I am sorry, but I have to speak up. Once again, we see a thread that has turned into a bash America frenzy. Does America have problems? Ofcourse it does. It would be silly to say otherwise.
I grew up in a dirt poor, urban environment. Drugs, prostitution, hunger, all of these things were part of my daily life. Fact is, all of these things are a choice. They are the easy way. America allows for its residents to achieve great things if they want to work at it. It is hard to reach for success, but far from impossible.
Do you choose to take a minimum wage job and save for university, or do you choose to sell drugs to buy that 62 " tv? There is a right way and a wrong way. The wrong way is usually easier, so ppl decide to go the path of least resistance.
People want all the material things that the west says we have to have, why?
We work jobs we hate, to buy things we don't need, to impress people we don't like. This is why people live on credit cards. They take the easy way.