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FAITH is perhaps the weapon used by the privileged to dupe the rest of Americans into trusting that ours is still the greatest nation to live in. Don't get me wrong; America enjoys tremendous resources, overall wealth, ingenuity and hard workers, but those assets are not benefiting the masses anywhere near as much as they should. The nation so proud of its "In God We Trust" mantra is being squeezed and cheated by worst abuses of inadequately regulated capitalism. And I believe a combination of Americans' racism other prejudices of demogrphics, along with religious faith that we are divinely blessed to be "the Greatest" regardless of the actual stats on prosperity, standard of living, education, health, etc., is the biggest reason so many fail to see just how badly we are being taken advantage of. We would rather blame struggling minority groups for our economic pain than see the plain facts that it is the financially powerful that continue to increasingly stack the deck against average Americans.

[mobile.nytimes.com]

MikeInBatonRouge 8 Apr 8
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16 comments

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0

Yep, there is outright wealth, which is still a strength of the U.S., though our Canadian Friends now fare better, except for the obscenely wealthy among us.
But then there is quality of life by multiple metrics, by which the U.S. has fallen steeply in ranking, we are now 17th.
[usnews.com]

1

We're not that 'great'. There's a lot of room for improvement.
There are a number of other countries who are doing it MUCH better than we are.
The populace has allowed itself to be swindled and fooled.
As long as the republicans are in power, and 45 is in the White House, and the religutards
are allowed to run roughshod over the Constitution, nothing is going to get any better.
We're fucked.

0

I read that Denmark is a terrific country to live in.

0

No, we really aren't that stupid.

Donald Trump finally beat out Hillary and one key reason was he was for change and she was for leaving everything the same.

He didn't "beat" anyone.

True, Hillary lost what was handed to her on a plate

Change for the sake of change, without considering what one is changing TO, is pretty darned stupid.

The problem with the present type of economy was predicted by among others G H Bush back in 1980 when he called it 'Voodoo Economics'.

The continual piling up of debt is going to hit your generation the hardest, so you should be in favor of stopping it.

@McIntyre are you implying that HRC would have tackled this issue WORSE that the GOP? Because the track record of every single GOP vs DEM administration of the past 40 years begs to differ. Hillary's failings were one of perception, not substance. The Don is a total self-serving con man who is already plundering this nation, and he has so far done nothing to improve "real" incomes of the majority of Americans, which are actually sinking slightly, adjusted for inflation. Face it, you've been slamming the wrong political team.

4

Does that fit in with being a right wing liberal who is registered as a Independant who is a member of NRA and the Religious Fundamentalists who control the Southern Christian Coalition. And posts all of their conservative comments on FB and Yahoo after listening to what Rush just got thru on his daily rant. If your young and healthy then Social Security and Medicare are not a concern because you don't have a need for it at present and haven't a clue about your current insurance unless you have been a victem of the latest gun massacres to enlighten the new media in the past few years or suffer from a permanent physical impairment that requires daily medication. Is it a concern that your elected congressional representative receives his campaign funding from the NRA and other Corporate Sponsors who will ensure that whatever legislation they are paying for gets approved once the secure the job. And if your not sure about who to vote for then ask your local religious leader who will fill you in on what they have no business in addressing unless they want to start paying taxes to be in with the rest of the lobbyists. I'm not getting you wrong but would really like to know where you retrieved the information to make such a statement. I'm blaming the Congress of the US who has been the most divided into ensuring that middle class remains imprisioned trying to send their children to College, pay a morguage and not be faced with never ending loans and interest payments so they can live happily ever after having sold the rest of America out for their own security.

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True room for growth. Not with this self profitting crooked Administration.

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0

To what degree do you think income equality is caused by jobs being moved overseas and elimination of jobs due to technology?

I believe some rent-seeking and corrupt policy making occurs, and we should try to stop it, but those first factors seem more consequential to me.

I disagree; there are plenty of jobs. Indeed, in the company where I work we are always struggling to get people. What you said of the jobs moved overseas is a myth that is been used by politicians for their own benefit...and that have worked very well to get votes and that have helped to hide the "abuses of inadequately regulated capitalism" as MikeInBatonRouge stated.

@Blauerengel Interesting, what would you say are the most egregious abuses?

@DominicShaull I think the one that affects more middle and working class in America is the healthcare system, which is the most expensive and one of the worst (or the worst) of all the industrialized countries.But there are more examples; education system, which is also very expensive and makes hard for people to get prepared for more qualified jobs, and we can continue.
Don't get me wrong; US is still the land of opportunities, and that also proves that your point of the jobs moving overseas, (from my point of view) is a myth promoted by politicians.

@Blauerengel good points. And jobs lost to automation is a much much more significant issue than any overseas shift.

1

Where do I start?... I left Facebook because I couldn't say God SUCKS without being attacked (trolled was the nicest actually) and to my pleasant surprise that doesn't happen here. However, I feel like I am swimming towards dangerous water here because its an issue now a days to support our country and be a proud American. We have the right to demand the best and to call the system out when needed but also have the responsibility to do our best as citizens to contrinute. Yes, I am proud of America even when life keeps getting tougher but, where it isn't? We have many problems, who doesn't? You don't like our President? That is perfectly fine but do not trash our own country. You don't like things the way they are then do diligence and vote. Aren't we divided enough in so many fronts? United we stand, divided we fall.

Hey @Fanburger, thx for your comment..All feedback is welcome !!

@Fanburger Speaking of trolls... By your account, I would be one of those professional victims. I make no money from being a victim, but I certainly do blame elements of government and society, and some rich people (i.e. Koch brothers), and religious (i.e. Falwell and his ilk) for degrading the conversation and the country. And I would equate people like yourself who contrive such specious nonsense.

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America, The Craziest Nation In The World.

Coldo Level 8 Apr 8, 2018

That is surely a bit of a stretch. Not the least crazy, but also not the most.

4

Manifest Destiny - it I could call out one thing that is killing America, it is the concept of Manifest Destiny. That America is the greatest country on earth. That it cannot do wrong. That, however many children need to die in the name of The Second Amendment, it is God's will. Because the US Constituion is inviolate (funny, that, given the various amendments that apparently are now sancrosanct were/are just amendments). It is a terrible thing to watch a country slowly self-euthanasiase under the influence of its own cultural myths. You have my deepest sympathies.

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Growing up I used to love "In God we trust". Now I just see it as a lie people tell each other because they are afraid of death.

SalC Level 6 Apr 8, 2018
4

I would have to agree. Our social order is way out of balance. For me it wouldn't be so bad, if some of the 'haves' did not degrade the 'have nots' with being lazy, not working hard enough and just being 'less than!' There is way too much putting people down, at this time and place. What made this country exceptional was our government system, but right now that is being torn apart along with the people! Maybe, all of us have been exposed to...too much entertainment and reality shows! It may plant in our psychic a life style that does not exist in the real world. Then, there seems to be another situation about money, where a lot of people are only looking to make money anyway they can. If they can con you out of it, that's just great! And, then on the other hand, a lot of money is needed just for necessities. I would say at the moment our system of government is coming apart at the seems and that was what gave us our edge and made it appear that we have a great country with successful people...if not successful, at least satisfied. I think you will find much dissatisfaction right now in this country.

4

America is by far the most wasteful and greediest country

Uk it's it's ugly sister lol.

@Nickbeee Don't Include Scotland,We Have Had Enough.

its the next in line @Nickbeee. if everyone on the planet consumed like the average American we would need 5 earths to live. if they lived like the average Britain we would need 2.5 earths to live and every other country is better than that. the best is a country I can't remember but this one earth could support 15,000,000 of them.

it's not personal to any one person.

@LeighShelton Totally with you dude! It's nuts. It is a machine.

@Coldo My surname is Binns. My Mummies partner is a Donald. Nan's side are Irish. We are all fed up here too lol.

@Nickbeee Hi, Hope We will get rid of English rule in the near future.

I don't rule anyone @Coldo/ what is the relevance of your input?

@Coldo _ yeh Wales Cornwall Scotland and Ireland all needs fixing.. The UK has been technically robbing Scotlands North Sea oil reserve since it was discovered. It's their Saudi .. When Brexit vote came whole Murdoch press printed or reported that the Oil fields were dead and only decade left .. so to devalue Scotlands Gross Value.. As soon as Brexit vote went way Tories wanted all of a sudden UK (Scottish) North Sea oil was back up to 100s of years left on stocks suddenly. They are disgusting and until we all stand to march on them in Westminster don't think anything much will happen.. Unity is needed and a whole lot less fear.

@Nickbeee The English Have Been Living On The Backs Of The Celts Since The Act Of The Union. Freedom!!

I can't stand all these owning countries bullshit and backstabbing. the British/English are some of the worst for going around the world forcing there religion and rules on peoples and its bullshit. I can't do a thing about my colour or where I was born but I'm not proud to be British, I just am.

@LeighShelton So am I dude!! I was born in the UK .. what I am not proud of is British Soldiers shooting Irish people in the troubles - Or the way the Scottish were oppressed.. Or the Welsh ... lots of people have been forced into that rule. My dead served in the British RAF specials.. My Great uncle is buried in Burma. Great grandad WW1.. I cold go on and on and on .. war heroes - all these people were proud Celtic warriors who fought for what they thought was right. It's more complex if you are from that background .. Like now everyone is so chuffed for Brexit but it threatens to knock Ireland back 40 years into who knows what to be honest.. It's just very complex. I am born UK English white British and proud .. But am a Celtic person by heritage .. I look like one lol .. I can't pretend. It's just the way it is. The UK has done good and bad but a lot more bad. I am not going to get into it here it is honestly a branch of history.. One that is now being recognised by the likes of Oxford and Cambridge universities .. in the UK lol !! so it's not so black and white as I am not proud of that .. It's just my ancestors won't forget that history .. Scotland nor Ireland won't.. It's always been there and until UK right wing government sort it out it will always be an issue.. The problem is not me and you .. it's the Eton posh boy network and the surrounding networks of corporate and offshore power.. The ones who are destroying the NHS etc ...

yes its all bullshit and them against us my friend

LeighShelton, to your point, I think arrogance comes from a combination of abundant resources, military might, and economic success, BUT, compounded by the delusional message that those other things are afforded to individuals and nations by an all-powerful creator who is rewarding people for "being great" or at least special.

And there is so much wrong with such thinking that it endlessly frustrates me. If, hypothetically, I am a member of "the greatest nation," what insanity gives me the right to be proud of such a thing. Fortunate, yes. Grateful yes. But proud? That is basically saying I worked hard and was so smart to make sure to be born where I was. Utter stupidity! It is hard to imagine anything other than religious indoctrination That could convince many people to think That mindset makes any sense.

Obviously to anyone looking on from the outside, the U.S. was a role model nation following WWII but has lurched and skidded down the ranks of many measures of wellbeing, standard of living, and education, all while many of its inhabitants fail to notice, because they still think "God" has chosen the USA to be the "greatest nation" and that, therefore, the fact that others have surpassed it in an array of measures is blindly dismissed out of hand by the flag-waving proud patriots. (I happen to think our investment in our military-industrial complex is part of why we don't pay enough priority to actual quality of living and social support net factors.)

The country western song played ad nauseum after 9/11 that said "I'm proud to be an American, where at least I know I'm free," made me want to puke for its stupidity, and it summed up quite succinctly much of what is wrong with a plurality (not majority, at least) of American mentality. Arrogance cloaked in a fantasy of divine justification.

I am at least hearted by the realization that there ARE a lot of my fellow Americans who see this for what it is, so there is a chance more of our countrymen will eventually wake up to the fact that we can love and appreciate our country without denigrating others, who have just as much right to feel good about their homes and heritage, and that we also don't have to blindly ignore our weaknesses and challenges for growth.

let's face it, flag placing ownership is what its all about with "the right God" and the right way to do things right there with it to be seen as a good thing when in fact it's quite the opposite. there was natural euphoria after ww2 that made people care about each other. all humans are guilty of greed and power. its just territorial behaviour gone crazy. everything fights for its patch of land to mate. we humans have invented things that take that to a ridiculous level and use religion as the enforcer where animals use droppings. there all brutal as are all humans. if animals get the upper hand they take over like say, cane toads, jellyfish, goats, hogs etc.people were just fine in small tribes. its when we gained the upper hand with tools and weapons we started taking more. you can't blame any country at all really. it's in our genes to make sure our families prosper and survive. the earth owns us not the other way round. we are intelligent enough to see what devastation we cause yet we just carry on blaming, shaming and dominating others in a never-ending power struggle for something that belongs to no one but is there for all life. there are no rights or fairness in nature. humans all need to look at themselves and start again with no mistrust, no rights over others and work towards a common good. this planet doesn't care if its another dead rock floating in space like billions of others. mother nature is just a name that means a fine balance between all species. why are we still fighting and breeding so much? why so many different beliefs from the same species? we have fallen off of natures tracks big time but she will address it if we don't.

7

A nation should be judged by its quality of mercy and not how well it treats its most priviledge citizens but how well it treats its least. On both of these the US is an epic fail and it is getting ever worse. There is a lot of good people in your nation its just too bad that no one wants to listen to them.

It sad, but I think there is good change on the horizon. Some recent events would indicate a desire by many to, at the very least, open new dialogue on long overdue subjects. Change can and does happen. Sometimes it's just really slow.

@ReBrew2115 I don't share your optimism, those in control will never allow the real changes that need to happen, short of a bloody revolution even then it is unlikely that they will lose.

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