LMAO wrote:DiamondGooner wrote:StLGooner wrote:I get it, we do some horrible things that overshadow the good things we do. But pretty much every well established Govt is corrupt in one way or another, and are hypocritical as f**k.
Sometimes it's hard listening to people constantly criticize your country, even though I mostly agree with those criticisms. However it's like when someone criticizes your kid for being a brat. You know he's a brat and you agree, but you don't want others to say it. Haha!
Yes I get it.
Its like "Its crap ........but its my crap!".
Of course every country is at it, America cops it a lot because America is the power on the block so gets the most criticism so unfortunately you have to wear the big boy pants if your holding all the big boy guns.
Romans probably felt the exact same way you do back in the day ........ "Everyone's out there chopping each others heads off, not just us, what's with all the bad press? what happened to all the blow jobs?"
Yeah, we gotta take it on the chin as the world's superpower.
But we have a lot of good too:
• Best national park system in the world. (Shout-out to Teddy Roosevelt)
• Pax Americana. It's popular to shit on our military for having bases all around the world, but countries are free to tell us to leave whenever they want.
• Out of all the Western countries, we're arguably the most friendly people along with our neighbors to the north.
• A federal government. Unlike countries like England where power is centralized, our states still have autonomy to a significant degree.
• Manifest Destiny (this one was bad) that led to our pioneering spirit (good).
• Our class system (i.e., class mobility) is superior to much of the world's since we never had a history of royalty.
• Even though our corporations control a lot, America is very consumer friendly.
• Healthcare can be expensive, yes. But we also have the best medical care in the world.
• Public education may be lacking, but our post-secondary institutions are largely the best in world.
• Cultural uniformity. Even though we're a continent-sized country and Texas culture is different to New England culture, there's this overarching American culture where you can travel from one coast to the other and still recognize that you're in the same country.
• We pretty much have all climates to experience (which is why a lot of Americans don't travel internationally. Go to Ibiza? Nah, we'll go to Las Vegas or South Beach in Miami. The French Riviera? We have Florida, SoCal, and Hawaii. The Alps? The Rockies are good enough.). Plus, going to a different state is kind of like visiting another country although not a complete 1:1 comparison.
On this agree with you. May I ad a couple of points? OK, thanks!
Our environment is cleaner than just about country on earth, our wildlife is thriving and we have millions upon millions of public lands and waterways. When I was British this was not the case by a long shot, but has been getting far better over the past twenty years. Being an avid conservationist, hunter and fisherman the US is paradise for me.
The US assumed the role of the freedom protector a when Germany got stroppy twice, and the second one truly saved the world from totalitarianism. Yes nations can tell the US to leave, but most understand the consequences to their security. I am for greatly reducing our own presence in some places and handing over the costs, both human and fiscal to those who benefit. As you mentioned American culture is a real living phenomenon and has a great deal to do with why the US steps up against tyranny every time it is required. It all started because of British colonialism ironically yet we have been staunch allies ever since. Most of the bases you refer to are relics of of the Cold war yet are pretty handy when threats occur as they always will. Peace through strength is a reality. It allows for diplomacy to work. Another Teddy Roosevelt axiom.
Being a Republic of sovereign states including Native American tribes we have resisted many of the problems with a centralized government. That seems to be changing on the left, but being reinforced by the right. Our Constitution is perhaps the most brilliant document ever produced. Checks and balances, the Bill of Rights, the manner in which we amend the Constitution...much borrowed from English law and much of it devised to avoid imperialism. (Which the US is accused of falsely all the time.)
Our healthcare is the way it is because the majority of Americans like it. We have an ingrained distrust of how governments run things. Nobody is refused healthcare and people who actually plan their lives responsibly have coverage that is the best in the world. If we do slip into government run healthcare we will lose much of our advancement in all sectors of treatments. HIV is prime example. The US developed the drugs that keep the infected alive, and we basically gave those drugs to much of Africa saving millions of lives. I was sent to the Mayo Clinic a few years ago, at the time there were private jets from all over the world parked at ten Rochester MN airport. I went into an elevator and shared a ride with Sir Alex. If someone really needs care it is here they come.
Public education is dire problem. I got my O and A levels in the UK, then came here for university. Those exams were all essay answers which require a through knowledge of ten subject matter AND the ability to write a cogent paragraph. My kids went to public schools that were Ok, but we did a lot of extra curricular education at home especially in maths, geography and history outside of US history.
Manifest Destiny was a signal of the times. The same attitude was prevalent in Canada, Australia, New Zealand and other "new worlds". Europeans and others were flocking here to make new lives because of the opportunity to escape crushing imperial rule, famine and financial hardship. The same is still true. Those people were the risk takers and embodied that pioneer spirit.
Racism in America is mostly a political straw dog. I have seen far more overt racism in Asia, the Middle East and the UK to be sure. We can all do better, but using such divisive (and condescending) weapon politically is counter to real progress.
Moving here was the best move I ever made, becoming a citizen right on par.
Note to DG: PC culture here is pretty much a figment of the very far left and those who wish to be considered hip or even worse to have a monopoly on compassion. I actually think that it is more firmly embedded in English and European culture than here. Yes we have Hollywood dopes spouting off but they seldom follow the demands they place on others. The "fly over" country is far different. Besides PC culture captures all in it's net as many are finding out now...ie comedians. Hypocrisy is a human trait we all share to some extent. I know I suffer from it at times no matter how hard I try.
He/His/Non-Menstruater/Postmenopausal/non-vaginal male. Yup all man!