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How can population growth NOT be a factor in the collapse of an economy and society? Billions of people competing for resources and jobs,while destorying the environment. We are estimating the population to grow to 10B by 2050 - this was from NPR so hopefully that gives me credidibility. The size now of American with over $300M people is one of the reasons moving towards more of Socialist state (which it appears you support) becomes very difficult. The Nordic countries, which have been held up as successful examples of Socialism, are all smaller countries that traditionally have had low unemployment rates. A growing aging population rate and increased unemployment are already causing this “altruistic” countries to start rolling back benefits.
You seem to think that a basic universal income and Americans being more altruistic is what will save us, and blame Conservatives for not making America a kind place. That is a very simple answer to a mult-dimensional problem. Ironically, Americans donate 7x more than Europeans with (gasp!) religious people (likely Conservative!) donating the most. Many Americans are at a point where they feel that the government has created a welfare state that encourages people not to work and have more children (to secure more votes), while the people that are working are paying higher taxes, have not seen wage increases, job losses,and are paying astronomical increases in healthcare costs. They do not trust the government because they have seen the establishment of an elite political class, where the laws they create (e.g., ACA, recent sexual harassment lawsuits on the taxpayers dime, Clintons making over $200M peddling politics) do not apply to them. With this distrust, they do not want to give even more of their hard earned to the government - it isn’t because they don’t care about other people. If that were the case why would so many Americans give so much to charity?
And I don’t understand why you think a universal basic income is going to save us? If the USD is no longer the global standard, I agree with you our economy will collapse, but who is going to have the $ to pay the taxes to support a universal basic income? Our altruistic European and Asian neighbors?
People with little grasp of economic concepts are very funny.
ACA (Obamacare) benefited many people, mostly poor people. Last I heard it was over $20 million people.
In this country if someone commits a sexual crime (Larry Nassar the gymnast doctor who molested hundreds of little girls, many of whom are today's gymnasts) they have to be prosecuted. It's because we're a system of laws and why we're not some third world nation where elite can go unpunished (Russia, Brazil, China). Nassar was a very powerful man yet he got justice. Name another country where he would've gotten justice? The head doctor of the Russian gymnast team? No, that guy is worshiped.
The Clintons are getting paid by mostly third world countries to give speeches. If the countries want to pay, why would taxpayers get mad at that?
Why aren't the people behind the opioid epidemic going to jail. The Government had no problem sending Blacks and Latinos to jail for sell crack cocaine.
Imo everyone in this nation should be equally as mad.
Good article but I don't agree this is the end of us.
Because they are White doctors and Pharmaceutical execs. It's still that way. Someone commits a crime on heroin or opiods he/she is given treatment. some one commits the same crime on crack he/she is given jail.
Ever notice those public service announcements about getting help are all lily white and all directed at the Opiod problem?
I thought this was a great short essay. It really describes America today. I think a lot of people will be able to relate to what this essay is talking about.
I think it's exaggerated though for sure we have problems, so does everywhere. What I find is that liberals like this writer try to guilt shame every problem is because America elected Donald Trump.
About the reducing lifespan of Americans, this is mostly due to obesity and lifestyle in my opinion. We need to make better food choices and not take drugs.
p.s. Obamacare has given us 2 consecutive years drop in American lifespan for the first time in 55 years...gee thanks.
About the reducing lifespan of Americans, this is mostly due to obesity and lifestyle in my opinion. We need to make better food choices and not take drugs.
No it's not. Almost every demographic group is improving on life expectancy: Hispanic males and females, Asian males and females, black males and females. Even amongst whites almost every age group is having increasingly life expectancy except for whites ages 45 to 54. It is mostly due to overdoses and suicide.
p.s. Obamacare has given us 2 consecutive years drop in American lifespan for the first time in 55 years...gee thanks.
That is disingenuous to blame ACA on the drop in lifespan. Also, it's not true. The lifespan is only dropping for middle age whites from 45 to 54. For the people that would mainly get ACA, blacks and hispanics, the lifespan is drastically improving.
No one was injured in most of the shootings. They're counting shootings that would ordinarily be considered vandalism since they're not targeted to kill or maim but directed at the building or rooms. There is also at least one suicide that's counted. Bad essays are what happens when someone looks at a story that purports to cover a series of events but fails to look at the details. Most of the essay consisted of brief rhetorical gripes that touched on a number of issues without delving into it in any detail. It just went on from one purported problem on to another.
That is disingenuous to blame ACA on the drop in lifespan. Also, it's not true. The lifespan is only dropping for middle age whites from 45 to 54. For the people that would mainly get ACA, blacks and hispanics, the lifespan is drastically improving.
The poster first said the obesity and lifestyle are the causes of poor health or decreased lifespan--or whatever. Then he goes on to blame the ACA.
Anyway, ACA is not for blacks and hispanics. It's for anyone who gets laid off from their job and can't afford the super expensive COBRA payments, single parents raising a child, people who are trying to find a job--it fits into all sorts of lives of all sorts of people. So, for the people who dislike blacks and hispanics, you are punishing white people too.
Who would those behind the opioid epidemic be? Here in Southern Maryland and where I'm from in NW Pennsylvania it seems that not a week goes by without one or another doctor being charged with overwriting prescriptions, multiple, as in dozens of, charges.
Also, those distributing the substances are being charged. In the case of overdose deaths, with murder.
Its not the opioid prescription drugs that are the problem, its the heroin and street drugs that have caused the overdose and death rates to skyrocket. At least with prescription drugs obtained thru a doctor, the addict knows what they are getting and taking, with heroin bought on the street, its a crap shot as to whats in it!
When the 2012 drug laws were enacted, all it did was force former pill addicts to readily available heroin, what did lawmakers think was going to happen, all the addicts were just going to stop once they couldnt get pills from their doctor anymore?!! LOL Cmon! Our own history with prohibition should have been enough to show them this approach does not work and usually makes things worse...but here we are??
I truly think this was planned and the DEA/ Govt is in full collusion with the drug cartels, literally everything the DEA has a hand in, benefits the drug cartels, not to mention, cartels are CONSISTENTLY able to get enough product into this country, so much that many cities and states have some type of heroin epidemic...that just does not happen without some level of cooperation...think about how much heroin it takes to keep the entire US supplied like this, its staggering to think about!!
No it's not. Almost every demographic group is improving on life expectancy: Hispanic males and females, Asian males and females, black males and females. Even amongst whites almost every age group is having increasingly life expectancy except for whites ages 45 to 54. It is mostly due to overdoses and suicide.
I said obesity and drugs....sounds like we are in violent agreement unless you think obesity has no bearing on lifespan?
That is disingenuous to blame ACA on the drop in lifespan. Also, it's not true. The lifespan is only dropping for middle age whites from 45 to 54. For the people that would mainly get ACA, blacks and hispanics, the lifespan is drastically improving.
Overall US lifespan has decreased the last 2 years and I do partially blame Obamacare because it has worsened the care of everyone that I know. I still maintain that the biggest culprit to US lifespan is poor diet.
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