Why the much-advertised American way of life continues to grow more socially, economically, and ....?

Question

Why the much-advertised American way of life continues to grow more socially, economically, and environmentally costly and less citizen-friendly--and what we should do about it?

Answer 1

vote for change.

Answer 2

Whoever said you are wrong on all counts or thinks that America is still #1, is obviously not looking at the bigger picture:

Among the so-called "developed" countries of the world, the US has the highest:
1) Cancer rates
2) Mental Illness rates
3) Obesity rates
4) Infant Mortality rates
5) Substance Abuse rates
6) Crime rates
7) Divorce rates
8) Pollution costs

The GDP actually includes all the "clean-up" costs (divorces, oil spills, rehab, etc.) for these problems - ironically, they are considered part of a "growing economy".

However, you asked "what we should do about it".

There are 2 aspects of this problem:
1) Mind
2) Body

In a near free-market capitalist system, the profit motive is necessary for individual physical survival, or the "Body" part of the problem. But I believe basic individual survival should be a guaranteed right, and not a life & death struggle. If the best of human civilization can only create a Darwinistic, survival-of-the-fittest, Jungle Economy, then we are not a very evolved species. A mixed socialist-capitalist system would be better - but of course, as long as self-interested Americans think they have the best society in the world, that's not going to happen anytime soon. "Socialism" is not an acceptable idea in the consciousness of Americans - even though most Americans don't even know the difference between socialism & communism.

The "Mind" part is related to awareness & consciousness. As a consumer society trapped within its own Matrix of making a Darwinistic living coupled with our ever increasing individual "needs" and "wants", most people do not see that this is the path to increasing individuual unhappiness & social disintegration (which is why we rank so poorly in many indicators, which most of us Americans are not even aware of). A system based on pure self-interest ultimately leads to long-term self-destruction. But most Americans in their Minds think that we have the best way of life, and that we are the model pinnacle of "advanced" civilization on this planet.

Our civilization is too focused on technological progress, information, & profit.... while general humanistic progress, wisdom, & happiness are all severely neglected. This is why the state of the world is getting worse, not better - because we created it this way from our own priorities & values.

There is nothing you can "do" in the world that will fix any of these problems. Any "actions" you make will only be countered by the actions of others opposed to you: that's why war & poverty will always exist no matter how much you protest or throw money at them. As long as a majority, or a substantial minority of humanity, accepts their existence as a "necessary evil", they will always exist. Only a growth & shift in global human consciousness will solve these problems permanently. When we can all agree, "No matter what our problems are, we will not go to war, and instead try to find solutions that all sides can agree to and live with..." then on that day there will be no more war in the world.

So you can only raise your own awareness & consciousness first - you have to wake yourself up before you can wake others. But even then, it is still up to other people to choose whether or not they want to raise their own awareness & consciousness. Obviously, many people will still choose to believe that nothing is significantly wrong with this Matrix, and that America is, and will always be, the "best country in the world".

Answer 3

Economically, it has substitute into worse. you will discover this once you seem at how lots the properly worth or the Euro has extra beneficial. Socially, worse as properly. human beings now no longer pass outdoors as much as they used to back interior the day and such quite some young infants spend hours an afternoon in front of monitors and not being social or spending time with acquaintances and kinfolk.

Answer 4

We should start working together as communities and citizens to help those who are less fortunate. The wealthy and elite should give back to the community so we can all have a share of the American dream!

Answer 5

US has cleaner environment and friendlier people than most developing nations. There is less social services than in Europe or Canade, but that's b/c hard-working people are a majority, and they do not want to pay for lazy ones.

Answer 6

You are wrong on all counts. Sorry.