Quote:
Originally Posted by jimjamuser
One question to be asked, "is the US STILL the greatest country?" It was at least in the top ten after WWW2. But today, when you look at comparative lists of countries, you find that we are # 1 in gun violence and deaths.......that's not too wonderful. We are about 30th in the factor called ......upward mobility - the UK is about 10th. And we are #1 in wealth disparity. Please check the other factors on the country comparisons list. You might not go away thinking "greatest country". I really WISH that it was!
..........think about how factors like extreme wealth disparity intensify the propensity for some marginal male youth to see GUNS and violence as an easy and thrilling way to improve their life. They might join forces in a gang or they could go crazy and individually just kill adults and children as punishment for THEIR dead-end lives.
.........Many young males (in every country, not just the US) feel like they are swimming upstream in an environment that HATES them and one where they can NEVER succeed. In the US they have the greatest access to semi-auto weapons of war than any other country so we have the greatest amount of mass murders.
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Taking all of what you said at face value, as being possibly being accurate to an extent, I suggest something that many should consider. Instead of comparing stats, try comparing lifestyles of the different countries compared to ours. And I am not attempting to belittle these tragedies by saying they are minor compared to other causes of deaths in our country. Our lifestyle, even at what is considered poverty level is better than most European or other countries. Our poverty level families live as well as many middle class families in other countries. Just pointing out what I have personally observed living most of my life overseas.
"Extreme wealth disparity" is a myth used by a few for other purposes that I can't say on here without being punished. We have a greater opportunity to succeed in this country than anywhere else. The only excuse is self inflicted lack of motivation to excel.
In my opinion (and I know I will be corrected if thought wrong) one reason for such violence and lack of respect for others is that many young folks are not busy or occupied enough. Growing up, my generation mostly worked in some manner. We had paper routes, mowed lawns, collected refundable sofa bottle deposits, washed cars, pulled weeds, lemonade stands, harvested tobacco, or other crops, etc. When we were young, you could get a paying job at age 14 with a workers permit in my state. Keeping kids busy gives them self-respect and their mind focused on goals.
Of course, there has always been violence in the world, ever since Cain and Able.