What is it about the Unites States that makes it so regressive in some ways?

[padlock]

I know that problems exist everywhere, and things like income disparity, nationalism and intolerance exist everywhere, but in a number of ways, there are very real differences between the United States, and many other modern democracies.

Why is it that other countries are able to have universal health care, have abolished the death penalty, have at least some form of gun control, and haven't privatized things like their penal system?

What makes the US different? Please no pithy, one word answers, like 'republicans'. Other countries have right wing political parties and their share of crazies as well, yet somehow have managed to do these things. What's the difference? Is it an intrinsic flaw in the political system, a historical artifact, or something else entirely?

 

[nsilvias]

The urban rural divide and racism

 

[Hollywood Duo]

It’s easier to work things out with a small homogeneous population.

 

[Greigor the FellHand]

southern strategy did a number to the US.

Lincoln shouldve listened to his generals who wanted to force submission on the confederates, and place the freed slaves as the watch dogs of the south.

lincoln wanted to heal the nation and vetoed it, and forgave most

 

[Firewithin]

Midwest and the south

 

[Everybody Lies]

Republicans and conservatism. I really wish it was more complicated than this, but it really isn't. They favor corporations over people and they wield disproportionate power than they should because of antiquated rules that value land over people and disregard population. The gerrymander absurdly and have 24 hour propaganda cable news stations that tell the big lie and spew coordinated talking points 24/7 365 days a year.

And, of course, their adherence to long standing racism and racist policies like the southern strategy.

 

[echoshifting]

I think our democracy's age is a significant factor. There are always questions on how to first divide power, preserve the intent, etc. when founding a democracy but there was less understanding of the range of acceptable answers 200+ years ago.

On the other side of that, as a country we are relatively young and we've never been anything but a democracy. We are the oldest living democracy and younger as a country than most other democracies.

Those two things add up to the founders didn't know what they were doing or how to do it.

 

[Royalan]

It's the racism, Bob.

 

[hiredhand]

The urban rural divide and racism

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Neither of these are in any way unique to the US.

 

[Austriacus]

Its unique in how it is the most individualistic nation that probably exists or has ever existed, which turns out makes for a much more prominent "fuck you got mine" society and that is reflected in the things you mention (not that this doesn't exist in other countries, its just a bigger aspect of society in the USA), but admiting the fault lies with culture wouldnt fly with american exceptionalism.

 

[Officer Big Mac]

Structural advantages for the minority mostly. A lot of it is by design, a lot of it has been abused.

 

[krazen]

It's primarly the problem that the concept of 'American' really isn't a unifying one. Because of myths like 'by your bootstraps' we have a country that stresses self-reliance is above all and that any failures along the way are your fault and that if I see you fall as a fellow countryman who should care... its no sweat off my back.

Preachers go on and off about the immorality of American society and they are right...for the wrong reasons.

 

[JEH]

America was built upon the Protestant Work ethic. A lot of people view that if you're poor it's because you didn't work hard enough.

There's also the failed Reconstruction effort after the Civil war that allowed the southern states to continue to be the way they are.

 

[Manmademan]

The urban rural divide and racism

Click to shrink...

Its this

 

[padlock]

But racism is not unique to the United States. Just look at the plight of Muslim imagrants in much of Europe, and you'll see that it's just as bad over there. Still, they, by and large, have more progressive policies.

I'm beginning to suspect that the folly of having a major legislative body (e.g. The US Senate) give equal representation to largely rural states with a tiny population, as they do to major population centers is a big part of the problem.

 

[Transistor]

Racism and puritanism

 

[PeakPointMatrix]

I mean we just had segregation less 60 years ago. Racism is rooted deep in the power structures of our country, and was never something we were going to be able to fix over night. So yes, the answer is as simple as Republicans.

 

[Dyle]

It's a giant diverse country governed with the oldest continually operating democratic government designed for a much, much smaller country centuries ago. The founding fathers had no clue what they were doing and were just hoping shit would work out, and if it didn't it was the problem of the next generation to figure out how to fix it, yet almost 250 years later we've barely fixed anything and our problems have only grown with every passing year

 

[Tap In]

evangelical Christianity fantasy and needing to feel superior to "others"

 

[Deleted member 21709]

It is huge. Religion. Republicans.

 

[djplaeskool]

Caustic mix of tribalism, nationalism, traditionalism, racism, and perceived exceptionalism

 

[Deleted member 8118]

I mean we just had segregation less 60 years ago. Racism is rooted deep in the power structures of our country, and was never something we were going to be able to fix over night. So yes, the answer is as simple as Republicans.

Click to shrink...

No, it isn't as simple as blaming republicans.

For the OP, the issues that exist in the US are prevalent in almost all European and Asian countries.

 

[game-biz]

Racism and religion are definitely two big factors. It’s astounding how many dumb people are in this country. It’s fucking terrifying, actually.

 

[Aztechnology]

It’s easier to work things out with a small homogeneous population.

Click to shrink...

This is the reality. The U.S is actually quite culturally diverse.

 

[Squarehard]

Combination of capitalism and overt bigotry.

 

[AmFreak]

Completely broken political system, together with a large portion of the population eating up their own propaganda and a normalization of nationalism.

 

[Pwnz]

The urban rural divide and racism

Click to shrink...

This, and the bias towards rural with our Senate.

If we had more accurate representation, we'd be a bit more progressive.

 

[echoshifting]

Neither of these are in any way unique to the US.

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Racism has more of a direct impact on society the more diverse the population is.

For example there's a lot of racism in Finland, but that doesn't have many practical effects in a population that is almost entirely white.

 

[PennyStonks]

Racism and religion are definitely two big factors. It’s astounding how many dumb people are in this country. It’s fucking terrifying, actually.

Click to shrink...

I remember the first time I met a real "Biden cheated" IRL. I shit you not "Those fucking college kids are so stupid now. I go to McDonalds and they need the computer to tell them how to count the change. I can count the change in a second. Bill gates messed with the vaccine"

 

[Moppeh]

You are an incredibly aggressive, nationalistic country that hides its issues under the rug instead of addressing them.

Not saying other nations don't also have those characteristics but the mixture of those elements in America seem extra potent and easy to manipulate in order to implement regressive policy.

 

[antonz]

American Conservatism and Evangelicalism can follow its roots back to the Puritans who spent the entire time in the New World rewriting their History to be the victims of everyone else trying to oppress them. The reality is they were Anti-Catholic extremists who did not believe the Church of England etc. went far enough in purging Catholicism traditions etc. so began their attempt to force compliance with the Puritan view which of course eventually turned to violence as does any movement that thinks it speaks for god.

Eventually Europe got tired of their shit and the Puritans "sailed to America for religious freedom" where amongst their first acts was banning any non Puritan denominations from existing in the New World. The ability to exile and kill Catholics etc. But "Freedom of Religion" amiright.

Start to notice a trend? They use the same gimmicks today. "Freedom of Religion" as long as its the god fearing evangelical stuff they preach. Its always been regressive to the peoples that have descended from those crazies. They never came to America for freedom. They came to America to impose a Theocracy. America has an entire segment of the population that is fed a false history of America and its one that paints them as the victims of the worlds abuses etc.

 

[padlock]

I think our democracy's age is a significant factor. There are always questions on how to first divide power, preserve the intent, etc. when founding a democracy but there was less understanding of the range of acceptable answers 200+ years ago.

On the other side of that, as a country we are relatively young and we've never been anything but a democracy. We are the oldest living democracy and younger as a country than most other democracies.

Those two things add up to the founders didn't know what they were doing or how to do it.

Click to shrink...

This makes a lot of sense to me. I really think that at least part of the problem is the structural makeup of the government. Things like the EC and Senate are stupid and outdated.

 

[the-pi-guy]

Racism, decades of right wing propaganda

 

[Tfritz]

not to thread shit but "what is it about the us that makes it so regressive in some ways" is pretty vague, even with the examples in the OP it's like, three things (healthcare, gun control, and penal system) and the answer to those is america's long and storied history of racism.

 

[Patryn]

Many of the original colonists were extremely conservative religious zealots. Who do you think the Puritans were? Celebrating Christmas was too much for them.

 

[Manmademan]

Neither of these are in any way unique to the US.

Click to shrink...

Europe has "racism" but it didn't have institutional slavery and Jim Crow segregation.

Half the US had an economy built on chattel slavery and went to war to keep it that way.

That side lost, and integration was so poorly done afterwards that a two tier system was constructed to replace slavery, where minorities had no rights and could be abused at will with white Americans above them.

The south fought extremely hard to keep that two tiered system in place and it took several high profile assassinations before it was dismantled in 1965.

Those people who enjoyed the benefit of a two tiered system with themselves at the top of the pile were not pleased at ALL to see that system go away, and have been engaged in an endless culture war ever since to reinstate it via back doors that disenfranchise minorities and their allies.

Conservatives will happily shoot down beneficial policies if they perceive the "undeserving" getting things "for free" and this is extremely consistent. Causing pain to the underclass to keep them there is the point.

 

[BLEEN]

End of the day? Corporations and their insane lust for greed. Republicans just add fuel to that fire. The laws in the US allow profit over all which corps treat pretty much like an amusement park.

So, $$$, as usual.

 

[bruhaha]

Neither of these are in any way unique to the US.

Click to shrink...

Which other countries give rural states disproportionate representation and power?

 

[padlock]

For the OP, the issues that exist in the US are prevalent in almost all European and Asian countries.

Click to shrink...

I agree, which is why I'm asking why, despite that, other countries are able to have things like universal healthcare and a social safety net.

 

[Metroidvania]

The South/Reconstruction after the civil war, and more recently, a combination of the Southern Strategy and Newt Gringrich-ifying of politics by the repubs.

Also arguably Christianity/religion, but in the context of how it pertains/relates to the above.

 

[jph139]

America was founded, in a lot of ways, with an urban/rural divide, which is a big part of it. City states, with focus on finance and manufacturing, and slave states, with focus on agriculture. The only way it ever would have survived as a single nation is with HEAVY federalization, which leads to a basic distrust of national government. Or at least, distrust of the national government whenever it's "not on your side."

Of course, the slavery issue means the US was, from its foundation, divided racially - whites in power, blacks victimized by that power. On top of that, you have Native Americans being displaced and exterminated, former Mexicans being incorporated (followed by immigrants from Latin America at large), explosive growth in the East Asian population in the early 20th century. Most minorities in America are visible minorities, and those groups are both protected and disenfranchised.

So like, the United States is very fundamentally divided. And people will say - sure, so is every other country. But in the US, those divisions are structural (in how the government was built, in order to balance powers and regions against each other) and visible (in how the population looks, lives, and interacts). The solution has always been "you mind your business, I mind mine" - that's how the government survived as a united whole, that's how so many different groups have managed to grow despite oppression and racism, that's how the economy was able to grow exponentially.

America only survives as long as it does by building a house of cards, each opposing force delicately balanced against the others. But that very structure makes it difficult, if not impossible, to make meaningful change without the whole thing falling down.

 

[mattiewheels]

We should’ve flushed the confederacy culture down the toilet when we had the chance, how different a country would it be if we did?

 

[Manmademan]

The South/Reconstruction after the civil war, and more recently, a combination of the Southern Strategy and Newt Gringrich-ifying of politics by the repubs.

Also arguably Christianity/religion, but in the context of how it pertains/relates to the above.

Click to shrink...

Its very important to point out that religious groups OVERALL support the democratic party and liberal policies.

There are only two prominent religions that don't- white evangelicals and Mormons. Three guesses what those two groups have in common.

 

[enempi]

The US is much more diverse and less white compared to the European countries you’re thinking of. It’s easier to get people behind things like universal health care when they can be assured the services will mostly be going to “their” people. There is racism everywhere, but the demographics of the US make the issues more present.

 

[Scottt]

Its Constitution enables it.

 

[Foffy]

American exceptionalism has allowed a great deal of this country to be blind to its failings and injustices with lies that this is the greatest country on earth. That defence means any calling out of failings is responded with a sort of rejection of the failing entirely.

Call out poverty? "Look at other nations." This deflection is ever present.

 

[noquarter]

I really think a large part of it is 'the American dream' that causes people to vote against their own interests. There is a percentage of poor people in the US that would rather have no health insurance than have to pay for someone elses healthcare if they ever get rich. It became very evident in 2017 when the Republican party almost cancelled the Affordable Care Act, even though a large percentage of their base benefits from it, and then their base still voted to keep them in office.

Enough of the American people would rather see no one get taxed than possibly pay a larger percentage of taxes if they ever become rich.

 

[Tfritz]

The US is much more diverse and less white compared to the European countries you’re thinking of. It’s easier to get people behind things like universal health care when they can be assured the services will mostly be going to “their” people. There is racism everywhere, but the demographics of the US make the issues more present.

Click to shrink...

isn't it weird how an increased number of refugees and immigrants to europe has caused an increase in xenophobic rightwing european political parties gaining traction?

 

[Mekanos]

This country was founded by rich slaveowners and you can draw most of its problems back to that.

Republicans and conservatism. I really wish it was more complicated than this, but it really isn't. They favor corporations over people and they wield disproportionate power than they should because of antiquated rules that value land over people and disregard population. The gerrymander absurdly and have 24 hour propaganda cable news stations that tell the big lie and spew coordinated talking points 24/7 365 days a year.

And, of course, their adherence to long standing racism and racist policies like the southern strategy.

Click to shrink...

Democrat politicians also value corporations over people and include within their ranks politicians like Joe Biden who helped build the modern racist prison system. That’s not even getting into foreign policy.

 

[ibyea]

The utter failure that was reconstruction post civil war, which maintained a society where white people would rather burn their own country down than lift a single finger to help people of color.