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Because not every country can be socialist. Thats why.
Somebody has to do the hard work and make s**t happen. We are the most powerful, most innovative, most productive, and most successful economy in the world. We work long hours, have less vacation time and have large responsibilities worldwide.
What do we get for all of this hard work? The quality of life (for those who earn it) and the satisfaction of knowing we are helping out countries around the world who need it. We have the POWER and the MONEY to be able to do this. Our military is fighting tyranny and building stability in oppressed countries all over the world. We are donating the most money of any country to nations that need it most. We are the nation that most other nations look up to. We are the sandbox of creativity and innovation.
And this, my friends, is the problem with the idea of American exceptionalism. The beating on the chest, the shouts of "we're number 1!!!!11111!!" to drown out any and all criticism, the sheer fabrication of statistics to prove a point, is ultimately what is leading this nation down the toilet.
If you believe that you're the best at everything, there's really nothing to improve, and thus no impetus to change.
As for this:
Quote:
You can't find what we have in this country anywhere else!
But you can Blanche, you certainly can. And they're beating us at it.
And this, my friends, is the problem with the idea of American exceptionalism. The beating on the chest, the shouts of "we're number 1!!!!11111!!" to drown out any and all criticism, the sheer fabrication of statistics to prove a point, is ultimately what is leading this nation down the toilet.
If you believe that you're the best at everything, there's really nothing to improve, and thus no impetus to change.
As for this:
But you can Blanche, you certainly can. And they're beating us at it.
America's number one in almost nothing anymore, and sinking fast
And this, my friends, is the problem with the idea of American exceptionalism. The beating on the chest, the shouts of "we're number 1!!!!11111!!" to drown out any and all criticism, the sheer fabrication of statistics to prove a point, is ultimately what is leading this nation down the toilet.
If you believe that you're the best at everything, there's really nothing to improve, and thus no impetus to change.
You're right, of course. But there is a kernel of truth in the gospel of American exceptionalism. Briefly put, it is in the degree of freedom for experimentation, imagination, and the opportunity for individuals and groups to put their dreams to work to create new realities.
Now, no one would claim that there have not been and are not now examples of ways in which this freedom has been abused. But in criticising Americans in general for their boasting, you are simply directing your attention to those whose image of the country is erroneous, rather than focusing on what really drives our nation.
Something has always been true of America since its inception: the freedom to take risks, to bring new ideas to fruition, to go beyond what was possible in other countries, owing to their reliance on the safe, the permissible, the traditional. The secret of America is the immigration of people, ideas, and ambitions. There is no lessening of this force.
So, your criticism of the previous poster is accurate. All that beating of drums and chest-thumping to celebrate what America has done is, well, un-American. America must remain fixed on the future. That is its exceptional genius; that is its magnetism for the rest of the world...
That's because the US defends them. Pull the US naval and air bases out of Norway and stop patrolling Norway's seas and skies and let Norway pay for that and we'll see how much socieoeconomic equality Norway has.
This is a load of bs. Norway spends quite a lot on military. Actually more than Sweden and Denmark. Having actually served in the Norwegian Army I have never seen any US presence here. Especially not in Norwegian airspace. I know there were built a few bunkers in North of Norway in the 80s.
But you do realize that the cold war is over? Military spendings is not what makes US crumble economically today. And US presence sure as hell isn't our secret to success.
How you people compare countries in Europe to the United States is beyond me. Texas is larger than most countries alone! Nevermind the other 49. That why they had to UNITE as a UNION!!!! Look, keep your holidays and gas rations and all that cute stuff. Proud to be an AMERICAN and not interested in being EUROPEAN. If I was, I would MOVE there.
The most ANNOYING thing is people who live off the United States, and enjoy all she has to offer, then COMPLAIN about her. It's like you staying over my house and living the good life and then complain about how the neighbor's kitchen is nicer with maple than my cherry cabinets. And you prefer stainless stain to my black appliances. What freakin' NERVE!!!!!!!!!! GET OUT THEN!
I wonder just how it works that Europeans live off Americans as you seem to claim.?
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