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Americans, what do you think about this Tedx presentation regarding earning money in the U.S. vs Scandinavia
- Thread starter Bragr
- Start date
StreetsofBeige
Gold Member
I skimmed through some of this and some of probably makes sense and some doesn't.
But one key reason why Scandanavia seems so advanced in some things (where he compares self checkout to baggers) is that Scandanavia has very few people and businesses. Easier to upgrade small areas to latest tech then expecting the US (with 330 million people's worth) to all upgrade at the same speed. And Scandanavia has money to spend. Also as he mentioned many times, its too expensive to have those kinds of jobs, so they force themselves to advance in tech so a robot can do it.
Sounds good on paper, but for low skilled people they are out of a job. Thats why they force themselves with high taxes so they can hand out great social security packages to people.
Its the classic argument of USA (lots of rich people and poor people with crap job) vs heavy socialized countries (things are evened out more through high taxes, big social security and smaller gaps in pay). Some people like the US way, some people like more of a socialized/union heavy economy.
And like most people (me included), I prefer a more capitalistic way because I make good money. If I was dirt poor, I'd probably want tons of handouts. However, I'm willing to do the Canada way which seems like in between the US and Sweden.
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The Canadian elite is concentrated into a short list of fairly homogenous family dynasties that have entrenched themselves into oligopolies who have the consumers by the balls. I don't doubt this is true in Scandanavia as well.
The US has young billionaires, old billionaires, female billionaires, black billionaires, asian billionaires, billionaires in more industries, 1st generation billionaires and nth generation billionaires.
Ancestry helps all the same but there are more opportunities for competition.
The US has young billionaires, old billionaires, female billionaires, black billionaires, asian billionaires, billionaires in more industries, 1st generation billionaires and nth generation billionaires.
Ancestry helps all the same but there are more opportunities for competition.
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a multicultural team of v
Member
How many rich refugees are there across Scandinavia?
Bragr
Banned
Well, this is what the video was about, that it's easier to become rich in Scandinavia than in the U.S. So technically, the capitalistic system works better there.
Armorian
Banned
Too many I guess
synchronicity
Member
I find the idea of being rich repulsive on an ethical level. I'm not rich, but if I were, I wouldn't maintain my wealth - I'd give it away. I realize that humans are self-interested first and foremost, generally speaking, but I've always viewed us as more of a collective organism/species. In my world view, we're all responsible for each other's well being and none of us are deserving of such a massive difference in terms of resource allocation. Some make the argument that the rich have "earned" it, but they always do so upon the backs of the poor, the poor without whom they have nothing. They may have had a great idea, they may be great at delegation/organization, but without the execution of that idea - which depends upon many hands and minds - it's just an idea without any power.
Some may say I live in la la land, lol, but that's how I feel. To be clear, I don't hate the rich, I hate the concept of being rich - it doesn't resonate with me.
Some may say I live in la la land, lol, but that's how I feel. To be clear, I don't hate the rich, I hate the concept of being rich - it doesn't resonate with me.
DeepBreath87
Banned
This is something that is so easy to say when you never have to follow through on it. If you don’t mind me asking, what country do you live in?
synchronicity
Member
I'm in the US.
Doesn't matter how old the billionaire is if they're fucking you all the same. Also, size of the country doesn't mean shit when the country has more money per person than the smaller country. GDP per capita of Sweden is 51k USD per person. GDP per capita of USA is 65k USD per person. We just want poor people to suffer, that's really all there is to it in the USA.
launching a dick rocket into space while you workers shit in bags.
DeepBreath87
Banned
You’re already rich by international standards. You’re very likely in the global 1%.
TheDreadLord
Member
1st world problems.
synchronicity
Member
Yes, I realize that. But I live a spartan, minimalist life. I won't go into my personal details. But I'm quite the ascetic, materially speaking. I don't say that with ego. My only indulgence is games, and yes, that makes me wealthy by some standards, I get that. But I keep my footprint and consumption *small*, intentionally so.
StreetsofBeige
Gold Member
Estimate your POST-TAX income in US dollars.
howrichami.givingwhatwecan.org
How Rich Am I?
Calculate how rich you are compared to the rest of the world. Are you in the top global income percentile? Does your household income make you wealthy?
howrichami.givingwhatwecan.org
It doesn't matter if poor people here are richer than people in Kenya if they can't afford to live in the country they're in. I doubt a dude starving outside in San Francisco gives a shit that they're "better off" than the people starving in Kenya. They're both still fucking starving. That's just a loaded way to make it sound like they're ok off when they aren't.
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Hulk_Smash
Banned
Except most of them aren’t really starving in the USA. The amount of homeless shelters, soup kitchens, clothes closets is staggering. It’s only a problem if you live in a city with an overcrowded homeless population.
And unlike the Kenyan, the vast majority of homeless at least have a shot at getting a job if they:
A) Dont get all high and mighty about what jobs they’re willing to work.
B) Are willing to sacrifice and do what it takes to stay employed.
People starve here everyday.
StreetsofBeige
Gold Member
100% true being poor and homeless in USA (or another rich country) is totally different than being dirt poor in Africa.
In the US, it seems most of them are there due to mental issues, running away from home, being a druggie or some self-cause issue.
In Africa, it seems a lot of people living in a hut made out of tin scraps and making their kids sift through piles of trash and dirty water for food are there simply from being poor with zero opportunities, bad education system and zero government help.
A homeless American isnt rummaging through garbage dumps for food. Rich companies have social services, food banks, hell even drug assistance clinics. There's zero of that in poor countries. Thats why they resort to living near and going through loads of garbage trucks.
In the US, it seems most of them are there due to mental issues, running away from home, being a druggie or some self-cause issue.
In Africa, it seems a lot of people living in a hut made out of tin scraps and making their kids sift through piles of trash and dirty water for food are there simply from being poor with zero opportunities, bad education system and zero government help.
A homeless American isnt rummaging through garbage dumps for food. Rich companies have social services, food banks, hell even drug assistance clinics. There's zero of that in poor countries. Thats why they resort to living near and going through loads of garbage trucks.
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Or that's a load of shit?!
Hulk_Smash
Banned
Really? Can you show me the pot-bellied stick figure human beings like you see in those pictures of Ethiopia that live here in America? And then whittle those down from the ones that are addicted to drugs.
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StreetsofBeige
Gold Member
The videos you see of poor malnourished African people with flies swarming around them and shown sifting through garbage dumps is fake?
No, that Americans don't do the same thing is the bullshit.
StreetsofBeige
Gold Member
And do poor Americans wash clothes or drink dirty water which looks like sewage water from alongside roads?
How can you compare poor Americans to poor people in third world countries and try to downplay that its worse in poorer countries?
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Ask Flint, Michigan.
Edit: what I'm doing is not allowing you to downplay the poor in USA and act like they deserve where they are. USA fucks over there poor just as much as those in Kenya. It's actually worse because the USA can actually afford to help their people but actively chooses not to.
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StreetsofBeige
Gold Member
Youre going to compare a city in Michigan to poor standards that can be spread across entire third world countries? lol
So poor people Flint Michigan is at the same bad standard then lets say poor Somalians?
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Yes, because Michigan should be able to afford to fix its shitty infrastructure and yet it's still broken. That makes it worse. To actively continue to make the situation worse when it doesn't need to be. That's worse than not actually being able to fix it.
StreetsofBeige
Gold Member
What kind of BS detour is that? So it's not about comparing situation to situation, but instead it's now about comparing government potential? lol
Pretty sure Flint Michigan isn't like this.
poor somalia people - Google Search
www.google.com
Actively fucking people over is worse than not being able to help. That's the fucking point.
StreetsofBeige
Gold Member
Who says Flint is fucking people over? Michael Moore has promoted for 20 years Flint is a dead city, every internet article says it's an old school dying city. So hey, looks like they're broke. Too bad.
Either way, a poor person in Flint is still 100x better off than a poor person in Africa.
Dont forget to click that link I showed, fan down the page and stare at the shitty conditions there. Don't forget to look at the people collecting brown water from bubbling up liquid from mud ditches. That's their water.
Again. It doesn't fucking matter because the poor person in USA has to afford the USA. They both have it bad.
StreetsofBeige
Gold Member
I never said there arent different costs and standards of living between different countries.
However, there is no way you can say a poor Flint person is in an equally bad situation than a poor African living in a dirt hut and drinking mud water. The Africans (or any group of dirt poor people in any poor country) have it way worse.
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you know who it matters to? The poor person in Kenya who would literally kill for the opportunities people like you piss away in America.
Poor people in America live like kings compared to a poor person in many laces across the world. What a stupid comment.
You are a complete fucking idiot and piece of shit if you're actually comparing living standards in Kenya (or a shitload of other countries) to the US.
What the fuck am I reading? Cry fucking more, you have no fucking idea how bad it can get.
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TDiddyLive
Member
This guy literally said the poor in Michigan are worse of than those in third world countries. Somehow I am amazed every day by the stupidity of people.
I....
I....
You're fully aware this happens, right?
People trying to get into first world countries regardless of what happens to them is even the cause for a shitload of individual and collective tragedies in the world right now.
Doubt again