm sure other progressives here believe you are a wonderful, compassionate person.

Yeah, saying that I think social care for others with public funds involved is a good idea is typical virtue signalling.

What a fool I've been. I'll be more cynical and selfish next time.
You do understand that sarcasm exists don't you?
 
The US ranks 28th in overall social welfare, and is dropping.

A measure of social progress finds that the quality of life has dropped in America over the last decade, even as it has risen almost everywhere else.

The index, inspired by research of Nobel-winning economists, collects 50 metrics of well-being — nutrition, safety, freedom, the environment, health, education and more — to measure quality of life. Norway comes out on top in the 2020 edition, followed by Denmark, Finland and New Zealand. South Sudan is at the bottom, with Chad, Central African Republic and Eritrea just behind.

Out of 163 countries assessed worldwide, the United States, Brazil and Hungary are the only ones in which people are worse off than when the index began in 2011.

The United States now lags behind significantly poorer countries, including Estonia, Czech Republic, Cyprus and Greece, because those nations have more robust government supports for their people.

The United States ranks No. 1 in the world in quality of universities, but No. 91 in access to quality basic education. The U.S. leads the world in medical technology, yet we are No. 97 in access to quality health care.

This is great news. Getting people away from welfare is good. We need thinkers, not lemmings. BTW, liberals run our education system.
 
BTW, liberals run our education system.

If so, it's your own fault. Local school districts across the nation are run by local people. If the only people getting involved in the local PTAs, the local school boards, and becoming school teachers and administrators are liberals, then don't just sit there and complain.
 
The US ranks 28th in overall social welfare, and is dropping.

A measure of social progress finds that the quality of life has dropped in America over the last decade, even as it has risen almost everywhere else.

The index, inspired by research of Nobel-winning economists, collects 50 metrics of well-being — nutrition, safety, freedom, the environment, health, education and more — to measure quality of life. Norway comes out on top in the 2020 edition, followed by Denmark, Finland and New Zealand. South Sudan is at the bottom, with Chad, Central African Republic and Eritrea just behind.

Out of 163 countries assessed worldwide, the United States, Brazil and Hungary are the only ones in which people are worse off than when the index began in 2011.

The United States now lags behind significantly poorer countries, including Estonia, Czech Republic, Cyprus and Greece, because those nations have more robust government supports for their people.

The United States ranks No. 1 in the world in quality of universities, but No. 91 in access to quality basic education. The U.S. leads the world in medical technology, yet we are No. 97 in access to quality health care.

Why is it the job of government to help people?
 
Why is it the job of government to help people?

Because people separate are weak; people united are strong. Don't you want to be strong?
 
The US ranks 28th in overall social welfare, and is dropping.

A measure of social progress finds that the quality of life has dropped in America over the last decade, even as it has risen almost everywhere else.

The index, inspired by research of Nobel-winning economists, collects 50 metrics of well-being — nutrition, safety, freedom, the environment, health, education and more — to measure quality of life. Norway comes out on top in the 2020 edition, followed by Denmark, Finland and New Zealand. South Sudan is at the bottom, with Chad, Central African Republic and Eritrea just behind.

Out of 163 countries assessed worldwide, the United States, Brazil and Hungary are the only ones in which people are worse off than when the index began in 2011.

The United States now lags behind significantly poorer countries, including Estonia, Czech Republic, Cyprus and Greece, because those nations have more robust government supports for their people.

The United States ranks No. 1 in the world in quality of universities, but No. 91 in access to quality basic education. The U.S. leads the world in medical technology, yet we are No. 97 in access to quality health care.

Beware of all such indexes. By giving different weight to different factors the compilers can control the outcome. This outfit is avowedly socialist so their rankings are unsurprising.

Note their entirely meaningless claim to be "inspired by" all those Nobel winning economists.
 
Because people separate are weak; people united are strong. Don't you want to be strong?

YES! Workers of the world unite! Keep those red flags flying high!
 
That's great news!!!!!

I'm not interested in social welfare as it is not your neighbors responsibility to be supporting you.

I have to ask: What, then, is the purpose of bothering with a society?
 
This is great news. Getting people away from welfare is good. We need thinkers, not lemmings. BTW, liberals run our education system.

OP: Our standard of living is falling.

Right wing: "GREAT NEWS!"
 
I disagree. It is not that we do not have enough government but how it is used. In my view, our government is used to support corporate interests over the people, so we pay plenty into it and get very little out as a society. It seems like only the wealthy really benefit from our government.

Yes that is what Republicans want over anything else. I remember a time when it was not patriotic to be rich and rising tides lifted all boats. The Republicans have been chipping away at that for 70 years and it has taken a toll. The question is will we need another Great Depression to reverse this or not? It is starting to look like that might be the only way out. Right now we are taking one step forward and 2 steps back.
 
I have to ask: What, then, is the purpose of bothering with a society?

As a society we band together with a common heritage and culture for mutual benefits of banding together for trade, protection against hostile neighbors etc

In order for that society to remain strong it is imperative for individuals in that society to pull there own weight and not drag others and society as whole down with them.

Social welfare at its core is tantamount to your neighbor knocking on your door (and all the other doors in your neighborhood) at the first of each month and demanding money to pay his bills....you might help him once because your neighbor......but what are you going to do when he's there every month wanting your money......eventually you'll tell him...Get a job you lazy M'fer and support your self!

And using the confiscatory power of government to effectively steal money from those who earned it and give to those who did not is in my top 5 list of most immoral things because you are literally stealing the hours of there life they expended to earn that money!

I'm not saying that we as a society should not take care of our citizens who truly cannot take care of themselves....the old, the infirm and crippled......by all means those people should be taken care of because that is the right thing to do.....The rest of you??? Get your ass to work as the world does not owe you a living!!!

Socialism is evil!!!!
 
As a society we band together with a common heritage and culture for mutual benefits of banding together for trade, protection against hostile neighbors etc


**** your heritage. I have no interest in it. If I am in a society, I want to see a return on the work I contribute in that society.
 
Keep the government small, weak, and poor, and it is your servant...allow the government to become large, rich and powerful, it becomes your master.
 
Why is it the job of government to help people?
If it's not the government's job to help people, what use is government for then?

Though I think one of the problems the US have is not necessary that the government is small, but that it is working on different levels without any clearly defined hierarchy that decides which level that do what, which predictably lead to every level of government thinking it's someone else's job. Also ironically US tax payers don't exactly pay less in taxes for less services, so to that has always looked like a scam.
 
If it's not the government's job to help people, what use is government for then?

fight wars and explore space is what I always say. though I will freely acknowledge it has some other functions as well. So basically the use of the federal govt. at least in my view is to do things that the general populace is incapable of doing themselves.
 
fight wars and explore space is what I always say. though I will freely acknowledge it has some other functions as well. So basically the use of the federal govt. at least in my view is to do things that the general populace is incapable of doing themselves.
Such as providing healthcare?

And honestly I find neither war nor space to be incredibly useful.
 
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