undefined | Better HN

0 pointscolechristensen3y ago0 comments

>If you want things to change, just copy the countries that don't have your problems.

The countries that don't have our problems don't have our demographics, history, or size, or anything remotely similar. Most of them also (intentionally) have to pay much less for defense, handled by us, and thus have more free tax revenue to spend on social programs.

There are some problems which could be helped with better access to social welfare resources. Not all. Likely not most.

There are divisions in our society which are a result of our history likewise cultures which are quite separated to which there is not a simple solution or social program which can just fix it.

0 comments

pasabagi3y ago

Every country is special. The point is, social welfare works in reducing crime in Korea, it helps in reducing crime in Denmark. It helps in radically different cultures and in countries with totally different histories. It works because the majority of crime is driven by desperate people that just don't exist if they have basic social welfare.

The mechanics can be complicated, but the basic principle is simple: there are no states with a decent safety net that have US-level crime statistics.

PS: You do realise you don't need all those weapons, right? The US is bordered by Canada, and Mexico. Nobody is ever going to invade. The historical normal of the US is to have basically no army, and it worked just fine. Nobody has even seriously considered invading the US since the British left, despite two world wars, because it's obviously so impractical.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse