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Prageru is a Koch brothers funded propaganda outlet, pushing a libertarian, social darwinian agenda.
Massive corruption and the top 1% ruling with an iron fist is what "ruins" Brazil and a lot of other countries.
What matters is what the top 1% oligarchy in any country decides to do. Change is a threat to any system of power, and development and growth means change. The top 1% in any country prefer the status quo as they seek to entrench their interests, status, power and privileges. In some countries however, they are forced to accept change and thus development. Democratization of the economy and society, with an emphasis on education and busting monopolies and breaking up entrenched vested interests is a radical concept and not some type of automatic inevitable process.
There's a term for it which is often used to describe what's happening in the US.
Brazil is a target since the oil reserves are controlled by the government under a state-owned enterprise. Countries which nationalize oil under socialism or nationalism come under hostile attack from governments which have to go outside their borders to acquire oil. They want ownership rights for natural resources which becomes very profitable as the resources become scarce.
How is an abundance of social programs(Sanders) destroying the country particularly when Republicans are in full control of all aspects of the government?
Sure do like those overwhelming white countries don't you? I'll take my life in the US over any of those countries.
Baloney. It has nothing to do with the blacks as some of you like to claim. We already have a substantial amount of social democracy in America. It works just fine. Medicare, social security, public education etc. Franklin D Roosevelt was a strong believer in a robust public safety net. When America was more social democratic, America grew much faster than today. And no, it was not because of US status at the time, Europe had already recovered from the war and exports were a small share of the US GDP at the time.
Social democracy as seen in the rest of the developed world and partly in America (like Medicare, SS and public education) is both wildly popular and good for the society and economy.
Sure do like those overwhelming white countries don't you? I'll take my life in the US over any of those countries.
Considering I live in Britain at least until September, my quality of life is far higher than back in the States. Don't get me wrong, I am an American, I am a southerner...but deluding yourself to thinking that the US is as good as it gets, is wrong. We were the best, had a high quality of life, declining mortality rates...and we just kept telling ourselves that it couldn't ever disappear.
It is disappearing. Or at least the middle class is on the decline. Opportunity is no longer linked to merit. People who cannot afford medical care, are left to suffer or at worst die. Infrastructure is in horrid shape, education is poor, people no longer understand their nation's history, pre-existing conditions and unemployment are pathologised as the fault of those who suffer under those conditions.
but keep telling yourself that this is the pinnacle of human civilization. You might want to travel more and experience what else is occurring in the Western world first though.
I've lived in three countries. The USA is a good place to live -- but its not the only good place to live.
And -- Interesting you look south to Brazil as an example of disastrous country with social policies.
Funny that you wouldn't look to the north -- and see how Canadians feel about their capitalist country with many social programs.
Yes, people point to Brazil and say "hey, look at what capitalism does". After all, Brazil has been a deeply corrupt third world country ruled by the rich for a very long time. If a so-called "socialist" is voted in, all blame is put on "socialism". If a so-called "capitalist" is voted in, all blame is put on "capitalism", when the real issue is that the top 1% ruling class rule with an iron fist and refuse to give up power, status and privileges.
Considering I live in Britain at least until September, my quality of life is far higher than back in the States. Don't get me wrong, I am an American, I am a southerner...but deluding yourself to thinking that the US is as good as it gets, is wrong. We were the best, had a high quality of life, declining mortality rates...and we just kept telling ourselves that it couldn't ever disappear.
It is disappearing. Or at least the middle class is on the decline. Opportunity is no longer linked to merit. People who cannot afford medical care, are left to suffer or at worst die. Infrastructure is in horrid shape, education is poor, people no longer understand their nation's history, pre-existing conditions and unemployment are pathologised as the fault of those who suffer under those conditions.
but keep telling yourself that this is the pinnacle of human civilization. You might want to travel more and experience what else is occurring in the Western world first though.
Well you certainly do have me all wrong. I've lived most of the last 15 years outside the US in 5 different continents (currently in the Middle East) and I own property in Spain and considered living there under the Golden Visa plan.
On the thread topic, the US like those other countries has a Capitalism/Socialism mix with less Socialism on the scale than most of those countries. I wouldn't mind some slight increase in our Socialism but if we go too far, we will be like Brazil as they are the country most like ours in size, population and demographics far more than any of those countries you idealized.
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