American Reacts David Cross: Why America Sucks at Everything
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- Опубликовано: 22 мар 2022
- Original Video: • David Cross: Why Ameri...
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The UK and EU are not socialist but because we have socialised medicine then a lot of Americans think we're borderline Communist. I'd never give up our healthcare system for an American one!
Some European countries may be called social democracies, they are still capitalist, neocolonial hubs, but it's miles better than anything america does.
i hate how everything is always black and white for americans. germany is a social democracy, not just 'socialist' or 'capitalist'. u can mix things, you know, but people dont get it
@@MyvIsLove2 social democracy is still capitalism. It's just a little brighter, but it still is a dictatorship of the bourgeoisie that gave quite a few concessions to the working class because Europeans actually complain when they are getting fucked.
Yep, social responsibility is not communism, its possible to have one without the other
@@MyvIsLove2 neither is America.. you literally just did exactly what you criticized Americans of doing
Regarding "Free Health Care", I'll give you an example from Australia. I suffered a heart attack and was clinically dead for 4 minutes. Thankfully, I was revived and taken to hospital by ambulance. I needed to be transferred to another hospital by ambulance where I spent 3 weeks in a private room recovering from open heart surgery where they had to replace a faulty valve. You can imagine how any tests and procedures were needed for that. At the end of my stay, I walked out of the hospital owing them nothing. I do not have any health insurance. Our "Socialized" Health Care took care of everything for me.
I returned to work after having nine weeks to recover, and found that they had not even taken any of my sick leave. I was fully paid and allowed to return when I was ready. Socialized Heath Care is not political socialism. It just means caring for everyone in society. Cheers from Australia. Glenn
glad you made a full recovery.
Glad your doing better mate 🇭🇲
Cheers mate, hope you are doing well.
Glad you're feeling better mate
I hope all is well now🌸
My favorite joke about US healthcare is that if Braking Bad would take place in almost any other country, other than US of A, it would be 1 episode as Walter goes to the doctor and then gets his treatment and gets better and goes back to teaching :D
Living the American Dream!!!
As one great philosopher said, "We don't have a British Dream because we're AWAKE".
It's not San andreas' Fault - it yours for building it there....
And why George Carlin said, "It's called the American Dream because you have to be asleep to believe it".
The american dream is just a dream nothing real anymore...
I've never grasped how the richest country on Earth cares so little about its people.
Edit: and I'll never understand how so many Americans happily accept it.
*FREEDOM* 🤦♂️
@@MrBizteckIndeed! I'm in England. I feel pretty free. How about you?
@@Steve-gc5nt im in Spain, feelin' pretty free
The US doesn't have a people.
Im in England too mate. Lived in the Ireland The USA France and the UK. America sucks ....
No, sorry Connor. No bills here after medical treatment. Not for ambulances or doctor's home visits or paying to have skin on skin contact with your new born baby. Every time I hear about the USA medical situation it makes me so bloody angry that American's don't think, "our", way is good. Sorry, I don't mean to offend, I just get so mad. Huh hmm. As always, a thoroughly riveting reaction and video. Thank you 😉
I'm not talking about Connor, but if Americans are offended or get angry because they hear the simple truth, that's their damn problem. I'd say it's even better, after a moment of self reflection, anger can be a powerful tool.
Emma, what place is "here"? I'm from northern Europe. What do you mean by "no bills after medical treatment"?
"Here", is the South of England. By no bills after being in hospital or consulting with a doctor or calling for an ambulance. It's different if you decide to go privately but NHS is no charge for all. Even visitors from other countries can have treatments for free. The only thing you have to actually pay for is around £9.00 for a prescription. However even those are free if you are long term sick of are on certain Government benefits.
@@emmafrench7219 Thanks for the response. My wife and my mom are both dying of cancer. Well, they're not paying a lot for that privilege. I wish you all the best. Take care!
@@VideoDotGoogleDotCom Even in the German public health care system it's absolutely rare to receive bills from hospital treatments or special doctor treatments.
If it's medically necessary your insurance will pay it, even if you have to pay something it's just a small amount, nobody will go in debt for that.
Watching you defend the American mindset had me in stiches. What makes you think you cannot achieve the "highest of the highs" in other countries? Wouldn't it make sense that its achievable for more people in countries that provide education and medicine support for free/reduced rate? You mentioned Japan, I believe Americans work ~120 hrs more year than Japan. I'm not hearing any evidence the "American way" has any benefits, unless your born with a silver spoon.
Yep contacts and family are the thing.
This comment just convinced me to turn off the video. The RUclipsr obviously has not had enough experience with the US or with other countries. He should start traveling. He'd enjoy it and he'd learn a lot.
Their education is worse than their "healthcare"
Connor, I very much enjoy your reactions - you are a thoughtful and often incisive commentator on most topics. However, in common with many other US reactors, when presented with hard, demonstrable and often quantitative facts on this issue, you would appear to be suffering a crushing dose of cognitive dissonance.
It must be hard for these people to get their head around the fact that everything they were raised to believe is a total lie, and that while they think they're at the top looking down, they've actually been at the bottom (and sinking lower) while the rest of us looked down at them this whole time. I imagine ignoring and denying is easier then facing the truth - ignorance being bliss and all that. I really wish they'd find the courage to face it though, because underneath the arrogance and delusion, Americans are pretty decent and deserve what the rest of us have.
They're literally brainwashed
Denial.
he is 100% in denial.
It's also called brainwashing. The difference between disagree and inability to process information is called brainwash
In what way is the U.S. better than Europe. In its crumbling infrastructure, lack of affordable health care, a political party system that spends most of its time badmouthing the opposition rather than governing, its police which are more like a paramilitary, its overworked and underpaid workers, its disproportional wealth, lack of any social provision, its unwillingness to pay for time off work, etc. A grifter country for a naïve population where only the wealthy win at the expense of the rest. I think my friend it's time you smelled the coffee..
its better for big corporations and rich people, thats it
You hit the nail totally on the head. I feel sorry for Americans. For years they've been taken for suckers by successive governments that couldn't care less.
"... a political party system that spends most of its time badmouthing the opposition rather than governing ..." And campaigning more that governing. It is really just a big, hard to watch show at this point. Sure, there are a 'few' voices of reason there too, but the political actors do all they can to push those off stage.
You forgot to mention the guns.
@@geemo4284 Thanks for reminding me, there's the guns that we don't need in Europe because we're mature not grown up children. Thanks once again..
David already explained about the UK having less taxes than America when all things are combined so when he says "free healthcare" it's free at point of service, you don't get ANY bills later, at all. All British healthcare has already been paid for in taxes. And as he said British taxes are 26% while America's is 43% and then Americans will still have to pay extra charges on top of that, ie administration, things that aren't covered by your medical insurance etc.
When will you stop trying to defend your shit healthcare system???!!! You've watched enough videos by now, who have stated facts about this... But you still try and find a way to convince yourself that America's system is better than the rest of the world with free healthcare. There are no bills after treatment for healthcare in the UK... Its free!!!!! Its already been included in your taxes so when you go to the doctors or hospital or get an ambulance or any other medical scenario you don't have to pay anything... At all. The British government sets the price with the drug companies so that unlike America the medication is at least 10 times cheaper, that's what the government does in a socialist healthcare system, it makes sure the drug companies don't charge ridiculous prices for its medicines. What don't you understand about this??!! Americans are so dumb. Lol Yeah I can make jokes too! Just like you do. That's real freedom when your country looks after its citizens and doesn't treat them like crap. Americans... Free??!! I think not. You're all indoctrinated and brainwashed to think you are free and that's goes for most things in the US. America is one of the least free countries on the planet. Fact.
you just proved that the USA is free because it allows citizens to be stupid
and the EU is fascist and communist, and forces people to be smart 😁
Emoji was necessary because you seppos don't get sarcasm.
💯% facts
and after you paid your insurance in the USA, you discover that the insurance doesn't cover a great part of the bills, and you have to pay again.
When ur right ur right, take the wage of a American and a wage of a British person.... Make sure they are both the same wage and then take of what needs to be paid and you will see that the American pays more out there wages than a British person
I’m an English retired nurse. I worked for over 16 years on an elective orthopaedic ward. We did joint replacements, back surgery etc.
Nobody paid for anything. As has alteady been said ambulances, including air ambulance, are
all free.
Prescriptions are free to those over a certain age and for certain conditions as someone said.
Did you work for free?
@@msisles6278 ?
@@msisles6278 che domanda idiota, lo stipendio lo riceve dalle tasse del servizio pubblico, le prestazioni non sono a pagamento! Veramente una domanda idiota!
Last month I lost my best friend . She was sick for a week, but didn’t have any insurance, so didn’t want to go to the ER. She worked as a nurse for 20 years. Im pissed!
The NHS is free at the point of use, there’s no bill later, it is of course covered by our taxes but that’s it - no co-pays or any other costs other than meds which in England are £9 at most or in plenty of cases like insulin or for the unemployed, young or elderly are free.
Those taxes paid in Britain are on average similar to what Americans pay. The US also pays more per capita on healthcare in taxes because it’s propping up such an inefficient system
The average Brit pays around the equivalent of $1200 a year out of their taxes into the National Health Service to get all of the above….not a bad deal if you ask me.😊👍
@@mubbles1066
its approx 3000.00 pounds
@@teestees1115 just checked we’re both out,it’s approximately 5% of your salary that goes to the NHS,so for the average Brit that’s around £26000ish which means the average tax cost Is £1300.
@@mubbles1066 There are millions too who pay nothing and get everything free...the generations that have never worked.
@@anglosaxon5874 Yeah,well it’s a system for everyone rich,poor,unemployed,students,OAP’s ….better our way than the yanks.
The first thing is that indeed by learning children to always say 'America is the greatest country in the world' makes them as adults almost ignorant of all the points mentioned. The whole world knows this for decades already, except the Americans, they are always in shock, because they cannot even imagine it to be true. Yet it is.
I think it is a sad thing that a young nation that could have learned from historical mistakes in other countries, chose to go for the individual, the money, the individual prestige, the power, and not for the sake of the country as a whole.
💯%
It's sad honestly. It's a country that seems to take one step forwards very rarely and then 2 steps back, but then Americans just ignore those steps back because they're too busy celebrating their one forwards
I'm a Scandinavian living and working in the US for 2 years now.I like it here and the people are truly amazing.But infrastructure,technology,moral,and religious wise.I feel like I entered a time capsule that took me back to 1955.It's hard to explain but we like progress so we're going back to Europe when we're done with our careers.It's kinda sad because this nation is so beautiful with so much potential.It just feels sad to watch it from the inside.
'Like 1955' nice maybe that is because that was their hayday and they keep on harking back to it politically, without any thought that the rules ain't like that any more.
@@2Treesandahorse Idk,I know it's different cultures but something dragging the progress in the US down.And I think the main problem is that way to many people here thinks angels are real.A real separation of church and state is desperately needed in order to get shite done.This country would kick ass without the American Jesus stalling it.
depends where you are but yeah basically right the southeast is much worse as well as most of the midwest the most "liberal" places are of course the most modern and weirdly often hated in most places lol like the rest have some pride at being stupid XD
@@anderswiik7432 It would make a difference, but you'd still have the government and the big donor companies to deal with. Sure, if American's en masse realized how badly they were being brainwashed and overthrew the system both of those could be dealt with, but that's unlikely to ever happen. It's a viscous cycle, the propaganda starts at birth, and they force the stupidity and obedience into these people at every opportunity.
@@anderswiik7432 yeah , Jesus lover’s keep the country against progress, smart… Don’t try to find someone to blame, it’s peoples fault , cause they vote the same rich, corrupted politicians… open ur eyes, be honest , Jesus is not the problem, lack of education is the real problem.
this is the second time I watch the original video (1st was also in a react video) and it just breaks my heart that Americans are stuck in a headspace where these conditions are not only accepted by people, but many will say they prefer them, even when confronted with how horrible they are compared to eg Europe
It's easier to take the blue pill than the red pill, that's why so many take the blue pill and go back to dreaming, while their society continues to go to hell around them.
It's heartbreaking, idd...
"Its heart breaking that people have a different opinion"
THIS, THIS is why europe is a shithole.
These videos are really helpful for me as a German guy to keep appreciating the "socialistic" achievements in our society.
the freedom to be happy with a Good life / work balance (things that get paid for everyone in Germany by law: holidays, parental leave, the time when you are sick, insurances when you have no work)
the freedom from guns and the freedom to feel safe because of a low crime rate and because of so well trained police officers
the freedom to persue my dreams without fear because of social security nets for the most vulnerable or the struggling ones
the freedom to become sick without getting fired and with a affordable (not perfect but still) universal health care
the freedom to vote for really everybody above 18 without having to register first (even for prisoners and old people in nursing homes)
the freedom of not having to own a car, because an existing public transportation
and so on
very well put!
So many countries are like this but I think the US equate all this with communism?? It's not perfect but better than a child holding onto it's most recent past.
This often repeated phrase, "We are the richest country in the World" is misleading.
The fact is, there's a few hundred families WHO HAPPEN TO BE AMERICAN, who are the richest few hundred families in the World. Does their money, invested overseas or sitting in banks make ordinary Americans lives better? Do they benefit in any way? In practical terms, it's plain to see that America is not the richest country in the World - they just have a small and exclusive club of obscenely wealthy citizens, who are hell-bent on extracting more and more from the land and its' people.
i think u got the wrong idea. u are talking about peope being rich but its the country that is super rich
@@MyvIsLove2 Not really. Usually, by "richest" they talk about the combined wealth, and by that measure it is. Problem is, 99% of that wealth is owned by a few hundred families. This is like saying a class has mediocre grades because they total an average of 2.5 (out of 5), ignoring that the numbers are more 27 kids with bad to low average (1-2) and a few with all 5's across the board.
Edit: This is why they're called the "One percenters", by the by. A name that's even more accurate now.
The United States economy is the largest in the world as measured by nominal GDP. However by gross domestic product (GDP) per capita its ranks at #15 but most of the countries enjoying a higher ranking are either micro tax havens or base their entire economy on oil production so they should not really be considered in this case. This puts the US at, or very close to, the top taking this into consideration. In other words the county is rich, there is ample funds its just a very unequal distribution situation.
@@kronop8884 Also, GDP is a little wishy-washy these days. If I import a car from Japan for $10K, put a new logo on it and sell it for $20K, USA GDP went up by $10K. But The USA didn't really make anything. If the company making the money is a wholly owned Japanese subsidiary, that immediately sends that $10K profit back to Japan, that $10K added to GDP, did not benefit a single American.
The fact they keep electing people who do not know how the average person lives plays a big part. Remember they took a future president into a grocery store, that he had never been in or hadn't been in years, he was completely amazed at how you scanned item into the cash register. They have been doing that for what seems like ever.
when I think of the US the first thing that comes in to my head is not freedom, the first thing that comes in to my head is selfishness
I think a lot of Americans think bad things wont happen to them, they'll never get sick or have accidents, never have babies or get old, always have insurance, why should they pay for others? That when people fail , its their fault and that anyone can climb to the top if they work hard enough but that's not life. Success and failure is determined by luck and wealth of parents and where they are born and that determines how much social security they have or not have.
💯% greed
13:56 - 14:56 You are exactly right.
Most European countries are social - democracies. Socialsim is a philosophy, that sees the highest value in social fairness and opportunity. Social-democracy is a state form, that incorporates social/socialist ideas (socialist policy), by having taxes pay for collective social services (education, health, fair labor, social savety, welfare, opportunities).
You are one of the first Americans I've heard that gets it that coherently and clear.
A republic (as in res publica - affair of the people, aka in the common interest of the people) is a socialist concept. That what always irritates me with America. But then evidently, the US isn't really a republic anymore, but a de facto economic oligarchy.
Socialism means state interferring far too much in its citizens lives. It believes the state should manage your lives. I prefer small state and as little interference in my life as possible.
@@spanishpeaches2930 Interfere in what sense? Providing free education, healthcare, welfare at a cost lower than US citizens pay for a higly privatized system with little to none benefits.
Switzerland has one of the highest freedom index values. Much higher than the US. You have direct democracy and social market economics.
Where exactly comes the interference part in?
no when they say free its FREE, I had a stroke in December, spent a month in hospatil then sent to a home while alterations were mad to my house, got daily phisio at home all medicals and havent had to pay a penny
i hope u are doing well! my mom had a stroke this year, went to the hospital for a week, then to rehab for 6 weeks, now shes at home until september (on sick leave) and will be back in rehab in september
My mum too. It was great.
1) I love your channel
2) to a Briton as I am, society looks very, very horrible in the US
Nobody seems to care about anyone else at all, if one judges it by practical metrics...
And actually, if you count bail-outs for big companies, military spending etc, then the US is probably the most 'socialist' country in the world.
I think Americans have the trait of always wanting to have an edge over someone else. Your comment about how people would misuse ambulances shows that it would be something that would happen. In the UK and I assume a lot of other countries nobody would ever think of doing something like that.
Very interesting video, good to hear your perspective on it.
Greed makes for distrustful people
I didn't hear him say anything about misusing ambulances, maybe I missed that part, and I don't know how the system in GB works but to be perfectly transparent and honest some people here in Germany do misuse our system.
If you want/need to see a doctor or medical procedure you would have to call the doctors office/hospital and make an appointment. Usually as long as your situation is not life threatening it's first come first serve and some (good) doctors or special procedures may result in long waiting times.
Some people think they are more important than others and it would be below their dignity having to wait to get served. So they may call an ambulance to skip the line because ambulance entries are always treated first (since everybody assumes it's an emergency).
Technically this could result in a very high fine but unfortunately it turns out to be pretty hard to prove beyond any doubt that somebody was 100% aware their situation wasn't an emergency.
misusing ambulances and emergency lines would start to dwindle after they hear about the massive fines for abusing the system
Been in UK 20 years had ambulances out for me 3 times (all free) for same heart problem and even then was like just put me in a car others might need this. Taken others to a and e because it has to be bad if you will take away from others that need it. If my taxes pay for it, it needs to go to the ones that actually need it, so we use it right. Btw those guys do such an amazing job so pay the nurses/ paras better nhs they deserve it!!! You had the magic money tree at the start of pandemic for your rich friends who might 'suddenly' find themselves poor (cough poor buisness practices) but nothing for the grafter nurses etc putting in actulay hard work.
@@2Treesandahorse That is strange as there should be ambulances standing by at any moment from everywhere, at least that is the case where I live in Europe
Connor: Really? 😳
YES CONNOR REALLY! Been telling you this for ages my friend. Healthcare in the UK works like this. We all pay NATIONAL Insurance directly to the Government, the amount paid relating directly to our earnings and if earnings aren't high enough we don't pay anything at all. For this, we receive any and all healthcare treatments we may need at absolutely no charge. England & Wales do pay for prescriptions, around £9, however here in Scotland we DON'T EVEN PAY FOR PRESCRIPTIONS.
Also please, for the love of god, get a dictionary and look up the word socialism. You benefit from socialist ideas in America ON A DAILY BASIS, you simply don't understand that. Public roads? Public schools? We don't blame Americans directly for their ignorance on this as your entire Nation has been carefully and powerfully brainwashed from birth, like cult members. And, like rescued cult members, you will require a SUBSTANTIAL amount of deprogramming, which your channel is helping you to do.
Yes, your COUNTRY is the richest on the planet because a) your corporations run your government and b) the average US citizen MUST accumulate as much money as humanly possible simple to mitigate the financial devastation of daring to get ill.
To close, please let me quote to you my all time favourite American comedian, Mr Bill Hicks: "You are free . . . To do as we tell you!"
Are you getting the point yet that you DO NOT live in a first world Country? I really hope so because it is your generation who can begin the work of putting this right.
Peace, love and Greetings fae Bonnie Scotland 😀🏴😀
we don't pay prescription charges in Wales either
I too wanted him to look up the meaning of Socialism
Well said! 👏👏
@@mollybolly8966 Good one, I honestly wasn't sure about Wales or NI coz I'm Scottish.
And the only way, really, of measuring how wealthy a country really is, is to look at wealth per capita, rather than overall wealth. On a per capita basis, the US falls below Luxembourg, Ireland and Switzerland, and Norway and is pretty much on a par with Iceland, the Netherlands, Denmark etc. So, overall, the average American will earn the same as your average Northern European, but Americans pay quite high taxes and with none of the social securities that the Europeans have.
I think I understand what the biggest lie you've been drinking is. You think that favoring the life of 1% of the population so that they become immeasurably rich also benefits others in the form of crumbs that fall off the table. Absolutely the opposite, yes. the USA has the highest GDP in the world because everything is built precisely to allow the small proportion of ultra-rich people to exploit anyone undisturbed. In the EU we live much better thanks to the class struggles that we have supported in history against the capitalists, all the benefits of support to the population it is obvious that they are aimed at redistributing wealth among the people. America, on the other hand, cynically puts all people against, they teach you to be competitive already at school, they call the children "Champion" and take offense by calling themselves the "loser", competition in itself unfai given that the starting conditions are so unequal.
Let's not forget that Europe also has quite a few neocolonial endeavors. Europe may treat it's citizens better, but they still are quite a needle in the finger of the third world.
True, the irony is that the more billionaire and millionaire there are in a country, the less likely it's shared out among the public, it's not something that Americans should be proud off because a lot of the wealth is at the expense of the poor and middle classes and as the video pointed out, it's basically looting them.
At the end of the day, there are only so many resources in an economy, how those resources are shared out is what matters, that's where the US does quite a poor job, at least among first world countries whereas EU countries divide the wealth a lot better and even with the EU, it could be so much better with some work.
@@paul1979uk2000 Agree, here we are just a little better, BUT :) We must improve a lot again.
I think china now has the highest GDP by purchasing power parity.
@@RESTITVTOR_TOTIVS_HISPANIAE Since when has the USA avoided neo-colonial endeavours ? They have a solid track record in interfering anywhere and everywhere their God-given right to exploit is challenged.
during the point where it showed 'America is for the 1%' - he did a bad job of explaining it properly, but basically the entire wealth of the USA is shared up in one of, if not the worst way possible whereby 1% of the population holds 99% of the wealth, and the remaining 99% of the population are fighting over the tiny 1% sliver that's left over.
in numerical terms, imagine you are in a group of 10 people, 9 of you have $100 to share between you, while that one 'wealthy' person has $900, as a collective group you all have $1000, but the way it is distributed is such that the 'general population' will never have anywhere close to the wealth of what the 'wealthy elite' have.
and this is by design, this is what rampant unregulated capitalism looks like, this is why there are so many millionaires in the US and why that number just keeps growing, it's the only place on earth where you can legally enslave people, all the while defrauding the public and still get a pat on the back for doing a good job.
One of the tragedies of the US healthcare system is that even with good insurance you don’t always get the best care. Quite often if you have a long term progressive illness, like ms for eg, rather than put the patient straight on the expensive but effective treatment, the insurance will insist you start on the cheapest most ineffective treatment and work your way up. The problem with this is that by the time you get to the treatment that works, your disease has been progressing for the last ten years and you’re now fucked. This is very common. I’d happily take some of California’s weather, but seriously mate you can keep the rest.
It's not that different with public healthcare though. When I've had accident, the public healthcare had at least 6 months queue in which I'd have to wait for the cheapest surgery that has 80% success rate and long recovery. They told me that it might be quicker because they can't give me that much of sick leave and I will still have to work with torn muscle which will quite quickly result in life threatening situation that would let me skip the queue. But first I have to get bad enough to get to ER. The system does not care that 20% more expensive surgery has 98% success rate and much quicker recovery which also means that there will be less payout from sick leave fund which is also nationalized and mandatory. The system does not care if you loose people for half a year trying to get better and not paying taxes. It is highly inefficient and unfortunately does not cover anything outside of the public system. In the end I had to pay 100% of expenses out of my pocket for private hospital to get it fixed within a week and recover quickly. All of my experience with public healthcare was utter garbage and even funnier is that this system required paying for healthcare a percent of my income which turned out to be a few times more than typical US premiums.
US system is far from being perfect but so is the typical national healthcare system. Each one has some flaws and inefficiencies but I would never say that public system is efficient in any way. From my experience it was the least efficient model you can get and it can only exist because it is mandatory and there are rarely any alternatives. If you have to pay $800 in healthcare taxes alone a month and in return you can only use public, overloaded hospitals and wait in months or even years of queues to get the cheapest possible service, there's something seriously wrong with the system.
Few notes on what you wondered:
1 - The bill thing. In most European countries you pay a tiny amount of administration to the reception desk if it's not an emergency. Like, about 10 dollars worth. If it's an emergency, all costs are already covered by all the taxes you've paid through the year. I say this as someone who has gone in for major surgery four times and didn't get even a single nickel worth of debt from it. In ye olden days, you might have asked for a private phone line (before cellphones) which cost like, another ten bucks. That's it. No ambulance bills. No bills. No fighting with insurance companies.
2 - By "Administration" he means lawyers, secretaries, paperwork, all the work behind the scenes to make the bills, negotiate with pharmaceuticals, insurance companies etcetera.
3 - In most European countries, "medical insurance" covers your stay-at-home costs once you're out of the hospital, due to lost wages. And most of our companies have to pay you a fraction of the wages anyway.
*EDIT*
4 - The US once had the highest taxes in the Western world. (1940's-50's). This is, coincidentally, the time period in which you had a form of socialised health care, massive wealth redistribution that caused a huge financial boom, and among the best infrastructure in the world. Then someone decided taxes were evil (corporations and rich people) and started mass-"lobbying" (bribing) your politicians.
5 - By "police killings" he doesn't mean police being killed. He means police killing people.
And in the UK, you pay nothing - emergency or not.
As an American, I have been incredibly lucky for the majority of my life when it comes to health. Far luckier than a lot of people. My first encounter with a major medical procedure was three years ago when a mass was discovered on one of my kidneys. To my shame, my first thought was not "How quickly can a surgery be scheduled to get this taken care of?" Instead, my first thoughts were "How long can I put this off?" and "How far into debt is this going to put me?" Admittedly, I did also have the thought "Will the debt be worth it?" but I quickly squashed that thought. Thankfully I was smart enough to get the surgery done sooner rather than later, and in the three years of being cancer-free since then, I have come to realize that those initial responses that I had are NOT the correct responses, and should NEVER be someone's first response to receiving unexpected bad medical news.
In the past couple of years, I have started learning German, slowly but surely, and I hope to be able to move to Germany at some point in the next few years.
You know, if you fly over to European countries, the medical procedures, even for a tourist are eay cheaper then having the surgery in America. I do hope you wont need it tho
Good luck with the German learning! It's a difficult language but keep at it and I hope you'll make the move. It's a wonderful country
Highest incarceration is due to the three strikes rule. America has more people in prison (and for longer) for petty crimes, which also gives them a criminal record meaning they can't get good jobs when they come out leading them to break the law again just to survive. vicious circle.
The incarceration rate is because gaols are privately run, so every empty cell is a business liability for the gaol owner.
More crims = more need for gaols, private company builds a gaol, now it needs inmates to make the money back and make the business function. Building the gaol is an investment for the owner. Americans need to dig a little deeper and not just scratch the surface.
Think about it, how is a gaol owner going to be happy with a crime free society??? So people are put in gaol for the slightest reason to keep the $$$ rolling over.
@@micko11154 it's even better than that. Prisons have prison labour which in America makes up huge sections of various industries. Over 90% of some industries with "made in America" on them are made by prisoners being paid maybe $1 a day. And to get those incredibly lucrative contacts prisons need guaranteed levels of prisoners which politicians are more than happy to provide because it means massive profits for companies that get free labour which they can use to pay politicians to be "tough on crime". Or the for profit bail system which is almost entirely unique to America which also has crazy levels of lobbying. Then you add in everywhere that has a prison. If you drive through upstate New York there are these terrifyingly huge prisons in tiny middle of nowhere towns. They guarantee lots of good jobs for those citizens, the prisoners count as residents which skew state fund allocation and of course the prisoners don't get to vote. Meanwhile the state funds for things like schools don't go to the larger cities most prisoners of course come from. It literally funnels money away from areas with the kinds of crippling poverty that result in high crime to well off towns full of people who will always vote "tough on crime" because crime is the biggest industry in town.
There are layers of reasons America has the most prisoners but the financial ones are all deeply depressing.
@@cupguin America, land of the free, home of the brave. Sounds more like land of the corrupt, home of the moron!
Do you lose the right to vote if you have done time in the US? I'm sure I read that somewhere, if so, that's an easy way to "doctor" the voting system.
@@sorinafitzpatrick4826 after a certain time the conviction is then fully discharged, whatever that means and they can vote. but yes they ususally manipulate it so certain people can't vote. Just as dodgy in the UK when they change voting constituencies so there are more or less poor people in them.
I’ve really been enjoying watching your responses, and nearly all of the Americans I have met have been friendly, open people, so I’m not dissing Americans, but I always do a double take when Americans describe their country as free! I can’t see how a country that has gun drills in schools is free. Free to be terrified?! Every month we, In Europe, hear of another gun spree, where many people have died - you all seem to live in terror. How is that free?! I can’t see much freedom when citizens are as likely, it seems, to get shot by the people who are supposed to be protecting them (the police) as protected by them. Women are no longer free when they don’t have the choice to do what they want with their bodies, so that’s 50% of a states population. Employment rights seem to be negligible, and people die because they can’t afford medical treatment. I am truly baffled.
Can you imagine the US potential though. Can you imagine the incredible healthcare & social welfare the US could have if it wanted. The US could actually be a real contender for the best nation if it treated it's people better.
It cant afford it. Imagine it as company when you cant pay the taxes and wages every year so you must take +60% of your year income to pay the tax and wages. Or USA got 4 trilion usd budget for 2021, and it got 2.7 trilion deficit in debt. In long run they need to take more loans to cover the deficit and every year it grow more and more % of the total budget until it reach the moment when it cant take more debt becouse it goes over there budget. They cant afford those social stuff, they are bancrupt.
Can't afford it.Has to spend all its money on weapons to try taking over other countries.Vietnam.,Korea,Iraq(false flag-oil)Afghanistan - wow weren't they all fails.Meddling in other countries elections - Venezuela,South Korea,-really.Allies beware!
this video actually shocked me, I just see all health care as free as normal.
I'd guess as a European, I'd just like a little less "AMERICA FUCK YEAH", and more nuanced discussion of the ways in which policies deliver objectives
Europe doesn't really have to "get" that the US is different - trust me, we know. At the end of the day, it hardly affects us if Americans want to continue to be exploited. People are just trying to tell you there's other ways of doing things.
The US is a corporation, it is not a state. A state exists to provide for the majority of the community, while a corporation seeks to earn a profit. This is the fundamental difference between the two systems. But hey, seems like it's working wonders for Americans, so keep at it.
We were taught in Scandinavia that the settlers in America fled Europe to get away from tyranny. They somehow managed to establish a new tyranny.
When people are bragging, they are compensating for something they don't have or are.
No country is running around and telling everyone they are number 1.
From U.K. In recent years I’ve seen my son successfully treated for cancer. My daughter-in-law cured of MS using some new stem cell treatment. Yet throughout my life, I’ve never seen a medical bill.
There are more small to medium business owners per capita in the UK than the US, so you’re free to fly without worrying that the fall will be so hard. To accumulate the insane amounts of wealth that a tiny percentage have in the US requires the laws to be in the favour of the ultra rich and to allow immoral practices needed to accumulate such wealth.
And it’s not that your dollars are more likely to stay your dollars as you pay on average a similar amount in taxes to what we do on average (individual states might be lower like Texas) - or as this video highlights if you count other costs that we don’t have potentially more. It’s just that you’re not seeing that tax money reinvested in you, or where it is it’s done so poorly, so you have inefficient health systems that take more propping up and cost you more in taxes than the NHS does despite it being a private, ‘pay for yourself’ system, and then there’s the crumbling infrastructure and so on.
I get that this stuff can be hard to hear but the US has the potential to be an utterly phenomenal nation in every way, but the attitude of being ‘best, most free, greatest’ *prevents* that - to be great you need to be continuously challenging yourself, if you’re convinced you’re already the greatest well then you don’t need to do anything and eventually everything crumbles and you get passed by. Not that any one nation should or even could be the greatest, it’s meaningless. It also breeds an attitude of defensiveness, so the response to suggestions or even observations are taken as attacks “if you don’t like it you can leave!” and so the stagnation perpetuates. But I think it’s changing, I think young Americans are more aware of the wider world now compared to 15 years ago when I first went to the US. To be fair to you mate you took it well. The UK has a lot of areas to improve in too, but complacency helps none of us.
America has no healthcare, it's health business.
That's why it's so expensive!
Food for thought when you say that in America freedom is to be able to fly really really high or sink really really low. Nobody chooses where to be born.
So a person born to a low income family in the US has in reality, less chance to make it big than say someone born in a well off family. Due to not being able to go to private schools, not able to go to college (not as easily anyway) whilst in Europe (most of Europe anyway) even if you come from a low income family you can go to any school, any university, get any support that you need to be your best self and live your best life.
Saying that Europe and the US are two different places is true, but from a Europeans point of view it feels very disheartening to hear that line of reasoning as a lot of people in the US do not have a choice. For instance with Insulin prices, being born a diabetic in the US must be absolutely horrible, you'd probably do better as a fugitive in Europe than trying to live in the US.
Your question at the end: you are rich despite those problems. USA is incredibly wealthy country. There was once enough to get very, very rich but to also provide one of the strongest middle classes there has ever been. When i was born, 1973, wages stopped following production. You have not been paid significantly more in 50 years. And now the problems are stacking up. It took 50 years of slow squeeze until things are so obviously visible that they can not be hidden behind the veneer of "most powerful and richest in the world".
So, you are rich despite the horrific mismanagement of resources. Note: this is nothing compared to say, soviet russia where it was even worse mismanagement and more blatant robbing. In USA it has been one long squeeze, in a democratic country. But not even that is saved, USA has been since 2015 a Flawed Democracy. Not a Full Democracy (according to the Democracy Index). That hegemony of being the best has blinded by far most or muricans, your fellow citizens get ANGRY when we say "hey, there is another solution, works everywhere else", like it is an insult that i dare to say yours isn't the best.
To me, as a Finn.. it just looks insane.
Also their GDP no longer out ways their accumulated debt.
@SquidCaps: I've noticed that no-one - no politician, no 'talking head', no university students, no pastors...no-one in the US...ever mentions that the USA is no longer considered a full democracy.
It requires cognitive dissonance on a national scale to know this, and to keep baying "We are Free-er than anybody else on earth." when the parameters of "Freedom" have changed. If the USA's special idea of democracy had been as 'free' as in other countries - let alone surpassing all others - they wouldn't keep losing, year on year for the past 6 years, their full democratic status on the world's stage, a tiny bit at a time.
If this information is deliberately kept from the public that, in itself, is illustrative of an undemocratic mind-set. People need to be told the truth - that's the only way they can start to consider change...by knowing what the heck is going wrong.
@@2Treesandahorse Very true. In fact, while the Gross Domestic Product in terms of Purchasing Power Parity has the US in 2nd place behind China, a more pertinent metric is the Debt to GDP ratio of a country. In this respect the US is the 13th poorest country on the planet as a result of it's huge external debt (A country's gross external debt (or foreign debt) is the liabilities that are owed to nonresidents by government, corporations, residents of that country). The US has by far the largest external debt of any nation - about 30 trillion dollars - which represents about 133% of its GDP. The US has a huge economy but we shouldn't make the mistake of equating that to 'the richest country' no matter how much its shouted out.
Judging by the comments this can be painful to watch so I will not^^
I know that David Cross video. He is making sense, with valid points.
I dont get why some Americans are so défensive of their fucked up system
Because it's all they know and are led to believe hopefully the younger generation like Connor can somehow persuade future governments to change things and make life easier and better for their citizens - I'm a Brit 🇬🇧
It’s surprising and amazing how quickly new things become assumed to be ‘just how it always has been’ or part of the culture - the current model of US healthcare and the restrictions on healthcare companies being able to make a profit being lifted only date back to post WW2. It’s very recent. A lot of the idea of selfishness in America dates back to Reagan and probably owes more to Ayn Rand the the mythologized idea of the rugged individualism Old West (because when you unpick a lot of those myths you find the reality of the day doesn’t really match it).
My god... I had to see a a doctor at the local health clinic after getting a electric shock, they were concerned and hooked me up to an EKG and called an ambulance to take me to a hospital. The doctors at the hospital kept me hooked to the EKG and i was given a bed in the emergency room, the took blood samples and and i spent 6 hours being monitored before i could go home. It cost me 30 dollar. I happily pay my evil taxes in my evil socialist country. Cheers
You mean 30 dollars in taxes right because I’ve never had to pay once for anything to do with health care apart from through a bit of tax
@@taylorpower3862 no, i got a bill in the mail
@@taylorpower3862 In Finland, we have a thing called a "yearly cost". Meaning that the first thing we go to for medical treatment foots us the bill for the cost of that year. Not sure what it's about, but that's the bill you get and then you don't get billed after for consequent visits for related or unrelated reasons for the rest of the year. Maybe to deter people from their first visit for "nonsense"? Pure speculation as I have no clue.
That's free as in *free* healthcare. (DK) Surgery like liposuction is of course excluded but restorative plastic surgery is totally covered.
And you don't even have to call us evil - we'll know you're American the second you call us socialist. We're a social democracy. (I'm glad you realize the difference. Most Americans don't.)
It seems to me (yes, my *personal* opinion) that a lot of Americans equate freedom with freedom of speach and/or "nobody's gonna tell me what to do" when in fact a) we have freedom of speach as well and b) yes they are, it's called a society. If you want the benefits of working together, there're rules that have been agreed upon as guidelines for the collaboration. And if you're not a society/collaboration, you're just a bunch of people who happen to be living next to each other. 🤷♀️
So glad here in Australia we have medicare, that generally works. I had a heart attack got flown 450km to a major hospital (free), 1 week in with 2 stents FREE.
Flying docs rock
Yes, good content my friend, we in the UK had that kind of freedom you talk of a 150 years ago at the start of the industrial revolution, big business got incredibly rich, no care for the ordinary workers who died from poverty and illness. Eventually something happened, we had benevolent businessmen who changed the way workers were housed and treated, we had politicians who created a better society for everyone, it was a cultural thing you tend to get in smaller, closer knit countries. Americans are, as a whole, very nice outgoing folk, unfortunately the US is so big and divided as a nation that it is left to super rich conglomerates to try to hold it all together. The US has a proud history as a nation, unfortunately it is controlled by soulless money men.
I'll explain it this way. I live in canada. I have 5 kids. Cost to have each child. 0.00.
My brother had covid. Has great coverage in America. Wife is a nurse. In the hospital where his wife works. He was in ICU for 1 month. His bill after insurance coverage. Over 1 million dollars. He went bankrupt.
In canada my uncle had covid. In the hospital for 1 month. His bill. 0.00. He had to pay 100. For the ambulance. I rather live in canada. My kids get sick. Go to the doctor. It's free.
In fact prescription drugs are free to kids up to 25 years old. That way you can go to school and not have to worry. Piece of mind.
We get NO bill for healthcare in the uk it’s called being a civilised society and caring for each other when in need its there
You squirmed throughout the video and tried to explain away some of it at the end HILARIOUS.
Be kind to the lad. Kudos to him for even watching it. In Britain we're aware that it isn't perfect but it's okay, we can deal with it and be up front about it. But it must be very very difficult for Americans, raised on the American 'dream', to discover their beloved country is a sham. As Al Murray said "We don't dream in Britain 'cos we're awake." Says it all. 😂
Europeans (and most other countries) are EXTREMELY aware that the US is a very different place. Most of the world views America as a country with almost a sense of disdain - not individuals or specific areas, but in general.. As an Aussie who has had the Liberal Party in power for a decade now, I've seen a once decent place to live become more and more like the capitalist hellscape that is American society, and I HATE it. The Liberal party here is our conservative party, that in recent years has become extremely RW and evangelical. Because of that, they've sold off our assets, privatised most of our services, and wealth inequality has massively increased. The rich get richer and what was once our middle/working class has largely turned into the working poor.
Extremely wealthy individuals only get that way because they used their wealth to exploit the system (or succeed in lobbying to change it to suit them). In a truly fair and decent society, there wouldn't be multi-billionaires while others starved to death in droves. I don't think you can call a country good when the government and much of the public sees nothing wrong with that. The fact is that there is no justification for allowing millions of citizens in your own country to have to struggle and suffer, just to survive, while everyone else looks the other way towards the ultra-rich and praises them.
Here in Australia, the current government under Scott Morrison is the most hated one in our history. Australian culture doesn't respect the extremely wealthy who flaunt their privilege - in fact we hate them. Almost all of the most hated public figures here are either billionaires or arrogant politicians. Our Federal election is in May, and I've never seen a more agitated focus on politics here - everyone can't wait to decimate the political party that ruined so many lives. Societies are built from people, from families and community; not money or profit.
You are right that the Nordic countries are not "socialist", but social democracy have had a huge (highly beneficial) effect on these societies.
As for the 'free to fall or fly', this is an attitude of selfishness borne from Neoliberalism. An attitude of 'if you get it, you earned it'. The belief that compassion is a limitation to the individuals freedom, while scams, white collar crimes and exploitation of those less fortunate in general, are justified ways of getting rich. If you are good enough to get away with it.
Most of the world dont interpret freedom in this Ayn Rand way. And neither did most of the US until Regan made it, and bribery (sorry, "campain donations") of politicians, the norm.
Why the prisons are so full is also for monetary gain. Private prisons are cash cows and many inmates are used for unpaid labor. Yep, in this way slavery still exist in the US.
I will say this, when it comes to military spending there is no expense spared in the US!
greatest funded militia in the world
In fact its the most Socalist Military in the world too.
Shame the expense isn't apparent in the quality of personnel.
Taxpayer funded, ........... OMG ..... thats SOCIALIST!!!!!!!
roflmao
Ye the nation doesnt care for its own people, but spend the most so they can kill others.
I think with the 'Socialist' stuff, he's referring to how many services that help people, in America can be referred to as 'Socialism', despite actual Socialism being a whole societal paradigm - The countries mentioned are not Socialist, but have systems in place which would be incorrectly labelled as 'Socialist' in order to capitalise on the 'Socialist Evil' kind of propaganda (Kinda like red scare communism stuff).
Yeah exactly it. Somehow the American right wing have managed to convince the population that a social conscience equates to "Socialism" and that that in turn equates to communism. Few people in today's world believe in communism, it has been tried and failed so many times in so many places.
But caring capitalism (which is an alternative label for what most of Europe has implemented in varying degrees) is very far from being communistic; That makes it all the more shameful that those who pull the strings in American politics get away with using that term so inappropriately in order to obscure the facts enumerated in this video, from which they (the 1%) make mountains of money.
The whole problem is America's fear of the word, socialism, because its associated with Russia and China, which are Communist, not Socialist. Welfare or SOCIAL Security payments or taxpayer funded assistance or services of any type are socialist by definition. Socialism is NOT a bad thing.
@@micko11154 No indeed. Far too many Americans believe that anything other than "devil take the hindmost" capitalism is socialism! That mindset is carefully encouraged by those who make the most money from cut-throat capitalism and by the politicians whose strings they pull.
The real insanity of it is that so many Americans lap up this message year after year and defend the system that favours the top 1% of American society, while denying less well off people proper access to things like adequate healthcare, things which Europeans take for granted. Perhaps turkeys do vote for Christmas after all!
I can’t count how many times I’ve had to explain to American’s that there are no socialist countries in Europe - only social democracies, that incorporate some socialist principles. I have also, incredibly, had to say that we don’t have any communist countries either.
@@micko11154, nowhere in Europe IS socialist, though. If we were socialist, all of our means of commerce and production would be owned and controlled by the state. We only have social democracies in Europe, not socialism, per se.
Going back to the nineties my girlfriend was a nurse and once an American lady deliberately overstayed her visa as she was due to have a baby 2 months after her visa ran out not only did she get to have her baby under the NHS but when immigration got involved rather that take her to court or punish her in some way they actually extended her visa so she could continue you receive treatment for certain complications. All she had to do was pay some kind of surcharge to be covered by the NHS which wasn't much under 100 dollars/pounds.
She was so grateful she was in tears when informed of the decision to let her stay and eventually after several months she returned to the states but one day a letter came addressed to the sister of the maternity ward enclosed was a very generous donation in the form of a cheque (my girlfriend wasn't legally allowed to tell me how much so of course she didn't, wink wink) along with a letter thanking all the staff for the care they gave her and her child. The letter finished with her saying that the whole experience had convinced her to apply for British citizenship, her future husband was British but before this the plan had been to live & work in the USA but after experiencing what she did she wanted her daughter to grow up in the UK.
The NHS isn't perfect but it's bloody marvellous and I wish more people would recognise how lucky we are.
Most European countries including Germany and France would be called socialist by the Republican party based on policy. Compulsory health insurance, mandatory unions in every company, social services for the unemployed, etc. In the eyes of many Europeans the USA have an irrational fear of anything social since the cold war and swayed a lot to the political right and coorperativism as a consequence
I'd love to have a discussion with you.
I really like the critical mind you use to analyse and understand this video.
I am French and I used to want to go to the US to earn more. But the points raised in this video made me stay in France.
If possible, I'd love to have a call/video call with you to discuss these topics and maybe change my mind or validate certain things I think I know.
Whenever you want !
Administration = paperwork.
Because the insurance based system exists in the US, not only do you have to pay for your health care, but the wages and running costs of your insurer.
A money pit middle man.
Blue Cross CEO salary= $16 million p.a.
I'm going to rub this in mate. Here in the UK we pay passively through general taxation for the National Health Service, something we obviously never notice as we've all being paying taxes. Then whenever you are sick, whatever it is, however serious or trivial, however young or old you are, whether you are employed, unemployed or homeless, you get medical treatment. First class, world class, medical treatment. no quibble, no messing about. if you have a life threatening issue or are in some way vulnerable, your treatment will be immediate. For less urgent issues there are waiting lists, but if it becomes acute then you get priority. AND THERE IS NEVER ANY BILL AT ANY TIME.
There is no worry wondering if your insurance company will pay for it, nor what the co-pay will be or any other way they have of getting out of paying.
I've heard some US "conservatives" talk about "Death Panels" in the UK (they don't exist, obviously) whereas in the US there ARE death panels - the insurance companies. They exist to make money and deny claims!
In the UK, if you have an accident or cannot get to the hospital, the ambulance ride is also free (don't listen to the people that tell you that you have to pay in the case of a road traffic collision, that charge is covered by the MANDATORY auto insurance).
Medicines are free to the under 18's, those in full time tertiary education, pensioners (like me) and people on low incomes
, everyone else pays about £10 per item (or £100 per item per year).
As a queer man I take prophylactic Truvada (PrEP) to minimize the chance of contracting HIV, that is FREE. (incidentally, it was free in South Africa to everyone when I lived there for twenty years). This is about $2,000 dollars a month in the US! Some insurance covers it, but as with every other insurance claim in the US there is no guarantee they will cover any of it, let alone all of the cost.
Also, also..
We don't have homeless camps.
We are not afraid of getting shot.
Rant over, for now!
Great rant, well said 👍
For a 'modern' country, the USA is pretty primitive in many ways ! I feel genuinely sorry for our American cousins - a wonderful (but somewhat gullible) people, being screwed senseless by their political class and the corporations that fund it.
I understood what you meant when you said your dollars are gonna stay your dollars and not contribute to the upbringing of everyone. But even that is not accurate. In healthcare alone, by paying into a private health insurance which handles claims from a multitude of clients, your dollars are used to compensate for others who do not, cannot pay and to generate a profit for the company. Thus higher costs. And I disagree with your notion that Americans do not say your country is the freest to mean you have more freedoms that anybody else, anywhere else. That is exactly what most mean when they erroneously say it. I'm glad you see it differently. This was a very interesting video and I liked that you took the time to dissect what was said and comment on many points. No need to apologize for pausing a video. Do your thing, we're here for exactly this.
Hi Conner. If you visited the UK and had an accident - say you broke your leg - you would get taken to hospital by ambulance for free, and would be treated for free - that's xray, examination, leg plaster setting etc etc. Zero charge. You would even be given a crutch. And asked to return it when you're healed, if possible. If you needed any medication, then you would have to pay around £5-10 maximum.
I love that you're self aware and feel secure to express your own thoughts, opinions and biases, which is actually good for people to understand each other
In the US you can fly as high as you can and fall very low. In Europe you can fly as high as you can and when you fall we are here to catch you and help you get back up to a normal living standard.
Beautifully said.
America is the greatest country in the world, not even close.
Mate, at some point, if you haven't already, you might think about watching some George Carlin, who was referencing some of this stuff getting on for 30 years ago. Or Bill Hicks, who was pointing out our failings, along with government lies, inconsistencies and deceits a few years earlier.
Another American struggling with cognitive dissonance.
Mr. Cross showed early in the video how much more taxes you actually pay and how little you get back for it compared to citizens in other countries.
When a country spends MORE tax money per citizen on health care than any other country in the world at the same time as citizens have to buy expensive health insurance and on top of that pay huge deductibles, it goes without saying that their system is severely damaged. Not to mention that life expectancy is steadily declining, medicines are 10, 20, 30 times more expensive than in any other country in the world.
Here in Norway, medication is (almost) free if you have an illness that requires you to take medication for at least three months per calendar year or a chronic illness such as diabetes, after you have paid a deductible that does not exceed $ 335 per year.
To answer your questions;
YES, you ONLY think of profit and never of other people in your eternal pursuit of the almighty dollar. You are a country obsessed with a philosophy of toxic capitalism that makes it so a few ultra-rich possess the vast majority of wealth that makes the U.S.A. prosperous. If you take away the fortunes of the few ultra-rich, the U.S. is not prosperous at all, you are extremely mediocre when it comes to wealth. And that's exactly how you appear when you look at the infrastructure, the health care system, the school system, the housing situation and other comparable metrics.
Their wealth is not used where it should have been used, it ends up in their "collection" never to be seen again.
When it comes to the US prison system, it is based on two things;
Racism and profit.
The "war on drugs" was created far back in time when one wanted to create an image of Mexicans who smoked marijuana as monsters and thus prevent them from entering and make it easier to send them back to Mexico.
Nixon adopted this intimidation propaganda in the 1960s but used it against the black population to control them during the civil rights movement. This led to more people of color being imprisoned, which led to the need for more prisons, which led to the private prison industry. These private prisons often enter into an agreement with the states in which they operate where the companies undertake to build and operate the prisons in exchange for the states renting them and guaranteeing that they are AT LEAST 90% full at all times.
And who is the easiest to imprison? The poorest people from the poorest neighborhoods. And as we all know, it's usually the colored part of the population.
When you then add that colored Americans on average get 20% longer sentences than whites for the same crimes, that you ONLY concentrate on punishing and not rehabilitating, you end up with a huge prison population that will return time and time again so that these cynical companies can rent them out as free labor to companies and government entities. Did you know, for example, that all the helmets of the US Army are made by prisoners? Or that many of the firefighters who put out the California wildfires were prisoners? This is yet another incentive for private companies to lobby to get more private prisons and to imprison even more more or less innocent people on ridiculously long sentences. In other parts of the world this is known as slavery.
Another mistake you and most Americans make is believing that you are the only ones living in a free country. You could not be more wrong! The only freedom you have that we in Norway do not have is the right to own a military-grade weapon, and that goes for most other countries in the world.
It is a freedom we do. not. want!
Except for that, we are more free than you have ever been or will be. We have the same, if not better opportunities to succeed because we have free education for all, many forms of start-up support from the government if you want to start your own business and we have salaries that you can live on if you want to work for others. We know what our tax money goes to, even though not everyone is equally happy with what it is used for. But that is why we have free elections with a wide range of parties to choose from and politicians who accept the results even when it does not go their way.
Real freedom is if I get sick I do not have to worry about whether I have insurance, what the ambulance costs, whether the hospital I am driven to and the doctor who receives me is covered in MY insurance because it's all free.
Real freedom is to send my children to school without thinking about whether I will see them again because a boy with mental health problems has stolen his father's AR-15 and will take revenge on those who bullied him at school.
Real freedom is knowing that if I have trouble taking care of myself for whatever reason, the system will pick me up and do its utmost to help me.
My American friend fell off her moped while in the UK. Someone called an ambulance, she tried to refuse. She was told to shut up and get in. She was taken to hospital, checked out, treated for a few bruises and sent on her way rejoicing. Not sure about the moped though! Good thing about the NHS, it keeps the private options in line - both in cost and efficiency. We know we can get good treatment easily through the NHS, so private schemes have to do the same.
It's so depressing and you keep making jokes...
OK Connor - you say 'Europeans should realise that the US is very different and that it's better in many ways' - I'm interested - just how is the US better ?
yep really interested too
🤔
Some reasons you have such a high incarceration rate could be attributed to the "for profit" prison system, racism, poverty and an inadequate social safety net. It is ok to struggle with uncomfortable truths. Learning about them is key, acting on the information is essential. Canadian here. A sad truth as well is that many Americans think Canada is socialist, as we tend to attempt to help the less fortunate through a public funded safety net. We are indeed a Democratic society with a half decent social safety net. Far from perfect but we are working on it. Maternity leave, disability assistance, employment insurance, healthcare, working towards 10 dollar a day daycare, national pharmacare, and national dental care. These are all things needed to provide stability and some degree of respect for individuals in need. We are beginning to see some "for profit" prisons here but in my opinion these need to be shut down. We dropped the ball during the pandemic with our retirement homes, especially the "for profit" ones, way to high of a mortality rate during pandemic and some serious flaws have been discovered. Humanity as a whole needs to look after the vulnerable, greed runs rampant and leads down a dark path. You seemed very thoughtful while viewing, nice to see the reaction.
I'm from the UK have been in hospital for several procedures over the years. Have never paid a single penny as its completely free. Its seen as a human right and not a business
I would suggest considering that America is great despite itself. Imagine all of that wealth, innovation, creativity, entrepreneurialism, and drive AND a social conscience.
You reacted to a video where Norway (I think?) incentivised wealth generators to take risks, with the State underwriting that risk. A State that has excellent(!) social welfare programs I might add.
America could do the same, and be economically unassailable, but it, or the 1% talked about in the video, choose not to. America does, and will continue, to punch well below its weight. And that’s a great shame.
The normalized, systemized corruption and general culture of selfishness stand in the way. If the US is to grow a social conscience, much fundamental change needs to be done.
@@torbjornlekberg7756 Don't forget the propaganda drilled into everyone since birth and reinforced by their media and education system: "American is the greatest country in the world", etc.
@@Erizedd Good point.
My cousin moved from England to the US about 10 years ago and was shocked how badly their citizens are treated.
Everything from healthcare to work conditions. If you're not working and paying taxes, they don't give a shit about you. If you are working they don't think that much of you either. His words.
He honestly said it's like living in a third world country. He's coming back next year as apparently they don't get a pension either.
I saw an under cover boss the other day that nearly had me in tears, he had one off his workers in tears so greatfull to her boss. What had he done, she needed an operation so she could have children but could not afford it. He gave her 30 days sick pay and paid for the operation, very gracious and charitable, but in all of europe and industrial nations she would have gotten that and more without any charity. Its law to get sick pay even if you are of sick for months, medical fees are covered by the taxes you pay. Even if you are not in work you are covered. Come on America look after your people it will even save you money.
Great reaction. It was interesting to hear you working through your thought process.
There is an intersting video about German political parties from Lucas Bender. He also explains the difference between Socialism and Social Democracy since most EU countries have some sort of Social Market Economy. Also the prison systems in Europe are completly different than in the US. Best example for this are prisons in Norway or Finland. They incarcerate way less people because they focus more on reintegration than punishment. Rest of Europe is similar but the Nordics are the best example
But see your point about being free because more of your dollars stay your dollars in the USA rather than elsewhere in the world simply isn't true. Which he actually illustrates in the video you just watched.
You spend more on taxes, healthcare, etc which actually leaves you with less of the dollars you earned than the likes of the UK, Canada etc. Yes other countries have nominally higher income taxes, but you are forced to pay through the nose for services which are completely free here. Meaning most other developed countries citizens actually have more disposable income on average after all is said and done.
And in addition, if an American citizen leaves the country to live abroad, the US government STILL makes them liable for filing taxes in America, one of only two countries in the World that does this....freedom, my arse ..lol
6:50 - I can only relate to Germany, but here "free public health care" means basically, every employee is paying everyones medical bills through the public and mandatory health insurance as long as they dont opt-out and use a "private" health insurance instead. But you have to have a health insurance no matter what and the social insurance system also include stuff like retirement, unemployment and nursing in retirement.
Not only do we as Americans accept all these things, we will fight for our disfunction. We don’t want free health care,yet we have the VA. We will never double back on our ignorance!
I went to the doctor's this morning. I talked to the doctor- FREE I was booked in for a blood test- FREE. I have an appointment for an X-Ray- FREE. Need I say more?!
No love, I'm from Yorkshire!!
I worked for an American company in the UK, and the irony is that after 25 years I had 29 days paid leave. And don't confuse Socialism with Communism. They are miles apart politically. European countries just care more about their citizens and have social policies in place. It's not based on how much profit a company can make. American companies do care more about profit than people. Again America has more people incarcerated than any other country, because it's profit driven and relies on the amount of bums in cells and they have strong lobbying practices in government e.g. gun lobby, anti-social healthcare....profit, profit, profit. By the way I love America but I'd hate to fall ill there.
It is NOT that European countries 'care more about their citizens' - that is sentimental twaddle. They have just worked out that having healthy people with few worries make companies and countries more effective. Reduced levels of inequality lead to a more content populace who will wish to continue voting for the system they think is responsible.
@@kumasenlac5504 I believe that the situation isn't as cynical as you make out. If it were so then why doesn't America adopt a similar position as the rest of the world's developed countries?
I am Canadian. I had a medical situation occur. I had 2 emergency surgeries, was in the ICU for a week, had 3 casts, 5 weeks in hospital, physical therapy, my meds, xrays and MRI....I paid ZERO dollars....period. Also have 8 weeks paid vacation per year, and a full year off maternity leave ... paid.
The main problem with for profit medicine is that when someone else pays the bill other than the user it always costs more! The hospital is incentivised to get the maximum it can for each service. If say the real cost of an MRi scan is $150 to the hospital they charge the Insurance company $1000. The insurance company will probably network and insist you use one of their preferred practitioner's. So the real actual cost is never known by the patient.
You are so naive it's hilarious!
Administration is paperwork and bureaucracy, processing and chasing payments etc
Free. Obviously you pay tax but the tax doesnt go up or anything. I had 2 surgeries, a year of physio, medicin, orthopedic equipment. I paid €7 for the breakfast in the hospital. The only paper work I did was showed my ID and a consent form.
Even if the tax was higher (which it isnt) knowing that when I'm at my weakest I will never have to worry about money or talk to an insurance company is priceless to me.
Yes - I've had a number of surgeries in my (pleasantly long) life and the reassurance that the only thing I had to worry about was getting better made my stay in hospital stress-free and (please note) shorter. Win-win.
As an Aussie, i've been to the doctors many times and the Hospital a few times and it's absolutely FREE! I go to the doctors every couple of weeks and get blood taken every few months and it's all for FREE! We do pay for some services. For example i had both arms ultrasounded recently, if it was just one it would have been FREE! But as it was both i paid about $180 from memory and about $120 was refunded through Medicare. We also pay for prescription medication but it's heavily discounted, the most i've paid for 4 medications at once was about $60, but usually i only pay about $15 for a few medications at a time. I know that must be hard to comprehend as an American, i saw one story of parents taking their infant to emergency for a fever or something but had recovered by the time they got there, but they gave the infant a bottle of milk and then sent them home. They then got a bill for $10000 WTF! America is messed up and the core of it all is corrupt politicians and greed.
Aussie here, I get you, I was born here. At the very beginning, before bud started the kid (Connor?) said ‘Communist’ . I haven’t even watched anymore, but have seen this reviewed by others Somehow they think, as I’ve been called. A communist or a socialist. I’m definitely not. They can’t get the ‘past’ meaning of Socialism out of their head from decades ago. I have many wonderful American friends, friends who have lived there. They think a socialist system is bad, corrupt and evil and we have no freedom . How to get across to the hard heads who think we aren’t free and completely controlled by our government Re health care is one hard nut to crack. Thankfully some are finely understanding it.
It will be interesting to see how he reacts.
Yeah here in Sweden we get billed after treatment. My treatment against my MS cost about $80.000. And I got billed after as well. The bill was $50 for the 5 days at the hospital including food and all the medicine I needed. 😂😂😂😂😂😂
MS sucks.. 😢♥️
I definitely recommend that you check out the some of the various global Freedom Indexes, where the US ranks at best at 17th, at worst 53rd
I'm in Australia and broke my toe at home while on Christmas holdidays sadly not even alcohol to blame. I went to the ER, had X-Rays, was fitted and supplied with a immobiliser (moon boot) and sent on my way all at no cost. 3 weeks later had a follow up with an othopedic surgeon and more X-Rays and sent on my way at no cost. To add to this, I was off work for 6 weeks on medical leave (at full pay) even though I didn't injury myself at work and it wasn't work related.
Another example was when my daughter was born, we had all the pre-natal classes in tyhe hospital, a private suite for 3 days and went home with a healthy happy little girl (and mum), not 1 cent on anything including the drugs etc.
What he meant with: "few people take as much of your money for themselfs and their faimlys" is a reference to the Fact that about 100 families run the US, make the laws (lobbyism: small interset groups vs the masses) that allow them to save taxes (your money) and get HUUUUUGE tax breaks!!! I.e not pay their fair part in the upholding of the county🤷
You need to open your eyes
In the UK all medications costs £9.35, for example if I need paracetamol and it costs 20p for the NHS to buy everyone still needs to pay £9.35 for it, and if someone needs cancer medication that costs £100 they still only pay £9.35. the lower medication substitutes the expensive medication. People who are long term sick, unemployed, pregnant or under 16 years old don't pay anything
Indeed. I get four different items all free because of a dodgy thyroid.
Free in Wales
@@TheTruthstalker god bless the welsh
The prescription charge only applies in England. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland prescriptions are free. Also, you would just buy the paracetamol or similar 'cheap' medication across the counter in the supermarket or chemists - No one in their right mind would pay £9.35 for a prescription charge, so I didn't understand it being mentioned?! LOL !
@@stewedfishproductions7959 because it balances the costs of expensive medication, I think more cancer drugs are available in England, but yea everyone just buys it from the supermarket for a lot cheaper than an NHS prescription.
MRI scan cost me 20 euros in Finland. Treatment costs are capped at 20 euros, at least in 2015 when I left Finland to work in SEA.
In my country the Netherlands 🇳🇱 a ambulance ride is indeed free!
Yesss, you've started covering the Gravel Institute. They tend to be pretty hit-or-miss on foreign affairs, but I _highly_ recommend their coverage of US and general issues. They do excellent work on that.
I'm glad you're open to at least considering viewpoints that don't match with your preconceptions. I encourage you to keep that open mind and examining facts critically as you learn more, but never stop learning! Your viewers are right there with you. ^_^
Maybe you can also branch out to other creators like Corporate Aesthetic, Beau of the Fifth Column, Tom Nicholas, or Adam Something.
The decline of the US was inevitable given how it is run. I am old enough to remember the enthusiasm of the 80s. The patriotism back then was infectious. Now saying anything vaguely patriotic can have a few blue-haired, overweight twitter/tiktok imbeciles in tears.
The problem is not the individuals who live and work in the US. The problem is their politicians and what they spend their hard earned taxes on. Question everything (including me).
i cant imagine how it most feel to take so big RED PILL, like awaking from a nitemare and see u live in a horror movie i really feel with you(all), be brave
I love your flippant comments bringing levity to the videos 👏