This isn’t 1970 anymore. You have just described the USA perfectly: “But they are run by greed, elitists, and authoritarian power mongers in systems that don’t provide a voice for the people, and as a result create an elitist wealthy class and a poor class.” There was a time when hard work and getting an education was a very good indicator of upward mobility, but children born in the 1980s and afterward have only a 50/50 chance of doing better than their parents did economically. Our middle class has shrunk significantly from the 1960s.
Take a look at any recent assessment of where the US ranks in terms of any number of important metrics and you’ll see that we are indeed in shit shape. Here’s just a few:
Facts about poverty and hunger in America
Even in the world’s greatest food-producing nation, children and adults face poverty and hunger in every county across America.
- 40 million people struggle with hunger in the United States, including more than 12 million children (1 in 6).
- A household that is food insecure has limited or uncertain access to enough food to support a healthy life.
- Children are more likely to face food insecurity than any other group in the United States.
Nearly one in every six seniors in America faces the threat of hunger and not being properly nourished. This applies to those who aren’t sure where their next meal is coming from and those who don’t have access to the healthiest possible food options. The issue is severe enough that the AARP reports that seniors face a healthcare bill of more than $130 billion every year due to medical issues stemming from senior hunger.
Our education system is mediocre. American exceptionalism is a myth.
