Coronavirus Thread

[JacketOff]

Lower class or even below is wealthier than a lot of Countries' middle class. Do you know anyone without a cell phone, computer of some kind, tv, car, basic rights, safety nets, etc. etc.? Even our homeless have access to water. Read up JO.

Is that not the case in most developed countries? I believe it is, and a lot of those other developed countries make education and healthcare much more accessible to the lower classes than America does. Like I’ve said before, obviously America is great when compared to the general world, but when you compare it with other developed nations it becomes much more average.

 

[GoldZ]

You guys will literally talk about how brainwashed liberals and millennials are, and then say and believe things like this. This is brainwashing 101 my friend. I’m guessing you were probably born in/near the baby boomer generation. A time when American “exceptionalism” was at/near its peak. That very message was conveyed in schools and throughout the media because it was needed if the U.S. was going to “win” the Cold War with the Soviets. American “exceptionalism” didn’t exist until WW2 ended, and the Cold War began.

Objectively, in the modern day, America simply is not the best overall country in the world. You can bring any kind of anecdotal evidence you want, or talk about the past to try and prove me wrong, but there is no objective metric that will agree with you. On an overall scale, America sits around ~10th in world ranking. Is that considered great? Absolutely. But it’s not objectively the best, and there are many things we could learn from other countries.

Going back to WW2 and how it relates to this pandemic. If you were a healthy American adult during WW2, odds are you were doing something to help the war effort. Whether that was fighting, manufacturing, farming, medical care, etc. Citizens rationed their food so enough could be sent overseas to feed the military. People in urban and suburban neighborhoods began to grow some of their own food so major farms could provide more to the military. Those citizens made legitimate sacrifices for the betterment of the country and the world. We’re asking modern citizens to wear a mask for 20 minutes in the grocery store and they act like toddlers. America, our citizens, and our leadership have been so ridiculous throughout this pandemic, that other countries have literally closed their borders to us.

Excellent paragraph on WW2 and masks! On the closed borders topic....you mean like we did to them for similar reasoning?

 

[JacketOff]

Obviously, there are 9 other countries that would be better for you to live in. I will help you out if you need money for moving expenses. Just let me know. I will be glad to help.

That’s what you guys always go to. “Well if you don’t like it, leave.” But that doesn’t even make sense. First of all, it’s literally impossible to leave the country right now considering how badly we’re botching the pandemic. Second of all, wouldn’t it be better to fix the problems we have rather than running from them? You people seem to accept our problems as “it is what it is” when it clearly doesn’t have to be that way. Thirdly, did I ever say I wanted to leave the U.S.? Nope. I have no reason to at the moment. That’s the case with the overwhelming majority of American adults, which is why so few of them do leave. But simply staying does not mean America is the best place to live. I’m not sure why some people are hell bent on saying it is. No other country views themselves as highly as Americans do. You can point out your flaws and learn from the lessons of others. Simply claiming you’re the best doesn’t make it true.

 

[Deleted member 2897]

Is that not the case in most developed countries? I believe it is, and a lot of those other developed countries make education and healthcare much more accessible to the lower classes than America does. Like I’ve said before, obviously America is great when compared to the general world, but when you compare it with other developed nations it becomes much more average.

Education and healthcare are both required by law here. Have no money? You can get Medicaid. Have little money? You can get highly subsidized health insurance that is nearly free. And unlike Europe and most of the developed world, our working class folks pay next to zero income taxes. Working class folks across Scandinavia for example pay half their income on taxes. There are reasons why people leave those places and come here.

Now if you’re saying we’re average when you compare the top 10 countries in the world, we’ll okay that sounds fair. But it’s hard to read what you mean sometimes with the way you’re so denigrating.

 

[ramblinwreckguru]

Education and healthcare are both required by law here. Have no money? You can get Medicaid. Have little money? You can get highly subsidized health insurance that is nearly free. And unlike Europe and most of the developed world, our working class folks pay next to zero income taxes. Working class folks across Scandinavia for example pay half their income on taxes. There are reasons why people leave those places and come here.

Now if you’re saying we’re average when you compare the top 10 countries in the world, we’ll okay that sounds fair. But it’s hard to read what you mean sometimes with the way you’re so denigrating.

You hit on a main point why we have yet to balance the budget. The low to low middle class do not have any skin in the game of tax and spend.

 

[JacketOff]

Education and healthcare are both required by law here. Have no money? You can get Medicaid. Have little money? You can get highly subsidized health insurance. And unlike Europe and most of the developed world, our working class folks pay hence to zero income taxes. Working class folks across Scandinavia for example pay half their income on taxes. There are reasons why people leave those places and come here.

Now if you’re saying we’re average when you compare the top 10 countries in the world, we’ll okay that sounds fair. But it’s hard to read what you mean sometimes with the way you’re so denigrating.

There are 37 countries who are considered “developed” according to the world bank. According to U.S. News and World Report, The United States currently ranks 7th overall in the world. That puts America in the top 20% of developed countries. Is that good? Yeah, but if you want to break it down in college football terms, it’s not elite. It’s like being ranked 25th in the country. Would you take it every year? Yeah. But it’s not where you want to be. That’s the point I’m trying to make when I say America is average. Comparing America to countries in South America or Africa isn’t a fair fight, but when compared to nations similar to ours, America is objectively not the best. There are rankings and statistics that prove that. Basically the only evidence people have for saying America is objectively the best is anecdotal.

As far as taxes go, yes, the Scandinavian and other European countries pay more, but it greatly benefits their lower and middle classes.I would say if you are upper class, America probably is the best place to live. Why? Because our system is designed to benefit the upper class the most. Other nations are designed to benefit the masses. You could say that America’s system is set up that way to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship, but when you are lower class it’s hard to get to a position where those are even viable options. The Scandinavian nations put everyone on a much more equal playing field, which I’m sure if you’re upper class does not appeal to you. Which is why a good many upper class Europeans migrate to America. It’s costs a lot of capital to move to a different country. The vast majority of people simply cannot afford to up and move from one developed nation to another. If you’re upper class from Norway, or Sweden, or Germany, it makes sense to move to America. But the people in America who would benefit the most from living in one of those countries cannot afford to do so.

Because there’s so much overlap, I’m just going to tag @684Bee @TechPreacher @Milwaukee because this is a pretty full sentiment regarding all of your replies. Just like you boomers will say millennials are brainwashed, y’all were too. You’re probably not going to like that, but it’s true. The media has been controlling your lives and thoughts long before cell phones were even thought of. Do with that information what you will, I know I’m not going to “win” an argument on this particular thread, because it seems there’s a particular demographic with whom this thread is popular. Y’all outnumber me and I’m okay with that. I usually avoid these political threads just like I avoid mostly liberal political threads on Twitter. I’m a moderate, and try to see things as objectively as possible. I’m open to learning or listening to someone who can provide actual facts to a conversation, but I’m not open to anecdotal evidence or someone just trying to get a sick burn. So if all you’re going to say back “if you don’t love it, leave.” Or, “Merica is number 1!” Don’t bother, because I won’t bother responding.

 

[GoldZ]

Is that not the case in most developed countries? I believe it is, and a lot of those other developed countries make education and healthcare much more accessible to the lower classes than America does. Like I’ve said before, obviously America is great when compared to the general world, but when you compare it with other developed nations it becomes much more average.

How "Poor" are America's Poor?

Introduction Next week the United States Census Bureau will release its annual report on "poverty" stating, as it has for many years, that there are some 31 million to 32 million poor Americans, a number greater than in 1965 when the War on Poverty began. Evidence mounts, however, that the...

www.heritage.org

 

[GT_EE78]

There are 37 countries who are considered “developed” according to the world bank. According to U.S. News and World Report, The United States currently ranks 7th overall in the world. That puts America in the top 20% of developed countries. Is that good? Yeah, but if you want to break it down in college football terms, it’s not elite. It’s like being ranked 25th in the country. Would you take it every year? Yeah.

My math suggests being top 20% of 65 P5 teams would put us at average of 13th. and yeah i'd take that for average gladly.

 

[Milwaukee]

There are 37 countries who are considered “developed” according to the world bank. According to U.S. News and World Report, The United States currently ranks 7th overall in the world. That puts America in the top 20% of developed countries. Is that good? Yeah, but if you want to break it down in college football terms, it’s not elite. It’s like being ranked 25th in the country. Would you take it every year? Yeah. But it’s not where you want to be. That’s the point I’m trying to make when I say America is average. Comparing America to countries in South America or Africa isn’t a fair fight, but when compared to nations similar to ours, America is objectively not the best. There are rankings and statistics that prove that. Basically the only evidence people have for saying America is objectively the best is anecdotal.

As far as taxes go, yes, the Scandinavian and other European countries pay more, but it greatly benefits their lower and middle classes.I would say if you are upper class, America probably is the best place to live. Why? Because our system is designed to benefit the upper class the most. Other nations are designed to benefit the masses. You could say that America’s system is set up that way to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship, but when you are lower class it’s hard to get to a position where those are even viable options. The Scandinavian nations put everyone on a much more equal playing field, which I’m sure if you’re upper class does not appeal to you. Which is why a good many upper class Europeans migrate to America. It’s costs a lot of capital to move to a different country. The vast majority of people simply cannot afford to up and move from one developed nation to another. If you’re upper class from Norway, or Sweden, or Germany, it makes sense to move to America. But the people in America who would benefit the most from living in one of those countries cannot afford to do so.

Because there’s so much overlap, I’m just going to tag @684Bee @TechPreacher @Milwaukee because this is a pretty full sentiment regarding all of your replies. Just like you boomers will say millennials are brainwashed, y’all were too. You’re probably not going to like that, but it’s true. The media has been controlling your lives and thoughts long before cell phones were even thought of. Do with that information what you will, I know I’m not going to “win” an argument on this particular thread, because it seems there’s a particular demographic with whom this thread is popular. Y’all outnumber me and I’m okay with that. I usually avoid these political threads just like I avoid mostly liberal political threads on Twitter. I’m a moderate, and try to see things as objectively as possible. I’m open to learning or listening to someone who can provide actual facts to a conversation, but I’m not open to anecdotal evidence or someone just trying to get a sick burn. So if all you’re going to say back “if you don’t love it, leave.” Or, “Merica is number 1!” Don’t bother, because I won’t bother responding.

lol what in the hell are you talking about? Someone made a funny joke to you and you’re really bent out of shape about it and now you’re pouting. Who tf is y’all?? What are you even talking about, I’m younger than you are dude. Jesus, goosefrabba.

 

[Deleted member 2897]

There are 37 countries who are considered “developed” according to the world bank. According to U.S. News and World Report, The United States currently ranks 7th overall in the world. That puts America in the top 20% of developed countries. Is that good? Yeah, but if you want to break it down in college football terms, it’s not elite. It’s like being ranked 25th in the country. Would you take it every year? Yeah. But it’s not where you want to be. That’s the point I’m trying to make when I say America is average. Comparing America to countries in South America or Africa isn’t a fair fight, but when compared to nations similar to ours, America is objectively not the best. There are rankings and statistics that prove that. Basically the only evidence people have for saying America is objectively the best is anecdotal.

As far as taxes go, yes, the Scandinavian and other European countries pay more, but it greatly benefits their lower and middle classes.I would say if you are upper class, America probably is the best place to live. Why? Because our system is designed to benefit the upper class the most. Other nations are designed to benefit the masses. You could say that America’s system is set up that way to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship, but when you are lower class it’s hard to get to a position where those are even viable options. The Scandinavian nations put everyone on a much more equal playing field, which I’m sure if you’re upper class does not appeal to you. Which is why a good many upper class Europeans migrate to America. It’s costs a lot of capital to move to a different country. The vast majority of people simply cannot afford to up and move from one developed nation to another. If you’re upper class from Norway, or Sweden, or Germany, it makes sense to move to America. But the people in America who would benefit the most from living in one of those countries cannot afford to do so.

Because there’s so much overlap, I’m just going to tag @684Bee @TechPreacher @Milwaukee because this is a pretty full sentiment regarding all of your replies. Just like you boomers will say millennials are brainwashed, y’all were too. You’re probably not going to like that, but it’s true. The media has been controlling your lives and thoughts long before cell phones were even thought of. Do with that information what you will, I know I’m not going to “win” an argument on this particular thread, because it seems there’s a particular demographic with whom this thread is popular. Y’all outnumber me and I’m okay with that. I usually avoid these political threads just like I avoid mostly liberal political threads on Twitter. I’m a moderate, and try to see things as objectively as possible. I’m open to learning or listening to someone who can provide actual facts to a conversation, but I’m not open to anecdotal evidence or someone just trying to get a sick burn. So if all you’re going to say back “if you don’t love it, leave.” Or, “Merica is number 1!” Don’t bother, because I won’t bother responding.

I don’t put too much worry into global rankings of much of anything. They are so subjective and slanted to the people who are not here it is hardly worth anything. I would hardly say the Scandinavian systems benefit their working class people more when they’re paying half their money in taxes. Again, why do so many more people from those countries move here instead of the other way around? I’ve never told you if you don’t like it here to leave or anything even remotely like that, so don’t pre-accuse me of using language that I don’t use. I also am not sure what you mean about a political discussion. We are not on the political boards, and political commentary is heavily restricted in these areas. We’ve been discussing COVID-19 and related topics.

my guess is about why you feel like you’re being surrounded is that as we’ve pointed out, nobody starts more businesses and is more innovative and gives more to charity in the United States. We send people around the world that we’ve never met and will never know to help them. Net worth’s and standard of living here are better than anywhere else in the world. So then when someone asserts, or seems like they were rather, that we are not that great of a country, I’m sure you get a defense mechanism going off with some people.

 

[gdamian]

You hit on a main point why we have yet to balance the budget. The low to low middle class do not have any skin in the game of tax and spend.

The US is well beyond the point of balancing its federal budget or paying back its debt so what difference does it make?

 

[Supersizethatorder-mutt]

Is that not the case in most developed countries? I believe it is, and a lot of those other developed countries make education and healthcare much more accessible to the lower classes than America does. Like I’ve said before, obviously America is great when compared to the general world, but when you compare it with other developed nations it becomes much more average.

You can blame American politicians on both sides of the aisle and teachers' unions and revisionist teachers and professors for those problems.

 

[TechPreacher]

That’s what you guys always go to. “Well if you don’t like it, leave.” But that doesn’t even make sense. First of all, it’s literally impossible to leave the country right now considering how badly we’re botching the pandemic. Second of all, wouldn’t it be better to fix the problems we have rather than running from them? You people seem to accept our problems as “it is what it is” when it clearly doesn’t have to be that way. Thirdly, did I ever say I wanted to leave the U.S.? Nope. I have no reason to at the moment. That’s the case with the overwhelming majority of American adults, which is why so few of them do leave. But simply staying does not mean America is the best place to live. I’m not sure why some people are hell bent on saying it is. No other country views themselves as highly as Americans do. You can point out your flaws and learn from the lessons of others. Simply claiming you’re the best doesn’t make it true.

America -- The only country so great that even its haters refuse to leave.

Or,

America -- The country so terrible, yet the rest of the world wants to come here.

 

[684Bee]

America -- The only country so great that even its haters refuse to leave.

Or,

America -- The country so terrible, yet the rest of the world wants to come here.

There’s no point in responding to this miserable person any more. He’s like the guy that would point out that Cindy Crawford has one weird toenail and harp on that.

 

[WreckinGT]

So how’s the virus going?

 

[ramblinwreckguru]

So how’s the virus going?

I think the testing is so flawed, who really knows?

 

[Augusta_Jacket]

lol did you hear the story about the maniac killer with a hook for a hand that killed the teenagers parking at the dead end? It’s a true story I promise. You guys...

The story he was referencing was true.

Texas Hospital Says Man, 30, Died After Attending a ‘Covid Party’ (Published 2020)

Health experts have been skeptical that such parties occur, and details of this case could not be independently confirmed.

www.nytimes.com

" In her statements to news organizations, Dr. Appleby said the man had told his nurse that he attended a Covid party. Just before he died, she said the patient told his nurse: “I think I made a mistake. I thought this was a hoax, but it’s not.” "

 

[TechPreacher]

I think the testing is so flawed, who really knows?

The numbers are so inflated. When someone tests positive, he has to go every week to re-test, and each positive re-test gets counted as another positive. So one person counts multiple times.

 

[JacketOff]

My math suggests being top 20% of 65 P5 teams would put us at average of 13th. and yeah i'd take that for average gladly.

I said college football, because G5 teams and independents are routinely ranked and actively compete against other P5 teams. 8 independents and G5 teams were in the final AP poll after last season, and 2 others spent at least 1 week ranked. Developed countries and undeveloped countries is much more like FBS vs. FCS than it is P5 vs G5. So in this hypothetical a 7th overall ranking out of 37 developed nations is ≈ to ranking 25th in FBS. Not that any of it really matters anyway.

 

[JacketOff]

America -- The only country so great that even its haters refuse to leave.

Or,

America -- The country so terrible, yet the rest of the world wants to come here.

Like I said, “if you don’t love it, leave it.” Whatever dude. Ignorance is bliss I suppose.