Why #America is fat and unhappy - #Harvard #psychologist Steven Pinker

It's a good time to be alive in America. The wealthiest nation on earth, though, is full of unhappy people, Harvard psychologist Steven Pinker points out on GZERO World with Ian Bremmer.

He explains that the US is an outlier among affluent Western democracies. It’s rich. It’s more or less democratic. Yet it has a lower life expectancy than its counterparts. It has poor scores on math tests, more obesity, more drug addiction, and more violence.

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[samuelwalston]

Our entire government at the federal level and also somewhat at the state level is entirely 100% captured by corporations and the billionaire donor class. Every politician and every regulatory body. We have a 0% effect on federal legislation meaning it doesn’t matter if 100% of the population or 0% wants something created or passed it will not change the outcome. The most obvious result of this is the prioritization of shareholder returns over everything including human lives. It doesn’t help the bottom line to facilitate the betterment of workers lives in the American system so it is never prioritized and even fought against regularly. At this point our elections, News, and entertainment is just theater meant to distract and divide us in the hopes that enough of us will never be able to unite to change the status quo.

[denimchicken]

So nothing of value was said in this entire clip. Great.

[nate]

Privatisation is at the extreme in the USA. Thats the difference. When every policy and piece of legislation favors economic prospects rather than well being and human rights, its not a pretty picture. The USA is largely a 'fend for yourself culture'.

[im]

A better question would be, "Why do you look like you're from 1776?"

[peelben]

America is a good example of uncapped runnaway capitalism, where economics always trumps people. Employment law favours the companies heavily. Even the democrats are qute far to the right compared to equivalent parties in Europe. You can take rhe best elements of capitalism and combine them with the best of socialism. Its not a binary choice. The US needs to learn this.

[Just_another_Euro_dude]

There's nothing wrong with USA talking about the official GDP numbers. In fact the GDP per capita of the USA is absolutely fantastic and higher than every single country of the world, including Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, France, UK, even Sweden, Austria, Finland, etc., except like 5, 6 or 7 of them. I think Ireland, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Norway and maybe Denmark got higher GDP per capita than USA. The problems for the USA start when you look at the median wealth per adult and you see that USA is like only 26th in the world, just barely ahead of Slovenia. And France, Canada, UK, Australia and ITALY AND SPAIN are waaaay ahead of the USA on that list of the median wealth per adult citizen. Then suddenly you realise that average citizen of the USA ain't living super well at all. 60% of Americans don't even have 1000 dollars in the bank. That's attrocious.

[gregdee]

Canada USED to be better...not any more. I live in both places... born in CAN.

[davidpeppers]

It doesn't make sense because of Pinkers' assumptions: the freedom we have the democracy we have. It is because we have less of both than he thinks.

[CSUnger]

Read de Tocqueville. He’ll tell you why we are not as happy as we might be. One quote in particular: “ America is good because her people are good. America will cease to be good when her people are no longer good.”

[GeneralFactCheck]

Guess what Steven Pinker, I just looked up the statistics. The USA actually COMPLETELY matches Scandinavia and Canada in things like math scores and violence. Well, if you cancel out two groups that is (Rhymes with Blexicans and Macks)

[blueberry]

All the Canadians I see commenting on YouTube are definitely not happy!

[stormteam]

Other countries ban the chemicals that are sprayed on our food here in the United

[blueberry]

Please tell me how legislating for “unhappy” or depressed or disabled people to delete themselves is a sign of a happy country?

[henley]

In America the rich are coddled and engorged. In other countries the rich are taxed higher and that money is redistributed to those that need it.

[houseofsuren]

Canadians happy? Have you lived there? As an immigrant who has lived both in Canada and US in multiple provinces and states, there is absolutely no question in my mind that Americans live happier and more fulfilled lives!!!

[joshwells]

We established that wealth has zero correlation to happiness centuries ago. But thanks for the reminder. It’s necessary to remember this concept.

Do not lay up your treasures on earth where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves come in and steal….Jesus Christ our Lord

[lawrencemens]

It's called wealth distribution. Take a look at this.

[JK-jlbf]

In my opinion, it’s greed. Working way over 40 hours and not receiving overtime pay is just wrong. Cost of living on the increase and having to work side gigs to make ends meet barely is just sad. It’s close to nearly impossible to go the whole month without being overdrawn on my bank account and barely covering minimums on credit cards is a feat in and of itself. It’s just sad really. Living to work day in and day out.

[TheGreatOther]

This cant be more out of touch. Canadians aren’t happy at all. Literally the RCMP leaked a report that detailed Canadian are so frustrated that they may revolt in the next 5 years. Look it up.

[natec]

I’m from Canada, and we’re not better off here. We have the same homeless encampments, even in my small town of 8k people. They’re everywhere. Thanks Trudeau.