• HrabiaVulpes@europe.pub
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    6 hours ago

    When I was young people around me told me that the further west on the map country is, the wealthiest and more free people live there without any conflict bothering them. With USA (the west-most country on map) as a shiny utopia with everyone peacefully living there being rich and free.

    When I was a teen and my country joined EU I saw countless young adults emigrate west, seeking wealth and freedom beyond anyone’s wildest dreams. Terrorists and oppressive regimes waged war in the eastern lands.

    When I am an adult, the supposed peacekeeper of the world is waging wars to protect pedophiles. Former empire where sun never sets is trying to outlaw being young and sell their citizens data to highest bidder. And EU is bi-yearly trying to pass universal invigilation act.

    I feel like my moral compass never really changed, it’s just the world around me that changed beyond recognition. I worry how it will be when I get old, if I even get to live to old age.

    Hang in there, buddy, it’s rough but we are all in this together.

    • Aniki@feddit.org
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      4 hours ago

      US quality of life is going down because labor market has lower demand. it used to be: economic growth -> high demand for labor -> high wages -> quality of life.

      the only thing that it has to do with being “west” was that new land -> lots of stuff to do -> growth -> high wages -> quality of life. once the land is settled, that stops.

      • HrabiaVulpes@europe.pub
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        4 hours ago

        If nazis in ww2 had propaganda as good as american dream, nobody would know they lost the war to this day.

      • Aniki@feddit.org
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        4 hours ago

        actually, to live without economic growth takes entirely different strategies than the labor market and wage mechanism.

        it needs strategies that the US has not shown mastery of yet.