I’ve never been to the US but I’m certain that’s not true.

I’m not trying to be a snarky online asshole telling you you’re wrong about everything. I’m certain that I’ve felt the way you are in the past. I do genuinely wish you well.

I guess I was just trying to give you some hope for the future by challenging your feeling of hopelessness.

“Working towards the actual benefit of society” is subjective and I’m not sure what your definition is.

In Western Australia where I live there are several gargantuan projects under construction to use solar to crack hydrogen out of water for export to south east asia. 1,000s of construction jobs in these projects. A labourer without a trade qualification would probably earn at least 2x the average Australian full time wage doing that. A qualified trades person with experience in this type of project might earn 2.5 or even 3x average wage.

I volunteer as the treasurer for a local 18 bed refuge for teenagers without a safe place to live. They employ about a dozen social workers for the in-house and outreach programs. All of these people are earning close to the average full time wage.

My own job as an accountant is less directly “benefit of society” but I do find it satisfying to help people navigate complex situations.

I think most people are able to choose to spend their time working towards the actual benefit of society for a fair wage.

That’s hyperbolic.

IDK what “invalidation problems” are but hoo boy, when I’m anxious my thoughts are not at all borne of reality.

I’m not sure how to phrase this without sounding like a condescending jerk, but that’s not my intention.

The thing is, a job that requires as little from you as possible while still paying the bills is guaranteed to be unfulfilling.

It’s not just the US.

The underlying cause you’re looking for is wealth inequality.

The vast majority of people are worker drones. We will work hard all of our lives in unsatisfying jobs with minimal leisure time, and if we get really lucky we can stop work for a few years before we die when we’re too sick to work any more.

This general discontent will manifest in hatred in one way or another. Social media is channelling it into different things but the underlying cause is the same.

I don’t understand why people don’t just choose not to put toxins in their body.

It’s because it’s addictive.