Comment by avgDev | Hacker News Reader

Comment by avgDev | Hacker News Reader

I think this is pretty spot on. I recently visited Poland where i was born and raised for 14 years of my life. I know many people who came to US for work but have left. They earned more but spent more and did not feel good about their shitty low wage jobs.

I think life is relatively good for tech people, and business people in high positions.

There was a point in my life when I used foodstamps and medicaid. I suffered a serious allergic reaction to a medication which caused permanent damage to my neurological system and tendons. I ruined my credit due to the high cost of healthcare. However, I became really passionate about tech, now bought a house and rebuilt my credit. I still suffer from chronic pain but I manage it quite well and you would not be able to tell something is off.

The US healthcare caused massive mental issues and suicidal thoughts. First I lost my job, then I lost my insurance....it was scary. Then, ACA passed and I was covered under medicaid. Seriously, if it wasn't for ACA I dont think I would continue my existence.

I am back in work force making good money and am pretty happy.

This article is really interesting, I feel as US has failed its citizens. Legislation is driven by lobbying. Seems like nobody cares about science and facts anymore in politics. I wonder if some of this is caused by massive data collection and gearing speeches towards things people want.

Same thing happened to many news article, some dude looked at data said "these sensational titles/articles drive traffic", which drives revenue, WE NEED MORE. That's why CNN interviewed a dude that got sued by their parents because he would not move out at 31......

I love US and most people are great. I hope we can turn things around. I think politicians should be educated, smart people that work towards a greater good of a society.

'My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.' That's undoubtedly one of JFK's most famous quotes. It's interesting to think how much things have changed since then. Imagine if a politician, let alone a democratic one, said that. The response would be... less than positive.

So what's changed? One thing that I think is easy to pinpoint is that we've turned sharply against nationalism for various reasons. But then a simple question. If we're to believe that devotion to the American culture and interests is bad, what is supposed to make people in this enormous nation of 325 million care for one another? Right, we can say we -as humans- ought care for one another naturally and unconditionally. And lots of people say they care about e.g. what's happening in places outside of this country (Africa as a typical example). The median energy/income put towards doing anything about those situations, even just among those who claim to care? Absolutely 0.

In the heyday of America when there was a much stronger sense of connection between employer, employee, and generally people at large. Rich or poor, urban or rural, politician or voter, liberal or conservative - you were a fellow American. For instance the last time that a basic income in the US was mentioned actually came from a republican - Richard Nixon. That's not to say that I think it is/was a great idea, but rather that this deterioration of concern in society is a very new phenomena. Now we live in a society when a person goes to a congressional ballgame to try to kill as many congressmen as he can - many people were, shall we say, less than upset about his actions. There's certainly a chicken and egg question there, but the tautology needs to said: when people could not care less about one another (if they don't fit into their ingroup), it should come as no surprise when people could not care less about one another (if they don't fit into their ingroup).

Yeah that dude who wouldn't move out was from the same town I grew up in and whenever I read the local news lately his story is always top news.

As you might expect, a story like that generates a lot of user engagement.. tons of comments and replies.

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