SkepticalButOpenMinded

What are you talking about?

Student loan forgiveness wasn't an act of congress, so he did not have anyone to "negotiate down" with. His first executive order was struck down by SCOTUS. But he hasn't backed down and has forgiven over $130 billion through various methods.

Can you not make stuff up? There's enough misinformation on the internet.

These countries have similarities, but this seems more like simplistic stereotypes and generalizations.

South Korea's suicide rate is almost double that of Japan's. Japan has a lower suicide rate than the US, and similar to European countries like Sweden.

South Koreans work some of the longest hours of any rich country. They're closer to India and Mexico than Europe. The Japanese work fewer hours than the US. Yes, Japanese people work too much, but I think Americans don't realize that they work too much too.

I agree with the first part, but I’m confused by “Individualism is great”. Not sure what individualism has to do with it.

Is this supposed to contrast with the US, a country where people work some of the longest hours in the developed world? I think the whole “the West is free and individualistic and Asians are conformist robots” thing is a myth.

I don’t get this. According to polling, the Democratic Party has shifted further to the left on black social justice issues than blacks themselves. Forgiving student loans is a great example, since it disproportionately helps middle class black families more than middle class whites families. Only Dems have proposed and passed police reform, like eliminating qualified immunity. This just seems like another simplistic low information take.

538 had a podcast episode about it. His base of immigrants, black, and young voters are still solidly in support, but less enthusiastic. As in, instead of 90% of the black vote, it’s 80% or less. But with such tight elections, that small shift matters.

As for why, it’s not clear, but it’s probably just the gloominess about everything. Despite spending like they’re optimistic, and being optimistic about their personal situations, Americans report being pessimistic about the economy as a whole.

You shouldn’t be getting downvoted. It’s true. Tech companies went on a huge hiring spree during Covid. The layoffs don’t even bring employment anywhere close to before that hiring spree.

South Korea also has one of the biggest anti-feminism movements in the world. They just eliminated the gender ministry and rolled back protections for women. Not coincidentally, South Korea is Jordan Peterson’s biggest audience outside the US.

I agree, it’s definitely not just house size. But still, I’m not sure that your one data point anecdote is very meaningful. Desirable areas were more expensive in the 1950s too.

Yes that’s the point. We’re wealthier and more productive now and can consume some of that extra wealth. I am pointing out that we’re not comparing like for like.

House sizes have also ballooned. The average home size in 1949 was ~900 sq ft, whereas a new home now is ~2500 sq ft. It was still cheaper, but those homes prices are for a lot less house than people are imagining.

If the NDP pull this off, they’ll deserve a ton of credit. It’ll be the biggest expansion of public services in decades. We’re one of the only countries with universal healthcare but not pharmacare.

That’s possible but Canada (and the US) are outliers on this. In Japan, the Netherlands, etc. kids are still encouraged and allowed to play outside without adult supervision. I think we have a particularly paranoid parenting culture in this country.