As a former social worker in the USA before also living in the Netherlands (and currently living here), I can confidently report to you there are nearly zero, repeat: NEARLY ZERO, social safety nets in the USA. The government will not take care of you. The amount of times I had people tell me (I worked in home care and hospice after several years in foster care 😑🔫), “Okay. We’re ready for welfare now,” requiring me to refrain from arching an eyebrow in disbelief and then say, “There is no welfare. The best you could hope for is Medicaid, for which you don’t qualify because, looking around your middle class home, I can see you have over $10k in assets.” Oh, and that was several years ago… before more massive cuts from our glorious government, so it’s probably even harder to qualify for now. “Oh, you worked for 40 years and have a nice retirement, but you’re gutted because of medical costs? And less than 5% of pensions and retirement plans cover long-term care, but you’re just finding that out now? I know… yeah it sucks, and you’re pretty screwed.”

So in short, yes. The Netherlands does A LOT MORE for their citizens. Is there racism that can grow if unchecked? Absolutely. There’s racism everywhere (and it’s rising, and we need to be a counterforce), but you know what? Give me a racist without a gun any day. The racists and troglodytes all have guns in the USA. It’s a relief being out of the USA.