[Mr 5 0]

Originally posted by Mach 1

America is not the envy of the world. Im tired of all the propaganda that makes people believe this.

I disagree. I'm tired of Americans who have the benefit of being born in the freest nation on earth with the greatest opportunities available go around whining and complaining about that nation. Yes, it's their constitutional right to do so but it simply shows how ungrateful and self-ceneterd some Amnericans are. I find it ironic that so many immigrants truly appreciate our country and it's benefits while native-born Americans can't stop finding faults to whine about and then compare America to socialist hellholes and dictatorships as if they were an improvement. The disconnect from reality is staggering.

This country has a very wasteful and corrupt govt, along with many other problems. I wish there was an easy answer to every problem, but theres not.

Its obvious the anti-american feelings around the world are growing and I dont see an end.

The U.S. government (congress) may be corrupt and wasteful but not to the extent that the United States citizens are deprived or oppressed. The U.S. has the highest standard of living in the world, bar none. That is no small accomplishment and is clearly a part of the 'resentment' you assume the U.S. generates from other nations - most of them either mired in ruineous socialist economies or ruled by dictators who live in splendor while their people eat dirt...then the dictators blame America for their people's poverty.

I have visited many countries and have talked to many people and didnt find any of them to envy america. In fact a lot of canadiens were turned off by the fact I was american and wouldnt even talk to me. I have been all over europe and parts of the middle east and didnt notice any american envy, not from the common people anyway.

You can find America-haters and America-lovers anywhere. Europe, especially, has both and many of the 'America-haters' have never set foot on American soil and depend on a anti-American media for their views of our nation. Their anti-Americanism is to be expected. Canada has also become mired in socialist politics and has a large hate-American contingent that control a good portion of the CBC and the print media. Hating America has become a political sport that will fade as terrorism overtakes even the socialist countries that now assume they are exempt from trouble from the Islamofascists. See: France and Russia.

I see govt. assisted healthcare and free education in many european countries, why not here? They have a good standard of living. More people in apartments, but they are nice places. The construction quality of the new houses in this country is a freaking joke. They slap em together in 2 weeks with no pride.

You also see people who pay obscene taxes and many don't bother to work at all because it's easier to be on 'the dole' and live a bit cheaper but not have to work. Socialist economies permit this but the unemployment rate is 2 and 3 times ours and the standard of living is below ours...far below in most cases. In America, 70% of the adults own their own homes. Probably twice the rate as in europe, at least.

U.S. Construction quality may sometimes be spotty and depends on many factors, including the contractor and the diligence of the person paying for the job. Still, modern methods of construction, including some pre-fabrication, has made putting up a house much easier and faster, especially in a 'development' where the building plans don't vary much. Your complaints are somewhat invalid on this point.

Bottom line, america has a lot of resources in the tax money that could be put to better use. How can we make that happen when the govt. is corrupt, and even if someone goes into politics with good intentions, they will turn corrupt. Its a hard temtation to resist when its in front of you and easy to get away with. You cant change the system, so you fall into place , just like the rest who got theirs...

Why cant we cut back on the congressmans insane healthcare and retirement plans? How can we get the power to stop them? You cant expect any congressman to cut his own perks, right?

It's very difficult to rein in a corrupt congress, as I stipulated in an earlier post. Stop voting for the same person every two or six years and not allow some politicians a lifetime job in congress because they happen to be a memeber of the party that supposedly dominates your town or state. We still have a democracy where we can all vote. Sadly, only about 50% of the eligible voters do so in any given election, allowing politicians to stay in office forever by counting on your apathy. So far, it's worked for them, hasn't it? Vote for a politician who runs against the long-term incumbent (he or she has had their chance) and swears to only serve three terms (two, if a senator). Hold them to it when the alloted time is up and stop voting for the politician who promises the most out of the federal budget 'pie'. We have serious issues to deal with today and 'bringing home the bacon' for a specific congressional district shouldn't be the foremost qualification for a politician but, unfortunately, too many citizens have made it just that.

Lifes not fair, not here and probably not anywhere.

Perhaps, but it's a lot freer and more comfortable in the U.S.A. than anywhere else on earth. I'll take it, any day.