Why Do So Many Americans Lack Empathy?

I always will help out a brother vet, being one myself.

Homeless vets are NOT the problem, nor are the poor.

The government has and is the problem. I am still wondering how to take advantage of the ignorant and poor, so far it just costs me money.

 

Great response, Prohobo!

Your remarks are always to the point and well crafted!

JC


By the way, here is why most liberals have a difficult time expressing themselves and often are very dizzy when it comes to organizing their thoughts and thinking clearly!

 

UK, which is imitating your robbers. Your poor are 18th poorest in the world, your rich the richest. Sick, sick, sick. And there's no social mobility either, hasn't been for many years. Aren't you MUGS?

 

You are very incorrect, iJoeTime.

We in America are subject to diversity all the time.

Here is the latest example of our expereinces with diversity.

Hundreds of racist Black youths attack Whites at Wisconsin State Fair

^


[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4F8ob9nlfY&feature=related"]Hundreds of racist Black youths attack Whites at Wisconsin State Fair - YouTube[/ame]

 

Judging from your avatar and your response, you've never been and know nothing about culture in european countries.

 

The poor in this nation are well served, we have food stamps, welfare, social programs, and all kinds of stuff. We spend 100s of millions to accomidate them - who is footing that bill?

Of course we could treat the poor as they are in third world countries, have you been to Africa or any third world countries? I have - they eat garbage on good days.

The rich - well isn't that the American dream. Come to this country, start a business, make money, PAY YOUR TAXES, and live well.

No one hates the poor, the Rich Pay their taxes, the government couldn't manage it's way out of a wet paper bag - or did you forget we are running an annual $1 trillion dollar deficit - with NO BUDGET and now want to tax the RICH MORE?

Please.

I am SURE the RICH would be happy to pay more IF:

1. The government could balance the budget, for crap sake pass a budget even if it is not balanced.

2. Reform the tax code and entitlements - so they are sustainable.

3. Remove the Pork and Ear Marks.

4. Campaign financing reform.

5. Eliminate lobbying, special interest, and unions deals.

Then maybe this nation would have some money and we could ADDRESS the poor with something reasonable that could work.

Right now our programs are run like sh#t, they are broke, bloated, and have failed. We are out of money with NO BUDGET and the government has the balls to ask the RICH to be taxed MORE.

You want the RICH to be more responsible?

FINE - NO PROBLEM - we will PAY MORE when the government becomes accountable and responsible. When it can clean up it's mess of a balance sheet and bother to at least pass something of a budget, even on a paper napkin - then have the balls to ask. Until then the government can go on vacation. Oh wait - that's what they are doing right now.

 

Nationalism totally blinds people and robs them of any sort of empathy they normally have. The fact that there is a national barrier separating the individual in question and those who are being killed, they are desensitized to the massacres, it also helps that the United States is the one doing it.
Hundreds of millions of people live on a few dollars a day and Americans are totally desensitized to it because they aren't in the same nation as they are. So while people are starving people in a nation will not care if they are outside of this group, but at the same time they will be concerned when too many in their nation don't have a job because they are part of the group.
What you are describing is the necessary result of nationalistic alienation.

 

I agree. It's worth mentioning that the USA (and the citizens combined) gives more to starving indigenous people than any other country. But still. We probably just need to revamp our education system. lol

 

Why are the many poor asked the old pamphlet. Answer: because the few are rich, mean-minded, cold-hearted, selfish, greedy (*)(*)(*)(*)ehawks who monopolise all the goodies. Your poor - in the richest country in the world, let me repeat - are eighteenth worse off in the world. What a hole!

 

True, we can't forget that which is actually given. I do hope that the educational system bit is a joke.

 

its because they are sold a bunch of lies then.

look how many americans have been killed in these wars in the last decade.

look how many have come home permanently damaged.

look how many american families have suffered because of these mindless wars.


going to war does not protect american people at all, and anyone who thinks it does is clueless.

It costs american lives - and far more lives - often civilians - in the victim nation, and generally makes americans hated.

which does not make you safer.

oh.

and wars also cost a lot of money.

the english had to introduce new taxes because of the war with America two hundred odd years ago.

if you want to have wars, you have to increase your taxes.

as to lacking empathy .... it is easiest when you are sufficiently distant emotionally from the victims for it not to matter.

this can be achieved especially by demonising the people your government plans to invade.

so ... if all Muslims are OBL sympathisers, its easy to justify carpet bombing them.

 

Perhaps you don't want to admit, by the vet in my story was a fine example. Since he was ignorant enough to go into service and as poor to be begging in the streets. The usury happen when he was in the service. Obviously, if the guy wasn't fighting in Iraq, or some other half ass country than the wealthy that have interest wouldn't have been able to hold the contracts and make the profit.

In the end result, he made some people a few billion richer while him his self lay in drab.

 

So does that make it any more acceptable?

The Holocaust happened 60-70 years. Does time make this occurence any more acceptable?

 

I'd like some evidence for that. What proportion of your national income are we talking about, and how much of it goes to finance the murderous occupation of Palestine?

 

And what is the problem?

 

No, considering we have been talking about Afghanistan and Iraq, I thought you would be on the same page.

 

I'll just go ahead and compare the US to the other major super powers. Yup. We're the most generous...by a long shot. Next.

 

Assertion. From what I hear you are per head the meanest outside Italy. If what you say is true, I expect you have evidence. Give it, please.

 

Meanest? What does that even mean? What a horribly subjective basis for a poll.

 

One simple answer (not the whole answer): Because there are MANY Americans (though more after 9-11) who have not experienced the fear, horror, pain and loss of battle. There are a LOT of ignorant and stupid people who think war or mortal battle isn't absolutely horrible.

They need to stare into history and this present day, to work HARD and see what I'm saying. Anyone can die in war... one's brother, sister, mother, father, soul-mate and children. Some people are naive, ignorant or STUPID enough... to think/imagine that WAR will not touch them profoundly in many possible ways. They don't THINK about it; they ignore the reality of the blood flowing, the guts being blown-about the limbs removed, eyesight lost, and brains damaged/destroyed. They THINK war is a choice better than peace, and they are absolutely wrong.

They don't... (really) 'think'.

I am with you. The "Golden Rule", simple to recite... tough to put into practice (for some).

I've been in the military for the last 3 decades of my adult life. I know what we train to do, and I CAN and will do it, if I'm called to. What I hate hearing/seeing is civilians PUSHING for war, angrily, blindly and ignorantly; that is DISCOURAGING to 'fighting' men like me. We want to see our fellow Americans promoting what is BEST for all... not 'war'.

But what you encourage about empathy is good. Never stop putting the BALANCE out there. War is horrible and better avoided. A lot more GOOD can come of diplomacy that from war; war/violence is typically a desperate solution to problems that could have been resolved in other ways.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

 

You have google too, you know.

http://newsburglar.com/2008/06/03/international-philanthropy-united-states/

http://www.oecd.org/document/11/0,3746,en_2649_34447_44981579_1_1_1_1,00.html

France, Germany and the UK still keep it legit though.

 

The US is the largest and richest country. I ask again, how much per head? What proportion of GDP?

 

Ok fine we're not the most generous we just give the most...

 

do you have evidence of the differences spent in Africa?

I am just curious, because China is investing heavily in Africa at present (not arguing that this is a good thing).

After the end of the cold war when USSR could no longer afford to invst in Africa (aid is usually a form of investment, often propping up supportive regimes), the US dropped the ball and international financial instruments (largely US based) began to force governments to focus expenditure away from capacity building enterprises, such as health, education and infrastructure.

As a result, US aid largely went to paying back debts to US based organisations

China invests more directly in infrastructure and educational programmes. The flow on of course will be allies and market ties in the future.