[virvar]

I live in Denmark, where we lift a lot of the burden of civilisation together, to give everyone access to education, health/elderly/child care as well as a solid security system for those who get unemployed.

And here society is hard enough these days, pressing more and more people beyond their limits. I really wonder how you all do it in America.

[Ididntdothis]

A lot of Americans think they can make it themselves without help from others. Smart people don’t believe that and make the government subsidize their stuff left and right. Often while deluding themselves into thinking that they are “self made”. And then you have the people who constantly vote against their own interests while enduring the hardships the system imposes.

[paulddraper]

The United States and Denmark are very different countries.

The U.S. has nearly 4x as fast population growth, 2x as many immigrants, 10x the incarceration rate, much greater religious and racial diversity, 100x more billionaires, 17% less GDP per capita, and 3x as much debt/GDP.

I'll refrain from opining as to what is cause and what is effect, but the differences are many.

[adventured]

> 17% less GDP per capita

US GDP per capita was 9% higher than Denmark for 2019.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(nomi...

> 3x as much debt/GDP

Denmark has a dramatically greater household debt to income ratio than the US, and is one of the most indebted countries in the world. They're in horrible debt shape. Their household debt as a percentage of disposable income is 282%, the worst in the world; that contrasts with 105% for the US, which is only slightly worse than Germany at 95%. Denmark's quality of life is coming at the expense of the future, as they load up massively on debt today to fake their standard of living.

Take a look:

https://data.oecd.org/hha/household-debt.htm

[mydongle]

>Denmark's quality of life is coming at the expense of the future, as they load up massively on debt today to fake their standard of living.

It's probably worth it in the end. How much longer do we have to endure low quality of life for the sake of some future? Let's say you endured and now your son becomes an adult. Is that now the time to start improving things and enjoying a better quality of life? Probably not, people will say it isn't time yet and we aren't ready, therefore your son will have to sacrifice his happiness and wellbeing too, for his children.

The average person in Denmark will probably die of natural cause, after a relatively happy and fulfilling life. Doesn't seem like they're getting any worse either for it.

What do we have to show for our sacrifices? Nothing it seems. The powers that be will cry about muh inflation all day and won't bail out people, but they're ready to bend over and print money if the corporations and ultra rich need it though.

[paulddraper]

My mistake on GDP number.

And I should have clarified that was national (government) debt.

Thanks for the perspective.

[runawaybottle]

We’re particularly nuts if you want the short answer.

[eli_gottlieb]

>And here society is hard enough these days, pressing more and more people beyond their limits. I really wonder how you all do it in America.

Oh, that's simple: those of us who survive the rat race are insane, and those who don't, you don't hear from.

[mdszy]

That's what they don't tell you - a whole lot of people straight up DON'T do it.

A whole lot of people are homeless.

Many people never go to the doctor because they can't afford it.

[malandrew]

> And here society is hard enough these days, pressing more and more people beyond their limits. I really wonder how you all do it in America.

It's all relative. Someone in the US is looking at failed states in Central America and Africa and thinking the same thing. One day, people will look at Denmark and think the same.

Objectively people may be having a better or worse time in different places at different times, but how you personally feel about your situation is all relative at the end of the day.

[paulddraper]

Exceptionalism.