What's Great About America

[Peikko 1,575]

Which solialist country did you live in that causes such shuddering? Just curious...

[DeadPoolX 9]

The point I believe D'Souza is trying to make isn't that the United States is "the land that God chose" or anything silly like that. He's merely stating that, when compared to many countries across the globe, the U.S. is a fantastic country to live in and that is absolutely true. This doesn't make other places that are similar (such as the UK, Canada, Australia, Germany, France, Italy, etc) any less in their own right. In fact, you don't have to "insult" one country in order to "compliment" a another one.

If I say that "France has wonderful food," what does that mean? Am I saying that every other country in the world has food that stinks? That the food produced or served by other countries is of lower quality, simply because I think the food in France is really good? No, of course not. If I think the food in France is exceptional, then that's all I'm saying -- that I really enjoy French food. It doesn't mean that I think the food, which is endemic of other cultures, is any less valuable or necessarily tastes worse; it just means it may not be "my style."

So the same could apply in this case as well. If someone truly loves the United States, that doesn't necessarily mean they dislike other countries or think that the U.S. is the "King of the Hill." They might just love their home country. That's my situation, for example. I consider myself a patriot. I love the United States and my Canadian fiancee knows this. She is perfectly fine with it, mostly because I am logical about it. I understand the U.S. is a great country and it has a lot to offer the people here and the world, but it is not alone in being a wonderful place to live.

[Cassie 8]

Which solialist country did you live in that causes such shuddering? Just curious...

If I remember correctly (please correct if I am wrong, Reinhard!), he lived in East Germany before the wall fell.

[Cassie 8]

The point I believe D'Souza is trying to make isn't that the United States is "the land that God chose" or anything silly like that. He's merely stating that, when compared to many countries across the globe, the U.S. is a fantastic country to live in and that is absolutely true.

I would generally agree with you, but the last paragraph seems to infer something stronger.

My conclusion is that America is the greatest, freest, and most decent society in existence. It is an oasis of goodness in a desert of cynicism and barbarism. This country, once an experiment unique in the world, is now the last best hope for the world.

The last best hope for the world? really?

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Which solialist country did you live in that causes such shuddering? Just curious...

East Germany.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Which socialist country did you live in that causes such shuddering? Just curious...

If I remember correctly (please correct if I am wrong, Reinhard!), he lived in East Germany before the wall fell.

Yes, I grew up on the dark side of the iron curtain, literally in the shadow of that horrendous wall.

[trailmix 77]

So the same could apply in this case as well. If someone truly loves the United States, that doesn't necessarily mean they dislike other countries or think that the U.S. is the "King of the Hill." They might just love their home country. That's my situation, for example. I consider myself a patriot. I love the United States and my Canadian fiancee knows this. She is perfectly fine with it, mostly because I am logical about it. I understand the U.S. is a great country and it has a lot to offer the people here and the world, but it is not alone in being a wonderful place to live.

What you are saying is absolutely true. However this is the part that made me comment:

America offers more opportunity and social mobility than any other country

With that quote alone he discounts opportunity and social mobility in other countries. One media person who is always saying this is Oprah - someone tells her the story of their success and she shouts 'Only in America'!!!!

I emailed her about it, I guess she didn't read my email

[Cantankerous 0]

It is a good country to live in, I'd never say otherwise. but the fact that the guy was comparing it to India makes a lot of his points invalid. For instance, the U.S. doesn't provide a good standard of living for the average citizen - we're quite average citizens, but our opportunities are very limited and our quality of life is low. Of course, I bet we would be worse off if we lived in India, but we would be much better off in a socialist country.

And I don't even want to comment on the "gentle and noble" foreign policy

BTW, the highlighted part would be too much even for someone like O'Reily.

The author was comparing America to India because that is where he is from. As for your comment on the US not providing a good standard of living for the average citizen I am not sure what you mean. Also, why do you think our opportunities are very limited and our quality of life is low?

As a reference, here is what the US Census Bureau says about the average citizen:

Personal Income:

According to the US Census Bureau the overall median personal income for all individuals over the age of 18 was $25,149 (and $32,140 for those age 25 or above) in the year 2005

Household Income:

In 2006, the median annual household income according to the US Census Bureau was determined to be $48,201

[Peikko 1,575]

I am not sure that it's possible to call what was East Germany a socialist country...certainly it's not my idea of one. However, I do now understand the shuddering. Hasn't East Germany improved since the re-unification though?

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

I am not sure that it's possible to call what was East Germany a socialist country...certainly it's not my idea of one. However, I do now understand the shuddering. Hasn't East Germany improved since the re-unification though?

What do you consider a socialist country? Is there one?

[Heracles 417]

I am not sure that it's possible to call what was East Germany a socialist country...certainly it's not my idea of one. However, I do now understand the shuddering. Hasn't East Germany improved since the re-unification though?

Do you think the wall, the separation, is what suppressed the other side of Germany?? Communism was the culprit. Communism is simply a highly concentrated version of socialism. I have heard many people say that in theory it is an ideal system; which it is not.. It seeks to take away what makes us human. Which is our individual interests, wants, goals desires, beliefs etc..

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

I am not sure that it's possible to call what was East Germany a socialist country...certainly it's not my idea of one. However, I do now understand the shuddering. Hasn't East Germany improved since the re-unification though?

Do you think the wall, the separation, is what suppressed the other side of Germany?? Communism was the culprit. Communism is simply a highly concentrated version of socialism. I have heard many people say that in theory it is an ideal system; which it is not.. It seeks to take away what makes us human. Which is our individual interests, wants, goals desires, beliefs etc..

In it's very core, it seeks to replace competitiveness with conformity. It believes that people will give their all for some distant common good rather than for their own benefit. Human nature doesn't work that way. This, imo, is what makes it so impossible to bear and this is what caused it's demise.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I am not sure that it's possible to call what was East Germany a socialist country...certainly it's not my idea of one. However, I do now understand the shuddering. Hasn't East Germany improved since the re-unification though?

Do you think the wall, the separation, is what suppressed the other side of Germany?? Communism was the culprit. Communism is simply a highly concentrated version of socialism. I have heard many people say that in theory it is an ideal system; which it is not.. It seeks to take away what makes us human. Which is our individual interests, wants, goals desires, beliefs etc..

In it's very core, it seeks to replace competitiveness with conformity. It believes that people will give their all for some distant common good rather than for their own benefit. Human nature doesn't work that way. This, imo, is what makes it so impossible to bear and this is what caused it's demise.

Well put.

People who pine for socialism are really just scared of the creative destruction of capitalism.

[Heracles 417]

I am not sure that it's possible to call what was East Germany a socialist country...certainly it's not my idea of one. However, I do now understand the shuddering. Hasn't East Germany improved since the re-unification though?

Do you think the wall, the separation, is what suppressed the other side of Germany?? Communism was the culprit. Communism is simply a highly concentrated version of socialism. I have heard many people say that in theory it is an ideal system; which it is not.. It seeks to take away what makes us human. Which is our individual interests, wants, goals desires, beliefs etc..

In it's very core, it seeks to replace competitiveness with conformity. It believes that people will give their all for some distant common good rather than for their own benefit. Human nature doesn't work that way. This, imo, is what makes it so impossible to bear and this is what caused it's demise.

it doesn't and almost always it becomes a mates system where if you are competition, actually better or a threat to whoever is in office, you are silenced.. I don't know of anyone who has left the free world to migrate to a communist country.

Well apart from Jane Fonda but she is just an idiot anyway..

[Heracles 417]

I am not sure that it's possible to call what was East Germany a socialist country...certainly it's not my idea of one. However, I do now understand the shuddering. Hasn't East Germany improved since the re-unification though?

Do you think the wall, the separation, is what suppressed the other side of Germany?? Communism was the culprit. Communism is simply a highly concentrated version of socialism. I have heard many people say that in theory it is an ideal system; which it is not.. It seeks to take away what makes us human. Which is our individual interests, wants, goals desires, beliefs etc..

In it's very core, it seeks to replace competitiveness with conformity. It believes that people will give their all for some distant common good rather than for their own benefit. Human nature doesn't work that way. This, imo, is what makes it so impossible to bear and this is what caused it's demise.

Well put.

People who pine for socialism are really just scared of the creative destruction of capitalism.

When I think of socialism I think of the Borg in Star Trek.