Richard Wolff explains why America chose Trump as its Empire declines

[Lonestarblue]

4. I see our decline in smaller ways than military might.

When compared with other wealthy developed nations, we have declined in several ways.

—most expensive but least effective healthcare
—lower life expectancy than other developed nations
—declining results for 4th and 8th graders on international education tests
—higher education too expensive for many students
—erosion of manufacturing capability
—erosion of civil rights, especially voting rights
—erosion of respect for government and the institutions of democracy, including the Supreme Court
—complete decline of civil discourse
—erosion of respect for differing viewpoints and acceptance of violence to achieve political goals
—serious decline in fair, nonpartisan media, both broadcast and print
—decline in earning power of today’s wages adjusted for inflation (though it improved under Biden)
—decline in unions that provide job training and fair wages
—decline in share of taxes borne by the ultra rich leading to higher deficit spending
—decline in women’s freedom to make their own medical decisions around pregnancy and decline in positive health outcomes as insurers rather than doctors determine medical treatments people are allowed

I’m sure there is more, but this list added together shows how much we have lost versus the past decades.