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So, in 2016 when everyone was complaining about how great America wasn't, why weren't people telling all the MAGA folks to "love it or leave it? It seems there is a societal constraint on which Americans are allowed to voice their dissatisfaction. Funny how that works, right?
I doubt very much that patience is a virtue of any one racial or cultural group, or there is any necessity to exercise it. Certainly in my lifetime there has been rapid social change, some for the better and some for the worse.
Police force executioners are on the political front burner right now. Perhaps as important, but getting less attention is liberty. The United States imprisons more of its citizens than any other developed nation by a large margin. Due to the pandemic, governors are releasing prisoners that meet the victimless crime criterion, which brings up the question of why they were in prison in the first place. The entire US criminal justice system needs to be restructured, which means 50 states and the federal government. That's not going to happen overnight.
"police force executioners" .... since this seems to b a topic about Blacks .... there were 9 unarmed black people (and I think ~30 white people) killed by cops in 2019. A total kill number around 1,000.
I'm sorry, but I don't call that executioner at all. Unless we investigate and find excessive/unapproved use of force. And we should investigate, and that would be a "police reform", most likely by some dispassionate "board" (or say, a jury which is supposed to be the same thing).
As to the 2nd, now we're talking actual real change. And even more needed. All one has to do is look at the chart and I sure hope they feel "something has gone wrong". It's not like violent crime has increased like the prison population has.
I really believe if we strip the hubris and fear-mongering away on both sides, then healthcare reform is a true bi-partisan issue. The problem seems to be that those presently profiting from the current system are doing everything possible to keep the two parties divided and gridlocked.
It's really a shame because so many Americans are suffering financially and physically. My last routine physical cost $900 out of pocket with insurance and after that I just stopped going to doctors and use Urgent Care as I know the max cost is usually around $300-400 out of pocket. It's insane what we pay here.
that's an insane cost for an in-network physical. We pay $300 here in the South.
But yes, if it weren't for the politicians, then we'd be much closer on "healthcare reform". At least, I'd like to think so.
In short, treating like dirt people who bring up a society's wrongful acts (present and past), hold controversial and unpopular views in general, etc. is simply bad social practice and not good for your country's long-term economic viability.
I'm a millennial and as I've grown older and amassed more money, job experience and creature comforts, I've actually progressively shifted from being a staunch libertarian in college to being fairly left-leaning on most social and economic issues (think going from Ron Paul to Bernie Sanders ).
I know the popular trope is that everyone tends to becomes more conservative as they age and accumulate stuff they want to keep to themselves, but the next generation might surprise you. Maybe it was the economic crisis in 2008 when many of us graduated college, but you'll find that many millennials are pretty familiar with struggling for the economic security and relatively basic things like employment and housing. So even as we start to accumulate more "stuff", we are still acutely aware that there are many who lack the basics, be it shelter, employment, food or even respect and that those creature comforts and financial securities we have today can be easily be wiped out tomorrow no matter how hard we work today.
Wow man....no. Just no. Stuff stuff stuff....it's not about accumulating stuff. Stuff is the least important byproduct. It's about realizing that there are different vehicles for accomplishing things.
I think all political stripes can agree it would be nice to have a vaccine for Covid right? If you were to gamble, would you put your money on a cure coming from: A) Gilead Sciences B) Regeneron C) The Veteran's Hospital System?
Take a moment and pretend that all Xers and Boomers, at one point in time were young and idealistic. They had different coming of age challenges as well too. Not everyone made it from any generation. You are setting a course on your life now unaided with only your wits to guide you. It's as daunting now as it was 100 years ago.
What if, those old generations actually haven't given up on certain ideals, but they simply realized that sometimes the big bad federal government isn't the best vehicle with which to get something done. It's big and strong. It has range. But it's messy and dirty and decisions will always ebb and flow on politics, not necessity. Maybe I don't mind Obama working out approved solutions for treatments, but does that mean I have to swallow whatever chemical Trump is touting in the following 4 years? Because one thing age gives you is experience under different administrations.
Alternatively, if I'm going fishing, I decide I don't need to launch the aircraft carrier out onto the Lake, especially if that leaves the Navy with nothing but a catamaran to patrol the coasts with. I still want to fish, but I'll find my own way...and it's going to work better so long as I don't go back to dock only to find out the Canadians invaded and took over everything.
You want housing? Ok. We can either wait for Herman Cain to fix housing with a magic wand or....you can buy a run-down place, fix it up nice, make the appliances energy efficient, get insulation and efficient windows in and just make a nice place to live that you lease out at a decent rate. You don't solve the world's problems...but nobody does. You did just help a family though. You did just increase the good housing stock that is reasonably priced by 1. The validation of that statement comes in with pay. The measure of your true empathy comes in how you handle the whole thing.
Along the same lines you could help people get closer to zero waste by setting up a store with taps of all kinds of liquids we buy at home for universal containers brought from home for zero waste. You could be a champion to your local landfill....maybe even have all the kiosks automated by phone app to sell by the oz and not even require people there all the time. Money is the answer to tell you if you've created a service/distribution channel people actually value. It could be a huge moneymaker if people believe its the best way to do things, or maybe nobody wants it like that.
But you're not there yet. That's ok.
In the meantime, congrats on your decision to go from one political whack job to another. The Ron Paul's and Donald Trumps of the world will come and go having done little and changed nothing. Be careful about playing with those socialists though. Those aren't Democrats. They're cockroaches and they lay eggs they call institutions and are tough as hell to kill off once you're infested. There's a reason why the communist party was banned from the US even before the cold war. It simply doesn't work and the entire goal is to stay in power by killing competition. Don't take my word though, go ask people that came from communist countries. Real ones, not internet ones.
All that said, I do hope millennials succeed and I'm sure the group will find successes we didn't. Just realize some of the battles taken for granted were fought and won by the predecessors. Realize some of the losses realized are using the same "new" tactics being tried today. Some of the comparisons like the Summer of Love in 69 vs CHAZ in 20....aren't very favorable to the new challengers....but chin up, there's no way you can do worse than those coming of age during Disco Fever.
My present day motto for this country is "America love it but MAY leave it."
I'm damn proud to be an American. Since I read what most people consider "really boring topics" for fun, I can truly appreciate how much opportunity the USA still offers to anyone willing to put in the work. However, I'm horrified by how much the great system has devolved over the past 60 years. Think of it as how the stock market offers exponential growth of your money over long term. Now think of it backwards "the opportunity to get ahead has exponentially decreased over the last few decades."
If a copy of my 20 year old self went back in time to 1960 and put in the same amount of effort I have put in; his networth would be several million higher simply because of the amount of opportunity in this country back in the days. The main reason for this is the average American has degraded tremendously in "actual education" (meaning not just a college degree), critical thinking ability and common sense. The "why" of it is a huge topic that's too big to tackle here. Simply put the dumber a society becomes the more that country will degrade over time.
The present day insane ideals, policies and actions of the common people really highlight how far we have fallen as a nation. The USA is still a great country to live in presently. However, anyone who knows what I said above and has the means have already gotten a second citizenship to a stable or have plans to if this country degrades further. I personally think the USA will either stabilize or degrade to a point where most sensible people would want to leave in the next 30-40 years.
MY priorities are living in a extremely safe community with civilized people, national defense and healthcare. When I say "community" I mean an area that is at least county sized that is stable. Anything smaller guarantees that the probability of the effects of the morons degrading this country will be felt by me. If all this changes I will get a second citizenship in either Canada or New Zealand (depending on which country is better at the time). You can buy citizenship in either country for under $1.5 million and it would be worth it if this country keeps going in the direction its going.
I believe the U.S. has the strongest military in the world. With that being said, I would like to live somewhere with a lower Gini coefficient,affordable healthcare and less civil unrest. But alas, I am terrified of flying, so that only leaves Canada, which sounds fine, actually. Although, COL is not that low there.
I could relocate via ship, but I have a lot of pets, so not really an option.
We have seen this tired old line return in the past month and a half in light to protests related to the death of George Floyd (I am not including riots because that is something altogether different.) "America, love it or leave it." Along with other more vulgar variants. I have to ask why? It goes against what our founding fathers wanted for America. They revolted against Great Brittain due to unfair laws in light of paying off the French and Indian War debt including the Stamp Act, the Townsend Act, the Tea tax and the Intolerable Act. Founding fathers knew we wouldn't always agree.
I ask why do we have to resort to this. Don't we all want America to prosper? I can agree our methods and ideology behind how to make America better and prosper can be different, but why must we all agree on one thing.
Our country has a lively tradition of self-criticism from its earliest days.
Someone who says "America, love it or leave it" is an idiot with fascistic impulses, a mindless knuckle-dragger who doesn't understand the Republic's history.
isn't the ACA funded for the year (at least through Dec?) .... does a SC ruling "today" = immediate cancellation of policies tomorrow?
on topic ...
Frankly, if you don't think the US is the best country, then sure - leave it. Do we have many flaws - some important but small, and some apparently huge and just as important? ABSOLUTELY.
If you want to call for "revolution", just do it. Then we can have another civil war, and figure out who wins and which way we go. And then maybe - if the currently disaffected folks win - you'd have those who say "love it or leave it" be the leavers.
But you're not allowed to promote the dismantling of the current system in the US, and break the laws to further your cause, and not be required to settle up in some fashion.
"If you don't think the US is the best country, then sure - leave it". Why? Does everything about America have to be in absolute terms? I believe there are better countries in regards to certain programs or policies, but that doesn't mean I don't love THIS one. It means I think this country could use some improvement in certain areas. I've been here 70 years and have NO intention of ever leaving it. And thinking that America is not necessarily the best country in parts does NOT make me a traitor, or a hater; it just makes me a thoughtful citizen who sees that we still have much to do to make this a place where ALL citizens are afforded the same rights and opportunities in actuality - not just written policy.
I'm a millennial and as I've grown older and amassed more money, job experience and creature comforts, I've actually progressively shifted from being a staunch libertarian in college to being fairly left-leaning on most social and economic issues (think going from Ron Paul to Bernie Sanders ).
I know the popular trope is that everyone tends to becomes more conservative as they age and accumulate stuff they want to keep to themselves, but the next generation might surprise you. Maybe it was the economic crisis in 2008 when many of us graduated college, but you'll find that many millennials are pretty familiar with struggling for the economic security and relatively basic things like employment and housing. So even as we start to accumulate more "stuff", we are still acutely aware that there are many who lack the basics, be it shelter, employment, food or even respect and that those creature comforts and financial securities we have today can be easily be wiped out tomorrow no matter how hard we work today.
So you want a safety net, correct?
You want the government to guarantee you shelter, food, healthcare and everything you need. Correct?
And to pay for all those nice things - you are ok to pay more taxes? Correct.
That is all nice. The problem is that if we have such a nice safety net - your neighbor might decide that it's not worth it to work hard if he could just chill in his government provided apartment worrying about nothing. And he won't be alone. And the next thing you know - your taxes are going up to pay for all those chilling out. And the next thing you know is your children grow up seeing you working hard and paying 70% in taxes and won't understand why they should bother studying 20 years to get a high paying job if the taxes are 70% and your standards of living is pretty much the same as your neighbor. And most of them won't. After all the government will provide them with everything. As Sanders promises. Isn't it a paradise? Not having to study or work and have everything you need? So what if there won't be 100 kinds of soap, you are OK if there is only 2 kinds. Have you ever thought about who is going to make that soap if everyone is chilling out?
Who is going to develop new medicine if it doesn't make sense to study 25 years and then work hard if you can work minimum wage job and the government will provide you with everything?
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