[lucasRW]

True of course, this is ONE indicator, but a key one, and what matters is not so much that the metric now matches Mississippi. It is that it used to match the wealthiest states in the US, and now it matches the poorest.

The metrics are similar for most of western europe, which objectively destroyed its economies over the past 30 years throught "social-democracy", 50% taxes, crazy state expenditures, bureaucracy, etc.

[tharmas]

You forgot neoliberalism, Bank lending to fund asset accumulation by the wealthy with no lending for asset production.