Why Don’t Americans Understand How Poor Their Lives Are? • Hacker News Board

Re: Why Don’t Americans Understand How Poor Their Lives Are?

#11

Post by ceejayoz » Thu, Dec 21, 2017, 4:01 PM UTC

swarnie_ wrote: post #3

The article makes a passing mention to the British NHS which is universally loved by everyone in the UK. Why do so many Americans object to universal health care yet complain about insurance premiums? Its something I've never understood as an outside observer.

Many Americans are insulated from the actual cost of their healthcare via employer-provided insurance. I used to pay like $30/month when working for a major organization, but purchasing directly on the exchanges runs my family $2,000/month. The underlying costs are likely pretty similar, and the difference was likely factored into my salary, but it results in sticker shock that people often blame on "Obamacare".

Re: Why Don’t Americans Understand How Poor Their Lives Are?

#12

Post by Isamu » Thu, Dec 21, 2017, 4:01 PM UTC

A lot of money is spent keeping American attitudes this way.

Re: Why Don’t Americans Understand How Poor Their Lives Are?

#13

Post by snarfy » Thu, Dec 21, 2017, 4:02 PM UTC

swarnie_ wrote: post #3

The article makes a passing mention to the British NHS which is universally loved by everyone in the UK. Why do so many Americans object to universal health care yet complain about insurance premiums? Its something I've never understood as an outside observer.

The most common belief is that universal health care is a 'hand out' to others taken from their own pockets.

Re: Why Don’t Americans Understand How Poor Their Lives Are?

#14

Post by johndevor » Thu, Dec 21, 2017, 4:02 PM UTC

w0m wrote: post #5

swarnie_ wrote: post #3

The article makes a passing mention to the British NHS which is universally loved by everyone in the UK. Why do so many Americans object to universal health care yet complain about insurance premiums? Its something I've never understood as an outside observer.

the tyranny of 'freedom'

Try tyranny of socialism is far, far worse. Nothing is perfect and imagining it can be will get people killed (Russia, Venezuela, China, Cuba, etc.).

Individual rights are what makes the West successful compared to the rest of the world.

Re: Why Don’t Americans Understand How Poor Their Lives Are?

#15

Post by kgwgk » Thu, Dec 21, 2017, 4:03 PM UTC

swarnie_ wrote: post #3

The article makes a passing mention to the British NHS which is universally loved by everyone in the UK. Why do so many Americans object to universal health care yet complain about insurance premiums? Its something I've never understood as an outside observer.

« More people are unhappy with the NHS than satisfied for the first time in a poll of the public run by Britain’s doctors, and 70% say they think the health service is going in the wrong direction. »

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/jun/26/uk-public-ar...

Re: Why Don’t Americans Understand How Poor Their Lives Are?

#16

Post by fre3k » Thu, Dec 21, 2017, 4:03 PM UTC

We do, but what are we gonna do about it? We don't really have any ability to effect these kinds of changes as a common man. Our opinions have literally 0 effect on the legislative process. Our country is bought and paid for by corporate interests. Multiple studies have shown that our opinions count for nothing, and that lobbyists control legislation and policy.

We have now descended into the hyper-atomization of the individual as a series of micro-collectives, for whom we must fight among ourselves against others with different series of collectives. We now care not for whether our lives are good, merely that we see the other having a bad time.

Mourn for us, and learn from us - do not follow in our footsteps.

Re: Why Don’t Americans Understand How Poor Their Lives Are?

#17

Post by ceejayoz » Thu, Dec 21, 2017, 4:03 PM UTC

johndevor wrote: post #14

w0m wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

the tyranny of 'freedom'

Try tyranny of socialism is far, far worse. Nothing is perfect and imagining it can be will get people killed (Russia, Venezuela, China, Cuba, etc.). Individual rights are what makes the West successful compared to the rest of the world.

> Individual rights are what makes the West successful compared to the rest of the world.

We're talking about Western-style democratic socialism, as found in Sweden, Norway, Germany, England, etc. here. Terrifying totalitarian hellholes they're not.

Re: Why Don’t Americans Understand How Poor Their Lives Are?

#18

Post by naasking » Thu, Dec 21, 2017, 4:03 PM UTC

sgwealti wrote: post #4

They have no point of reference for comparison.

Indeed, and they travel more domestically than abroad [1]. There isn't enough difference between states to broad those horizons.

[1] https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/countries-whose-citizens...

Re: Why Don’t Americans Understand How Poor Their Lives Are?

#19

Post by adamnemecek » Thu, Dec 21, 2017, 4:04 PM UTC

_m8fo wrote: post #7

This is the ultimate question -- which is superior: individualism or collectivism? Personally I think collectivism is far superior -- however the forces that be want people to believe individualism is superior, especially in America. This results in people, individuals, denying their fellow peers access to things. As for the question the title poses, there's no answer, because it depends on who you ask. I don't think…

Calling EU collectivist is a stretch.

Re: Why Don’t Americans Understand How Poor Their Lives Are?

#20

Post by jdlyga » Thu, Dec 21, 2017, 4:04 PM UTC

This really, really depends on where you live. If you live in New York, you can get amazing food everywhere. We have things like paid family leave, free college, universal pre-k, etc that most Americans don't have. Also if you're working at a high pressure finance job, of course you will work long hours. But those are the exception. Working from 10 - 6 is pretty common for most people I know.