I always hear people praising America for being "the best country in the world" and lots of other bullshit, time to look at some facts:
Healthcare:
The United states is, essentially, the only industrialized country without universal healthcare..
The US "spends" about this much on healthcare per citizen, with laughable results (It's approaching 10k now..)
Millions lack insurance, drugs are expensive as hell, people's lives are ruined if they get cancer, and don't have fancy for profit insurance.
The united states lacks in many areas regarding healthcare:
Let's look at life expectancy:
We rank 34: Global Health Observatory Data Repository
(Cuba is above us) yet, we still spend a MASSIVE amount on healthcare per citizen, with laughable results, as said above.
Education:
The united states education system is underfunded, teachers are underpaid, and a host of other problems are present... especially when it comes to the rising cost of higher education and the lack of access to cheap, affordable higher education. The united states government needs to directly support higher education like many other countries, not simply hand out loans and grants... Obama's community college idea is a great start.
College tuition in the United States - Wikipedia the free encyclopedia
We are, by no measure, #1 at education results, but we are #1 in student debt..
Military:
If there's one thing the united states is #1 at, it's the military. I fail to see how this an achievement when millions lack healthcare, when the infrastructure is falling apart, when child poverty is on the rise, when veterans are homeless by the thousands, but yeah, let's look at the reality:
This is all that needs to be said.. if a nation wants to focus more on funding new weapon research projects and imperialist ventures then giving healthcare to its own citizens, there is a problem.
Corporate profits:
It's no surprise that corporate profits are at an all time high in the united states, and they are rising, I fail to see how this is a good thing when wages are stagnant, with a shrinking middle class, with millions being thrown into poverty.. Then again, the corporations love the government and the government loves the corporations..
Corporate Profits After Tax without IVA and CCAdj - FRED - St. Louis Fed
Wages:
Wages in the united states have been stagnant for decades, and compared to the rising cost of living and productivity, are not rising like they should..
Now, we come to a horrifying fact to relate to this.. affording a two bedroom rental unit..
Overworked America 12 Charts That Will Make Your Blood Boil Mother Jones - Must see.
Homelessness:
Global Homelessness Statistics - Homeless World Cup
National Coalition for Homeless Veterans
Time to piss some people off:
"Well, there is one more way in which Cuba differs from most other poor countries in the world—the tiny island nation has virtually no homeless people. There are many reasons for that accomplishment. First, although housing is not free in Cuba, the government does take steps to keep the cost of housing low. That leads to a high rate of homeownership—around 85%. By way of comparison, the Census Bureau says the rate of homeownership in the United States was 66.9% in 2010."
Paid vacation:
Surprise! America is one of a few countries that does not guarantee paid vacation to workers...
"Nearly a quarter of the American private-sector workforce, some 26 million workers, doesn’t get paid time off, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics — compared with less than one-fifth in the 1990s.The United States is the only advanced economy that doesn’t guarantee paid vacation and one of only 13 countries in the world not to do so, according to the World Policy Analysis Center at the University of California Los Angeles."
"In this regard, the United States falls in line with India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sierra Leone, and a handful of island nations that don’t require employers to offer workers paid time off. France, on the other hand, mandates 30 paid vacation days a year for all workers; Scandinavian countries offer 25. US citizens in Puerto Rico get three weeks off a year.
Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Greece, and Sweden even require employers to pay vacationing workers extra to help with expenses."
Maternity leave:
Many on the right wing consistently talk about "family values" I'd call letting a mother spend time with her child for long periods of time while not having to worry about not getting her wages a family value, not trying to restrict gay marriage or end abortion...
Prison/income inequality/well being/etc..
I have so much more to add, but I think this is enough.. Time to realize america needs to become more "progressive"
Healthcare:
The United states is, essentially, the only industrialized country without universal healthcare..
The US "spends" about this much on healthcare per citizen, with laughable results (It's approaching 10k now..)
Millions lack insurance, drugs are expensive as hell, people's lives are ruined if they get cancer, and don't have fancy for profit insurance.
The united states lacks in many areas regarding healthcare:
Let's look at life expectancy:
We rank 34: Global Health Observatory Data Repository
(Cuba is above us) yet, we still spend a MASSIVE amount on healthcare per citizen, with laughable results, as said above.
Education:
The united states education system is underfunded, teachers are underpaid, and a host of other problems are present... especially when it comes to the rising cost of higher education and the lack of access to cheap, affordable higher education. The united states government needs to directly support higher education like many other countries, not simply hand out loans and grants... Obama's community college idea is a great start.
College tuition in the United States - Wikipedia the free encyclopedia
We are, by no measure, #1 at education results, but we are #1 in student debt..
Military:
If there's one thing the united states is #1 at, it's the military. I fail to see how this an achievement when millions lack healthcare, when the infrastructure is falling apart, when child poverty is on the rise, when veterans are homeless by the thousands, but yeah, let's look at the reality:
This is all that needs to be said.. if a nation wants to focus more on funding new weapon research projects and imperialist ventures then giving healthcare to its own citizens, there is a problem.
Corporate profits:
It's no surprise that corporate profits are at an all time high in the united states, and they are rising, I fail to see how this is a good thing when wages are stagnant, with a shrinking middle class, with millions being thrown into poverty.. Then again, the corporations love the government and the government loves the corporations..
Corporate Profits After Tax without IVA and CCAdj - FRED - St. Louis Fed
Wages:
Wages in the united states have been stagnant for decades, and compared to the rising cost of living and productivity, are not rising like they should..
Now, we come to a horrifying fact to relate to this.. affording a two bedroom rental unit..
Homelessness:
Global Homelessness Statistics - Homeless World Cup
National Coalition for Homeless Veterans
Time to piss some people off:
"Well, there is one more way in which Cuba differs from most other poor countries in the world—the tiny island nation has virtually no homeless people. There are many reasons for that accomplishment. First, although housing is not free in Cuba, the government does take steps to keep the cost of housing low. That leads to a high rate of homeownership—around 85%. By way of comparison, the Census Bureau says the rate of homeownership in the United States was 66.9% in 2010."
Paid vacation:
Surprise! America is one of a few countries that does not guarantee paid vacation to workers...
"Nearly a quarter of the American private-sector workforce, some 26 million workers, doesn’t get paid time off, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics — compared with less than one-fifth in the 1990s.The United States is the only advanced economy that doesn’t guarantee paid vacation and one of only 13 countries in the world not to do so, according to the World Policy Analysis Center at the University of California Los Angeles."
"In this regard, the United States falls in line with India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sierra Leone, and a handful of island nations that don’t require employers to offer workers paid time off. France, on the other hand, mandates 30 paid vacation days a year for all workers; Scandinavian countries offer 25. US citizens in Puerto Rico get three weeks off a year.
Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Greece, and Sweden even require employers to pay vacationing workers extra to help with expenses."
Maternity leave:
Many on the right wing consistently talk about "family values" I'd call letting a mother spend time with her child for long periods of time while not having to worry about not getting her wages a family value, not trying to restrict gay marriage or end abortion...
Prison/income inequality/well being/etc..
I have so much more to add, but I think this is enough.. Time to realize america needs to become more "progressive"
