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If it’s just the result of societies getting richer, then why doesn’t a rich society like the USA have free higher public education/healthcare like most wealthy countries (that are yet less wealthy than the USA), or why doesn’t the UAE have a democracy?

And if being rich isn’t enough but it also requires the will of some people to push these ideas through and realize them, then wouldn’t you call those people... idealists?

If not, I’d love to hear what definition of “idealist” people are using in this thread, because it just sounds like a no true Scotsman argument.



Why don't all rich people own luxury cars? Yet many do obviously because they're rich.

And US has free, universal healthcare. Hospitals cannot turn anyone away. Its financing is pretty nutty so there's definitely some path dependence.


Emergency rooms are only required to treat immediate life-threatening conditions, that is, so long as someone is breathing enough and keeping enough blood inside to remain somewhat conscience as they're wheeled out or propped in the parking lot, they've fulfilled their obligation under the law. And then there is what exactly counts as an emergency. Things not categorized as emergencies: death from rattle snake bites, death by rabies (both very painfully). And all of that is only if it's actually enforced[1][2].

[1] https://journalofethics.ama-assn.org/article/refusal-emergen...

[2] https://www.propublica.org/article/despite-federal-law-some-...




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