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Comment by grecy | Hacker News Reader

These are all fantastic ideas, though I find it fascinating they're all about sharing the benefits of enormous wealth with the greater community, so that everyone can be happier and healthier.

One wonders when America as a whole will realize the benefits of doing so and catch up to the rest of the Developed world.

In my experience, Americans would rather "get mine" than share.

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Americans are ranked as one of if not the most generous nation by numerous stats [0]. Americans donate more of their money as a percentage of their total income than any other citizens on earth.

Now, there's a lot one could say about why. I imagine it's a mix of the wealth and importance of religion uniquely in that developed country.

There's a lot the US could do with social programs, that's for sure but the individuals are certainly more charitable than certain European countries. Greetings from Copenhagen :)

The ideas presented in the blog are trite and solve nothing.

[0]https://www.cafonline.org/media-office/press-releases/2013/w...

> Americans are ranked as one of if not the most generous nation by numerous stats [0]. Americans donate more of their money as a percentage of their total income than any other citizens on earth.

I wonder if that's because the society they live in requires them to do so. For example, Australian's know that employed people have plenty of money from welfare to live on, so there really isn't any need to "give" money to them.

Americans know that the "have nots" are in serious trouble, so they give to them.

The US gives about 1.85% of GDP, the highest in the world. Second is Israel at 1.34%. The US also volunteers more than all but two other nations, the Netherlands and Sweden. In 2010, the US spent almost 3 times as much on foreign aid as any other developed nation (US at $38b v. Germany at $13.5b). Don't let the facts stand in the way though.

I was talking about sharing the wealth inside your own country, not keeping the poor in America extremely poor and spending money on foreign aid.

1.85% of GDP is US private charitable giving, 38% higher than any other nation. Your assertion that America needs to catch up with the rest of the world is, at best, xenophobic.

You need to factor in the amount of tax that other developed countries pay to look after their own citizens..things like heath care, welfare, higher education, etc., then see how the US compares.

I don't have numbers, but after living and paying tax in Australia, Canada and the US, I'm willing to bet Americans pay less than those from other Developed countries.

How do the stats look when you include health care and other social security?

In my experience, Americans would rather choose to spread their wealth (ie. donate) than be forced to.

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