Is Socialism Anti-American?

[Mr Khan]

sc94597 said:

Mr Khan said:

Much of that private giving just goes to churches, though. Not to say churches don't do good things in their communities, but that is not primarily what they do nor primarily how that money is spent (most of it is just sustaining funds for church activities)

Actually if you look at OECD's Social Expenditure stats, 

http://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=SOCX_AGG

for the U.S  - Voluntary private:

3.9% GDP on Old Age

.4% GDP Incapacity Related

5.9% Health Related

0% Other

That is 10% of total GDP spent on Old Age, Disabilities, and Health. Let's compare it to say, the UK. 

4.5% GDP on Old Age

.4% GDP on Incapacity

.3% GDP on Health (arguably with public health care there is less of a private need)

.1% GDP on other social policies

With a total of 5.3% 

 

They are quite similar, yet Americans are supposedly evil and greed people who only care about themselves. 

That's because other countries have coverage for old age, incapacity, and health. They don't feel the need to donate it as we might. That we donate more does not nearly make up for the shortfall in government services.