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> what are the underlying causes

I don't want to reduce this complex issues to just one cause, but

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protestant_work_ethic

might help to understand at least parts of what we are seeing.

that's definitely part of what made America today through the initial settlement from Western Europe. A big challenge is that population growth is not coming from the same areas anymore, so expecting the same driving values is probabvly not going to work. True or not, the USA is still a beacon for opportunity and an escape from some pretty dire places. The lack of social safety systems is a polarizing but effective marketing tool for the people it attracts.

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