Stack'n Oz's said:
America's banking for consumers really is downright antiquated as compared to many other nations. 9 years ago when I moved here, I hadn't written a check in a decade, and hadn't received a paper invoice from a utility in at least five years... the "local" bank I got my mortgage with and opened an account with didn't even have internet banking at the time and I had to start opening mail again - arg!
Sure there are some banking giants here in the US, but anti trust laws see this country have more small banks missing many economies of scale many other countries have/enjoy.
In my eyes - banking in America for the average consumer (note I said average consumer not Wall st. Trader. The distinction is important.) is downright antiquated. Not something anyone who doesn't live here would understand. Debt/credit cards! What the heck is a "credit" card if you have to have funds in your account lol - yeah for those who love things like interac banking ... It's easier to pay with the established vendor Visa than any other way in many places here. People use credit cards here like many other people around the world use debt cards.
As for minimum wage and standard of living in America. There is a outright war in America on the poor. Americans would rather have a police state and incur all the costs that go with it, rather than help a poor slob out via minimum wage or social programs. This is a tough country for those who aren't established. It's not the land of "milk and honey" as so often touted.
As for standard of living - to the casual observer, things here seem inexpensive. And they are - sort of. But what those who travel here don't include into their pricing is healthcare. The average Canadian and American who are middle class are no better off if in either country at the end of the day if they have the same services.
Living the American dream is actually easier to do in many other countries that "seemingly" tax higher. When I point that out to many of my friends here, many have outright violent reactions. But the facts don't lie. Yeah, I'm a trained economist. I look at things like that.
Sorry but your analysis on America is absurd. There is no "war" on the poor here. Generally speaking, anyone in the US who is "poor" (not counting children) are that way because of the lifestyle they chose. America is still the land of opportunity, albeit not as much as it used to be thanks to the progressive libs intent on fundamentally changing America thru their various platforms. Many "poor" people, born that way, strive to succeed and do. If they fail it is not because of their race, sex, etc, it is because they gave up or were lazy. I am not talking about a guy that is laid off and is having a hard time finding a job. I am talking about the type that want free $hit from the gov and any other source they can find. When they can't find free $hit they claim they are poor because of others' fault.
Since the 60s the progressive libs have propagated their BS thru the various media sources they have control over- and generally the public has eaten it up. The "poor" here have been conditioned to receive entitlements and not obtain things on their own. For generations "poor" folks have received free gov money for each illegitimate child they produce, and many produce several, each one bringing more money per month. Although there have been some limits on this, it still goes on. People who are able-bodied have learned to fleece the system thru bogus "physical or mental disabilities" and get a free check each month from the Fed gov.
Poverty is a state of mind. Poor people generally think differently than non poor people and behave differently. Unfortunately it is a "dog eat dog" world, and you can't take away from the successful to give to the non successful and expect that a nation will be strong and prosper. People in the US are very lazy compared to generations past. Partly this is due to the progressive lib ideology which has weakened the US. Kruschev's promise from years ago has come to pass it seems.
As far as the police state, I agree many are incarcerated for drug offenses and that is wrong; all drugs should be legal for adults in my opinion (talking about heroin, etc). Unfortunately there are folks in America that are very dangerous and would kill you for a $1 and they need to be locked up. Such crimes happen everyday and the media won't report it accurately because it tends to cut against the success of progressive liberal ideology. However, when a cop shoots someone, it gets weeks of media attention.
PS My line of work puts me in constant contact with many of these types of "poor" people. They claim to be "poor" but always seem to have $$$ for cigs, alcohol, drugs, nice shoes, etc, etc., yet they claim they can't pay me my fees.
Just my opinion.
Jim
). In fact, at one point I thought the idea of a one world government was cool. Then, years later, I discovered things they don't teach at University (as they call it overseas). Perhaps that is why I disdain progressive libs so much is because I was one before and I see how wrong their platform is at its core (although most progressive libs are good at heart I believe- not those at the top though they are evil, think Soros, etc). There is always a legitimate sounding reason for what they do though so the ideas catch on until years later when you see them causing bad results. Why do you think Trump is doing so well today? Thankfully there are still some Americans left that remember the way things were only 20 years ago and before. We want it back.
