Welcome to America, the greatest country in the world! We have free healthcare and education, and our government truly cares about that. Our taxes go to programs that benefit us all, and we treat everyone equally — no loopholes for billionaires, which don’t even exist in our society anyways! We don’t overspend on the military, and we celebrate diversity because, after all, we are a nation of immigrants!
…Just kidding. Obviously. America is hell right now, and one of the most frustrating things to me is that absolutely none of this has to be this way. Why, in one of the richest countries on Earth, are we so terrible at having a government that works for the people? Did you know the US is the ONLY highly developed country without universal healthcare? We also have the highest infant and maternal mortality rate of other high-income countries.
We are the 23rd happiest country in the world, ranking below Kuwait, Slovenia, Lithuania, the UK, and Canada. We have the second-highest income inequality, after taxes and transfers, behind only Chile, and our taxes do much less than other nations to reduce disparities. Put simply, other countries continuously show us that a better life IS possible. The way we live is not the way it has to be. Just look around you at other countries.
To that end…here are some photos that demonstrate the way other governments treat their citizens.
1.
Let’s start simple. Here’s what egg prices are like in Canada. (That’s less than $3 in USD.)
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In Wales, if you’re detained, you get a leaflet reminding you of your rights. This just seems wayyyyy more effective than a Miranda warning at actually letting someone know their rights — maybe because in Wales, they actually want you to know your rights!
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Imagine if, instead of having conniptions over the thought of any man seeing a period product, we had free access for anyone who needed them (remember, menstruation is not a choice!). Sounds nice!
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And imagine if we actually cared about our older citizens!
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Or deforestation, or the environment!
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In the UK, you actually know where your tax dollars are going.
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Mexico censors cartoons and mascots on sugary cereal so they don’t entice kids.
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Here’s a school lunch in South Korea.
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And another FREE school lunch in Sweden.
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Here’s a school lunch for a college student at a public university in France. It cost €3.30. I couldn’t even get a coffee for that cost on my campus.
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This university lunch in Turkey was 30 CENTS.
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Oh, and here’s what hospital food looks like in Australia. Honestly, I wouldn’t even be that mad at being bitten by one of their terrifying creatures for a free stay in a hospital with food like this.
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Back to university — here’s a map showing how much it costs to attend university in Europe. For context, I think my college was about $70,000 a year.
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Finish Social Security delivers boxes of baby supplies to every pregnant person who applies, including warm clothing, sleep supplies, a baby thermometer, and hygiene products for the mother. The box has a mattress at the bottom and doubles as a bed, and the box is updated each year based on feedback.
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During COVID, the Japanese government sent out care packages for those who had to quarantine due to testing positive. Here’s what one person living alone received — for free.
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South Korea did something similar, providing the below supplies for one person who was quarantining.
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Here’s another care package people in South Korea got.
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And one they sent for someone who had to quarantine for two weeks after arriving in the country.
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In the Philippines, people received large sacks of rice from the government during the pandemic…multiple times. This provided a major food source, as rice is a large part of the diet there. The government also gave out canned food and rice topping mixes. I’m not going to pretend the government in the Philippines is perfect, but it says something about the US that they provided more than ours did.
20.
Australia takes voting WAY more seriously than we do. First of all, the government will remind you to register when you turn 17.
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Also, if you don’t vote after you’re 18, you can get fined. While this may feel Orwellian, the fine is usually only $20, and you are able to dispute and provide an excuse. As a result, Australian elections consistently have turnout over 90%. In contrast, US voter turnout is pretty consistently in the 50-60% range, with numbers even lower for midterms, and voter suppression is a serious issue.
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Oh, and when you turn 45 in Australia, you get a home bowel test kit because the government actually cares about the health of its citizens. From age 50, you’ll receive one every two years.
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Let’s talk about healthcare, shall we? Here’s what it costs to get your wisdom teeth out in the UK.
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Here’s the bill new parents got after their child was born in Canada.
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Australia has its own version of Medicare, and under it, this person’s mother’s hip replacement surgery was AUD $105. A hip replacement in the US can cost over $40,000. Since this is America, the cost can still be high even with insurance, depending how good your coverage is.
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This Australian paid less than the cost of a couple of drinks at a NYC bar for a four-day hospital stay.
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People in the US are refusing ambulances because they can’t afford them. Meanwhile, in Germany…
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Australia also has a plane that travels to rural places to transport people in medical emergencies. FOR FREE.
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Need to take constant medication to keep yourself alive? If you’re Danish, no problem! If you’re American…good luck!
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*Sigh* Being Danish must be nice.
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This Danish prison cell is nicer than most college dorms.
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Here’s another one from Denmark. If this makes you angry, maybe consider if you think prison is about punishment or rehabilitation.
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Here’s a prison cell from Norway. It’s got its own bathroom!
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Look, it’s not that hard to just respect people. They do it in Canada!
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And finally…Europeans don’t have to deal with those infuriating toilet gaps we have in America.
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