On Government

[lI1|1!]

uber alles

[W]

its hard to tell what a country feels like and what it offers unless you've lived there. the access to money is not the sole criteria of success and happiness. there are 20-30 countries that offer what we have , more or less, with a lot less violence, destruction, imperialism,guantanamo etc. we used to be great. now we just have the biggest dick.

 

 

I'm still intent on living/working in another country at some point in my life, just for the parity and the experience. But until or unless something drastic happens (and maybe it will?), I'll just be keeping my investments in US dollars, thank you.

And maybe this country needs you, me, and others to stick around and be a voice and an action calling for a responsible government tending towards cooperation and diplomacy instead of wars and bellicose threats and imperialism. Your voice holds more weight to effect American politics if you live here than if you go somewhere else.

[joblo7]

well said. there are a least 20 countries i could move to and feel very little change in my situation. planetary citizenship is coming faster for others.

 

it is true that by being here and aware of what our government is doing and by trying to correct its wrong tendencies , we can restore our place as a great nation. by the people for the people in harmony with the rest of the world.it will happen. maybe not in our lifetime but within 100 years it will .

[W]

well said. there are a least 20 countries i could move to and feel very little change in my situation.

 

You know I have gone back and forth about this for myself- having spent much time out of the country, usually in much poorer countries than this one, I always come back and immediately notice the US culture and how in-your-face it is and how stressed out everyone is, and the media hype, etc.etc. I always think "back in _____ (whatever country) it was so mellow". But then, I wasn't LIVING there...I was visiting and wasn't wrapped up in trying to pay my bills, make a living; didn't have any neighbors, political concerns, whatever- I was an objective, fascinated observer without any investment in the culture. So it seemed free of my condemnation in a relative way. But I would venture to guess that if my everyday situation was transplanted into it, I'd begin to find fault in the systems, especially when your money suddenly doesn't go so far. Money surely isn't everything- lots of Nepalis who seem very happy despite not having a great deal to eat or many options in climbing the economic ladder will tell you this.

 

One thing that separates US culture from almost all others, though: Almost everyone in this country actually believes that someday they will be filthy rich- from the hard driven business man to the guy driving the delivery truck to the guy digging the ditch, to the welfare recipient playing the lottery. For most it's an illusion, but some will get there. I don't know if this is good or bad, but it surely distinguishes American culture from most others. New Zealanders seem to know they have virtually no chance of being ultra rich, yet they're indifferent because everyone has a job, plenty of food, health care, they have a safe country, and their priorities are different. Everyone climbs, hikes, rafts, kayaks, runs. The money pervading US culture has definitely made us a bit weird.

[drater]

[dmuja]

aNArChy!

 

 

Smash the state!

 

Destroy!!

[tvashtarkatena]

america used to be a more socially conscious democracy. now its a military/capitalist uniparty system.

 

I know it is the latter. I'm not sure it ever really was the former. 100 years ago the country was ruled by robber barons and corporate interests, and in the mid 1800's it was very much a one party system.

 

There's a lot of faults with this culture and this system, but through all that, this country remains one of the best places in the world for it's opportunities and standard of living. Not to say there aren't many great countries one could have a very comfortable life, but it's still true.

 

America never was a conscientious democracy. It has always been a rapacious one. Hopefully, now that we're up against the climate wall, we can finally realize our full potential to become what many of us mistakenly believe we already are.

 

One aspect of our culture separates us from most others: a near unamimous expectation and desire for fantastic wealth. It's a disease that makes us more unhappy than happy. Go to a country like Norway, Australia, New Zealand, or Ireland, where people are, in general, very happy, and you just don't sense the same desperation. This disease chains Americans to McMansions they neither need nor really want, jobs they hate, and mates they don't connect with. It prevents Americans from taking true risks to pursue their passions, contributing to their community, being a real part of their families, and connecting with the natural world.

 

Small wonder we produce five times the greenhouse gases per person as the average world citizen while living in twice the square footage of the average 1st world inhabitant.

[kevbone]

America never was a conscientious democracy.

 

America a democracy....that will be the day.

 

Anyone know how many people ran for president in 2004? I will tell you.....204 people ran for president. How many were able to speak on TV?

 

2.....that is a republic, not a democracy.

 

Why wasnt Ralph Nader allowed to speak? Because he would put the other candidates to shame. Not that I believe him or respect his values....but he is able to speak without a scripted monolog.

[pink]

kevbone, that is becauce it cost money to talk on t.v. and poor people don't win elections.

[pink]

socialism is nice idea but some of us work alot harder than others. apathy will be the death of this country.

social democracies seem to provide a fertile ground for general happiness.

 

i don't equate socialism with happiness considering socialism doesn't really work mainly because you can't disperse the wealth fairly. it's not fair that someone works harded than someone else and has to unwillingly share it. i don't see how a governmet can handle everything anyway, privatizing is good to certain degree. the two parties are a great thing, it's checks and balances and everybody always calling everyone else out. total government control is a bad thing, my father would have called you a commi. are you fresh out of college V7.

[kevbone]

The elections should not be about money.....unfortunately they are about the richest.

[pink]

t.v. is a buiness. business drives the economy. the economy is why we all have computer and can waste out time on shit like this. money is not a bad thing, greed is.

[KaskadskyjKozak]

socialism is nice idea but some of us work alot harder than others. apathy will be the death of this country.

social democracies seem to provide a fertile ground for general happiness.

 

...my father would have called you a commi. are you fresh out of college V7.

 

if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck...

[kevbone]

Then is must be a turtle

[pink]

turtle head.....not so easy pooping in this cold weather.