[FRex]

The original point was that SU never achieved much in any area (which is clearly not true). A point could today be made that lots of research in the USA with its growing inequality is also not being used to create 'an abundance for all people to lead better lives'.

[adventured]

The median full-time wage in the US is 70% higher than the EU median full-time wage.

The high US inequality is a result of the spectacularly extreme outcomes that come from simultaneously having a very large integrated economy & population base, extremely high economic output, and extreme national wealth.

If you integrated large parts Europe, you'd see a similar extreme inequality between eg the top end of Norway or Sweden, and the bottom of Bulgaria or Moldova. Or othewise the top end of wealth outcomes, such as Amancio Ortega or Bernard Arnault, versus the bottom end of wealth outcomes in Croatia. Except the US bottom is dramatically above the bottom of Europe.

[watwut]

I won't bankrupt if I get sick or get in accident, even if I get sick while unemployed.

I don't have college debt. And also those who were not able to finish college are not crippled by debt till end of their lives.

Aaaand your wage statistic does not count in surplus of prisoners US have.