Why does America fear/distrust it's government?

[Kopikatsu]

American politicians are inherently corrupt.

Politicians aren't grown in vats. They aren't raised in secret underground labs.

If American politicians are inherently corrupt, it's because American citizens are.

The Government isn't some kind of scary machine that eats souls. It's run by people. If there is a problem with the Government, it's because there is a problem with the society surrounding it.

 

[Jegsimmons]

snip

I'll just leave this here... it says what needs to be said about it.

this, even when they think they do good for a few people, they somehow screw it all up for everyone.

 

[jpoon]

American politicians are inherently corrupt.

Politicians aren't grown in vats. They aren't raised in secret underground labs.

If American politicians are inherently corrupt, it's because American citizens are.

The Government isn't some kind of scary machine that eats souls. It's run by people. If there is a problem with the Government, it's because there is a problem with the society surrounding it.

That should be a lot more broad

All politicians are inherently corrupt.

To trust a politician is to relinquish your rights to a corporations greed.

 

[Imperioratorex Caprae]

I was flicking through the American health service thread, and noticed that the main argument that the main argument against free healthcare was that they didn't want the government controlling it.
Most American's I've talked to also seem to distrust their government, a lot more than Europe does. Your constitution also seems to have been designed from the ground up to prevent the government from having anything more than a fringe affect on anything.

So, why does America distrust it's government so much more than Europe?

And, for comparison, I live it the UK, and we generally get on ok.

Here's a direct answer: This country was founded by people who'd literally fought against a tyrannical governing system and did not want to institute another government where the voice of the People were cast aside by the ruling elite in favor of "we know better than you". Its in America's blood to distrust those in power, because they're in power and can't be trusted. Our Founders recognized the fallibility of humanity, that we're all imperfect beings and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Therefore our Constitution was designed not to give power to the Government, but give power to the People.

 

[GodofCider]

I was flicking through the American health service thread, and noticed that the main argument that the main argument against free healthcare was that they didn't want the government controlling it.
Most American's I've talked to also seem to distrust their government, a lot more than Europe does. Your constitution also seems to have been designed from the ground up to prevent the government from having anything more than a fringe affect on anything.

So, why does America distrust it's government so much more than Europe?

And, for comparison, I live it the UK, and we generally get on ok.

Governmental distrust?

It's a long and odd series of events...

Not for me mind you. I really have no problem with the US government. After all it's officials are simply people like you and I, whom are elected into office, when it comes down to it, by the people; to what degree varies, but nonetheless.

That said, a public healthcare system established in America would be a nice sight; but at the same time other issues require attention as well. Perhaps if the overinflated military budget were cut slightly to fully fund the education system then we'd begin to resolve some of the immediate issues.

At any rate, you're going to find the vocal ones spewing out their distrust of the US government, thus tainting the perceived opinions of the less vocal majority; likely wherever you go I suspect.

Also, nice avatar. It was a good if a peculiar show; also slightly ironic given the topic at hand. ^_^

Politicians aren't grown in vats. They aren't raised in secret underground labs.

If American politicians are inherently corrupt, it's because American citizens are.

The Government isn't some kind of scary machine that eats souls. It's run by people. If there is a problem with the Government, it's because there is a problem with the society surrounding it.

The way some people talk, you'd think they were. >_>

 

[Tentickles]

I dont trust our government because they are a bunch of fucking liars!

WARNING CONSPIRACY ALERT!
People dont notice but the media is in cahoots with the American government.
Remember when Michael Jackson kicked the bucket? Yes you do! Because the media followed that for 8 fucking months! Why am I talking about this? Because during that time the government tried to pass a bill that the public would hate. I think it was about Carbon Credits. AKA another way to tax us.

Our government is also full of the same people from 60 years ago. Well the same families. Do you know how hard it is to get into government? HOW EXPENSIVE it is... Our poor are not represented and the only reason we have programs to help them out is because the rich bastards that run our government are trying to get sympathy points from the poor people.

The current government is also trying to side step our Constitution. I've read through a ton of the bills they have tried to pass since 9/11 and 95% have some part that encroaches in my personal freedoms. I dont even have to go into more detail because people are starting to notice here what's going on. (the bills Ive read; not all of them...)

(Sorry Brits!) I want my fucking guns and no one is going to take them away from me. Other countries look at us like a bunch of crazy people when it comes to our gun rights but the reason it's there is to make sure the people are prepared for a day when our government goes crazy and tries to control us all. Gun rights are so important in America because it's one of the founding principles of our nation. Like the Royal Family... I'm sure Brits would be pissed if the queen got kidnapped by a foreign body and then that body tells the entire British nation you're not getting your queen back till you stop drinking beer and eating fish and chips.

That's enough crazy from me today.

 

[Whoatemysupper]

Well I imagine the Constitution's set up that way given how Parliament treated the colonies when they first arrived, and the power they tried to exert over them (taxes and stuff, but with no representation or say in how the government was run).

Its not bad to be wary of the government, but it does mean that a lot of people have no grasp on the concept of Socialism (Obama is not a socialist - that is not a matter of opinion), or can see that giving a little more "control" will do them the world of good (health care).

You also end up with incredibly blown-out-of-proportion views like this:

I distrust any sort of government. These are people who are sociopathic enough to actively seek power and were ruthless enough to actually obtain it. How the hell am I supposed to trust them?

Since when has there been anything wrong with socialism. It's become a swear word in the west but it's totally fine in Europe. I find the principal of Socialism (from the point of view of the wealthy) to be much like what JFK said: Ask not what this country can do for you, but what you can do for this country.

 

[Kopikatsu]

American politicians are inherently corrupt.

Politicians aren't grown in vats. They aren't raised in secret underground labs.

If American politicians are inherently corrupt, it's because American citizens are.

The Government isn't some kind of scary machine that eats souls. It's run by people. If there is a problem with the Government, it's because there is a problem with the society surrounding it.

That should be a lot more broad

All politicians are inherently corrupt.

To trust a politician is to relinquish your rights to a corporations greed.

You're going to have to explain that belief. What makes a politician different from anyone else? Does getting elected by the people suddenly turn you into some kind of child-snatching, soul-devouring monster?

 

[Booze Zombie]

The government has power in a very Captailistic society, I don't see a reason not to fear it.

The government has no power, money has the power in that sort of society.

 

[Jegsimmons]

America was founded on the idea that concetrated power was always going to turn out enslaving its population. The original idea was to have separate states that would solve their own problems in their own way with little oversite from a centralized source (federal gov't). Since each state would work on their own, several solutions for the same promblem could be undertaken. The better ones would prosper. People would them move to the states with the better solutions or convince their state to adopt another states solution. So if you disliked the Califorinia high taxes and low employment you could move to Texas with lower taxes and higher employment. If you did not like the Texas restrictions on public assistance you could move to California to take advantage of theirs.
No one would be traped in a one size fits all solution.
A more perfect example of not having federal control of health care would be from this weeks Extra Credit. Alison's insurance company declined her shoulder surgery. The staff of Extra Credit then went to the web and rasied more than enough money for the surgery in less than 6 hours. The surgery can now occur. If this had happened under the federal health care system and the Feds had declined her surgery, there is nothing Alison could do about it. She will not get her shoulder repaired. In fact the staff would face charges of interferring with a government agency and most likely be in jail now. If a doctor would perform the surgery outside of the gov't mandates they would loose their license.
When the gov't takes control of any aspect of your life they take away all other options.

And just to set the record straight.... heath insurance is not the same as health care. Even with no health insurance anyone (including illegal aliens) can walk into an American hospital and recieve health care. Other countries need to understand this because the media makes it seem that we are all dying over here waiting to get treated. Our treatment rate is the fastest in the world. I know from experience. I have several relatives that have had major surgeries and long hospital stays without insurance.
If the gov't takes over everyone will have health insurance but not heath care. The president even said so....instead of a hip replacement maybe grandma can be given a pain pill..... (look it up)

that's is the most intelligent post i've read here for a while.
props good sir.

 

[TheIronDuke]

Because of the reptilian shapeshaper freemasons planted in the government by the Illuminati.

The internet has taught me everything I know about the American government.

 

[Robert Ewing]

A government of a superpower like America is whether you like it or not, extremely powerful and influential. It controls or influences a great many dealings in the world, but can you trust all of this responsibility to a group of people you don't even know properly? And to some you may never even see in your life?

If I was American, i'd find it hard to trust the government, but I have every faith that the American government has the ability to saaay, protect me and my homeland, secure my prosperity the best it can, and give me something to believe in.

Also popular culture has it instilled in us that the American government is in a constant espionage battle with everyone. Conspiracy theorists constantly think that we're living in the 1950's/60's, and your friendly neighbour Vladmir Ivanovski should be distrusted at all times, and 9/11 is totally an inside job, and the American government masterminded the death of Kennedy by hiring Elvis Presley to shoot him with aliens. I don't believe in all of these conspiracies at all, I just think it's a rather unfortunate turn of cultural events drummed up completely by accident by the USA government. They can deny them all they want, but they can't prove anything to these silly conspirators.

Lastly, free speech. I've often said that free speech is overrated, and often the world views America's views as very one-sided and jaded at times. Take the Westboro baptist church, KKK, Brooklyn street gangs, LA street gangs, Neo-nazi's, church of scientology-- All born from the 'gift of free speech.' I think you'll all agree that America has constitutionally shot themselves in the foot. Which they can't help now of course, it's forever embedded into the American constitution. But if I had to chose, I'd of set down some regulations on the whole free speech things. To maximize the amount of free speech for just reasons, and minimize the amount of hate and stupidity.

 

[Tentickles]

Since when has there been anything wrong with socialism. It's become a swear word in the west but it's totally fine in Europe. I find the principal of Socialism (from the point of view of the wealthy) to be much like what JFK said: Ask not what this country can do for you, but what you can do for this country.

All government's sound good when you read about them. HELL Communism is a GREAT idea... but it will never work in the real world. Why? People are flawed beings, and yes: The people in a Communistic government are usually corrupt power mongers... why? because they chose that government for their country and the people dont choose it.

 

[Kopikatsu]

Politicians aren't grown in vats. They aren't raised in secret underground labs.

If American politicians are inherently corrupt, it's because American citizens are.

The Government isn't some kind of scary machine that eats souls. It's run by people. If there is a problem with the Government, it's because there is a problem with the society surrounding it.

The way some people talk, you'd think they were. >_>

I'm going to assume that you're referring to the 'Getting raped is like getting a flat tire' thing.

It was a bad analogy, but his point was a valid one. (Shit happens, so you should be prepared in the event that it does happen.)

I can't excuse the 'Being raped is part of God's will' statement from the Idaho Rep, but the US is a predominately Christian nation. Which goes back to my original point. If there is a problem with the Politicians, it's because the society surrounding them is flawed.


Edit: Forgot my main point. The biggest problem is ignorance, but that's run rampant everywhere. Look at some of the threads on the Escapist, and you'll see people freak the fuck out after reading the title of the thread, or a few sentences of an article, but not bothering to read the entire thing or do some research on their own.

 

[GodofCider]

Snip.

Ah, you misunderstood what I wrote.

I was agreeing with you.

 

[derelict]

snip

Long story short, Americans are fat, lazy, and stupid as a general rule, and they don't want the govt. taking away their medicare so that they may continue being fat, lazy, and stupid on someone else's tax dollar.

And before I'm reported for offending, I am an American, it's just what I see every day, and it makes me sick. Though, in defense of my country, I will say that I do live in an industrial town, where most of the decent paying jobs are hard labor, or the doctors that fix those laborers when they break from overeating and lifting improperly. I can't imagine this is the norm everywhere.

 

[Da Orky Man]

I was flicking through the American health service thread, and noticed that the main argument that the main argument against free healthcare was that they didn't want the government controlling it.
Most American's I've talked to also seem to distrust their government, a lot more than Europe does. Your constitution also seems to have been designed from the ground up to prevent the government from having anything more than a fringe affect on anything.

So, why does America distrust it's government so much more than Europe?

And, for comparison, I live it the UK, and we generally get on ok.

Here's a direct answer: This country was founded by people who'd literally fought against a tyrannical governing system and did not want to institute another government where the voice of the People were cast aside by the ruling elite in favor of "we know better than you". Its in America's blood to distrust those in power, because they're in power and can't be trusted. Our Founders recognized the fallibility of humanity, that we're all imperfect beings and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Therefore our Constitution was designed not to give power to the Government, but give power to the People.

Communism, as designed by Karl Marx and NOT Stalin or Lenin is designed to do much the same thing. Yet America hates Communists more than quite possibly anything else that has, does, will and can exist ever.

 

[GartarkMusik]

Well, part of the fear comes from what every American gets pounded into their head in every history class we've ever had ever: We separated from Britain because we wanted independence from the British Monarchy. To that end, when we finally were independent, we wanted to establish a government that would not have too much control over the states, but would still be a strong, centralized power. The problems in the states today amounts to the fact that our system was designed so that the central government, the individual state governments, and the people could work together to build a better future for our country. Just my thoughts on this.

 

[Kopikatsu]

Since when has there been anything wrong with socialism. It's become a swear word in the west but it's totally fine in Europe. I find the principal of Socialism (from the point of view of the wealthy) to be much like what JFK said: Ask not what this country can do for you, but what you can do for this country.

All government's sound good when you read about them. HELL Communism is a GREAT idea... but it will never work in the real world. Why? People are flawed beings, and yes: The people in a Communistic government are usually corrupt power mongers... why? because they chose that government for their country and the people dont choose it.

I agree.

There has never been a Communist state. EVER. Communism relies on an extremely decentralized government, so it becomes extremely easy for anyone ambitious enough to seize total control...and because of the way Communism is set up, that means noone can really do anything about it and it goes from being psuedo-Communist to a Totalitarian state.

Protip: A Dictatorship isn't Communist. The operative word in 'Communism' is 'Common'! As in the common people.

If there were an actual Communist nation, I would move there. But I don't think there ever will be.

 

[jpoon]

American politicians are inherently corrupt.

Politicians aren't grown in vats. They aren't raised in secret underground labs.

If American politicians are inherently corrupt, it's because American citizens are.

The Government isn't some kind of scary machine that eats souls. It's run by people. If there is a problem with the Government, it's because there is a problem with the society surrounding it.

That should be a lot more broad

All politicians are inherently corrupt.

To trust a politician is to relinquish your rights to a corporations greed.

You're going to have to explain that belief. What makes a politician different from anyone else? Does getting elected by the people suddenly turn you into some kind of child-snatchin, soul-devouring monster?

What makes them different is the fact that corporations know that they are targets to be compromised. They are selected and payed off, I'm sure you know what lobbyists are doing right? There you go, they grease the wallets and the wheels of the government (with wads of money) and help to get what a corporation desires. Everyone in government has a price, and corporations have far too much money to be spent. This you can't ignore or deny, this practice is happening in every country, in every government. It pisses me the fuck off...