United States Capitalism

Sleeping for 14 hours is not very relaxing, it takes effort.

Some people think that citizens of the United States are lucky, but they just have their own set of problems, albeit first world problems in a system of Capitalist system. Anxiety , depression , obesity , and mental disorders , Is the first world really so great?, would you rather live on an income of one dollar a day? Of course not, but what if people loved living? Despite the perks of Capitalism? [Not that people in the United States don't love living, but there is obviously some problem if a quarter of United States citizens are diagnosed with some form of mental anxiety or depression or what have you, and income probably has a lot to do with stress and health, particularly on the middle class (we are the Prozac Nation.)] So, my question to you is, does the system of Capitalism put too much stress on the American economy? Do you think that your current social class effects your social peace of mind? Where you are is not so important, what matters is not "living", LIVING FOR LIFE MATTERS, and Capitalism affords that chance, the opportunity to LIVE. Also, it's probably easier to live when you have some wealth to cushion you from the stress and anxiety of life.

People in the United States want to be able to make a living, but excessive income inequality may be too great of an economic discouragement. It's not like the economic inequality is impermissible under the tenets of Capitalism, but Karl Marx may have been somewhat correct. The middle class and the poorest 10 percent suffer, anxiety and stress abound.

A lot of the nations that are rapidly developing have a somewhat efficient political structure. Their economies look sound, but they are Debatable as to what a morally good political system is-there may not be one, besides a Theocracy- but that is a different question entirely.

People in the developed world have to ask themselves the question, "AM I OKAY" WITH WEALTH DISPARITY AND INEQUALITY ?" -i.e. within their native country and among each developed country compared to the first world. Within first world countries, rich people take home most of the dough, while the middle class is left with less wealth. In fact, the middle class is shrinking in most first world countries, wealth is is being quashed from the middle of the social spectrum out to the rich and poor. This puts a lot of stress on the average Joe.

Therefore, income is diverging on a grand scale. The income of the rich continues to increase while the poor continue to flounder. Now, while wealth disparity may not seem that significant enough to cause anxiety today, it very well might be a large issue in the upcoming political future.

Middle Class income inequality is a predictable problem, and although inequality is not a big issue discussed in America necessarily, like most problems, Americans, like other rich nations will ignore inequality until it gets so out of hand it is nearly impossible to balance the wealth a little bit more.

That's a big issue I plan to write a hub about soon, and would recommend a book called, "The Spirit Level."

The Spirit Level does not only deal with the issue of nation to nation wealth inequality, it also address the issue of INTERNAL national income disparities and its affect on different 1st world nations. The United States is a particularly poignant example.