Great and Terrible things

[busker]

"The general belief in free markets, competition, individual liberty, private property and sensible regulation is strong in America, which is what has kept it going while the rest of the west has been collapsing trying to run a welfare state."

You're funny xD Fascists in power but America is apparently not collapsing still

I think much of our perception of reality is warped by the incessant bleating of the 24/7 news cycle
The reality is different 

Look at the basket case Britain has become. Part of it is Brexit, but a lot of it is the never ending pile up of welfare payments that’s completely strangled the economy.
A smart young graduate from a top university gets - unless he gets a lucky break in finance - about 50-60% the salary of his counterpart in the US. And pays more in tax.
What was the last innovation to come out of the EU? Perhaps Moderna’s Covid drug, which shows that the talent and aspiration is there, but it’s strangled by mountains of red tape.
Germany’s asinine decision to retire nuclear and not rebuild, its failure to launch a viable EV industry, and Europe’s relegation to becoming little better than Disneyland - these things matter more than what Trump is doing to run for a third term. The press will focus on the latter because it’s easier to understand.

Make no mistake - America and China are the only games in town. Long term, the Chinese will win because America is a racist, culturally backward, Christian fundamentalist cesspool, but for the time being, it’s too dog still.