What happened to America?

@moonbus said
Some features of a society become apparent only to a resident, not to a tourist.

1. There is in America a widespread and chronic low-level desperation which is absent in Europe. There is a functioning safety net in Europe which is lacking in America. No one in Europe has existential angst that, if he loses his job from one week to the next, he will not be able to pay the ...[text shortened]... programs, education, and scientific research will cause America to fall farther and farther behind.

I'm Suzianne, and I endorse this message.

Every single bit of it is spot on.

@moonbus said
Some features of a society become apparent only to a resident, not to a tourist.

1. There is in America a widespread and chronic low-level desperation which is absent in Europe. There is a functioning safety net in Europe which is lacking in America. No one in Europe has existential angst that, if he loses his job from one week to the next, he will not be able to pay the ...[text shortened]... programs, education, and scientific research will cause America to fall farther and farther behind.

Even the right wingers can feel the chronic low-level desperation, but instead of blaming their leaders and demanding change they just blame it on girls using the boys bathroom on occasion.

@Suzianne said
I'm Suzianne, and I endorse this message.

Every single bit of it is spot on.

Functioning European safety net. Can you describe how it works? If one falls off the net, are there cushions?
Ghost of.Duke has hell in the healthcare system of UK. Like, they can only do 1100 prostates a year and other stuff.


Yes for today, hold off
okta, look at 33

@wildgrass said
Even the right wingers can feel the chronic low-level desperation, but instead of blaming their leaders and demanding change they just blame it on girls using the boys bathroom on occasion.

People getting upset about other people having sex or which toilets they use is a litmus test for parochialism.

@moonbus said
I hate to be the one who says I told you so, but I told you so when Reagan implemented trickle down economics. I knew then it would simply make gazillions for a few people and drop everyone else off the back of the wagon.

An economy can grow itself out of debt only if you actually tax the ones doing the growing. Instead, successive administrations have given the rich tax c ...[text shortened]... from power. People will say it can’t be done. It will be difficult, And it is absolutely necessary.

Is this you?

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/09/opinion/80s-reagan-revolution-deregulation.html