What a third World country mentality u have, just because driving some ho das n toyotas n working 70-100 k job doesn’t mean u achieved everything! Be an example fir society like Elin Musk, Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Diana, Teresa etc

How do even people who're mediocre do great in USA?

I am assuming that you are in Nepal. I might be wrong. When you judge that people are doing well, you are judging from the perspective of a Nepali mindset. In Nepal there are not enough opportunities to make money and have a decent life. Most people go through hardship and it's difficult to fulfil their basic needs.

So when you see people going to the US and having a decent life you think they are doing great. The thing is - mediocre in the US is great in Nepal.

For example even if you work at a minimum wage job, you can rent an apartment, possibly pay for car and buy a TV quickly with one month salary. While in Nepal, you cannot do all that. So I think it's because of the minimum wage rule that people in America can easily have a mediocre life, which is considered great in Nepal by most people - and most people are struggling because they can't find a job that pays enough to sustain that kind of life. Maybe 5 to 10 percent of Nepali population have that mediocre lifestyle like in US perhaps less than that.

The answer to your question is in your question

“Or is it the opportunities in USA that even an average person can lead a great life“

It’s plain and simple concept of Purchasing power parity (ppp) . Spend some time digging through this concept .

It really comes down to how much of working hour an average income earner has to work to buy certain product or service . For example how many hours average earner has to work to buy 1000 sq ft house in US vs in Nepal , same with 32 inch TV or say some type of medical care.

Some product and service will be cheaper in nepal and some in US . But collectively US worker will have to spent lot less of their working hours to meet their basic need like paying for house , utilities and food . And they will be able spare remaining working hour to buy additional product and service like travel and vacation.

It also counts for things you receive from state for free like education, medical care where you don’t have to spent any working hours to pay for it.

If you do side by side comparison you will see clear difference between what average Nepalese worker has to spent to meet basic needs vs what US worker has to spent. It applies to everyone regardless of they are mediocre or not.

US is largest economy and richest county in the world . And everyone who lives here benefits from it. This is where power of state , it’s leadership and economy comes into play. Rich/extra smart/genius folks will live decent life every where in any country and conditions. How easy life is for average folks to meet their basic need , defines strength of power of state, society and democracy. Nepal is called poor country for a reason and average people in Nepal suffer because of that. On top of that nepalese society is poor on basic ethics and morals which leads to high corruption and bad leadership and continues to go in cycle.

I agree with you. Even the dumbest of nepali person will get a minimum job in usa and pay for his food and living expenses. Not sure if minimum wage works can retire at a reasonable 70-75 years of age to live comfortably for next 20-30 years though. But government will assist you if you are eligible for social security

“Mediocre”, “dumbest” are very mean words. Can we be a little more respectful? People have their own circumstances.

"An idiot with a plan can beat a genius without a plan" -?

It is "economics", stupid - as the Bill Clinton's campaign sloganed in 1992. The west has the market economy for almost 200 years. They have been transporting goods across the continents. They need labor for production, transportation and service. Therefore, any hard working (mediocore person in your words) can make a good living.