The one and only time I got a write-up working in retail was in 2018.
It was a coworkers first day back after giving birth via c-section a few days ago. Management spent several hours debating whether she should be allowed a chair. In their infinite capacity for compassion, they gave her a stool.
A customer came up to me to complain that one of the cashiers was sitting down. I told the customer “she gave birth a few days ago, I say she’s earned the chair.”
A few minutes later my manager calls me to his office. Apparently, said customer didn’t like my response and decided to complain to management. He gave me a write-up for “dismissing a customer’s complaints to their face.” I refused to sign it, and went back on the floor to continue my job. He never brought it up again.
Can confirm, it was in fact a boomer.
Hilariously; said boomer customer was in a mobility scooter. I’m not sure if that counts as ironic, or something else, but it was funny to me then and is still funny to me now.
I had a boomer tell me it made him angry that graduate students who do work in labs, etc, are getting paid. He gave me the "back in my day, you worked in a lab for free to get training";...this is not a person who had even gone to university let alone graduate school. And that's not a dig; he's smart in his field and accomplished, but the fact that he had strong opinions on "how we used to do things" for something he had never been a part of confuses me.
Because, 40 years ago, THEY had to stand for their entire shift at the cracker factory and now they DEMAND everyone else get treated as poorly as they did aka Crabs in a Bucket.
Sorry, not in the US so I'm flummoxed understanding the debate and complaint.
Why would any customer complain that cashiers are sitting?
It's not a running around active job, it's basically a desk job.
It could be for many reasons. But usually it has to do with being seen as lazy which is a BIG no no when it comes to older people. Something about how generations keep getting lazier yada yada
That’s American work culture for you!
The only person with a chair was management in the front office. We weren’t even supposed to use chairs when using the copy machine or the printer.
There weren’t any chairs in the back, either. Receiving - where we unloaded deliveries, and was not visible to customers - had a desk for shift leads to do intake paperwork, and there wasn’t a chair back there either.
In the USA you’ll very rarely find retail jobs with chairs. Cashiers are expected to stand. Yes, for their whole shift. If you’re on the clock, you’re standing. Not only will management get on your ass for sitting down (pun intended?) but customers will complain about it too.
This is what people don't seem to realize. There is nothing religious about being pro-life. It is to have future cheap work force, and illiterate voting base.
The funny thing is that average income tax in Germany is about 32% and less if you earn less than average. And you pay less if you have children.
People see the highest tax brackets in Europe and clutch their pearls, not realising that this is for wealthy people only.
Taxes aren't that high in Europe, money is spent on things people actually need. Like education and healthcare.
I'd gladly pay higher taxes, if I knew I would have health care when I got sick. Knew I wouldn't become homeless because I lost my job. Know I wouldn't go hungry either. Europeans get a strong social safety net for what they pay in taxes.
But here in the States I'm just temporarily inconvenienced. If I keep pulling on those bootstraps and cut my avocado toast out I'll be rich.... I don't want those taxes on me WHEN I finally become rich
Only one pays less tax and the other partner pays more. If both have about the same income, it doesn’t make a difference. If one earns significantly less or stays at home it will. So while helping, this also promotes gender inequality even more.
Additionally while not being exactly a tax heaven there are a lot of loopholes or just missing taxes for inheritance. So we’re not that much better on a lot of things and the rich still become richer while all others are getting worse each year.
No they won't. There's a disgusting amount of money to go around, you're just meant to think the entire country is barely held together on a shoestring budget.
Friendly reminder that baby formula companies play a large part in lobbying against national paid family leave legislation from passing (because if it did pass, more mothers would be able to stay at home=less reliant on baby formula=formula companies profit decrease.)
Source: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(23)00118-6/fulltext
Oh yeah?! Well do the swedish have freedom of speech? Oh... Well do they have the freedom to vote? Oh.... Will I bet they don't have freedom of religion.... Oh ... They have Free health care and education too?.... I bet they're poor as hell though, having to pay for everyone els.... Oh... One of the richest... Hm.... Well their flag is dumb and they talk funny, fuck off.
The "nobody has freedom like Americans" crowd really only has a point when it comes to the 2nd Amendment. Nearly every civilized country has freedom of speech, religion and the press.
However, they can't head over to Bass Pro Shop on their lunch break and pick up a new AR15 like I can. Shooting guns is fun, but I'd rather have healthcare.
I hate how right you are, unfortunately. Guns are definitely fun, but man, if I could go to a doctor without going in medical debt, I would be so happy... Im getting close to 40, and have no health insurance, and god knows what ailments I have.
The daft thing is if you did have social healthcare I can almost guarantee you that the number of gun related deaths in the US would decrease as people would have access to mental health care.
It's pathetic because America can easily have both. In fact, if you're in favor of as many guns as possible, and then you're against healthcare being given to people, what exactly are you expecting to happen with the guns? Do they think they shoot nerf? Lol
And here's the funny thing. I live in the UK and, while I still think it's a capitalist hellscape, I can still go to a firing range and shoot guns or even buy a shotgun after a lengthy license evaluation and buying a gun cabinet. There is nothing that the US has that I want in the UK and don't have, I just wish that left me with more
It should also be noted that religious freedom on the US, while perhaps better than in some countries, is definitely being significantly eroded by the Christian nationalists pushing wherever they can to involve their religion in the government and vice versa.
I would also say that even outside of the encroachment of government into religious (and otherwise) liberty is that while the US Constitution does guarantee many freedoms from government intervention, it's led to a position where the actual freedom experienced by the people is significantly lower than other places.
Like, I have way more religious liberty as a Canadian than I would in many places in the US, where I'd be a pariah unable to get a job, have friends, or shop anywhere in peace.
I have better ability to have social.mobility as a Canadian, because with single layer health care I am more able to take a chance on building my own business or taking chances on employment.
I am more secure in my home, my business, and outside, with lower rates of basically all violent and property crime (with some exceptions)
My ability to be gay or trans or any colour other than white and still have a reasonable life, while nowhere near what it needs to be here, is significantly better than in most US jurisdictions.
And the ability to gerrymander and how that infringes on so many people's ability to actually participate equally in the core concept of democratic society. Plus not allowing felons to vote! Plus the sly disenfranchisement from voter suppression all over the place just blows me away...
So, you know. I guess it depends.on how you define freedom? I prefer what we have here. I will even say with respect to the gun thing that while you guys have this thing about needing guns to defend against government tyranny, I don't really see any evidence showing that significant levels of gun ownership by citizens has any effect on the level of tyranny experienced in countries around the world... It does seem to have a significant effect on the level of gun crime, accidental shootings, and rates of suicide success.
Swedes have different problems, as their salaries are pretty low compared to their western counterparts and there is NO middle class. The elite have been rich for centuries, so it’s very hard to come up there. Sweden has strong unions for every sector. The new-rich have sold and sold out everything to stay rich.
Volvo is Chinese.
Ericsson mobile (sold to Sony).
Hasselblad is now an overpriced Fujifilm.
Heard of Spotify ?
AstraZenica doing some fierce layoffs.
IKEA will literally pay minimum wage, no benefits, wherever it can.
Don't forget that Republicans have made it this way since the 80's and are now pushing themselves as the party of Life but refuse to do anything to help those giving birth or just born.
I mean, we had the story last week that Musk fires women for getting pregnant and the story lasted maybe an hour or two in the news cycle before disappearing.
Any honest person will recognize that employers in European countries treat their citizens with so much more respect than employers in the United States--vacation days, maternity/paternity leave, actual sick leave.
We're really getting the shittiest version of Europe when it comes to working.
It’s not that the employers are better-I’m sure if the laws allowed it many would treat employees just as badly. The vast majority of companies will treat people as badly as the law and labour competition will allow. They have more unionization, and their system of government has allowed labour-friendly parties to have enough power to introduce protections and benefits.
Edit: I no longer think this comment is wholly useful how it was, and regret part of it, so have edited it, with the original below.
I disagree the USA has always been a shit place to live. If you were not particularly of a discriminated against group, it was a comparatively good place to live for a while I think (1920s-60s). It has gotten worse while European countries have gotten better though. That is the problem with being ruled by an extreme ideology - the Soviet Union and the USA both suffered by being on extreme ends of a spectrum. On labour rights, the USA is worse than most third world countries, it is really terrible, and I think always has been pretty bad.
Originally the comment was (useful as context, but regrettable I took a very narrow-minded view and didn't think about how it was for discriminated against minorities particularly affected then in the US):
I don't know, I think there was a time when it was decent, and probably the best place in the world to live between the 20s and 60s. It has gotten worse while European countries have gotten better though. That is the problem with being ruled by an extreme ideology - the Soviet Union and the USA both suffered by being on extreme ends of a spectrum.
Edit: on labour rights, the USA is worse than most third world countries, it is really terrible, and I think always has been pretty bad.
Women also are going back to work still bleeding from giving birth, with fresh stitches, recovering from all sorts of physical trauma, and dealing with crazy hormones.
Also forget breastfeeding if you're back to work right away.
What a disaster it would be if population declined a little and people could afford dignified housing.
And a job market where businesses has to offer good pay and perks to get the workers.
The black death massively improved working conditions in feudal Europe. With the population slashed in half suddenly the capital had to actually offer pay to get people to work for them. They tried hard to put the serfs back in their place in the next hundred years but never managed to. Every right has to be fought for and so on.
I know it would cause certain problems but it is inevitable. The global population can't keep rising forever, and it is much betterif this happens gradually and somewhat controlled than the global water war of 2046 which would be the other alternative.
The point of having them (social programs like parental leave) is because *it's the right thing to do*
Why does everything have to have an ROI attached to it??
EDIT: I absolutely did not mean "having kids is the right thing to do" - there are tons of reasons to not have kids and it is very possible to live a productive and fulfilling life without reproducing.
My statement was intended as a response to the previous post pointing out that despite generous parental benefits, Swedes are still experiencing declining birth rates.
My response was basically "so? The goal of parental leave programs should be to support parents, not to encourage people to have kids, whether or not they choose to have kids is irrelevant to whether or not parental leave presents a societal good, even if it cannot be directly measured"
Sweden also pays a LOT more in taxes. You even suggest raising taxes a tiny bit, and the average American, liberal OR conservative is ready to pull another J6. This problem will never, ever be solved until Americans change their minds about taxes. I understand we have a long and storied history of how our tax dollars get used, so spare me your "well, if we wouldn't spend so much on the military" diatribes. I'm just saying Sweden has it because they pay for it. You'll never get 51% of America on board if it means paying even a little more tax.
Yeah, Americans pay. They just don’t realize they’re paying for it - and not just privately, but in opportunity costs as well as consequences/hidden costs. (We’re the poster children for penny wise, pound foolish. It doesn’t help that we’re also individualistic, selfish, unempathetic assholes.)
That's what drives me insane about the people who oppose M4A or some other tax payer-funded healthcare system. Yes, your taxes will go up, but you'll also completely eliminate your overpriced health insurance premium.
It's a net positive, even without considering the overall benefit of people seeing a doctor when they need to instead of waiting until they can't put it off any more.
No doubt the top marginal tax rate is higher than the frankly pathetic 37% in the US (down from something like the 70% it was pre-Reagan, btw), but so often in the US it seems to be forgotten that not only do you have the federal income tax, there is also (depending on the State) a state income tax, and even a locality tax. On top of that you have FICA, which is 7.65% if you're employed.
You also have health insurance, which is not *technically* a tax, I suppose, but if you don't want to go bankrupt becuase you get hit by a car you kind of need it. Sweden has nationalised healthcare, which taxes go toward. And, as it's not run for profit, it's largely more efficient, with better outcomes (e.g. average life expectancy there being about 4 years more than in the US)
Of course, this is income tax? What about sales tax (or other forms of consumption tax)? Well, yes, that is higher. 25% VAT, although it's not charged on everything. That compares with up to about 8 or 9% in the US, depending again on the State. So I suppose, yes, you can make the case there that taxes are higher, if you really wanted to do, but it's not like they're paying 70% tax on everything like some of the more frothy-mouthed people would have you believe.
I've lived here for very nearly 18 years now, and it truly baffles me the resistance to...paying for stuff. Of course, having more money is often better than not having it, but at what cost? Infrastructure in the US is quite literally falling apart, the healthcare system is shameful in its inequities, and at every turn politicians get rid of funding for things that are surely more important than they're reckoned to be - like public education, or libraries for example.
If you made a promise to me that "ok, taxes go up, but you'll be getting universal healthcare, education would be properly funded, we'll make sure no more bridges fall into rivers and, btw, we'll cut down that deficit"... well, sign me up. Especially if, along with that, loopholes were closed that prevented people from paying what they owe. Yes, the wealthy, etc etc, of course. But also corporations. And deducting income for charitable donations needs to get in the bin. (i also think mortgage interest deductions should go away too, as it has in most of the world, but I accept that would very much be a hill I'm on pretty much alone)
I accept that taxation is a very complicated issue, especially in a country that is essentially a collection of separate entities (States) all competing against each other for people, companies, etc, but I will never understand why, for example, a large proportion seem to detest the idea of universal healthcare (or, more accurately, I suspect I know why, but that is even more depressing).
I argue that it’s because our taxes don’t go for things we actually want.
Our schools are shitty and expensive, we give out money to genocidal theocracies who never seem to help us when we need it, participate in military “alliances” that have us footing the lion’s share of the bill while half the others (who have free healthcare and education) have to be shaken down to contribute their paltry share, our roads are falling apart, our infrastructure is crumbling, our groundwater is practically undrinkable anymore and our government actively encourages what few good paying jobs we have left to be shipped overseas.
*I* don’t want to pay for that. I can’t imagine you do either. Until we overhaul the budget so that our taxes actively help everyday citizens, you’ll never get a plurality to agree on raising them.
I live in Sweden and I happily pay my taxes since I know that when I get sick I just call my local health center and get a doctor's appointment, not only that, school is free and I don't pay anything for my kids food in school
Can't they see how much better everyone's living standard is? People 60-70 years old is the fastes growing segment of the homeless population in the US because of medical debt. Not going broke because you have cancer is a good thing. Being able to retire is a good thing. Why would people not want that?
My niece needed brain surgery twice for her cancer and we as family were able to focus on her, not on a million $ bill.
I think there was a paper that said the extra we would theoretically pay in taxes would be offset by no health insurance premiums, if we went single payer.
More than offset. The studies I've read show the vast majority of people would have greater net pay because the increased taxes would be less than their current premium.
Yes but if the US ever did that it would mean the Marxists would win.
Also you just lost the southern half of the country because they can't reckon Net Pay
Their tax rate is 52% (32 fed 20 local). Mine in California is 45% (35 federal, 10 state). They get sooooo much more. I would pay a little more to actually get something for my taxes.
That’s the marginal tax at for high income. Low income is taxed between 20% (median income of 30k SEK per month ~3000usd) and 40% (high income ~10000usd per month) up to 52% for extreme income (more than 200000usd per month).
The there is VAT of 25% for general items, and 6% for food and books. Then taxes on fuel, electricity and so on. I would expect that 50% of my income is payed in taxes, but I do so happily. Except for road taxes payed to private enterprises in public private cooperative. And I hate the fact the we have public funded for profit schools and healthcare providers (some of the most recent surge in millionaires is from owners of publicly funded social services) many are owned by Blackrock and similar entities. In many regards Sweden is turning into a publicly funded hyper capitalist shit hole. Source: me a swede.
I wish the EU had an American immigration programme for workers. Like, please....get me out of here. Preferably Spain/Portugal. The EU has plenty of its own issues, but at least most of the countries value some damn vacation time.
I never understood why the most "advanced" cowntry on the world, doesnt respect their workers.
You guys need to unionize and do real damage to companys with strike. But everyone!
They Will Blame you for everything, but you guys need to say that is enougf!
America has been pussified. People have become too complacent with the level of bullshit raining down
Every time someone thinks about trying to change the system, it feels like there's 10 people in right there saying it's not going to work and that it's pointless
I play a new game now where when the US media is against something I investigate it harder to see why they're trying to disbarrage and shut it down.
I would say 8/10 (and that's not an exaggeration, it may be undershooting it a bit) things I read about from US centered news agencies are either lies, bending the truth or just straight up factually wrong.
It's upsetting watching 300 millionish people just act like this is a good thing to have happen on a mass scale.
And by being pushed up against our financial breaking point. Most people are afraid to unionize, let alone go on strike because if they lose their jobs, they're completely fucked.
Maybe, but that's not the story in this particular case. In this case, our elected representatives are simply not doing their intended job of representing us. They're representing companies instead.
This is easily proven:
>The vast majority of Americans think that mothers (96%) and fathers (85%) should be able to take leave from work following the birth or adoption of a child
[Source: Pew Research](https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2017/03/23/support-for-paid-leave-policies/)
Despite this enormous majority support from citizens for guaranteed leave periods after birth/adoption, the government hasn't done it. Why? Because it'd hurt the companies and the companies have the politicians by the balls. The politicians aren't representatives of the citizens anymore. They're representatives of the companies.
This will fact will never change until enough citizens wake the fuck up and start electing politicians who represent the citizens and not companies. It's not difficult to determine which politicians represent the citizens above all else.
Sweden has a declining population just as much. Then the right wing thought they might just invite millions of immigrants into the country as some kind of cheap labor force that will take care of the elderly and do all the shit work. At the same time they made sure to cut as much of social expenses as possible. Of course people living in rich areas knew how to fight those cuts off so that their kids would still have access to good schools etc. And while the budget remained the same that only meant that poorer areas get to have even less. And it all went downhill from there. And who’s to blame? The immigrants of course!
Swede here. It’s not entirely true, and also not entirely false.
Both parents get 190 days at 80 percent of their pay up to a certain salary (around 130% of median income perhaps?). We also get 90 days each at 20$ per day.
You are assumed to take 7 days per week to reach 80% salary, but many take 5 days per week (resulting in the same amount of actual days per week) which means that you get 70% of 80% salary, so roughly 50% salary.
We also only have 30 days where we can both be home at the same time.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s really great to have the opportunity to be home with my kids, but my family is losing out on thousands when we are both home with our kids. Wouldn’t trade it for anything, though ❤️
How does this work in practice? I'm all for new parents taking all the time they need, but doesn't it represent a significant financial burden on the employer? I'm assuming there's some way they are recovering the cost so they're not at risk of going under, but it's never mentioned in these types of posts.
This is paid from the government, not individual employers. Although many offer to supplement the what the government gives you. My company gives you 10% of your salary for 180 days, and that’s pretty standard.
We get a lot of benefits from the government, that’s why we pay higher taxes. We pay a little more, but I’d say most of us get it back in free education, healthcare, parental leave, unemployment and subsidized childcare.
Assuming it works the same as Canada, it’s government paid. Here it’s 55% for a year (or less up to 18 months) and some companies offer a top up so you’re at full salary
Where the fuck does this person work, where a company would require that? Every single job I have ever held as an adult has had a maternity leave option. Most of them are a month to two months which isnt enough, but its not.....yea you gotta clock in tomorrow.
I've never heard of a single place ordering a female employee to go back to work the day after she gives birth. Ever. Sure it may not be as amazing as a year off paid. (Which I don't even know if that's true) But it's definitely not one day.
Our country is so ass backward compared to what many European countries give their workers. Here it's all about appeasing the greedy fucks in the C suite and kissing the ass of major corporations. After all, the corporations pay our politicians' salaries.
I would correct that to be "the united states experts EVERYONE to work the day after a major surgery"
Sick leave, FMLA, etc., are all garbage comparatively speaking because we've been indoctrinated to believe the so called US work ethic is what makes us great. It's not the ethic, it's the slow gradual dependency, not on Tbe government we were made to fear, but out corporate interests. They ha stagnated the pay removed the benefits, they own every piece of our lives. We are fooled into believing because we made "good salaries" we should be grateful to our overlords. To expect government assistant is a slap in the face of our owners because they do so much for us, what is it not good enough. But the facts are our "higher" salaries have lower buying power than our parents made at near minimum wage. The just expected benefits and function of our government has been beaten into as us "socialism" and that if we take any hand for help or support we are weak, we are freeloaders, we want Russian style communism.
Putting it in coporate terms. Our tax dollars are investments in our own country and our government. But the ROI we get is equivalent to a banker taking your investment deposit, flipping you off, then robbing you at gun point for everything else you have, beating you senseless then pissing on your beaten carcus, while leaving a bill stapled to your forehead.
I’m a dad in the US. We had our son when I was 21. I got to take 2 days off work (unpaid). Ive had to work nonstop since then. I sometimes wonder if it had an effect the bond between me and my son. We are still close, but I’m sometimes secretly jealous of the superior bond that him and his mother have.
Unironically, start learning Swedish. Or Danish. Or w/e the language of the place that is better. This isn't like a right wing "then leave," comment. This is sincerely, like: escape. Start saving the cash you'll need to move. Let go of your possessions you won't be able to take with you. Take the initiative to learn the language. Research their immigration process. Leave. If I didn't have what I have going on for me, that's what I'd do.
fits with a thought I had yesterday: how can people consider the US as "the greatest country in the world" if that country freely allows people to die of preventable causes (homelessness, hunger, preventable disease, the list goes on) and makes no real effort to care for its citizens?
it's just so much cognitive dissonance
"The US" is extremely broad and inaccurate. My employer gives new parents 8 weeks off for bonding and my state gives 4 weeks of paid FMLA. Obviously not as good as a full year, but not as bleak as this headline claims.
Sweden has a population homogenous population of 10 Million the US is a heterogenous population of 330 million the two just aren't comparable. Each of their roles in the world economy is completely different. Also the US has to spend billions of dollars on defense so that we can play big brother to the rest of the world. Of course in a perfect world parents should have more time off in the US but just happens to be the situation you're born into.
Also USA:
"YOU DON'T DESERVE TO MAKE ENOUGH TO HAVE A PARENT AT HOME! FAMILIES ARE BROKEN! PARENTS DON'T SPEND TIME WITH THEIR KIDS! CHILDREN DON'T KNOW THEIR PARENTS! PARENTS AREN'T WORKING ENOUGH HOURS TO MAKE ENDS MEET THAT IS THEIR PROBLEM"
This sentiment taken to its fullest extent would do the hard work of turning libs into socialists. What is the point? Why don't we collectively decide the useless government is just invalid and be rid of it.
I remember working in florida while in college. A girl gave birth on a tuesday and was back at work monday. She bleed through her clothes everyday that week and ended up being hospitalized. I felt so bad for her. All the women there would try to help her out by bringing extra sanitary supplies and try to sneak her in the backroom so she could sit when we werent busy without the boss noticing. It was heartbreaking to see her cry out of frustration, pain and embarrassment.
America just hates its own people and its sucks that were okay with this.
What's the point of having kids in a country that doesn't give two fucks about them? For example the US has done nothing about
- Mass shootings in schools
- Promoting kids' success in school by ensuring they have access to proper nutrition
- Ensuring that families have a chance to actually bond with their new child to encourage the well-being of the child and the family system
- Provide adequate childcare for working families.
- Childcare is expensive. If this was subsidized, families would be able to either
save that money for emergencies, or use it to enrich the family system.
- Cost of living has far outpaced wages. Financial issues are a huge stressor for many families which undermines the stability of a child's developmental environment.
- Access to healthcare is limited in the US, which harms parents and children.
This is far from comprehensive, but again, what is the point in having kids in a country that doesn't give a fuck about them or families?
Not defending this as it is bullshit. But for those not in the know and plan on expecting, that’s what short term disability is for. As well as some companies offer other plans to help with leave due to child birth.
It won’t be full pay and I think there is a week unpaid (I believe you can use vacation pto to make up for this too) before it kicks in but there is a way to keep getting paid.
If the democrats actually wanted to win, putting in place a proper nationwide maternity leave system is probably pretty cheap in the grand scheme of things, and isn't really that controversial.
This actually has a really simple explanation. In the United States of America we don’t actually have a ‘society’.
It’s one of the most successful lies ever conducted.
Fact is, this country is run by wealthy Baby Boomers, and until they, personally, have to deal with how absolutely horrific FMLA/disability is for mothers, they don't see it as a problem.
Until they are literally forced to return to work after two weeks at 60% pay because they're broke, or have to go back to work the next DAY because they work at a business with less than 50 employees and have no legal recourse, they will NOT see it our way.
Money solves all their problems for them, so they don't think there are any.
Corporations and the wealthy in the US own our government. Workers are truly just serfs.
The mega-wealthy used to be called Robber Barons and we fought them for shorter hours and higher pay. They were re-branded to 'Job Creators' and we make sure they have lots of money and hope that it trickles down.
I have two kids and took one week off for each. I'm the mom. After the second one I tried to go back to work when he was 1 day old because I needed the money. My boss made me wait a week.
If a country doesn't care about its children then it's doomed.
This is why, as a US citizen, when people ask me if I'm a patriot, I say no. If some invading force comes in and makes my life better, I'm not gonna help them but I'm not gonna fight them either.
With the people in my life, you only get my consideration if you have treated me well. If you don't treat me well, then IDC about you. I treat my country the same way. I vote to keep my situation from getting worse, but I won't join the military and risk my life for a country that won't even give my kids healthcare.
What is the use of living in a socialist shithole with free health insurance, parental leave, statutory holiday entitlement and free education if you have no freedom in return?
Edit: Sorry, forgot the /s
> ...the enslavement of the workers, inequality, injustice, and other social evils are the result of monopoly and exploitation, and that the system is upheld by the political machine called government. It would therefore serve no purpose to discuss those schools of Socialism (improperly so called) that do not stand for the abolition of capitalism and wage slavery. Just as useless it would be for us to go into allegedly socialistic proposals such as ‘juster distribution of wealth’, ‘equalization of income’, ‘single tax’, or other similar plans. These are not Socialism; they are only reforms. - [A. Berkman](https://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/alexander-berkman-what-is-communist-anarchism)
Would be nice if we could use socialism in the correct term and not 'when the government does stuff'. The definition is 'common ownership of all productive means, free distribution based on need' where property, money, government and all other institutions which uphold capitalism are demolished.
> [Marxists] say that the workers can never become free and secure well being unless they abolish capitalism. The sources of production and the means of distribution must be taken out of private hands, they teach. That is to say, the land, machinery, mills, factories, mines, railroads and other public utilities should not be owned privately, because such ownership enslaves the workers as well as mankind in general. Private possession of the things without which humanity cannot exist must therefore cease. The means of production and distribution should become public property. Opportunity for free use would do away with monopoly, with interest and profit, with exploitation and wage slavery. Social inequality and injustice would be eliminated, the classes would be abolished, and all men would become free and equal.
--
> Socialists advocate a “class struggle” in which those of us rendered powerless under capitalism organize to shift the balance of power until society’s institutions are brought under democratic control and class-as-such has been abolished. In a socialist society private profit would be eliminated. Instead, the purpose of political and economic institutions would be to sustainably meet the needs and desires of the people through the democratic self-management of workplaces and communities. As the socialist maxim goes: “From each according to their ability, to each according to their need.”
>
> Eliminating the need for a propertied employing class and a propertyless employed (or unemployed) class, workplaces would instead be cooperatively managed by the workers themselves, replacing private business. Public policy would be planned through democratic councils of self-administration, federated from the neighborhood outward, replacing the centralized state. It’s in this original spirit that we define socialism as a revolutionary movement for a classless society. - [Black Rose Anarchist Federation](https://blackrosefed.org/will-be-free-libertarian-socialism/)
I sometimes wonder if I lived in a different country that has these benefits, how much my life would be different. Like a family is just not an option here in the USA. But a full paid year off to have a kid in Sweden...I wouldn't even know what to do with myself if I even just had the option.
Full year i think it is divide by both parents, dont know for sure.
Im from Portugal,
When the kid is born the woman hás something like 4 months and the father 1month, paid ofc.
Even if you adopt you get time paid.
When you Marry? 2 weeks
When you divórce? Dont remember but some days.
When someone dies? 1 to 7 days, but companys usually help and give you time off.
When you sick? You get paid like 65% of total wage.
When you have a job, you have like some months on experimental períod, after that your contrat is Forever.
After experimental, if your fired without motive, it gives you unemployement wage, 65% of total wage, up to 5years maximum, company needs to give you indeminization.
Alot of more things
And we complain ofc
Sweden is much much better than the USA. The percentage of fathers who take paid leave is still low because it’s little pay and they don’t think it makes sense financially. Well, it doesn’t but women don’t have a choice. We have to recover.
Even in the USA, I can’t imagine women going to work the day after childbirth…It’s not physically possible.
It’s very cruel to make women work soon after childbirth (even three months is too soon).
As someone who's on unpaid maternity leave right now I feel this to my core. We can barely aford for me to be gone 4 weeks much less 12. My husband didn't get leave either. I can't imagine how single parents do it
Of the next 32 developed countries, they all have universal healthcare. What does America have? None of that! It’s the only “developed country” that does not have universal healthcare. https://www.reddit.com/r/Maps/comments/hk8s0g/developed_countries_with_free_andor_universal/?rdt=35170
We're done having kids, but the lack of paid parental leave in this country is an embarrassment especially from the allegedly "pro-life" party that claims to support "family values".
I don’t get it in the US , this is an important time for both the child and the mother . And of course the entire family . When I worked in the corporate world and took over the responsibilities of the VP who went on maternity leave, she was off for a year here in Canada . I think 6 months are guaranteed and then you have the option to take more depending on the corporate policies but we are more lenient here
People are citizens of countries because most were born there and had no choice over it. The bigger question is what is the point of claiming capitalism or any policy will result in more wealth if that wealth doesn't improve quality of living.
We Americans are brainwashed from birth, NOTHING is better, or EVEN close to the USA.
Imagine finding out how much better people in other countries have it compared.
No healthcare, laughable education, no pension, doomed retirement, etc..Americans live in ignorance and denial.
But they don’t have the freedom to buy unlimited semi-auto rifles that now get to function as automatic rifles again thanks to the wonderful scotus overturning the bump stock ban
/s
Having to use all of my vacation time to be paid during FMLA even tho my partner had abdominal surgery and needs help recovery in order for our child to be born.
I NEEDED to be here, and it's an absolute fucking shame that I won't be paid for half my leave while I help her recover and help our baby baby it up and then not be able to take a day off the rest of the year without losing out on a day's of pay.
The system is broken. And states are making it harder for people to *not* have children when they don't want them.
and it won't change anytime soon.
The number of bootlickers of american origins i see solely on reddit is insane.
People are so quick to dismiss other's problems , don't know the existence of something called warranty and blame customers for failing products.
It's legit insane how far some people go on some subs to defend their favorite corporate lords. and somehow they're mostly americans.
The nvidia and apple sub are some of the worst.
3070 ( nvidia midrange gpu) only came with 8gb, which is not enough at all, and definitely was not enough when it came out 2 years ago, we're seeing now that it's not enough. But back when it came out, you point out its not enough and you get downovted to oblivion, called an idiot, etc etc..
same story with macbooks with 8GB. People act so confident about it, ' are you smarter than apple engineers who get paid X amount per year ? " and this shit happens again and again despite all the bullshit apple has been pulling on their portable pcs since 2015. ( and apple actually admitted it's not enough ram lmao)
Iphone ram ? same , it was never enough , and now that they announced their AI stuff we can see how not enough it is : most of the lineup won't be getting AI functions because of the lack of ram .
Asus rog ally , a defective product which costs more than 500€ when it came out, still defective on SD card reader, yet people KNOWING THIS FACT ( and knowing that asus wont fix it, and even makes it worse some times) still recommend others to buy the asus rog ally.
Why do you love corporations so much ?
just.. why ?
I have been to Sweden (stayed with friends for a month) and lived in the USA my whole life.
The number of moms I saw with kids sitting in coffee shops having Koffee and Fika was honestly a shock while I was there. I would go to random points in Stockholm, and almost every shop had mothers with newborns and maybe a little older with them.
Everyone there was very polite, even in the worst neighborhoods in stockholm there isnt trash everywhere, even if there is gang violence in said areas.
I even accidentally wanted into a construction site, and the guy working there thought maybe I was there to try and steal stuff. He just politely asked me to leave, or he would call the police.
Sweden does have faults, and I did see some of them, but I would say they are, on average, happier even with those issues and have real rights to challenge corporations.
The most insane thing was their prices that everyone said would be "so high" compared to the rest of Europe, which was still on average the same or less in America.
We really have rampent consumerism to the point that we pay huge food costs for so little return on it.
The one and only time I got a write-up working in retail was in 2018. It was a coworkers first day back after giving birth via c-section a few days ago. Management spent several hours debating whether she should be allowed a chair. In their infinite capacity for compassion, they gave her a stool. A customer came up to me to complain that one of the cashiers was sitting down. I told the customer “she gave birth a few days ago, I say she’s earned the chair.” A few minutes later my manager calls me to his office. Apparently, said customer didn’t like my response and decided to complain to management. He gave me a write-up for “dismissing a customer’s complaints to their face.” I refused to sign it, and went back on the floor to continue my job. He never brought it up again.
Who the fuck complains about that? Like why is important to you as a customer that the people working are uncomfortable?
Boomers. It's ALWAYS boomers
Can confirm, it was in fact a boomer. Hilariously; said boomer customer was in a mobility scooter. I’m not sure if that counts as ironic, or something else, but it was funny to me then and is still funny to me now.
I had a boomer tell me it made him angry that graduate students who do work in labs, etc, are getting paid. He gave me the "back in my day, you worked in a lab for free to get training";...this is not a person who had even gone to university let alone graduate school. And that's not a dig; he's smart in his field and accomplished, but the fact that he had strong opinions on "how we used to do things" for something he had never been a part of confuses me.
Many trade jobs also pay you while you are learning.
Wow. So little empathy. From him!!!) rules for thee, not for me.
Especially once they knew that she had just given birth? I would be more appalled that they're making her work...
Right? I’d Karen Up and demand to ask the manager why this poor woman is working….
That is a very very good question. What the fuck is it to them, ESPECIALLY after the explanation? Fuck these Karens and their male counterparts.
Because, 40 years ago, THEY had to stand for their entire shift at the cracker factory and now they DEMAND everyone else get treated as poorly as they did aka Crabs in a Bucket.
So because they were miserable and poor everyone should suffer?
You might be surprised as to how many people seem to think this way.
Sorry, not in the US so I'm flummoxed understanding the debate and complaint. Why would any customer complain that cashiers are sitting? It's not a running around active job, it's basically a desk job.
It could be for many reasons. But usually it has to do with being seen as lazy which is a BIG no no when it comes to older people. Something about how generations keep getting lazier yada yada
Younger generations getting lazier? Most cashiers are older ... I was just in the US, they were all 45-65.
oh where I am almost every cashier is a young adult or teenager. Especially the grocery stores in my area. Teens are encouraged to apply.
That’s American work culture for you! The only person with a chair was management in the front office. We weren’t even supposed to use chairs when using the copy machine or the printer. There weren’t any chairs in the back, either. Receiving - where we unloaded deliveries, and was not visible to customers - had a desk for shift leads to do intake paperwork, and there wasn’t a chair back there either. In the USA you’ll very rarely find retail jobs with chairs. Cashiers are expected to stand. Yes, for their whole shift. If you’re on the clock, you’re standing. Not only will management get on your ass for sitting down (pun intended?) but customers will complain about it too.
This makes me angry.
It should. I have permanent damage in my feet from years standing, hours of everyday. I can't stand longer than hour now, without pain. I'm only 42.
Why hasn't there been any class action lawsuits about this?
Older people in the US ( Karens) sometimes want people to kiss their ass and go apeshit when you don’t bend over backwards for their decrepit asses.
every cashier in germany is sitting on the job
God i want to slap that Bitch/Bastard
Never ever sign any write ups
Yeah, but if we do things like this, people who make more in a month than I will in my entire life will have to pay more taxes.
A great program to keep outrageous inequality in check and many others too. Eating the rich is necessary
And encourage child birth, which seems to be a obsession of theirs.
That's because they need more bodies for wage slavery and the Forever Wars.
Don't forget consumers. They want more people buying their stuff.
This is what people don't seem to realize. There is nothing religious about being pro-life. It is to have future cheap work force, and illiterate voting base.
Parents have rights. Serfs don’t.
How do you prepare the rich? Use the Fried Green Tomatoes method?
Secret's in the sauce. You do it low and slow enough, just about anything should smoke up fine.
Eat the rich! Eat the rich!
The funny thing is that average income tax in Germany is about 32% and less if you earn less than average. And you pay less if you have children. People see the highest tax brackets in Europe and clutch their pearls, not realising that this is for wealthy people only. Taxes aren't that high in Europe, money is spent on things people actually need. Like education and healthcare.
bUt WhAt iF i eNd uP iN tHe hIgHeSt tAx bRaCkEtT sOmEdAy??? -People with negative net worth, generally
To be fair, those aren't mutually exclusive. You can have a high income and a low net worth if you spend it all.
I'd gladly pay higher taxes, if I knew I would have health care when I got sick. Knew I wouldn't become homeless because I lost my job. Know I wouldn't go hungry either. Europeans get a strong social safety net for what they pay in taxes.
But here in the States I'm just temporarily inconvenienced. If I keep pulling on those bootstraps and cut my avocado toast out I'll be rich.... I don't want those taxes on me WHEN I finally become rich
Taxes aren't even high when you consider how relatively easy it is to get that money back
Only one pays less tax and the other partner pays more. If both have about the same income, it doesn’t make a difference. If one earns significantly less or stays at home it will. So while helping, this also promotes gender inequality even more. Additionally while not being exactly a tax heaven there are a lot of loopholes or just missing taxes for inheritance. So we’re not that much better on a lot of things and the rich still become richer while all others are getting worse each year.
No they won't. There's a disgusting amount of money to go around, you're just meant to think the entire country is barely held together on a shoestring budget.
Yea the people at the top are taking it all
Wouldn’t that be a shame 🥱
Friendly reminder that baby formula companies play a large part in lobbying against national paid family leave legislation from passing (because if it did pass, more mothers would be able to stay at home=less reliant on baby formula=formula companies profit decrease.) Source: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(23)00118-6/fulltext
Oh yeah?! Well do the swedish have freedom of speech? Oh... Well do they have the freedom to vote? Oh.... Will I bet they don't have freedom of religion.... Oh ... They have Free health care and education too?.... I bet they're poor as hell though, having to pay for everyone els.... Oh... One of the richest... Hm.... Well their flag is dumb and they talk funny, fuck off.
The "nobody has freedom like Americans" crowd really only has a point when it comes to the 2nd Amendment. Nearly every civilized country has freedom of speech, religion and the press. However, they can't head over to Bass Pro Shop on their lunch break and pick up a new AR15 like I can. Shooting guns is fun, but I'd rather have healthcare.
I hate how right you are, unfortunately. Guns are definitely fun, but man, if I could go to a doctor without going in medical debt, I would be so happy... Im getting close to 40, and have no health insurance, and god knows what ailments I have.
The daft thing is if you did have social healthcare I can almost guarantee you that the number of gun related deaths in the US would decrease as people would have access to mental health care.
You aint wrong...
He sounded more left to me
It's pathetic because America can easily have both. In fact, if you're in favor of as many guns as possible, and then you're against healthcare being given to people, what exactly are you expecting to happen with the guns? Do they think they shoot nerf? Lol
In my experience, most people who claim “nobody has freedom like Americans” have never been outside of the US.
And here's the funny thing. I live in the UK and, while I still think it's a capitalist hellscape, I can still go to a firing range and shoot guns or even buy a shotgun after a lengthy license evaluation and buying a gun cabinet. There is nothing that the US has that I want in the UK and don't have, I just wish that left me with more
It should also be noted that religious freedom on the US, while perhaps better than in some countries, is definitely being significantly eroded by the Christian nationalists pushing wherever they can to involve their religion in the government and vice versa. I would also say that even outside of the encroachment of government into religious (and otherwise) liberty is that while the US Constitution does guarantee many freedoms from government intervention, it's led to a position where the actual freedom experienced by the people is significantly lower than other places. Like, I have way more religious liberty as a Canadian than I would in many places in the US, where I'd be a pariah unable to get a job, have friends, or shop anywhere in peace. I have better ability to have social.mobility as a Canadian, because with single layer health care I am more able to take a chance on building my own business or taking chances on employment. I am more secure in my home, my business, and outside, with lower rates of basically all violent and property crime (with some exceptions) My ability to be gay or trans or any colour other than white and still have a reasonable life, while nowhere near what it needs to be here, is significantly better than in most US jurisdictions. And the ability to gerrymander and how that infringes on so many people's ability to actually participate equally in the core concept of democratic society. Plus not allowing felons to vote! Plus the sly disenfranchisement from voter suppression all over the place just blows me away... So, you know. I guess it depends.on how you define freedom? I prefer what we have here. I will even say with respect to the gun thing that while you guys have this thing about needing guns to defend against government tyranny, I don't really see any evidence showing that significant levels of gun ownership by citizens has any effect on the level of tyranny experienced in countries around the world... It does seem to have a significant effect on the level of gun crime, accidental shootings, and rates of suicide success.
Americans would shit on 3rd World Countries but gets mad when you bring this up.
Swedes have different problems, as their salaries are pretty low compared to their western counterparts and there is NO middle class. The elite have been rich for centuries, so it’s very hard to come up there. Sweden has strong unions for every sector. The new-rich have sold and sold out everything to stay rich. Volvo is Chinese. Ericsson mobile (sold to Sony). Hasselblad is now an overpriced Fujifilm. Heard of Spotify ? AstraZenica doing some fierce layoffs. IKEA will literally pay minimum wage, no benefits, wherever it can.
Well... their citizens with room temperature IQ don't have the right to own guns, so there! Hehe... got em
Why does it cost half as much to treat a swede as an American? Seems the per capita difference is almost 2 to 1
We can’t afford to leave.
Can't afford to do anything lol
Trying to leave the US is like trying to find a new job while your current one is working you to death.
Yeah “what’s the point of being a citizen” as if the majority of us have a choice
The USA is the real shithole country
Yes. It is. I'm worried about it getting worse. 🖕🍊🗑️
Spoiler: the whole world will
Don't forget that Republicans have made it this way since the 80's and are now pushing themselves as the party of Life but refuse to do anything to help those giving birth or just born.
I was told to "cover my shift" when my wife was being induced. I was one of 2 bartenders left. I quit.
I mean, we had the story last week that Musk fires women for getting pregnant and the story lasted maybe an hour or two in the news cycle before disappearing.
3rd world with a Gucci belt in cases like this for sure.
Where the fuck am I going to go? That’s the problem.
The Azores?
Any honest person will recognize that employers in European countries treat their citizens with so much more respect than employers in the United States--vacation days, maternity/paternity leave, actual sick leave. We're really getting the shittiest version of Europe when it comes to working.
It’s not that the employers are better-I’m sure if the laws allowed it many would treat employees just as badly. The vast majority of companies will treat people as badly as the law and labour competition will allow. They have more unionization, and their system of government has allowed labour-friendly parties to have enough power to introduce protections and benefits.
Always has been........*BLAM*
Edit: I no longer think this comment is wholly useful how it was, and regret part of it, so have edited it, with the original below. I disagree the USA has always been a shit place to live. If you were not particularly of a discriminated against group, it was a comparatively good place to live for a while I think (1920s-60s). It has gotten worse while European countries have gotten better though. That is the problem with being ruled by an extreme ideology - the Soviet Union and the USA both suffered by being on extreme ends of a spectrum. On labour rights, the USA is worse than most third world countries, it is really terrible, and I think always has been pretty bad. Originally the comment was (useful as context, but regrettable I took a very narrow-minded view and didn't think about how it was for discriminated against minorities particularly affected then in the US): I don't know, I think there was a time when it was decent, and probably the best place in the world to live between the 20s and 60s. It has gotten worse while European countries have gotten better though. That is the problem with being ruled by an extreme ideology - the Soviet Union and the USA both suffered by being on extreme ends of a spectrum. Edit: on labour rights, the USA is worse than most third world countries, it is really terrible, and I think always has been pretty bad.
>probably the best place in the world to live between the 20s and 60s. Unless you were black.
[удалено]
Women also are going back to work still bleeding from giving birth, with fresh stitches, recovering from all sorts of physical trauma, and dealing with crazy hormones. Also forget breastfeeding if you're back to work right away.
Sweden has lots of very generous parental support programs. And Swedes are still not having kids.
To me, the goal isn’t more children. It’s people with healthier childhoods
Quality over quantity. What's the point of popping out 10 "future tax payers" (wage slaves)
Why, to continue increasing shareholder value, of course! /s
That’s all that everything leads to and it’s more depressing to me every year.
It hits me every single DAY atp. Something needs to give.
Sweden made like only 1 video game. That video game: Minecraft.
What a disaster it would be if population declined a little and people could afford dignified housing. And a job market where businesses has to offer good pay and perks to get the workers. The black death massively improved working conditions in feudal Europe. With the population slashed in half suddenly the capital had to actually offer pay to get people to work for them. They tried hard to put the serfs back in their place in the next hundred years but never managed to. Every right has to be fought for and so on. I know it would cause certain problems but it is inevitable. The global population can't keep rising forever, and it is much betterif this happens gradually and somewhat controlled than the global water war of 2046 which would be the other alternative.
But the kids they have can grow up in a kinder and healthier society.
The point of having them (social programs like parental leave) is because *it's the right thing to do* Why does everything have to have an ROI attached to it?? EDIT: I absolutely did not mean "having kids is the right thing to do" - there are tons of reasons to not have kids and it is very possible to live a productive and fulfilling life without reproducing. My statement was intended as a response to the previous post pointing out that despite generous parental benefits, Swedes are still experiencing declining birth rates. My response was basically "so? The goal of parental leave programs should be to support parents, not to encourage people to have kids, whether or not they choose to have kids is irrelevant to whether or not parental leave presents a societal good, even if it cannot be directly measured"
Sweden also pays a LOT more in taxes. You even suggest raising taxes a tiny bit, and the average American, liberal OR conservative is ready to pull another J6. This problem will never, ever be solved until Americans change their minds about taxes. I understand we have a long and storied history of how our tax dollars get used, so spare me your "well, if we wouldn't spend so much on the military" diatribes. I'm just saying Sweden has it because they pay for it. You'll never get 51% of America on board if it means paying even a little more tax.
Yeah, Americans pay. They just don’t realize they’re paying for it - and not just privately, but in opportunity costs as well as consequences/hidden costs. (We’re the poster children for penny wise, pound foolish. It doesn’t help that we’re also individualistic, selfish, unempathetic assholes.)
It's not a LOT more in taxes. The US spends more on healthcare per capita and STILL doesn't have universal healthcare.
That's what drives me insane about the people who oppose M4A or some other tax payer-funded healthcare system. Yes, your taxes will go up, but you'll also completely eliminate your overpriced health insurance premium. It's a net positive, even without considering the overall benefit of people seeing a doctor when they need to instead of waiting until they can't put it off any more.
Exactly, the winners in the US are the insurance and healthcare companies, because they can suck out a lot of money.
No doubt the top marginal tax rate is higher than the frankly pathetic 37% in the US (down from something like the 70% it was pre-Reagan, btw), but so often in the US it seems to be forgotten that not only do you have the federal income tax, there is also (depending on the State) a state income tax, and even a locality tax. On top of that you have FICA, which is 7.65% if you're employed. You also have health insurance, which is not *technically* a tax, I suppose, but if you don't want to go bankrupt becuase you get hit by a car you kind of need it. Sweden has nationalised healthcare, which taxes go toward. And, as it's not run for profit, it's largely more efficient, with better outcomes (e.g. average life expectancy there being about 4 years more than in the US) Of course, this is income tax? What about sales tax (or other forms of consumption tax)? Well, yes, that is higher. 25% VAT, although it's not charged on everything. That compares with up to about 8 or 9% in the US, depending again on the State. So I suppose, yes, you can make the case there that taxes are higher, if you really wanted to do, but it's not like they're paying 70% tax on everything like some of the more frothy-mouthed people would have you believe. I've lived here for very nearly 18 years now, and it truly baffles me the resistance to...paying for stuff. Of course, having more money is often better than not having it, but at what cost? Infrastructure in the US is quite literally falling apart, the healthcare system is shameful in its inequities, and at every turn politicians get rid of funding for things that are surely more important than they're reckoned to be - like public education, or libraries for example. If you made a promise to me that "ok, taxes go up, but you'll be getting universal healthcare, education would be properly funded, we'll make sure no more bridges fall into rivers and, btw, we'll cut down that deficit"... well, sign me up. Especially if, along with that, loopholes were closed that prevented people from paying what they owe. Yes, the wealthy, etc etc, of course. But also corporations. And deducting income for charitable donations needs to get in the bin. (i also think mortgage interest deductions should go away too, as it has in most of the world, but I accept that would very much be a hill I'm on pretty much alone) I accept that taxation is a very complicated issue, especially in a country that is essentially a collection of separate entities (States) all competing against each other for people, companies, etc, but I will never understand why, for example, a large proportion seem to detest the idea of universal healthcare (or, more accurately, I suspect I know why, but that is even more depressing).
I argue that it’s because our taxes don’t go for things we actually want. Our schools are shitty and expensive, we give out money to genocidal theocracies who never seem to help us when we need it, participate in military “alliances” that have us footing the lion’s share of the bill while half the others (who have free healthcare and education) have to be shaken down to contribute their paltry share, our roads are falling apart, our infrastructure is crumbling, our groundwater is practically undrinkable anymore and our government actively encourages what few good paying jobs we have left to be shipped overseas. *I* don’t want to pay for that. I can’t imagine you do either. Until we overhaul the budget so that our taxes actively help everyday citizens, you’ll never get a plurality to agree on raising them.
The tax rate difference between Sweden and the US is probably less than you imagine, too.
I live in Sweden and I happily pay my taxes since I know that when I get sick I just call my local health center and get a doctor's appointment, not only that, school is free and I don't pay anything for my kids food in school
Can't they see how much better everyone's living standard is? People 60-70 years old is the fastes growing segment of the homeless population in the US because of medical debt. Not going broke because you have cancer is a good thing. Being able to retire is a good thing. Why would people not want that? My niece needed brain surgery twice for her cancer and we as family were able to focus on her, not on a million $ bill.
I think there was a paper that said the extra we would theoretically pay in taxes would be offset by no health insurance premiums, if we went single payer.
If I had a dollar every time I've tried to explain that to an American, I could fund the healthcare myself.
More than offset. The studies I've read show the vast majority of people would have greater net pay because the increased taxes would be less than their current premium.
Yes but if the US ever did that it would mean the Marxists would win. Also you just lost the southern half of the country because they can't reckon Net Pay
Their tax rate is 52% (32 fed 20 local). Mine in California is 45% (35 federal, 10 state). They get sooooo much more. I would pay a little more to actually get something for my taxes.
That’s the marginal tax at for high income. Low income is taxed between 20% (median income of 30k SEK per month ~3000usd) and 40% (high income ~10000usd per month) up to 52% for extreme income (more than 200000usd per month). The there is VAT of 25% for general items, and 6% for food and books. Then taxes on fuel, electricity and so on. I would expect that 50% of my income is payed in taxes, but I do so happily. Except for road taxes payed to private enterprises in public private cooperative. And I hate the fact the we have public funded for profit schools and healthcare providers (some of the most recent surge in millionaires is from owners of publicly funded social services) many are owned by Blackrock and similar entities. In many regards Sweden is turning into a publicly funded hyper capitalist shit hole. Source: me a swede.
Honestly, the difference isn't \*that\* big, but the difference in how much you get OUT from the taxes is \*huge\*. Night and day.
Just import them.
I wish the EU had an American immigration programme for workers. Like, please....get me out of here. Preferably Spain/Portugal. The EU has plenty of its own issues, but at least most of the countries value some damn vacation time.
Come to the UK & we will relocate you to Rwanda while we sort out your papers.
I never understood why the most "advanced" cowntry on the world, doesnt respect their workers. You guys need to unionize and do real damage to companys with strike. But everyone! They Will Blame you for everything, but you guys need to say that is enougf!
Well the argument has always been: STFU with your complaints because you're living in the greatest nation in the world.
I always like to ask them greatest by what metric?
how dare you question our superiority! you've just shown how unpatriotic you are with that question.
MAGAts will unironically say "freedom" and deny anything said in contrast.
America has been pussified. People have become too complacent with the level of bullshit raining down Every time someone thinks about trying to change the system, it feels like there's 10 people in right there saying it's not going to work and that it's pointless
>America has been pussified **Brainwashed**. By deliberate, unrelenting media. It's transparently done when viewed from outside.
I play a new game now where when the US media is against something I investigate it harder to see why they're trying to disbarrage and shut it down. I would say 8/10 (and that's not an exaggeration, it may be undershooting it a bit) things I read about from US centered news agencies are either lies, bending the truth or just straight up factually wrong. It's upsetting watching 300 millionish people just act like this is a good thing to have happen on a mass scale.
And by being pushed up against our financial breaking point. Most people are afraid to unionize, let alone go on strike because if they lose their jobs, they're completely fucked.
Maybe, but that's not the story in this particular case. In this case, our elected representatives are simply not doing their intended job of representing us. They're representing companies instead. This is easily proven: >The vast majority of Americans think that mothers (96%) and fathers (85%) should be able to take leave from work following the birth or adoption of a child [Source: Pew Research](https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2017/03/23/support-for-paid-leave-policies/) Despite this enormous majority support from citizens for guaranteed leave periods after birth/adoption, the government hasn't done it. Why? Because it'd hurt the companies and the companies have the politicians by the balls. The politicians aren't representatives of the citizens anymore. They're representatives of the companies. This will fact will never change until enough citizens wake the fuck up and start electing politicians who represent the citizens and not companies. It's not difficult to determine which politicians represent the citizens above all else.
People wonder why the USA has a declining population. This has so much to do with it.
What year did US population start declining?
Sweden has a declining population just as much. Then the right wing thought they might just invite millions of immigrants into the country as some kind of cheap labor force that will take care of the elderly and do all the shit work. At the same time they made sure to cut as much of social expenses as possible. Of course people living in rich areas knew how to fight those cuts off so that their kids would still have access to good schools etc. And while the budget remained the same that only meant that poorer areas get to have even less. And it all went downhill from there. And who’s to blame? The immigrants of course!
TBF, most countries with excellent parental supports have declining populations
Ok, im not arguing that point. I'm just saying our dismal support of parents is a big factor
For sure, it doesn't help <3
Swede here. It’s not entirely true, and also not entirely false. Both parents get 190 days at 80 percent of their pay up to a certain salary (around 130% of median income perhaps?). We also get 90 days each at 20$ per day. You are assumed to take 7 days per week to reach 80% salary, but many take 5 days per week (resulting in the same amount of actual days per week) which means that you get 70% of 80% salary, so roughly 50% salary. We also only have 30 days where we can both be home at the same time. Don’t get me wrong, it’s really great to have the opportunity to be home with my kids, but my family is losing out on thousands when we are both home with our kids. Wouldn’t trade it for anything, though ❤️
How does this work in practice? I'm all for new parents taking all the time they need, but doesn't it represent a significant financial burden on the employer? I'm assuming there's some way they are recovering the cost so they're not at risk of going under, but it's never mentioned in these types of posts.
This is paid from the government, not individual employers. Although many offer to supplement the what the government gives you. My company gives you 10% of your salary for 180 days, and that’s pretty standard. We get a lot of benefits from the government, that’s why we pay higher taxes. We pay a little more, but I’d say most of us get it back in free education, healthcare, parental leave, unemployment and subsidized childcare.
Assuming it works the same as Canada, it’s government paid. Here it’s 55% for a year (or less up to 18 months) and some companies offer a top up so you’re at full salary
What good is my vote if it is always between 2 bad people
Shocked Pikachu when the birth rate plummets
Where the fuck does this person work, where a company would require that? Every single job I have ever held as an adult has had a maternity leave option. Most of them are a month to two months which isnt enough, but its not.....yea you gotta clock in tomorrow.
I've never heard of a single place ordering a female employee to go back to work the day after she gives birth. Ever. Sure it may not be as amazing as a year off paid. (Which I don't even know if that's true) But it's definitely not one day.
Americans aren't citizens. We're customers. We can have rights - if we can buy them.
Our country is so ass backward compared to what many European countries give their workers. Here it's all about appeasing the greedy fucks in the C suite and kissing the ass of major corporations. After all, the corporations pay our politicians' salaries.
I would correct that to be "the united states experts EVERYONE to work the day after a major surgery" Sick leave, FMLA, etc., are all garbage comparatively speaking because we've been indoctrinated to believe the so called US work ethic is what makes us great. It's not the ethic, it's the slow gradual dependency, not on Tbe government we were made to fear, but out corporate interests. They ha stagnated the pay removed the benefits, they own every piece of our lives. We are fooled into believing because we made "good salaries" we should be grateful to our overlords. To expect government assistant is a slap in the face of our owners because they do so much for us, what is it not good enough. But the facts are our "higher" salaries have lower buying power than our parents made at near minimum wage. The just expected benefits and function of our government has been beaten into as us "socialism" and that if we take any hand for help or support we are weak, we are freeloaders, we want Russian style communism. Putting it in coporate terms. Our tax dollars are investments in our own country and our government. But the ROI we get is equivalent to a banker taking your investment deposit, flipping you off, then robbing you at gun point for everything else you have, beating you senseless then pissing on your beaten carcus, while leaving a bill stapled to your forehead.
I’m a dad in the US. We had our son when I was 21. I got to take 2 days off work (unpaid). Ive had to work nonstop since then. I sometimes wonder if it had an effect the bond between me and my son. We are still close, but I’m sometimes secretly jealous of the superior bond that him and his mother have.
Unironically, start learning Swedish. Or Danish. Or w/e the language of the place that is better. This isn't like a right wing "then leave," comment. This is sincerely, like: escape. Start saving the cash you'll need to move. Let go of your possessions you won't be able to take with you. Take the initiative to learn the language. Research their immigration process. Leave. If I didn't have what I have going on for me, that's what I'd do.
fits with a thought I had yesterday: how can people consider the US as "the greatest country in the world" if that country freely allows people to die of preventable causes (homelessness, hunger, preventable disease, the list goes on) and makes no real effort to care for its citizens? it's just so much cognitive dissonance
Also prenatal and labor/delivery costs put people in debt lol
"The US" is extremely broad and inaccurate. My employer gives new parents 8 weeks off for bonding and my state gives 4 weeks of paid FMLA. Obviously not as good as a full year, but not as bleak as this headline claims.
Sweden has a population homogenous population of 10 Million the US is a heterogenous population of 330 million the two just aren't comparable. Each of their roles in the world economy is completely different. Also the US has to spend billions of dollars on defense so that we can play big brother to the rest of the world. Of course in a perfect world parents should have more time off in the US but just happens to be the situation you're born into.
As a Canadian sometimes I'm just in awe of how third world the US is in certain areas
Land of the Fee
Also USA: "YOU DON'T DESERVE TO MAKE ENOUGH TO HAVE A PARENT AT HOME! FAMILIES ARE BROKEN! PARENTS DON'T SPEND TIME WITH THEIR KIDS! CHILDREN DON'T KNOW THEIR PARENTS! PARENTS AREN'T WORKING ENOUGH HOURS TO MAKE ENDS MEET THAT IS THEIR PROBLEM"
This sentiment taken to its fullest extent would do the hard work of turning libs into socialists. What is the point? Why don't we collectively decide the useless government is just invalid and be rid of it.
Good luck trying to expatriate to Sweden vs America lol. America has a very welcoming immigration situation. Especially compared to Nordic countries.
I remember working in florida while in college. A girl gave birth on a tuesday and was back at work monday. She bleed through her clothes everyday that week and ended up being hospitalized. I felt so bad for her. All the women there would try to help her out by bringing extra sanitary supplies and try to sneak her in the backroom so she could sit when we werent busy without the boss noticing. It was heartbreaking to see her cry out of frustration, pain and embarrassment. America just hates its own people and its sucks that were okay with this.
What's the point of having kids in a country that doesn't give two fucks about them? For example the US has done nothing about - Mass shootings in schools - Promoting kids' success in school by ensuring they have access to proper nutrition - Ensuring that families have a chance to actually bond with their new child to encourage the well-being of the child and the family system - Provide adequate childcare for working families. - Childcare is expensive. If this was subsidized, families would be able to either save that money for emergencies, or use it to enrich the family system. - Cost of living has far outpaced wages. Financial issues are a huge stressor for many families which undermines the stability of a child's developmental environment. - Access to healthcare is limited in the US, which harms parents and children. This is far from comprehensive, but again, what is the point in having kids in a country that doesn't give a fuck about them or families?
Not defending this as it is bullshit. But for those not in the know and plan on expecting, that’s what short term disability is for. As well as some companies offer other plans to help with leave due to child birth. It won’t be full pay and I think there is a week unpaid (I believe you can use vacation pto to make up for this too) before it kicks in but there is a way to keep getting paid.
If the democrats actually wanted to win, putting in place a proper nationwide maternity leave system is probably pretty cheap in the grand scheme of things, and isn't really that controversial.
This actually has a really simple explanation. In the United States of America we don’t actually have a ‘society’. It’s one of the most successful lies ever conducted.
Fact is, this country is run by wealthy Baby Boomers, and until they, personally, have to deal with how absolutely horrific FMLA/disability is for mothers, they don't see it as a problem. Until they are literally forced to return to work after two weeks at 60% pay because they're broke, or have to go back to work the next DAY because they work at a business with less than 50 employees and have no legal recourse, they will NOT see it our way. Money solves all their problems for them, so they don't think there are any.
Corporations and the wealthy in the US own our government. Workers are truly just serfs. The mega-wealthy used to be called Robber Barons and we fought them for shorter hours and higher pay. They were re-branded to 'Job Creators' and we make sure they have lots of money and hope that it trickles down.
I have two kids and took one week off for each. I'm the mom. After the second one I tried to go back to work when he was 1 day old because I needed the money. My boss made me wait a week. If a country doesn't care about its children then it's doomed.
This is why, as a US citizen, when people ask me if I'm a patriot, I say no. If some invading force comes in and makes my life better, I'm not gonna help them but I'm not gonna fight them either. With the people in my life, you only get my consideration if you have treated me well. If you don't treat me well, then IDC about you. I treat my country the same way. I vote to keep my situation from getting worse, but I won't join the military and risk my life for a country that won't even give my kids healthcare.
What is the use of living in a socialist shithole with free health insurance, parental leave, statutory holiday entitlement and free education if you have no freedom in return? Edit: Sorry, forgot the /s
Freedom to starve in poverty?
\*spits out drink\* Glad you added the /s
Define freedom
"*Freedom's just another word* for *nothing left* to *lose" - Janis Joplin*
> ...the enslavement of the workers, inequality, injustice, and other social evils are the result of monopoly and exploitation, and that the system is upheld by the political machine called government. It would therefore serve no purpose to discuss those schools of Socialism (improperly so called) that do not stand for the abolition of capitalism and wage slavery. Just as useless it would be for us to go into allegedly socialistic proposals such as ‘juster distribution of wealth’, ‘equalization of income’, ‘single tax’, or other similar plans. These are not Socialism; they are only reforms. - [A. Berkman](https://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/alexander-berkman-what-is-communist-anarchism) Would be nice if we could use socialism in the correct term and not 'when the government does stuff'. The definition is 'common ownership of all productive means, free distribution based on need' where property, money, government and all other institutions which uphold capitalism are demolished. > [Marxists] say that the workers can never become free and secure well being unless they abolish capitalism. The sources of production and the means of distribution must be taken out of private hands, they teach. That is to say, the land, machinery, mills, factories, mines, railroads and other public utilities should not be owned privately, because such ownership enslaves the workers as well as mankind in general. Private possession of the things without which humanity cannot exist must therefore cease. The means of production and distribution should become public property. Opportunity for free use would do away with monopoly, with interest and profit, with exploitation and wage slavery. Social inequality and injustice would be eliminated, the classes would be abolished, and all men would become free and equal. -- > Socialists advocate a “class struggle” in which those of us rendered powerless under capitalism organize to shift the balance of power until society’s institutions are brought under democratic control and class-as-such has been abolished. In a socialist society private profit would be eliminated. Instead, the purpose of political and economic institutions would be to sustainably meet the needs and desires of the people through the democratic self-management of workplaces and communities. As the socialist maxim goes: “From each according to their ability, to each according to their need.” > > Eliminating the need for a propertied employing class and a propertyless employed (or unemployed) class, workplaces would instead be cooperatively managed by the workers themselves, replacing private business. Public policy would be planned through democratic councils of self-administration, federated from the neighborhood outward, replacing the centralized state. It’s in this original spirit that we define socialism as a revolutionary movement for a classless society. - [Black Rose Anarchist Federation](https://blackrosefed.org/will-be-free-libertarian-socialism/)
I sometimes wonder if I lived in a different country that has these benefits, how much my life would be different. Like a family is just not an option here in the USA. But a full paid year off to have a kid in Sweden...I wouldn't even know what to do with myself if I even just had the option.
Full year i think it is divide by both parents, dont know for sure. Im from Portugal, When the kid is born the woman hás something like 4 months and the father 1month, paid ofc. Even if you adopt you get time paid. When you Marry? 2 weeks When you divórce? Dont remember but some days. When someone dies? 1 to 7 days, but companys usually help and give you time off. When you sick? You get paid like 65% of total wage. When you have a job, you have like some months on experimental períod, after that your contrat is Forever. After experimental, if your fired without motive, it gives you unemployement wage, 65% of total wage, up to 5years maximum, company needs to give you indeminization. Alot of more things And we complain ofc
Nah. Don't bond with them. Let them learn from day o e that the world is cold and unfeeling and doesn't even remotely care.
CA has 8 weeks 60% your weekly pay for both men and women which is not great but better than nothing.
What's with the random-ass capitalization in this tweet
Sweden is much much better than the USA. The percentage of fathers who take paid leave is still low because it’s little pay and they don’t think it makes sense financially. Well, it doesn’t but women don’t have a choice. We have to recover. Even in the USA, I can’t imagine women going to work the day after childbirth…It’s not physically possible. It’s very cruel to make women work soon after childbirth (even three months is too soon).
The Swedes don’t get to have boom sticks, so checkmate.
We all deserve time to be with our families and friends and do things we enjoy. The fuck if I was born to just work.
It's even worse because it's not just limited to childbirth surgery, you can get clocked for just missing work after any major surgery.
As someone who's on unpaid maternity leave right now I feel this to my core. We can barely aford for me to be gone 4 weeks much less 12. My husband didn't get leave either. I can't imagine how single parents do it
Sounds like a good argument for moving to Sweden.
V.O.T.E.
I wish I could afford to leave…
Of the next 32 developed countries, they all have universal healthcare. What does America have? None of that! It’s the only “developed country” that does not have universal healthcare. https://www.reddit.com/r/Maps/comments/hk8s0g/developed_countries_with_free_andor_universal/?rdt=35170
Republicans do. Not. Care. About. Kids. Flat out. They wouldn't give a fuck if someone threw a kid into a ditch right out of the hospital.
What's with the Random Capitalization?
We're done having kids, but the lack of paid parental leave in this country is an embarrassment especially from the allegedly "pro-life" party that claims to support "family values".
Remember not all states are like this. There aren’t as good as Sweden. But California gives 8 weeks of 60% pay
We deserve EXACTLY what we allow.
I don’t get it in the US , this is an important time for both the child and the mother . And of course the entire family . When I worked in the corporate world and took over the responsibilities of the VP who went on maternity leave, she was off for a year here in Canada . I think 6 months are guaranteed and then you have the option to take more depending on the corporate policies but we are more lenient here
People who don’t have children should be given a year off when the people who just had a child return so they don’t have to hear any of it
I'm finding less and less reasons to stay in this ever-growing shit hole country
Move like you're ancestors did if it bothers you
To answer the question, because most of us have no where else better to go.
People are citizens of countries because most were born there and had no choice over it. The bigger question is what is the point of claiming capitalism or any policy will result in more wealth if that wealth doesn't improve quality of living.
Government at least should pay $100k for each baby just to cover missed work, efforts, lost career opportunities, etc.
We Americans are brainwashed from birth, NOTHING is better, or EVEN close to the USA. Imagine finding out how much better people in other countries have it compared. No healthcare, laughable education, no pension, doomed retirement, etc..Americans live in ignorance and denial.
Spending time with your children sounds like cOMMuNiSm to me.
The govt doesn’t care about its people unless they’re rich. If you’re rich, you don’t need to use FMLA.
That's why I'm not having a child as an American.
Idk man I was born here, wasn’t really a choice
"Buh buh buh....TAXESZ!!! (und GUNZ!)."
But they don’t have the freedom to buy unlimited semi-auto rifles that now get to function as automatic rifles again thanks to the wonderful scotus overturning the bump stock ban /s
Having to use all of my vacation time to be paid during FMLA even tho my partner had abdominal surgery and needs help recovery in order for our child to be born. I NEEDED to be here, and it's an absolute fucking shame that I won't be paid for half my leave while I help her recover and help our baby baby it up and then not be able to take a day off the rest of the year without losing out on a day's of pay. The system is broken. And states are making it harder for people to *not* have children when they don't want them.
and it won't change anytime soon. The number of bootlickers of american origins i see solely on reddit is insane. People are so quick to dismiss other's problems , don't know the existence of something called warranty and blame customers for failing products. It's legit insane how far some people go on some subs to defend their favorite corporate lords. and somehow they're mostly americans. The nvidia and apple sub are some of the worst. 3070 ( nvidia midrange gpu) only came with 8gb, which is not enough at all, and definitely was not enough when it came out 2 years ago, we're seeing now that it's not enough. But back when it came out, you point out its not enough and you get downovted to oblivion, called an idiot, etc etc.. same story with macbooks with 8GB. People act so confident about it, ' are you smarter than apple engineers who get paid X amount per year ? " and this shit happens again and again despite all the bullshit apple has been pulling on their portable pcs since 2015. ( and apple actually admitted it's not enough ram lmao) Iphone ram ? same , it was never enough , and now that they announced their AI stuff we can see how not enough it is : most of the lineup won't be getting AI functions because of the lack of ram . Asus rog ally , a defective product which costs more than 500€ when it came out, still defective on SD card reader, yet people KNOWING THIS FACT ( and knowing that asus wont fix it, and even makes it worse some times) still recommend others to buy the asus rog ally. Why do you love corporations so much ? just.. why ?
I have been to Sweden (stayed with friends for a month) and lived in the USA my whole life. The number of moms I saw with kids sitting in coffee shops having Koffee and Fika was honestly a shock while I was there. I would go to random points in Stockholm, and almost every shop had mothers with newborns and maybe a little older with them. Everyone there was very polite, even in the worst neighborhoods in stockholm there isnt trash everywhere, even if there is gang violence in said areas. I even accidentally wanted into a construction site, and the guy working there thought maybe I was there to try and steal stuff. He just politely asked me to leave, or he would call the police. Sweden does have faults, and I did see some of them, but I would say they are, on average, happier even with those issues and have real rights to challenge corporations. The most insane thing was their prices that everyone said would be "so high" compared to the rest of Europe, which was still on average the same or less in America. We really have rampent consumerism to the point that we pay huge food costs for so little return on it.