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yogibooboo · M
All take a good read. Just one reference for you but there are numerous others. This one captures many things succinctly. It is from a United nations (UN) Report with data from the OECD (not written by some private bank).
The immense wealth and expertise of the United States stands in shocking contrast with the conditions in which vast numbers of its citizens live.
•About 40 million live in poverty, 18.5 million in extreme poverty, and 5.3 million live in Third World conditions of absolute poverty.
•It has the highest youth poverty rate in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), and the highest infant mortality rates among comparable OECD States.
•Its citizens live shorter and sicker lives compared to those living in all other rich democracies, eradicable tropical diseases are increasingly prevalent.
•It has the world’s highest incarceration rate
•It has one of the lowest levels of voter registrations in among OECD countries
•It has the highest obesity levels in the developed world.
•The United States has the highest rate of income inequality among Western countries. The $1.5 trillion in tax cuts in December 2017 overwhelmingly benefited the wealthy and worsened inequality.
•The consequences of neglecting poverty and promoting inequality are clear. The United States has one of the highest poverty and inequality levels among the OECD countries, and the Stanford Center on Inequality and Poverty ranks it 18th out of 21 wealthy countries in terms of labour markets, poverty rates, safety nets, wealth inequality and economic mobility.
•But in 2018 the United States had over 25 per cent of the world’s 2,208 billionaires. There is thus a dramatic contrast between the immense wealth of the few and the squalor and deprivation in which vast numbers of Americans exist.
•For almost five decades the overall policy response has been neglectful at best, but the recent policies pursued by the Trump administration over the past year seem deliberately designed to remove basic protections from the poorest, punish those who are not in employment and make even basic health care into a privilege to be earned rather than a right of citizenship.
Trump’s policies:
(a) provide unprecedentedly high tax breaks and financial windfalls to the very wealthy and the largest corporations;
(b) pay for these partly by reducing welfare benefits for the poor;
(c) undertake a radical programme of financial, environmental, health and safety deregulation that eliminates protections mainly benefiting the middle classes and the poor;
(d) seek to add over 20 million poor and middle class persons to the ranks of those without health insurance;
(e) restrict eligibility for many welfare benefits while increasing the obstacles required to be overcome by those eligible;
(f) dramatically increase spending on defence, while rejecting requested improvements in key veterans’ benefits;
(g) do not provide adequate additional funding to address an opioid crisis that is decimating parts of the country; and
(h) make no effort to tackle the structural racism that keeps a large percentage of non-Whites in poverty and near poverty.
The immense wealth and expertise of the United States stands in shocking contrast with the conditions in which vast numbers of its citizens live.
•About 40 million live in poverty, 18.5 million in extreme poverty, and 5.3 million live in Third World conditions of absolute poverty.
•It has the highest youth poverty rate in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), and the highest infant mortality rates among comparable OECD States.
•Its citizens live shorter and sicker lives compared to those living in all other rich democracies, eradicable tropical diseases are increasingly prevalent.
•It has the world’s highest incarceration rate
•It has one of the lowest levels of voter registrations in among OECD countries
•It has the highest obesity levels in the developed world.
•The United States has the highest rate of income inequality among Western countries. The $1.5 trillion in tax cuts in December 2017 overwhelmingly benefited the wealthy and worsened inequality.
•The consequences of neglecting poverty and promoting inequality are clear. The United States has one of the highest poverty and inequality levels among the OECD countries, and the Stanford Center on Inequality and Poverty ranks it 18th out of 21 wealthy countries in terms of labour markets, poverty rates, safety nets, wealth inequality and economic mobility.
•But in 2018 the United States had over 25 per cent of the world’s 2,208 billionaires. There is thus a dramatic contrast between the immense wealth of the few and the squalor and deprivation in which vast numbers of Americans exist.
•For almost five decades the overall policy response has been neglectful at best, but the recent policies pursued by the Trump administration over the past year seem deliberately designed to remove basic protections from the poorest, punish those who are not in employment and make even basic health care into a privilege to be earned rather than a right of citizenship.
Trump’s policies:
(a) provide unprecedentedly high tax breaks and financial windfalls to the very wealthy and the largest corporations;
(b) pay for these partly by reducing welfare benefits for the poor;
(c) undertake a radical programme of financial, environmental, health and safety deregulation that eliminates protections mainly benefiting the middle classes and the poor;
(d) seek to add over 20 million poor and middle class persons to the ranks of those without health insurance;
(e) restrict eligibility for many welfare benefits while increasing the obstacles required to be overcome by those eligible;
(f) dramatically increase spending on defence, while rejecting requested improvements in key veterans’ benefits;
(g) do not provide adequate additional funding to address an opioid crisis that is decimating parts of the country; and
(h) make no effort to tackle the structural racism that keeps a large percentage of non-Whites in poverty and near poverty.
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Kwek00 · 41-45, M
@whowasthatmaskedman
Honestly... that those that have capital try to influence society is true. Just like there are those that do the opposite.
And I really am not so fond of the Chinese system 😅. China is pretty much a dictatorship. And dictatorships can do a lot of stuff that countries that are more attached to their freedome and liberties can't do. And with freedome and liberties there is chaos and pluralism. And with chaos and pluralism there come diffrent forms of internal crisis. But that's the price you pay for letting people think free. I'm largely willing to pay that price honestly. I prefer the chaos and pluralism and all the misery that it brings over the an authoritarian dictatorial system.
Honestly... that those that have capital try to influence society is true. Just like there are those that do the opposite.
And I really am not so fond of the Chinese system 😅. China is pretty much a dictatorship. And dictatorships can do a lot of stuff that countries that are more attached to their freedome and liberties can't do. And with freedome and liberties there is chaos and pluralism. And with chaos and pluralism there come diffrent forms of internal crisis. But that's the price you pay for letting people think free. I'm largely willing to pay that price honestly. I prefer the chaos and pluralism and all the misery that it brings over the an authoritarian dictatorial system.
whowasthatmaskedman · 70-79, M
@Kwek00 I cant argue any of what you say. I positioned myself for what I saw 20 years ago. I wont say I guessed all this was going to happen. But I made most of the right moves as soon as the GFC "solution" Bush2 put in place happened. All he did was insure it happened again only bigger and badder.
The one thing I can add to your comments is that although I dislike an authoritarian regime as you do. It is more organised. driven and focused in a contest with an elected Democracy and has many advantages in organising and marshalling resources and outlasting the other side.
The one thing I can add to your comments is that although I dislike an authoritarian regime as you do. It is more organised. driven and focused in a contest with an elected Democracy and has many advantages in organising and marshalling resources and outlasting the other side.
Kwek00 · 41-45, M
@whowasthatmaskedman Dictatorships, in their stable form (meaning no fighting on the street) are always more orderly. Why do you think leaders that scream from "order" tend to move towards authoritarian sollutions? It largely has to do with stiffeling the chaos that comes with having a democratic parliament, with people in neighbourhoods all having diffrent ideas and thinking for themselves... These leaders are trying to bring order, put all the noses in the same directiong, have one nation, one idea, one ideal... or like the Germans used to say it: "One Nation, One empire, One cobra Commander" ... or the Italians: "Everything in the State, nothing outside the State, nothing against the State". The extreme left has done it too in the past, the abolishments of ideas that could threaten the new order. It's nothing new. Read "Exodus 23:20-33 ... if you want to have order, you kill off and stiffle all the data that can make people change their minds of things. That make people question. Opposition needs to be gone if you want to maintain order. There is this incredible obsession in the history of human politics for establishing order, because opposition always threatens the current one.
wildbill83 · 36-40, M
xRedx · M
@yogibooboo what's your response to my comment? You don't have one do you? You don't know what you're talking about. Like bill said, if you admire government restraints go to one of these countries and live there.
yogibooboo · M
@xRedx There is no simple response to an uninformed, uneducated comment, that's why I didn't think it was worthy of one. I would have to give you a reading list of over 1,000 references before we could begin to engage in anything like coherent discussion. Something tells me that you lack that capacity lol
xRedx · M
@yogibooboo How is it uninformed and uneducated? What's your premise on it being uninformed and uneducated? You not liking it doesn't justify it as such. You have no idea what you're talking about. I can give you references on how public and private companies are regulated on those two levels but you'd just deny them because you're incapable of comprehending different views than yours. Not even views, facts. You really are an idiot lol.
windinhishair · 61-69, M
windinhishair · 61-69, M
@Mountainlady16 Who will you blame for the next recession, caused by the ballooning deficit created solely by Trump and the GOP? Perhaps it is God's will to punish those like you who pretend to be Christians while spewing your hatred for others.
Mountainlady16 · 22-25, F
@windinhishair a trillion dollars deficit that was inherited by Trump. Mostly caused by bs like obamacare
windinhishair · 61-69, M
@Mountainlady16 Completely and utterly wrong as usual. Obama had budget deficits of $438 billion in 2015 and $585 billion in 2016. Trump took over in 2017, and the deficit went up to $665 billion, then $779 billion in 2018 and $1092 billion in 2019 (that's over a trillion dollars since you don't seem to know what it is).
Let's simplify for you--smaller deficits the last two years under Obama. The lowest since 2008, right at the start of the Republican/Bush Recession. Ever increasing deficits under Trump, pushing right past a trillion dollars again. MAGA.
Let's simplify for you--smaller deficits the last two years under Obama. The lowest since 2008, right at the start of the Republican/Bush Recession. Ever increasing deficits under Trump, pushing right past a trillion dollars again. MAGA.
yogibooboo · M
Kwek00 · 41-45, M
@PicturesOfABetterTomorrow Could be, but it's also specifically about the religious persecutions during the regime. I have to delve this out before I can answer some of your questions. But my knowledge that I have from Stalin and his approach to religion wasn't that friendly.
I don't get how the entire remark about the church and absolute monarchy have annything to do with this conversation. Don't even know why you would introduce that. I also don't see how the USSR conflates the institutional with an entire religion or why Israel just randomly pops up here.
I don't get how the entire remark about the church and absolute monarchy have annything to do with this conversation. Don't even know why you would introduce that. I also don't see how the USSR conflates the institutional with an entire religion or why Israel just randomly pops up here.
PicturesOfABetterTomorrow · 41-45, M
@Kwek00 Actually it covers 1917 to 1991 and Stalin was not immortal. He died in 1953. Second it completely omits anything that contradicts their narrative and it implies that government actions and official policy were always in lockstep for the entire existence of the country which has never been true of any nation ever.
I drew the parallel because people like to equate the Church a largely political institution with an entire religion. Much like some like to equate the Israeli government with Judaism.
Keep in mind the primary purpose of the Church in those days was to enforce the idea of the divine right of kings. Something that had died out in the rest of Europe centuries earlier. Making sure every Russian grew up believing that the way things were was God's will. The Bolsheviks also realized as anyone who looks into it would that not going after the church would have led to endless incitements to overthrow the "evildoer". The Church like any powerful institution in a ruling class were not just going to hand over absolute power when asked nicely. In cases like this people deliberately mix politics with religion to make one side seem more sympathetic.
I drew the parallel because people like to equate the Church a largely political institution with an entire religion. Much like some like to equate the Israeli government with Judaism.
Keep in mind the primary purpose of the Church in those days was to enforce the idea of the divine right of kings. Something that had died out in the rest of Europe centuries earlier. Making sure every Russian grew up believing that the way things were was God's will. The Bolsheviks also realized as anyone who looks into it would that not going after the church would have led to endless incitements to overthrow the "evildoer". The Church like any powerful institution in a ruling class were not just going to hand over absolute power when asked nicely. In cases like this people deliberately mix politics with religion to make one side seem more sympathetic.
Kwek00 · 41-45, M
@PicturesOfABetterTomorrow
How much are we rationalising here? Because it covers his term from 1922-1952 too.
The parallel has nothing to do with what I said. That during Stalins reign the church was persecuted too. Way up until 1941. And it started again [i](even tough less violent)[/i] in the 1950s.
The entire absolutist idea also has nothing to do with how Soviets treated their church. It wasn't only "the orthodox church", it was also minority religions like schism in christianity that didn't make up the majority, the jewish faith and muslims. Soviet-Communism wasn't that friendly to religion as a whole, because it didn't fit the ideals that were set forth. If you want to radically advance the enlightenment that preaches rationality and uses materialism for the basis of it's argument. Then spiritual matters are just dangerous and belong to a world that should be radically been gotten rid off. That's probably why Stalin is such a bizar figure, because Lennin opposed the idea of religion radically, but Stalin [i](most probably mesmerised by fascism in Italy and Germanny)[/i] reinstated spiritual sides as in creating his own personel cult.
How much are we rationalising here? Because it covers his term from 1922-1952 too.
The parallel has nothing to do with what I said. That during Stalins reign the church was persecuted too. Way up until 1941. And it started again [i](even tough less violent)[/i] in the 1950s.
The entire absolutist idea also has nothing to do with how Soviets treated their church. It wasn't only "the orthodox church", it was also minority religions like schism in christianity that didn't make up the majority, the jewish faith and muslims. Soviet-Communism wasn't that friendly to religion as a whole, because it didn't fit the ideals that were set forth. If you want to radically advance the enlightenment that preaches rationality and uses materialism for the basis of it's argument. Then spiritual matters are just dangerous and belong to a world that should be radically been gotten rid off. That's probably why Stalin is such a bizar figure, because Lennin opposed the idea of religion radically, but Stalin [i](most probably mesmerised by fascism in Italy and Germanny)[/i] reinstated spiritual sides as in creating his own personel cult.
4meAndyou · F
The average American family is now seeing $6,000.00 to $7,000.00 per year more than they were prior to this administration, and people with 401K's at work, approaching retirement, are doing little dances. Wow...trying to imagine having $6 to $7000 more a year... I could go to the dentist and take my cat to the vet.
To the left wing media elites who write biased media stories, (usually made up ones), I am sure that's just Starbucks change, because they are earning in excess of $600,000.00 a year.
To the left wing media elites who write biased media stories, (usually made up ones), I am sure that's just Starbucks change, because they are earning in excess of $600,000.00 a year.
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4meAndyou · F
@yogibooboo The OECD is comprised of 36 countries and their financial data, and they are not part of the United States. I wonder why globalists and socialists are so intensely interested in our elections? 😂 Anyway, the last three elections in the United States have been accurately predicted by Moody's Analytics.
Moody’s uses three models that are based on how consumers feel about their financial situation, including gains in the stock market, and the unemployment rate.
Moody’s uses three models that are based on how consumers feel about their financial situation, including gains in the stock market, and the unemployment rate.
yogibooboo · M
@4meAndyou The OECD is not part of any country, it is an organization, and the US is one of those countries that you mentioned. Gains in the stock market and unemployment figures mean absolutely zero in terms of well a country is doing.
PicturesOfABetterTomorrow · 41-45, M
Mountainlady16 · 22-25, F
@PicturesOfABetterTomorrow says the man that thinks communism is a good thing
PicturesOfABetterTomorrow · 41-45, M
@Mountainlady16 Says the person who thinks entire political philosophies can be defined in right wing sound bites.
hippyjoe1955 · 61-69, M
And yest according to stats the ones gaining the most in Trump's economy are the low wage earners. Hmmmmm.
Mountainlady16 · 22-25, F
@QuixoticSoul i only didnt because i was to young but before Obama there wasn't 10000 dollar deductible
QuixoticSoul · 41-45, M
@Mountainlady16 Deductibles and premiums were all rising long before obamacare, on roughly the same trajectory.
Mountainlady16 · 22-25, F
@QuixoticSoul so Obamacare did nothing but give ppl that couldn't afford a fine for not having it and raise taxes to pay for it for ppl to lazy to work
Burnley123 · 41-45, M
@TheOneyouwerewarnedabout I'm not gonna ask what sites you go on which produce images like that.
😜
#notjudging.
😜
#notjudging.
yogibooboo · M
@TheOneyouwerewarnedabout Who's creating jobs in the U.S.? I know the answer, do you?
TheOneyouwerewarnedabout · 41-45, MVIP
softspokenman · M
yogibooboo · M
@marybmom Thats just it. They dont. They have outsourced everything either domestically or overseas and all the profits are either stored offshore or given back to the executives in stock buy backs. There is no reinvestment into R&D and growth. I am unsure as to what you are reading (if anything at all) or smoking. Most people in the US are now employed by smaller businesses and on contract, with little to no benefits.
AthrillatheHunt · 51-55, M
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yogibooboo · M
@AgapeLove Agreed
GJOFJ3 · 61-69, M
@yogibooboo It's easy to find the data
Record number of people working full-time 128,57 million
Median household income rose 1.8 percent in 2017, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
At the same time, the poverty rate fell for the third consecutive year.
The latest data boosts an already positive outlook for the U.S. middle class, with the number of job openings reaching a record high of almost 7 million in July.
Record number of people working full-time 128,57 million
Median household income rose 1.8 percent in 2017, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
At the same time, the poverty rate fell for the third consecutive year.
The latest data boosts an already positive outlook for the U.S. middle class, with the number of job openings reaching a record high of almost 7 million in July.
yogibooboo · M
@GJOFJ3 Census data?? Highly unreliable. Just a segment of the population reporting things that they dont understand on the phone. I live in the data world its census data is the last thing we try to use. On top of which, 1.8% rise is below the cost of living index. In addition, the employment figures mean zilch as they capture underemployment and do not capture the quality of the jobs. Try again, a bit harder this time.
GJOFJ3 · 61-69, M
@yogibooboo make your own facts, it doesn't matter to me.
marybmom · 41-45, F
the fact is that 80% of all us workers are in the top 1% of global earners so when you get the high tax rates past for the 1% and the left makes a global community we are all in that upper bracket
Mountainlady16 · 22-25, F
@yogibooboo you call yourself not calling for socialism but praise socialist healthcare. Which is not fabulous at all as people get sicker and sicker waiting for approval for treatment.
yogibooboo · M
@Mountainlady16 I think its better than being left on the street to die
Mountainlady16 · 22-25, F
@yogibooboo and many still die in socialist healthcare or their ailments become worse while waiting months for an appointment. Take my disease for instance when caught early enough and treated the progression can be stopped or even sometimes reversed but if only caught in the first stage. Funny enough in Canada and UK were a child has to wait months for a dermatologist appointment the percentage of ppl with my disease that is in the more severe untreatable stages goes from less than 10 to over 20
hippyjoe1955 · 61-69, M
marybmom · 41-45, F
i am a small business owner and i know how many i employ compared to the 500k cat or ford employ and for ford 300k are us citizens cat has 221 k americans working for them and they are the 2 largest employers in the world
Mountainlady16 · 22-25, F
It benefits alot more than that for instance the town next to mine has grown by leaps and bounds since republican county commissioner legalized liquor by the drink
Burnley123 · 41-45, M
Class compromise, propeganda, smearing alternatives and using the culture war to distract.
Conservative politics in the UK.
Conservative politics in the UK.
This message was deleted by its author.
hippyjoe1955 · 61-69, M
@latinbutterfly It would seem one side (progressives) seem to think that the US is in need of drastic transformation into some sort of socialist hell. Not quite sure where this impetuous is coming from but it is destroying the US as founded.
PicturesOfABetterTomorrow · 41-45, M
@hippyjoe1955 Actually that change is the only way to save the US from becoming a banana republic.
PicturesOfABetterTomorrow · 41-45, M
@hippyjoe1955 And you clearly haven't read anything the founders wrote.