Opinion on the US

[tvbcof]

American people are more or less  good or bad as everyone else but
american government is absolutely bad and I have the worst opinion of them.
All they want is profit and power.

As an American, I agree with this statement.

There is nothing wrong with the people of US its just that they are being brainwashed from a century so its not easy waking up from a century long sleep.

The more people I meet, the more it seems to me that humans generally, irrespective of race and/or national origin, have a pretty uniform distribution in terms of their methods of thinking.  There is kind of a 'fat middle' of people who can be pushed into a mushy general orientation by culture and state influenced education, but also a contingent of outliers who are just sort of in-born with characteristics that put them in a certain non-standard frame of reference.

I'd say that American culture generally is better than average at allowing the outliers to be themselves.  In other words, the culture is less constraining and less effective at molding the 'fat middle' contingent than many.

It does seem to me though that a pretty fair percentage of humans do have an ugly side.  There is relatively little concern among our population for the people we kill in the Middle East, for instance.  To some extent a lot of people are simply to pre-occupied, but there are plenty of people here to either just don't care or actually like that we do it.  Some of this has to do with our mainstream media to be sure.

[crumbs]

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I think every country has the government it deserves, maybe not always true for dictatorships but often true for other countries.
...

Why exclude dictatorships?  Obviously the people chose the dictator, or the previous government (which was not a dictatorship) failed to stop the dictator, etc., etc.  They brought it on themselves
How 'bout them Germans?

[NewLiberty]

i think governments all across the world do not represent the average citizen.

Add to this, that there aren't average citizens so much as individuals.  Each of whom have different ideas.

American people are more or less  good or bad as everyone else but
american government is absolutely bad and I have the worst opinion of them.
All they want is profit and power.

As an American, I agree with this statement.

Statistically, a majority of Americans agree with it as well.
Not likely to see that on a ballot though.

[PrintMule]

i think governments all across the world do not represent the average citizen.

Add to this, that there aren't average citizens so much as individuals.  Each of whom have different ideas.

American people are more or less  good or bad as everyone else but
american government is absolutely bad and I have the worst opinion of them.
All they want is profit and power.

As an American, I agree with this statement.

Americans are bad because they are electing and supporting their shithead leaders. Also blind patriotism is not a good thing.

[Don007]

I don't know whether trying being powerfull or making profit is really a bad thing.. I don't think so. As long as you as you keep ethics in mind.

Why do you mean with 'blind patriotism'? Following a figure and not concerning your thoughts by yourself? I don't think patriotism is a bad thing by itself. It has some advantages though.

[Kiki112]

I don't know whether trying being powerfull or making profit is really a bad thing.. I don't think so. As long as you as you keep ethics in mind.

Why do you mean with 'blind patriotism'? Following a figure and not concerning your thoughts by yourself? I don't think patriotism is a bad thing by itself. It has some advantages though.

I'm a patriot and I'm proud of it!
But there is a difference, I love my country and I would  die for it but the author probably referred to the "blind patriotism" for the people influenced by the american propaganda, those "blind patriots" can be harmful for the rest of the world as they don't know the facts and just always assume that their country is on the right side

I spend a lot of time reading about stuff connected to my country so I know  when someone is playing against us, this kind of patriots who know what they're talking about and are not just "bullying" other countries as the US does are okay and not at any level dangerous, knowledge is the key of being fair

[PrintMule]

Why do you mean with 'blind patriotism'? Following a figure and not concerning your thoughts by yourself?

Yes, you nailed it.

Some dubious stuff happened which leads to escalation...
US President: Thailand has crossed the final line, we will have to act immediately. This means war!
Citizen #1: YEAH, fuck those taiwanese pigs! We are so much better than them, we will surely win this one. Stars and stripes!
Citizen #2: But.. We were the ones who blew up their research facility at the first place...
Citizen #1: Serves them right! Are you doubting our leader? Are you doubting the american dream, the land of the free?! Goddamn hippie communist traitor!

I don't think patriotism is a bad thing by itself. It has some advantages though.

Yes, for example when you need to promote your own products, like Ford vehicles over import cars. That's surely beneficial for local economy and people.

It's crazy how many resources are spent on importing/exporting stuff in the world, which IMO can and would be avoided. But that's a different conversation.

[Loki8]

...
I think every country has the government it deserves, maybe not always true for dictatorships but often true for other countries.
...

Why exclude dictatorships?  Obviously the people chose the dictator, or the previous government (which was not a dictatorship) failed to stop the dictator, etc., etc.  They brought it on themselves
How 'bout them Germans?

North Korea could have been a really nice state without dictatorship, they are smart and hard working, they would likely have prospered like the other Asian Tigers.

Germans like order and authority, this mania for order also had some bad side-effects, but it's a logical consequence of a social-Darwinist mindset.

But education and culture are very important and they are the mainstays of our society. Humans are not animals, They can change, evolve and choose other values.

[PrintMule]

...
I think every country has the government it deserves, maybe not always true for dictatorships but often true for other countries.
...

Why exclude dictatorships?  Obviously the people chose the dictator, or the previous government (which was not a dictatorship) failed to stop the dictator, etc., etc.  They brought it on themselves
How 'bout them Germans?

North Korea could have been a really nice state without dictatorship, they are smart and hard working, they would likely have prospered like the other Asian Tigers.

Germans like order and authority, this mania for order also had some bad side-effects, but it's a logical consequence of a social-Darwinist mindset.

But education and culture are very important and they are the mainstays of our society. Humans are not animals, They can change, evolve and choose other values.

North Korea could have been a really nice state if America (and USSR) wouldn't fuck it over. In fact it could be an even nicer (North+South united) Korea.

[Don007]

Yes, for example when you need to promote your own products, like Ford vehicles over import cars. That's surely beneficial for local economy and people.

It's crazy how many resources are spent on importing/exporting stuff in the world, which IMO can and would be avoided. But that's a different conversation.

Yes. I agree with you on that. It also brings the society together in most countries. Im not sure whether that's the point in an huge country such as the USA, but it does in for example the country I live in (The Netherlands). This 'bringing the people together' can has some disadvantages too, especially for outsiders who are placed 'outside the society' by some people.

North Korea could have been a really nice state if America (and USSR) wouldn't fuck it over. In fact it could be an even nicer (North+South united) Korea.

I think it's more realistic that the world will explode than North+South will regroup, hehe.

[Kiki112]

Yes, for example when you need to promote your own products, like Ford vehicles over import cars. That's surely beneficial for local economy and people.

It's crazy how many resources are spent on importing/exporting stuff in the world, which IMO can and would be avoided. But that's a different conversation.

Yes. I agree with you on that. It also brings the society together in most countries. Im not sure whether that's the point in an huge country such as the USA, but it does in for example the country I live in (The Netherlands). This 'bringing the people together' can has some disadvantages too, especially for outsiders who are placed 'outside the society' by some people.

North Korea could have been a really nice state if America (and USSR) wouldn't fuck it over. In fact it could be an even nicer (North+South united) Korea.

I think it's more realistic that the world will explode than North+South will regroup, hehe.

If there wasn't of the USSR and the USA, there would definitely be a united Korea today, the cold war did this.
North and South Korea are no different from West and East Germany, they were splitten up for the advantage of USSR and USA but after the USSR and USA balance failed and one regime was stronger then the other.One of them failed while the more succesful side wanted to embrace their brothers over the border.
South and North Koreans are the same nation but as communism in Asia is just recently starting to fail (China is leading this trend),same thing might happen here in a 100 years or so.
This is NOT the communist fault, it's just that one regime will overpower the other and when one side overpowers the other for such difference they will finally surrender the fight and realize they are the same alotough their relatives live on the other side.

[PrintMule]

I think it's more realistic that the world will explode than North+South will regroup, hehe.

Given time, or maybe a bigger push - those two can merge again, and become a recognizable power in the region. North cheap labor and army + south money and tech. Maybe it will happen in our lifetime.

Interesting whats up with bitcoin in both Koreas?
*Gone googling

[Loki8]

I don't know whether trying being powerfull or making profit is really a bad thing.. I don't think so. As long as you as you keep ethics in mind.

You can always ask to bankers...

There's nothing wrong with ambition but a society functions smoothly only when all members fill that role honestly and ethically.
Capitalism is not honestly and ethically, it's amoral and promotes greed.

However capitalism is born in a Christian ethic, and with that eroding, we now only have self-interest, modern Capitalism is based on property without responsibility, while Christian Capitalism is, or was, based on property with responsibility.

[Kiki112]

I don't know whether trying being powerfull or making profit is really a bad thing.. I don't think so. As long as you as you keep ethics in mind.

You can always ask to bankers...

There's nothing wrong with ambition but a society functions smoothly only when all members fill that role honestly and ethically.
Capitalism is not honestly and ethically, it's amoral and promotes greed.

However capitalism is born in a Christian ethic, and with that eroding, we now only have self-interest, modern Capitalism is based on property without responsibility, while Christian Capitalism is, or was, based on property with responsibility.

yes, since the last few years the number of atheists and agnostics has been rising and the Christians aren't really respecting their ethic as they aren't so religious, this greed is ruining modern society and we are we will see it crash (after USA every single country will crash along altough some are already down [Greece,Spain..]).

[WEB slicer]

big city life in the US kinda sucks. money is the primary motivation. everybody is in a hurry. few people are friendly to a random stranger. the american dream is dead for all but the rich. the US isnt as great as it was back in the day. would rather live in canada australia new zealand UK switzerland amsterdam.

[cdtc]

American people are more or less  good or bad as everyone else but
american government is absolutely bad and I have the worst opinion of them.
All they want is profit and power.

I think every country has the government it deserves, maybe not always true for dictatorships but often true for other countries.

Americans wanted a cowboy for president that starts wars, they had Bush, after they wanted a black President to get any credit, they have Obama.

Russians want a strong leader who can take decisions by force, they have Poutine.

Chinese people want a strong central goverment to be their political father who can direct them into their common goals.

In the Nordic countries, the People and their politicians are the most trusting and the least corrupt in the world.

Yes, Joseph de Maistre was right: "Every country has the government it deserves". Americans have the power to change, and if everybody complains about how bad the government is doing, it's their own faults for putting them in the first place.

Let me tell you something, people don't choose their leaders they can only make a choice
between the ones that are offered. Take America for an example they have only two real parties who lead the same politics made by the rich and powerful people
behind them. So what real choice do they have.

[cdtc]

i think governments all across the world do not represent the average citizen.

Add to this, that there aren't average citizens so much as individuals.  Each of whom have different ideas.

American people are more or less  good or bad as everyone else but
american government is absolutely bad and I have the worst opinion of them.
All they want is profit and power.

As an American, I agree with this statement.

Americans are bad because they are electing and supporting their shithead leaders. Also blind patriotism is not a good thing.

They are just kind of brainwashed for many years by their media and their government so probably the average american
doesnt think to much about politics and stuff like that,they are more concerned about  their every day lifes.

[Oldgamer]

big city life in the US kinda sucks. money is the primary motivation. everybody is in a hurry. few people are friendly to a random stranger. the american dream is dead for all but the rich. the US isnt as great as it was back in the day. would rather live in canada australia new zealand UK switzerland amsterdam.

So, why don't you move? Yeah, probably in Amsterdam or Switzerland money will no be a primary motivation...

[Oldgamer]

i think governments all across the world do not represent the average citizen.

Add to this, that there aren't average citizens so much as individuals.  Each of whom have different ideas.

American people are more or less  good or bad as everyone else but
american government is absolutely bad and I have the worst opinion of them.
All they want is profit and power.

As an American, I agree with this statement.

Americans are bad because they are electing and supporting their shithead leaders. Also blind patriotism is not a good thing.

I can bet you just vote for Obama yourself... And if you did not vote, at least you support his socialist ideas.

[Kiki112]

i think governments all across the world do not represent the average citizen.

Add to this, that there aren't average citizens so much as individuals.  Each of whom have different ideas.

American people are more or less  good or bad as everyone else but
american government is absolutely bad and I have the worst opinion of them.
All they want is profit and power.

As an American, I agree with this statement.

Americans are bad because they are electing and supporting their shithead leaders. Also blind patriotism is not a good thing.

I can bet you just vote for Obama yourself... And if you did not vote, at least you support his socialist ideas.

he probably isn't even an American which makes him ineligible to vote

EDIT:
Just checked his profile
Location: Latvia

you have been mistaken
just because we actively discuss US problems doesn't mean we're Americans