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A rant on bus stops

walkingtheworld.substack.com

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Re: A rant on bus stops

#41

Post by Eumenes »

renewiltord wrote: post #27

I’m sure some aspect of this is the North American culture of high credentialism. Everything must be done by “properly trained” “experts” and whatnot. During the pandemic people on Han were talking about how N95 masks need you to be trained by professionals in a fit test. It’s a 15 min video on the 3M site… Here’s the facts: I can do almost any job well without needing extensive training. But credentialism gets in th…

Agreed. I recently had a conversation with an immigrant nurse from Bosnia, but in the US, her credentials only allow her to be a CNA. She literally had the same nursing job in Bosnia but now gets 1/4th of the pay to clean up poop. There's a nursing shortage too. The higher education system in the US is insanely corrupt and has massive reach with licensure.

Re: A rant on bus stops

#42

Post by Inityx »

Retric wrote: post #34
JKCalhoun wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So unbridled Capitalism?

Capitalism doesn’t inherently mean companies get to alter the laws to favor themselves or government should decide winners and losers with bailouts. That’s a function of the political system involved. This is something else. In some ways it’s closest too feudalism where the rule of law is subservient to various powerful entities and limited competition exists parallel to various monopolies. Though obviously it’s very…

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Late_capitalism

Re: A rant on bus stops

#44

Post by teaearlgraycold »

In America you’re expected to be your own king. Any problem with public spaces, public transit, etc. is deemed a personal failing because you aren’t able to afford your own limousine to shuttle you from your castle to your friend’s.

Re: A rant on bus stops

#45

Post by tjr225 »

ajuc wrote: post #6

Because homelessness. Because medical bankrupcy and opioid crisis. Caused by THE SAME industry. Nobody's responsible. Because USA is designed by and for small groups of people owning the companies providing for ridiculous money at insane conditions what everywhere else is cheap or free and well regulated.

[dead]

Re: A rant on bus stops

#46

Post by jmerz »

As someone who currently spends time on two continents it's always jarring to return to the USA. The first thing that hits you is the wealth. The second is the wealth disparity. The third is the dysfunction.

It's truly a remarkable place but often feels like a rocket ship pulling itself apart at the seams—a lot of exceptional velocity and a ton of social problems that just no one can seem to get a grip on.

Re: A rant on bus stops

#47

Post by goodluckchuck »

SpaghettiCthulu wrote: post #35
JKCalhoun wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So unbridled Capitalism?

More accurately, corporatism.

Exactly, most of the country’s most corrupt conglomerates could never survive capitalism, but thrive on government sponsored monopolies and taxpayer funded subsidies.

Re: A rant on bus stops

#48

Post by [deleted] »

rippercushions wrote: post #20
Pigalowda wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I live in an apartment with neighbors who are subsidized, there’s a psychiatric hospital in every major city, and all night movie theaters would exist if there was a market for them. If you think there’s a market and money to be made - start your own

> If you think there’s a market and money to be made - start your own I'm genuinely unsure if this is a parody of the American Way here. "There's no problem here, but if there was, the free market will solve it!"

[deleted]

Re: A rant on bus stops

#49

Post by koreth1 »

antisthenes wrote: post #14

Some points in the article are hit and miss, but mostly correct. For example, Istanbul is flourishing because it's the Turkish capital, so it necessarily is the most dense and rich city in the country. The high trust is a positive factor, but plenty of more rural cities and towns in Turkey look quite dumpy (perhaps not as bad a Philly, though) The pictures don't really support that either. They depict a fairly averag…

> Istanbul is flourishing because it's the Turkish capital

The capital of Turkey is Ankara, not Istanbul.

Re: A rant on bus stops

#50

Post by krapp »

Retric wrote: post #34
JKCalhoun wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So unbridled Capitalism?

Capitalism doesn’t inherently mean companies get to alter the laws to favor themselves or government should decide winners and losers with bailouts. That’s a function of the political system involved. This is something else. In some ways it’s closest too feudalism where the rule of law is subservient to various powerful entities and limited competition exists parallel to various monopolies. Though obviously it’s very…

That's oligarchy, which is still capitalism.
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