But, "Europeans pay higher taxes" isn't a root cause. It's a proximate cause. They pay higher taxes for... guess... cultural reasons.
Perhaps it's frustrating to posit cultural drivers, because they are thrown around so willy-nilly and are difficult to prove. In that respect, trying to prove technical proximate causes is a worthy endeavor, sure.
But at root humans are worshiping creatures. (Root of culture is cult). Therefore at some level we do things because we are cultists.
So, it does matter what we worship. Ferinstance, why are Americans so predictably anti-immigrant? As you have amply demonstrated, our mania is hugely against our own self interest, economically, socially, politically, and yes, culturally.
So, you'll never find a rational, "scientific" explanation for our mania. Only cultural.
Re: cultural drivers: I'd have to say Dierdre McCloskey comes pretty close to a cultural explanation for US work ethic.
But, "Europeans pay higher taxes" isn't a root cause. It's a proximate cause. They pay higher taxes for... guess... cultural reasons.
Perhaps it's frustrating to posit cultural drivers, because they are thrown around so willy-nilly and are difficult to prove. In that respect, trying to prove technical proximate causes is a worthy endeavor, sure.
But at root humans are worshiping creatures. (Root of culture is cult). Therefore at some level we do things because we are cultists.
So, it does matter what we worship. Ferinstance, why are Americans so predictably anti-immigrant? As you have amply demonstrated, our mania is hugely against our own self interest, economically, socially, politically, and yes, culturally.
So, you'll never find a rational, "scientific" explanation for our mania. Only cultural.
Re: cultural drivers: I'd have to say Dierdre McCloskey comes pretty close to a cultural explanation for US work ethic.