American Exceptionalism: Reality or Just a Myth?

[sqwakvfr]

7 hours ago, NanLaew said:

 

Excellent example, thanks.

 

Now he can press on with America's unique trait of military exceptionalism. He who has most guns wins.

 

I would have thought the Navy SEALS would have been more indicative of success but he probably can't swim well enough.

Actually Green Berets have to be sxcellents swimmers as well.  How do you know he does not swim well? Did you ASS U ME this becasue he is of African descent?

[Ben Zioner]

13 hours ago, Walker88 said:

Personally, I do not think it survives the next four years as a single, united unit, but breaks down in a combination of social upheaval and perhaps even a number of States seceding, a la 1860, albeit this time for freedom, not to oppress on the basis of skin color.

Was thinking about re-watching the Handmaid's tale, before the last season comes out...

[mdr224]

Who else is going to lead the world? Europeans here are too busy comparing themselves to americans to catch up much

[HappyExpat57]

Right after WW II, the US launched a program called the GI Bill which provided education for all former military members, and even then college was affordable. If you had a part time job and lived frugally, you could put yourself through college and still afford a basic, decent standard of living. Corporate tax rates were around 90% with generous tax breaks for corporations to help with things like infrastructure.

 

https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/expert-insights/whole-ball-of-tax-historical-income-tax-rates

 

A family could afford to buy a home and send their kids to nice private schools on one income - if they were white. The blacks were still very oppressed and provided a lot of labor for little pay. These conditions created the greatest middle class ever seen, and the US truly was exceptional at that time.

 

Since then, education has become so ridiculously expensive that it is out of reach unless you want to place yourself in a lifetime of debt or come from wealth. Add to this mix corporate greed which has nearly eliminated the middle class and continues to chip away at it. The best way to control a nation is to create a ruling class and a subservient class, do away entirely with middle class. Keep the masses ignorant and desperate just to maintain a living so they aren't aware as the yoke slowly tightens around their necks.

 

The US is the wealthiest nation in the written history of the planet, but statistics show it's failing in these categories:

 

Healthcare

The Commonwealth Fund found that the U.S. ranks last overall among 10 high-income countries in health system performance. 

Immigration

The Partnership for New York City found that the U.S. is falling behind in the global race for talent due to its immigration policies. 

Education

A 2015 Pew Research Center report found that only 29 percent of Americans rated K-12 education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics as above average or the best in the world. 

Infrastructure

The American Society of Civil Engineers gave the United States' infrastructure a D+ grade for 2017. 

Paid leave

The United States is the only developed country that doesn't guarantee paid maternity leave, paid vacation time, or paid sick days. 

Travel

The U.S. ranks unfavorably in terms of the number of countries it permits for visa-free travel.

 

The US also has the highest incarceration rate and the largest number of prisoners in the world.

 

It used to be exceptional, now that's fading into a myth. If you haven't already done so, watch "Idiocracy." It explains everything.

[HappyExpat57]

1 hour ago, Ben Zioner said:

Was thinking about re-watching the Handmaid's tale, before the last season comes out...

Better do it before The White Christian Nationalists put it on a "banned" list just like they've done with books.

[KhunLA]

Every country has it pros & cons, almost all provide opportunities, you just have to seize them.   More than a few countries, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't want to be born there.

 

Ignorant nationalism certainly isn't limited to the USA.   You simply have to live with your choices.   I always state USA is a land of opportunity, since I was always able to work (30+ jobs 🙄) and easily provide from myself, on a limited 'formal' education, and being a LPOS.

 

Last job was decent (13 yrs) and last the 10 yrs of that, probably why I lasted so long, I worked 2 long days a week.  2 on and 5 off to use for my own interest, play or invest my time.  Retired at 45, so hard to say the opportunity isn't there for everyone, if I can do it.  I actually thought it was quite easy.

 

Have the same opinion of TH, though I'm certainly glad I wasn't born here.  Wife's family are all self sufficient, most retired early, educated or not.  Same as USA, I see many struggle, dealt a bad hand, or LPOS, and many applied themselves and are doing just fine.

 

A country is just a location, and you can fall for the propaganda or not.  I listen to non Yanks go on about how good their country is, and yet, they live here/TH, physically, or on the internet.  Can't be that F'g good, and most, I doubt if I'd want to live in, as had my choice to live anywhere I wanted.

 

And I chose Thailand ... nuff said

and ... WTF was I thinkin'  

[NanLaew]

4 hours ago, sqwakvfr said:

Actually Green Berets have to be sxcellents swimmers as well.  How do you know he does not swim well? Did you ASS U ME this becasue he is of African descent?

 

Well yes, of course I made up my post based on classic African stereotypes.

 

Now, what's your excuse for copy/pasting something you saw on your Internet affirmation chamber and believing it verbatim?

[sqwakvfr]

40 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

 

Well yes, of course I made up my post based on classic African stereotypes.

 

Now, what's your excuse for copy/pasting something you saw on your Internet affirmation chamber and believing it verbatim?

1) I don't have an "excuse"

2) The greatest soldier I ever knew was SFC Walter Goss-US Army Green Beret.RIP. 

3) where is this "internet" affirmatioin chamer? Is is like "the Dark Web"?

 

[sqwakvfr]

1 hour ago, HappyExpat57 said:

Right after WW II, the US launched a program called the GI Bill which provided education for all former military members, and even then college was affordable. If you had a part time job and lived frugally, you could put yourself through college and still afford a basic, decent standard of living. Corporate tax rates were around 90% with generous tax breaks for corporations to help with things like infrastructure.

 

https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/expert-insights/whole-ball-of-tax-historical-income-tax-rates

 

A family could afford to buy a home and send their kids to nice private schools on one income - if they were white. The blacks were still very oppressed and provided a lot of labor for little pay. These conditions created the greatest middle class ever seen, and the US truly was exceptional at that time.

 

Since then, education has become so ridiculously expensive that it is out of reach unless you want to place yourself in a lifetime of debt or come from wealth. Add to this mix corporate greed which has nearly eliminated the middle class and continues to chip away at it. The best way to control a nation is to create a ruling class and a subservient class, do away entirely with middle class. Keep the masses ignorant and desperate just to maintain a living so they aren't aware as the yoke slowly tightens around their necks.

 

The US is the wealthiest nation in the written history of the planet, but statistics show it's failing in these categories:

 

Healthcare

The Commonwealth Fund found that the U.S. ranks last overall among 10 high-income countries in health system performance. 

Immigration

The Partnership for New York City found that the U.S. is falling behind in the global race for talent due to its immigration policies. 

Education

A 2015 Pew Research Center report found that only 29 percent of Americans rated K-12 education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics as above average or the best in the world. 

Infrastructure

The American Society of Civil Engineers gave the United States' infrastructure a D+ grade for 2017. 

Paid leave

The United States is the only developed country that doesn't guarantee paid maternity leave, paid vacation time, or paid sick days. 

Travel

The U.S. ranks unfavorably in terms of the number of countries it permits for visa-free travel.

 

The US also has the highest incarceration rate and the largest number of prisoners in the world.

 

It used to be exceptional, now that's fading into a myth. If you haven't already done so, watch "Idiocracy." It explains everything.

I know it's bad but why do so many still want to come? No one seems to be able to answer as to why so many from many parts of the world want to enter such an awful place?  Canada or Mexico seem like paradise compared to the USA.

[jas007]

5 minutes ago, sqwakvfr said:

I know it's bad but why do so many still want to come? No one seems to be able to answer as to why so many from many parts of the world want to enter such an awful place?  Canada or Mexico seem like paradise compared to the USA.

It doesn't have to be awful.  Everything is there if a person wants to work and has talent.  Today's American kids were all sold the fantasy that is they had a college "degree" they could simply leave college and step into the American Dream.  When they find out no one is hiring, they drop out, or a lot of them do.  Some adapt and start their own businesses. Others work three jobs and save what money they can to invest of start their own businesses.  Anyway, if you take a look at the average yearly incomes for the various ethnic groups in America, you'll see that Asians outperform Caucasians.  My guess is that the Asians are successful because they work harder. The people you see on You/Tube living in tents are there of their own choosing.  Or, perhaps, they have drug problems or mental issues.  Mostly, you see these problems in the big cities on the East or West Coast.  Expensive areas. 

[sqwakvfr]

6 minutes ago, jas007 said:

It doesn't have to be awful.  Everything is there if a person wants to work and has talent.  Today's American kids were all sold the fantasy that is they had a college "degree" they could simply leave college and step into the American Dream.  When they find out no one is hiring, they drop out, or a lot of them do.  Some adapt and start their own businesses. Others work three jobs and save what money they can to invest of start their own businesses.  Anyway, if you take a look at the average yearly incomes for the various ethnic groups in America, you'll see that Asians outperform Caucasians.  My guess is that the Asians are successful because they work harder. The people you see on You/Tube living in tents are there of their own choosing.  Or, perhaps, they have drug problems or mental issues.  Mostly, you see these problems in the big cities on the East or West Coast.  Expensive areas. 

So the simple answer is America still offers great  opportunities for success?  The key is a person must be  willing to work hard and start at the bottom reglardless of social status or national origin.  Kind of sound like me:  A poor kid who was born in Busan and was able to join the US Army as a legal residen alien who becaame a naturalized American citizen with the assitance of an Army Jag officer.  Yes, I have had my share of prejudice, discrimination and blatant racism but it is a vast country and finding a place of accpetance is not always easy but achievalbe.  Maybe Sweden is better but doubt they would ever let me stay for more than 90 days. 

Edited 47 minutes ago by sqwakvfr