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The quality of life for most Americans is on the decline, hence why political extremists on both sides were nearly elected(For those outside the US, yes, Sander
by TheAdamAndChe 9y ago
The quality of life for most Americans is on the decline, hence why political extremists on both sides were nearly elected(For those outside the US, yes, Sanders is considered an extremist in this country). Workers work more, make less, get treated less well by their employers, have less stability, and simply don't have much free time. Socially, America is losing their identity due to a spreading mentality that social norms are bad for us. We spend time with other people less, have fewer close relationships, and find trouble spending much time with our kids because both parents work. Those who move to big cities from rural areas because the cities are the only places rising economically right now find that they lose the social support and child-rearing support that families provide, but there's not much they can do about that if they want to be okay financially.
College is seen as the only avenue of getting out of that rat-race, but with ballooning schooling costs and large time and mental requirements to complete it, it's becoming an option for fewer and fewer people... Then when you do graduate, you're still paid significantly less than graduates 10 years ago.
On top of all this, there isn't even healthcare stability. Costs for care and medication are ballooning so high so fast, but it's not like we can do anything about it. Healthcare is a necessity. If you're poor, can't afford insurance, and find yourself with a cut, broken bone, or god forbid cancer, you can't even be sure you'll be able to get care.
With all of this instability, insecurity, and declining quality of life for most, it's only natural that anxiety and depression would be on the rise.
- CalRobert 9y agoIt's remarkable, having moved to the EU, to note that most people I know older than their mid-40's can't imagine moving away from the US, and most people younger than that can't imagine moving to the US (with the exception of those who want to chase the startup life in SF). A month off a year is pretty nice. I can't imagine going back to a couple weeks a year, or getting guilted for not answering emails on weekends.
- TheAdamAndChe 9y agoIf you got a couple weeks off a year in the US, you were better off than most[1]. Plus we don't get other basics like maternity or paternity leave. > most people I know older than their mid-40's can't imagine moving away from the US, and most people younger than that can't imagine moving to the US This points out a big generational divide. There are tons of people doing just fine in the US right now, but they were mostly grandfathered in. The number of jobs available has not been growing with our population, mostly because exploiting globalization and automation are much cheaper ways of growing a company. It's obviously getting to the point that it's creating social instability, though. [1] https://gusto.com/framework/health-benefits/paid-vacation-time-how-do-you-stack-up/ https://gusto.com/framework/health-benefits/paid-vacation-ti...
- CalRobert 9y agoI got two weeks, and for a while three, but that was only because my boss liked me and I just claimed my week of sick time as holiday. However, my wife only got one week, which meant actual holidays where we left town together were pretty rare. I probably should have clarified - for both of those groups I should have said "most Europeans I know over their mid-40's, or most Europeans I know under their mid-40's". Among the US-ians I know views vary widely.
- danmaz74 9y ago> and most people younger than that can't imagine moving to the US Are you talking about Europeans here?
- CalRobert 9y agoYes - but my perspective is very much limited, of course, consisting mostly of my social circle in Dublin. I hope I accurately presented it as an anecdote and not data.
- danmaz74 9y agoNo problem, but knowing this is mostly Dublin is relevant ;)
- CalRobert 9y agoYeah - I do know people of a lot of nationalities (my office is full of folks from around the EU and elsewhere) but overall I can imagine being here one might here different views than they would in another country.