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Please, paully, can't you even look at this as other than an exercise in "America, love it or leave it" scenario.
If you don’t recognize that there are problems of inequity in the US system you’re wearing blinders. The US is losing more in world standing than simply our currency, education, infant mortality, etc.
Do you really not see that there are serious problems here? Status quo won’t cut it on a world stage.
Like you, i just hope that change comes before disaster happens, for the sake of many people i met here.
However, if you ask me, the golden days of USA may forever be over.
The golden days, meaning before inequality started rising.
Do you think that any government change will ever get rid of poverty, social problems?
No. Our system will probably never offer a complete government-provided safety net to the point where everyone gets housing, health-care, a college education and a job.
We are free to be complete failures. We are free to risk it all and lose it all. No one from the government is going to stop us from hitting rock bottom.
There are people here who come from the depths of poverty and climb out to mountains of wealth. We even allow people who weren't born here to come here, dirt poor, and do the same. If they want they can join us, own property, vote, and even buy a gun!
Will it work? I don't know. There are pubs in Europe older than the US. When will we go Socialist like Europe? No idea.
I don't think we'll follow the same model.
Even if you don't like the US, you're welcome. We'll continue to drive the world economy, and no one will catch us or pass us up. (People have checked the math on that-- so you can't convince me otherwise.)
Thanks for staying in the US, and I hope you stick around.
Concerning graduation rate, US is falling behind...
Like someone said, highschool kids can barely compete with kids in some 3rd world countries, concerning math and other.
There ARE a lot of education opportunities in USA, no doubt... BUT many can not afford them easily, or at all.
That's just a cop-out. Who can't afford a few used books, magazines? Education starts in the home and there is no home that cannot afford some kind of books -- even the Goodwill is full of used books often less than $1.
Too many CAN afford the latest video games, and try to find a welfare house without a big television and usually with cable.
The reason kids can't compete is their mothers are too busy with their own social lives and finding their next boyfriend. They choose not to read to their children, fail to prepare their children for school.
Public system quality VARIES wildly here. Many schools are underfunded and crime ridden.
Teacher pay is not good, either.
About 100k... do you know WHICH fraction of population makes that much in USA, without education?
50% of all population makes less than 31 000$ before tax.
Underfunded? It would be interesing to see how much American taxpayers are having to pay for schools here compared with those in countries like Finland where the students perform.
Teachers are making more than $31,000. If 50% of the population makes that much -- then teachers are paid almost or more than twice what half the population makes and that's without working 3 months in the summer and having 2-3 weeks off at Christmas, another couple weeks spring break and no holidays or weekends.
QUITE exactly true... it's now work MORE for LESS. It has been so for a long time now. Minimum wage is worth less now than for the previous generation
How long do you think one can cut education and basic social services?
I quite feel that this race to the bottom will have dire consequences for future generations.
Super rich are the only ones who seem to benefit from "Reagonomics".
It has also turned US into debtor-mass importer.
I'd like to see the evidence that any thing has been cut. Now we've got not only local government paying for education but tons of state and federal monies being thrown at it -- and social services? Come - on -- look how many people are not working for a living but living on SSDI, food stamps, WIC, Medicaid, and all the rest.
I doubt the government is spending less on social services.
I guess economics, like any other ideology can only be abstract.
Only when the bottom 'literally' has fallen out (like in the great crash in the 1930's) or the bubble has burst (like in 1987) are people willing to acknowledge that economics is just 1 angle to look at life ( and not even that significant).
Economics are to nations what food is to people.
But people can survive without being a nation (or any other abstract ideology), but nations cannot survive without people.
Even if you don't like the US, you're welcome. We'll continue to drive the world economy, and no one will catch us or pass us up. (People have checked the math on that-- so you can't convince me otherwise.)
Thanks for staying in the US, and I hope you stick around.
be an import colony? Yes...
Many have not only caught up, but have passed by US already. I hope you haven't been under rock for a long time...
Are you an economist? I happen to be... check the numbers on poverty, min wage, inequality, median salary, trade deficits, child poverty, extreme poverty and look at the big picture.
Tell me one other country in west, where people die because they can't afford HI?
Do you know that premiums for HS are rising faster than salaries, almost double as fast? It seems to me most here are losing out...
And thank you, I've quit my job. I am about to sell my house and leave.
For better pay, better vacations, better life, better social security.
For better pay, better vacations, better life, better social security.
Bye, Bye........................
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I guess economics, like any other ideology can only be abstract.
and not even that significant). 
