Why do people say I'm reaping the benefits of this nation when the USA is falling apart at the seams?
354736
... Republicans at work... watch out...
1072557
Right now I am ashamed of our leaders and many of the people who live here. Their parents sure didn't know what they were doing when they raised them.\n\nWe are losing our freedoms, getting people killed and ripping off the poor to give to those who already have more than they need.\n\nWe are no longer leaders by example of what is right! To most of the world we represent all that is wrong!\n\nFreedom!! you have got to be kidding! So we are better than China, thats 1 and that isn't saying a hell of a lot when you consider Europe for examle. Almost anywhere in Europe is better than here, and they treat them better as well.\n\nAnd don't tell me to love it ir leave it! I EARNED mine!! Did you?\n\n\n"Look at history, man. The Romans began with a republic, just like we did. The freedom and prosperity that followed made them complacent, apathetic. They became fat and happy, and mistakenly figured that government was responsible. Since their government was such a Good Thing, it didn't need watching, so few paid it any attention. Those with a knack for politics took advantage of that to increase their power, and also their stash. Eventually the republic degraded into an empire, and suffered the fate of all empires. They go broke trying to keep control of every place they've conquered.\n\n"We're heading down the same road. Only this time, it's happening faster. It took three, four centuries for Rome to decline and fall. We might do it in three or four decades. Hell, maybe three or four years. Or months! Who the hell knows?"\n\nHe paused for a moment; I could see him trying to calm his breathing. He began to slowly read from the Wall, his eyes moving randomly over the panel. "David T. Hilton. William C. Langham. John A. Gibson. Richard Galan. Danny Lee Frye. Cecil D. Lamm. All these boys blown off the face of the Earth, because we just can't keep our noses out of what's happening on the other side of the world. Ever read George Washington's Farewell Address?"\n\nI shook my head. "He told us not to concern ourselves with what other countries are doing to and amongst themselves. He said it would just get us mired in a big mess. But did we listen? Nooooo. He warned us! Jefferson warned us! Most all of the Founders warned us! John Quincy Adams, about thirty years later, said 'America does not go out in search of monsters to destroy.' Well, now we do, John Q.\n\n"You know what I finally figured out? People don't start wars. Countries don't start wars. It's governments that start wars. Fuckin' governments. And we go along with it. Whenever you see a problem, social or economic or political, and think that government should do something about the problem, do a little homework and you'll probably find that government is the source of the problem. And war is just the epitome of government problem solving. So what if a majority thinks that this coming war is right. The majority is just something that government manufactures and manipulates to give the appearance of legitimacy to what government does.\n\n"And as for those government bozos who say that those who question their plans and motives is unpatriotic and aiding the enemy, well, they can just kiss my ass."\n\nCol David Hackworth 10 Silver Stars, 8 Purple Hearts. 3 DSC's!\n\nAnd he earned his!!
591665
I am a U.S citizen by birth and know exactly what you mean. The U.S at one time was the "land of the free" but no more.\nWhen I point out the U.S. isn't so free anymore, more likely than not I am met with knee jerk hostility and hear some programmed phrase like, "the U.S. is the best country in the world, we have every freedom here, etc." Americans are so stupid. And their lack of THEIR own history not to mention the history of the world is sickening.
289009
This is a symptom of a national disease. That disease is apathy. There is a value assigned to all thing according to rarity. Objects, beauty, the quality of life, even relationships. The more you have of something, or the less you had to work to get it, the less value you attache to it. This isn't a bad thing, it is completely natural. In nature there is competition and typically, the stuff that life needs to continue living, will be the stuff that is hard to find.\nAs a generation of Americans without any great war or great tagedy to scare us into caring about the things we have, we care very little about the luxuries we possess, the freedoms we enjoy, and in turn we run everything we have into the ground. We are apathetic to how our great government is run and don't even pay attension when the corperations take over and start wittleing away our freedoms. We are apethitic to each other and the happiness of our neighbors so we drive like selfish pricks, or we lie, or we otherwise treat eachother like crap. We do this because there has been no hardship big enough in any of our lives to teach us the real value of things. The real value of forming a brotherhood with our fellow Americans and doing good for goodness' sake. Also this process is what allows us to not be interested in how the defination of freedom is being changed. We have freedom taken away bit by bit. In increments so small it looks harmless. But eventualy we will all look up and realize that whatever isn't defined by the law is ilegal. This is fascism. It is a shame. This is a cycle that has been evedent throughout the history of Man. \n1) Things are awefull\n2) War against hardship to make life good\n3) Happiness and prosperity for 3-4 generations\n4) Decline\n5) War, etc.\nThis is sad, but it is the way things work. And it continues to happen because most people don't realize that this is the cycle. And until there is a great catastrophy to make us care about the things we have it will continue to decay.
391999
Same with me, man. I was born in the states and when i moved. But i discovered it ever since bush gor elected. I mean the guy doesn't help the US' he makes it worse. And yes, I agree with you. That's what we get for freedom.
498196
Yea, why what happened.  Did we do something bad?  Let me ask my native American friends.  Oh,  they're all dead.  Oh let me see there are some on reservations running casinos.  I don't make it to reservations or casinos to ask the real Americans if they're proud.  I asked the new Americans and most are proud to be still killing and forcing the hypocrisy of political causes and corporate greed on the world while turning a back to the Johnny come lately Americans here that have had their jobs outsourced or given to cheap illegal labor.    What's an American anyway?  Are they like Unicorns?  I am proud to be a conquerer, with lots of material things, fed all my ideas by religious fanatics, to be told how the rest of the world is by a media that is self serving, to let rich folks sit safely in the suburbs while my urban area that was once safe and enjoyable turn into a breeding ground for drug dealers, thieves, robbers, broken families, with everything handed out to everyone but me.  Yea I'm proud to be a part of that and will die for it if asked.  It isn't pretty to look at our mistakes of the past and present. Do I give up being an American because I have to feel guilty or dissatisfied with things not going my way?  I have no choice about being proud and American.  I will lie, steal, cheat, kill, to keep my proud American heritage.  I am proud to be American.  Why are you not?  You sound like someone who isn't maybe.  Don't be spineless and cowardly.  Yell it out.  I am proud to be American.  Give me baseball, apple pie, cheeseburgers, money, cheap chinese goods, football, basketball, cable t.v., cell phones, at whatever cost to anyone so long as I can enjoy it and even if I have to kill someone to preserve these things.  USA baby.  Have a hot dog on me.
193946
Thank You.  Some one had to say that.  There are to many people that take their freedoms for granted.  They don't understand that in other countries if we were to bash our country we could be tortured or worse.  Where has the Pride in America gone?  Does Amercias youth need a wake up call?  Do we need to take them to Iraq and Afghanistan for a week or two to see how bad it could be?  I am just as fed up as you are.\nGod Bless America and The Soldiers That Defend Our Homeland and Freedom
791701
Because thier ignorant, thats why thier arrogant, 80% of americans never leave thier own state, they think thats the whole world and it's the best, even you say "my country is great but not the best" why do you think your country is great? why are you so arogant?
682283
I for one don't have any idea what you are talking about. I make a decent living, far better than I could in most countries, and I am not being massacred. I don't care if other countries see us as a laughing stock.. If that is so why the insane immigration rate? \nThe saddest thing of all is that you feel the need to air laundry to people of other nations. That is just golden. That is one of those Rights that you are using that the government we voted into office is protecting. If you don't like it here GET OUT.\nAnd just for the record Hitler was kicking Europe's ass and we saved it. We have never lost a war. don't think it is going to happen any time soon. so whenever the wake up call comes, like it did 9-11, pearl harbor, we will retaliate, if we have leadership that isn't afraid to maintain itself. I love my country.
577571
The economy in this country is already horrible. It's going to keep getting worse. The politicians don't care because they will keep benefitting from the situation while more Americans plummit into poverty. There will be millions more homeless people and those who are wealthy will continue to say it's the poor's fault, spouting the usual lies.\n\nIllegals draw welfare by stealing people's social security numbers and identities. That means there are a lot of people being directly hurt by these people as well. Innocent people are having their credit ratings ruined, having IRS problems, and social security problems. If someone who has had their social security number stolen gets married, if either spouse dies or become disabled then they can be denied their benefits.\n\nMy family moved to the US before WWII. Those of my family that didn't make it over got killed by the death camps. Our family assimilated to the American culture. We didn't expect the Americans to change to suit us. The illegal immigrants from Mexico are not civilized like that.\n\nThey not only changed the National Anthem to Spanish, they changed the words. They already burn our flag and hang our flag upside down. They waved the Mexican flag during a lot of their protests. Some schools have stopped hanging the American flag and forbidden students from wearing clothes with any part of the American flag on their clothing all to keep from offending the Mexicans. It's nothing short of an attack of our country, not only by the illegal aliens, but those who seek to appease them.\n\nI am tired of the stereotype that Americans wouldn't do the work that illegals do. Illegals do all kinds of jobs for less than minimum wage which drives the wages down for U.S. citizens. Construction jobs are an example. There are lots of illegals doing construction jobs that Americans used to do because the companies can keep more of the profits if they pay less for the workers. All that does is make companies wealthier and Americans poorer. Illegals are stealing jobs that Americans have done for years.
1024132
I, too, am a sensitive person and an American.  I understand what you are saying.  There are some people in this country who see only the mistakes of our own natioin but not the ATROCITIES of the terrorists.  I can not comprehend how their minds work.  If it is THAT bad here, why don't they move to a country that better suits their beliefs?  I mean this sincerely.  I'm fairly certain that someone will bash me for this last statement.  I am not saying to "go to hell."  I am sincerely asking a simple question.  I choose to stay in my homeland because I love my country. That doesn't mean I agree with everything . That would be unusual to agree with EVERYTHING.  I'm saying that if it is THAT awful for some people, why not choose to be happy and go where you will find peace of mind and contentment?  Here's the deal as I see it....these people take for granted all the freedoms that they have in this country. They take for granted all of the opportunities that are available to them.  They are looking for Eutopia, I can only imagine.  Well brothers and sisters, "this is the last best place on earth" and I for one ain't going nowhere!!!!
1163411
I'm thankful I live in my country. My pride only extends to things that I or my loved ones have accomplished. To feel pride for a country means that you feel that the people of that country are superior to the other people of the world, which is xenophobic and ignorant. I am, however, pleased to benefit from the democratic system our forefathers (whom I would not blame at all for being proud of their work) constructed. And I am proud of myself for participating in this democratic system by voting and by making my voice heard, even when it is in opposition to the current administration.\n\nI am not, however, proud of the actions of the current administration. I am ashamed and embarrased of them. In fact, I consider it my duty and my right to fight for our democratic system and our liberties by opposing anyone who tries to destroy them, even if that is the President himself.\n\nPatriotism isn't about blind obedience. It's about doing what's necessary to make sure your country makes the right choices and goes in the right direction. Those who remain silent in the name of patriotism as their leaders cheat, lie, and swindle not only our own people but the rest of the world should be ashamed, not proud, of their behavior.
96596
China and India are paying their workers a few dollars a day.  These countries are not worth modeling our actions on.  China executes 3500 people a year for crimes as simple as shoplifting.\n\nAmerica is far from Bankrupt.  But we did take a HUGE hit when the dot com busted up the stock market a few years ago.  America not only lost several millions of tax revenue, but had to give millions more in tax rebates to individuals who lost investments.\n\nI think it is extreamly hypocritical to complain about American foreign policy while enjoying the rewards that policy provides.  Do you use oil?  Do you buy shoes, clothes, and other products made overseas?  Do you want your country that has been formed by millions of immigrants to stand idle when horrible things are taking place in their former countries?  Why do so many people complain about 2500 soldier deaths within the last 5 years when in that same time period more than a half million Americans have been murdered, died in alcohol related accidents, and lung cancer, just to name a few preventable deaths?\n\nMy question is why are Americans ruining their own lives while riding the media bandwagon telling us to blame our leaders.\n\nAmerica will survive and will do it helping (and hurting) many other countries along the way.  We will learn to judge our actions on a larger scale (think centuries instead of years).  And it's going to get a lot worse before it gets better as we stretch and learn.  America is still one of the youngest countries on the planet.
867390
people like me can't get it. 3 kids and a husband that is disabled. i work my butt off for minimum wage. a job they say Americans wont do. but its all good. i survived this long. the govt don't seem to care about their own citizens in any country.
710173
Don't sweat the idiots hon...  NO ONE in this country understands poverty that grave and that kind of desperation is foreign to the people who say such things...\n\nI'd feel bad for this country if anything were ever to happen that we couldn't get ourselves out of... (I'd be on my way to Japan personally)   and being that there are madmen with weapons all over right now...  I'd think rather than yap.  Never know how life is going to go.  If we were ever on the balls of our asses...  I would imagine Mexico would be a country we would go to for help in fighting?  \n\nPeople go nuts when we have gas shortages, can you actually imagine any american (one having known nothing but a lifetime of privlidge and freedom) having to revert back to their more primal human structures? It would be laughable to see how a good golf game works in with having to get dirty and defend your country...\n\n Most americans can't even plant a garden, or filter water or do very much of anything needed to survive in case of a war or an emergency.  We are all interdependent and trust the government exclusively to keep us in our decadence and our luxury.  Therefore we have no right to judge another country that lacks that kind of government support.  It is not the common working Mexican citizens fault that they are oppressed to such an extreme.  We should be happy to help them considering.  \n\n"To whom much is given,  much is required..."  The Bible\n\nWhen people talk, and observe and live closer  to what they only otherwise judge from distances.  Then they come to understand.  We need more social experimentation like the guy that does those 30-days shows and less accusation and blame.  \n\nPersonally...  I woud love to see the rich fall a notch or two.  It would be rather interesting to even things out again like in the crash in the 40's.  Im certain it was the rich that jumped out windows when the market fell...  The poor just sucked in their guts, tightened their belts, adjusted  and hustled... they were used to it.\n\nPeople have got to remember...  Not all citizens ancestors came through legal channels and if the country was so very concerned with border patrol, they would have more policing along the coast of Oregon and California...  There is 1 border officer for the ENTIRE state of Oregon!  \n\nIt is rediculous all around.
649254
it is sad to think they are doing so well because of the Corporations and the Government of ours letting them take jobs knowing they are slave labor. Our Government knows of the cheep labor we are promoting this now. Theses poor people over there need our help but our Gov. is afraid they might get upset who cares. We talk a good story why we went to Iraq to help them from a bad person. \nits like why did we go to Iraq when Iran and Korea and China are way worse.\nWe are giving our land to Mexico and business to China\n\nWe need to start thinking AMERICA FIRST\nWhy don't we help China
706025
I agree! It seems as though things in our government have gotten out of hand. I don't know if it would take a good president or the united states keeping our noses to ourselves. Its like we are trying to fix the world and we can't even fix ourselves. I'm glad that I'm not the only one who thinks our America is in need of dire help. Good job for speaking out.