• Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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        8 months ago

        The American Dream has morphed into this “anyone can be rich” idea.

        When I was a kid, it was a house and two cars.

          • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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            8 months ago

            You’re being very hyperbolic. We have a house and two cars. I have around $200 in my bank account. Admittedly, it helps that we do not live in the most desirable part of the country, but we also live paycheck-to-paycheck and have not even ever been hundred thousandaires.

            You can’t be poor and achieve it, but you don’t have to be rich either.

              • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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                8 months ago

                I didn’t mean to suggest that. Housing prices and car prices are ridiculously and unnecessarily high. I’m just saying that the American dream has morphed into something that at least a large proportion of the population can even now achieve into something that almost no one can achieve.

      • tegs_terry@feddit.uk
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        8 months ago

        Yeah, it was started by rich people looking to increase their wealth and influence and has remained under their control ever since.

    • rayyy@lemmy.world
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      8 months ago

      It’s only going to get worse. Money buys elections and Putin, along with American oligarchs have a lot to spend on getting their desired results.

    • EatATaco@lemm.ee
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      8 months ago

      Yet it remains one of the happiest countries in the world. I’m not saying we don’t have our problems, because we clearly do, but the idea that the country is a “shit hole” is just baseless nonsense.

      • Kedly@lemm.ee
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        8 months ago

        Top 23 isnt what I would call “Happiest country in the world” Especially not for the worlds most powerful nation. So yeah, shit hole applies

        Edit: For perspective, theres 190± countries depending on whos counting, The most powerful Country on this planet doesnt even enter the top 10% of countries with the happiest citizens. At 190, the states is in the top 12%

        • EatATaco@lemm.ee
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          8 months ago

          Happier than nearly 90% of the countries in the world isn’t amount the happiest? Where do you draw the line then? Seems like your definition is ridiculously narrow.

          • Kedly@lemm.ee
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            8 months ago

            Once again, the ACTUAL MOST Powerful Nation in the world is basically at the bottom of the list when compared to countries of similar wealth and political stability. US only looks good when you compare it to countries with significant poverty or political problems. So yes, if you’re trying to escape life under a cartel, the states is a better option, if you live in Europe, the Commonwealth, or any of the Nordic Countries, hell no would you move to the States

            • Christer Enfors@lemm.ee
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              8 months ago

              Europe, the Commonwealth, or any of the Nordic Countries

              (Just for clarity, the Nordic countries are part of Europe if anyone thought anything else)

        • EatATaco@lemm.ee
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          8 months ago

          And it’s still happier than nearly 90% of the world. To me, that’s one of the happiest in the world. Where do you draw the line?

          • KoalaUnknown@lemmy.world
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            8 months ago

            I don’t care where it stands in relation to other countries. The problem is that happiness is decreasing at an alarming rate.

            • EatATaco@lemm.ee
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              8 months ago

              Well, I was responding to a claim that the US is a “disgusting shit hole” not that our happiness is dropping.

              • PoopSpiderman@lemmy.world
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                8 months ago

                Bowing down to the wealthiest people is what makes it a shithole. America sold its self respect to give the rich more tax breaks.

              • Kedly@lemm.ee
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                8 months ago

                1: Shithole is in response to your country’s remarks about other countries

                2: You are bragging about being lower than the DEFAULT for countries similar wealth and political stability as the US. Its like someone with an alcohol addiction, but who doesnt have to work for a living bragging that they feel more fulfilled in life than someone who is struggling to put food on the table for their children

                • EatATaco@lemm.ee
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                  8 months ago

                  Shithole is in response to your country’s remarks about other countries

                  This makes zero sense in the context.

                  You are bragging

                  Challenging the nonsensical claim that the us is a “disgusting shit hole” is not the equivalent of bragging about anything.

                  • Kedly@lemm.ee
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                    8 months ago

                    Ok fine, 1: you are one of the richest countries on earth and yet your citizens have to go into lifelong debt to pay for what would be routine and free surgeries anywhere else in comparatively wealthy countries

                    2: The US houses 4.2% of the world population, but 20% of the world’s prison population

                    3: You Country experienced a horrific school shooting in 1999, and instead of doing anything about it, like most of the rest of the world did when their own countries experienced similar tragedies, it sat on its ass an did NOTHING in the 24 years that followed and the Tragedy became a yearly, then quarterly, then monthly, now it seems almost DAILY occuranxe

                    4: Your last president openly staged a coup 4 years ago now and has yet to see himself behind bars.

                    Mind enlightening me on how this doesnt equate to a shithole?

      • kent_eh@lemmy.ca
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        8 months ago

        A drunk man can be happier than a sober one, but that’s not much to brag about.

        • EatATaco@lemm.ee
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          8 months ago

          Who’s bragging? Certainly not me. I just challenged the nonsensical claim.