Yeah sure, income inequality came to mind first. But then, the percentage of people below the poverty line has also been dropping steadily, so what other metric is there that could convey the accurate picture for the wellbeing of the average american?
What are you personal experiences? Were you better off in 2019 than in 2016?
Poverty level is a tough statistic to use as it is not adjusted for rise in cost of living. Poverty level has been declining for years before trump to office so it doesn’t really indicate people are better off. It is still based on the cost of meals from 1963 (there is adjustment for inflation but inflation and cost of living are not linear).
I think HDI is a good representation to look at for general welfare. The HDI has continued to grow but not at the rate that is has for other countries. The US is no longer in the top 10 most developed countries. By contrast, we used to sit in the top 5 and now we are 15th.
For me personally, I am making more now but mainly because I’m older and finished my education. I will say though that I have chronic stomach issues but I cannot afford to figure out the cause. I got a gastroenterostomy and had to pay $2,000 out of pocket to hear that I needed an MRI next which would cost more. So I would be much better off if we had free healthcare and I could get preventative care.
I’m also not down with deregulation that harms the environment and the amount that the trump administration has pumped into coal and fossil fuel. Those industries growing aren’t worth killing the planet.
I feel weird saying so much about politics because I am generally super moderate and politically apathetic
Poll
Topic: Biden vs Trump (Read 32071 times)