Although the argument has been made that what is wrong with America is the government, not the people, the fact is that many of the laws in place today in the United States were laws that the people blindly asked for or accepted because it benefited them at the time in some way.

With that said, it is appalling that so many Americans truly believe they are better than people in other countries. In their need to feel good about themselves, they ignore the fact that the media and the government lie every single day. That it is American who has harmed so many countries in the world...and now, they harm their own citizens with toxic vaccines, pollution, etc...

I am "American", although not by choice...I was born in a "colony", ie. what the Americans call a commonwealth. When I complain about things in the United States, I am told to "go back to my country". Honestly, I have no problem with that. I lived there until last year and have no problem returning...the problem is, that I will be happy to go back the day that the Americans who are taking advantage of the citizens of MY country are also told to get out! You see, I can go to my country where the US has done atrocities, and suffer even more...not because of the locals, but because of the US involvement...or I can come the the US and take advantage of anything I can squeeze out of them...and sadly, that is all I can do for now.

There is hardly freedom of anything in this country, and yet Americans believe they are above all others...and that all other countries do not have the liberties that they have here. Fact is where I used to live, you could speak your mind about any politician, even at work and you weren't fired for it...In the US, everyone has to watch what they say worried that they could lose their jobs for their so-called "freedom of speech".

The US WILL go down...not because of foreigners, but because of all the Americans who only think of themselves and have allowed the government to take control over people's lives...

I am entitled to "hating" America and stating it: this is the site for it.

I have noticed that when I don't write, no-one does either... Your little sonnets don't really inspire anybody to write anything. I draw the conclusion that people like you cannot have any discussion without shooting from the hip. If everybody agrees it is not a discussion. This site is called "Love Us . Hate Us". Not : "everybody is beautiful and they are all very happy". And you know what? YOU ARE NOT EVER GOING TO TELL ME WHAT TO SAY.

I have never been rude, but YOU are.
EJ  ..more by this author.. (1 votes)

Far be it for anyone to ever be able to say that you ever allowed the "facts" to get in the way of your well-laid and stubborn opinions, huh? (Are you SURE you're not a Republican?)

Oh well. Fine. That's your prerogative, but I don't understand how surveys and statistics and offical records are any less valid than your anecdotal approach to what is "truth" about the selfishness, rudeness, etc. about Americans. It seems that like the country you say "can't take criticism," it is instead YOU who have proven to not be able to take criticism.

Americans take criticism every day all day, and we will until China finally rises and can become the world's whipping boy. (Earthquake in Iran! Blame America! Tsunami?! Blame America!)

All we ask is that your criticism be INFORMED criticism, or no, we will NOT be able to take it. Ignorant negative opinions are not to be taken seriously, just as ignorant POSITIVE assumptions about America are not to be taken seriously.

America is the largest "Western" nation... comparable in size to ALL of Europe and not just a small portion thereof. We are going to have challenges that nations in Europe with 5 or 10 million people are simply not going to have. Greater challenges, ESPECIALLY given our multiculturality. You want to compare Finland to America in discussing this, that, or the other cultural differences? Make yourself feel better by pointing out this or that about the Netherlands over the US? Fine. But realize that's about as useful and interesting as comparing Wyoming to California. I think we can all agree that the experience of living in New York City is vastly different than small town Ohio, no? Same rules apply on an international scale. Also realize that you are treading on one-dimensional thinking again, such as pointing out infant mortality rates without bothering to do some research as to possible reasons. For example, in an article explaining why Cuba has better infant mortality rates, the following provides insight I'm sure you didn't bother researching: "The result is that the statistics make it appear as if Cuba's infant mortality rate is significantly better than the United States', but in fact what is really being measured in this difference is that the United States takes far more serious (and expensive) interventions among extremely low birth weight and extremely premature infants than Cuba (or much of the rest of the world for that matter) does." http://www.overpopulation.com/articles/2002/000019.html

It's a shame your criticism is thus dilluted by an apparent lack of curiosity to "delve deeper." I hope this site becomes a proper forum someday, because I'd relish good debate on this or any subjects. I am willing to concede where I believe criticism is appropriate - such as lack of universal healthcare - but far be it from me to allow ANYBODY criticize me indirectly (as a "typical" American) or my country without being able to back up their words.
Brian  ..more by this author.. (1 votes)

M. Glade is very perceptive. Having visited lots of countries and talked to people there, he has a real "feeling" of what is really going on. He is right about the news we get. And I like his choice of words : brag and no shame.
EJ  ..more by this author.. (1 votes)

America is beautiful (not your fault...). Yes, you have the biggest army and nuclear bombs. You do not adhere to treaties (Kyoto Protocol- yes you are responsible in great part for global warming) or you criticize the Geneva Convention when it suits you. You ban torture when it suits you. You do not have Universal Healthcare. You are no. 13 in the World for longevity with a 5 year gap from the leader, and even behind Greece. You are among the top of the Western World for infant mortality. You have the highest imprisonned population of the Western World and you have the Death Penalty - the only western country to do so.

In Europe people are charitable too and it does not get deducted from their taxes. And furthermore, their taxes pay for lots of services that here have to fall back on churches.

In Europe people walk and have cars with good mileage. Their healthcare is very good and yet they spend far less to contribute than the US, half actually than the US. God bless the World.

As for one dimentional thinking, there is always a "reason" to why someone would not like America: it has to be jealousy, it can be envy, one dimensional thinking, stupidity, ignorance etc. It is never that others have the standing-back observation of what America was supposed to be like versus what it has become, but that others are idiots.

As for kids in this country, I have met quite a few expats, from different continents, who lament the way their own kids pick-up the bad ways of the American kids. Hey, just in my street, a couple, foreign born - not Europeans - (He PhD, she a dentist) who just moved in with 2 small children were telling me they were sorry to have moved here in this street. You know why ? Because there are some 40 kids in our street and they are so bad mannered that this couple is worried for their own. And I am not making this up. And my neighbors like me by the way.

American lifestyle and priorities, and statistics? These are what a few people answer to weighted questions. I find a lifetime of observations and mingling with lots of people from all over to be much more valuable, as well as lots of information. And I have a voracious curiosity and have always dug deep. I "feel" people more than I count their hair! I listen a lot and if you knew me, the last thing you'd think is that I am one-dimentional. Hahaha.
EJ  ..more by this author.. (1 votes)

I still believe this American man quoted in the British newspaper from my last entry. He really put it in a nutshell. I could not have done it better myself.

Also, isn't it ironic that one year after Katrina, nothing has been done to reconstruct New Orleans, yet if we had people organized like Hezbollah, rather than FEMA, New Orleanians would have homes to go back to by now. That bit of news really had me chuckling! Americans can't think straight. They talk, talk ad infinitum, and nothing ever gets done.

And yes, schools and universities in Europe and other countries prepare people by educating them well. Think of India's best of the best Technological Institute, which American corporations fight for. These countries' taxes have paid for these students' education and then they get recruited by these American corporations with "fantastic" pay, by comparison to salaries overthere. That is not right.

There are places where people still have a sense of ethic. Where it is not might makes right. And where people are better educated than here. Not just Europe. And where kids are still polite, and nice, and respectful and not brain-dead already...
EJ  ..more by this author.. (1 votes)

Perfect? No nation is perfect. Any other country allow so much dissent? Even hate speech? Which country can print satirical religious cartoons? Which country has given more charity and relief effor than all other nations combined? Which country started, supported and hosted the United Nations, yet is constantly derided as not doing or giving enough? What country supports other states in self determination through popular elections.

When it comes to exporting democracy, it was actually Rome and France that brought the world the representative form of government. Which country is 'the enemy' until a natural disaster occurs? Correct, Ginovia....
Frank Benjamin  ..more by this author.. (1 votes)

American farm corporations do make food a business where they will store food in order to get the prices they want. This is a human crime. It must be punished. BUT European and American interests in their farmers' plight have protective barriers. Moreover, this crime happens in Africa and South America. People in Africa do this crime to the people that are already suffering. Somalia is a prime example. US and UN forces had to go in there to intervene because people were starving due to their own leaders greed for power.

I'm sorry, I don't buy this anti-Americanism. The people of America give more than the rest of the world. Ever hear of Christian Children's Fund? I contribute, I believe that specific groups can make the world a better place.

However, a country that bullies its people. A country where you ridicule your president lands you in prison or in front a shooting squad...no thanks. In Africa or South America, families rule the country. You know this, and then they blame the US.

Funny how Chavez despises the US, but has he cut fuel supplies to the US? If the US was my enemy, I would cut off everything going into its economic empire. Yet has he done that? He can't, he's a populist. He saw what happened to Juan Peron, he needs the money to continue his policies.

As an American, I know the fault of this country. It is money. We fought because we didn't get proper representation for taxes that were made to curtail colonial expansion past the Appalachian mountains. The British Crown did not want to spend more money after its debts were too high after the French and Indian War or Seven Years War.

Moreover, Africa suffers the most in the Congo. That was Belgium's colony. North Eastern and Western Africa was controlled and dominated by the British up until the 1960s. And guess who pushed for them to let go of colonies? Money and the US. Money was the overall issue since GB went broke after the First World War.

So who really is at fault? Should the US be the world's keeper? Or should it survive first and foremost, then out of her good intentions, when it suits her, help others? You can't save others if you can't save yourself.

That is why I argue for American isolationism. Have fun with the new emerging empire, CHINA. Good Luck, and I hope I won't have to hear how, when America does decline in power to China, how everyone whishes for her return.
Johnny  ..more by this author.. (1 votes)