What’s wrong with the US?

I lived in the US for about two decades, and love many sides of the US: nature, many of the people, the leading-edge culture, the ease of finding organic food, and so on. I would have become a citizen if Norway allowed dual citizenship. (They allowed it at exactly the moment I had left the US.)

Predictably, there are also things I find problematic about the US: historic and current interference in the internal affairs of other countries (including overthrowing democratically elected governments), terrible health-care system, poor social safety nets, bad public transportation, the influence of Big Money in politics, increasing political polarization, the number of people that seem to support an obvious con-man like Trump, and more.

Why is the US so polarized? Why is it so behind in some many areas compared to other industrialized countries?

It’s obviously a complex issue and I am no expert, but some things stand out.

A main reason for the polarization may be the winner-takes-all electoral system. This encourages a two-party system, and if you only have two parties, you set the stage for polarization. It’s not inevitable, but it can easily happen and get out of hand as we see today’s US political climate. (It’s made worse by the weird electoral college system, gerrymandering, and so on.)

According to Barbara Walter, who has studied what leads to civil wars, the US now has all the ingredients ready for a civil war. Not the old-fashioned one, but one where far-right groups target minorities, political opponents, and civil servants.

In a parliamentary system, as we have in Norway and most democratic countries, parties typically have to work together in a coalition, and the makeup of the coalition changes from time to time, so there is even more incentive to partner across party lines. Also, if you want to get things done, you sometimes need to work with parties outside of your coalition which encourages maintaining a good working relationship with all parties. You never know who your next partner on an issue or project is going to be.

The US has a long history of racism and white privilege. Those who identify as white are used to being top dog and now, with an increasingly diverse population, they have to share the stage with others. If you have a fragile sense of self-worth and you live in a culture of racism, that can feel threatening. As many point out, having a black president (Obama) may have frightened fragile whites into voting for a bigot and racist (Trump). (According to Barbara Walter, it’s typically the groups that fear losing historical privilege that start a civil war.)

Then there is the influence of Big Money in politics, the old media that thrives on sensationalism, drama, and polarization, and social media which is a hotbed of misinformation.

Finally, there is the internal cost of empire. Being an empire comes with a cost for the population, some that are tangible and with an easy-to-understand causality, and some that are less tangible although perhaps no less real.

The most tangible example may be that the US spends about $877 billion on its military. This is more than the next 10 countries combined, nearly 3 times more than China, and 12 times more than Russia. The US spending accounts for 39% of global military spending, with every American contributing about $2,600 per year, vastly outpacing spending on education, healthcare, and social programs.

Read on for more.

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I asked ChatGPT 4o for input on these topics.

Polarization & the winner-takes-all system

The political polarization in the U.S. is significantly influenced by its winner-takes-all electoral system and the two-party system. Here are some key factors contributing to this polarization:

1. Winner-Takes-All System: In most elections, especially presidential ones, the candidate who receives the most votes in a state wins all of that state’s electoral votes. This system discourages third-party candidates and leads voters to support one of the two major parties to avoid “wasting” their vote. As a result, both parties are incentivized to adopt more extreme positions to mobilize their bases.
2. Two-Party System: The dominance of the Democratic and Republican parties has created a binary political landscape. This system fosters an “us vs. them” mentality, where party affiliation becomes a central part of identity. People are more likely to see those who identify with the opposing party as adversaries rather than fellow citizens with differing viewpoints.
3. Gerrymandering: The practice of drawing district lines to benefit one party can create safe seats where incumbents face little competition. This leads representatives to cater to extreme voters within their party, further entrenching polarization.
4. Media Environment: The rise of partisan media outlets has amplified ideological divides. Many Americans consume news from sources that align with their beliefs, reinforcing existing viewpoints and fostering echo chambers.
5. Social Identity: Political affiliation has increasingly become intertwined with social identity, encompassing race, religion, and geography. This blending makes political disagreements feel personal, intensifying conflicts.
6. Interest Groups and Funding: Political action committees (PACs) and special interest groups often fund candidates who align with their specific agendas, encouraging more extreme positions that can alienate moderate voters.
7. Cultural and Social Issues: Polarization is exacerbated by contentious social issues like immigration, healthcare, and gun control, where opinions often divide sharply along party lines.

These factors create a cycle of polarization that reinforces divisions, making it challenging for moderate voices to gain traction and complicating bipartisan cooperation.

How to reduce the polarization in the US

Changing the political polarization in the U.S. is a complex challenge, but there are both realistic and more ambitious strategies that could help. Here’s a breakdown:

Realistic Approaches

1. Electoral Reform:
   • Ranked-Choice Voting: This allows voters to rank candidates by preference, which can reduce the “spoiler effect” of third-party candidates and encourage more moderate candidates.
   • Independent Redistricting Commissions: To combat gerrymandering, states can establish independent bodies to draw fair district lines, making elections more competitive.
2. Encouraging Bipartisanship:
   • Cross-Party Initiatives: Create forums or groups that promote collaboration between members of both parties on specific issues, focusing on shared goals rather than partisan agendas.
   • Bipartisan Legislation: Encourage and reward legislation that has support from both parties, showcasing successful collaborations to inspire further cooperation.
3. Media Literacy and Responsible Consumption:
   • Promoting Media Literacy: Educating the public about identifying bias and misinformation can help foster critical thinking and reduce polarization.
   • Encouraging Diverse News Consumption: Initiatives to promote exposure to a wider range of viewpoints can help break down echo chambers.
4. Civic Education and Engagement:
   • Enhancing Civic Education: Schools can focus on teaching students about the political process, critical thinking, and the importance of civil discourse.
   • Community Engagement: Local organizations can host forums and discussions that bring together diverse groups to discuss issues in a respectful manner.

Ambitious (But Less Realistic) Approaches

1. Multi-Party System:
   • Encouraging a Multi-Party System: Fundamental changes to the electoral system to support a multi-party system could lead to a broader range of viewpoints being represented. However, the entrenched two-party system and political culture make this very challenging.
2. Campaign Finance Reform:
   • Limiting Political Donations: Stricter regulations on campaign financing could reduce the influence of special interest groups and PACs. However, significant pushback from those who benefit from the current system makes this a tough sell.
3. Constitutional Amendments:
   • Amending the Constitution: Proposals for constitutional changes (e.g., to allow for proportional representation) face immense hurdles due to the difficulty of amending the Constitution and the deep divisions on the issue.
4. Addressing Social Issues at the National Level:
   • Comprehensive Reform on Hot-Button Issues: Attempting to resolve divisive issues like immigration, healthcare, or climate change through sweeping reforms could further polarize the electorate if not done with bipartisan support.

Summary

While many steps can be taken to reduce polarization, the success of these initiatives often depends on political will, public support, and overcoming entrenched interests. Realistic changes, such as electoral reform and promoting bipartisanship, can create a foundation for a healthier political environment. However, more ambitious efforts may require significant shifts in political culture and public sentiment, making them less feasible in the current climate.

The internal costs of empire

The internal costs of empires, including contemporary ones like the U.S., can be significant and multifaceted, spanning social, political, and economic dimensions. Historically, many of these internal costs manifest as the following:

1. Resource Allocation

Empires often divert enormous resources—financial, human, and material—towards maintaining global influence, military presence, and overseas interventions. In the U.S., a significant portion of the budget is devoted to defense spending, which can come at the expense of domestic needs, such as infrastructure, education, and healthcare.

2. Social Inequality

Empires tend to create and exacerbate inequality within their own borders. The U.S., for example, has higher income inequality compared to other developed nations. Large military budgets, global economic policies, and corporate interests tied to imperial activities can concentrate wealth among elites while leaving the broader population with inadequate public services, stagnant wages, and eroded safety nets.

3. Political Polarization

Maintaining an empire requires constant justifications for military interventions and global dominance, which can lead to internal propaganda, manipulation of public opinion, and the stifling of dissent. Over time, this can polarize domestic politics. In the U.S., the tension between global commitments and domestic issues fuels political division, as groups debate the role the country should play in the world, often at the cost of addressing domestic challenges.

4. Erosion of Civil Liberties

Empires often justify expansive surveillance, curtailment of civil rights, and suppression of opposition in the name of national security. For example, the U.S. has expanded surveillance programs, restricted civil liberties, and imposed aggressive policing measures post-9/11 under the guise of fighting terrorism. This erodes trust in institutions and diminishes democratic governance.

5. Moral and Ethical Decline

Empires, including the U.S., may become entangled in morally questionable actions, such as supporting authoritarian regimes, engaging in covert operations, or committing human rights abuses abroad. These actions often conflict with the country’s professed democratic values, creating a sense of moral hypocrisy and disillusionment among citizens.

6. Economic Instability

While empires can extract wealth and resources from their peripheries, the maintenance of global hegemony comes with long-term financial costs. High defense spending, interventionist foreign policies, and global entanglements can contribute to debt and financial strain. In the U.S., this has led to periodic financial crises and exacerbated the national debt.

7. Environmental Costs

The environmental toll of maintaining an empire is significant, from resource extraction and environmental degradation abroad to high energy consumption at home. In the U.S., military activities contribute to environmental destruction, and the global reach of its corporations and interests often accelerates climate change, while domestic environmental policies sometimes lag behind other industrialized nations.

8. Cultural and Psychological Costs

Empires can promote a culture of nationalism, militarism, and exceptionalism, which influences national identity. In the U.S., this manifests as a strong nationalistic belief in its role as a global “policeman.” Over time, this can foster xenophobia, erode empathy for other nations, and create a siege mentality, where the country’s population feels under constant threat or need for dominance.

9. Opportunity Costs

By prioritizing military and global dominance, empires often neglect domestic innovation, infrastructure, and social development. In the U.S., while many other developed countries have invested in universal healthcare, renewable energy, and education, the U.S. often falls behind, arguably because resources are heavily diverted to maintaining its empire.

In summary, the internal costs of maintaining an empire like the U.S. include misallocated resources, growing inequality, political dysfunction, erosion of civil liberties, and moral compromises. These internal consequences often make the country look less like other industrialized nations that focus more on domestic welfare and equality.

The end of the US empire

The end of the U.S. empire, like the decline of past empires, is likely to be a gradual, complex process rather than a single, cataclysmic event. Historically, empires end not just through direct military defeat but via a combination of economic, political, social, and external pressures. While it’s impossible to predict the exact timeline or course, there are several possible scenarios and factors that could contribute to the decline of the U.S. empire:

1. Economic Decline

Economic decline is a common feature in the fall of empires. The U.S. economy is currently the world’s largest, but it faces significant challenges, such as rising debt, increasing income inequality, outsourcing of manufacturing, and dependency on global financial systems. If the U.S. continues to experience economic stagnation, it may become less able to fund its vast military presence and global influence. Additionally, the growing strength of China and other emerging economies could shift global economic power away from the U.S., reducing its global clout.

2. Military Overreach

Like past empires, the U.S. faces the risk of military overextension. Maintaining hundreds of bases around the world and involving itself in multiple conflicts puts a strain on national resources. The U.S. could find itself trapped in unsustainable military commitments, bogged down in unwinnable conflicts, or financially unable to maintain its vast defense apparatus. At some point, the costs of maintaining global dominance could exceed the benefits, leading to a retrenchment or withdrawal from some regions, as seen in the winding down of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

3. Internal Political Fragmentation

Internal political dysfunction is a potential factor in the decline of the U.S. empire. Increasing polarization, political gridlock, and the erosion of trust in institutions undermine the country’s ability to govern effectively and maintain its global leadership. If the U.S. continues to struggle with internal divisions, its capacity to project power abroad may weaken. The political system could become so fragmented that it can no longer effectively govern or respond to crises, both domestically and internationally.

4. Loss of Global Influence

The decline of U.S. soft power and global influence is another potential cause of imperial decline. Soft power includes cultural, diplomatic, and ideological influence, which has been a key aspect of U.S. global leadership since World War II. However, recent years have seen a decline in the U.S.’s reputation abroad, with its global leadership being questioned due to actions such as unilateral foreign policy decisions, trade wars, and perceived inconsistency on global issues like climate change. If other nations begin to shift alliances and reduce reliance on U.S. leadership, American influence could diminish significantly.

5. Shifts in Global Power Dynamics

The rise of other global powers, particularly China, could lead to a multipolar world where the U.S. no longer holds the dominant position it has enjoyed since the end of the Cold War. As China continues to grow economically, militarily, and technologically, it could challenge U.S. influence in regions like Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Additionally, regional powers like Russia, the European Union, and India could assert more influence, reducing the need for U.S. intervention in global affairs.

6. Decline of the Dollar’s Dominance

The U.S. dollar’s status as the world’s reserve currency has long underpinned American global influence. If global trust in the dollar erodes—either through inflation, fiscal mismanagement, or challenges from alternative currencies—this could lead to the decline of U.S. financial dominance. A loss of confidence in the dollar could undermine the U.S.’s ability to finance its empire and lead to a broader economic and geopolitical shift.

7. Technological and Cyber Warfare Shifts

The future of warfare may rely less on traditional military dominance and more on cyber capabilities, artificial intelligence, and information warfare. The U.S. may struggle to maintain its lead in these areas, especially if adversaries like China and Russia close the technological gap. Cyberattacks, misinformation campaigns, and disruption of U.S. infrastructure could weaken the empire without traditional military confrontation.

8. Environmental and Climate Crises

The U.S. may also face internal and external challenges due to environmental degradation and climate change. Rising sea levels, extreme weather, and resource shortages could strain the country’s infrastructure and economy. As climate crises affect more parts of the world, the U.S. could be forced to turn inward to deal with domestic challenges, reducing its capacity and willingness to engage in global imperial pursuits.

9. Social Unrest and Civil Discontent

Empires often experience internal decay due to social unrest, which can be exacerbated by economic inequality, racial tensions, and a sense of disenfranchisement among the population. In the U.S., deepening inequalities, political division, and social movements (e.g., Black Lives Matter, populist uprisings) could lead to widespread civil discontent, further weakening the nation’s ability to maintain its empire. A fragmented or destabilized domestic front would make it difficult to project global power effectively.

10. A Gradual Shift Away from Imperialism

Another possibility is that the U.S. empire could end through a conscious policy of gradual withdrawal from global dominance. This could come from a recognition that maintaining the empire is no longer in the country’s best interest, combined with pressure from the American public to focus on domestic issues like healthcare, education, and infrastructure. Such a shift might result in a reduced military footprint, fewer interventions abroad, and a focus on multilateral diplomacy rather than unilateral action.

Possible Outcomes

• A Transition to Multipolarity: The U.S. empire may decline not through collapse but through a shift to a multipolar world where power is more evenly distributed among nations like China, the EU, Russia, and India. The U.S. would remain influential but as one of several global powers rather than the dominant hegemon.
• Retrenchment and Isolationism: As the U.S. faces internal crises and growing challenges abroad, it could withdraw from its imperial commitments and adopt a more isolationist stance. This would entail focusing on domestic issues and reducing military interventions, leading to a reduced global role.
• A New Form of Influence: While the formal empire may end, the U.S. might maintain influence through economic and technological leadership rather than military dominance. In this scenario, the U.S. could shift its strategy to exerting global power through trade, innovation, and soft power rather than through direct control or intervention.

In summary, the U.S. empire will likely end through a combination of internal and external factors, including economic strain, political dysfunction, military overreach, and the rise of other global powers. It is unlikely to end suddenly but may fade over time, as the U.S. gradually cedes its global dominance to a more multipolar world.

US military spending

The U.S. military spending is by far the highest in the world, significantly outpacing that of any other country. To put it in easy-to-understand terms, here are some key comparisons and figures:

1. The U.S. spends more than the next 10 countries combined.

• In 2023, the U.S. spent about $877 billion on its military.
• The next 10 largest military spenders—China, Russia, India, Saudi Arabia, the UK, Germany, France, South Korea, Japan, and Italy—together spent around $819 billion.

2. U.S. military spending is more than 3 times that of China.

• China, which has the second-largest military budget, spends about $292 billion annually. The U.S. spends almost 3 times more than China.

3. The U.S. spends nearly 12 times more than Russia.

• Russia, despite its involvement in significant conflicts like the war in Ukraine, spends approximately $86 billion annually on its military, which is just under 10% of what the U.S. spends.

4. Military spending as a share of the global total:

• The U.S. accounts for about 39% of all military spending in the world.
• For comparison, China contributes about 13%, and Russia around 3.9%.

5. Per capita comparison:

• On a per capita basis, every U.S. citizen indirectly contributes around $2,600 annually to military spending.
• In contrast, a citizen of China contributes about $200, and a Russian citizen about $600.

6. U.S. spending compared to domestic needs:

• The U.S. military budget is more than 8 times what the federal government spends on education.
• It is about 30 times larger than what the U.S. spends on public transportation.

7. How does it compare to social programs?

• The U.S. military budget is roughly 10 times larger than what the government allocates to housing and urban development.

8. Military vs. Healthcare:

• Although the U.S. spends trillions on healthcare, its military budget is still about 4 times what it spends on Medicaid, a crucial healthcare program for low-income Americans.

In summary, the U.S. military spending is massively larger than that of any other country and consumes a significant portion of the national budget, often exceeding the combined spending of other major world powers and overshadowing domestic priorities like education, infrastructure, and healthcare.

US compared with other industrialized countries

When comparing the U.S. to other industrialized countries (especially in the OECD), several key differences stand out across healthcare, social policies, education, environmental practices, and more:

Healthcare Outcomes

U.S.: The U.S. has the highest healthcare expenditure per capita, at $12,318 (2021), but relatively poor health outcomes compared to other industrialized nations, such as a lower life expectancy of 77.5 years and high infant mortality rates (5.4 deaths per 1,000 live births).

Other Industrialized Countries: Countries like Germany, France, and Canada have universal healthcare systems, spending significantly less per capita (e.g., $6,731 in Germany), yet achieving better health outcomes (life expectancy in Germany is 81 years, infant mortality rates of 3.1 per 1,000 live births).

Income Inequality

U.S.: The U.S. has one of the highest levels of income inequality among industrialized nations, with a Gini coefficient of 0.41 (where 0 represents perfect equality and 1 represents complete inequality).

Other Industrialized Countries: European nations such as Norway and Denmark have significantly lower income inequality, with Gini coefficients around 0.25. These countries also tend to have stronger social safety nets, including universal healthcare, higher minimum wages, and more robust social welfare systems.

Social Mobility

U.S.: Social mobility (the ability to move from one economic class to another) is lower in the U.S. compared to many other industrialized countries. For instance, a child born to low-income parents in the U.S. has only about a 7.5% chance of rising to the top 20% of earners.

Other Industrialized Countries: In countries like Denmark, Finland, and Sweden, social mobility is much higher. In Denmark, for example, a child from a low-income family has about a 12-13% chance of reaching the top 20%, thanks to free education and extensive social services.

Work-Life Balance

U.S.: The U.S. is the only industrialized country that does not mandate paid parental leave at the federal level. On average, Americans work 1,791 hours per year with typically fewer vacation days.

Other Industrialized Countries: In contrast, European countries mandate generous parental leave and vacation time. For example, Sweden offers up to 480 days of paid parental leave, and the average German worker works around 1,332 hours per year, with at least 20 paid vacation days guaranteed.

Gun Ownership and Gun Violence

U.S.: The U.S. has by far the highest gun ownership rate in the industrialized world, with about 120.5 guns per 100 people. Gun-related deaths are also significantly higher at 12 per 100,000 people annually.

Other Industrialized Countries: In countries like Japan, the UK, and Australia, gun ownership is heavily regulated, and gun-related deaths are rare. For example, in Japan, gun-related deaths are 0.02 per 100,000 people annually.

Education Performance

U.S.: The U.S. spends more on education per student (about $13,600 annually in K-12 education), but its performance in math and science lags behind other industrialized nations. In the OECD’s PISA rankings, the U.S. ranks 25th in math and 13th in reading.

Other Industrialized Countries: Countries like Finland, Japan, and South Korea consistently rank higher in education outcomes despite spending less. For example, Finland ranks in the top 5 for education performance and emphasizes shorter school hours, less homework, and a more holistic education model.

Poverty Rates

U.S.: The U.S. has higher poverty rates among industrialized countries, with about 11.6% of its population living below the poverty line (2021). Child poverty rates are particularly concerning, affecting around 16.9% of children.

Other Industrialized Countries: Many European countries have significantly lower poverty rates, particularly due to stronger social safety nets. In Norway, for example, the poverty rate is around 8%, and child poverty is much lower, at about 9.4%.

Environmental Impact

U.S.: The U.S. is among the largest per capita carbon emitters in the industrialized world, with around 15.5 metric tons of CO2 emissions per capita.

Other Industrialized Countries: European countries, particularly in Northern Europe, have made significant strides in reducing their carbon footprints. For example, Sweden has one of the lowest per capita carbon emissions at 4.4 metric tons and is committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2045.

Military Spending

U.S.: The U.S. leads in military spending, allocating over $877 billion (2022), which is about 3.5% of its GDP. This is more than the next 10 countries combined.

Other Industrialized Countries: Most European countries spend a smaller proportion of GDP on their militaries. For example, Germany spends about 1.5% of GDP, and Japan spends less than 1%.

Healthcare Coverage

U.S.: The U.S. is the only industrialized country without universal healthcare. About 8.4% of Americans are uninsured, and many face high out-of-pocket expenses.

Other Industrialized Countries: Most industrialized nations, such as those in Europe and Canada, offer universal healthcare coverage. In Canada, for example, healthcare is publicly funded, and everyone has access to essential medical services without direct out-of-pocket costs.

Health Insurance Costs

U.S.: The U.S. has a largely privatized healthcare system, resulting in high out-of-pocket costs for individuals. In 2022, the average annual premium for family health insurance was about $22,463, with employees typically covering around 28% of that cost.

Other Industrialized Countries: In countries with universal healthcare, such as the UK or Germany, citizens do not face such high out-of-pocket premiums. Healthcare is largely funded through taxes or social insurance programs, minimizing direct costs to individuals.

Student Loan Debt

U.S.: The U.S. has one of the highest levels of student debt in the world, with outstanding student loan debt totaling over $1.7 trillion. The average student borrower in the U.S. graduates with about $30,000 in debt.

Other Industrialized Countries: In countries like Germany, Norway, and Sweden, higher education is either free or heavily subsidized. In Germany, for instance, public universities charge no tuition fees, even for international students. In Norway, higher education is free for everyone, including non-Norwegians.

Childcare Costs

U.S.: Childcare in the U.S. is extremely expensive compared to other industrialized nations. The average cost of full-time childcare is about $10,000 to $15,000 per year per child.

Other Industrialized Countries: Many European countries provide highly subsidized or free childcare. In France, for example, parents pay on a sliding scale based on income, with costs as low as $2 to $4 per hour, while Scandinavian countries like Sweden provide nearly free childcare.

Taxation and Social Services

U.S.: The U.S. has relatively lower taxes compared to many industrialized nations, with a top federal income tax rate of 37%. However, social services, such as universal healthcare and robust unemployment benefits, are less extensive.

Other Industrialized Countries: Countries like Sweden and Denmark have higher tax rates, with top marginal rates of 52-55%, but they offer a wide range of social services, including universal healthcare, free or subsidized education, generous unemployment benefits, and paid parental leave.

Housing Affordability

U.S.: Housing affordability is a major issue in the U.S., where about 30-40% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, a threshold considered “cost-burdened.” Home prices have skyrocketed in many major cities like San Francisco and New York.

Other Industrialized Countries: In European countries like Germany, strict tenant protections and affordable housing policies mean a smaller percentage of income goes toward rent. In cities like Berlin, around 20% of income is spent on housing due to rent caps and affordable public housing.

Homelessness Rates

U.S.: The U.S. has higher rates of homelessness than most industrialized countries. In 2021, approximately 0.17% of the population (or over 580,000 people) were homeless, many living without shelter.

Other Industrialized Countries: In countries like Finland, homelessness is significantly lower due to comprehensive social safety nets. Finland has effectively reduced its homeless population by using a “Housing First” model, where people are given permanent housing as a first step, and its rate is less than 0.08% of the population.

Obesity Rates

U.S.: The U.S. has one of the highest obesity rates among industrialized countries, with about 42% of adults classified as obese.

Other Industrialized Countries: In European countries, obesity rates tend to be lower. For example, in countries like France and Italy, obesity rates are around 23% and 20%, respectively, due to different cultural attitudes towards diet, exercise, and food availability.

Mental Health

U.S.: Mental health issues are prominent in the U.S., with about 20% of adults experiencing some form of mental illness in a given year. Access to mental health services is often limited due to cost or lack of insurance coverage.

Other Industrialized Countries: Many European countries offer more accessible mental health services. For instance, in the UK, mental health care is part of the National Health Service (NHS), and treatment is largely free at the point of access. Countries like Sweden have comprehensive mental health services that are integrated into their universal healthcare systems.

Corporate Taxes

U.S.: The corporate tax rate in the U.S. is 21%, lower than the average among industrialized countries after the 2017 tax cuts.

Other Industrialized Countries: Many European countries have higher corporate tax rates. For instance, France has a corporate tax rate of 26.5%, and Germany’s effective corporate tax rate can reach around 30-33% when including local taxes.

Energy Use and Renewable Energy

U.S.: The U.S. is one of the largest energy consumers in the world, with a heavy reliance on fossil fuels. About 61% of U.S. electricity still comes from fossil fuels (natural gas, coal, oil).

Other Industrialized Countries: Many industrialized nations have shifted more quickly toward renewable energy. In countries like Germany and Sweden, 40-50% of electricity comes from renewable sources. Germany, for example, has aggressively pursued renewable energy, aiming for 80% renewable energy by 2030.

Transportation and Public Transit

U.S.: The U.S. is heavily reliant on cars for transportation. Public transit use is much lower than in most other industrialized countries, with only about 5% of the population regularly using public transportation.

Other Industrialized Countries: In countries like Japan, Germany, and the Netherlands, public transportation is widely used and highly efficient. In Tokyo, for example, more than 40% of residents use public transit daily, and in European cities, public transportation networks are integrated and heavily subsidized.

Internet Access and Speed

U.S.: The U.S. ranks relatively low in terms of internet speed and affordability. In 2021, the average fixed broadband speed in the U.S. was 204 Mbps, and internet costs are among the highest in the industrialized world, with average monthly costs of $55-70.

Other Industrialized Countries: Countries like South Korea and Japan have faster internet at lower prices. In South Korea, for example, the average broadband speed is 251 Mbps, and internet service can cost as low as $30 per month.

Economic Inequality

U.S.: Economic inequality is higher in the U.S. than in most other industrialized nations. The top 1% of earners in the U.S. take home about 20% of all income, and the wealth gap between rich and poor continues to widen.

Other Industrialized Countries: Countries like Norway, Sweden, and Germany have much lower economic inequality due to progressive taxation, generous welfare systems, and a focus on income redistribution. In Norway, the top 1% earn about 7.7% of total income.

The ongoing consequences of colonialism

The history of land theft, genocide, and colonialism in the United States is not simply a closed chapter but a foundational element that still shapes the country’s social, political, and economic structures. The legacies of these violent and exploitative systems continue to color many of the challenges faced in the U.S. today.

Theft of Land and Displacement
The systematic theft of land from Indigenous peoples is one of the foundational crimes of the United States. This began with European settlers and was formalized through various means, including treaties that were often violated, forced relocation programs like the Trail of Tears, and outright warfare. This process of dispossession severed Indigenous people from their ancestral lands, breaking their connection to resources, culture, and history.

Today, this legacy manifests in several ways. Many Indigenous communities still live on reservations, often in poor, rural areas with limited access to healthcare, education, or economic opportunities. The socio-economic disparities between Indigenous populations and the broader U.S. population are striking, with high rates of poverty, unemployment, and health problems. Beyond the material impacts, Indigenous knowledge systems, languages, and cultures have been marginalized, despite their deep connection to the land and sustainability practices that could offer important lessons in today’s ecological crises.

Genocide and Cultural Erasure
The genocide of Native American peoples through warfare, disease, and forced assimilation continues to haunt the country. While the physical genocide may have ended, cultural genocide persists through the erasure of Indigenous identities. Boarding schools, where Indigenous children were forcibly removed from their families and forbidden from speaking their languages, left deep scars that ripple through generations.

This legacy of cultural destruction lives on in the widespread ignorance about Indigenous histories in mainstream U.S. education. Most Americans are taught a sanitized version of history that downplays the violence and betrayal central to the founding of the country. The invisibility of Indigenous histories in public discourse perpetuates stereotypes and further marginalizes Native peoples in both social and political spheres.

Colonialism and White Supremacy
Colonialism in the U.S. is deeply intertwined with the ideology of white supremacy. The settler-colonial project relied on the dehumanization of both Indigenous peoples and Africans, who were enslaved to build the wealth of the country. This racial hierarchy was codified in laws and social practices that privileged whiteness and disenfranchised people of color.

While slavery officially ended in 1865, the ideology of white supremacy did not. It evolved through Jim Crow laws, redlining, mass incarceration, and ongoing racial profiling. The racial wealth gap, police violence against Black and Indigenous communities, and the underfunding of schools in minority neighborhoods all reflect the ongoing impacts of a system built on the idea that white lives are inherently more valuable. The recent surge in white nationalist movements and hate crimes is a reminder that the legacy of colonialism and white supremacy is far from being addressed.

Economic Inequality and Exploitation
The exploitation of land and labor is another through-line from the early days of U.S. colonization to the present. Settler expansion relied on the extraction of natural resources and the forced labor of enslaved Africans and Indigenous peoples. Today, economic inequality continues to reflect this colonial dynamic, with Black, Indigenous, and other people of color disproportionately impacted by poverty and lack of access to resources.

Land continues to be a contested space, with Indigenous peoples often fighting against corporations and governments for the right to protect their sacred lands from exploitation. The Dakota Access Pipeline protests at Standing Rock are just one example of how Indigenous rights and environmental protection intersect with the ongoing legacy of colonial exploitation.

Cultural Appropriation and Commodification
The legacy of colonialism also shows up in the commodification and appropriation of Indigenous and Black cultures. Mainstream U.S. culture often cherry-picks elements of these marginalized cultures, whether it’s through sports team mascots that reduce Indigenous peoples to stereotypes or the commercialization of Black music, fashion, and art. These appropriations flatten the complexity and diversity of these cultures, extracting their value while ignoring their struggles and contributions to society.

Environmental Injustice
The exploitation of the land, which began with the theft of Indigenous territories, continues in modern times through environmental racism. Communities of color, especially Indigenous and Black communities, are disproportionately affected by pollution, toxic waste, and climate change. The placement of hazardous industries in these communities is a continuation of the colonial mindset that sees non-white lives and lands as disposable. Indigenous activists have been at the forefront of the environmental justice movement, emphasizing that the fight for land is also a fight for life and survival.

Reconciliation and Resistance
Despite this deeply entrenched history, there are ongoing efforts to challenge these legacies. Indigenous movements like the #LandBack movement seek the return of stolen lands, while calls for reparations for Black Americans aim to address the economic theft of slavery and subsequent racial discrimination. Environmental justice movements led by Indigenous and Black activists are pushing for a rethinking of how land and resources are managed, emphasizing sustainable practices that honor the earth.

The U.S. cannot move forward without reckoning with the foundations of its past—land theft, genocide, slavery, and ongoing racial violence. Addressing these issues means not only acknowledging the harm done but also taking active steps toward reparations, restoration of land, and a radical restructuring of systems that continue to perpetuate inequality and exploitation. The problems facing U.S. society today—racial inequality, environmental destruction, economic injustice—are deeply rooted in its colonial history, and addressing them requires a dismantling of the systems that uphold these legacies.

How colonialism harms the colonizers

The harmful legacies of colonialism, land theft, and white supremacy in the U.S. not only continue to devastate Indigenous, Black, and other marginalized communities but also deeply harm white people and mainstream society as a whole. While it may seem that the system privileges white individuals, the underlying structures of exploitation and inequality create a toxic environment for everyone.

Perpetuating a Culture of Disconnection and Violence
The settler-colonial mindset that drove the theft of Indigenous lands and the exploitation of Black labor also fostered a culture of violence, domination, and disconnection from the land. White settlers, conditioned by the idea that land was a resource to be conquered and exploited rather than something to be cared for, lost vital connections to nature and sustainable living practices. This disconnection manifests today in the rampant environmental destruction, climate change, and consumerist culture that not only damages the Earth but erodes the well-being of everyone, including white communities.

The normalization of violence as a tool for maintaining control, embedded in the founding of the U.S., has also led to a culture that justifies violence in many forms—whether it’s gun violence, domestic abuse, or the militarization of police forces. This harms all Americans, who live in a society where power is often maintained through fear and force rather than cooperation and community care.

The Psychological Costs of White Supremacy
White supremacy is not just an ideology that oppresses people of color; it also distorts the identities and psyches of white individuals. At its core, white supremacy is a system based on fear, division, and an inflated sense of superiority, which creates anxiety, insecurity, and disconnection among white people themselves. White people who internalize this worldview often find themselves trapped in a narrow, defensive identity, fearing the loss of privilege or status in a multicultural society. This fear can breed resentment, isolation, and mental health issues, all of which undermine the possibility of meaningful connections across racial lines.

By centering whiteness as the norm and erasing the richness of other cultures, white supremacy also limits white people’s experiences and understanding of the world. It discourages the empathy, solidarity, and mutual understanding that are essential for creating a healthy, cohesive society. When white people are conditioned to see diversity as a threat rather than a strength, they miss out on the opportunity to learn from the rich wisdom, histories, and cultural practices of other communities.

Economic Inequality and Social Instability
The colonial mindset that created racial hierarchies in the U.S. also established a system of economic inequality that harms all but the wealthiest few. While people of color are disproportionately affected by poverty and economic disenfranchisement, working-class white Americans are also victims of a system designed to concentrate wealth in the hands of a small elite. The myth of meritocracy and the American Dream often blinds white people to the ways in which the system is stacked against them too, perpetuating a cycle of economic struggle, disillusionment, and alienation.

This economic inequality contributes to widespread social instability, creating an environment of competition and scarcity rather than collaboration and abundance. When people are pitted against one another for limited resources, distrust and division grow, making it harder to build solidarity across racial and class lines. Mainstream society becomes fragmented, polarized, and filled with resentment, which makes collective action to address broader systemic issues—like healthcare, education, and climate change—nearly impossible.

Undermining Democracy and Social Progress
The exclusionary practices rooted in colonialism and white supremacy weaken democratic institutions, harming everyone in society. The suppression of voting rights, mass incarceration, and the dismantling of social safety nets—all of which disproportionately affect communities of color—also undermine the democratic process as a whole. When marginalized groups are excluded from political participation, the entire society suffers from a lack of diverse voices and perspectives. This weakens the country’s ability to adapt to challenges, innovate, and grow as a just and inclusive society.

Furthermore, the persistence of white supremacy and systemic racism delays necessary social progress. Issues like universal healthcare, education reform, climate action, and labor rights often get derailed by racial fearmongering and the scapegoating of marginalized communities. Instead of addressing the root causes of these systemic problems, the focus is placed on maintaining a status quo that benefits a shrinking elite, which stalls progress for all Americans.

Environmental Crisis and Sustainability
The colonial worldview that prioritized exploitation over stewardship has also led to a global environmental crisis, which is a direct threat to all of humanity, regardless of race. The widespread destruction of ecosystems, driven by the same capitalist and colonial mindset that once justified the seizure of Indigenous lands, has put the planet on an unsustainable path. Climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation are not problems that can be contained to one community—they affect everyone, particularly the most vulnerable. However, white communities, especially those in rural areas or coastal regions, are increasingly feeling the impacts of environmental crises.

Indigenous peoples have long been protectors of the land, advocating for sustainable practices and a reciprocal relationship with nature. By ignoring Indigenous knowledge systems and continuing to uphold exploitative models of land use, mainstream society risks losing invaluable insights that could mitigate ecological collapse. Reintegrating Indigenous land practices into the broader societal framework could benefit everyone, offering sustainable solutions that align with environmental justice and long-term human survival.

Isolation and Loneliness
The individualistic culture that white supremacy promotes also fosters a deep sense of isolation and loneliness. By prioritizing competition over community, whiteness over diversity, and power over collaboration, many white individuals find themselves disconnected from meaningful relationships—both with people of other races and within their own communities. This disconnection contributes to the mental health crisis in the U.S., where loneliness, anxiety, and depression are on the rise. Healing these wounds requires dismantling the divisive ideologies that prevent genuine human connection across racial and cultural lines.

Pathways to Healing
Recognizing that the harms of colonialism and white supremacy are not limited to communities of color is essential for collective healing. Everyone, including white people, benefits from dismantling these oppressive systems. By fostering a society rooted in equality, mutual care, and respect for diversity, the U.S. can create a more just and compassionate future for all its citizens.

White people have much to gain by rejecting the narratives of superiority and entitlement that have long been ingrained in the fabric of American society. Embracing a more inclusive and equitable vision of the future opens up the possibility of richer cultural experiences, healthier relationships, and a more sustainable, just world. It also means addressing the deep psychological, social, and economic wounds that the country’s colonial past has inflicted on everyone, creating a society where the well-being of all is prioritized over the maintenance of power and privilege for a few.