Poll: What's so good about America?

[Absimilliard]

Seeing as the Iraq-debate is starting on this thread:

http://www.iraqbodycount.org/

 

[ygetoff]

Um... my theory is that most people are nice as individuals but when they get together they become jerks. Because the US (I refuse to call it "America") has so many more people, the potential jerk factor is much larger. This is not helped by the fact that the government has the power to succeed on any jerk-y ambitions of the masses.
Therefore confirming my other theory that, in an ideal world, a nation's power would be inversely proportionate to it's population.

 

[2012 Wont Happen]

Seeing as the Iraq-debate is starting on this thread:

http://www.iraqbodycount.org/

Its been a long time since I've gone to that site. I used to keep the soldier and civilian death counts written on some part of my body at all times- then I stopped as it did nothing but cause people to get angry at me

 

[2012 Wont Happen]

we've consistently fallen behind of other western nations in level of freedom granted to their citizens

You're so right! We are so far behind other Western countries! After all, we are stupid enough to think that privacy is a good thing. Why can't we be more like Britain and monitor our citizens every move?

Or perhaps we could be more like Germany or Australia, each of which uses excessive censorship and banning in video games. And if ONLY we had that 50%+ tax that all Swedish citizens have to pay.

If your middle and upper classes can pay 50% taxes and everyone in the nation will be taken care of- I say good

 

[cuddly_tomato]

What's so bad about America? Show me a country that wasn't founded on lies, violence and bigotry.

The Isle of Wight, Antarctica, and The Kingdom of Tonga.

EDIT: I have since found out the Isle of Wight does indeed have a violent history. Sorry.

I'm so sick of this anti-America counter-culture. Hate the people in the country, not the country itself.

America is responsible for this... thing...

You know one thing that's good about America? You have the freedom to hate and openly denounce its leaders. In other words, America is great because it gives you the right to hate it without consequence.

Why waste hate on your leaders when you have Michael Bay at large in your country? This is the problem with America, not enough people hate Michael Bay.

 

[ygetoff]

Hate the people in the country, not the country itself.

I quite like the American people in general.

However, I think that the people who generally run it, acting as the country, are completely inept

Proving my theory that individually, most people are nice, but as a group, they are jerkwads. It works similarly to the Penny Arcade internet jerkwad theory.

 

[2012 Wont Happen]

Also its depressing that you can't get elected in America without being an Atheist when in other countries religion doesn't even enter into things.

To my knowledge, there has never been an atheist president of the United States of America

 

[Acier]

B. I don't particularly care about my home country and am probably moving to Europe when I'm, you know, not as 15 years old as I am now

This is your problem right here

Note: this is actually a lot less snide than you think

Either your making fun of me for my age or sympathizing with me for it. Can't quite figure it out...

Neither. I'm saying your sentiments align a lot with your age. It makes sense for a 15 year old to say these things. We were all 15 year olds once so hating on them is dumb in my opinion, but I also find them incredibly annoying so I don't sympathize with being 15

So you are covertly making fun of me for my age by insisting my ideology to be held by people of my age. This would be fine, except that your phrasing of your thoughts seems to indicate that it is held ONLY by people of my age because we are stupid.

Eh, the ideology no. The reasoning for it yes, not a age exclusive thing, but your worldview just is one that a 15 year old is likely to have. There are definitely people older who have it. And not because you're stupid.
And I'm not making fun of for your age. Think of you're relationship to to 11 and 12 year olds. You don't make fun of them, but you don't particularly enjoy to spend time with them either I bet. Same principle

 

[2012 Wont Happen]

Hate the people in the country, not the country itself.

I quite like the American people in general.

However, I think that the people who generally run it, acting as the country, are completely inept

Proving my theory that individually, most people are nice, but as a group, they are jerkwads. It works similarly to the Penny Arcade internet jerkwad theory.

I've never heard of the theory, but from the name and what you said they sound exactly the same

 

[2012 Wont Happen]

B. I don't particularly care about my home country and am probably moving to Europe when I'm, you know, not as 15 years old as I am now

This is your problem right here

Note: this is actually a lot less snide than you think

Either your making fun of me for my age or sympathizing with me for it. Can't quite figure it out...

Neither. I'm saying your sentiments align a lot with your age. It makes sense for a 15 year old to say these things. We were all 15 year olds once so hating on them is dumb in my opinion, but I also find them incredibly annoying so I don't sympathize with being 15

So you are covertly making fun of me for my age by insisting my ideology to be held by people of my age. This would be fine, except that your phrasing of your thoughts seems to indicate that it is held ONLY by people of my age because we are stupid.

Eh, the ideology no. The reasoning for it yes, not a age exclusive thing, but your worldview just is one that a 15 year old is likely to have. There are definitely people older who have it. And not because you're stupid.
And I'm not making fun of for your age. Think of you're relationship to to 11 and 12 year olds. You don't make fun of them, but you don't particularly enjoy to spend time with them either I bet. Same principle

Oh, that clears it up. Thanks

 

[Samurai Goomba]

Hate the people in the country, not the country itself.

I quite like the American people in general.

However, I think that the people who generally run it, acting as the country, are completely inept

Well, thank the people acting as the country that they've allowed you the right to freely critique them without consequence. America has a lot of problems and definitely isn't perfect, but it really shines by comparison. There are very few places I would rather live than America.

One thing that causes so many problems for America is that throughout its formation up until very recently, America was extremely open to any and all immigration. We have a level of diversity in our country (and therefore, a lot of warring cultural ideologies) which few places can match. America kind of makes things harder on itself by granting so many rights and freedoms to its citizens. If we were a totalitarian dictatorship, we'd probably have a stabler economy. Of course, I'd be working in a mine or sweatshop right now, so don't think I'm advocating that.

 

[ygetoff]

Hate the people in the country, not the country itself.

I quite like the American people in general.

However, I think that the people who generally run it, acting as the country, are completely inept

Proving my theory that individually, most people are nice, but as a group, they are jerkwads. It works similarly to the Penny Arcade internet jerkwad theory.

I've never heard of the theory, but from the name and what you said they sound exactly the same

I can't find the comic, but it basically says that the anonymity granted by the internet transforms normal human beings into assholes.

 

[Kasterborus]

I'm an American citizen, and people try to tell me I should be patriotic and all that crap. In school they play the pledge of allegiance over the loud speaker as everyone else stands chanting it in a cult-like manner as I stand in confusion at their actions.

And yet you were willing to start wars with countries that say that sort of thing is indoctrination and brainwashing. I agree, what is so great about America...this confuses me greatly. Granted, I am an Australian and even in our country, when it comes to sing the "national Anthem" I break into a rendition of Waltzing Matilda as opposed to Advance Australia Fair, but that's just me...

What is so good about this country? We were founded by men who, although having good ideals for the rights of man, still advocated slavery. In fact, we were the LAST western country to get rid of slavery.

Ahh, so those Mexicans that crawl into Texas and get given jobs and then not paid are free and not slaves? Ahh ok, coulda fooled me for a second there...

Before that, the continent was "discovered" (a good 400 years after it was found by the vikings and thousands of years after settlement of it by the Indians) by a murdering, enslaving, twat (Christopher Columbus) who had no qualms about killing for greed.

No, correction, he was the twat that was stupid enough to decide he wanted it. Like hell the Vikings would take it, they already had the perfect setup.

Other than our initial founding as a nation, which, although including slavery, was progressive for the time- we've consistently fallen behind of other western nations in level of freedom granted to their citizens, and the level of economic cooperation facilitated between our citizens.

And North Korea is such a wonderful country to follow in the rights of citizens...I think maybe SOME liberties should be taken away, such as the right to bear arms...anywhere...any time...for any reason...

-Kaster

 

[Joey245]

Government and the economy are a mess (Thanks Mr. Bush!), freedom of speech is limited a bit, lots of ignorance is going around, and we're alienating the entire world.

But hey, it's the only home I know.

So yeah, God Bless the USA! Or something like that.

 

[2012 Wont Happen]

Hate the people in the country, not the country itself.

I quite like the American people in general.

However, I think that the people who generally run it, acting as the country, are completely inept

Proving my theory that individually, most people are nice, but as a group, they are jerkwads. It works similarly to the Penny Arcade internet jerkwad theory.

I've never heard of the theory, but from the name and what you said they sound exactly the same

I can't find the comic, but it basically says that the anonymity granted by the internet transforms normal human beings into assholes.

This is quite true.

evidence? See the aptly named Anonymous

 

[Samurai Goomba]

Also its depressing that you can't get elected in America without being an Atheist when in other countries religion doesn't even enter into things.

To my knowledge, there has never been an atheist president of the United States of America

Deism was essentially an early form of Agnosticism. Jefferson was a Deist, among others. Perhaps no openly Atheistic people have become President, but Atheism is a relatively new worldview/"not-religion." There haven't been any Buddhists, Hinduists or Chinese Scholar Garden Designers, either.

 

[Lexodus]

I don't hate (most) Americans, only the ones that fall into the typical stereotypes. I DO hate the patriotism (somebody earlier said that other countries assume you are patriotic or don't give a damn; this is not true, they just allow you to make up your own mind. Having to salute the flag and make the pledge and cry and bend over for Jesus every day isn't freedom, it's making you into a puppet) and the holier-than-thou attitude (you did NOT win the war. It was a fucking COMBINED EFFORT, on top of which you were late and only protected your own interests until it got serious for you, and you won't stop going on about it!), I hate the bullshit wars (that you can't even manage to win! Canada, Vietnam, and you're STILL on the hunt for some guys living in caves), I hate the corruption, the prejudice, the racism, homophobia and right-wing assholes. I also hate how you defend your country by taking (fucking lunatic) shots at other countries.

Firstly, I live in Britain, and there's a distinct lack of CCTV cameras in my home.

Secondly, just because I think Capitalism is a fucking stupid system that exploits the lower end of the spectrum does not make me a terrorist or what you call a socialist (which basically seems to mean the same thing to you).

Thirdly, Stephen Hawking is both British and alive! Gasp! [http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/08/12/hawking_british_and_alive/]


I'm not going to say any more. My point is, America, take the stick out your ass and we'll talk. I *want* to like you, America. I want to have that sense of awe I had as a kid, but it's not there right now. Clean up the shit, straighten yourself out, and then call me back.

Note: Again, this is not to all Americans, just what seems like a sad majority.

 

[firedfns13]

Its awesome except for the dumbass people in congress/actually all our government
WHY DO WE HAVE A 91 YEAR OLD SENATE PRO TEMPORE?!
He could be president, you know...

Also, I liked how my government teacher said, "After FDR, congress was afraid of a dictator so they established presidential term limits"; yet congress lacks any of those.

 

[Samurai Goomba]

What's so bad about America? Show me a country that wasn't founded on lies, violence and bigotry.

The Isle of Wight, Antarctica, and The Kingdom of Tonga.

EDIT: I have since found out the Isle of Wight does indeed have a violent history. Sorry.

I'm so sick of this anti-America counter-culture. Hate the people in the country, not the country itself.

America is responsible for this... thing...

You know one thing that's good about America? You have the freedom to hate and openly denounce its leaders. In other words, America is great because it gives you the right to hate it without consequence.

Why waste hate on your leaders when you have Michael Bay at large in your country? This is the problem with America, not enough people hate Michael Bay.

Trust me, I have at least as much hate for the man as you do. It's bad enough that he makes some of the worst movies I've seen in my film-viewing life, but he's genuinely proud of them.

So... Antartica, eh? That's because when they try to fight each other, Polar Bears come and eat them or they freeze to death.