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The key difference isn’t whether abuse happens, it’s what happens after. In Mississippi, if a local official, police department, or state agency harms you, tha

The key difference isn’t whether abuse happens, it’s what happens after. In Mississippi, if a local official, police department, or state agency harms you, that action can be challenged outside the state that committed it. Federal courts can overrule Mississippi. National media can report it. NGOs can litigate it. You can leave the state. The same authority that harmed you does not get to decide whether it acted lawfully. In China, when the state harms you, there is no external forum. Courts answer to the same party that ordered the action. Media cannot investigate it. Lawyers can be punished for challenging it. The authority that harms you also decides whether the harm was lawful, and that decision is final. “China will be better on average by 2030” is not the same as “safer for minorities.” Tier-1 city averages describe the majority. Minorities face an unconstrained state with no external recourse. That distinction doesn’t show up in a line fit. That difference is what “constraints” mean in practice. Worsening outcomes in Mississippi don’t erase it. Rising averages in China don’t replace it. It’s why calling China “safer” by pointing to low street crime misses the real source of risk for disadvantaged people.

Herring 10mo ago
You’re missing the point. Recourse doesn't matter much if you're bankrupted by health issues because your state blocked Medicaid expansion. If your state fails at education, you can't sue your way into a better life (though to be fair Mississippi has actually improved its schools recently). Institutional constraints don't help much when you're poor, pregnant, and have zero access to Planned Parenthood. Averages tell enough of the story. Look at the US: In that WHR report we rank in the top 10 for Boomers but way down near 60th for Gen Z. That's what is dragging down the US curve. You can't hit Finland-level numbers without bringing everyone along. China still has a massive hill to climb, but they are determined, let’s see where they are in ten years. Most Americans are very procedural, which is where I disagree. Personally at the end of the day all I care about is outcomes. I agree with Deng Xiaoping: It doesn't matter if a cat is black or white, as long as it catches mice.

Herring 10mo ago

You’re missing the point. Recourse doesn't matter much if you're bankrupted by health issues because your state blocked Medicaid expansion. If your state fails at education, you can't sue your way into a better life (though to be fair Mississippi has actually improved its schools recently). Institutional constraints don't help much when you're poor, pregnant, and have zero access to Planned Parenthood. Averages tell enough of the story. Look at the US: In that WHR report we rank in the top 10 for Boomers but way down near 60th for Gen Z. That's what is dragging down the US curve. You can't hit Finland-level numbers without bringing everyone along. China still has a massive hill to climb, but they are determined, let’s see where they are in ten years. Most Americans are very procedural, which is where I disagree. Personally at the end of the day all I care about is outcomes. I agree with Deng Xiaoping: It doesn't matter if a cat is black or white, as long as it catches mice.