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Is America Really That Bad?
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this post was submitted on 18 Aug 2023
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Yes and no.
We do have mass shootings, but we also live in a country of 330 million (humongous population size), but every mass shooting makes national news, so it seems far worse than it is. Also, most mass shootings are gang violence that get lumped in with what we normally consider "random mass shootings" to pump up the numbers and scare people.
Healthcare could definitely be better, but 67% of Americans are satisfied with their insurance. I would still much prefer a universal healthcare system.
Overall, America definitely has its ups and downs, but a lot of the "AMERICA BAD" rhetoric is just part of a reddit-style circlejerk where people get socially rewarded for trashing it.
Expect this comment to be downvoted from the same crew.
You skipped over the whole 50% of the population lost the constitutional right to control their own body.
You skipped over a lot of stuff.
America is pretty bad, and we'll never get better if everyone keeps insisting we're not that bad.
The only way we'll improve is if people realize how shitty it is and vote for better reps and better laws.
I mean, case in point: someone replied to my comment apparently not knowing abortion is banned in places in America. I don't even understand how that's possible it was everywhere on the news for months.
See, this just isn't true. There are a number of states that have the right to abortion enshrined in their constitution. Others are voting to have it added to their constitutions. Just because it was removed nationally, doesn't mean everyone lost that right.
Granted, it is absolutely a tragedy what is going on in the more backwards states. But things like this make it sound worse than the situation is nationwide. This is the issue the OP has. If you only see the negatives that are reported in the news, it sounds like the US is an absolute hellhole, which is not most people's lived experience.
It is true that 50% of the population lost this constitutional right.
There are state CONSTITUTIONS that protect this right, so no it's not true.
Dude you're not going to get through this with shitty wordplay. They did in fact lose a US constitutional right. This isn't a debatable statement, it is a fact.
What is your end game here?
The point is that people's QOL is highly dependent on where in the US they live. Local laws have a much bigger impact to people's quality of life than whatever happens in Washington. I did not lose my constitutional rights to an abortion because I live in a sane place. If I live somewhere like Texas, I would have.
The reason the rest of the world thinks the US is so terrible is that we act like the whole country is impacted the same way by national decisions. Or that all idiotic local laws apply to everyone the same way.
The whole country is impacted when rights are stripped from anyone. Look at what you're saying: If some people are living a good life then it can't be all that bad. Well, Elon Musk is living a pretty swell life so it doesn't matter how many homeless people die in the street from hunger tonight, right? I know it's kind of jumping the shark, but your rationale would call America "not that bad" if slavery were still allowed nationally but forbidden, in some states, right?
We should be judged by what those that have allow to happen to those that have not. Take a step back and look at the bigger picture.
I never said that we should let people suffer. You're the one who needs to take a step back and stop raging.
OPs question is literally: "Are all states in the US that bad." The answer is no, some states are obviously worse than others. It's the shitty ones that get all the air time.
Double check the OPs question.
This is their question. Read the post.
That's probably a typo, read the title.
And speaking of this weak ass defense you've got going, let's take it one step higher. Do you think developing countries should use America as the shining example of what to be? Surely there are better countries in the world to strive to emulate than America.
I think they should take what works and leave what doesn't. There are a lot of great things about the US, alongside the not so great things. Why shouldn't other countries emulate the things that are fantastic here (e.g. our national parks/public land programs as one example).
Just like we should look at things that work in other countries and see if they can improve QOL here. Every place in the world has its good qualities and bad. The US isn't special in that regard.
Wait.. our national parks are the example you came up with?
What about our system do you think qualifies at "working"?
Yes off the top of my head our parks system is emulated world wide and generally the most impressive aspect for visitors of our country.
We also have unparalleled accessibility for people with disabilities. Try to get around Europe in a wheelchair. You won't have a good time.
It is relatively easy to start a business.
We have the top universities in the world.
We are the best place in terms of medical R&D, as well as scientific research in general
We are above average in gender equality (though there are certainly places that are just as good or better). I wouldn't want to be a woman in the middle east, for example.
We have the best road connectivity, though obviously quality of those roads could be improved.
We provide more humanitarian aid to foreign countries than anyone else (depending on your perspective this could be good or bad).
Should I go on?
You should back those things up with more than "because I said so" is what you should do.
These are all easily googleable items.
Or whatever, if you want to believe the US has zero redeeming qualities, then go right ahead. I'm kind of sick of talking to someone who has such a fucking negative outlook.
You can't lose a human right. Their right to bodily autonomy is being infringed upon, but they still have it, no matter what the government says.
I appreciate what you mean but the idea that human rights aren't granted is just a philosophy, not something that actually matches reality.
That is to say, whether I agree with your premise or not doesn't change reality at all.
Do you think we should switch to the abortion laws that most european countries have?
Do you know they are typically stricter than what we have here?
Stricter than a complete ban?
Where is abortion banned in the US?
Do you really need me to Google this for you?
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/us/abortion-laws-roe-v-wade.html
This, of course, excludes where the health of the mother is in danger, or in cases of rape and incest.
Dude take 30 seconds and google it. Yes some of these places don't have exceptions for rape and incest.
Look at you being the *chef's kiss* perfect example of what I'm talking about. Why should anyone take your word on how great or not great America is when you're this misinformed.
State should not have the right to pick and choose like that. Textbook way of taking away people's liberty.
This is going to be tongue in cheek...
So I can medically treat my body if dying or raped... Good.
Now about abortions lol.
Go outside dude. "America bad" is not based on reddit, there are millions of citizens out there who have real issues with the way our country is run, real activist groups doing protests and trying to spread awareness.
All you have to do is open your mind to be able to see these problems (instead of downplaying issues like mass murder) and listen to the people who feel they've been disadvantaged
Yes, how dare I look at the actual statistics over listening to people that "feel" a certain way.
No offense, but this sounds a bit like asking the congenitally blind if they miss seeing.
I don't disagree with that.
Trying to downplay the old gun violence again? There is still this though: https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/21/us/school-shooting-us-versus-world-trnd/index.html
And those numbers only go up to 2018. This year, we have already had as many school shootings by June as during the entire year of 2018: https://www.edweek.org/leadership/school-shootings-this-year-how-many-and-where/2023/01
But yeah, I guess some people consider that 'scare tactics'. smh
Yes, this is exactly what I was talking about.
But yes, don't let silly facts get in the way of your narrative.
https://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2018/08/27/640323347/the-school-shootings-that-werent
So what about statistics from the Center of Homeland Defense and Security? Probably also just inflated, right? https://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/indicator/a01
Do you not realize how much lower those numbers are than what you originally posted?
You are undermining your own claim.
They also include deaths that never happened at schools.
Also from your own link:
From your own data, in 2018, there were 10 homicides of youths in schools.
https://www.census.gov/topics/education/school-enrollment.html
On average in America, there are 73.8 million students in school.
That's a percentage of .0000001%
Very close to your chances of dying from a lightning strike (.0000006%)
https://www.weather.gov/safety/lightning-victims