Thread: American Guilt

I'm coming to find Americans don't want a country or feel that it isn't their right to have one - that they feel they should constantly spend hundreds of billions a year on foreign aid - and that they don't have the right to stabalize violatile regions in the world.

There can only be one cause for such attitudes - and that is guilt. We feel guilty that there are so many rich and undeserving in this nation, when there are tons of hardworking peoples all over the world. The truth of the matter is though - AMERICA MADE AMERICA - not some outside force - not even immigration. We the people - AMERICANS - have made this country what a pathetic thing it is today. It used to be a strong epicenter of culture, wealth, and freedom - only now this urban sprawl of filth, drug addicts, and careless government recipients - we now have a country run by an extremely immature populas - one that can't even protect it's own sovereignty - or evolve and develop it's own policies in it's ever changing future.

Even it's government is disfunctional - everyone has said that both in the 2000 and 2001 presidential electiosn that nobody especially liked either candidates - just they were voting for the "lesser of two evils". The war in Iraq has been poorly mismanaged - and with Bush as president - a diplomatic blunder. Why the hell would we have a redneck christian of all people lead a free country to war against the heartland one of the most fundamental cultures in the world? Surely the middle east needs peace and prosperity - but many of our past presidents would've been a much better example of a humbling america. I'll admit - I voted for Bush both times - but that doesn't mean he's a cocky asshole unfit for the job. Both Gore and Kerry were poser weridos that have the wrong way about healthcare. Hell if you want to solve the healthcare crisis - you build more hospitals and train more doctors - making it overall more competitive. I see no real progressive move in this direction, except for nurses.

All in all I feel that this country has lost it's ability to truly do what is right through a deep unfounded guilt that we are the cause for the world's problems and that we should be the cradle for all the world's problems. We live in a new age of unpricinpled political correctness and widespread american guilt.

Immigration has long played a fundamental role in the construction of America. And there should be a guilt, a guilt that we as a nation spend money we don't have and waste things we dont' need. We're pigs in this nation with very little sense of what true value means. We've inflated our self-worth to the extent that we may as well be considered fake.

Originally Posted by American Dreamer

I'm coming to find Americans don't want a country or feel that it isn't their right to have one - that they feel they should constantly spend hundreds of billions a year on foreign aid - and that they don't have the right to stabalize violatile regions in the world..

Foreign Aid Boost Is Expected in Bush Budget (washingtonpost.com)

US foriegn aid is not even ten billion, let alone hundreds, and 1/3 of all of that goes to Israel.

Originally Posted by American Dreamer

There can only be one cause for such attitudes - and that is guilt. We feel guilty that there are so many rich and undeserving in this nation, when there are tons of hardworking peoples all over the world. The truth of the matter is though - AMERICA MADE AMERICA - not some outside force - not even immigration. We the people - AMERICANS - have made this country what a pathetic thing it is today. It used to be a strong epicenter of culture, wealth, and freedom - only now this urban sprawl of filth, drug addicts, and careless government recipients - we now have a country run by an extremely immature populas - one that can't even protect it's own sovereignty - or evolve and develop it's own policies in it's ever changing future.
.

What made America is cheap labor provided by immigrants, and innovation.

Originally Posted by American Dreamer

Even it's government is disfunctional - everyone has said that both in the 2000 and 2001 presidential electiosn that nobody especially liked either candidates - just they were voting for the "lesser of two evils". The war in Iraq has been poorly mismanaged - and with Bush as president - a diplomatic blunder. Why the hell would we have a redneck christian of all people lead a free country to war against the heartland one of the most fundamental cultures in the world? Surely the middle east needs peace and prosperity - but many of our past presidents would've been a much better example of a humbling america. I'll admit - I voted for Bush both times - but that doesn't mean he's a cocky asshole unfit for the job. Both Gore and Kerry were poser weridos that have the wrong way about healthcare. Hell if you want to solve the healthcare crisis - you build more hospitals and train more doctors - making it overall more competitive. I see no real progressive move in this direction, except for nurses.

All in all I feel that this country has lost it's ability to truly do what is right through a deep unfounded guilt that we are the cause for the world's problems and that we should be the cradle for all the world's problems. We live in a new age of unpricinpled political correctness and widespread american guilt.

I must have missed the 2001 election. Who was running?

Look, you said you voted for Bush both times. You got what you wanted, Bush as president. What's your point?

Actually TFM, immigrants made the labor cheap, cheap labor did not attract immigrants.

Originally Posted by Vitiate

Immigration has long played a fundamental role in the construction of America.

Legal and orderly immigration. And then I ask you - when is enough, enough? What are suitable immigration quota's? And why are 80% of the legal immigrants from a single source, Mexico?!?! Neighborly humanitarinism? Where the richest man on earth lives? Please please fill me in.

Originally Posted by Vitaiate

And there should be a guilt, a guilt that we as a nation spend money we don't have and waste things we dont' need.

I love it - spend money we DONT have and waste things we DONT need. Well you were right about the first thing we said - and then I must ask you - why do we spend money we don't have???? HMMMmmmm. Maybe, just MAYBE, the american public are pawned into doing so? Why is it over 70% of this nations wealth, assets, and capital is controlled by 10% of it's population??? And why is this gap ever increasing? Why has the average median income dropped four to five straight years in a row - A HISTORICAL record for this country? While GAS is at a HISTORICAL high, as well as healthcare and education? Please please give me your opinion.

Originally Posted by Vitiate

We're pigs in this nation with very little sense of what true value means.

No, we are cattle. We are fodder to produce for the corporate and conglomerate wealth of the world - it is our foreign influence which drives us to be pigs - creating a rat race - while at the same time - is constantly criticizes us for our prosperity. You my friend are a prime example of what we don't need to bring to this country. Unappreciative, foreign nationals.

Originally Posted by Vitiate

We've inflated our self-worth to the extent that we may as well be considered fake.

So very very true. But I do not blame it on Americans solely - no I do not.

Right, blame only corporations and not the individuals themselves. Such a true American you are. Always foaming at the mouth for the latest gizmo but never enabling oneself to have some self-restraint, and thus you blame me for pointing out the flaw of the individual. Unappreciative? hardly. Disgusted? Very much so. So much that we base everything around credit and a monetary system with no intrinsic value providing for continually greed and fake wealth. Furthermore, I was never brought to this country. I was born in this country to two distinguished professionals who have put more into this system than you could have in 5 lives. So foreign-national? no, not at all. Needless to say, I still hold firm my stance that there should be some guilt that we feel because we consume in such a fat-bastard type of way. No self-restraint, no self-control, consume consume consume.

Originally Posted by Vitiate

Right, blame only corporations and not the individuals themselves.

I said I don't blame americans SOLELY. A comprehensive reading of English would truly be a fine gift.

Originally Posted by Vitiate

Such a true American you are.

That I am. Guilty as charged.

Originally Posted by Vitiate

Always foaming at the mouth for the latest gizmo but never enabling oneself to have some self-restraint, and thus you blame me for pointing out the flaw of the individual.

Our cravings for "gizmos" are not our flaw - as we have quite quaint trade relations with Japan and the like. It is our craving for cheap chinese goods that I condemn.

Originally Posted by Vitiate

Unappreciative? hardly. Disgusted? Very much so. So much that we base everything around credit and a monetary system with no intrinsic value providing for continually greed and fake wealth.

I blame that on pseudo-liberalism and this semi-nanny state we've created, not the sound fiscal policies we should have.

Originally Posted by "Vitiate

Furthermore, I was never brought to this country. I was born in this country to two distinguished professionals who have put more into this system than you could have in 5 lives. So foreign-national? no, not at all. Needless to say, I still hold firm my stance that there should be some guilt that we feel because we consume in such a fat-bastard type of way. No self-restraint, no self-control, consume consume consume.

I apologize. I could've swore you were the same Vitiate that had claimed to come from India via an education visa.

And the America of yesteryear were never the fat-guilty-bastards you so claim us to be. I am a mere twenty years of age - studying engineering at CSULB and hoping to get into Aerospace within the next five years. I don't care what you have "put into society" - so long as you pay taxes, respect the language of this country, and follow the rule of law. No such guilt created by you or anybody else will ever change my opinion on such principles, and nor should it anybody else.

Inflated sense of self-worth.

Nail on head.

Not anymore than the people in Europe, China, South America or Mexico? Please continue.

Americans are the most humble and globally sympathetic people in the world. Let's dispute this one more time.

Originally Posted by American Dreamer

Americans are the most humble and globally sympathetic people in the world. Let's dispute this one more time.

A statement that obviously comes from someone who has never been to Europe.

I have always found my fellow Americans to be bigoted, xenophobic fools who do not give a rat's ass about any culture other than their own.

But that's my opinion.