Why does America fear/distrust it's government?

[squintzepalladoris]

I want to know, what has the American government ever run efficiently? They are constantly stealing money from one government organization to keep another one afloat. Look at social security, I have to pay into it every year, though the government has already said that social security would be bankrupt before 2020. Why the hell should I pay thousands of dollars into something, when I will never get anything out of it? So now the government wants even more of my money to throw into something else, well I'm sorry, but no.
I have no problem with the American government as it should be. The problem is the people in the government. The job has become too glamorous with too many perks, people no longer run for positions to "help the people" no matter what they say (and this goes for both sides, liberals and conservatives). They do it simply to make their own lives better.


TLDR: I don't fear/mistrust the American government, I dislike their misuse of money, and the selfish people who run for office.

 

[zehydra]

Because we've been playing this game longer than you guys have? You can't trust governments, period, because you can't trust people in power, period.

I would call any country that blindly allows its government to do things without oversight by something naive

 

[ShakyFt Slasher]

Because America was built on the principles of power to the people.

 

[infohippie]

That's because conservative groups in the US have spent decades convincing the population that government is always incompetent.

Well, if the current political climate has shown us anything, it's that they're really not wrong in that regard...

Hah, it could be worse. I mean, just look at the previous eight years of government - now that's real government incompetence!

 

[TStormer]

Because we've been playing this game longer than you guys have? You can't trust governments, period, because you can't trust people in power, period.

I would call any country that blindly allows its government to do things without oversight by something naive

And you think that the CEOs of your major businesses don't have power?

It's not a question of whether or not a minority has power, that emerges in any system, it's a question of WHO has the power, and I'd trust a government elected by the people far more than an unelected man who's only mandate is that he got rich through the ruthless world of business.

 

[robinkom]

I will explain... through song!
Follow along with the lyrics in the video description.

 

[spartan231490]

Listen, if you're really trying to understand American culture, there is one very important fact that you need to understand first. It is the basis of most of the differences between America and other countries. We value freedom, over safety. "Those who sacrifice freedom for a little temporary security, deserve neither." This is one of the core beliefs of our culture. That is why we have loose gun control, and that is why we dislike socialism, or any form of government regulation really.

There are other differences of course, but that is the core difference, as far as I can tell.

 

[benbenthegamerman]

Most of the time it's because of genuine stupidity, corruption, and basic detatchment from those who are affected by the government. But it is also (more recently mind you) a matter of the uprising of a cynical culture in the United States. People are getting tired of being lied to by their own government, which is understandable. Additionally, the media loves to cling on to the notion that Democrats and Republicans are in a constant struggle. Over the years, it has been the same old story that US politics is less actual legislation and more a political game of capture the flag, where the other side of the political spectrum is "evil", and disagreeing with the representative president holding office by that party is "unamerican". This has been going on for as long as the media has had a significant voice in politics. Aside from the whole notion being mostly false and a machination of the media itself, there has been a change recently. The internet has made it much easier to gain access to new information, so it's becoming a worse and worse excuse to simply be uninformed on a topic when the resources to find out about said topic are readily availible, which is something very new to most people, including politicians. Since its so much easier these days to find out when a politician is lying, they have little excuse. Since (lets be honest here) lying is an important aspect of politics, dishonesty has been seared into the political culture. So people think that the entire government is at fault when someone lies openly, which, i will admit, is mostly the fault of the government. This creates an enviroment of animosity between the people and their government.

Is that a good enough answer?

 

[Valkyr71]

I dislike the American government because of the fact that Obama's healthcare plan is being ignored because it is "socialist". So only the rich and powerful can get healed without having to sell everything they own, while the common folk (i.e. me and everyone else who wasn't born with the silver spoon of Jesus Christ shoved up their ass) have to sacrifice an arm and a leg to fix an arm and a leg.

Well i dont have to sell everything i own for healthcare. and im definitely in teh have not category. I make less than 40K a year and support a family of 5. Definitely wasnt born with that mythical spoon you speak of either. Do a bit more research before you form your opinion. I pay 4200 a year for my health care and dont have to pay for anything save medications and then i only pay 5% of the cost on those. How is that selling an arm and a leg?

 

[David Hebda]

Because "a government big enough to give you everything you want is big enough to take everything you have". - Thomas Jefferson (founding father)

Ya know, this thread was started by a non-American asking why is it we (Americans) no not like/trust our government, its kinda funny to me how many non-Americans have chimed in with answers... and totally wrong answers.

America was founded (And until the late 1800's) almost totally emigrated by people who were sick of being told what to do, when to do it and how to do it, oh and by the way I'll take 30%+ of all that you produce as well.

America and its government were founded on one simple principle, people will figure it out on their own, we don't need a large federal government to "help" us, we don't want a government to help us. Honestly read the constitution "Congress shall make no law" The President had no authority within the states, the purpose of the government was to make other countries think we had a government, and to provide for the common defense (a standing army) THAT WAS IT!!

America was the one place in the world people could go when they wanted to do it their way when they wanted true freedom and all the risk and dangers and rewards that encompasses. Now, no more, now we are fighting for every scrap of freedom we have left, and it aint much.

 

[jpoon]

I absolutely have no trust in this government. They have made criminal some of the most ridiculous activities (smoking marijuana at home for instance) and they have proven time and time again that they do NOT have your best interest at heart. Look at the board of education, look at the FDA, look at how they are handling taxes for the most wealthy corporations, they don't give a shit about the people of the country, they only care for the almighty dollar.

Trusting your government is always a bad idea, it has always been this way and it will never change! People on the other side of the pond would be fools to trust their governments.

Our constitution once actually did protect us from the government, they have eroded the foundations of the constitutions so badly that it just does not stop them from doing what they intend on doing (taxing or criminalizing every one of us).

[link]www.downsizeDC.org[/link]

 

[Kopikatsu]

Plus, you know, you guys complain about tax when it's a fraction of what most of us pay, but still expect public services - it's the eternal "I want, but don't want to pay" problem, and when some governments actually point out that they can't do it without tax money, people start complaining about "THE GOVERNMENT WANTS TO STEAL ALL MY MONEY! THEY'RE SOCIALISTS!!!!".

Ironically, the 'ridiculous taxes' that the colonists were being forced to pay (Which is one of the major reasons the revolution happened) were only 1/20th of what British citizens were paying.

I mean, hell, I would give up my right to vote if I only had to pay 1/20th of the taxes. I don't even vote anyway! (I'm a US citizen, and we consider voting to be a 'god given right' or some such nonsense.) I could get into the whole 'Democracy is the majority telling the minority how to live' and 'The electoral college makes voting pointless', but that would be getting a bit off topic.

The problem is people (Yes, people. As in everyone.) these days are extremely opposed to anyone telling ANYONE, even if they aren't invested in the issue in any way shape or form, 'You can't do this'. They're snobby. (If you don't believe it, check ANY thread in the news section. 'They want to block porn sites that stream videos of child porn? NOT ON MY WATCH.' 'Trying to protect their investment with minor DRM? I'M NEVER BUYING FROM THEM AGAIN. CAN BURN IN HELL.', just Americans are more paranoid than other countries because the colonists revolved from Britain on the very basis of government control.

I'm going to hazard a guess and say that it's because the US is a very 'faith' based nation. As in, your person feelings and acting on emotion are considered to be more acceptable than using cold logic. So if at any point you go 'I don't know how I feel about this/I don't like this' the acceptable reaction is to freak the fuck out about it.

 

[squballs1234]

Because the government in America is bought out by big business and doesn't want to piss off the companies that "own them". An example of this is when Wal-Mart got off Scot-free when they had a massive ass class-action filed against them. The courts said "Nope, sorry there's too many of you complaining so we cant file this as one case. Goodbye"

 

[unoleian]

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?

I can't really give you an answer but an observation as an Australian is that American people are affraid of a lot of things. It seems that Americans are a lot more paraniod the rest of the world. I have no idea why though. This is a thing that has always bothered me why don't americans have free health care??? It seems completely rediculas to me. And why aren't the gun laws stricter over there. Maybe i don't get it as an Australian but having the right to bear arms in the constitution doesn't make much sense. I'm not saying i hate guns and they should be banned but certain guns aren't that are avilible in america aren't used to hunt animals so why have them. All it takes to defend your self is a pistle. I've side tracted a lot but would some one explain why america is so afraid.

As a Brit, I agree with this. To most of us over here on the other side of the pond, America just looks like it's populated by people who are constantly paranoid about anything and everything, especially any sort of authority

e.g. We don't have guns in the house because most of us will never have someone break in, and even if they did, because we don't have legal guns, illegal guns aren't common, so the most 99% of criminals will have is a knife, or some sort of blunt weapon, which is fairly easy to deal with if you know how, and keep a cricket bat around just in case. It is also down to our differing perception of the police - we pay them tax money to protect us and to ensure criminals are put away, so we don't need to deal with guns, etc, ourselves, where as America seems to perceive cops as just dealing with the aftermath, or coming too late, and so you have to deal out justice to people who break in, or whatever, yourselves.

Plus, you know, you guys complain about tax when it's a fraction of what most of us pay, but still expect public services - it's the eternal "I want, but don't want to pay" problem, and when some governments actually point out that they can't do it without tax money, people start complaining about "THE GOVERNMENT WANTS TO STEAL ALL MY MONEY! THEY'RE SOCIALISTS!!!!".

Sadly, you're both more right than I would almost care to admit. At least we have a long, colorful history of paranoia. Shit, just look at the Red Scare.


What a lot of people across the ponds and oceans (and in this own damn country) don't realize is that we are actually QUITE socialist already. Otherwise, why is a full 25% of each of my paychecks devoted to Federal Tax, Social Security, and Medicare? I'm paying out of each of my checks for everything federal, old poor people's retirement funds, and old people's healthcare. That's so not socialist in the LEAST, amirite? Problem is, if they came along and decided to take out anymore, I'd be forced out of house and home. I for one am struggling to make ends meet as it is. I certainly couldn't afford a percentage more in taxes. It's too easy to tax the poor into being even more poor, and the people with the REAL money skirt around taxes wherever they can while at the same time lobbying the rest of the population by convincing them it's best for the country that way. God forbid a million-earner pay a percentage comparable to mine. So I have to pay 7-10 cents on every single dollar I earn (that's just tax, not including social programs), WHY THE FUCK DON'T THEY?!

On the gun thing, keeping the status-quo is probably the only real solution. Don't underestimate how utterly entrenched firearms are in this country. Making them illegal won't make them disappear, and the question of how to address such a thing on such a massive scale is intimidating. I think you guys sometimes forget how large the US is. When your entire country equates to only the landmass of a single state (minor exaggeration), enforcement and control of certain things is LOT easier! Also, they have uses beyond home defense. Can't speak much for handguns, but don't underestimate the NEED and popularity of hunting in many areas. Without some population control (and their delicious flesh,) ungulates and ruminants would take us over. You should see the sizable deer population taking over the town where I live right now. There's probably one deer for every 5 people here, and I'm not exaggerating. They gather in large groups and loiter on people's lawns like large packs of unruly teenagers. Those fuckers would conquer the country if we didn't hunt them into some sort of control (especially since our forerunners hunted all their natural predators to near-extinction...) I shit you not. Also, if it wasn't for hunting every year, my family certainly wouldn't have afforded to eat.

On the police thing, look at the rising rates of taser abuse and outright police brutality, and wonder why we don't trust the pigs? There's exceptions to everything, but the common perception is they are here only to fuck with us most of the time, and, once you watch your own mother get endlessly harassed by a dick local cop in your youth, and know it's a more-common-than-not thread among rural and urban communities, along with the abuses perpetrated during and leading up to...the Civil Rights movement, the Vietnam protests, the LA Riots, and so on....well, you wouldn't trust the fuckers, either.

 

[CrazyCapnMorgan]

I'll give some events as to reasons that we distrust the gov't:

Ruby Ridge
Waco, Texas
JFK
9/11

Or you could just give these guys a listen to:

 

[WouldYouKindly]

For me, it's because the government isn't really ours. There's so many different special interests and corporate shills, I honestly don't see how anyone represents me.

Listen, if you're really trying to understand American culture, there is one very important fact that you need to understand first. It is the basis of most of the differences between America and other countries. We value freedom, over safety. "Those who sacrifice freedom for a little temporary security, deserve neither." This is one of the core beliefs of our culture. That is why we have loose gun control, and that is why we dislike socialism, or any form of government regulation really.

There are other differences of course, but that is the core difference, as far as I can tell.

Then how do you explain the Patriot Act? We are just as prone to panicking and giving away our rights until we feel safe. Every time the U.S. is attacked or under the threat of attack we revert to fascistic systems, usually with discrimination.

 

[The_Emperor]

http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20110414/02544013890/tsa-gropes-6-year-old-girl-says-its-okay-since-it-followed-standard-operating-procedure.shtml

Also The Central Banking system. I cant believe you think that people trust the government in the UK either, were you here last Thursday?

We are all slaves to money, comfortable, disillusioned, ignorant slaves.

 

[unoleian]

For me, it's because the government isn't really ours. There's so many different special interests and corporate shills, I honestly don't see how anyone represents me.

Listen, if you're really trying to understand American culture, there is one very important fact that you need to understand first. It is the basis of most of the differences between America and other countries. We value freedom, over safety. "Those who sacrifice freedom for a little temporary security, deserve neither." This is one of the core beliefs of our culture. That is why we have loose gun control, and that is why we dislike socialism, or any form of government regulation really.

There are other differences of course, but that is the core difference, as far as I can tell.

Then how do you explain the Patriot Act? We are just as prone to panicking and giving away our rights until we feel safe. Every time the U.S. is attacked or under the threat of attack we revert to fascistic systems, usually with discrimination.

That was a brilliant coup, I cannot believe they stripped us of so much freedom and privacy while at the same time convincing the populace it was to protect the same. It's almost filthy.

 

[jpoon]

For me, it's because the government isn't really ours. There's so many different special interests and corporate shills, I honestly don't see how anyone represents me.

Listen, if you're really trying to understand American culture, there is one very important fact that you need to understand first. It is the basis of most of the differences between America and other countries. We value freedom, over safety. "Those who sacrifice freedom for a little temporary security, deserve neither." This is one of the core beliefs of our culture. That is why we have loose gun control, and that is why we dislike socialism, or any form of government regulation really.

There are other differences of course, but that is the core difference, as far as I can tell.

Then how do you explain the Patriot Act? We are just as prone to panicking and giving away our rights until we feel safe. Every time the U.S. is attacked or under the threat of attack we revert to fascistic systems, usually with discrimination.

I have been writing my senators and reps about the bullshit "Patriot Act" since it was unfortunately put in place. Yet another policy that tries to criminalize americans. I use downsizeDC.org to help with this, they've made it easy to get out good information to your leadership, tell them how horribly they are doing their job.

Not all of us are panicking about terrorism, I am not the least bit afraid of it. It is 100% the responsibility of our government, terrorism in america is blowback from the fucked up policy they enact across the globe.

In other countries terrorists are magically considered freedom fighters, what is our government considered? Not freedom fighters, that I am certain.