Just another problem with 'Murica

[CapnAwesome]

Every country in Eastern Europe the the poor are much more poor then in the US and the standard of living is lower. Do you really think Poland or the Ukraine has a higher standard of living for the poor then the US? Talk about a lack of perspective.

Yeah, well. Just board a plane and have a look. And then come back with an informed opinion. On that level, I'm done with that discussion

I've been to Poland, my step dad was from there. I know what it's like. I also have lived in Mexico, Chile and Argentina. Spent significant time in Peru and Columbia as well, I've seen real poverty and the real standard of living in the second world and there is an enormous gulf. You apparently don't even know that eastern europe has a lower standard of living then the US. I have a mission on these forums to make people aware of the world outside of the US and western Europe.

Compare that to someone who can name three eastern European countries (well one Balkan semi state and two countries) is pretty piss poor.

[abaris]

I've been to Poland, my step dad was from there. I know what it's like. I also have lived in Mexico, Chile and Argentina. Spent significant time in Peru and Columbia as well, I've seen real poverty and the real standard of living in the second world and there is an enormous gulf. You apparently don't even know that eastern europe has a lower standard of living then the US.

You don't know how to put things into perspective, do you? The whole of Poland has a lower living standard than Western Europe. The poor aren't that much worse off than the poor in America, compared to the overall living standard.

Social security and general healthcare anyone? Do the poor in America have access to that? In general?

[CapnAwesome]

I've been to Poland, my step dad was from there. I know what it's like. I also have lived in Mexico, Chile and Argentina. Spent significant time in Peru and Columbia as well, I've seen real poverty and the real standard of living in the second world and there is an enormous gulf. You apparently don't even know that eastern europe has a lower standard of living then the US.

You don't know how to put things into perspective, do you? The whole of Poland has a lower living standard than Western Europe. The poor aren't that much worse off than the poor in America, compared to the overall living standard.

Social security and general healthcare anyone? Do the poor in America have access to that? In general?

Wait wait, are you revising your statement before about Europe to just mean western Europe? The poor in Poland (and eastern europe) struggle in ways the poor in the US just don't. They are one step from freezing to death in a polish winter. They have to emigrate to find jobs. How many American's do that? They have a much worse social security system, that actually decreasing their savings through corruption. It's just as good to have your money in your mattress as put it in the polish social security system.  Do you really think poor people in America don't get to use the social security system? If they pay social security taxes, they do.

I am poor in America and very happy to not be poor in any eastern European country, that's for sure. At the same time, those are not third world countries. The difference between them and say, some of the poorer countries in Africa, is larger then the difference between the US and Poland. It's a specturm that people don't seem to grasp very well. I've also moved on from the idea that a little more money is going to be the key to happiness.

[abaris]

Wait wait, are you revising your statement before about Europe to just mean western Europe? The poor in Poland (and eastern europe) struggle in ways the poor in the US just don't.

I certainly don't revise anything, since compared to the overall population the poor aren't worse of. They may not have cars to drive to the two or three jobs to scrape by. But they have access to social security and universal healthcare.

So, in relation to the general population, you tell me, how they are worse of.

[drfuzzy]

'Murica - my home, land of the free and home of the brave, (sigh) is not a democracy.  It is a corporatocracy.  As such, it may also qualify as an oligarchy. After all, we have known for a long time that our politicians are bought and sold.  This is why the cost of health insurance is still so bad that people are made homeless by one incidence of chronic illness.  This is why Americans travel to Canada to buy prescription drugs.  And the heads of most of these corporations are white Republican males.

[CapnAwesome]

Wait wait, are you revising your statement before about Europe to just mean western Europe? The poor in Poland (and eastern europe) struggle in ways the poor in the US just don't.

I certainly don't revise anything, since compared to the overall population the poor aren't worse of. They may not have cars to drive to the two or three jobs to scrape by. But they have access to social security and universal healthcare.

So, in relation to the general population, you tell me, how they are worse of.

You are revising and revising and revising. In relation to the general populace now? The general populace of what? Worse off is worse off, regardless of how the rest of the populace is. If you include Eastern Europe and Western Europe as Europe, then the poor in Russia and Poland etc are way worse off compared to the general populace, including social security access and healthcare. Es specially considering western Europe has it pretty good. Like I said before, polands social security is crap compared to the US.

[abaris]

Yes, and if you compare it to Somalia, I'm sure the American poor rule.

Whatever. If you think that American social security rises up the EU standards, there's nothing more to add.

[Losty]

I'm damned glad I was born here. Lest people forget, there's not just white privilege and male privilege, there's American privilege.

It's more like first world privileged. It gives you the ability to whine about your non-problems while using an Iphone made of conflict minerals.

Yes because if you have anything of value your pain or suffering is no longer valid.

[CapnAwesome]

It's more like first world privileged. It gives you the ability to whine about your non-problems while using an Iphone made of conflict minerals.

Yes because if you have anything of value your pain or suffering is no longer valid.

No, of course not, what is false is that just a little bit more money is going to fix that pain and suffering. That's what gets me. Somebody making 20,000 dollars a year thinks they are poor and if they could just get a little bit more money or social services they are going to be happy. That's the grand lie that's sold to people. The other thing is that by having all this materialistic stuff, like iphones, you are exporting your suffering to the third world. Why should people in Africa suffer from conflict minerals so spoiled Americans can have another materialistic bauble.

I'm all against the money culture of America. Totally against it. That's why I think the thesis of this thread is false because it's proposed solution is to just redistribute a little more money. The problem with unhappiness isn't not having enough money. It's the materialism that's making people unhappy to start with.

[CapnAwesome]

Yes, and if you compare it to Somalia, I'm sure the American poor rule.

Whatever. If you think that American social security rises up the EU standards, there's nothing more to add.

Gah, you still haven't gotten past the idea there is more to the world then western Europe the US and Somalia. Once you do, we can have a real conversation about this.