Why is America afriad?

Coming from a Liberal European nation I find it very strange when I look across the Atlantic at the United States of America. I look at your country and I ask, why are they so frightened? OK, its not everyone and I'm sure some of you will go, no I'm not like that, but I want to know why other Americans are so afraid. Now you're asking, what does he mean frightened? Well here are my questions:

Why does America need guns? I honestly cannot see why any country which isn't in the middle of a civil war would need to arm it's civilians.

Why is America afraid of socialism? It seems anytime Obama tries to do anything the main insult appear to be "he's Socialist". What's so bad about having a national health service? Imagine what it would be like if you didn't have to pay medical insurance, if the poorest didn't have to die of treatable diseases and imagine what it would be like if when a loved one died you didn't then have to shed out thousands of dollars to the hospital despite the fact they failed.

I will answer this in two parts. One with a question:

If a liberal, in the US's case Jimmy Carter, led the you into a recession and failed at stalling the Communist Political Machine, who would you turn to?

The US turned to Ronald Reagan, who in all honesty is the reason we are in the mess we are in, he preached deregulation, which appealed to American's and most moderates and some liberals as the regulated system had failed. Reagan succeed in drawing the USSR into an arms race which is impossible for a communist economy to uphold. When he was done, they wanted more of him, so they called on Bush #1. He "won" the cold war, but despite that, he led he US into another recession, leaving the job to Clinton.

The US is still relatively conservative because we spent half a century fighting off communism/socialism and the baby boomer generation still sees liberalism as a path towards those two things. Thus creating the situation we are in. By definition, conservatives do not want to progress, they want to stay at a comfortable place. Which after the cold war, had been found. A short answer is that the US is reforming back to the liberal ways, but change is an enduring process, I think Obama is the man for the job. Please, members from around the world, be patient, while the US may be the leaders of the free world, we aren't super-humans. We take time to change. Please?

Long answer short, the US is changing, but we're going to need time. I'd say by the time Obama finishes his 2nd term(god willing ) we'll be back up there as one of the most liberal nations in the world.



On a side note, this girl I WAS friends with said arguably the dumbest thing I've ever heard on facebook. Her status was, "Obama=Liberal Fascist Scum, can't take it? don't comment." Laughs... I'm really sad about that quote, it is so immensely stupid, contradictory, and redundant, it almost made me cry.

hahah liberal fascist, obviously someone who does not understand the political spectrum haha that really just made my day.

Gracania,

First off we carry guns everywhere because we are so consumed with personal belongings and personal wealth that we have been socially conditioned to believe that everybody is trying to take what you earned away from you and the only way to protect it is by force.

As for the fear of socialism, it is a dirty word in American politics. N.R. did a good job of explaining why we hate the word liberal, socialism, and communism. At the end of the day, Obama will more or less be a centrist who has one or two policies that will be socially/fiscally liberal, but the conservative juggernaut will paint him as the most liberal president ever!

I agree with you, the cost of medicine is skyrocketing out of control and it is increasing our national debt exponentially. Socialized medicine is not a problem, if anything, it is a benefit to our country because more able bodied people will be able to produce for our country. Plus, we will lower the cost of premiums which means more money saved by the consumer which can ultimately be put back into the economy on luxury goods. I hope Obama succeeds in getting health care passed, because that and energy are the two things I was most worried about when I voted in 08. We will see though.

About the guns, it is in our Constitution that "a well regulated militia" has the right to bear arms; conservatives say that the founding fathers meant all Americans, and that we are all allowed to bear weapons for defense purposes. However, the problem with this now is the fact that we are selling assault guns to the public, which is one of the stupidest things we could ever do (its the reason why drug cartels in Mexico have AK-47s and UZIs). I personally believe that guns should only be allowed for a "well regulated militia" and responsible people with licenses. We should take assault guns off the market for good and keep defensive arms like revolvers and hunting rifles and the like.

As for the socialism issue, the right-wing media machine is the only thing keeping that alive as an insult and a bad thing. There was a new poll in which 37% of Americans under 30 prefer capitalism, 33% socialism, and 30% undecided, which says a lot. If the right-wing media disappears, America will become much less ignorant and MUCH more tolerant.

About the "right to bear arms." the idea is that if a government gets too corrupt the people should be able to rise up. the philosophy in mind when they made these rights says there should be one such uprising every decade or so.

In any case Over doing the gun controls aren't the answer. (while I'm sure at some point it happened) these drug lords aren't getting their firearms from licensed citizens... how naive people are to think so, they are bought and sold on the black market. the purpose of the existing controls is to prevent black market sale. not every gun enthusiast is peddling Kalashnikov's... more often than not they are using 22. to 9 caliber hand guns, or ranged rifles. in other words small to medium handgun rounds or hunting rifles. its harder than hell to get one such assault rifle even with a foid card and such. the right to bear arms should apply in all ages. but assault rifles are less than a requirement in social shooting, whether it be a target or pheasant. those are military. gun control is to make sure the proper type of gun goes to responsible citizens... not to keep them out of the hands or drug cartels. these traffickers are getting their guns from other sources, and restricting people's use and purchase of firearms will only make them want to use them in an improper fashion.

as for nationalization i don't mind reform at all. thats a wonderful idea which should be worked out now. however i would much rather avoid a national health care system. why? i suppose because i am anti large government. not that i'm some conservative idiot anarchist or anything. but i would prefer to choose it ALL myself. and a likely response ere would be, "oh but you can!" and at this point (to a limit) that's a true statement. but in the US we have a proud history of not legislating fluidly (sarcasm). see the founding father designed it so that laws would come and go. but we are to fucking retarded to figure out that when the times change... so should the laws! what a surprise this is! but in America we just stick to it. this is why i don't like American nationalism. Because whatever we legislate now, will be around for a long, long time... please don't reply with one or three exaples that don't matter proving me wrong. marijuana is still illegal, we only have two main parties, case and point.

Our brains should be working better than this America... they really really should lol.

Excuse me for being blunt, but the government can take my right to bear arms when they pry the rifle from my cold dead hands. Now maybe it's because I'm a Republican, but I never ever want the US to become a liberal nation like France. While liberalism has it's good points, I think that a conservative point is better.

Care to elaborate?


Rightism(conservative) by it's definition means not to progress. It means to stay in a comfortable place. Do you not want the US to progress as a nation?

i understand the gut reaction to speak like that, and while i don't own a fire arm, i do play airsoft (like paintball but more militaristic) and there are tons of laws on that form of game. why? cause they are full scale replica's of he real deal. often military assault rifles. so i already feel lots of rules local statewide, and federal. i think they should restrict (as they already have) guns. however as with any other dangerous thing like a go cart, or roller coaster, only for safety. they shouldn't take away the thing to rid themselves of a problem. they have to find the ACTUAL SOURCE that these illegals are getting weapons from and stop THAT. rather than harass hunters and marksmen all over the country.

I agree, liberalism is what hurts a country, look at France (I'm not going into detail on that matter as it might offend people and I don't feel like getting banned). I strongly believe rather than making new gun laws or banning them all together, we should make intelligent gun laws and then enforce the ones we have. Now, I'm not saying that every half witted person should be allowed to go out and own a gun, but rather than taking away law biding American's rights, and turning the nation into a dictatorship (which taking away guns is the first step) we should be making competent actions to reduce the problem with guns.

Also, as far as being afraid of socialism, I'm sorry, but if the US ever turns into the USSR, I'm doing one of two things; going and try to overthrow the government, or I'm leaving the nation.

US won't turn into the USSR.

But why are you so anti-liberal?

Are you socially conservative? Fiscally Conservative?

I'm not seeing where you disagree with liberalism.


Do you not like civil rights? Gay rights, Abortion, social equality?

Or do you like deregulation? The very thing that got us into the economic recession that we currently see ourselves!

Hm?

New Roosevelt wrote:US won't turn into the USSR.

But why are you so anti-liberal?

Are you socially conservative? Fiscally Conservative?

I'm not seeing where you disagree with liberalism.


Do you not like civil rights? Gay rights, Abortion, social equality?

Or do you like deregulation? The very thing that got us into the economic recession that we currently see ourselves!

Hm?

I am anti-liberal because;

I'm a very strong supporter of the ability to have an abortion ON DEMAND, very strong supporter of everyone having the right to equality, but not taking the job away from someone who was born here, and has worked their asses off every day of their life, just to give it to and provide for an illegal immigrant.

I want the right to be able to spend my money HOW I WANT, and not let the government distribute it HOW IT WANTS, because I know what's best for my finances, not an overinflated behemoth of a government.

I want to know that rather than having a liberal government cutting the military and subsequently our DEFENSES FROM FOREIGN NATIONS and throwing our hard working, patriot, put their life on the line soldiers out on the street to lose jobs to illegal immigrants, we'll have a government that if anything will be INCREASING our military to defend us.

I'd like to know that rather than having a business and getting everything I want to sell taxed so much I and my customers can't breath, I can own a business and sell to willing customers and keep some profit for myself, and do what I WANT with it. And on this note, I'd like to know I can use my intellect to make more of a profit on wall street, rather than have to give it up and allow the government to REGULATE AND KILL the free market.

I am also a very strong supporter of having the right to own a weapon to defend my families future, property and prosperity. Rather than allow a thief to break into my house, and have him (or her) shoot me and my family just to be able to get my families possessions while waiting for the police to arrive.

I also believe that someone should be able to marry anyone they love, however I think that no one should be able to marry something like a car.

While I understand most of what you have to say, but a few things to note.


Reaganomics, as it was called in the 80's, which is pure and simply, deregulate anything and everything, is the very reason we are in the economic recession we are in today.


All of these houses that have become completely worthless despite how nice they are, is because of deregulation. When the Reagan Administration did that part of his deregulation, which I believe was right after his first term, the economy boomed. And I mean BOOMED. But that was because it was everyone buying houses with no down payment. They didn't realize how much they'd have to pay in turn as the interest rate. Then we know what happened, people can't afford to stay in the home, leave, live somewhere else. But this accumulating over the course of 23 years, screwed up the US economy. It was almost an exact replica of the great depression. But back then it was material goods like Vacuums. The US saw a great boom in the economy, so they kept on making them, they didn't think about the idea that everyone had already bought their vacuums and won't need a new one for about 5 years. A similar thing occurred in the 80's. From the get-go, people couldn't afford their houses, but the government thought, oh well, a more responsible person will buy the house next time. But that never happened. And 23 years later, it's showing.


And about the illegal immigrants, you realize they're doing the work that no americans want to do, right? They're picking crops out in the fields of central california and working in kitchens scrubbing dirty dishes. It's not like they're stealing jobs from regular americans. Almost all companies require you show your birth certificate to get a job with them. It's a generalization all conservatives make, but it's not like an immigrant can just go to a local high school and begin teaching AP Spanish Literature, you know?

New Roosevelt wrote:While I understand most of what you have to say, but a few things to note.


Reaganomics, as it was called in the 80's, which is pure and simply, deregulate anything and everything, is the very reason we are in the economic recession we are in today.


All of these houses that have become completely worthless despite how nice they are, is because of deregulation. When the Reagan Administration did that part of his deregulation, which I believe was right after his first term, the economy boomed. And I mean BOOMED. But that was because it was everyone buying houses with no down payment. They didn't realize how much they'd have to pay in turn as the interest rate. Then we know what happened, people can't afford to stay in the home, leave, live somewhere else. But this accumulating over the course of 23 years, screwed up the US economy. It was almost an exact replica of the great depression. But back then it was material goods like Vacuums. The US saw a great boom in the economy, so they kept on making them, they didn't think about the idea that everyone had already bought their vacuums and won't need a new one for about 5 years. A similar thing occurred in the 80's. From the get-go, people couldn't afford their houses, but the government thought, oh well, a more responsible person will buy the house next time. But that never happened. And 23 years later, it's showing.


And about the illegal immigrants, you realize they're doing the work that no americans want to do, right? They're picking crops out in the fields of central california and working in kitchens scrubbing dirty dishes. It's not like they're stealing jobs from regular americans. Almost all companies require you show your birth certificate to get a job with them. It's a generalization all conservatives make, but it's not like an immigrant can just go to a local high school and begin teaching AP Spanish Literature, you know?

On illegal immigrants, you are very very very very and sadly wrong. Believe me when I tell you that, it's very easy to make an ID, fake or real, and most employers will not do all the tests to see if it is wrong, that is one thing all liberals decide to pick at, and conservatives often get ignored, however it is very real, and very true. And as far as regular immigrants just going and getting jobs, that again you are wrong, it is easier for an immigrant to get a job, than it is an American, now I'm not saying that Americans have more right to the job, but you know what, saying no to an AMERICAN because the other person is an immigrant is wrong.

And while I agree with a lot on what you are saying about the Reagan administration and the recession now, you are right about deregulation starting most of it, however, that was because of over deregulation, which I agree was a problem, there needs to be some regulation, however that's as far as it goes; SOME not TONS, like liberals like.

While I agree it is easy enough for an illegal immigrant to get a job than it should be. More than half the time, they don't get good jobs. They get crap pay for doing the jobs that I mentioned before. Which isn't bad considering that they are illegally here.

But I think it is incredibly hypocritical of americans to talk smack about immigrants when they mainly get the crappy jobs that no one else wants.

It would be a completely different thing if a company recruited a rural man from mexico to become the CFO of that company, but that hasn't happened, and won't happen.

This is what I meant. This is so alien to me. In my country we have high taxes, a call for more regulation, no guns in law abiding civilians homes, less military spending and the government is involved in every part of life. Here's the headlines: we aren't all dead. The worst thing to happen to Britain in recent years was a belief in the free market economy. Don't get me wrong, communism doesn't work but capitalism is cold. Thatcher put everything into her love of business and we are still suffering 20 years later. Our industry was savaged, the only power of the working classes was destroyed, while inner city yuppies got rich 3 million people became unemployed in a country not even half the size of New York state, intrest rates soared and the banks were deregulated which came back to destory the country again just when we thought we were back on track last year.

Surely America can spare some money from the military to spend on education, healthcare and social security? The only people who are going to attack you in the near future won't be taken out by the marines, they'll be shot in the back with a silencer. Who are you worried about invasion from, the Canadians?

Laughs.

I agree with Gracania 100%


No nation in the world comes close to the amount of military spending the US spends per year.

We spend 161 million on one plane alone. The F-22. One F-22 costs 161 million!!! Some countries don't even have a military budget that high! The US spends far too much. Bush Jr. Acted like we were still in the cold war. But let's face it, the US's only real competition on the global market is China, but they're so undeveloped, and are basically a dictatorship by majority, that it will take them half a century to really become a "Superpower."

New Roosevelt wrote:While I agree it is easy enough for an illegal immigrant to get a job than it should be. More than half the time, they don't get good jobs. They get crap pay for doing the jobs that I mentioned before. Which isn't bad considering that they are illegally here.

But I think it is incredibly hypocritical of americans to talk smack about immigrants when they mainly get the crappy jobs that no one else wants.

It would be a completely different thing if a company recruited a rural man from mexico to become the CFO of that company, but that hasn't happened, and won't happen.

Well, honestly I again don't see how that can be used to justify it, I know several people, who are jobless, who were born here who would give anything to be able to get a simple job, so I think Americans have every right to be mad about illegals getting jobs that no one else 'wants' as the liberals so lovingly say.

New Roosevelt wrote:Laughs.

I agree with Gracania 100%


No nation in the world comes close to the amount of military spending the US spends per year.

We spend 161 million on one plane alone. The F-22. One F-22 costs 161 million!!! Some countries don't even have a military budget that high! The US spends far too much. Bush Jr. Acted like we were still in the cold war. But let's face it, the US's only real competition on the global market is China, but they're so undeveloped, and are basically a dictatorship by majority, that it will take them half a century to really become a "Superpower."

While I agree, I couldn't disagree more. The F-22 has ensured that no country can touch us, we're the only nation with a Generation 5 fighter, yet all the libs complain about is the money that we spend on defense. Hm okay, yeah because that Democrat that proposed a bill for making COW MANURE SMELL LESS is just so................................... much more important than the nation's safety.

Gracania wrote:This is what I meant. This is so alien to me. In my country we have high taxes, a call for more regulation, no guns in law abiding civilians homes, less military spending and the government is involved in every part of life. Here's the headlines: we aren't all dead. The worst thing to happen to Britain in recent years was a belief in the free market economy. Don't get me wrong, communism doesn't work but capitalism is cold. Thatcher put everything into her love of business and we are still suffering 20 years later. Our industry was savaged, the only power of the working classes was destroyed, while inner city yuppies got rich 3 million people became unemployed in a country not even half the size of New York state, intrest rates soared and the banks were deregulated which came back to destory the country again just when we thought we were back on track last year.

Surely America can spare some money from the military to spend on education, healthcare and social security? The only people who are going to attack you in the near future won't be taken out by the marines, they'll be shot in the back with a silencer. Who are you worried about invasion from, the Canadians?

High taxes, hm I feel sorry for you, more regulation, I hope when all the businesses start leaving your country and crashing your economy you'll all be happy, no guns in law biding citizen's homes, hm hope when they get shot by the first drug filled theif that walks into the house they don't complain. Hm, large government, gotta love those, I mean how can we possibly survive having the government off our backs?

The whole point we liberals ask is:

"Why do we need to spend 161 million on a single plane? Why do we need 160 of these expensive planes, hm?"

New Roosevelt wrote:The whole point we liberals ask is:

"Why do we need to spend 161 million on a single plane? Why do we need 160 of these expensive planes, hm?"

Because we need to defend ourselves, not simply say "okay we'll do what you want" as the libs like, oh wait sorry, Bill Clinton (one of the libs premier presidents who sucked) decided to go 'pew pew' with some cruise missiles; oh yeah scary....

So what? A cruise missile will do the job just as well, it doesn't have to be powerful enough to destroy the world. America has barely fought any wars for defense of the mainland most of which against the British and I don't think we're invading again anytime soon. Wars against Communism in agriculturally based South East Asian peasant nations. If you can name a war America was involved in that endangered the American heartland, I mean actually threatened (like the troops are on the way attack) I'll admit I'm wrong.

America's problem is you love your country too much. Now Patriotism is admirable but in excess it becomes hate of foreigners, paranoia about military and racism. The Nazis loved their country. We've lost that in Britain (except in the BNP, aka the British Fascist Party) and all the better for it. When you aren't overly concerned with how great you think where you live is it becomes easier to work with foreigners without fearing they'll attack you and also the people are more likely to complain when their government does something wrong.

Gracania wrote:So what? A cruise missile will do the job just as well, it doesn't have to be powerful enough to destroy the world. America has barely fought any wars for defense of the mainland most of which against the British and I don't think we're invading again anytime soon. Wars against Communism in agriculturally based South East Asian peasant nations. If you can name a war America was involved in that endangered the American heartland, I mean actually threatened (like the troops are on the way attack) I'll admit I'm wrong.

America's problem is you love your country too much. Now Patriotism is admirable but in excess it becomes hate of foreigners, paranoia about military and racism. The Nazis loved their country. We've lost that in Britain (except in the BNP, aka the British Fascist Party) and all the better for it. When you aren't overly concerned with how great you think where you live is it becomes easier to work with foreigners without fearing they'll attack you and also the people are more likely to complain when their government does something wrong.

Let's see, wars that America has been in to defend the homeland, oh I don't know does this: http://www.chandlerswatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/9-11-1.bmp Ring a bell?

Cruise missiles are good, but you know what, lobbing a few cruise missiles isn't exactly scary, if I was them I'd be laughing at America lobbing a few cruise missiles at you. But then again, Clinton couldn't even get the target right.

America's problem is not because we love our country too much, I've never heard of such a thing, loving a country is not bad, loving a government is, Britain I'm sorry but lost most of my respect.

Wilhelm Tuscini wrote:
Let's see, wars that America has been in to defend the homeland, oh I don't know does this: http://www.chandlerswatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/9-11-1.bmp Ring a bell?

Cruise missiles are good, but you know what, lobbing a few cruise missiles isn't exactly scary, if I was them I'd be laughing at America lobbing a few cruise missiles at you. But then again, Clinton couldn't even get the target right.

America's problem is not because we love our country too much, I've never heard of such a thing, loving a country is not bad, loving a government is, Britain I'm sorry but lost most of my respect.

I said loving your country is good in Moderation but if it becomes extreme like Fox News stuff and beyond it means people become afraid of everything outside their country. It is not unique to America.

Terrorism isn't a war. I'm sorry but you can't fight terrorism because that's just adding to their cause. We like to feel like we're fighting it but its a movement not a government and you can't destroy a movement. Together we beat Nazi Germany but Nazism is still around all over the world. The sort of war I mean was when we invaded in 1812 and burnt the white house (not condoning it), we've had lots of these wars. From the invasion of the Celts to the World War 2.