What a country

[Demos]

http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne ... ady_to.htm

[Guten Raynor]

I write a long thing and the page expiration monster eats it...

He wants reform but talks of revolt.

See the two passage from The Declaration of Independence.

"That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness."

"Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed."

Maybe he is right but he did an awful job of supporting his argument.

BTW -> 102.2425% of people agree with my article while -2.2425% agree with his. That is why uncited statistics are so wonderful.

[kikkelipoika]

http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne ... ady_to.htm

I think this is a prime example on why there are such major negative feelings towards america here in europe.

Part of the genius of our contemporary ruling class elites is that they have engineering a state of political and economic oppression that paradoxically is still embraced by the Lower Class. The rational way to understand this is that ordinary, oppressed Americans are in a deep psychological state of self-delusion. Despite all the empirical, objective evidence of a failed government, they fail to see rebellion opportunities. Many still believe they live in the world’s best democracy. But across all elections considerably less than half the citizens even bother to vote anymore. Yet, as the new NBC/Journal poll results show, people are cognitively aware of just how awful the political-economic system is. Yet they are not feeling enough pain to seriously consider rebellion. And it is visceral pain that must drive people to the daring act of rebellion.


Why is there insufficient pain for revolution? This is a deadly serious issue. What is historically unique about America is that even the most oppressed and unfairly treated people are distracted by affordable materialism, entertainment, sports, gambling, and myriad other aspects of our frivolous, self-absorbed culture. Even failed school and health care systems do not drive people, paying enormous sums to fill up their SUVs, to rebellion. So, Americans are aware of their oppression, but the power elites have successfully drugged them with a plethora of pleasure-producing distractions sufficient to keep them under control. We are free to bitch, but too weak to revolt. The Internet has provided a release valve for some pent up anger and frustration. But it too has mostly become another source of distraction, rather than an effective tool for rebellion.

[Melthavion]

[Guten Raynor]

These articles are just like the "We went around and asked American's about international affairs... listen to how stupid they are..." shows. I could do the same in Europe and if I interviewed 500 people probably find 5 or 10 people who couldn't answer one of my international questions. Compile all the stupid answers and voila! I've got myself some grade A propaganda.

and to his reference :

But across all elections considerably less than half the citizens even bother to vote anymore.

Voting isn't the point. If we felt like it we could drag our fat butts down to the polling area and push metal sticks through paper cards and feel like we were making a difference. The point is that we could vote if we wanted to. (I'm kidding folks)

[obsoletenihilist]

I love seeing other countries who are just as idiotic about things they have done and do try and slander the U.S.

Here's an idea. The majority of every country is full of fanatical morons and sheep who really do not care about anything more than their social spheres of influence and the tiny bubbles that make up their life. Those that do care are a minority and while many try look at the success/failure rate of that minority when attempting to change -ANYTHING- involving any government.

How many revolutions have the French had? England, how long has your nose been shoved up the U.S.'s rear end? How many of you would be speaking German or Russian without the U.S.'s bloated egotism and sense of superiority. Europe has had it's Cruades, Islam it's Jihads, U.S. it's Western Expansionism and Godly Mandates.

In the end, every country has had it's fair share of bad history and barbarism that should make you sick. Every country is mostly full of people just trying to live their lives with situations that are important to them catching interest, and situations that they do not really feel effecting them being ignored. That's human nature.

Everyone can only be held accountable for themselves and what they do, but isn't it just so easy to hate a faceless majority who you know nothing about on a personal level?

Threads like this should be stopped because NONE of us are faceless majorities on here. We're all from different backgrounds but make up a community that is expected to get along.

[kikkelipoika]

If you want to slander europe and it's countries, then go right ahead. We know our system sucks (name a system that doesn't). I don't see any fault in open criticism, it's the most important trade mark of the "free world" we live in today.

Besides, what should we europeans think, when all the information we get about US tends to be negative. US is seen here as the most corrupt system in the world, major part of it's population living in inhuman conditions, world's highest murder rates, non justified wars ect. ect. This is *not* my opinion (and not necessarily the truth either), but it's a very common view about US here.

The reason US happens to get so much criticism is that it's not only well-founded (In most cases, with most countries, the criticism is well-founded), but US just happens to be the only current superpower in the world, which gives it certain authority over other nations. And people tend to criticise and blame authorities.

Oh, and if you wish the flame to die out, don't feed it by getting defensive. We're not criticising you, we're criticising your system, and i say that you're as free to criticise ours .

[Vahene]

Being an American citizen, and just skimming the first page, this entire article borders on treason so I stopped reading it. Look, the man is obviously part of one of those cells in the US who wants a second Civil or Revolutionary War, and yeah, we know how well that went the first time and how many people died, don't we? I can't stand BS like this.

You can say what you want about the USA, but I like the political system as it is. Obviously the last election, a majority of people did want Bush voted back into office. I am personally at a loss as to why since I voted for the other guy, but he is our President. No, I don't like some of the decisions he made, but I can fix that easily by voting in future elections, and voting to change things. Most of Americans did just that by switching out the power in Congress from Republican to Democratic. The only reason Congress' numbers are down so much is because they can't get anything passed thanks to either (1) a veto, or (2) Republicans in the Senate not wanting to pass anything. That tends to frustrate a lot of people.

I don't think any country "has it right". But I do appreciate the freedom I have without jerks like this author trying to stir up unnecessary trouble.

K

[Evelond Formos]

Woah. Well written, Vahene.

[oaknott]

Woah. Well written, Vahene.

seconded.

People should try living outside the free world before criticising the West and the USA.

Its always the people who couldn't be bothered to vote who have the loudest complaints.

As Winston Churchill put it "Democracy is the worst from of government, apart from all the rest"

America may be seen to have the highest murder rate, for example, but only because the reporting is so good and people actually get to hear about things. The very fact that you can criticise the government and still walk the streets the next day with no fear of you, your family and your close associates vanishing off the face of the earth means a lot. The very fact that you can get hold of sufficient information to know what blunders your government has made means even more.

[kikkelipoika]

You can say what you want about the USA, but I like the political system as it is. Obviously the last election, a majority of people did want Bush voted back into office.

Correct me if i'm wrong, but as i recall, a majority didn't even vote. Still, most of the people who don't vote don't have the slightest of idea about these things anyway, so them not voting may only be a good thing.

As Winston Churchill put it "Democracy is the worst from of government, apart from all the rest"

This one is pure gold.

People should try living outside the free world before criticising the West and the USA.

Have you lived outside "the free world" then? You should hear me criticising the east . Quoting shakespeare: "All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players". I might then add that the play we're coming up with is quite horrible, and not worth the price of the ticket.

America may be seen to have the highest murder rate, for example, but only because the reporting is so good and people actually get to hear about things.

We have equally good reporting here in europe, so that's not the only reason.

I'm not even really sure why i wrote this. To hell with it, i'll submit it anyway!

[oaknott]

People should try living outside the free world before criticising the West and the USA.

Have you lived outside "the free world" then?

Yes, look at my current location, for example. I have lived in some places that make Orwell's "1984" look like southern california.

America may be seen to have the highest murder rate, for example, but only because the reporting is so good and people actually get to hear about things.

We have equally good reporting here in europe

Yes that is what I meant. To clarify: The reporting media in the USA, Europe and other areas of the free world has a vast amount of freedom, so to continue the example, the murder rates of the USA are accurately reported throughout those areas, so the people in them can make that judgement. but what about the murder rates (or anything else for that matter) in, for example the Arabian Peninsular, parts of South East Asia, China, parts of Central and South America, some of the newly independent states formerly part of the soviet union? There is often no way to get accurate, reliable information there whether you are inside or outside the country

[Vahene]

Its always the people who couldn't be bothered to vote who have the loudest complaints.

QFT

And I agree.

K

[Lord Zhengyi]

Again, the one giant assumption this article makes is what exactly constitutes "revolting conditions". The author feels that our current situation warrants an upheaval by the citizens, but he fails to acknowledge that it is only his opinion. I personally do not feel like revolting, and it is not because I am enthralled with mindless, simple luxuries that keep me placated like a baboon. It is because personally, I am not upset about our troops being in Iraq. I have friends over there serving, and I think we are doing important work, despite what the media (who are all radical liberals, btw) tries to feed us on a daily basis.

I am far more concerned with developments like the one I just learned about yesterday. The 50 caliber rifle in the video I posted here a while ago is about to be reclassified by our government as a destructive device. What does that mean? It means owning it will be considered no different than owning a hand grenade, a bazooka, or dynamite. It means that the price of ammunition and spare parts will skyrocket, that I will be unable to transfer it to another owner, and when I die, the government will seize and destroy it. If I want to continue owning it, I will need to register it with the ATF, essentially waiving my 4th amendment rights to illegal search and seizure, and bend over for the anti-gun liberals who think I somehow pose a threat to national security because I own a rifle that fires a bullet only slightly larger than what big game hunters take on safari.

You want to talk about a revolt? This kind of baseless invasion into my individual rights is the kind of thing that sparked the first American Revolution. When or if the democrats take control of the government in the near future, passing this kind of legislation will undoutedly give the author his wish. Taxation without representation and micromanaging people's lives with senseless rules designed to oppress and subdue the populace... those are "revolting conditions".

[Guten Raynor]

Um... real quick lets clear something up:

Voting age population (Census Bureau Population Survey for Nov. 2000): 205,815,000
Percentage of voting age population casting a vote for president: 51.3%
(http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0876793.html)

In 2000 51.3% of those who qualified cast their vote for president.

So a majority DID vote... (Although to be honest that doesn't invalidate that point IMHO)

Murder Rate per capita
http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/cri_m ... per-capita

Disclaimer on the following information (taken from nationmaster):
DEFINITION: Total recorded intentional homicides, completed. Crime statistics are often better indicators of prevalence of law enforcement and willingness to report crime, than actual prevalence. Per capita figures expressed per 1,000 population.

US #24 0.042802 per 1,000 people
France #40
Canada #44
UK #46 0.0140633 per 1,000 people

US to UK murder rate 3:1
Columbia murder rate to US 14.5:1 (Columbia is #1 on the list)

It should be noted as well that we also don't hold the highest total murders (Held by India). We're #6

Basically we are seeing propaganda in action. Notice I did something extremely important here which most people who post propaganda don't do -> I'm citing sources.