America: Most Self-Loathing Nation on Earth

[Ripley]

If self-loathing is a case of extremely low self-esteem, perhaps the USA has no other way to behave (as a collective whole). Think about it. Who the Hell wants to admit THEIR elected government (well sorta) approves of Torture, War Crimes, Illegal Wars, Allowing New Orleans to Drown, Cuts for the Poor and Needy, Corporate Welfare, ad nauseum???

People like to talk about the dumb poor folks who vote against their own self interest, but HELL. A Majority of Americans either are voting against their own self-interest or aren’t voting AT ALL. If one is to examine the amount of World Hatred or at the very least a dislike and distrust of Americans (including long time allies and friendly neighbors) that has occurred since Smirk was installed – WHO would be happy with that news? EVEN if most Americans never step foot out of their own State (or County), the Conventional Wisdom we hear is that “They hate us for our Freedom” or “They’re coming here in droves cause we’re number one” or “They envy our Economy, Democracy, (fill in the blank).”

So, it would appear that huge numbers of Americans suffer from more than one mental affliction. Cognitive Dissonance first. Self-loathing, masquerading as Macho/Youth/Sex Appeal/Hyper-Competitiveness follows.

The Pornification of the USA is almost to total saturation level. The Story of the week (that I cannot bring myself to name) is the latest in the long line of never-ending revelations about the True Nature of how sick this nation is. It is not enough to blame it all on the Repukes, the DLC or the MSM or the CfreakingIA or Corporate Greed or Clever Propaganda. Americans buy it. Participate in it. Wear it. Roll around and revel in it. They EAT SHIT for Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and Midnight Snacks. And they ENJOY it.

As the Fantasy Land of Fake Reality TV and the Glamour of Autopsy’s and Tit and Dick Envy has seeped into the consciousness of America, so has the ability to simply Detach.

Pity.

[Warpy]

1. The richest nation on the planet does the least for its people

What did you expect, gratitude?

[Ripley]

3. The irony of what Sells.

Gladiator.
That Rome show on HBO.
People eating bugs on TV for money.

Pogo was a great Philosopher.

[QuestionAll...]

2. and where else can 'motherfucker' be a joke

and bring in cash for the corporate machine.

even for the somewhat learned.

[sgxnk]

4. the self interest meme

this is an interesting oft-repeated thing here (and some other blogs and sites)

"voting against their self-interests"

the implication is that people should be voting FOR their SELF interests.

that is selfish, and antithetical to democracy imo.

i certainly don't vote in my SELF interest. i vote for candidates that i feel will best incorporate my philosophies and understanding of the nature of man, his govt, the rule of law, etc.

and in some, if not many cases, those intersect

this holds with policies too.

for example. i would never vote for a law (initiative) that bans smoking in private businesses. such a law WOULD be in MY self interest, since i detest cigarette smoke with every fiber of my being, and i could now go to clubs, restaurants, etc. and never have to smell cigarette smoke, get it on my clothes, etc.

but i would vote against MY self interest because it is more important to me that govt. respect the right of a private business to make that decision (to be smoke free or not), and not impose what is in MY best interest on others.

this "self interest" meme goes along with the belief that the reason that people vote differently from one (especially if one is a progressive) is because they don't UNDERSTAND *or* they have nefarious intent.

when in fact, in many cases, people simply have different visions and parse the SAME information differently

but the self interest meme is the most absurd to me, because it implies that people SHOULD vote in THEIR self interest.

[Ripley]

7. WOW. One month and 1172 posts. You are BUSY!

What is usually meant by "self-interest" is about money. When dirt poor people in the sticks of Alabama vote R because their church told them D's are for GAYS or whatever, they ignore the facts. The Facts like the R's own all the land and businesses. The R's send their kids to private schools. The R's don't give two shits about the availability of affordable health care in their community. The R's don't care if their water STINKS AND IS POISONOUS.

[sgxnk]

10. this explains it somehwat

, the economics aspectbut i still disagree with the underlying premise. apart from that, the idea that R's "own all the land and businesses" is absurd, too, imo. repubs are the only rich ones in Alabama? lots of rich dems in the south. whether talking congress or plain citizens, there are tons of businesses and land owned by dems (and independants). heck, in congress, there is at least as much wealth in the dems as the repubs, and the idea that it is the rich republicans (and not rich dems too) is silly and supported by evidence imo

of course i disagree with repubs policies on the environment (in many respects) but dems have also been quite often neither understanding of, nor respectful of hunting rights/gun rights, etc. which is NOT in their self interest.

again, i see this self interest thing as silly, even if it was true.
but that did help to clarify yer point about the economics aspect

[snappyturtle]

5. Does anyone else feel...........

embarassed to be or admit that they're American? It's as if all the good this country has had in the past is now, in six years, been destroyed. I'm well aware of the facts of the "bad" things we have done in the past but it's like the repukes are double teaming everything and matters are geometrically worse than ever. How long will the world put up with us?

[Ripley]

12. Yes. Many.

Especially if You travel outside the country. When I was in Montreal in July 05, the cab driver from the airport bitched more truth about Rumsfeld than 99% of the people I know have a clue about. I was embarassed, but spoke up quickly to let him know I agreed with every single word and UNDERSTOOD the actions of Pissy Pants and disagreed with all he is doing.

Can You really blame other countries for hating us? We don't rebel. 04 and 06 happened. No landslide to get the scourge out of town. Just self-absorbed assholes worried more about their Sex Appeal than about the death of their Constitution.

*Sigh*

[Raydawg1234]

6. we will continue to be so until the comfort-bubble bursts. When the

majority of Americans feel REAL HARDSHIP. Which Americans no nothing of. We are so pathetically spoiled.

[nam78_two]

8. yupt/n

[Quantess]

9. America has battered spouse syndrome. (no text)

[Forrest Greene]

11. Is There Something

...wrong with detachment?

[patrice]

13. We are the Hollow men.

We are the stuffed men.
Leaning together
Headpiece filled with straw.

Alas, our dried voices
When we whisper together
Are quiet and meaningless
As wind in dried grass
Or rat's feet over broken glass
In our dry cellar.

Shape without form
Shade without color
Paralyzed force
Gesture without motion. . . .

T.S. Eliot could see us coming.

We are what we are because of how we live.

[Odin2005]

14. I lost faith in "the people" in 2004.

Somedays I wonder if the world would be better if we lived under an oligarchy of philosphers and scientists. I feel like Plato after he watched his teacher Socrates be sentenced to death by an ignorant, superstitious mob hell bent on purging all freethinkers because the Athenian people blamed the freethinkers for "angering the gods" thus causing them to lose to Sparta. The term "Democracy" itself has become a farce used to fool people; we have never even been a democracy, we are and always have been a Plutocracy.

[Ripley]

15. Agreement about the Plutocracy.

The money has killed whatever Democracy there was. Most people are unaware of the REAL threat. You are on Your own, Americans.

Probably not allowed here, but hey! The Natural Law Party exists. Thought You might be interested.

[Odin2005]

23. Natural Law party? Those guys are mystical kooks.

[Truthiness Inspector]

16. Interesting post

but I take offense when people in other imperfect countries feel free to judge us, but somehow it isn't cool if we return the favor.

We give billions of dollars in aid to countries all across the globe. We are not perfect, but neither are they. We've made countless mistakes, but so has everyone else.

I travel a lot, internationally, and nothing turns me off more than seeing a fellow American lap up the chance to join in a bashing of our country while letting the basher off the hook. We've all got scars and associations, all of us, whether is through direct actions or inaction.

If there is a perfect country, I'd like to know about it because I haven't found one yet!

[Ripley]

17. So. You. Say.

What kind of "aid" do we give Canada? So I can know how to respond to those "not perfect either" people?

Head in Sand.

[Truthiness Inspector]

18. Umm...

I said countries across the globe, I didn't mention Canada in terms of aid money given. Maybe we do, maybe we don't; I do not know.

If Canada is without any flaws, I'd be surprised however. And if they are, they are amongst a very, very few on this planet. That was my point.

On edit: Canada just elected wingnut Harper.

[Ripley]

19. What is Your Point?

That every country does bad things?

Therefore MY TEAM, USA, should be given not only a "pass" but diRECT control over other countries/nations/peoples Resources cause..

I said so.

[Truthiness Inspector]

20. I've already stated my point

I said nothing about giving passes, because I don't believe in that.

[Ripley]

21. My experience is Mine.

Yours is:

I travel a lot, internationally, and nothing turns me off more than seeing a fellow American lap up the chance to join in a bashing of our country while letting the basher off the hook. We've all got scars and associations, all of us, whether is through direct actions or inaction.

Wow that is some hardcore attack upon an "American" in a foreign country.

Just yer evereryday woman.

[Truthiness Inspector]

22. Not interested in fighting

We clearly disagree, it's a big world.

Your post was thought-provoking, though, so for that I thank you. :)