Cant trust em
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
|
Fri May-21-10 02:22 PM
Original message |
When talking with international people about US politics, I always wind up feeling defensive... |
|
Edited on Fri May-21-10 02:23 PM by Cant trust em
even though I usually agree with them. I still wind up feeling like this isn't their business.
I was talking with this British guy last night about how corrupt our political "system" is. I didn't disagree with anything he said, but still pretty annoying.
It's like I can bitch and moan about my sister, but if someone from the outside has anything to add, then it's not going to end up well.
|
Flaneur
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
|
Fri May-21-10 02:23 PM
Response to Original message |
1. You should feel defensive. We're an embarrassment. |
bobbolink
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
|
Fri May-21-10 02:25 PM
Response to Reply #1 |
|
And it hasn't changed. :(
|
mwrguy
(396 posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
|
Fri May-21-10 02:36 PM
Response to Reply #1 |
10. an embarrassment and a threat |
Uzybone
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
|
Fri May-21-10 02:25 PM
Response to Original message |
3. Depends on which international people |
|
Western Europeans can generally look upon our political system with disdain.
Everybody else is by far more corrupt than we are.
|
rockymountaindem
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
|
Fri May-21-10 02:29 PM
Response to Original message |
4. After that giant expense scandal that swept their Parliament? |
|
I would say that the British are not ones to talk about that subject at the moment.
|
Zix
(881 posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
|
Fri May-21-10 02:34 PM
Response to Reply #4 |
8. That was ghastly, but we're not embarassed about it. We're ANGRY about it - AT THEM. |
|
It's not my fault my politicians are hideous liars! And they've been told, now. Hopefully there will be some sort of improvement. David Cameron's cut ministers' salaries, for a start.
There are plenty of things Britain could be embarassed about but I don't think the expenses scandal is one of them.
|
Zix
(881 posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
|
Fri May-21-10 02:31 PM
Response to Original message |
5. Everyone gets defensive when their nation is questioned. I'm Scottish and it makes my blood boil |
|
when people insult my country. Unless it's my countrymen, of course...
I do think it's difficult to compare like with like across national boundaries and if you're in the unfortunate position of being born in a country that actually does have problems it often hurts worst of all to hear it from foreigners.
These days I try to be humourous about it and acknowledge if people are actually right. Nothing wrong with talking up your achievements, though!
|
Cant trust em
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
|
Fri May-21-10 02:33 PM
Response to Reply #5 |
7. You're Scottish?!?!?!? Don't even get me started! |
Zix
(881 posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
|
Fri May-21-10 02:36 PM
Response to Reply #7 |
|
Purrum up, buddy! Them's, uh... kiddin' words...
|
Commie Pinko Dirtbag
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
|
Fri May-21-10 02:46 PM
Response to Reply #5 |
15. Let's experiment. OK, here it goes... |
Zix
(881 posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
|
Fri May-21-10 02:52 PM
Response to Reply #15 |
WeDidIt
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
|
Fri May-21-10 02:32 PM
Response to Original message |
6. The thing is, our poltiics affects them more than their politics affects us |
|
and you actually have a say in our politics whereas they don't. This will put them on point and make them agressive when discussing American politics with Americans. The only way they get any say in our politics is to convince an American of their viewpoint.
That's why you get the defensive feeling because they are always going to be aggressive about US politics.
|
Zix
(881 posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
|
Fri May-21-10 02:38 PM
Response to Reply #6 |
12. Excellent point. If America gets a cold, the rest of the world gets pneumonia. |
|
I'm really wishing the States could get rid of the drug war stuff. I firmly believe the only reason anyone else has hung onto prohibition is because of the American stance. It's very sad for a lot of people in Scotland, lots of lives destroyed.
|
sui generis
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
|
Fri May-21-10 02:35 PM
Response to Original message |
9. one thing you can be sure of |
|
Edited on Fri May-21-10 02:36 PM by sui generis
as a general rule if a European is sharing an opinion with you, it's because they trust you enough to be able to discuss it without judgment. And also because politics makes them feel a little superior, BUT recall we've rubbed "America über Alles" in their faces forever and felt superior about it.
Tit for tat. :P
|
Nye Bevan
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
|
Fri May-21-10 02:42 PM
Response to Original message |
13. Our political system is really not that much more corrupt than theirs |
|
Edited on Fri May-21-10 02:44 PM by Nye Bevan
Google Lord Ashcroft scandal, "cash for questions" and of course the Parliamentary expenses scandal.
The thing that I am terribly embarrassed to discuss with Europeans is of course our health system. Of course since Obama's reform my embarrassment has gone down some, but when people from most European countries get full medical care free of charge they have a right to feel superior in this regard.
|
Codeine
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
|
Fri May-21-10 02:43 PM
Response to Original message |
14. A few hours on the websites of foreign newspapers |
|
will quickly disabuse you of the notion that American politics are uniquely corrupt or compromised. Europeans are canny enough to realize they know way more about our politics than we know about theirs, so they use that as an effective debating tool. Our own fault for being provincial.
|
Sen. Walter Sobchak
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
|
Fri May-21-10 03:09 PM
Response to Original message |
17. It depends on what their bitching about |
|
I tend to get pretty irritable with the people who complain about our "way of life" since I am a SoCal Suburban Douchebag and proud of it but most other issues don't really bother me.
I always laugh when the issue of evolution comes up, since to listen to the European media you would think the creationism museum in Kentucky is as popular as Disneyland.
|
Zix
(881 posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
|
Fri May-21-10 04:11 PM
Response to Reply #17 |
19. "they're", darling, not "their". |
NNN0LHI
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
|
Fri May-21-10 03:12 PM
Response to Original message |
18. Like Otis the town drunk. He may be a drunk but he is our drunk |
|
So don't be fucking with him.
Don
|
DU
AdBot (1000+ posts) |
Fri May 03rd 2024, 04:54 AM
Response to Original message |