America: The Grim Truth

[fotd]

http://americathegrimtruth.wordpress.com/

excerpts:
"The fact is, they work you like dogs in the United States. This should come as no surprise: the United States never got away from the plantation/sweat shop labor model and any real labor movement was brutally suppressed."

"  And that's just physical freedom. Mentally, you are truly imprisoned. You don't even know the degree to which you are tormented by fears of medical bankruptcy, job loss, homelessness and violent crime because you've never lived in a country where there is no need to worry about such things. "

" In America, you grow up thinking you've got a free media, which makes the propaganda doubly effective. If you don't think American media is mere corporate propaganda, ask yourself the following question: have you ever heard a major American news outlet suggest that the country could fund a single-payer health system by cutting military spending? "

" unless you are an American Indian or a descendant of slaves, at some point your ancestors chose to leave their homeland in search of a better life. They weren't traitors and they weren't bad people, they just wanted a better life for themselves and their families. "

Sorry, but that Arizona thread made me recall this article....

[heironymouspasparagus]

Have a good friend...very bright and talented... who is starting down that path with his family - actually for the last couple years.  Very sad it rings so true that we are losing people that way.

One of the big points the tea-baggers seem to go on about (sometimes it is unclear due to the shrill irrational ranting) returning to the Constitutional roots of the country.  I would love to widen the scope of the question to many more I see and hear on TV, but alas it probably won't happen.  I would ask questions that I have already asked my tea-bagger friends about that return to traditional Constitutional values; do they truly and in fact mean they would like to see a return to the "founding values" of slavery (blacks), genocide (Native Americans), rich white men only voting (meaning over 50% of the population is no longer eligible - the female population), shunning if you didn't attend the "correct" church for the local geography, and all those other "traditional family values" that we are all badgered to long for???

Sounds like what the John Birch Society and the KKK have advocated for years.  Is that REALLY what they want??

Answer; well, no...there are some things we should keep...
But no clear definition of what that might be.

Would LOVE to ask Sarah Palin if that is really what she wants?

[tulsascoot]

I'm ready to leave. 1 visit to Europe was enough to convince me that there are better ways to do things. And my brother lived in Germany for 5 years, with no real desire to return.

I am sick of hearing how great this country is from people who have never left it. Most times I hear about how much better the US is than any other country, it's from someone who has never traveled abroad.

[nathanm]

it's from someone who has never traveled abroad.

Most people who travel abroad go to Mexico. Take that as you see fit.

[Red Arrow]

I have been fortunate enough to meet and become friends with a few people from Germany in particular. One difference I noted was that my German friends would wonder if the government would allow us to do something whereas I would wonder if the government would prohibit doing something.  Not so subtle if you think about it for bit.

I visited Germany as a guest of my friends in 1995 for 3 weeks.  Beautiful country.  I loved driving on the Autobahn, got my doors blown off while going 200 km/hr (~125 mph) by a motorcycle.  I also liked going for a bicycle ride to a neighboring town about 15 km away with the neighbors.  One town had a parade and all of main strasse was blocked to celebrate 800 years since founding.  Everything was expensive.  I glad the exchange rate was about 1.5 in our favor at the time.  There is a pride in how the Germans take care of things (not littering for example) that we Americans should learn from them.  I am still glad to be an American though.

[nathanm]

I have been fortunate enough to meet and become friends with a few people from Germany in particular. One difference I noted was that my German friends would wonder if the government would allow us to do something whereas I would wonder if the government would prohibit doing something.  Not so subtle if you think about it for bit.

Sadly, most of our fellow citizens don't grasp that difference. They read the Constitution backwards. I don't know that I blame them, since most judges have it backwards these days, too. (and it usually comes down to the commerce clause)

[heironymouspasparagus]

There are some definite advantages to living hear if you are of the right group.  If one happens to be one of the wrong group, then maybe not quite as much.

How about someone outside of the 'usual' religious denominations.  Like someone who believes in Native American rituals, or polygamy, or Sikh, or Muslim, Hindi, Buddhist, or "insert minority-outside-of-mainstream" belief system person here.

[Red Arrow]

There are some definite advantages to living hear here if you are of the right group.  If one happens to be one of the wrong group, then maybe not quite as much.

Pretty much true anywhere in the world.

[Quinton]

You are all free to leave tomorrow to leave when ever you like.No anchor tied to your rear.Go for it.

[heironymouspasparagus]

Ahhhh...the plaintive bleat of the tragically hip....
America...love it or leave it.
Or just leave it, huh?

Hey, how about "America...change it or lose it." ??

Oh, wait...we changed it 30 years ago.  Now we are beyond bankrupt, falling behind in all the most significant new innovations in the world, and enjoying the added benefit of a falling standard of living.  Yeah, it's just great.  While the RWRE just keep on fiddlin'.  (Reference to Rome burning for those with no sense of history.)