Hasn't this type of thinking always been bad for America?
919693
You little kids need to study history.\nCommunisms's goal WAS to take over the whole world.\n"let Russia have their chosen government in peace", is so funny.   Is that a joke??\nStudy history.   Learn a little.
1095154
You can't be! That's like being a Catholic Jew...you either believe something or you don't.  There is no gray area.  I think that is America's problem...they vote for the "perks" of whatever it is that is being promised by the two parties (tax cuts, better employment opps, etc.), but not because of the moral beliefs of either party.  And we wonder, when we take God out of the equation, why America seems to get worse as the decades go on...
1099539
NO! i do believe that for average americans it gets harder and harder to find justice. and, the government claims no harm! right?\ni'm sure there will be more political statements made, but just as an everyday civy...i don't see where they care
870986
Of course it is, its not as bad as other countries though. Even the ones that are smaller then us, but crime in America is getting ridiculuously high. Most of the tax money is spent towards better education, which helps in no way to ensure a better future. The criminals are going to get to you faster then stupidity will. And thanks to Bush's No Child Left Behind Act, most American children just got their standards lowered. Making them favor hate, racism, prejudice and all those harmful ... things...
479820
Actually, I think this is actually hurting America. Political Correctness began with the best of intentions (as all things do), an effort to spare people's feelings because we all take everything the wrong way.\n\nThe problem is that we tend to talk around our problems rather than address them. By using differently abling words between people, we are pretending that the underlying problems have been solved when in fact they are just being allowed to sit and simmer. Then, when the problem actually does explode, everyone will be surprised because they thought everything should be okay. This will make things worse because the average population will think the people complaining are without justification.
169267
I assume you are speaking of the United States when you say "America".  If so, my answer is NO.  The U.S. has always been a capitalist government.  Since it has been capitalist from the beginning, the ethics and morals of capitalism have always been present.  The ethics and morals of capitalism are what shaped the country in the first place so they cannot be viewed as an outside force.  What has corrupted the country is the movement away from being a Christian society.  Capitalism MUST be balanced by a concern for the well being of others.  The capitalism of today is the same capitalism practiced by our forefathers, but many of today's capitalist lack any moral compass.  They are driven only by a selfish desire for profit for themselves.  They are not even concerned for their own company, just what they can take out of it.  That my friend is NOT Capitalism, that is GREED.  Many people confuse the two, but they are NOT the same.  Capitalism is a grand dream of building, greed is a sick desire to tear down for one's own gain.  Children are not taught morals or ethics in our public schools anymore.  They have been outlawed from the classroom.  The result is a generation that worships greed.  Look at the lessons taught by the top television programs like The Apprentice and Survivor.  Lie, cheat, steal and win.  Win at all cost.  Betray your friends, make false alliances, be sneaky and get the gold.  That philosophy is greed and it destroys all who buy into it.  In the final analysis what is corrupting our country is that we have elevated self gratification above all other concerns.
156388
I'm American and live in Italy - have for many years.  Americans think often that they are the best, but they don't see beyond the easy life many have there, the shopping, the everyday things.  In Europe we see life as being a part of the world - when things don't go well in other countries, it becomes our problem.  Even if things in America are going wrong, it affects us.  Unfortunately Americans are not as free as they think - they are not told many truths, and they think that they are being told the truth.  Don't want to sound like I am 100% right, but I feel that living in Europe, possibly Italy where I am, is not a worse life because of less money, but a better total life - with a deeper concern for what happens all over the world. At least our news is more honest, and people seem to know what is going on, and worrying more about it.  It makes life a little more realistic, and not just fun and games, which seems pretty common in the States (like I said, don't want to generalize - it's my feeling).
332156
I think for a lot of people, sadly it does. Its the whole your with us or your against us type of thinking. Part of patriotism is standing up for what you dont think is right in your country, but that has been really downplayed lately in favor of a more blind patriotism. Im not saying that liking the leadership is necesarily bad (i may not agree, but i certainly dont know all the answers), but many people seem to think its the only way. Sadly the line of thinking that is being promoted though does make patriotism a negative thing which it really does not have to be.
688953
No its your brain. Its the belief systems that create the divisiveness. Americans have always taken sides based on what they believe. Their party affiliation is a result of those beliefs not the other way around.
693566
The problem here is people can't think outside of the box. Americans just love to segregate, and pretend we're the cream of the crop. People forget we're all in this world together, no country is better than another country, we're just all people populating the world.
1079719
Yes and no. Yes because either criticism or slamming U.S. foreign policy is seen as a one way ticket to sitting with the radical left. No, Americans tend to overcome their sensitivity with humor or do not care much for different point of views. It seems everyone tends to walk on eggshells now a days.
1176899
We Americans have always been a pragmatic people.  it's part of our nature, and it is no accident that Benjamin Franklin is often considered the prototype of the typical American.   Our Constitiution was set up with pragmatism in mind:  the entire system of checks and balances was based on the understanding and expectation that people who were in office would not always be noble and good.  By letting each branch of government put limits on the excesses of the others, the framers allowed us to find a way past the dangers of those who would abuse their powers.\n\nSearching for Truth (especially with the capital T, as you wrote it) has always been considered to be pretty much pie-in-the-sky stuff.  And it is to our credit as a people, I think, that we have historically believed that we are better off in what is called the "marketplace of ideas."  In other words, everyone gets his or her own say.  We allow all kinds of viewpoints, no matter how nutty they may sound, especially at first, and ultimately the best, most sensible ideas are the ones that prevail.  That's why we have multiple political parties, and it is why we have free speech and a free press.  \n\n"Behold the mighty oak  It was once just a little nut, but it held its ground."
1069044
Yes, because Americans have a short memory.  When something like that first happens, it's fresh in peoples minds so they feel compelled to do something about it.  But as times passes, people have their own problems to deal with so that leaves very little room for other problems.  Plus, people assume that the government is doing something about it and alot of people think they are only one person, how could they help.
13591
Most Americans have great respect for everyone who is rational, productive, and self-sufficient. This also means anyone who does you harm should be served justice in the interest of protecting free principles.\n\nThe problem is that everyone BUT Americans seem to eat up whatever the media says, or they lack the education to realize that Americans are like any other human being. We live for our happiness and productive achievement, and we highly value our liberty and security.\n\nAny actions we take are a result of that love for freedom and that moral pursuit. We do not tolerate socialism, facism, or totalitarianism, but rather open and mutually beneficial relationships and trade.
835509
I agree with the concept, yes. I've seen way too many times where people make blanket statements, and it's annoying to no end. You'd rather your tax dollars go to unjust wars? To hike government salaries? \n\nThere are plenty of people, women and men alike, on welfare programs that NEED it, that could not exist any other way. Many times it's due to circumstances that are entirely beyond their control, and most often they are ashamed to admit it and can't wait to be independent and self supporting. Gee, I wonder why they're ashamed when the general majority makes them feel like sponges.\n\nThere are others that take advantage of the system, and this is WHY people get jaded and judgemental. However, they tend to forget that this is not the majority, that there are people out there that could not exist without it, and that it's our responsibility to help those less fortunate ... our moral responsibility.
1089470
Being poor and being bad is different. I dont know what others have made you or your country men to believe, but poor or not bad. If someone does something bad then alone they are bad, whether they are rich or poor or whatever... I think whether it is Americans or whomsoever it be, being poor is something very sad if they cant get essential things for life... All Americans can never be bad. I am not American but I certainly would say that it is not to be generalised. Probably there is some gap in people's understanding...I think it exists in most countries.
5450
yes.\n\nThis is actually not a very new thing.  'The West' has been fighting with Islam for over a thousand years.  The only time this ever stopped was when the west was fighting Communism and Facism for 70 years in the 20th century.\n\nThe people that believe that 'all war is bad' are the people that are causing the west to sleep at the wheel on this issue.  All war is NOT bad -- World War 2 was NOT bad, that was a good war.  The Napoleonic wars against France were NOT bad wars.  The US Civil War was EXTREMELY bloody, it was also innevitable and it was by and large a necessary war.