Are you willing to sacrifice American exceptionalism for more international equality?

Its absolutely possible, just stop helping them. Pull out of NATO, Europe will fail because they can't afford their own viable defense, stop all foreign aid, EVERY PENNY, others will begin to fail on their own. It would save us a lot of money.

 

I think the world would collectively (*)(*)(*)(*) their pants if we did that. They would hate us that much more and call us all kinds of nasty names, but they would finally understand, if only for a brief moment, how much they took for granted when we were selfless enough to offer them our help (which was never good enough for them, no matter what we gave them).

 

We are slowly equaling the playing field through outsourcing. As 3rd and 2nd world economies benefit from the economic activity generated through outsourcing, their wage demands will increase. Just as ours are slowly decreasing through this incubation.

We're feeling economic pain in part because of this engaging countries with far lower standards of living. At some point, these interactions create a rising tide which lifts all boats.

We have to suppress the dictatorial influence and corruption in these 3rd world locations meanwhile, so that the economic activity isn't simply pirated by despots. It is a fact - as it is in China - that as workers are employed, their wages slowly rise; their standards of living slowly increase...

...and they become increasingly difficult to suppress. I believe there will be a freedom revolution at some point in China - and every other repressive regime - as a result.

 

Of course there will be. Tianamen Square was not a joke. Nor is Ai Wei. China's burgeoning middle class will demand more political freedom, and will get it.

The fly in the ointment is Russia. Nominally a democracy, actually - like the US - a plutocracy. But the Russians in the streets seem to be upset about the Putin-led new Stalinism abroad in Russia.

Which may be a good sign.

It is interesting that the forces of reactionism are finding it more difficult to hold onto power in countries across the world. There appear to be inklings among the masses that they are being rightly rogered.

The only question is the lengths the various monied and political aristocracies will have to go to in order to protect their power.

 

I'm not sure that my definition of "American exceptionalism" is the same as the OP. But I reject the premise that American exceptionalism must be sacrificed to achieve more international equality.

 

There is some kind of sythesis happening. The Chinese have found an even cheaper way to keep the masses fed, and lower population growth at the same time.

 

There is nothing left to "sacrifice".

The currency of "American exceptionalism" was spent on lost wars in Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan.

All you have left is a $15 trillion debt that represents everything that is now "exceptional" about America; and the general loathing of most of humanity.

 

What American exceptionalism?

Exceptionally bad economy?
Exceptionally high unemployment?
Exceptionally poor educational outcomes?
Exceptionally fundamentalist in religious matters?

 

I'll take it one step closer that if it was practical that we adopt American Isolationism so we can give people like this the finger and hope their country gets taken over and raped by a tyrannical regime and only laugh at them when they plea for our help. That’ll be new American exceptionalism is that we as Americans stop tolerating this kind of BS and slam the door in their arrogance faces. America is better off without such pig-headed nations anyway.

Also take in account that my vision for American Isolationism is that we put all the socialists on barges to shark infested waters and that’s when you torpedo the barges.

 

We're arrogant? Oh this is rich. It's not Australia and New Zealand saying Australian Exceptionalism or New Zealand Exceptionalism while our country falls down around our ears.

 

Ifwe keep on believing our owr propaganda and swallow in our self-described and highly over rated "exceptionlism," we will only sink further behind. It istime we realize that "the emperor has no clothes" and stop patting ourselves on the back for EVERYTHING, including our failures.

If that message has to come from foreigners, that's really too bad, as it is just an additional indication of how blind we are to our shortcomings as a nation!

"Self-knowledge is the highest form of aggression" (don't remember who said that, sorry!), but it is necessary to face ourselves if we are to take steps to correct what is wrong with our country.

 

I realize all of this. This thread is looking back in hindsight because you're right, progressives already destroyed American exceptionalism.

bad economy - progressives/globalists - NAFTA, GATT, WTO, international banking cartel, Freddie and Fannie

high unemployment - progressives/globalists - all of the above plus ecofascists shutting down factories

Poor education - progressives took over education on the federal level. They also allow scores of non-English-speaking immigrants to illegally enter the country and bog down the educational system.

fundamentalist religion - that's simply leftist mythology. What are Christians doing to others? Helping mostly.

 

I have rarely read such delusional BS. Now, this kind of delusioanl thinking is exactly why we are falling so far behind!

 

So you are trading the fantasy of "exceptionalism" for the reality of "acceptionalism".

It is a significant advance towards mental health.

 

Falling so far behind in what? Collective servitude? No thanks Comrade.

Finally a sane person among this crowd of bleating sheep.

Progressivism, Socialism, Communism...all these left leaning "isms" is part of a MENTAL DISORDER!

 

Your psychiatrist told you that?

 

No, dear. Falling far behind in infrastructre, education, and healthcare, and sliding back in economic growth, in addition to stubornly ignoring progress that so many developped countries are making in terms aof social issues.

 

What interesting comments.
Lets look at them...shall we?

Did they? How? By moving along with the times? That doesn't sound destructive...the rest of the western world has "progressed" even more than the USA. Take my count6ry for instance. Canada is certainly "progressive". Yet we didn't have a big recession...hmmm...

NAFTA was signed into existence by Bush I...
The WTO and GATT...many believe they are simple tools of the Friemanite economists. Ultra-capitalists who would screw anybody for a buck.


I have a feeling that "American Exceptionalism" is nothing more than a whole lot o' hot air. There's nothing terribly "Exceptional" about the USA...except its willingness to perpetuate poverty and kill on a wholesale basis based on lies. And its less than average education system. Oh and the level of greed...

Hey maybe they ARE "Exceptional"...at being destructive.

Don't forget the Wall Street boys playing hari cari with the economy...

Yes and lets not underestimate all those nasty immigrants. How dare they come dirty you nice white Exceptional America...

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/16/us-priest-abuse-idUSTRE71F6X720110216

Yes what exactly ARE Christians doing????

 

The reality of history is that without a hegemon of some sort, either the Greeks, Romans, British, or Americans, international trade and progress is not possible. At best, you'll have regional powers fighting over turf and pirates stealing goods. International commerce between even non-western powers is supported by the UN which would be even more worthless if there were no western powers left to support it.

It's a faulty premise to suggest that everyone else would benefit by the loss of Pax Americana, and in fact I would suggest that the opposite is true even today. When America does not have the power to lead and to be the "capo di tutti capi" or whatever that godfather phrase is, regional conflicts (India/Pakistan, China/Taiwan, Israel/Arab) flare up resulting in less stability for those who live in the post-western world. I won't say that the Western civilization is the best, simply that without somebody as Capo, the amount of unrest in the world increases. Eventually someone else will fill that void, whether it's Asian or Arabian or possibly South American is anyone's guess, but until someone fills the power-vacuum, there's going to be a lot more wars.

 

Imperialism itself is what is dragging us down.

It costs a ridiculous amount of money to maintain the vast network of military infrastructure we have scattered across the world.

 

We are falling behind in those departments largely because of liberal influence over our educational system. It is getting increasingly expensive, and much of the money is used to pad benefits packages and expand bureaucracy, all while the basic 3Rs are being de-emphasized.

And the type of progress you speak of wrt foreign countries needs to be examined in detail in order to comment.

 

Post hoc ergo propter hoc fallacy. You have to establish how "moving along with the times" automatically means progress. Sometimes it simply means change.

 

Yes if that means sacrificing our Open Southern Border,a Womans Right to Choose, Our Sanctuary Cities, our Gay Marrage inroads including Special Rights & Considerations for Minorities &GLBT types, ...

 

OK good point...

The idea that Capitalism requires a set of government regulations in order to manage what the markets and bankers are up to, is generally called "Progressive Thinking" by those on the far right.

That "Progressive Thinking" made it illegal to engage in the type of investments (derivatives) that was a major cause of your comfy little recession.

ALL of these "Progressive" western countries have some sort of government sponsored universal healthcare. This "progressive" thought has lead to a generally healthier populace. How's obesity doing down in the States?

We could also touch on education...taxation...gun control...a w3oman's right to choose, as is maligned just above this post...and a host of other related topics...but I bet you get the point.

Progressive thinking and progressive agendas are generally a good thing...unless your definition of Progress is to elect someone like Bachmann...

 

Obviously, 8 years of George Bush didn't affect education at all!

And the increase in College fees are entirely the responsibility of "liberals!"

What. . do you think that religious teachings and rewriting history such as Texas is trying to do would provide a better education for our children?

Get a life!