Right. The United States. "Wealthiest nation in the world." Sure we are. Let's look closer.
First of all, there's that pesky issue of this biggest, most killing international pandemic in the last more than 100 years.
Coronavirus: Why America Has More Deaths Than Any Other
And sure, this COVID pandemic is an event, a "one off", if you will, that will go away. Here's statistics that are more complete, more over time and the entire nation and world.
US ranks last in worker benefits among developed countries: data
For starters, we're the only Western, industrialized nation that a) doesn't have universal health care and that b) ties health care to profit and profits.
Real rocket scientists, we are.
Some of the facts from the article:
- Famed for their successful public health care systems, northern and Scandinavian countries like Canada, Denmark, Sweden and Norway ranked the highest in the top 10 countries with the best health care benefits.
- In the U.S., health care is privatized and does not offer universal health care, and Zenefits notes that private hospitals also propagate treatment inequalities between individuals who can afford higher quality treatment and those who cannot.
- Retirement benefits are another weak spot for the U.S.; older reports indicate that the U.S. comes in 16th place among the countries with the best retirement plans.
- This inequality in U.S. retirement planning extends to racial injustice as well. Some 24 percent of white family households are covered with an employee-sponsored retirement plan, compared to 16 percent of households of color.
- Throughout the globe, the U.S. also came in 32nd place for highest life expectancy, averaging 78.5 years.
- The U.S. is also notoriously stingy with its paid time off. Be it for sick leave, parental leave, or general work-life balance, the U.S. shows zero mandated paid holidays whereas similar countries within the European Union average between 20-30 paid holidays for discretionary use. Maternity leave is protected under U.S. labor laws, though, with 12 weeks of unpaid leave being the baseline for companies.
- Other countries, such as Finland, Germany, Japan, and Canada give their employees more time, ranging from 161 weeks to 52 weeks.
Note, too, above, what nations have higher standards of living, folks.
Yes. Socialist. Democratic Socialist governments and countries. Go figure.
So congratulations, America, Americans. At least, with all this, above, we also have this, below, eh?
U.S. Has Worst Wealth Inequality of Any Rich Nation
Say... Do you suppose, just suppose the two could be related?
Ya' think?
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