America is Falling Behind

[nordictruce]

the 800 pound gorilla in the room so to speak with the prison system is that... i mean, let's face it. they really are the only people hiring.

we can't AFFORD to end the war on drugs.

[JockandBallTorture]

I always like an "America in Decline" topic. OP's links are suspect though. Ranking systems have to be in a finer tune to be relevant.

I've seen a lot of points on size and scaling economic performance per person. The key difference between the United States and other industrialized economies that this overall discussion has overlooked is the concept of economies of density. It's a big deal and it affects the cost effectiveness of everything goods and services related. Government services too.

[dontworrybehappy]

Well, when you're already way up at the top, there isn't anywhere to really go but down.

Has anyone ever considered that maybe, just maybe, OTHER nations are improving their situations? People are looking at this like the US is moving down and every other nation is completely stagnant. If other nations are improving, that's fantastic.

[Professor]

[spacemonkey]

The entire world is falling behind, with the the exceptions of pockets of absured excess's.

[Dobby]

[spacemonkey]

One advantage countries like the scandinavians may have is not having to coddle all the different ethnic groups. Im not saying they don't have different groups, but I doubt the're as diverse as America. But finite is equal everywhere, and how thats delt with probably affects success/failure.

[PoS]

Why is America falling behind? Simple answer is because its has embraced the progressive welfare state, thats why.

[Indy]

That is exactly correct--a progressive welfare state for corporations and TBTF banks. Absolutely this is #1 on the list.

[nordictruce]

America doesn't make anything anymore. We don't make the cars we drive. Hell, we don't even make the drugs we smoke lol. Whenever I hear people talk about the decline in jobs and such I think about what do we actually make.

I'm sick and tired of people bitching about being broke yet going to college and coming out with some useless liberal arts degree. We don't make anything and we tell everyone that it's not good to be a plummer or a barber or a dry wall hanger person (I don't know what they are called).


You have a select few that know how to do stuff, and you have a bunch of poor people with no real particular skill set. We wouldn't be such a welfare state if we taught people how to do tangible things that mattered.

to me, the war on drugs, prison populations, lack of money, jobs, all if it comes back to education. Not just, better test scores, but I mean, actual tangible education.

I run a web development company and what's sad is the my best programmer is Indian. Not because he's cheaper.. I pay him the same as I pay my american employees. Because he's smarter. Much, much smarter. and works harder, and he's not self entitled.


What's even sadder than that however is that up until last year, I took only US based projects. Now half my projects are world wide. Why?

Because they pay better. 4 years ago those words would have been laughable. Now it's the truth. Most European based jobs will pay us 40-50% more than US Based jobs. Americans are freaking broke.