America Compared: Why Other Countries Treat Their People So Much Better

We're taught to believe that America is the greatest country on earth and that it couldn't possibly get any better. Let's put that claim to the test. In this episode, we'll compare the US to other wealthy nations using several key metrics: "low-skilled" job compensation, vacation time, length of the work week, and paid parental leave. The results may surprise you.
Further Reading:
Cited RD Article:
www.rd.com/article/mcdonalds-...
Out of Reach Housing Report:
reports.nlihc.org/sites/defau...
Dept. of Labor Definitions:
www.dol.gov/general/topic/wor...
Parental Leave Comparisons:
20somethingfinance.com/americ...
www.worldpolicycenter.org/sit...
1969 Meat processing wages:
fraser.stlouisfed.org/title/i...
America Compared: Why Other Countries Treat Their People So Much Better - Second Thought
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[@darkawakening01]

What Americans call "benefits", Europeans call "standards".

[@rusty3073]

But ‘aMeRuKa’ :((((((((((((

[@suryanarayan2032]

Europeans be like: I'm sorry, is this some sort of American joke that I'm too European to understand?

[@user-go7mh8yp3x]

Its worse. They call it "socialism" and mean "facism".

[@elpetemujica244]

And what Americans call standard, Venezuelans call billionaires literally the salary of Venezuela is 2 dollars a month

[@detectiveharris8772]

Yes jorge that is what happens when your economy is primarily based on 1 export (oil)

[@shababhsiddique]

"Even countries that we bombed into oblivion take better care of their workers" - best line ever.

[@caulfield2106]

Bombed by the US

[@panduvandal]

Shots fired

[@requiemlul3140]

@@panduvandal At non combatants

[@blackdynamite5560]

*doesn't even try to mention Japan

[@lolitaras22]

I'm from non-bombed post-crisis (my ass) Greece and I fully confirm that. We where not bombed into oblivion (only Nazis in WW2 threw some bombs on us) and look at us now, we drink workers blood. I'm joking, but not for the latter, the Greek economical crisis diminished every social and labour law.

[@james192599]

The highest form of patriotism is being able to critique your country. That's the only way to improve it

[@comdrive3865]

Americans think the highest form of patriotism is buying guns and learning how to shoot. Your concept is foreign to them.

[@theparanoidandroid3583]

@@comdrive3865 Even speaking as a non American, I'm pretty sure that's rather a reductive generalisation. Straw men arguments aren't very clever or kind.

[@sammurabi4743]

​@@theparanoidandroid3583, as an American, I will say that a few people do think like this, though I feel that percentage of the population is grossly overrepresented to the rest of the world. Being unable or unwilling to criticize our own country is definitely a big issue though, especially as it seems many of those who won't point out the U.S.'s flaws are the older generations who make up a large number of our political representatives.

[@simplesimon8255]

@@comdrive3865 not really. I don't know where you got that from, but anyone with sense knows that generalizations never work

[@hunnybadger442]

Yeah if you can get changes implemented... you can critique until you're blue in the face... if you have no way to make change happen... then you're just bitching...

[@vesselinkrastev]

I'm from Bulgaria. We're basically considered the black sheep of the EU but, based on this video, I still feel we're better off in many respects. I had no idea there's no such thing as maternity leave in the US...

[@Boris80b]

It's not mandated by the government. Each employer decides how much maternity leave to give to employees. And it's usually not very long when it is given.

[@nickcox1408]

We also lose vacation days when we're sick.

[@marciamartins1992]

My entire life has been colored by this issue....and my mom an early grave.

[@ego_peyseyshestvo]

right? i have no idea how the ladies still decide to have kids under such conditions

[@istankimjong-unbutcantstan3398]

Maybe you'll have an idea how the DPRK and Cuba feel because of the goddamned Yanksters brainwashing the world to hate them....

[@xanderxalamander9492]

I am a german and every time i learn something new about America i think: "I knew it was bad, but i didn't think it was THIS bad."

[@erikkunz]

same

[@erikjohnson9075]

I am an American living in Germany and unfortunately things arnt quite as rosy as I initially thought in Germany either. Especially with the healthcare system. But yeah still much better than the average in the US

[@silano360]

Genau das denke ich mir auch jedes Mal. So anziehend die Löhne auch sein mögen, die sozialen Verhältnisse machen dieses Land absolut unattraktiv.

[@chellefell1331]

it's bad. we are the richest country bc us citizens are slaves.

[@antonvierkant6286]

Wir nutzen lieber die im Ausland aus als uns selbst.

[@deomnibusdubitandum1759]

“Socialism never took root in Аmerica because the poor see themselves not as an exploited proletariat, but as temporarily embarrassed millionaires.” ― John Steinbeck

[@deomnibusdubitandum1759]

* Industrial democracy (a.k.a. socialism) = the workers of every workplace manage themselves democratically. * Industrial autocracy (a.k.a. capitalism) = the workers of every workplace are managed by a dictator. * Industrial autocracy comes in two flavors: 1. Private capitalism (e.g. USA economy) = the dictator is the business owner. 2. State capitalism (e.g. USSR economy) = the dictator is the state leader. * The sugar-coated misnomers "social democracy" or "democratic socialism" are commonly used in capitalist economies to refer to a mixture of these two flavors of capitalism. As if to distract the workers from the fact that they are excluded from democracy at the very domain in which they spend most of their adult lives... * Noam Chomsky - The Soviet Union vs. Socialism kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZmeQiZZ3ntiqj5Y kzbin.info/www/bejne/kHO7hnWPjqp7ns0 * Democracy At Work kzbin.info * Capitalism Hits the Fan kzbin.info/www/bejne/Znm3nHh4ftSreKM .

[@CaFPhantom11]

I met some really poor and uneducated (But not stupid! They where awesome people who opened their doors to me) individuals and families while hitch-hiking on US soil. What struck me the most is that most of them, like at least 75% of them, where dreaming of, one day, winning the lottery, some random american idol type of contest or earing a large inheritance from an unknown cousin. A lot of them were against healthcare or any other form of social programs because of this. They all seemed to think to would be super rich one day. A lot of them are still struggling today while, at the age of 26, i went back to school and have been paid 33k (over the course of three years) to study in college and ''climb the social ladder''. This allowed me to get jobs that can land me between 45 to 90k a year (on the first year) in a booming market just north of border. I always wondered what would i have become if i had the bad luck to be born just south of the border. I have a bad credit score because of a depression i had back in the days and i know not one american bank would have lent me any money to study. I'm happy to pay higher tax knowing i have the freedom to climb out of poverty and to know that i wont fall down into it if i break a leg.

[@tecunuman2483]

Where and when did he say that?

[@RenegadeShepard69]

@@CaFPhantom11 Thank you for your very good comment, and sharing this piece of your story with us. I'm glad you got through it, and is building your life in Canada well. You seem like a reasonable person, at the time, to have seen through the misguided warped perspective that unfortunately so many Americans have of... pretty much everything. I'm not American, I like the country's culture, and my country in south america has it's fair share of problems with poor people being deluded by the powerful, but I have to admit, we're way better off than the poor americans in terms of knowing whats wrong.

[@BrainInJar]

​@@deomnibusdubitandum1759 Even the best politician in America, Bernie Sanders, seems like he's centrist here in the UK. That's how far-right America has been dragged, that even the politicians said to be far left, wouldn't even be particularly left if they were here.

[@aikotitilai3820]

I remember getting in an argument with an American telling me that public health care sucks because they would have to wait to get an appointement but with private health care you can get your appointement right away because there's less people in the line so it's better... How selfish do you have to be to prefer a system that let your fellow people dying over one that take care of them just because you can't bear to wait.

[@icemike1]

America America

[@janiceschroeder9908]

Even waiting for a bit would be preferable to me than running up a large bill that I cannot pay. We have people here who have insurance but are still underinsured. The deductible (hundreds, sometimes thousands, and which starts over at the first of every year) is payable by you. This is a sum which is simply not paid by the insurance company at the start of the charges. Mind you, you are also paying monthly insurance premiums of hundreds of dollars every month. Then even if you have satisfied the deductible there are copayments charged and asked for up front. I was at the doctor's office some months ago and I heard a woman get asked for $50.00. Then there can also be what I consider to be the worst of the worst which is coinsurance. This is after you see the doctor and is a percentage of the visit, supplies and any procedures. The bill appears in your mailbox a short time later. If you can't or won't pay you are reported to national credit bureaus eventually and your credit will be ruined for 7 years in many cases. Small wonder people go without care. They can't afford it.

[@rascta]

Yeah that's just hilarious. Sure if you're a billionaire, you can hire doctors on retainer. For everyone else, well it's a month or more to get into a new GP (*if* they're even accepting new patients **and** work with your insurance), 3-6 months or more for a specialist, and 6-8 hours in the emergency room waiting area where you end up because you couldn't get a doctor. Remote Area Medical (RAM) was founded to go to third world countries with worse infrastructure to provide medical services. But when they actually went to those places to do that, they found that those countries have much better medical care than the U.S. So they came back and now operate here. And people line up, camp out, and wait for days in advance when they're going to do a clinic. Because they can't get healthcare the rest of the year. So yeah "bUt YoU wOuLd HaVe To WaIt MoRe" is total bs.

[@kevin-wg5iv]

lol that guy is so wrong even private docs, sometimes appts are months out because they are all booked.

[@TryptychUK]

The amount Americans pay for their healthcare, I would expect to get a champagne reception when I go to the doctors.

[@marcplatapus8676]

I nearly fell of my chair when he said minimum waige in the US is $7.25 an hour. I’m Canada it’s nearly $15 an hour, which is over double that in the US!

[@waggscole4971]

It depends on the state but almost no one is paid $7.25

[@Muscles_McGee]

The wages for restaurant employees in US is even lower. As they are supposed to 'split the tips' evenly among all the workers to make up for the low wages. As an American I find this officially legal 'sub-minimum wage' (it's actual name!) for restaurant workers disgusting in the extreme. I do not dine out as protest.

[@beyond-journeys-end]

@@waggscole4971 So what places does pay so little and what places pay more?

[@wertiaaudit5746]

Wrong Canada is not 15 dollars everywhere

[@teeveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee]

@@Muscles_McGee but how else will the owners afford that 3rd yacht?

[@wamsang7818]

"Americans are willfully ignorant" As an American, I can say this is true for most Americans

[@RobertA-bj7ou]

The keyword being “willful”.

[@atastyspamwich]

And if your one of the few who isnt, you're likely to be looked at like you're either crazy or like a super human for knowing things outside the idiocracy.

[@thebxx724]

@@atastyspamwich Yup. But what's really insane is how much liberals are similar to conservatives. You can show liberals evidence of how the Democratic Party has sold out to the corporations but the sheeple will still deny. Only small pockets of us are truly woke!

[@johnnyfazb3344]

@a pear This is very true ^

[@erikjohnson9075]

@@thebxx724 yeah the vast majority of us cant handle nuance of any kind unfortunately

[@algimantasbagdonas1060]

When I was a kid, America actually sounded like a dream country, when I grew older I realized how happy I am that I'm a European.

[@2ndPigeon]

Same here. I always wanted to live there one day. Now it seems like a trap.

[@mariawesley7583]

I'm so glad you didn't buy our "best country in the world" propaganda.

[@2ndPigeon]

@@mariawesley7583 Well he and I did for a while.

[@christianedwards9025]

As an American i hope to one day become a European. Having moved to Europe...I dont wanna go back...I already knew as a teenager I didn't want to stay.

[@savenetneutralityanti-repu7029]

When you were a kid it was probably true. America used to be great! I'm an American and in the last 20 years alone our country has become a rubbish heap. America isn't even worth saving anymore.

[@dern_ikos]

Funfact: I work in a full time Job in Germany. In my industry full time means 35 hours a week

[@ScrotumWizard]

At my employer in America “full time” is 40 hours a week for a year then they give you benefits.

[@Szcza04]

@@ScrotumWizard more like mandatory overtime to 50-60 so you can be a go getter

[@locdogg86]

that's really cool but comparing a small country to a massive country is silly. There's some really wonderful jobs people have here and some places where it's going to really suck. Each region is very different.

[@Boris80b]

Ah... another "we're too big to do the right thing" excuse from a conservative

[@locdogg86]

@@Boris80b not wat i said. I said comparing to x to y is silly because x is fragmented and has more variability.

[@wolverinequeen]

When I was in Kindergarten I remember my teacher teaching us about America and said very excitedly "WERE THE GREATEST NATION IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD!!!!! Everyone dreams to be us!" and as a kid, never questioned it at all. Even though a good portion of class was hungry and under the poverty line, I just didnt think on it at the time, and I remember they took a kid's food tray away because he couldn't pay the lunch debt. As I grew up, I interacted with people from all walks of the world, not just within my country's bubble and learned wow! They just, can do what we call impossible? We can see these people just, go on Holiday, stay home with their babies for many months at a time with pay, and travel the world and not be that burdened down with healthcare woes.

[@MrXcvbnmjhg]

As a german student I always wondered why there are not more us citizens coming to europe to study. I'm almost finished with my master in comp science, have a great job lined up and around 3000€ in student debt. When I compare this to students in the us, I feel like I'm in heaven

[@swagswap]

I did grad school in Berlin. I can say most americans don't know that higher education is free in other places. You also have to know German to be accepted. Living in another country can be difficult and lonely: losing all your friends, new social customs, renting an apartment. You can't work on that kind of visa, so every cost would have to be a student loan. And there's probably some stigma against non-US diplomas, once you are done.

[@Shrekfromthehitmovieshrek]

@@AxxLAfriku why are u everywhere who are you What are you

[@rakaipikatan8922]

@@AxxLAfriku Yeah, educate yourself on literature and writing

[@herrheroin606]

@@AxxLAfriku Such an American thing to say lol, you'd have to hear it on Fox News to believe it wouldn't you lmao

[@zakiducky]

Another problem in the US is that many professional licenses and certifications require degrees from and/ or an exorbitant number of years of work experience in the US. So even if you study abroad, you may not be able to use your degree over here. For _some_ fields it makes sense and that is the global norm, but for others not so much. Lots of refugees and immigrants to this country worked as doctors, engineers, and other trained professions elsewhere but cannot practice in the US even with the equivalent knowledge of someone trained here.

[@burnoutvista]

"Just get a better job." It is a FULL-TIME job. The whole point of a full-time job is for a person to be able to provide for themselves and their family. When a proper, legitimate, profit-producing full-time job doesn't pay enough, the problem lies with the company, not the employee. People who say that all too common phrase don't realize that SOMEBODY will have to work that job. And NO, it's not a free market where people can choose a better job and therefore force the magical invisible hand of the market to raise wages. People are STUCK and held hostage by potential homelessness.

[@psychicbyinternet]

And the unemployment rate is much higher than the official stats, especially now.

[@stvwds61]

Benchmarking and collusion within industry helps keep wages down. There are those who say otherwise however. Their rational being competition for the best employees. This is true in great part. However, it must be balanced against corporate profit margin mandates. To wit, the only time it becomes leveraged is in a booming economy. At least in the past where there was competition from the manufacturing sector. With the offshoring of manufacturing, service industry jobs are largely the only choice of employment available for the majority. Hence less pressure to raise wages due to the increased supply of labor. Which affects the entire job market.

[@scifirealism5943]

Not to mention it's minimum wage. When millions of people can replace you, employers can suppress wages.

[@tibbygaycat]

Look up monopsony power in the labor market. This is why the minimum wage is helpful, because the market power held by employers.

[@andresgarza6565]

Also its fucking ridiculous how hard it is to get a job.

[@mauriciovillegas7285]

One thing to consider about maternal leave in other countries is that it may not even be optional. In Costa Rica, where I live, it starts one month BEFORE the expected childbirth date so the mother can rest and/or organize whatever needs to be done before; and after the birth it extends for 3 months.

[@archdukefranzferdinand4429]

I took a study abroad trip to Italy with my college class and I was in utter shock at the change in standards. Us Americans couldn’t even fathom it. They took multi hour lunch breaks! “Siesta” they call it there. Around midday most businesses close for a couple of hours hour some close earlier in the day and open up earlier some later and open up later , some don’t even open up again at all. Some stores didnt even have set schedules or hours they just played by ear , they put up the “closed for siesta” sign when they felt like it and returned when they felt like it. That was of course more local or family businesses. Everything there was just so laid back , when I returned to the U.S. I looked around and only then realized how insane we are. Everything is go go go go go at 20 million mph 24/7 it’s debilitating to see and experience. It’s a wonder why we have such a massive amount of depressed people in this country. There all being worked to death to live paycheck to paycheck and nothing more.

[@8rboy]

I live in Sweden and my neighbour is american (I think he’s from San Diego). He said that he moved here to try something new and he says he never wants to go back. ”I’ve seen what life can be” he said. He has now lived here for 10 years.

[@Why.Just_why]

This is inspiring, no shade towards USA

[@ArchieXIV]

Sweden has been one of my prospects

[@blackdynamite5560]

Anybody moving out of California would say the same

[@henkoosterink8744]

Sweden terrible country, with all these gorgeous blond socialist women....

[@RooftopRose079]

How does one go about moving there? I want to get out too.

[@lenacoronado2172]

it’s true, but Americans keep defending billionaires like they’re ever gonna be one

[@ceooflonelinessinc.267]

This is so true. I have always been bad in school, thats why I never made it to college. I was always slow nad bad at learning new things. So I dont have a decision than to work in "dead-end" jobs, where u do ouverhours and earn nothing. People always, say I am lazy and should do somehting with my life. How can I do somethign with my life when I am to dumb for colleges! and u need a college degree to get in normal jobs. I also notice this in Love. I have been on dating sites, but women always reject me when I say I work at McDonalds. I am really lonely.

[@harrydehnhardt5092]

@@ceooflonelinessinc.267 Being bad at school doesn't automatically mean "you're dumb".

[@2sik_UK]

@@ceooflonelinessinc.267 um there are many small businesses you can start, you don't need degrees too work for your self, plus there are online universities and colleges you could do in your own time, you're not doomed for life because of your college results or lack of. You're doomed with that perception

[@KRYMauL]

@@ceooflonelinessinc.267 You could always drive a truck

[@BambiTrout]

@@ceooflonelinessinc.267 Find something you're passionate about and try to either find a job/course that is in that field, or just use that passion as your motivation to get through your day i.e. I'm working so that I can do the thing I enjoy when I get home. I know it's not the best advice but when you're in a shit situation you've got to start with the little steps. I hope things get better for you :)

[@TheJesusFreeke]

It's stressful to be in America and try to be well-informed, as so many of us have to have our nose to the grindstone constantly, can't even look up long enough to see what's really going on.... even then, if you cite a source in conversation that is not based on the US, you are ridiculed, discouraged from using "outside" sources. We are so egocentric here. It breaks my heart we are so prideful, when there is so much we could learn from other countries and peoples.

[@marciamartins1992]

We have companies solely dedicated to creating and influencing an image...and you are bombed with it every day.

[@istankimjong-unbutcantstan3398]

Why people want to grind off their noses is beyond me? Yes it's figurative but people opt to overextend themselves to the point they have to slave away working in order to keep up.

[@schevalirae]

When I was still working I wasn't able to keep up with the news because I was just trying to survive. Retired now for over a decade, I finally have plenty of time to keep up with current events.

[@rlhcat7662]

It is strange to see what has happened in America over the past 40 years. My father raised 8 kids on a single salary with General Motors, a union plant. We weren't rich, but we had a nice house, 2 cars and we all graduated from college. I believe two things are different now. One is that corporations/billionaires have purchased the elections since the time of Reagan. The republicans, paid by the wealthy, have voted to restrict unions, and slowly taken away various social supportive programs. They currently vote against voting rights and gerrymander the districts to where it is difficult to vote them out of office. They also vote for tax loopholes for the already wealthy. What I don't understand is why the middle class or poor vote for people who have opposite goals than they do. Why would a poor person vote for a billionaire who has done nothing but cheat others to get richer. We are destroying our middle class, and becoming a country of billionaires and paupers, and many of the paupers keep saying "please sir, can I have another". Hopefully the young can do what their parents didn't, and fight for themselves against the greed of pure capitalism.

[@michael_177]

This is not about democrat vs republican. This is not a partisan issue. This is deeply rooted into the economic system of America. Dems Or Republicans, the modern day slavery in america will not stop.

[@rlhcat7662]

@@michael_177 That's just a right wing lie, Mr. Please Sir. The majority of Dems fight for the middle class, while the Repubes want to create one big mass of powerless, property-less serfs. Please check the last 20 bills passed - Dem proposed bills help the middle and lower classes, Repube bills help only the already rich.

[@IgorRockt]

@@rlhcat7662 From a European POV, the US has two right wing parties: The Democrats are centre-right (more right than centre, though), while the Republicans are hitting the far right of the spectrum all the time. There is no truly centrist party in the US (at least not any big enough to mention), and nothing which could even be considered left-wing. Bernie Sanders is the closest to being centrist you can get in US politics, but I think nobody in Europe would even think about calling him a "leftist" or "socialist". In Germany, with Bernie's political position in most - if not all - regards, he would actually fit perfectly into the CDU, the conservative centre-right party which gave us Angela Merkel and Helmut Kohl. I'm mentioning this just to give you an idea *how far right* the USA has drifted over the last decades.

[@0Ploxx]

@@IgorRockt TIL not submitting to the will of degeneracy = far right no wonder europe is being destroyed by rapefugees

[@Tumbolisu]

Re: "poor people voting for the rich": One theory I heard is that these people have been convinced that one day they themselfes could become rich. So they reason that if they vote for things that interest rich people, they vote for their own future. The truth of course is that barely any of these people will ever get close to being rich, and are actually making it even less likely by voting for them. But as long as they keep being drilled-in the same nonsense about surface-level patriotism and the american dream, it will be difficult to educate them.

[@Ratafak85]

Universal healthcare - nope, that's socialism; paid maternity leave - nope, socialism; free education - nope, socialism; $800B for army a year - sure, why not!?

[@love-vy1ry]

I think the same.

[@playerone3885]

Socialism is for the rich and corporations. Struggling bank? Here have these bailouts from tax dollars backed by the mid-uppermiddle class. Don’t want to pay your employees a fair wage or health insurance? Those taxpaying suckers will pick up the tab for that too.

[@georgecaplin9075]

Actually, you’ve raised a very good point by putting that list together. I wonder who benefits most from the pervasive idea that any social safety net is a) socialism and therefore b) bad? Could it be the corporations? Could it be that corporations fund campaigns to “inform” people of the “dangers” of socialist democracy because if people had benefits and time off and universal healthcare they wouldn’t feel trapped in their jobs and would be more inclined to take time off or find another job?

[@anthonymanderson7671]

This is why I don't want to live in america due to the fact that everything which is free is socialism. That's foolishness.

[@shroder2748]

@@playerone3885 yeahhh no. That's authoriatism right there. Authoriatism and socialism are 2 different things

[@FateofEllusion]

As an American who has to privilege of living in Japan for 6 years as well as traveling to 30+ different nations... I can confirm everything you’ve said in this video. Americans aren’t just ignorant though... it’s also the arrogance of not willing to even look beyond our borders...

[@terryannereinert7925]

I moved to Norway 35 years ago, and have NEVER regretted it.

[@oliviafernandes9195]

@@terryannereinert7925 wow that's a long time, may I ask why you decided to move??

[@terryannereinert7925]

@@oliviafernandes9195 My father was half Norwegian, and I later lived in Ballard, the nordic part of NW Seattle. I met my half- Norwegian husband in a Norwegian folkdance group in Seattle. Several years later, he was offered a job in Eastern Norway, and proposed to me. We arrived in Norway with one suitcase and one backpack each, and I could speak only a few phrases in Norwegian. I found the local library and, with their help, learned to live in Norway.. It is only in the past 10 years that I have realized my luck in living here.

[@oliviafernandes9195]

@@terryannereinert7925 damn you are definitelu lucky

[@banann_ducc]

I quite despise this country i live in and want out when im old enough to go. When there is no good option during the elections, idiots are protesting wearing a piece of cloth on their nose, and lawmakers are so out of touch with the public that the whole coppa mess happens you know shit has gone south.

[@lucafabretti6016]

I’m Spanish and I now live in Denmark, I find it crazy that america spends $600B on their defence budget but can’t have free healthcare like in Denmark

[@richardramfire3971]

Because war defensive contractors have more power than average people.

[@jsebby2284]

Because that still wouldn't pay for "free" healthcare

[@itsmob4life]

@@jsebby2284 false

[@jsebby2284]

@@itsmob4life I mean its factually correct lol

[@itsmob4life]

@@jsebby2284 nope, just more typical American nonsense which proves the point of this video

[@fankrys]

This video needs to be spread far and wide across the country. If there ever was a vital need for a video to go viral, this is it

[@istankimjong-unbutcantstan3398]

Yeah honestly. Every time I hear about a video "going viral", it's some bullshit video from that gotdammed scourge cancer TikTok and it's degenerate "influencers"!

[@morzh1978]

“Socialism never took root in America because the poor see themselves not as an exploited proletariat but as temporarily embarrassed millionaires.” "The paradise of the rich is made from the Hell of the poor."--Victor Hugo

[@DK-zu6tt]

This is so true, and never better demonstrated than than when politicians start talking about our estate tax laws (for the rich who pass down wealthy estates) in the US, which only apply to estates over $750,000 in worth. But the people in the trailer park will be screaming mad about it.

[@mpcref]

also red scare brainwashing and lack of education.

[@cockyrooster361]

Yup. the US is the ONLY rich country in the world, where the poor support the nonsense of the rich. Its really weird, never been able to understand it. Even the "liberal" types think like that.....

[@AD-rl4jv]

@@DK-zu6tt Actually for federal tax it only applies to estates over $11.58 million and a married couple can double that. The vast majority of people won't ever have to pay any federal estate tax.

[@morzh1978]

@@night6724 Never heard of any "safety nets" in the USA...do you have any details? Minimum wages in the USA is far below living wages, as basic healthcare is out of reach. You definitely should prefer the USA for sake of "free entrepreneurship" cult: you either end up as a tycoon or in the gutter, admitting that you a not the fittest one who unconditionally survives. I, personally, am not interested in anything inherently anti-social: vulture capitalism is not for me, sorry.

[@thechesssavage6400]

“Slavery was never abolished, it was only extended to include all the colors” - Charles Bukowski

[@alfredgomez3128]

Capitalism gave more individual opportunities than under a feudal system. With checks and balances, we end up with several kings keeping people in check, and you'll have to be lucky and/or diligent in getting out of your poverty cycle.

[@user-gz4ve8mw9l]

Slavery just adapted, now we have indoctrination centers for education. Brainwashing and social conditioning everywhere we go, and in all we do. Slave wages, and slave labor, just the delusion of some sort of freedom. The government can, and will do absolutely anything it wants to harm the people or even a select individual at its own behest. The laws,and legislature, and how these are defined or IF they are even considered at all is at the governments discretion. It can choose to simply ignore them all being fully immune, and above what it seeks to govern of the people. Yet will utilize force to make the people submit, oppress them, and execute them or worse on even the slightest whim. These set of rules, laws, whatever else aren't even worth the paper they are drawn up on. The only ones that have to obey them or else are the masses. The rich are above them, the government is above them, and the corporations are above them. Worse yet this government deals in absolutes so if it decrees x than x is permanent and final period. Only a fool deals in absolutes, or certainty when NOTHING is ever certain, and everything is constantly changing.

[@rendomstranger8698]

@@alfredgomez3128 Ah yes, the old "it could be worse" argument. Any more bullshit you want to spout or are you done? Because at this point, I prefer moving to a random country in Africa over moving to the US. In fact, I would pick living in China over living in the US.

[@jacobladder5556]

@Cheesie Horde This is literally true for prison labor. Read the 13th Amendment and look for the word "except"

[@Spider-Too-Too]

@@alfredgomez3128 a capitalism in Adam smiths theory would do that, but he didn’t know how big and powerful network companies and tradable stock will get.

[@jz261]

As an Austrian worker I feel blessed to have a government that cares about me :)

[@krieger8825]

That the way

[@la7dfa]

USA is horrible. The businesses just want to exploit humans as "robots", until the can replace them with real robots. The movie Elysium comes to mind... Still the "deplorables" thinks they live in the greatest nation, and listen to FOX NEWS fearmongering.

[@jz261]

@@la7dfa facts although elesium didn't emphasize too much on the robots being at fault but rather the super wealthy which wouldn't give medical care because then they could be accused of being socialist. RIP max

[@ajstyles177]

Komplette Regierung im Arsch, Kurzi, Ibizia....und immer noch besser als die Usa

[@jz261]

@@ajstyles177 genau so ists mei freind

[@justinagrossmann3578]

Hearing stuff about America really makes me proud of my small and rather poor country Lithuania. :D I got my first baby when I was 20, and a student. I got a social scholarship and benefits so I could stay in my studies, an ultra-cheap place in a kindergarten, and so on... Everything was possible. So, I graduated, created a larger family and went on with my life plans. Sounds like in America one can be destroyed only by having a child that young. Oh, and of course - I had no student loan debt.

[@estelaangeles2346]

Only places with more people are expensive also a lot of chinese are struggling

[@agizowat2545]

What you described sounds WAY better than any American dream.🥹

[@jessh4016]

Oh wow. Having a baby in that situation stereotypically means your life is kind of over in the US. You would, stereotypically, have to quit your studies and struggle through life at that point.

[@jessh4016]

@@estelaangeles2346 What

[@futincrivel]

I started a few days ago looking for dev jobs for foreigners in Lithuania, it looks like a really nice place

[@syphen6909]

As a European, it baffles me how similar to third world countries USA treats their population, the lack of universal healthcare, and further education investments, such as making university/college affordable for everyone.

[@lonesome3958]

Which part of euroupe are you from?

[@Hugo-du5fs]

As a swede myself i belive america just is not ready for universal healthcare i belive their type if culture wouldn't accept it

[@MrRight1000]

USA is a hair away from becoming a 3rd world country. This is not Calcutta, India. This is California, USA! kzbin.info/www/bejne/qJ6maqCKqriZbMU&ab_channel=BensonGitau%3APersonalFinanceChannel

[@michaelhaykal6548]

And many third world countries still have universal healthcare, even when they are still bad compared to first world countries.

[@ericreingardt2504]

Buh buh big gobernment bad 😱😰😱

[@Cod4Wii]

Sad part is, when the government helps rich people it's called capitalism. When the government helps poor people it's called "socialism" or "communism".

[@jmp0428]

Great point I will use this quote!

[@jacobdardis1572]

Socialism for the rich, and rugged individualism for the poor

[@Cod4Wii]

@@ronniebaker4549 Exactly! The same way the media makes "fat" a bad word when we all know there are healthy fats like avocado and that sugar and carbs causes weight gain.

[@amramjose]

Spot on!

[@communistbird1455]

Giving massive tax breaks to rich people that already have enough money to have all of their needs covered while the poor can't even pay rent: democracy, freedom Helping the poor so they don't have to work in slave like conditions just to make barely enough to live: evil dictatorship communism killed 100 trillion peoples

[@ryurc3033]

I worked 12 years as a mechanic, the money was ok. No benefit, no healthcare, no vacation. 0 paid vacation for 12 years. I quit to raise my son and be an artist.

[@theQuestion626]

It’s depressingly shocking the whole mantra of “Just go to trade school! You’ll be set for life!” has grown like the rankings of a chorus. Trades are honorable professions, but hardly a guarantee of a good life, especially if they aren’t unionized. I commend you pursuing the arts, they are also honorable professions.

[@labhrainn]

The EU has introduced (or is about to) a minimum wage policy. However, Denmark, Sweden, and Finland are exempt, the reason for this is that the Nordic countries have a system of collective bargaining. Collective bargaining negates the necessity to set a minimum wage, it is also very capitalistic because it means the (work) market mechanisms are exploited resulting in higher wages for the workers. In Norway the right to unionise is enshrined in the constitution (organisasjonsrett), as Mcdonald's discovered when they tried to prevent their employees joining unions. Even our military are unionised, for many years I was chief shop steward for KOL Krigsskoleutdannede Offisers Landsforening, translated: War Academy Trained Officers National Union. We don't have the right to strike, but do have considerable clout. The different unions and the military leadership generally work together to maintain/improve working conditions for defence employees, sometimes uniting against the MOD/Government. Considering that the modern worker's union was born in the US (in Chicago I think) it's pretty weird that many Americans seem to think that unions are "unamerican".

[@winsonzhu4427]

Unions are very American, it's just that massive corporations and conglomerates hiring paramilitary units to shoot striking union workers is also very American. See: Battle of Blair Mountain, for instance, or how the old American pro-workers song "which side are you on" brought up the Pinkertons, who were functionally mercenaries hired by big business to "persuade" workers that they didn't need rights. There's also how during the Red Scare, American politicians banned unions from ever taking on any sort of political character. They then followed that up during the decline of the Soviet Union by deciding that unions were cringe and neutered them into the ground, and introducing "trickle down" economics. Now they act all shocked pickachu when quality of life starts plummeting, and unions are still every bit as cucked as they were under Reagan.

[@Sabeximus]

Finland does have minimum wage. But it's not universal, instead each industry has their own union and they have set the minimum wage (and other benefits) for their line of work. So, for example, higher paid jobs like those that require more schools and education will have a lot higher minimum wages than lower paying industries.

[@simplesimon8255]

Not really. Most of us support unions.

[@quabledistocficklepo3597]

labhrainn Most of my life, I've felt that Unions were basically evil, but I've come believe that they should be allowed to exist.

[@Lawrence330]

@@simplesimon8255 Sadly, I wouldn't say most. Anti-union sentiment seems to be strongly correlated with right-of-center political views, and where I've lived in the US, we have both in spades.

[@PeoplecallmeLucifer]

This is patriotism. a guy who wants his country to be better

[@greatcesari]

Yeah and it’s a shame that so many people don’t understand this simple notion.

[@anelkia27]

A shame people don't know the difference between patriotism and nationalism.

[@Tmanaz480]

This goal is "boring" to certain personalities. They are wired for conflict and drama (or are amped up on artificial stimulants), and can only see things in terms of war. They must "take their country back" and "defeat the communists" at all costs.

[@irkiIIer]

how is making the country socialistic communistic better?

[@PeoplecallmeLucifer]

@@irkiIIer you are literally falling in the trap the guy before you mentioned. Look you don't have to live in a socialist/communist country to have things like Universal healthcare or free education. Look at Iceland, Switzerland or Denmark. Both have strong social policies AND free market AND elections Hell, I live in a borderline failed state and I still have Free higher education.

[@ralphbarten2342]

I once heard a saying somewhere: "Europeans work to live, Americans live to work"

[@bicyclist2]

As an American who has been to Europe, I completely agree.

[@RobertA-bj7ou]

The “ American Dream is an advertisement for immigrants to exploit for cheap labor. One conservative on the media had once said, “ If all these immigrants leave, who will clean our toilets?”

[@arafat88ryu]

Probably from Soviet Russia

[@philippadowney549]

The gap between Oslo Norway and London is huge, and the USA is frankly a cautionary tale.. and yes ive been there. I live in the UK.

[@jfknoscope7363]

That's the dumbest shit I think I've ever hear. They literally mean the same thing.

[@Noksus]

The graph at 9:03 shows that in Finland you get 25 paid vacation days/year, but really it is 30.

[@chriswatt6835]

this is the epitome of infuriating. It is beyond unconscionable that the U.S. cannot even think about mandating paid leave and leaving it up to the employer. It is a shame that will always stain the history of our nation, no matter that we may not recognize it was such.

[@Vallinen92]

As a Swede, there are so much news that I just mutter "only in America" to. I can't believe how the people let it continue.

[@JanusMikaelos]

As a Finn, I completely agree with this comment!

[@joshsouma]

Sadly, we can't afford not to. No one has the paid holiday to go protest, and jobs can fire you for any reason whether they don't like that you protested or they don't like the colour of your shoes.

[@rasvaliant]

Drop your fear of socialism, organize and strike wildly!

[@larsohrt]

over 70 million People voted for Donald J Trump... I'm not surprised. McDonald T has seduced half a Nation, in the same way Hitler did it in Germany

[@ravenandstar]

@ Big Bad Wolf. I'll try to keep it short. I see it boiling down to 6 things. Americans are highly apathetic (politically and humanly). Ayn Rand'ism art of being selfish is deeply ingrained in our system. Individualism comes first (this is partly why Covid did the worst in the US), too many people don't want to make a sacrifice to help others. American optimism works against them, as they always hope for the light in the darkness. News media we have is on par with North Korea, I jokingly call it the 4th branch government. That and 2 of last 7 Presidents were celebrities. I can point too one thing. BLM movement (yes they are far from perfect), the media paints them badly (rightfully so at times) and twist their message to get the public to keep the status quo. The final reason is Americans in generally are very fearful. They fear too many things. No one wants to stand up and be that person who wants to bring positive change to the USA. Whistle blowing is highly illegal in the US. People also fear losing their jobs if they partake in an event their company might not like

[@runalsingh1863]

The fact that there's no parental leave in US is mind blowing to me

[@nightbandit1260]

It's honestly up the company to make that choice. You can have "parental leave" but they don't pay you so you either have to save up some money or have the other parent work a little extra

[@swayback7375]

@@nightbandit1260 ah yea, that’s so understanding of them, cuz they’re nothing if not understanding at profit.com. Most places don’t offer much if any time off, if you need more than a few months, forget it, never mind it’s recommended to breastfed much longer than that, and raising kids is not easy, especially if one parent is gone for say... 40 hours a week, or maybe 38 hours every week, that way they pay out 0 benefits to anyone and won’t even allow more work, but at $8 an hour it won’t matter to most, extra work would probably cut into their welfare, right?

[@nightbandit1260]

@@swayback7375 corporations in the U.S would sacrifice life for a few extra cents

[@Wankers001]

you think that is crazy, and it really is. What I find even more crazy, is the employer is responsible for your healthcare and insurance. That is insane. This basically means that your have no leverage, what so ever, as you are dependent on the health insurance. Whoever thought this is a good idea is very a very twisted person or just incredible stupid. Funny how you could fix many of americas problems by doing three things regarding work. 1. Ensure a universal healthcare/parental care/days or weeks off by the state, thus removing the sick relationship between employer and employee. 2. Minimum wage that is tied to the inflation and will go up yearly. 15 dollars as is discussed right now is a step in the right direction but still not enough 3. Create unions so the collective bargaining power of the employee does not get trampled by the employer. This will also ensure that parental leave and days/weeks of will certainly be a thing the crazy thing is, this is not rocket science. It is just common decency and sound policy

[@swayback7375]

@@nightbandit1260 I must have misunderstood you, it sounded like you were defending corps, obviously they do in fact thrown life away for a few cents, the do many times each day, every way and to everyone they cant, that's why it shouldn't be up to them. It's kind if like the police policing themselves for wrongdoing. Why would they act in the own WORST interests.

[@lisanowak13]

Anyone who mocks fast food workers needs to consider how miserable they'd be if we didn't have any fast food (or any restaurants, for that matter). If you aren't willing to do without, give these people a little respect. They're absolutely necessary to our current standard of living in America.

[@violetlight1548]

I'm Canadian. I had a terrible complication when my son was born, and was in hospital for 8 days. Never cost me a dime out of pocket. I paid more for a donut at the hospital Tim Hortons than for my stay there. Then, I got a year's mat leave at 50% pay, provided not by my employer, but by the government's Employment Insurance system, which I paid into (so the 12 years or so of work before I had my son essentially paid for my own leave). Still, it could have been better. I'm still struggling to find a full time job 8 years after graduating university, and things are far from perfect, but every day, I'm grateful that when my grandfather was offered a choice of emigrating from the UK to either Manitoba or California for his work, he *didn't* choose based on the weather! I love Canada, but we can do better. It's time we stopped being satisfied with just being a little bit better than our neighbours, and looked to our friends across the Atlantic for real inspiration.

[@mortennygaard6355]

"A nation’s greatness is measured by how it treats its weakest members" - Mahatma Gandhi

[@DerOrso]

Are you saying that the US is a shithouse nation, for how it treats its weakest members?! Because that seems to be the logical conclusion, that the US is a shithouse nation for treating its citizens like slaves. But I guess that's where their strength lies.

[@likira111]

Wasn't it how it treats its animals?

[@DerOrso]

@@likira111 Did you try to find out before asking? Google? Do you think it should have been? That would have reflected very poorly on Ghandi, if he were more concerned with the wellbeing of animals than of his people's subjugation by a greedy, racist empire. Was it your intention to thusly insult the memory of one the most important leaders of resistance against injustice the world has seen? smh

[@silvancheng2698]

Lol why quote Ghandi? The Indians still treat their untouchables like SHITE!@#

[@damienfaulkner7938]

@@DerOrso I am from the uk. I visited Miami a number of years ago and I have to agree with you if Miami is anything to go by your country is a shit hole

[@pg259]

In Germany if you want to ruin a politicians career for ever just make sure you get the label "wants american conditions" stick to him.

[@Lea-rb9nc]

That may work here in France as well? I certainly hope so.

[@bornzoflux]

Friedrich Merz made a sad face :)

[@KitsuneHB]

@@bornzoflux Friedrich Merz should immigrate in the USA. He would fit perfectly in that country. :D

[@HavyrlValdoria]

you're sure with that? for me: your government try to archive us standards

[@Dendroapsis]

God I wish that would work here in the UK. However sadly here many people will openly advocate for adoption of US-like ideals and policies, and constantly vote for politicians who are actively trying to Americanise our economy

[@marshmallowalgae4995]

I don't know why people think places like mcdonalds are not hard to do, those people are masters at multitasking and remembering a long list of nonsense and keeping up with stressful customers and food turn out rates. I'm so sure most people saying its easy couldn't keep up with that pace day in and day out.

[@jasonashley9853]

Totally agree. I worked at McDonald's for 2 months in college. You're running your ass off for money that's barely better than minimum wage. It's not the cakewalk job people think it is. And it proves how many ignorant assholes we have in this country.

[@Johsebthur]

This all boils down to one simple question: Who is in power? In the USA the ultra-rich are in power. In Western Europe the people are in power. Those who are in power make the laws. Hence, in the USA the law protects the rich, the powerful, the EMPLOYERS. In Western Europe the law protects the people, the vulnerable, the EMPLOYEES (because obviously most people are employees). The fancy word for "people in power" is: democracy. To catch up with Western Europe, the USA has a long way to go, because it first needs to install the concept of people in power.

[@Boris80b]

Correct. The concept that most people everywhere are not meant to be "winners" but someone who is just trying to get through day to day life is totally lost on some people.

[@niasoul5424]

As a half German-American who recently lived in the USA, I’ve had several talks with some American people about these things and how unbelievably bad America is for this, I was labeled a socialist commi 😂 Gladly moved back to Germany with my American Husband! He’s in love with Germany!

[@pugasaurusrex8253]

That’s why I’m choosing to stay I’m well aware that just about anywhere else is better but I want this damn beautiful country to bounce back and become the role model we have labeled ourselves as

[@niasoul5424]

I am really sad for everyone who has to go through this mess! I do also wish wholeheartedly that America will bounce back up! Don’t get me wrong I still love America, I’ve met some amazing people that I consider family! I hope that today will change America for the better. People need to wake up and fight for the greater good! 🧡

[@stefans.6858]

@@night6724 Like Trump? I really love to pay my taxes because that is for the greater good. And I had free University Education and have excellent Health Care. I work only 38,5 hours and have 35 free days. Now who is laughing now?

[@ihaveseverefrootsnackism]

I prefer Europe/Asia as well. I personally wouldn't pick Germany, but my uncle did and his life is fine.

[@Clavitz1]

@@night6724 you mean like in the states? if you are not rich, you're taxes are too high for the cost of living compared to the average wages we have here AND our government is not representing us.

[@michaelmarchanda]

"If you can´t pay your workers a fair wage, your company should not be in business. End of story"

[@ingelarson6738]

They can afford it, but the greediness of business owners, especially the super big companies will make less Billions

[@Keggplant]

This should be in "how it should have ended"

[@eoinoconnell185]

A wage is merely where the supply & demand for labor interacts. If a company offers a salary below fair wage, then it should receive no applicants. If workers are forced accept less than a fair wage, then it is easy to conclude you have too many workers. Consequently, If you want to increase wages, then you have to decrease the supply of labor and/or increase the demand for labor.

[@bucherregaldomi9084]

@@eoinoconnell185 So what would be the solution? Kill workers so the supply lowers? The classic microeconomic model of supply and demand is not a good fit to the labor market, because when people don't have a job, they don't really have an option to stay jobless. In a true market, following the premises of microeconomy, if workers indefinitely find jobs with less than fair wages, then they indefinitely DO NOT accept those jobs. In reality though, workers don't reject unfair wages indefinitely, because their human nature and survival instincts will make them avoid dying of hunger, this is why you can see people working for unfair wages, because the microeconomic model does not apply to reality in the labor marker.

[@DoomsdayR3sistance]

@@eoinoconnell185 That's madness, people get desperate without money and there is more people than jobs, so there will always be people forced to taken on the worst jobs around and companies realise that unskilled jobs means the demand for jobs allows them to toss out turd burger terrible jobs on below liveable wages. If you can't afford shelter, you'll still desire food, water and some level of comfort, even if that involves living in the cheapest car/van you can buy. Companies need to be kept in line by law and regulation, literally the way the rest of the world does it but the U.S. has some much corruption that it basically allows the companies to write the laws and regulations that apply to themselves, as if they were going to act honourably and reasonably with such power. Now the U.S. is basically at melting point of the poor economics it is built on since the country is rich but the people are poor and the national debt is near untenable, you can't draw blood from a stone. Then after all this, the U.S. had Trump as president, how the U.S. is going to avoid financial collapse at this point, hard to imagine, at least Trump is gone now else it might have been impossible. Honestly the best thing the U.S. could do right now is establish workers right, redirect about half of the U.S. Military budget to the construction of a Socialized Healthcare system and the U.S. could recover from that, but such policies won't pass in the U.S. despite it being insane to not do this right now.

[@johnmendoza1745]

Being South American, my family and I migrated to the US when I was young. Even as an outsider I myself got brained-washed into thinking we were the best country in the world. Literally everything he talks about here is true and as I’m getting to my late 20’s I’ve started to question so many things. Seems like the things I question about “do I work too hard?” “Why is insurance so expensive?” “All these doctors just want to give me drugs and not cure the problem” “why is healthcare so expensive even if I have insurance?” “Do I get paid enough for this?” Seems like it is all true Like someone said above, we in America see benefits as the rest of the developed world see as standards.

[@kshinokevin]

Healthcare becomes expensive if you: try to see a doctor that is Outside of your Insurance's Network; if your doctor doesn't allow you the option of buying Generic prescription drugs and force you to buy the higher priced Rx drugs. You might have to find the Prescription Drugs abroad (think: Mexico and Canada), which could be cheaper in price; some countries' usually have a "Don't Ask (don't tell)" policy; some of the (public) pharmacies (that exist around the world) might not need a Doctor's Note (signature) for a specific prescription and/or Dosage (potency number (in mg) ) ). The thought of getting caught and being thrown in jail to do this (at an airport security (TSA) or border patrol crossing, just so that you could have your Required Medicines, in order to function, sucks. ("If you have your Health, then (you are) Wealthy." - something that my late father/dad had told me.) Dental Implants (that could be affordable in Bangkok, Thailand) vs. Dental Implants in the (United) States (more Expensive)... Yes, Thailand maybe a third world country, but it is affordable. They don't call it the "Land of Smiles" for nothing.

[@marciamartins1992]

In the immortal words of Nancy Reagan..."just say no to drugs" in spite of the fact that her husband was enabling cartels. I was dragged here as a child; and now I want out. The dream is a nightmare.

[@istankimjong-unbutcantstan3398]

Maybe add to your questions "is this whole 'insurance' thing a scam?". Insurance is a scam. You pay thousands into it and they they get to deduct how much they will pay out if they pay anything at all. You usually have to hire a lawyer in order to get any real results.

[@istankimjong-unbutcantstan3398]

@@marciamartins1992 This reminds me of when I haggled a phone scammer: Them: "Where are you from" Me: North Korea Them: North Korea? Me: Yes, it's a small country in the south pacific. Them: I know. But North Korea? Me: Well I had to live somewhere, right? Them: But.... but how did you escape? Me: Escape? Them: How did you get out to come to America? Me: I was kidnapped.

[@WhisperzVerse]

I was born in Germany and brought to the US as a child (my mom is German). I finally have the opportunity to go back to Europe with my husband and kids and my parents don't understand why i would want to because "America is the Greatest Country in the World". They really have been brainwashed.

[@FluxNoise]

Every time i get frustrated with my local european politics and society i just watch one of your videos about america and i'm happy about where i live again. Thank you!

[@lukewilliams1666]

The worst thing about Europe is it’s high immigration rates and late term abortions.

[@lukewilliams1666]

Oh and Euthanasia

[@mrhalfwit972]

@@lukewilliams1666 happy places having high immigration? I wonder why.

[@Jehty_]

@@lukewilliams1666 why is immigration, late abortion and euthanasia bad?

[@mrhalfwit972]

@@Jehty_ given his other comments most of his views are very... old.

[@dyver123]

I've once met an American who moved to Denmark (my home country) and he told me that he started living the American dream once he moved here.

[@Pikkabuu]

Hence why the saying is that if you want an American Dream move to the Nordic countries.

[@lucyditee]

I've always wondered this, what's it like living in Norway? (Edit: just fixed some spelling errors, finally.)

[@dyver123]

@@lucyditee I mean - I don't live in Norway, but living in Denmark is pretty great tbh. Free health care, free education and several other more socialist institutions are pretty great 😉

[@lucyditee]

@@dyver123 Damn, that sounds great.

[@mariosantiagovaleroabad4424]

US citizen, not American

[@haramaschabrasir8662]

This is one year old and still needs to go viral.

[@ElizabethJones-pv3sj]

As a non American it frustrates me when I see the US used as a way to feel good about our own inadequacies instead of fixing it. Australia for the first time about 6 or 7 years ago introduced 6 weeks paid maternity leave for all workers (prior to that the only national regulation was employers had to offer 12 months unpaid leave) and when I comment that 6 weeks is barely enough time to recover from birth let alone bond with your baby I get told 'at least we're not as bad as America' instead of saying 'we could do as well as Sweden.' I don't want to set the bar that low.

[@A__Love]

Agree with you 100%. And also our healthcare system isn't completely free, we need complete universal healthcare not a hyprid system. Also, private schools are getting gov funding more than public schools is atrocious

[@ElizabethJones-pv3sj]

@@A__Love Those ad campaigns very carefully say 'Federal Govt funding' because the federal govt funds private schools and states fund public schools when all levels of government funding are taken into account every student in a private school is saving the government money.

[@mannydcbianco]

Very well put, Elizabeth. I always hate when people use that argument (if it can even be called an argument) in any context. "At least I'm/we're/it's not as bad as [inset worst case scenario]." For f-ck sake. Aim higher than that, people! Instead of patting yourself on the back for not being as bad as the worst country, how about you try to match the best?

[@simplesimon8255]

Very well said.

[@Boris80b]

💯

[@MissJellybean]

It’s quite unfortunate that the pandemic didn’t make people understand how important these “low skilled jobs “ are. The restaurants, grocery stores, gas stations etc. were the people that kept us alive and sane during lockdown. We really can do better US.

[@MasterDk78]

When you realize everything is the same. People are who they are, and money is what its is. Things never change

[@jasonjr376]

Lol people do now. Nobody wants to do these jobs anymore and now base pay at mcdonalds is 16 per hr and its still not attracting people.

[@adamkalb1]

Joker and The Falcon and the Winter Soldiers are both very cautionary tales about what can happen when the richer do not care about supporting the poorer, and why they need to do better.

[@adamkalb1]

The pandemic has helped me understand how important these low skilled jobs are. August 19, 2021, 1:42am

[@sirnikkel6746]

More dollars for me! Thank you! -A Mexican

[@brettstarks1846]

Whenever I make similar arguments, somebody always invokes 3rd world countries to assert American superiority. I mean, if you’re gonna set the bar that low, sure. But compared to other 1st world countries, the US is mediocre at best.

[@theuncannymage962]

Facts!

[@zipzapkpop]

I’m in a 3rd world country and we have paid parental leave and vacation leaves, as well as a mandatory 13th month bonus. So yes, the bar is very low even when compared to the 3rd world I can’t recover from the fact the US didn’t have parental leave, I honestly didn’t know that

[@theuncannymage962]

@@zipzapkpop hell us Americans didn't know till now too lol

[@kigut7443]

i heard a quote, dont remember where from, but i think its pretty relevant right now "america is a 3rd world country wearing gucci belts"

[@thehangmansdaughter1120]

America IS a third world country for practical purposes.

[@zodi9783]

The beginning where you say how willfully ignorant people in the US are is so true. I find myself struggling to deal with people who just seem to talk out of their @ss with no facts or evidence to support what they are trying to say all the time.

[@andrewrockwell1282]

Thanks JT, it blows my mind the amount of parental leave other countries provide their workers. When my son was born I quit my temp job to be with my wife for the birth and just after. My son was two months old when I got a permanent position. Two years later when daughter was born, I was working at the same company and I look off I think 3 days, all the PTO I had saved. Then I was back at work and my wife was home doing everything for the kids.

[@BertGrink]

In America, greed is seen as a virtue, and compassion as a weakness.

[@conservativestrawman9837]

And Christianity is a disease that spread quicker than covid here. Coincidence?

[@simplesimon8255]

Not really

[@simplesimon8255]

@@conservativestrawman9837 Christianity has been declining for decades now

[@dingusdingus2152]

@@simplesimon8255 do you live under a rock? Greed, which used to be considered a deadly sin, has been preached as something towards which to aspire since the 80s when Reagan was in the white house. Americans are the most venal people in the world. Propose any kind of thing which would improve everyone's life and make the world a better place and their immediate response is always: what's in it for me?...

[@simplesimon8255]

@@dingusdingus2152 well, that's your opinion. Bribery is illegal and highly frowned upon here, so either you're flat out wrong, or have no idea what "venal" means. Maybe it's both. I do, however, applaud your use of shock value and melodrama. I suggest you put that to good use. Maybe become a writer.

[@ryandunklee634]

I’m glad he’s talking about the topics they don’t go over in school and nobody likes to talk about. Love the videos

[@SecondThought]

Thanks! Somebody’s gotta do it.

[@redunleasher2147]

Thank you.

[@dohickey7184]

@@SecondThought You're doing fantastic work, my friend.

[@aturchomicz821]

But they go over this in School??

[@A_Casual_NPC]

Eventhough no one likes talking about these topics, they're the only way to improve ourselves. Self-betterment starts with self-reflection, something we all could do with a little more.

[@Arwiiss]

Just look at depression statistics and opioid crisis in USA. They are both symptoms of poor work/life balance. As Europeans we may be taking less in total income but at the same time this little bit of less is actually way MORE in terms of work/life balance.

[@Ormy-]

Poverty and ignorance keeps people submissive and easy to control ...

[@kylehayden3113]

"Well it's a low wage job, just find a new one." "Oh, okay" (says ever single fast food worker.) The News 3 weeks later: "The food industry is still in crisis after millions of workers somehow found better jobs that actually pay them enough to live, leaving an entire industry with no one to operate it."

[@berndb3141]

That's the thing. Somebody got to work this job. If you work full time (or close to it) you should be able to make a living. Make a living, not just survive. That's only fair.

[@alw2839]

😆 I wish.

[@justathought5136]

Underrated comment! 😄

[@JonROlsen]

"Must hire retired people."

[@WouterNederstigt]

What has always baffled me is that the minimum wage isn't calculated yearly, or even simply indexed to inflation. I mean, the minimum wage is intended to be enough to be able to live, so its just a simple calculation taking in account living expenses, right? Its totally foreign to me that this is something that somehow became political

[@johanedfors3899]

He should have brought up that a Big Mac in Denmark is only 35 cents more expensive than in the US, clearly meaning the high wages barely brought up the price, meaning Mcdonalds is able to pay higher wages.

[@jsebby2284]

Or because thats a completely meaningless fact. Or maybe it's because Denmark has had a 22% corporate tax rate and the US was at 35% until 2018

[@johanedfors3899]

@@jsebby2284 US corporations use many loopholes, I believe when it was 35% corporations paid closer to 24% with all the loopholes.

[@jsebby2284]

@@johanedfors3899 loopholes like what - moving money overseas? Which means they would have less here to pay people. Even if your numbers are true my point still stands

[@johanedfors3899]

@@jsebby2284 there are far more loopholes than just that, like depriciation and stock options. Corporations like mcdonalds actually average 11% in taxes now after taxes were lowered in 2018.

[@jsebby2284]

@@johanedfors3899 right - I was just giving one example. Never said that was the only one. But all of them involve not being able to give more money to their employees. As you've seen since 2018 their salaries have gone up. And you're only counting federal income taxes. Not state, local, payroll etc

[@johnmendoza1745]

When he said “Paternal/Maternal leave” is mandated and you get multiple weeks off? I couldn’t believe it. Here I am in the US thinking of how I’m going to take of my pregnant wife, our newborn baby, make money and find a baby sitter AND someone to take care of my wife while I work. But in other countries you get paid weeks off? Wow. We need to move ASAP

[@ludvigl7339]

Yep. Here in Norway you can choose between 49 weeks paid leave with 100% salary coverage or 59 weeks with 80% coverage if I remember correctly. 15 of them are reserved for the father. This is mandated by law, so you'll get this no matter what company your working for. Oh, and giving birth is also free!

[@jayo3074]

Most Americans don't travel abroad so that's why they don't know this

[@DeutschlandMapping]

@@ludvigl7339 "Oh, and giving birth is also free!" This is such a cursed sentence considering that this is actually something that is not guaranteed in every part of the world.

[@DistractingTest]

@@DeutschlandMapping It gets worse. In some parts of the US abortion procedures are actually considered a crime, thus if you have a miscarriage during a normal pregnancy it must be investigated by law. You also have to pay for all this, and the insurance companies might just not cover you for many reasons even if you can afford or happen to obtain insurance from an employer.

[@simplesimon8255]

I understand you're just joking, but I hope you realize that you can't just "move ASAP."

[@sonjamarx385]

Every time when I visit America I'm flabbergasted at the distorted perception my American friends have of their country - and their lack of interest and knowledge about the rest of the world. Overall the attitude is "America is the greatest country on earth, America is the land of the free people, Americans have the most freedom, capitalism is the best way to live, universal health care is socialism and a plot of the government to take away the people's freedom". In Austria, fulltime work is 38 hours/week, but this has nothing to do with health care, because even if you work only 2 hours/week you still have health insurance. In Austria, wages are paid monthly. Workers have 38 paid vacation days and your monthly wage doubles 2 times every year (vacation month, usually in summer and December, x-mas). Paid parental leave for both parents, mother and father and paid sick days. Many Americans think that other countries (including Europe, Australia and New Zealand) envy America and shunn Americans their freedom, wealth and standard of living. They have no idea how far this is from the truth.

[@Boris80b]

The power of corporate propaganda is very strong in the US.

[@theQuestion626]

Collective delusions about “freedom” and “rugged individualism” have been around since the mistake that was the American revolution. Not to mention the Cold War sent American nationalism skyward followed by the seductive rhetoric of libertarian “thinkers” such a Hayek and Friedman, and those men won the narrative 50 years ago. So much of what is wrong with America can literally be blamed on Milton Friedman and his libertarian fantasies.

[@n0namesowhatblerp362]

I met a man from africa on a domestic flight in Sweden once. He told me how happy he was to have ended up there rather than in America. Two of his friends got to the US and have to work 2-3 jobs just to stay alive. This man lived in the north of sweden and was just flying home from a weekend in Stockholm. For fun.

[@nanaya7e433]

@@cr226 Did you even read what this guy wrote? They worked 2-3 jobs just to stay alive, not for a "better lifestyle". The whole point is that they didn't have better life even when working themselves to the bone.

[@nanaya7e433]

@@cr226 That's a really smooth brain quote.

[@abelkoenen7377]

@@cr226 wait, you watched that video just now, and you still believe that to live in America, one should juggle 3 jobs at the same time? Stoopid, like nanaye said, smooth brain quote

[@greeneggz_n_ham]

@@cr226 Wow. That made no sense whatsoever.

[@Theroha]

@@cr226Hey Mike. Maybe you could take some of that money they're paying you and pay for better English classes. You clearly didn't actually read the comment you were replying to.

[@ISKANDERMEX]

These topics are considered socialist crap... If being a socialist is something close to what they have in Denmark, the I vote Socialism. Right away!

[@denvadehundssofa3540]

Denmark is not socialist. And overrated.

[@fixthefernback8030]

@@denvadehundssofa3540 If it's not socialist, then what's the problem with implementing its social safety nets and unions?

[@denvadehundssofa3540]

@@fixthefernback8030 No problem. Just don't go too far, or you'll end up like us

[@sd8313]

I mean it’s social democracy so why not?

[@fixthefernback8030]

@@denvadehundssofa3540 from what I've seen, it would be pretty rad to end up like denmark

[@thebigmystery7841]

Thank you for this worker. Im American and just quit my fast food job. It was hell. I left for my own safety because working conditions with covid is even worse. Keep pushing this info because we need it to make change.

[@mkocel]

FDR said famously" "if you cat afford to pay an American worker a living wage you don't deserve to be running a business in the united states."

[@jsebby2284]

And yet FDR set the minimum wage at roughly $5.20 in today's dollars lol

[@DontBurnTheAmericanFlag]

​@@jsebby2284Which was that low because Republicans threw a hissy fit as they always do when you actually have to pay people for working.

[@jsebby2284]

​​@@DontBurnTheAmericanFlagum. No. That's just not even remotely accurate

[@TheAverageGuy12]

When I worked in the GREAT USA as a teacher (from Australia) I had an interesting experience. I needed a day off to travel and was denied so I took a "sick day" and I was caught and called into the Principal's office. I got a lecture on how much they liked my work (had got 100% for all my students on the EOG the previous year) but that I should "play the game." If I did the right thing then the Principal could put in the "good word" for me to remain in the states. I burst out laughing. Replying, "Why would I want to remain in a place for half the money, zero the benefits of paid leave, free health care, not to mention not being hassled about having a SICK DAY?" I told him send me home now! He declined and I finished my three year contract. LOL.

[@xanbex8324]

Good for you my man...you gave that dude an education! Bravo.

[@thehumanoddity]

Where did you want to travel?

[@TheAverageGuy12]

@@thehumanoddity Travelling to Argentina for a friends wedding. Needed one more day for connect flights to work.

[@aronenark8184]

In high school, I had a teacher who had immigrated from the United States. He became a teacher in Canada and made double the income here. His own experiences offered a great case study in the social studies classes he taught.

[@themetricsystem7967]

lol! good story. almost a shame they did not include number of days for paid holiday in norway

[@themasterstringer]

The first step in solving a problem is realizing that there is one.

[@Paul_C]

You will deny that fact, but hey, have fun.

[@JohnSmith-qp4bt]

Great line that Jeff Daniels uttered in that speech to the college crowd…

[@johnmendoza1745]

Short summary: Wow everything he said is so true. I knew paternal leave was a thing outside the us but damn I didn’t know it was a standard? I’m literally thinking how I’m going to pay for my pregnant wife and our baby and find a baby sitter all while taking care of her and working. Yet in the rest of the developed world you get paid parent leave??? I gotta get out of the US

[@WavegirlThinks]

I recently found out that even if a US company offers paid leave/vacation, that sometimes the leave EXPIRES if you dont use it. We New Zealanders were outraged on your behalf. Ours never expires; companies usually work hard to make sure you take leave regularly, so they don't have to pay you out for 3+ months of unused leave when you quit (like they had to for my friend). And if you're self-employed, the government pay you maternity/paternity leave directly... though we only get 80% of our wage by law (100% would be considered a nice work perk). Dont get me wrong, we have plenty we complain about, but we all are glad its not as bad as in the USA. I wish all the best for you, your partner, and your new little one. Take care out there.

[@dingdong1456]

Just come over here. We need workers like you :D

[@Marewig]

Not just the rest of the developed world, practically all the countries in Asia have it too. Seriously, if you've lived in several countries, you start noticing the differences...

[@rlud304]

Not just paid parental leave but also zero medical bills for the baby’s delivery

[@hilmarnicolay7234]

I used to live and work in the US, it was absolutely brutal.

[@Pseudynom]

That's why my wife moved to Germany and we're living here. When I visit the US I always get this vibe from the border agents like "Don't you dare to stay here any longer than your visit!". An I'm thinking "Who'd want to live here?"

[@antonhener4126]

Thanks for your insightful comment! That border agent is a jackass 😉

[@alexiahurley2250]

Most Americans genuinely think this is as good as it gets. The government & companies have spent a lot of time and money making this information hard to find

[@hansonel]

The US is probably one of the most inhuman nations among the OECD countries in my opinion as seen through our healthcare system and our dealing (rather not dealing) with COVID. After working for a variety of American employers throughout my career, from everything from retail to corporate office jobs, the majority of these workplaces were bad experiences (very little to no training, toxic workplaces, discouraging employees taking vacation time, etc....) And then working for German and French employers after and having good experiences (getting paid better, having a better work life balance and actual professional work environments for example) I no longer want to work or live in the US. Planning to relocate to northern Europe or a Nordic country after the pandemic.

[@AA14CBF]

As a Canadian, I totally get that. =_="

[@jaycee7530]

@@alexiahurley2250 Even watching this video I still think there is a catch. Or he is exaggerating. Or for some reason it won't be attainable for me even if I move there. I don't have stockholm syndrome since I hate my captors, but there is something going on psychologically where I just don't believe it can be any better anywhere else even knowing that is a logical fallacy. Like why in the world would anyone pay more than they have to? That's crazy and I'm doomed. Some sort of cognitive dissonance going on.

[@colman123456]

As a German who makes a fairly average amount of money I pay about 35% of that to the state. To an American that seems like a lot probably. But that doesn't just include federal and state taxes, it covers health insurance, pension, unemployment insurance and insurance for old age / disability care. I will never have to fear getting a massive hospital bill I can't pay. Because there are (virtually) no hospital bills in my country. Also minimum wage is higher than in the US (not by much though, we still have one of the lowest minimum wages in first world countries), while cost of living is lower. In addition to a bunch of national holidays everyone gets 25 to 30 days off per year. Oh and you get potentially unlimited sick days where your wages are still paid. You get all of that even as a part time worker. Oh yeah, college here is free too. We don't get these things because our corporations are run by better people. We get these things because we made the government force the corporations to give it to us. And despite all these welfare spending and regulations, we are still a market economy and THE economic powerhouse in Europe. You Americans have been exploited for decades and it is time that you stand up against it. I don't like capitalism, but the truth is, you don't need a full blown socialist revolution to improve your lives. Get yourself a government that cares about you. Implement social democratic policies within your capitalist framework. You can make your country more just for everyone.

[@DK-zu6tt]

Yep, we pay anywhere from 12% (if you are super poor) to 25% in income taxes, and that does not cover any pension, no health insurance (which is currently about 30% of our income on top of taxes, and that's just for the premium, you still have to pay tens of dollars to go to the door, and hundreds, if not thousands if you stay in the hospital). And our disability and unemployment are on top of all that.

[@CampMelp]

Lots of us are trying and have been trying to chip away at it for decades. But too many Americans have been duped by conservative politicians, religious leaders, and conspiracy theories, all fueled by the corporate interests that benefit from the system staying like this. It’s a vicious cycle.

[@abcxyz6606]

When all added up, federal, state, retirement, local, sales, gains...all these different type of taxes, it likly add up to European tax rate

[@corbin4360]

I'm learning german and plan on moving to Germany, America is awful

[@misan7903]

I live in Sweden, it is the same for us. We pay what americans probably shall say is much. But we have all those good things Mathis tell about Germany here. So I think our people ( at least those who are not very rich ) like that safetly

[@BirgitProfessional]

Hell yeah thanks for the shoutout to my home country, Austria 🙂. We do get 38 paid days off in Austria. 25 days for mandatory paid vacation time (for full-time employees) and the rest are bank holidays and church holidays (catholicism-flavored). Also, 38.5 hours count as full-time in many industries (shorter Friday FTW). And in many Austrian federal states, higher education is free or very cheap because our industry actually knows that these universities churn out their future workforce and thus sponsor and subsidize the schools to get better-educated applicants out of them. I got my Bachelor's and Master's degree at 2 different universities in 2 different states and both were free (except a mandatory 20 € fee for the Austrian Student's Association each semester). Maybe Austria should get in the race for Greatest Country In The World 😅 Though we do have our problems, for example with rampant cronyism/nepotism and a fair bit of corruption in Politics, an aging population and an overdependence on fossil fuels from abroad. But at least we're able to critizise and address these issues that people in the US seemingly can't without being called unpatriotic 🤷🏼‍♀️

[@Boris80b]

Very much true. Conservatives in the US in particular aren't typically very accepting of criticism of those components of the system which make regular citizens' lives harder than in most other developed countries.

[@lavistelle6031]

The fact that there are no laws in the US to put a maximum in working hours per week is absurd. Or no laws about paid parental leave and vacation. Like WTF, I've always thought it was normal.

[@ThePunikaTV]

"Even impoverished nations, or nations that we've bombed into oblivion, take better care of their people than the US does" Damn, that hit me.

[@cfltheman]

I heard that Lybia was pretty well off despite being under Gaddafi. Now it's plagued by terrorists and slave markets.

[@typicalchineseguy5818]

@@cfltheman you have to thank the American military for that.

[@Sol-su2mi]

@@cfltheman sad but true

[@ikb8373]

@@typicalchineseguy5818 no call him by name... Obama and Clinton killed an African president... let that sink in

[@uteriel282]

@@ikb8373 and trump killed an iranian general on a peace mission who was also responsible for the supression of terrorist activities in the area.

[@theosphilusthistler712]

"But a Big Mac must cost 3 times more in Denmark". Nope: Denmark $4.58. US $5.71

[@vlt96]

Even if it did, a Big Mac in the EU will not give you diabetes and a few types of cancer, thanks to food regulations. The same thing with tic tacs, which can't be "sugar free" here because the ingredients must be reported per 100g instead of "portion".

[@rustybeatty6567]

Yeah you guys the cheaper price then we as Americans pay the difference.

[@jojbenedoot7459]

@@rustybeatty6567 you think McDonald's is running stores in locations where they're not making profits? Why would they do that?

[@hithere5553]

@@rustybeatty6567 bruh moment

[@TOFKAS01]

It's relatively simpel:You have better workers and more money for consumption. And in general a healthier and stable society. I always think about that when I see the riots every year in the USA. Riots became a constant view in the USA in the last decades.

[@jevjake777]

I'm a conservative but I approve this message. Minimum wage doesn't cover living expenses, less a family. The government (ran by elites) wants us more dependent on them than ever before.

[@Muscles_McGee]

In most of Europe I believe 'conservative' means they like the way government helps the people, so they are like radical worker's rights activists in the USA.

[@fourseven9121]

@@Muscles_McGee No...No they're not, at least in the UK. Conservatives are not like 'Radical Worker's Rights Activists'. That's labour parties and labour unions. We're not that left wing..sadly.

[@definitelynotacrab7651]

Man this country can be depressing.

[@abjectt5440]

I'm 70 and not once have I ever looked down on somebody because of their job. McDonalds workers are more honest than most CEO's.

[@reneebear3641]

@Fleece Johnson Yes.

[@burkanov]

True!

[@luukipuuk3537]

Ive heard people say “companies don’t want to hire young women because they get kids” but just now for the first time heard in the US its not even paid. My mouth literally fell open.

[@ozzyfromspace]

I never even thought about that

[@GabrielHernandez-sn3el]

It is absolutely true. If given the choice of a qualified female, vs male in child bearing years it is a no brainer for the employer. Why risk hiring the female who may get pregnant and require time off and work less hours because of the child. Not saying it's right, but that's how a lot of companies look at it.

[@theghasynchroduck]

And in the US there is still the discrimination against women (usually not overt) because they might want time off from work if they have a child...and the company often doesn't have to pay anything. Some of the more generous companies might give six or eight weeks of paid family leave.

[@icebergrose8955]

Hate to break it to you but it was the same back in 1978 when I started my first office job "we usually give these jobs to young men". Of course you do. You'd think after 20,000 years of this BS us girls would have got it together. I'd love to see a international womans strike.

[@rdeez5974]

A lot of companies choose to pay maternity/paternity leave because well it’s the right thing to do. With that being said more do not because they don’t have to.

[@robertvalentine9788]

When I saw that America has 0 dallors for paid vacation, I laughed so hard.

[@Valkbg]

I have never understood the concept of part time jobs. And from what I have researched my country has the lowest percentage of part-timers in the EU. I dont know if that is good or bad but in any case I havent seen employers treat workers differently depending on how many hours you work. You get the same treatment and the same pay per hour and it doesnt matter if you work 4, 6 or 8 hours a day. Also it doesnt matter if you are male or female. It only matters if you do your job right and how many years you have worked in the company

[@Rawrenzify]

As a veteran stationed overseas, most people i served with overseas didn't wanna go back to the US. I think most people are ignorant because they dont care to see what life is like outside the US and are too "patriotic" to recognize America's short comings

[@Chrissy717]

Wow, that's the first time I hear a veteran say stuff like that.

[@kimberlyk2530]

Well said!!

[@jackolantern7342]

Not being able to visit other countries is one thing but many people don't even have the simple curiosity of what's out there. "Patriotic" should also mean knowing what's possible and wanting the best for your country and countrymen.

[@Chrissy717]

@@jackolantern7342 sadly that doesn't seem to be the case. It kinda comes down to the "we are the best and I dare you to say otherwise"-mentality. At least that's what I am experiencing with people when they tell me they are a patriot (no matter the nation).

[@user-yj3ti9rg7n]

@@jackolantern7342 as an European, it seems that there's difference between European and American meaning of patriotism. Definition may be same, but the way people love their country differs.

[@TheCyclicGamer]

"McDonald's has to make a profit, if they pay their workers more they might go out of business." For a food chain to have 1.7 Million employees yet serve billions every day, I find that extremely hard to believe.

[@Pikkabuu]

Sorry. My math sucked in the first comment. So first of all McDonald's has some 210000 employees worldwide and it made 4.73 billion dollars of profit in 2020. So lets say that every single of its employees gets 200$ more per month. That would be 2400$ more per year so a hefty sum for the employees. As for the company their profit would take a dive to a measly sum of just 4.23 billion.... Also one should notice that McDonald's is paying non-livable wage in the US. Other 1st world countries actually pay properly and so the hit for the company would actually be smaller...

[@TS-bj8my]

I worked a McDonald's when I was in college. Breakfast paid for everything for the day labor, food, non-food supplies, power water and gas everything after we pure profit!

[@brucemarsico6]

The answer to your anguish is to not eat at mcdonald's....ever. I don't. Never have, never will.

[@geradosolusyon511]

@@Pikkabuu from 4.73 Billion to 4.23 Billion isn't "relatively", much. It's affordable.

[@Pikkabuu]

@@geradosolusyon511 Yeah. Just like I stated. But nope. Money is the only thing many Americans care about.

[@Heimbasteln]

In Germany the minimum number of paid vacation days might be 20, but almost everyone has at least 25 days, I have 30 days which is pretty common as well.

[@martynhanson]

Well, being born into a wealthy family is even easier than flipping burgers.

[@filipbabic4913]

"All empires become arrogant. It is their nature. All empires fall, eventually.” -Neron

[@truthylucy7068]

The people pay the price for their arrogance & greed!!

[@Cybernaut551]

That's horrific.

[@freshmilk7122]

Wonder if I'll see a fall of an Empire in my lifetime. Would be interesting to see a turning point in history.

[@owencostello7501]

Actually a quote from Edward Rutherford

[@vanderwallstronghold8905]

I'd love to see that happen in my lifetime.

[@RobertA-bj7ou]

The fact that many Americans are so surprised that paid leave actually exists in great amounts in other countries is so sad. I wondered why my dad wanted to live in either Europe or Canada, and the US wasn’t even his fifth option. I’m like dad, you did your research.

[@PhilfreezeCH]

While I was still in school I had the idea to go to university in Switzerland get a bachelors degree, then get a masters degree in the US (because it is always portrayed as having the best of the best in movies and shit) and then work for SpaceX. Now (one semester away from my bachelors) I am certain I won‘t do that. I don‘t want to live in such a backwards country, I like my social securities. And what I have come to recognise is that our universities are actual full of the best of the best Americans that emigrated to us!

[@JoseMendoza-rr4mp]

Honestly I love his videos but I feel hopeless and depressed at the end. My parents moved to this country for a better life but sometimes all the debt that comes living here and fear of hopefully never needing to go to the hospital or surgery even with insurance sucks. I'm a millennial so we all already know how we struggle as we entered adulthood during the worst time of the economy and its almost impossible to really be independent nowadays. I see this videos and wish I could move to another country. As a person of color, the systematic oppression here makes it hard to feel optimistic. Even though we have the affirmative action to ensure a diverse group of people, I feel pressure to always prove my worth in any job because I feel that I was hired so they can meet their diverse requirement even if someone better qualified than me applied but didn't get it cause they white. So because of that I feel that I always have to work harder and offer to cover and take extra shifts to prove they made the right choice hiring me. Also I noticed I went off on a long tangent but I just got off working graveyard shift so im tired and lazy to go up to proof read and ensure no spelling and grammar mistake. Thank you for reading this tho lol

[@NEIL_F]

@@JoseMendoza-rr4mp this is relatable to me as well. My parents and I immigrated to the US too because the country I lived in previously was not ideal at all. I should also point out that where I'm from is really not much better than the US. If I could ever get out I would pick somewhere like Europe.

[@JonROlsen]

Who's going to pay for it???? is shoved in our brain.

[@JoseMendoza-rr4mp]

@@JonROlsen and then if the answer is the government, somehow that's shameful. I'm like so much of my money goes to taxes and I should be ashamed to use money I paid for over the years into?

[@8265]

As an American I would have to say that Canada is MUCH better then us….However the best country, probably, is Denmark. Moreover, IF America really want to be the BEST it should modeling itself off of Canada

[@jsebby2284]

Racist

[@warllockmasterasd9142]

I remember a few years back in adult education. When Obama was being re-elected. Everyone in my class was so excited and interested in the USA, some even wished to live there. the Sheer fact I believed Denmark to be a better place and didn't see what was so, good about the USA flabbergasted everyone else. Unlike my class mates I actually knew back then how horrible a country the USA is for the average person.

[@overflow7276]

As an Austrian, I almost dropped my (almost) free prescription medicine when I heard that Americans don't get paid parental leave! You guys should either unionize or ask the French if you can borrow their guillotine!

[@wander1139]

unionization has become so difficult in America do to incredibly corrupt laws and bought off politicians so the chances of anything changes are very low

[@agentsquid9079]

Have you seen the stupidity of my “fellow” Americans? They don’t see this type of shit and call me a “communist.” Believe me, I want their to be change.. I wanna see fires burning in rich people’s homes, to send a message that we, the “actual people” had enough of this unfairness. Maybe it’ll come soon, once this system is properly recognized by the American public, once the future educated children realize what a terrible system we have in place, maybe we can finally have the best “America” they promised.

[@luismachado6264]

So the richest corporations on the planet don't authorize people to have children? What???

[@justmenotyou3151]

There will never be change for the good in the USA as long as we have so many hatefully, racist republicans.

[@nil981]

We have guns....keep your guillotines.

[@DannyJensen25]

"The reason they call it the American Dream is because you have to be asleep to believe it." - George Carlin

[@omnomnom5359]

when someone quotes the same thing a week earlier than u and get almost 2k likes and u dont even get a fraction of that

[@mikkelsrensen5892]

USA never was what it was

[@psycho4207]

@@omnomnom5359 does not matter.

[@sierrachoco5271]

Amerìcan Dream is exactly that - a fucking dream!!

[@acenull0]

😂😂😂

[@norablack1085]

I agree with your message. I am from Europe and I am always baffled how America treats it's people. In the Netherlands people are absolutely taken care off. It doesn't matter if you work at McDonald's or at a high paying company. You are not looked down on. Iets not perfect, no country is, but my God does America scare me. I have visited the US, NEW YORK, and I fell in love with the city and it's energy. Thought about,.. what if I would move here? No way hozee! 😬.

[@nickcox1408]

I was stationed in Germany, and many of the locals treated us better than our own.

[@istankimjong-unbutcantstan3398]

It's "Jose". Hee hee.

[@Ramon609]

As a Dutch person i am utterly shocked how shit the US is towards their workers

[@Boris80b]

It's really amazing. And we hear all kinds of excuses for this issue too.

[@nightlurker]

America has the best politicians the corporations can buy, that's why this happens.

[@treacherouz3656]

No because you still need people who think these politicians are good people of God fighting against the communist Democratic Party

[@crazydinosaur8945]

@@treacherouz3656 instead of wasting time on thinking of the causes of poverty and eliminating them, the American tries in every possible way to acquire a million dollars

[@danman8337]

@@crazydinosaur8945 you can't stop poverty, unless you have some supreme communism shit, people will always gamble they will always work for someone, it's just not possible at solve such problems. Socialism sounds grate until you realize it's not possible for it to work in the us. Let's take an example, Bernie's plans would cost 4 trillion every year (the minimum btw), even if we text 70% out of every dollar and person makes over 10 million we still wouldn't be able to eliminate that spending. The funny part is, we could completely eliminate taxation on the middle class if we just cut our military budget in half.

[@crazydinosaur8945]

​@@danman8337 no u can't "solve" poverty. but u can mitigate it. i judge a society on how it treats its weakest. and the US is not exactly at the top of that list. (the US is still over any communist country on that list) how poor do the poorest need to be? and the hole "this dont work in the US" well it works in so many other countrys. is it because u all are trying to earn 1 million dollars instead or what are u doing?

[@danman8337]

@@crazydinosaur8945 no it won't work in the us cus it means we whouod have to increase spending by 4 trillion witch would dubble it. The richwould not pay for it as they don't spend that much money. You can't tax the stuff in there bank as they don't have that much liquid assets. The taxes would go up. However if we stopped milliary spending witch won't happen as joe biden wants a conflict in the middle East. The average person could afford to pay off there debt and they could have healthcare and all that other crap if we just stop paying taxes, the rich don't even have to pay more taxes of we just half military spending.

[@rogeliobeltran1742]

i hate that im so broke that i cant give you $2 a month. Yet, I feel so lucky that I have a computer to actually write this message. There are tons of people who can watch this video on their phone, or not even watch it, but it is describing exactly what is wrong in America. I swear to god bro, ill donate when I can. Keep up the good work dude

[@Real_Eggman]

Listen to CGP Grey, don't donate if ypu can't.

[@sweetestcyanide]

I’m 18, and entering college for the first time in less than a month. I’ve been trying to find a job for 2 months now, and I’ve applied to 10+ positions, and have only been to 3 interviews. It’s getting to the point now where I really need a job before school starts to pay for books and gas money, as well as help my mom with the bills, and pay my car insurance. It’s been really frustrating over the past few weeks. I applied for this really cool co-op local grocery store that is pretty much only in the east coast area, and everyone there is really laid back (no uniforms; just lanyards, long breaks, starting $14.50 an hour, flexible scheduling, employee art wall, monthly art shows, 20% employee discounts, etc.) I went in for a first interview for a grocery position a few weeks back. Took about 2 weeks to hear back after I called them several times and it went to voicemail. Was then considered for another position because they filled the position I applied for. Had an interview for a produce position a week ago. It went really well, and the interviewer said he’ll get back to me within the week, as he had two more interviews to do. It’s been a week, so I called today. Ended up reaching a lady who worked for produce, and I asked to talk to the guy who interviewed me. She said he just went on break, and will call me back as soon as he gets off. I haven’t received a call back. No email either. I check at least 10 times a day.

[@giorgiopolloni7936]

O Canada and Evviva l’Italia! As a dual Italian-Canadian citizen living in Vancouver, I can state that people in both my countries can’t get their heads around the out of control capitalism in the US with all going to the top and nothing trickling down to 90% of the population. Toss in no national health care system and extreme right wing media that touts and alternative universe to reality and stir in a little second amendment “don’t you touch my guns” attitude, it’s quite hysterical to see Americans boast that they’re the “greatest” country in the world. No clue about the rest of the world, not even Canada, which is right next door.

[@honesty_-no9he]

Most of the media in the USA is Clintonite DEMOCRAT and they are the ones who have used their power to block Single Payer Medicare For All universal healthcare. All their leaders are the ones who have throughout their careers seized every chance to block healthcare for Americans. Both Clintons, Biden, Obama, Pelosi, Schumer etc. Most liberal Canadians are brainwashed about US politics on partisan lines. When it comes to empire, wars, mass imprisonment and massive financial corruption the liberal DEM elites on both coasts relish and profit from these crimes. That is why 80 million people voted for Trump, not that Trump did anything for them but the likes of the Clintons had decimated the lives of tens of millions of people over the last 30 years.