undefined | Better HN

0 pointsclarionbell1y ago0 comments

Problem is that it's not sustainable. We can't defend ourselves, our economies are de-industrializing, we have right and left radical taking over political spectrum all the while our pension and healthcare systems are moving ever closer to a breaking point.

The careful approach may have brought as pretty far. But isn't working anymore. It hasn't worked since 2008 at least.

0 comments

silverquiet1y ago

> We can't defend ourselves, our economies are de-industrializing, we have right and left radical taking over political spectrum all the while our pension and healthcare systems are moving ever closer to a breaking point.

Other than the defense part, the same could be said for the US.

Workaccount21y ago

The US has very rosy economic future projections compared to Europe, and frankly the rest of the world. Don't be fooled by sensational headlines and chronically online college kids complaining.

gota1y ago

Rosy in comparison to the rest of the world - maybe

Rosy in comparison to 1976~2000 - no

I'm under the impression it's been (sort of) proven (but I have no source) that the major reason for 'college kids complaining' is precisely because of the perceived loss in quality of life, purchasing power and access to {healtchare, safety, community, third spaces} when compared to prior generations

1 more reply

silverquiet1y ago

Do the future projections suggest that those gains will be shared equitably or lead to greater happiness and life outcomes for Americans?

1 more reply

RGamma1y ago

The US as a statistic, perhaps. As a collection of people... not sure, they seem pretty angry already.

archagon1y ago

A MAGA victory, now or in the future, can burn it all to the ground. The political situation is incredibly volatile.

chairmansteve1y ago

Not sure that the US has worked since 2008 either. The streets are full of homeless. Half the population is angry enough (about what I'm not sure), that they are about to elect a self described dictator.

aziaziazi1y ago

Your concerns are legitimate but the dream of an ever growing production isn’t sustainable either. But that is ok: not being the most powerful within a group is totally fine.

pfannkuchen1y ago

On the defense issue, I don’t really see where the threat would come from.

Russia isn’t in such a great place militarily either. It would be incredibly culturally strange for China to invade that far away and I don’t know that their military is configured for that anyway. They may influence and sabotage but would never attack Europe militarily IMO. Middle East and North Africa states don’t pose much of a threat still in an actual military conflict.

Who does that leave to defend against? America?

carlosjobim1y ago

> Who does that leave to defend against?

Maybe the criminal gangs, who already have capacity rivaling and sometimes surpassing European governments?

Or maybe killing, gang raping, shooting, bombing and looting is not an actual military conflict, because the soldiers don't wear uniforms, and thus nothing for the busy Europeans to mind.

pfannkuchen1y ago

Those are big problems, but the issue is a lack of will, not a lack of military strength. If the will situation changed those threats could be gone within a week.

2 more replies

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

0 comments

silverquiet1y ago

Other than the defense part, the same could be said for the US.

Workaccount21y ago

The US has very rosy economic future projections compared to Europe, and frankly the rest of the world. Don't be fooled by sensational headlines and chronically online college kids complaining.

gota1y ago

Rosy in comparison to the rest of the world - maybe

Rosy in comparison to 1976~2000 - no

1 more reply

silverquiet1y ago

Do the future projections suggest that those gains will be shared equitably or lead to greater happiness and life outcomes for Americans?

1 more reply

RGamma1y ago

The US as a statistic, perhaps. As a collection of people... not sure, they seem pretty angry already.

archagon1y ago

A MAGA victory, now or in the future, can burn it all to the ground. The political situation is incredibly volatile.

chairmansteve1y ago

aziaziazi1y ago

Your concerns are legitimate but the dream of an ever growing production isn’t sustainable either. But that is ok: not being the most powerful within a group is totally fine.

pfannkuchen1y ago

On the defense issue, I don’t really see where the threat would come from.

Who does that leave to defend against? America?

carlosjobim1y ago

> Who does that leave to defend against?

Maybe the criminal gangs, who already have capacity rivaling and sometimes surpassing European governments?

Or maybe killing, gang raping, shooting, bombing and looting is not an actual military conflict, because the soldiers don't wear uniforms, and thus nothing for the busy Europeans to mind.

pfannkuchen1y ago

Those are big problems, but the issue is a lack of will, not a lack of military strength. If the will situation changed those threats could be gone within a week.

2 more replies

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse