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geekhack Community => Off Topic => Topic started by: microsoft windows on Thu, 07 November 2013, 07:56:35

Title: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: microsoft windows on Thu, 07 November 2013, 07:56:35
GOD BLESS THE USA!
(http://www.mrconservative.com/files/2013/08/American-flag.jpg)
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: tp4tissue on Thu, 07 November 2013, 08:00:07
Objectively.. YES

Just remember, patriotism is very dangerous and harmful in the long run..
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: Computer-Lab in Basement on Thu, 07 November 2013, 08:16:17
As much as I would like to agree, I just can't say it.

Unless by "best" you mean "highest" and you're referring to the amount of national debt...

Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: SpAmRaY on Thu, 07 November 2013, 08:18:56
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: tp4tissue on Thu, 07 November 2013, 08:22:27
(Attachment Link)

It's good that we have the ability to be casual..

But.. I believe this in need of correction.. WW is very serious.. and there are no winners..

 A world war is an accelerated consumption of resources "which hopefully" triggers a new technological golden age..


This failure to trigger can happen..  Dark ages.. for example.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: JPG on Thu, 07 November 2013, 08:24:49
I am not from the USA, and even if I can understand the notion of being proud of your country, I don't get how over-hyped many seems to be and how you like to say it's the best country in the world on every occasion possible. For sure, saying that your country is the best in the world does not have to be objective since it's YOUR country and it's ok to be proud of it. But in the US, it's seems to be more of an obsession. It's just too much and too far from objectivity. And there's never a reason provided.

So I would like to ask all of you that are always saying that the USA is the best country in the world: Why do you think it's the best country in the world and do you really believe it is putting your patriotism on the side just for the time of this answer.

By the way, my purpose is to be objective here, no bashing required and no wrong answer really. Even if many could debate that your reason is not good, I don't care and you don't need to justify it, but I am really curious as to what are these reasons.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: SpAmRaY on Thu, 07 November 2013, 08:25:04
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: JPG on Thu, 07 November 2013, 08:27:08
(Attachment Link)

OK you win lol
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: SpAmRaY on Thu, 07 November 2013, 08:28:15
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: tp4tissue on Thu, 07 November 2013, 08:29:26
I am not from the USA, and even if I can understand the notion of being proud of your country, I don't get how over-hyped many seems to be and how you like to say it's the best country in the world on every occasion possible. For sure, saying that your country is the best in the world does not have to be objective since it's YOUR country and it's ok to be proud of it. But in the US, it's seems to be more of an obsession. It's just too much and too far from objectivity. And there's never a reason provided.

So I would like to ask all of you that are always saying that the USA is the best country in the world: Why do you think it's the best country in the world and do you really believe it is putting your patriotism on the side just for the time of this answer.

By the way, my purpose is to be objective here, no bashing required and no wrong answer really. Even if many could debate that your reason is not good, I don't care and you don't need to justify it, but I am really curious as to what are these reasons.

No.. your perception is skewed due to the dominance of USA media...

We are trend setters in broadcast..

And most of what you see over the data stream Originates from the USA...


It is due to our POPULARITY, that you perceive us to be overtly patriotic / self absorbed..


This is due to your consumption of our entertainment news...



the USA PEOPLE... are no more enthusiastic about USA than anyone else is about their respective country.


Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: JPG on Thu, 07 November 2013, 08:41:43
I am not from the USA, and even if I can understand the notion of being proud of your country, I don't get how over-hyped many seems to be and how you like to say it's the best country in the world on every occasion possible. For sure, saying that your country is the best in the world does not have to be objective since it's YOUR country and it's ok to be proud of it. But in the US, it's seems to be more of an obsession. It's just too much and too far from objectivity. And there's never a reason provided.

So I would like to ask all of you that are always saying that the USA is the best country in the world: Why do you think it's the best country in the world and do you really believe it is putting your patriotism on the side just for the time of this answer.

By the way, my purpose is to be objective here, no bashing required and no wrong answer really. Even if many could debate that your reason is not good, I don't care and you don't need to justify it, but I am really curious as to what are these reasons.

No.. your perception is skewed due to the dominance of USA media...

We are trend setters in broadcast..

And most of what you see over the data stream Originates from the USA...


It is due to our POPULARITY, that you perceive us to be overtly patriotic / self absorbed..


This is due to your consumption of our entertainment news...



the USA PEOPLE... are no more enthusiastic about USA than anyone else is about their respective country.

You might be true. It might be because I don't have this feeling towards my country AND because the USA is the only country near where I live.

Yet, no one provided a reason yet other than you have nice burgers. But we have the POUTINE, we are proud of it, but I can still recognize that my country/province (like a state) is not the best in the world and provide reasons why it is not. I can still provide reasons why it's a nice place to live.

But I agree with the exposition of the phenomenon.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: Oobly on Thu, 07 November 2013, 08:47:36
Disclaimer: I mean no offense with this post. Please accept it in a tolerant spirit.

Q: The best at what?

A: The best at having "world" series' / competitions with only US entrants!

Oh yes, and these:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_incarceration_rate

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_oil_consumption

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_electricity_imports

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_external_debt

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_budget_by_country

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_current_account_balance

Well, okay, there are good ones, too ;)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_top_international_rankings_by_country

It's quite an interesting list. I am certainly proud of the Finnish ones  :D

And I absolutely agree with the OP's sentiment: God bless the USA!

I really hope you get your money situation sorted.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: JPG on Thu, 07 November 2013, 08:55:36
Disclaimer: I mean no offense with this post. Please accept it in a tolerant spirit.

Q: The best at what?

A: The best at having "world" series' / competitions with only US entrants!

Oh yes, and these:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_incarceration_rate

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_oil_consumption

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_electricity_imports

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_external_debt

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_budget_by_country

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_current_account_balance

Well, okay, there are good ones, too ;)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_top_international_rankings_by_country

It's quite an interesting list. I am certainly proud of the Finnish ones  :D

And I absolutely agree with the OP's sentiment: God bless the USA!

I really hope you get your money situation sorted.

Nice link. We have maple sirup, we win  :p
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: Krogenar on Thu, 07 November 2013, 09:15:43
I am not from the USA, and even if I can understand the notion of being proud of your country, I don't get how over-hyped many seems to be and how you like to say it's the best country in the world on every occasion possible. For sure, saying that your country is the best in the world does not have to be objective since it's YOUR country and it's ok to be proud of it. But in the US, it's seems to be more of an obsession. It's just too much and too far from objectivity. And there's never a reason provided.

We love our country. I fear and loathe the state of my government, but I love my country. It doesn't have to be rational; in fact, love (of anything) can be most beautiful when it is not rational. I think what you're referring to is the concept of American exceptionalism, that there is something uniquely special about America as a country; that democracy has flourished here in a way that it has not in other places. But what constitutes "special"? I think that has changed.

In the last century, America embodied more than any other nation the concept of the rugged individual, free from government domination, seeking out happiness as they defined it. Today, progressives, hippies and other Marxist morons scoff at the very idea of specialness because in their hearts they are authoritarians -- and authoritarians have always feared free-thinking individuals who have the temerity to consider themselves "special" -- mediocrity is the new black.

Quote
So I would like to ask all of you that are always saying that the USA is the best country in the world: Why do you think it's the best country in the world and do you really believe it is putting your patriotism on the side just for the time of this answer.

I love the idea of my country, and I love my fellow Americans, and I think we're special, that we have a special role to play in history. This is not a feeling I can "put aside" -- it colors my perspectives, I can't help it. To me America is not just an address, it's an experiment in human freedom. There's a creative chaos to American culture that I love. The constant influx of new people and ideas help make me feel that America is special.

I might ask you, JPG, why are you so (apparently) milquetoasty about Canada? Does my love of country offend you? You're free to love Canada; you've got hockey, bacon, francophones, hockey, hockey hair -- what's not to love?

I sell American flags for a living (well, part of my living) and I get asked this question by tourists all the time: "Why do Americans have such a raging hardon for your country? You put your flag on everything -- it's weird." My response is: "Why don't you have more affection for your own country?" It's considered gauche, sort of trashy, to love your country. It comes across as snobby and elitist to me. A lot of my workers are immigrants, and when they get their citizenship I am very happy for them. And they are very happy to become Americans -- it rejuvenates my own patriotism, every time. These are people who always have the same story -- where they came from, they were never going to "get ahead" no matter how hard they worked. But in America, they could (and were) getting ahead. That's where the zest for America comes from, in my experience -- the chance to pursue happiness on your own terms that you couldn't find elsewhere. And every new American I've met, I've felt as though I was meeting someone with balls; because moving to a new country does take some balls.

Quote from: JPG
By the way, my purpose is to be objective here, no bashing required and no wrong answer really. Even if many could debate that your reason is not good, I don't care and you don't need to justify it, but I am really curious as to what are these reasons.

Thanks! Share with us your zest for Canada. (I mean that in all seriousness.)
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: JPG on Thu, 07 November 2013, 09:41:21
I am not from the USA, and even if I can understand the notion of being proud of your country, I don't get how over-hyped many seems to be and how you like to say it's the best country in the world on every occasion possible. For sure, saying that your country is the best in the world does not have to be objective since it's YOUR country and it's ok to be proud of it. But in the US, it's seems to be more of an obsession. It's just too much and too far from objectivity. And there's never a reason provided.

We love our country. I fear and loathe the state of my government, but I love my country. It doesn't have to be rational; in fact, love (of anything) can be most beautiful when it is not rational. I think what you're referring to is the concept of American exceptionalism, that there is something uniquely special about America as a country; that democracy has flourished here in a way that it has not in other places. But what constitutes "special"? I think that has changed.

In the last century, America embodied more than any other nation the concept of the rugged individual, free from government domination, seeking out happiness as they defined it. Today, progressives, hippies and other Marxist morons scoff at the very idea of specialness because in their hearts they are authoritarians -- and authoritarians have always feared free-thinking individuals who have the temerity to consider themselves "special" -- mediocrity is the new black.

Quote
So I would like to ask all of you that are always saying that the USA is the best country in the world: Why do you think it's the best country in the world and do you really believe it is putting your patriotism on the side just for the time of this answer.

I love the idea of my country, and I love my fellow Americans, and I think we're special, that we have a special role to play in history. This is not a feeling I can "put aside" -- it colors my perspectives, I can't help it. To me America is not just an address, it's an experiment in human freedom. There's a creative chaos to American culture that I love. The constant influx of new people and ideas help make me feel that America is special.

I might ask you, JPG, why are you so (apparently) milquetoasty about Canada? Does my love of country offend you? You're free to love Canada; you've got hockey, bacon, francophones, hockey, hockey hair -- what's not to love?

I sell American flags for a living (well, part of my living) and I get asked this question by tourists all the time: "Why do Americans have such a raging hardon for your country? You put your flag on everything -- it's weird." My response is: "Why don't you have more affection for your own country?" It's considered gauche, sort of trashy, to love your country. It comes across as snobby and elitist to me. A lot of my workers are immigrants, and when they get their citizenship I am very happy for them. And they are very happy to become Americans -- it rejuvenates my own patriotism, every time. These are people who always have the same story -- where they came from, they were never going to "get ahead" no matter how hard they worked. But in America, they could (and were) getting ahead. That's where the zest for America comes from, in my experience -- the chance to pursue happiness on your own terms that you couldn't find elsewhere. And every new American I've met, I've felt as though I was meeting someone with balls; because moving to a new country does take some balls.

Quote from: JPG
By the way, my purpose is to be objective here, no bashing required and no wrong answer really. Even if many could debate that your reason is not good, I don't care and you don't need to justify it, but I am really curious as to what are these reasons.

Thanks! Share with us your zest for Canada. (I mean that in all seriousness.)

Like I said, I understand why you can love your country and it's normal for it not to be rational, at least not all the time. But it's just that most of the time, all we "see" is that you love your country, with no specific reason provided. If there was a reason 1 out of 10 times, I would know MANY reasons why you love your country.

Since you asked it, I feel obligated to answer why I love and hate Canada:

Love Canada for:
- It's a peaceful country and the violence is quite low
- It's a beautiful country (landscape) even if we are destroying it too fast
- It's a country with a lot of diversity
- We have hockey and maple sirup
- We have a LOT of ressources

I hate Canada for:
- We still spend so much time and energy with the French VS English people. No reason to not get over it once and for all
- We like to screw ourselves and get stomped by powerful countries (we are giving our precious resources for example)
- It's a very big country with a very low population, mainly because most of the country is too cold for big cities to be formed. So we have to build long roads that cost a lot to maintain for relatively few use.
- - Taxes are ridiculously high

I hate my province (Québec) for:
- We still argue about splitting from the country (French VS English war). Get over it. We keep our french, we stay in Canada and we get over it.
- While we have very innovative peoples that drive our province (and country), we have a damn lot of people that are there to suck it up. While I think it's important to have social help, I think that it's equally important to fight those that tries to abuse it. And there's a lot whole of them, and since it's not politically well seen, nothing is done about it.
- Our government is wasting money and very good at being counter-productive at a very alarming rate. And while Canada's debt is not so bad, the Québec province debt is very alarming and critical.
- Taxes are ridiculously high

I suppose it's similar in many countries, but if we don't change some things, it will crash at some point. And if it crashes, it will be hard for everyone. It's time to solve some problems before it's too late.

And why I love Québec?

[attach=1]

The poutine: french fries (real ones, not McCain garbage), brown sauce (usually a thick one with nice flavor designed for the poutine) and fresh cheddar cheese in chunks. Optionally, you can then add whatever special variant you want with sausage, beef, onions, etc. etc. Eat a good burger with one of these and you have a thicket for the fast food paradise (or arterial disease)
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: microsoft windows on Thu, 07 November 2013, 09:55:07
That looks tasty there!
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: Krogenar on Thu, 07 November 2013, 10:29:51
That looks tasty there!

Ok, I admit it -- that does look good.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: Findecanor on Thu, 07 November 2013, 10:37:50
America is not a country. It is a continent comprising the subcontinents North America and South America.
It has been the name of this continent since 1507, when Europeans landed on the south subcontinent -- not the north one.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: Tym on Thu, 07 November 2013, 10:48:41
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: Photoelectric on Thu, 07 November 2013, 10:49:50
Isn't there already a thread about this?..  "America **** Yeah!" or something like that?..
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: Computer-Lab in Basement on Thu, 07 November 2013, 10:52:13
Isn't there already a thread about this?..  "America **** Yeah!" or something like that?..

*looks at thread creator*

Well that explains it!
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: Photoelectric on Thu, 07 November 2013, 10:56:19
Isn't there already a thread about this?..  "America **** Yeah!" or something like that?..

*looks at thread creator*

Well that explains it!

Well, yes, my sarcasm was apparently thickly veiled.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: dustinhxc on Thu, 07 November 2013, 11:05:52
MERICA' !!!
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: berserkfan on Thu, 07 November 2013, 11:14:04
God Bless the USA, hah!

Ever since it was founded, the US has been a totally crap country... if not for all the others.

I like to think of what Churchill said of democracy, and say the same for the USA.

I can never understand why the rulers, dictators, elites, aristocrats, influential people and religious leaders of various countries don't solve their f-ed up problems and make their own countries better. If their countries were better, their best and brightest people would not emigrate, the USA would be significantly less powerful and influential relatively to other countries, and the distribution of world income/ resources would be more even.

As such human folly (of all the other countries) has made the USA the least crappy house in a bad neighbourhood.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: microsoft windows on Thu, 07 November 2013, 11:16:27
Who are you to call my country totally crap?
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: baldgye on Thu, 07 November 2013, 11:26:19
I like Pizza
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: iri on Thu, 07 November 2013, 14:30:36
(http://s001.radikal.ru/i194/1107/16/713f4dadd5b1.jpg)
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: keymaster on Thu, 07 November 2013, 15:11:50
Dear God....Is that Comic Sans?  :mad: :mad: :mad:
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: iri on Thu, 07 November 2013, 15:25:24
in the "GOD BLESS AMERICA", it is all caps!
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: MKULTRA on Thu, 07 November 2013, 15:26:39
Hey at least our nationalism isn't on the level of NK, Soviet Russia, or Nazi Germany.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: uzoc on Thu, 07 November 2013, 15:29:51
America is not a country it's a Continent.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: MKULTRA on Thu, 07 November 2013, 15:31:15
America is not a country it's a Continent.
Thanks for chiming in.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: iri on Thu, 07 November 2013, 15:33:53
Hey at least our nationalism isn't on the level of NK, Soviet Russia, or Nazi Germany.
also roads are good. and don't forget cheap top loaders!
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: Michael on Thu, 07 November 2013, 15:34:13
 :)


I just realized microsoft windows didn't add united states into the 'America' part...
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: MKULTRA on Thu, 07 November 2013, 15:39:11
:)


I just realized microsoft windows didn't add united states into the 'America' part...
And my professors try to tell me Wikipedia lies!
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: hashbaz on Thu, 07 November 2013, 15:48:50
I love a lot of things about the US.

We're the OG modern representative democracy.  Pioneers of the modern standard of living.  After WW2 Good Guy USA invested hugely in rebuilding Europe and Japan.  We've incubated loads of stupendously important engineering and tech achievements.  Space program, military and medical research, Internet infrastructure, e-commerce.  Rock and roll, jazz, bluegrass.  We've blazed a ton of trails.

We have a lot of problems, and have committed many sins.  But I think historians 2000 years from now will look back on us pretty favorably on the whole.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: tjcaustin on Thu, 07 November 2013, 15:53:52
I love a lot of things about the US.

We're the OG modern representative democracy.  Pioneers of the modern standard of living.  After WW2 Good Guy USA invested hugely in rebuilding Europe and Japan.  We've incubated loads of stupendously important engineering and tech achievements.  Space program, military and medical research, Internet infrastructure, e-commerce.  Rock and roll, jazz, bluegrass.  We've blazed a ton of trails.

We have a lot of problems, and have committed many sins.  But I think historians 2000 years from now will look back on us pretty favorably on the whole.

I heard, in this very thread, that the USA was a crap country.  Soooo who do I believe?
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: MKULTRA on Thu, 07 November 2013, 15:54:37
I love a lot of things about the US.

We're the OG modern representative democracy.  Pioneers of the modern standard of living.  After WW2 Good Guy USA invested hugely in rebuilding Europe and Japan.  We've incubated loads of stupendously important engineering and tech achievements.  Space program, military and medical research, Internet infrastructure, e-commerce.  Rock and roll, jazz, bluegrass.  We've blazed a ton of trails.

We have a lot of problems, and have committed many sins.  But I think historians 2000 years from now will look back on us pretty favorably on the whole.

I heard, in this very thread, that the USA was a crap country.  Soooo who do I believe?
Follow your heart.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: SpAmRaY on Thu, 07 November 2013, 15:56:43
I love a lot of things about the US.

We're the OG modern representative democracy.  Pioneers of the modern standard of living.  After WW2 Good Guy USA invested hugely in rebuilding Europe and Japan.  We've incubated loads of stupendously important engineering and tech achievements.  Space program, military and medical research, Internet infrastructure, e-commerce.  Rock and roll, jazz, bluegrass.  We've blazed a ton of trails.

We have a lot of problems, and have committed many sins.  But I think historians 2000 years from now will look back on us pretty favorably on the whole.

I heard, in this very thread, that the USA was a crap country.  Soooo who do I believe?

Everybody knows Texas is the best country.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: Tym on Thu, 07 November 2013, 15:56:51
But they say history is written by the victors? What if there are no victors? Only losers?  :eek:
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: Michael on Thu, 07 November 2013, 15:58:14
But they say history is written by the victors? What if there are no victors? Only losers?  :o


(http://i.imgur.com/NopSrxS.gif)
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: Tym on Thu, 07 November 2013, 16:02:01
But they say history is written by the victors? What if there are no victors? Only losers?  :o


Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/NopSrxS.gif)


I didn't really want to get into it but there are certain events between say 1959 and say, still ongoing that argue against what you say.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: MKULTRA on Thu, 07 November 2013, 16:02:29
But they say history is written by the victors? What if there are no victors? Only losers?  :eek:
This is true.  Protip: Jesus wasn't the only Messiah of his day!
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: hashbaz on Thu, 07 November 2013, 16:02:42
I heard, in this very thread, that the USA was a crap country.  Soooo who do I believe?

Follow your heart.

Follow the Hash, obviously.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: SpAmRaY on Thu, 07 November 2013, 16:04:15
But they say history is written by the victors? What if there are no victors? Only losers?  :o


(http://i.imgur.com/NopSrxS.gif) (http://i.imgur.com/NopSrxS.gif)

I didn't really want to get into it but there are certain events between say 1959 and say, still ongoing that argue against what you say.


[attachimg=1]

OR did you mean this

http://www.amazon.com/1959-The-Year-Everything-Changed/dp/0470602031 (http://www.amazon.com/1959-The-Year-Everything-Changed/dp/0470602031)

also

more random 1959 info

http://www.infoplease.com/year/1959.html
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: Michael on Thu, 07 November 2013, 16:05:47
But they say history is written by the victors? What if there are no victors? Only losers?  :o


Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/NopSrxS.gif)


I didn't really want to get into it but there are certain events between say 1959 and say, still ongoing that argue against what you say.


How do you know what I mean when I say 'we'? What I mean is any person can be the champion of their time. It's up to the individual to make a difference in the world. For good or bad, history has taught us that one person can make a difference.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: Tym on Thu, 07 November 2013, 16:09:55
I just presumed because you were posting in a thread titled "America is the best country in the world." that you were commenting about America... but you know what the say about presuming.

Sorry  :-X
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: SpAmRaY on Thu, 07 November 2013, 16:10:58
I just presumed because you were posting in a thread titled "America is the best country in the world." that you were commenting about America... but you know what the say about presuming.

Sorry  :-X

that's assuming :p
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: MTManiac on Thu, 07 November 2013, 16:12:24
But they say history is written by the victors? What if there are no victors? Only losers?  :eek:

(http://i2.wp.com/www.cuttingedge.org/rewriting_history.jpg?resize=301%2C448)
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: Tym on Thu, 07 November 2013, 16:13:23
Thats what i said, maybe there was a communication error because of my British accent.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: Michael on Thu, 07 November 2013, 16:14:23
Thats what i said, maybe there was a communication error because of my British accent.


Glad you realiZe that :P
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: Tym on Thu, 07 November 2013, 16:16:46
See that irritates me in two ways, I want to correct you with an s, and I was to say "Glad you realised that"... but what you said also works perfectly.

Grrr, English language.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: Michael on Thu, 07 November 2013, 16:20:32
See that irritates me in two ways, I want to correct you with an s, and I was to say "Glad you realised that"... but what you said also works perfectly.

Grrr, English language.


Will this cheer you up, good sir?


(http://i.imgur.com/LxEltwF.jpg)
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: Tym on Thu, 07 November 2013, 16:22:27
 ;D
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: vivalarevolución on Thu, 07 November 2013, 16:23:16

I knew somebody was going to bust out the Newsroom clip.

I have more comments on America, but I will save those for later.  Prepare to have your mind blown.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: SpAmRaY on Thu, 07 November 2013, 16:23:57
See that irritates me in two ways, I want to correct you with an s, and I was to say "Glad you realised that"... but what you said also works perfectly.

Grrr, English language.


Will this cheer you up, good sir?


(http://i.imgur.com/LxEltwF.jpg) (http://i.imgur.com/LxEltwF.jpg)


[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: Michael on Thu, 07 November 2013, 16:24:54
This thread is now officially about dogs.


(http://i.imgur.com/ds7wgcK.gif)
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: SpAmRaY on Thu, 07 November 2013, 16:32:17
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: Michael on Thu, 07 November 2013, 16:35:21
(http://i.imgur.com/o6eQD4A.gif)
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: Tym on Thu, 07 November 2013, 16:37:53
(http://1-ps.googleusercontent.com/h/www.doggifpage.com/gifs/101.gif.pagespeed.ce.La_orfGgL0.gif)
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: baldgye on Thu, 07 November 2013, 16:39:40
See that irritates me in two ways, I want to correct you with an s, and I was to say "Glad you realised that"... but what you said also works perfectly.

Grrr, English language.

Best thing about the English language is that it constantly changes and grows!
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: TLSC.wipeOut on Thu, 07 November 2013, 16:39:45
'murica
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: tjcaustin on Thu, 07 November 2013, 16:40:16
Show Image
(http://www.pbh2.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/funniest-dog-gifs-dog-licking.gif)


Can't even gif post right...

(http://static3.beanscdn.co.uk/modules/ems-v2/article/images/funniest-dog-gifs-dog-licking.gif.gif)
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: Michael on Thu, 07 November 2013, 16:40:26
(http://i.imgur.com/5fqpcKZ.gif)
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: Tym on Thu, 07 November 2013, 16:41:59
Sorry tjc, i couldn't for the life of me get that one to work :'(

But I found a whole website dedicated to the idea  :eek:

http://www.doggifpage.com/
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: SpAmRaY on Thu, 07 November 2013, 16:44:52
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: Michael on Thu, 07 November 2013, 16:45:40
(http://i.imgur.com/70TlsuN.gif)
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: MKULTRA on Thu, 07 November 2013, 17:25:51
How about some 'Murican dogs?
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: Michael on Thu, 07 November 2013, 17:30:39
How about some 'Murican dogs?


(http://i.imgur.com/viFaUSY.gif)
(http://i.imgur.com/ENEe9rN.gif)
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: tp4tissue on Thu, 07 November 2013, 17:33:27
See that irritates me in two ways, I want to correct you with an s, and I was to say "Glad you realised that"... but what you said also works perfectly.

Grrr, English language.

Best thing about the English language is that it constantly changes and grows!

You arrogant-elitist bastard with squiggly handwriting...  every language changes and grows...  (http://www.cute-factor.com/images/smilies/onion/215ad82f.gif)
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: MKULTRA on Thu, 07 November 2013, 17:34:50
How about some 'Murican dogs?


Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/viFaUSY.gif)

Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/ENEe9rN.gif)

I was more thinkin some rescue dogs from 9/11.  I would post some 'Murican dogs but I'm on my phone.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: Tym on Thu, 07 November 2013, 17:38:46
See that irritates me in two ways, I want to correct you with an s, and I was to say "Glad you realised that"... but what you said also works perfectly.

Grrr, English language.

Best thing about the English language is that it constantly changes and grows!

You arrogant-elitist bastard with squiggly handwriting...  every language changes and grows... 
Show Image
(http://www.cute-factor.com/images/smilies/onion/215ad82f.gif)


Wat?
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: Michael on Thu, 07 November 2013, 17:39:07

I was more thinkin some rescue dogs from 9/11.  I would post some 'Murican dogs but I'm on my phone.


(http://i.imgur.com/VDK5n8c.jpg)
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: tp4tissue on Thu, 07 November 2013, 17:59:41
See that irritates me in two ways, I want to correct you with an s, and I was to say "Glad you realised that"... but what you said also works perfectly.

Grrr, English language.

Best thing about the English language is that it constantly changes and grows!

You arrogant-elitist bastard with squiggly handwriting...  every language changes and grows... 
Show Image
(http://www.cute-factor.com/images/smilies/onion/215ad82f.gif)


Wat?

just saying language in general changes..... (http://www.cute-factor.com/images/smilies/onion/04a97f13.gif)
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: jevvix on Thu, 07 November 2013, 20:48:17
USA #1 country NA  :-*
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: dustinhxc on Thu, 07 November 2013, 23:36:02
Show Image
(http://1-ps.googleusercontent.com/h/www.doggifpage.com/gifs/101.gif.pagespeed.ce.La_orfGgL0.gif)



ahhaahahh  :)) :)) :)) :)) :))


(http://25.media.tumblr.com/5ebc188d9aea179df6c875f96da60441/tumblr_mj5bzdW82c1qhuaqno4_250.gif)
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: tp4tissue on Fri, 08 November 2013, 00:22:05
Show Image
(http://1-ps.googleusercontent.com/h/www.doggifpage.com/gifs/101.gif.pagespeed.ce.La_orfGgL0.gif)



ahhaahahh  :)) :)) :)) :)) :))


Show Image
(http://25.media.tumblr.com/5ebc188d9aea179df6c875f96da60441/tumblr_mj5bzdW82c1qhuaqno4_250.gif)


My favorite show... (http://www.cute-factor.com/images/smilies/onion/d79df121.gif)
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: dustinhxc on Fri, 08 November 2013, 00:31:57
Show Image
(http://1-ps.googleusercontent.com/h/www.doggifpage.com/gifs/101.gif.pagespeed.ce.La_orfGgL0.gif)



ahhaahahh  :)) :)) :)) :)) :))


Show Image
(http://25.media.tumblr.com/5ebc188d9aea179df6c875f96da60441/tumblr_mj5bzdW82c1qhuaqno4_250.gif)


My favorite show...
Show Image
(http://www.cute-factor.com/images/smilies/onion/d79df121.gif)


(http://tn.loljam.com/14/upload/post/201309/11/13273/eca12e7ad6d35f6f077c3ddc400b1b43.gif)

 :p
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: iri on Fri, 08 November 2013, 00:34:00
USA #1 country NA  :-*
...by population, and #2 by territory.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: iri on Fri, 08 November 2013, 00:35:32
'murican dogs, you say?

(http://global3.memecdn.com/amp-039-murica-dog_o_1842223.jpg)
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: Forsythe on Fri, 08 November 2013, 02:31:46
Sorry tjc, i couldn't for the life of me get that one to work :'(

But I found a whole website dedicated to the idea  :eek:

http://www.doggifpage.com/

Holy ****. Thank you for the website! I have never laughed so hard in a long while!  :p
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: SpAmRaY on Fri, 08 November 2013, 08:20:44
Show Image
(http://1-ps.googleusercontent.com/h/www.doggifpage.com/gifs/101.gif.pagespeed.ce.La_orfGgL0.gif)



ahhaahahh  :)) :)) :)) :)) :))


Show Image
(http://25.media.tumblr.com/5ebc188d9aea179df6c875f96da60441/tumblr_mj5bzdW82c1qhuaqno4_250.gif)


My favorite show...
Show Image
(http://www.cute-factor.com/images/smilies/onion/d79df121.gif)


Show Image
(http://tn.loljam.com/14/upload/post/201309/11/13273/eca12e7ad6d35f6f077c3ddc400b1b43.gif)


 :p

I am currently reading si-cology and have an duck dynasty calendar on my office wall...so yeah....and I have a beard....
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: quickcrx702 on Fri, 08 November 2013, 09:53:00
I love my country, I just hate the fat idiots that I share it with, who contribute nothing, consume everything, and do nothing but complain.  I can definitely understand why people in other countries don't like us, and think we are all that way.  Seriously, put down the quad patty bacon burger with EXTRA cheese once in a while, stop watching stupid **** on TV, pick up a book, and quit acting like douchebags, because you make the rest of us look bad.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: Malphas on Fri, 08 November 2013, 12:41:25
Personally I think patriotism is lame, and other collectivist viewpoints. I don't love my country, or really give a **** about it at all, it just happens to be where I live. I do feel fortunate I was born in the particular part of the world I am, rather than Somalia or something, but that's it. It's not something I feel warrants being proud about.

What's most grating is when people say use the term "we" when referring to the collective accomplishments of that nation (WWI and II being the most oft-used examples by Americans) Did you personally participate in and have an influence in WWII - No? Then why the hell mention it? It's a really weak mindset; you should stand on your own achievements and principles, not the ones of past generations of people who happen to have resided within the same imaginary lines on the Earth as you do.

Regarding the USA specifically, rather than general concept of patriotism, it's quite baffling to me why people would feel the USA is still a country to be proud of. No offence meant, and I'm not one of the people who hates the USA, but really it's a rather average nation these days, and I can't think of any area where it excels other than A) military capability and B) raw economic power. Are those really things to be proud of? I'd be more concerned in the other areas where the USA is soundly beaten by other countries, such as education, literacy, health, standard of living, percentage of the population incarcerated, crime rate, etc. etc. - things that actually affect people's everyday lives rather than abstract statistics.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: iri on Fri, 08 November 2013, 16:01:40
I don't hate the USA.  But I am not from the country that was bombed or invaded by Americans.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: SpAmRaY on Fri, 08 November 2013, 16:06:38
I don't hate the USA.  But I am not from the country that was bombed or invaded by Americans.

YET :eek: :P
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: Michael on Fri, 08 November 2013, 16:10:36
I don't hate the USA.  But I am not from the country that was bombed or invaded by Americans.


(http://i.imgur.com/PMxd7wA.gif)
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: Tym on Fri, 08 November 2013, 16:11:15
I don't hate the USA.  But I am not from the country that was bombed or invaded by Americans.

YET :eek: :P

I see el presidente ray has a secret agenda!

*Tym scuttles off to download Tropico 4
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: SpAmRaY on Fri, 08 November 2013, 16:12:42
I don't hate the USA.  But I am not from the country that was bombed or invaded by Americans.

YET :eek: :P

I see el presidente ray has a secret agenda!

*Tym scuttles off to download Tropico 4

Well the way things are going the USSA isn't too far off and we must assimilate and begin world domination once Obama is elected king for life once congress does away with the office of president by the end of the year.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: iri on Fri, 08 November 2013, 16:13:13
I don't hate the USA.  But I am not from the country that was bombed or invaded by Americans.

YET :eek: :P
(http://static.fjcdn.com/pictures/Imperialism.+r+polandball_3ae9a2_4830446.png)
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: Michael on Fri, 08 November 2013, 16:16:37
I don't hate the USA.  But I am not from the country that was bombed or invaded by Americans.

YET :o :p
Show Image
(http://static.fjcdn.com/pictures/Imperialism.+r+polandball_3ae9a2_4830446.png)



The problem with this fictional piece, is that if these two countries were to go to war, there would be no world left. So be very happy they aren't.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: Tym on Fri, 08 November 2013, 16:17:34
I don't hate the USA.  But I am not from the country that was bombed or invaded by Americans.

YET :o :p
Show Image
(http://static.fjcdn.com/pictures/Imperialism.+r+polandball_3ae9a2_4830446.png)


Hey thats me!  ;D
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: SpAmRaY on Fri, 08 November 2013, 16:22:40
I don't hate the USA.  But I am not from the country that was bombed or invaded by Americans.

YET :o :p
Show Image
(http://static.fjcdn.com/pictures/Imperialism.+r+polandball_3ae9a2_4830446.png)


Hey thats me!  ;D

Teamwork bro!
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: iri on Fri, 08 November 2013, 16:32:26

I don't hate the USA.  But I am not from the country that was bombed or invaded by Americans.

YET :o :p
Show Image
(http://static.fjcdn.com/pictures/Imperialism.+r+polandball_3ae9a2_4830446.png)


Hey thats me!  ;D
sure, who the hell needs the odds when they have six shotguns
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: Tym on Fri, 08 November 2013, 16:40:57

I don't hate the USA.  But I am not from the country that was bombed or invaded by Americans.

YET :o :p
Show Image
(http://static.fjcdn.com/pictures/Imperialism.+r+polandball_3ae9a2_4830446.png)


Hey thats me!  ;D
sure, who the hell needs the odds when they have six shotguns
Well on that front I'm currently shotgun-less :'(

The rich men have gone on a hunting trip to Africa actually, and my personal weapon I just sold to cover some bills :(

But I do have my eyes on a replacement 12-guage, part of some old guys collection. One day...  :rolleyes:

Hopefully the apocalypse doesn't come this side of Christmas, was thinking of treating myself.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: dustinhxc on Sat, 09 November 2013, 00:20:05
(http://honestfare.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/bombpops.jpg)

MERICA'
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: tufty on Sat, 09 November 2013, 04:42:36
Difference between America, England, and France.

A Frenchman believes France to be the greatest country in the world.
An Englishman knows England is the greatest country in the world.
An American gets confused by the concept of "world".
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: iri on Sat, 09 November 2013, 05:12:48
An Englishman knows England is the greatest country in the world
, but lives in France.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: Tym on Sat, 09 November 2013, 05:53:19
An Englishman knows England is the greatest country in the world
, but lives in France.
I'm English and I know England is the greatest country in the world, i just dont feel I have to make a thread about it. :cool:
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: SamirD on Sat, 09 November 2013, 07:11:46
Difference between America, England, and France.

A Frenchman believes France to be the greatest country in the world.
An Englishman knows England is the greatest country in the world.
An American gets confused by the concept of "world".
LOL!

What do you call someone who speaks three languages?  tri-lingual
What do you call someone who speaks two languages?  bi-lingual
What do you call someone who speaks one language?  American, lol.

Of course, all this is changing with all the damn illegals here that are getting amnesty.  Sure is a slap in the face to my father who immigrated here legally and helped make the country better.  I was born here and love the country, but it's starting to have some problems that mirror what I've seen in the third-world.  I'm afraid I'll have to immigrate in my lifetime if things don't stop going downhill. :(

Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: tjcaustin on Sat, 09 November 2013, 10:22:14
Difference between America, England, and France.

A Frenchman believes France to be the greatest country in the world.
An Englishman knows England is the greatest country in the world.
An American gets confused by the concept of "world".
LOL!

What do you call someone who speaks three languages?  tri-lingual
What do you call someone who speaks two languages?  bi-lingual
What do you call someone who speaks one language?  American, lol.

Of course, all this is changing with all the damn illegals here that are getting amnesty.  Sure is a slap in the face to my father who immigrated here legally and helped make the country better.  I was born here and love the country, but it's starting to have some problems that mirror what I've seen in the third-world.  I'm afraid I'll have to immigrate in my lifetime if things don't stop going downhill. :(

You know where the door is, chicken little.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: tufty on Sat, 09 November 2013, 13:39:30
An Englishman knows England is the greatest country in the world
, but lives in France.
Quite.  Except that this "Englishman" has absolutely no belief in "nation" of any kind.

SamirD got the joke wrong, though.

What do you call someone who speaks three or more languages? - Polyglot
What do you call someone who speaks 2 languages? - Bilingual
What do you call someone who speaks one language? - English.
What do you call someone who can't even get *that* right? - American.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: Malphas on Sat, 09 November 2013, 14:33:11
I like how ms' troll thread has descended into snooty yet nonchalent jokes based on American stereotypes instead.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: iri on Sat, 09 November 2013, 15:04:19
An Englishman knows England is the greatest country in the world
, but lives in France.
Quite.  Except that this "Englishman" has absolutely no belief in "nation" of any kind.
even the swiss?
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: Malphas on Sat, 09 November 2013, 15:33:28
I like Switzerland a lot. It's the antithesis of the USA - easily one of the finest countries in the world, high standard of living, almost zero carbon footprint, foreign policy with emphasis on neutrality, etc. Yet you never hear the Swiss droning on about how great their country is like you hear (some) Americans doing.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: baldgye on Sat, 09 November 2013, 15:35:56
An Englishman knows England is the greatest country in the world
, but lives in France.
Quite.  Except that this "Englishman" has absolutely no belief in "nation" of any kind.

Yeah I can back that
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: keymaster on Sat, 09 November 2013, 15:58:42
dat #muricalogic

(http://i.imgur.com/hvki0MR.jpg)
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: Michael on Sat, 09 November 2013, 16:09:48
Whenever I see any post related to the USA, the ignorance here is astounding. You guys act as if the USA is a hive mind, that everyone here believes the same things. Or thinks the same way.
Did you know that the USA is made up of people from all over the world? Astonishing - I know, right? Why does the US make itself such an easy target for hypocrites and their 'our country is better than yours' rants?
Not sure, but it's still born of pure ignorance.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: tufty on Sun, 10 November 2013, 01:21:06
Quote
Why does the US make itself such an easy target
That comes, largely, from people posting threads with titles like "America is the best country in the world".

As for "our country is better than your country", it's largely some "your country isn't necessarily as wonderful as you make out", and quite a lot of fun-poking based on what appears to be an institutionalised inferiority complex.

Grow a ****in' skin.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: Michael on Sun, 10 November 2013, 01:35:11
Quote
Why does the US make itself such an easy target
That comes, largely, from people posting threads with titles like "America is the best country in the world".

As for "our country is better than your country", it's largely some "your country isn't necessarily as wonderful as you make out", and quite a lot of fun-poking based on what appears to be an institutionalised inferiority complex.

Grow a ****in' skin.


Yea and judging the country by that one persons post makes you ignorant. Thanks for proving my point.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: iri on Sun, 10 November 2013, 03:09:08
I like Switzerland a lot. It's the antithesis of the USA - easily one of the finest countries in the world, high standard of living, almost zero carbon footprint, foreign policy with emphasis on neutrality, etc. Yet you never hear the Swiss droning on about how great their country is like you hear (some) Americans doing.
funnily, it's almost exactly what usa was supposed to be. democracy, neutrality, and small professional army + well-trained militia.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: Bullveyr on Sun, 10 November 2013, 04:30:19
I like Switzerland a lot. It's the antithesis of the USA - easily one of the finest countries in the world, high standard of living, almost zero carbon footprint, foreign policy with emphasis on neutrality, etc. Yet you never hear the Swiss droning on about how great their country is like you hear (some) Americans doing.
That's mainly because nobody understands what they are saying. :D

Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: tufty on Sun, 10 November 2013, 04:41:43
Yea and judging the country by that one persons post makes you ignorant. Thanks for proving my point.
Try reading and thinking rather than going off on a kneejerk reaction, ya thick ****.

There's an enormous amount to love about the ideals behind the US.  There's a great deal to dislike about the current state of "implementation" of those ideals.  The US barely scrapes through as "civilised" on a huge number of measures, and that's only internal implementation.

For the external view, you need to consider that being a superpower doesn't make you loved, it makes you feared; being a belligerent superpower doesn't just make you feared, it makes you feared and hated.

The US is largely and probably rightfully seen as the latter of these two.  That's a good part of the reason people start sniping when they see "yay yay USA" threads.

Oh, and yeah.  Because you're all, without a single exception,  fat, hamburger-guzzling, rifle-toting, bible waving, racist rednecks.  Of course.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: Michael on Sun, 10 November 2013, 04:44:52
Yea and judging the country by that one persons post makes you ignorant. Thanks for proving my point.
Try reading and thinking rather than going off on a kneejerk reaction, ya thick ****.

There's an enormous amount to love about the ideals behind the US.  There's a great deal to dislike about the current state of "implementation" of those ideals.  The US barely scrapes through as "civilised" on a huge number of measures, and that's only internal implementation.

For the external view, you need to consider that being a superpower doesn't make you loved, it makes you feared; being a belligerent superpower doesn't just make you feared, it makes you feared and hated.

The US is largely and probably rightfully seen as the latter of these two.  That's a good part of the reason people start sniping when they see "yay yay USA" threads.

Oh, and yeah.  Because you're all, without a single exception,  fat, hamburger-guzzling, rifle-toting, bible waving, racist rednecks.  Of course.


There's no knee-jerk reaction to the point I made. I guess I could resort to petty name-calling, but that would surely bring me to the incompetence level that you seem to be dwelling at.


Go back, read what I responded to, then respond again after you have fully comprehended the post in its entirety.


Again - you are basically calling out the entire country for the words of a few individuals. You are speaking to me as if I am the country. I have very different viewpoints than those you seem
to be assigning the entire country. Seems you are a bit thick, yourself. This points to the ignorance I was speaking of. On one hand you seem to grasp some of the ideals, as well as shortcomings
but placing all blame on the entire country. Seeking out posts like these, then bashing the entire country for it, is in itself, ignorant.



What country do you reside in? I am certain I can reveal several of the same faults. Most countries have many of the same issues. Do you think 'Americans' themselves are boasting about the
power our country, and many other countries hold to devastate the planet? I highly doubt it. That would be a seriously deranged individual (not saying they don't exist, they do). It's going to
take a long time to move out of the need to make war to survive, into the 'lets take care of our own first' mentality.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: Malphas on Sun, 10 November 2013, 05:30:34
Please don't be as naive as to act as though the USA's inferiority/self-glorification complex is just a few individuals. It's an institutionalised part of American culture whether you like it or not. That doesn't mean every single person in the USA signs on to it, obviously, and no-one's suggested that; in fact, you're taking the lighthearted USA-ridicule more seriously than anyone else here. And I'm not just some snooty European basing my worldviews on cliches; I've spent a great deal of time in the USA and the whole "USA! USA! Greatest country in the world! Freedom, 'Murica!" is definitely a social meme there, above and way beyond normal everyday patriotism you see in other countries.

I mean, we've had several of these threads this year about the USA. I don't recall ever see one about Belgium, or Ireland, or Poland. You can't just pull the "that's a few individuals" rhetoric - society/culture is made out of individuals, and when a lot of individuals all exhibit the same tendencies then it reflects on that culture.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: Michael on Sun, 10 November 2013, 05:39:13
Please don't be as naive as to act as though the USA's inferiority/self-glorification complex is just a few individuals. It's an institutionalised part of American culture whether you like it or not. That doesn't mean every single person in the USA signs on to it, obviously, and no-one's suggested that; in fact, you're taking the lighthearted USA-ridicule more seriously than anyone else here. And I'm not just some snooty European basing my worldviews on cliches; I've spent a great deal of time in the USA and the whole "USA! USA! Greatest country in the world! Freedom, 'Murica!" is definitely a social meme there, above and way beyond normal everyday patriotism you see in other countries.


I am certainly not arguing the facts you have presented, which for the most part are true. I am simply pointing out the fact that specific individuals make it their point to bash the US in almost every thread having anything to do with it.


There's certainly a lot of unnecessary pride in this country. And I think George Carlin states it the best when he speaks on nationalism in general (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cwOqKfEYTg). The majority of the people screaming 'USA! USA!' are the less educated, pro-military and
generally from the less progressive-minded states.


I joke around about 'Murica, because I think it's pretty silly myself. To me it IS a joke. To many, it's their way of life. Not to say you shouldn't have something to be proud of, but when it's based on ignorance, it's just silly.


And to be clear, I am not being sensitive to people being against or for America, I am mostly irritated that the same rhetoric over and over appears by the same individuals all over this site.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: synerr on Sun, 10 November 2013, 05:40:47
The US is the land of paradoxes.  Fights socialised healthcare yet spends more per capita on healthcare than other industrialised nations whilst having more mediocre outcomes.  Puts telescopes in orbit that can see back in time to just a few hundred odd millions of years form the Big Bang yet half the population think the world is less than 10k years old.  Claims to be a democracy yet most politicians fly a theocratic banner.

Would love to know who created this image, but this is how a lot of us middle aged Europeans feel about the US:

Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: iri on Sun, 10 November 2013, 06:41:23
Would love to know who created this image
I am pretty sure it was an American.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: vasouv on Sun, 10 November 2013, 07:33:34
... yet half the population think the world is less than 10k years old...
This has already baffled me, how is it possible with nowadays' education for people NOT to know stuff? Or to think that America is 2013 years old? Seriously, I've seen pics from twitter with posts from people wishing America happy 2013 birthday! WHAT.THA.F*CK.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: synerr on Sun, 10 November 2013, 07:50:31
... yet half the population think the world is less than 10k years old...
This has already baffled me, how is it possible with nowadays' education for people NOT to know stuff? Or to think that America is 2013 years old? Seriously, I've seen pics from twitter with posts from people wishing America happy 2013 birthday! WHAT.THA.F*CK.

I've worked most of my life in "dodgy" counties.  My theory is that that certain societies develop a strong insular culture, believe they have something better than everywhere else, develop a sense of entitlement and seek fundamentalist religious justification and references to tradition, conservative values, identity, etc.  My alarm bells go off when I hear the phrase "god given right" or "divine duty".  I nearly thew up hearing my North American inlaws saying that living in an Eco disaster mansion in the burbs driving a gas guzzling SUV for a km just to pick up less milk than gas used for the trip was their god given right on this earth.  Wish there was a global oxygen tax.

Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: Findecanor on Sun, 10 November 2013, 08:58:05
Show Image
(http://honestfare.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/bombpops.jpg)

Luxembourg !! (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_Luxembourg.svg)
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: microsoft windows on Tue, 24 June 2014, 13:24:14
Back on topic! Tell us why you love America.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: Frenir on Tue, 24 June 2014, 13:37:13
This topic makes me cringe, the extreme need for Americans to tell everyone else about how great America is gives the opposite effect.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: Lurch on Tue, 24 June 2014, 13:47:55
I love America because FREEDOM FRIES!!!
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: paicrai on Tue, 24 June 2014, 14:41:58
i love america because it's literally a worldwide ctos #jokes
someone needs  to hack the data center in utah though goddamnit
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: Frenir on Tue, 24 June 2014, 14:47:05
i love america because it's literally a worldwide ctos #jokes
someone needs  to hack the data center in utah though goddamnit
God damnit, this isn't watch dogs!

or is it..... (http://youtu.be/HQoRXhS7vlU)
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: Malphas on Tue, 24 June 2014, 14:52:40
the USA PEOPLE... are no more enthusiastic about USA than anyone else is about their respective country.
Having spent considerable time in the USA and UK, as well as other countries around the world, I can say this is entirely false. The USA actually is considerably more patroitic/jingoistic than other developed countries. Generally the crappier a country is, the more misplaced pride the citizens have in its superiority. So on one end of the scale you have places like North Korea, then the likes of Russia, then the USA, the on the other end of the scale you have places like Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, etc. which actually are the best countries in the world, but are incredibly low-key about it.

Also, I suppose this video is obligatory in this kind of thread, if it hasn't already been posted.

Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: hashbaz on Tue, 24 June 2014, 14:54:42
Always relevant

Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: Frenir on Tue, 24 June 2014, 15:02:35
the USA PEOPLE... are no more enthusiastic about USA than anyone else is about their respective country.
Having spent considerable time in the USA and UK, as well as other countries around the world, I can say this is entirely false. The USA actually is considerably more patroitic/jingoistic than other developed countries. Generally the crappier a country is, the more misplaced pride the citizens have in its superiority. So on one end of the scale you have places like North Korea, then the likes of Russia, then the USA, the on the other end of the scale you have places like Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, etc. which actually are the best countries in the world, but are incredibly low-key about it.

Also, I suppose this video is obligatory in this kind of thread, if it hasn't already been posted.

Very powerful video, proves my point well.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: iri on Tue, 24 June 2014, 16:14:04
then the likes of Russia
*iri casts bear cavalry on malphas

[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: VesperSAINT on Wed, 25 June 2014, 04:49:14
I just presumed because you were posting in a thread titled "America is the best country in the world." that you were commenting about America... but you know what the say about presuming.

Sorry  :-X

that's assuming :p

You know what they say when you assume~ You make an ASS out of U and ME ;)
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: berserkfan on Wed, 25 June 2014, 07:51:52
Well, that’s a honest video.

But as I always tell people, if the US was willing to prioritize education more than its military, it would be a gigantic leap towards being better than other countries.

But that’s not the case.

Malphas mentioned North Korea. I find that very ironical. North Korea has a national motto, Songun (military first). It’s pretty much the same for the US as well – military first. I’m surprised at how much technological progress made by the US is actually funded by the military with the original intention of finding military applications, including of course the internet over which we are now communicating.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: Krogenar on Wed, 25 June 2014, 10:03:33
Define "best".

I can confirm that Americans really love their country more than most other nationalities. I sell flags of all nations for a living, and so I meet foreigners looking to buy an American flag, or their own flag, very often. I'm often asked, "Why do Americans have such a hard-on for their flag?" I answer, "Well, we love our country." The European in question often says, "Well, I love my country, but I don't put my flag on bikes, shirts, coffee cups, etc."

For Europeans, national pride is kind of gauche -- like picking your nose in public -- which is fine, to each their own. I still love America, and all the hate we receive from others is just more proof that America is a special place. It's only natural. Everyone hates the good guy, right? The guy who ends up as the Homecoming King, and bangs the Homecoming Queen? It's only natural to hate that guy, especially when he picks you up and dusts you off after chasing away some bullies. Is it any wonder some people hate America so effortlessly?

Also, we beat Ghana in soccer. Eat it, Ghana.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: berserkfan on Wed, 25 June 2014, 10:32:41

all the hate we receive from others is just more proof that America is a special place. It's only natural. Everyone hates the good guy, right? The guy who ends up as the Homecoming King, and bangs the Homecoming Queen? It's only natural to hate that guy, especially when he picks you up and dusts you off after chasing away some bullies. Is it any wonder some people hate America so effortlessly?


This is really an awesome piece of writing.

I might've believed it when JFK was around or when Truman faced down MacArthur for wanting to use nukes.

In the 21st century, America is THE bully, and the bully is the one with a whole mob of cronies bashing other folks down and dusting them down. I'd like to name more names but I think most citizens of America's second in command would prefer me to call it Tony Blair's war rather than associate their country with it.

And whatever sympathy I once had for Poland for being invaded and bashed from east and west, has been significantly diminished in the past 10 years.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: iri on Wed, 25 June 2014, 11:36:23
Well, that’s a honest video.

But as I always tell people, if the US was willing to prioritize education more than its military, it would be a gigantic leap towards being better than other countries.

But that’s not the case.

Malphas mentioned North Korea. I find that very ironical. North Korea has a national motto, Songun (military first). It’s pretty much the same for the US as well – military first.
that's because AMERICA IS THE MOST POWERFUL COUNTRY IN THE WORLD.
what is the world's strongest air force? united states air force.
what is the world's second strongest air force? united states navy!
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: MTManiac on Wed, 25 June 2014, 12:14:16
Well, that’s a honest video.

But as I always tell people, if the US was willing to prioritize education more than its military, it would be a gigantic leap towards being better than other countries.

But that’s not the case.

Malphas mentioned North Korea. I find that very ironical. North Korea has a national motto, Songun (military first). It’s pretty much the same for the US as well – military first.
that's because AMERICA IS THE MOST POWERFUL COUNTRY IN THE WORLD.
what is the world's strongest air force? united states navy.
what is the world's second strongest air force? united states air force!

fixed that for ya
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: iri on Wed, 25 June 2014, 16:03:26
then the likes of Russia, then the USA
jingoism here is waaaaaaaaay behind the usa. but that's the reason why AMERICA won the cold war. best brainwashing => best motivation! CHECKMATE COMMIES
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: berserkfan on Wed, 25 June 2014, 17:32:03
then the likes of Russia, then the USA
jingoism here is waaaaaaaaay behind the usa. but that's the reason why AMERICA won the cold war. best brainwashing => best motivation! CHECKMATE COMMIES

HA

I always tell people, Hollywood is the best propaganda in the world. I occasionally speculate that Hollywood produces such violent movies, serials, documentaries, etc. as part of a vast right wing conspiracy to inure Americans to violence and glorify violence so that they like a militaristic society.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: Krogenar on Wed, 25 June 2014, 17:45:28
I always tell people, Hollywood is the best propaganda in the world. I occasionally speculate that Hollywood produces such violent movies, serials, documentaries, etc. as part of a vast right wing conspiracy to inure Americans to violence and glorify violence so that they like a militaristic society.

Right, because Hollywood is overwhelmingly populated by right wingers.

As for America being 'World Bully' -- hey, any criticism to be leveled at Russia for it's wholesale confiscation of Georgia and Ukraine? No? Nothing to say? How about Syria, killing it's own citizens with chemical weapons? No? Nothing to say? What about North Korea, where citizens that are considered disloyal are sent to concentration camps worthy of the Nazi Regime? What about the beatings, honor killings and general misogyny found all over the Muslim world? No, no, no -- I'm deluded -- America is the bully, the one causing all the world's problems.

There are so many countries that make far better candidates for your hatred, berserkerfan.

Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: Malphas on Wed, 25 June 2014, 18:34:11
I still love America, and all the hate we receive from others is just more proof that America is a special place. It's only natural. Everyone hates the good guy, right? The guy who ends up as the Homecoming King, and bangs the Homecoming Queen? It's only natural to hate that guy, especially when he picks you up and dusts you off after chasing away some bullies. Is it any wonder some people hate America so effortlessly?
Eh, not really. The USA definitely has a historical significance, but now it's more like a regular, albeit large nation, slowly declining in influence and importance. It's the same position that used to be held by the British Empire pre-WW2, and although the UK might still hold a modicum of cultural cachet, it's for the most part just a regular country that no-one cares about.

I wouldn't really call the USA the "good guy" either. Fighting the Nazis was good and all, but there was a 50/50 chance of getting that right, and by that token you have to call Russia the good guy as well. Again, the USA basically succeeded the British Empire as the global bully, meddling in other countries affairs for political or economic gain with complete disregard for international law or the welfare of human beings - including its own citizens.

I mean, supposing we put aside all the stuff that could potentially be written off as part of the times, like the genocide and degradation of the native American population, slavery, witchhunts and executions, racial segregation, etc. then the USA has still has a pretty scummy record, for a long time now. You've got the incessant meddling of the Roosevelt Corollary into Latin America to protect or advance US economic interests, the Banana Wars, the funding, training and support for multiple terrorist/rebel groups throughout the Cold War (the Contras and the Mujahideen being the most notable examples), and the never-ending Middle East meddling in general, which tends to backfire every single time (the aforementioned indirect funding/training of al-Qaeda and the support for Saddam Hussein's coup of Iraq don't seem like such great ideas in hindsight). I could go on, but it would take forever.

That's why people look on the USA with mild disdain (no-one actually "hates" the US, besides fanatical jihadists); it's not because you're special. There's nothing really special about the USA anymore. Europe has more history and culture, Scandinavia and Asia have faster Internet, places like Singapore and Hong Kong make Manhattan look like Detroit, basically everywhere has better public transport and rail systems including the developing world, the EU economy is larger than the US's and most Europeans have a better standard of living than the typical American, the USA has more crime than the majority of the developed world, more homelessness, and more convicts, you have worse health, more obesity and lower life expectancy than the rest of the developed world, etc., etc.

Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: Malphas on Wed, 25 June 2014, 18:45:09
I always tell people, Hollywood is the best propaganda in the world. I occasionally speculate that Hollywood produces such violent movies, serials, documentaries, etc. as part of a vast right wing conspiracy to inure Americans to violence and glorify violence so that they like a militaristic society.

Right, because Hollywood is overwhelmingly populated by right wingers.


Actors tend towards the left, producers and executives do not. The 80's were full of Reagan-esque action movies about Americans saving the day in foreign countries, or renegade cops who shoot first and ask questions later. Honestly, Hollywood is just a reflection of the lowest common denominator of American culture in general though, rather than some right/left-wing conspiracy.

As for America being 'World Bully' -- hey, any criticism to be leveled at Russia for it's wholesale confiscation of Georgia and Ukraine? No? Nothing to say? How about Syria, killing it's own citizens with chemical weapons? No? Nothing to say? What about North Korea, where citizens that are considered disloyal are sent to concentration camps worthy of the Nazi Regime? What about the beatings, honor killings and general misogyny found all over the Muslim world? No, no, no -- I'm deluded -- America is the bully, the one causing all the world's problems.

There are so many countries that make far better candidates for your hatred, berserkerfan.


There are definitely nations doing worse things than the USA, the thing is though we already know Russia, Syria, etc. are bad, no-one is going around trying to pretend those are great countries or "the good guys", in the way people like you do about the USA. Not only that, but these countries' activities are all regional or domestic, the USA - like the British Empire before it - has consistently gotten itself involved in everyone else's business on a global level, so of course it's going to be viewed more negatively than a country trying to annex its neighbour, or with poor human rights with regard to its own citizens as long as it stays out of everyone else's way.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: Krogenar on Wed, 25 June 2014, 21:23:52
I still love America, and all the hate we receive from others is just more proof that America is a special place. It's only natural. Everyone hates the good guy, right? The guy who ends up as the Homecoming King, and bangs the Homecoming Queen? It's only natural to hate that guy, especially when he picks you up and dusts you off after chasing away some bullies. Is it any wonder some people hate America so effortlessly?
Eh, not really. The USA definitely has a historical significance, but now it's more like a regular, albeit large nation, slowly declining in influence and importance. It's the same position that used to be held by the British Empire pre-WW2, and although the UK might still hold a modicum of cultural cachet, it's for the most part just a regular country that no-one cares about.

So which nation is ascendant right now, Malphas? China? You think they'll be more ethical compared to America?

Quote
I wouldn't really call the USA the "good guy" either. Fighting the Nazis was good and all,

Fighting Nazis is so last century, right?

Quote
but there was a 50/50 chance of getting that right,

Meaning what, exactly? So the battle between democracy and authoritarianism is a coin toss?

Quote
and by that token you have to call Russia the good guy as well.

The Russians were on the right side of the conflict, sure -- but would you call Stalin a good guy? How about Chairman Mao?

Quote
Again, the USA basically succeeded the British Empire as the global bully, meddling in other countries affairs for political or economic gain with complete disregard for international law or the welfare of human beings - including its own citizens.

Did "International Law" even exist at the time of the British Empire? And to say that the Brits had "no regard" for their subjects is absurd. Even accepting that their empire was morally wrong, they passed Western values to these nations that have served them well. It's very easy to judge the past from our own distant, future shore. Make no mistake -- there will be more empires on this planet, and when they arrive, their rule will make American and British rule look quaint by comparison.

Quote
I mean, supposing we put aside all the stuff that could potentially be written off as part of the times, like the genocide and degradation of the native American population, slavery, witchhunts and executions, racial segregation, etc. then the USA has still has a pretty scummy record, for a long time now. You've got the incessant meddling of the Roosevelt Corollary into Latin America to protect or advance US economic interests, the Banana Wars, the funding, training and support for multiple terrorist/rebel groups throughout the Cold War (the Contras and the Mujahideen being the most notable examples), and the never-ending Middle East meddling in general, which tends to backfire every single time (the aforementioned indirect funding/training of al-Qaeda and the support for Saddam Hussein's coup of Iraq don't seem like such great ideas in hindsight). I could go on, but it would take forever.

Even were we to accept all of your anti-American Marxiness bull**** at face value, those actions fade to insignificance when compared to the moral depredations of Marxist regimes. I, too, could go on forever -- so I'll quote two examples. One, Stalin's purge put the Nazi concentration camps to shame. Stalin killed and immiserated many millions more. Historian Roy Aleksandrovich Medvedev estimates (http://www.ibtimes.com/how-many-people-did-joseph-stalin-kill-1111789) that Stalin's actions resulted in the deaths of approximately 20 million people.
Quote
In February 1989, two years before the fall of the Soviet Union, a research paper by Georgian historian Roy Aleksandrovich Medvedev published in the weekly tabloid Argumenti i Fakti estimated that the death toll directly attributable to Stalin’s rule amounted to some 20 million lives (on top of the estimated 20 million Soviet troops and civilians who perished in the Second World War), for a total tally of 40 million.

China's Chairman Mao's 'Great Leap Forward' (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Leap_Forward) resulted in anywhere from 18 to 32 million deaths:
Quote
The Great Leap ended in catastrophe, resulting in tens of millions of deaths.[3] Estimates of the death toll range from 18 million[4] to 45 million,[5] with estimates by demographic specialists ranging from 18 million to 32.5 million.[4] Historian Frank Dikötter asserts that "coercion, terror, and systematic violence were the very foundation of the Great Leap Forward" and it "motivated one of the most deadly mass killings of human history".[6]

So between those two nations alone -- conservative estimate -- 40 million dead.

That's a mountain of dead bodies that can be laid directly at the feet of collectivist regimes. And yet, there goes Europe and the rest of the world marching in that direction. Good luck.

Quote
That's why people look on the USA with mild disdain (no-one actually "hates" the US, besides fanatical jihadists); it's not because you're special. There's nothing really special about the USA anymore. Europe has more history and culture, Scandinavia and Asia have faster Internet, places like Singapore and Hong Kong make Manhattan look like Detroit, basically everywhere has better public transport and rail systems including the developing world, the EU economy is larger than the US's and most Europeans have a better standard of living than the typical American, the USA has more crime than the majority of the developed world, more homelessness, and more convicts, you have worse health, more obesity and lower life expectancy than the rest of the developed world, etc., etc.

Got any statistics to back any of that up?
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: berserkfan on Wed, 25 June 2014, 23:55:03


Got any statistics to back any of that up?

I don't need statistics although I know them fairly well, and it won't hurt you to educate yourself by doing a google search. Hell, go to CIA's website, they do lots of stats on countries and you can compare. Right wing guy like you should love the CIA which is busy spreading freedom everywhere all the time.

BTW I have this view of America as a gigantic, racially tense, filthy, vandalized ghetto filled with nasty people who would harass you, call you names and throw things at you all the time and try to steal your stuff or grab your stuff and run off with it. It's not hating on America; it's a real America that exists if you went to college in a major urban part of America. I never saw Marlboro Country you know. Took a long Grayhound trip literally buying tickets at random (yeah, I really wanted to see America back then) and all we saw were trailer parks and ****ty, falling-apart places. None of the cute sweet small town American girls you see in movies - more like drunks and dubious guys on the buses and exhausted looking minority women. But lemme guess, you didn't go to college, you live in a small town, and you own a buncha guns because deep down inside you know America's internal tensions and contradictions will all blow up if there was some major disaster that led to breakdown of social order.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: iri on Thu, 26 June 2014, 01:35:03
WHOLESALE CONFISCATION OF GEORGIA AND UKRAINE

i'm glad we got ourselves this little Johns Creek.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: berserkfan on Thu, 26 June 2014, 01:44:39
WHOLESALE CONFISCATION OF GEORGIA AND UKRAINE

i'm glad we got ourselves this little Johns Creek.

You guys should also confiscate the -Stans.

Central Asia has gotten a lot more dangerous thanks to the power vacuum. Regrettably the religious crazies are starting to emerge. Never thought I'd say this back in the 1980s when USSR was THE evil empire and we were all cheering Reagan on, but the Soviets did manage to keep order and (surprisingly) manage to give the Kyrgyz, Turkmens and Uzbeks a tolerable standard of living and social order. Now these guys have gone to hell.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: iri on Thu, 26 June 2014, 01:48:06
WHOLESALE CONFISCATION OF GEORGIA AND UKRAINE

i'm glad we got ourselves this little Johns Creek.

You guys should also confiscate the -Stans.
breaking news: they are uninhabitable. all their citizens are in russia now.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: berserkfan on Thu, 26 June 2014, 03:49:35
WHOLESALE CONFISCATION OF GEORGIA AND UKRAINE

i'm glad we got ourselves this little Johns Creek.

You guys should also confiscate the -Stans.
breaking news: they are uninhabitable. all their citizens are in russia now.

What about the folks living in mountain caves, cleaning their AK47s and getting ready to declare holy war? It's pretty habitable for them.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: Krogenar on Thu, 26 June 2014, 06:56:05


Got any statistics to back any of that up?

I don't need statistics although I know them fairly well,

Well that made me laugh. It's very obvious that you know a great deal, beserkerfan, that isn't so.

Quote
and it won't hurt you to educate yourself by doing a google search. Hell, go to CIA's website, they do lots of stats on countries and you can compare. Right wing guy like you should love the CIA which is busy spreading freedom everywhere all the time.

I should do your research for you? How about giving readers something beyond anecdotal trash talking?

Quote from: beserkerfan
BTW I have this view of America as a gigantic, racially tense, filthy, vandalized ghetto filled with nasty people who would harass you, call you names and throw things at you all the time and try to steal your stuff or grab your stuff and run off with it. It's not hating on America;

Sure, you imagine America as a giant set from 'Escape from New York' -- but you're not a hater!

Quote from: beserkerfan
it's a real America that exists if you went to college in a major urban part of America. I never saw Marlboro Country you know. Took a long Grayhound trip literally buying tickets at random (yeah, I really wanted to see America back then) and all we saw were trailer parks and ****ty, falling-apart places. None of the cute sweet small town American girls you see in movies - more like drunks and dubious guys on the buses and exhausted looking minority women.

LOL, you're really coming across as fair-minded! I went to Paris my senior year in high school, and my bus tour guide smelled like hot, onion-y garbage. But even so I didn't assume that the entire country was populated by sweat-stained girly men whose delicate fingers could barely support their skinny cigarettes. No, I realized that bus lines (and the people who frequent them) are probably not the best indicators of a nation's social makeup.

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But lemme guess, you didn't go to college, you live in a small town, and you own a buncha guns because deep down inside you know America's internal tensions and contradictions will all blow up if there was some major disaster that led to breakdown of social order.

Your guesses are as bad as your knowledge of history. I have a college degree, I live in a suburb, and I run my own business in New York City, the de facto Center of the Known Universe. I'm not saying other cities don't have things to recommend them, but NYC is where everything ends up if it's worth a damn.

Also, I don't own a gun.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: IvanIvanovich on Thu, 26 June 2014, 08:39:44
(https://gs1.wac.edgecastcdn.net/8019B6/data.tumblr.com/tumblr_lrtthzxLWV1qg39ewo1_500.gif)(https://tapestry-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/scbs/8/b/4/8b4482ef7c5d0c322922761c9195bb2b)
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: berserkfan on Thu, 26 June 2014, 09:07:22
One lesson I learned from my experiences in grad school: never argue with someone who’s ignorant, and never do their homework for them.

These are easily googled statistics. From official US government sources. I don’t touch Chinese government sources with a fifty foot network cable. Considering how much money the US government spends spying on other countries, I think they probably have the best statistics. If you believe these stats are so much to your liking, why not read them yourself and pleasure yourself while you're at it? If the stats turn out not to be your liking, you can always call your local con-man and complain how your tax dollars are being spent.

And let me throw out a couple of guesses at where you got your college degree: Liberty U. Or Washington & Lee.

Statistically there are too many possibilities so a hole in one is almost impossible; I can only make the ‘most likely’ guess based on what you’re talking about.

As for lack of gun ownership, if you work in NYC, it isn’t that surprising. It’s got some (relatively) strict laws and it would be difficult for you to use the gun effectively if you’re not allowed to carry it loaded. But that you can have the opinions you have, and not be the owner of a cabin upstate stocked with shotguns, spam and Sons of the American Revolution stuff, well that did disappoint me.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: iri on Thu, 26 June 2014, 09:31:05
Considering how much money the US government spends spying on other countries, I think they probably have the best statistics.
which is one reason why America is THE BEST.

But that you can have the opinions you have, and not be the owner of a cabin upstate stocked with shotguns, spam and Sons of the American Revolution stuff, well that did disappoint me.
upstate ny is another reason why America is THE BEST.

[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: Computer-Lab in Basement on Thu, 26 June 2014, 09:37:08

upstate ny is another reason why America is THE BEST.

(Attachment Link)

Upstate NY is amazing. The Adirondacks, Lake George... so many fond memories, from childhood to now...
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: Krogenar on Thu, 26 June 2014, 12:01:44
One lesson I learned from my experiences in grad school: never argue with someone who’s ignorant, and never do their homework for them.

Right. Make expansive, fact-free declarations and call anyone who challenges them ignorant.

Quote
These are easily googled statistics.

They're your assertions berserker, not mine -- so why not do your own homework?

I stated that collectivist regimes were a hell of a lot more deadly in real human terms (citizens murdered) than America has ever been, warts and all. And I provided references to these facts. Is my calculus wrong? I think my metric (democide) was a fair one.

Quote
From official US government sources. I don’t touch Chinese government sources with a fifty foot network cable. Considering how much money the US government spends spying on other countries, I think they probably have the best statistics. If you believe these stats are so much to your liking, why not read them yourself and pleasure yourself while you're at it? If the stats turn out not to be your liking, you can always call your local con-man and complain how your tax dollars are being spent.

Again, dig the crud out of your ears. These are your assertions (America is stupid, fat, lazy, the poor are eating each other, Europe's economy is larger, etc.) -- not mine. I'm under no obligation to fact check your assertions -- you are.

Quote
And let me throw out a couple of guesses at where you got your college degree: Liberty U. Or Washington & Lee.

Since you're intellectually lazy, it's easier for you to just attack me. I love America. I never claimed America was "the best" -- in fact I started by saying, "how do you define 'best'" in the first place. Love is not rational. To me, your angsty, lame hatred of America is a balm. I love my country (not necessarily it's government) and it drives you ****ing nuts.

 :-*

AMERICA!!!


Quote
Statistically there are too many possibilities so a hole in one is almost impossible; I can only make the ‘most likely’ guess based on what you’re talking about.

As for lack of gun ownership, if you work in NYC, it isn’t that surprising. It’s got some (relatively) strict laws and it would be difficult for you to use the gun effectively if you’re not allowed to carry it loaded. But that you can have the opinions you have, and not be the owner of a cabin upstate stocked with shotguns, spam and Sons of the American Revolution stuff, well that did disappoint me.


 ;D
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: Lurch on Thu, 26 June 2014, 12:18:12
NE USA is the best.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: Frenir on Thu, 26 June 2014, 12:31:53
(https://fireden.net/4chan/images.4chan.org//vg/src/1390243249803.jpg)
You know it's true.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: katushkin on Thu, 26 June 2014, 12:54:40
Where's ur Empire eh?
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: Frenir on Thu, 26 June 2014, 13:33:14
Where's ur Empire eh?
Jeg kan ikke høre dig over lyden af velfærd.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: iri on Thu, 26 June 2014, 13:45:06
Where's ur Empire eh?
where is yours?
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: heedpantsnow on Thu, 26 June 2014, 13:47:33
Meh, I love America but I don't know if it's the best and I would never brag like that to others.  Once while on a trip to Laos, some village kids went through my wife's purse and found treasures like hairbrushes and paperclips and Bic pens and thought it was the greatest stuff in the world.  Made me embarrassed for *****ing that morning about how awful the coffee was there.  #firstworldproblems
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: iri on Thu, 26 June 2014, 13:49:54
Meh, I love America but I don't know if it's the best and I would never brag like that to others.  Once while on a trip to Laos, some village kids went through my wife's purse and found treasures like hairbrushes and paperclips and Bic pens and thought it was the greatest stuff in the world.  Made me embarrassed for *****ing that morning about how awful the coffee was there.  #firstworldproblems
look, in america you can have hairbrushes and paperclips and bic pens. doesn't that mean that America is the best?
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: paicrai on Thu, 26 June 2014, 13:50:34
where are our semi auto high caliber spec ops open carry rifles? nowhere, that's why america is better than us
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: iri on Thu, 26 June 2014, 13:55:09
Where's ur Empire eh?
Jeg kan ikke høre dig over lyden af velfærd.
shut up, overtaxed europoor.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: Frenir on Thu, 26 June 2014, 13:57:43
Where's ur Empire eh?
Jeg kan ikke høre dig over lyden af velfærd.
shut up, overtaxed europoor.
(https://i.imgur.com/PDGizgN.png)
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: Mooby on Thu, 26 June 2014, 14:44:31
Where's ur Empire eh?
Jeg kan ikke høre dig over lyden af velfærd.
shut up, overtaxed europoor.
Show Image
(https://i.imgur.com/PDGizgN.png)


(http://web.engr.illinois.edu/~sittig2/cs498dwh/proj3/tumbleweed.jpg)
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: microsoft windows on Thu, 26 June 2014, 14:45:59
LOOKS LIKE A TUMBLEWEED THERE
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: Mooby on Thu, 26 June 2014, 14:51:59
LOOKS LIKE A TUMBLEWEED THERE

It's my rage man.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: Malphas on Thu, 26 June 2014, 15:17:13
So which nation is ascendant right now, Malphas? China? You think they'll be more ethical compared to America?
Heaven's no. They'll be worse, obviously.

Fighting Nazis is so last century, right?

Meaning what, exactly? So the battle between democracy and authoritarianism is a coin toss?
You don't seem to understand what I meant. WWII is a thing often brought up in these kind of debated, when trying to invalidate criticism of America. Usually with some obnoxious comment like "well you'd all be speaking German now if it wasn't for the USA". My point is you can't trade off of something that happened 80 years ago, and that a multitude of other countries did as well.

The Russians were on the right side of the conflict, sure -- but would you call Stalin a good guy? How about Chairman Mao?
Well no of course not. That was exactly my point. Not sure if you're being deliberately obtuse now.


Did "International Law" even exist at the time of the British Empire? And to say that the Brits had "no regard" for their subjects is absurd. Even accepting that their empire was morally wrong, they passed Western values to these nations that have served them well. It's very easy to judge the past from our own distant, future shore. Make no mistake -- there will be more empires on this planet, and when they arrive, their rule will make American and British rule look quaint by comparison.
I'm not criticising the British Empire because it's besides the point. I'm drawing a parallel between 19th century colonialism and imperialism and 20th century US interventionism and 21st century anti-terrorism. I'm not sure the people who actually lived under colonialism would have such a rose-tinted view of it as yourself though.

Even were we to accept all of your anti-American Marxiness bull**** at face value, those actions fade to insignificance when compared to the moral depredations of Marxist regimes. I, too, could go on forever -- so I'll quote two examples. One, Stalin's purge put the Nazi concentration camps to shame. Stalin killed and immiserated many millions more. Historian Roy Aleksandrovich Medvedev estimates (http://www.ibtimes.com/how-many-people-did-joseph-stalin-kill-1111789) that Stalin's actions resulted in the deaths of approximately 20 million people.
Quote
In February 1989, two years before the fall of the Soviet Union, a research paper by Georgian historian Roy Aleksandrovich Medvedev published in the weekly tabloid Argumenti i Fakti estimated that the death toll directly attributable to Stalin’s rule amounted to some 20 million lives (on top of the estimated 20 million Soviet troops and civilians who perished in the Second World War), for a total tally of 40 million.

China's Chairman Mao's 'Great Leap Forward' (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Leap_Forward) resulted in anywhere from 18 to 32 million deaths:
Quote
The Great Leap ended in catastrophe, resulting in tens of millions of deaths.[3] Estimates of the death toll range from 18 million[4] to 45 million,[5] with estimates by demographic specialists ranging from 18 million to 32.5 million.[4] Historian Frank Dikötter asserts that "coercion, terror, and systematic violence were the very foundation of the Great Leap Forward" and it "motivated one of the most deadly mass killings of human history".[6]

So between those two nations alone -- conservative estimate -- 40 million dead.

That's a mountain of dead bodies that can be laid directly at the feet of collectivist regimes. And yet, there goes Europe and the rest of the world marching in that direction. Good luck.
Yawn. When did I say anything remotely Marxist? When did I ever defend Marxist regimes. You made the statement that the USA was the "good guy". I listed some of the many scummy things the USA has done as evidence of the contrary (indisputable, factual things to boot, not vague assertions or opinions). Your retort is that Communist dictatorships which don't even exist anymore were worse, as if that something makes your original assertion correct. You must see how confused your argument and pathetic your straw-clutching has become at this point, Krogenar. On a side note, the idea that Europe and the rest of the world is heading towards Marxism is typical Fox-news conservative delusion fantasy.

Quote
That's why people look on the USA with mild disdain (no-one actually "hates" the US, besides fanatical jihadists); it's not because you're special. There's nothing really special about the USA anymore. Europe has more history and culture, Scandinavia and Asia have faster Internet, places like Singapore and Hong Kong make Manhattan look like Detroit, basically everywhere has better public transport and rail systems including the developing world, the EU economy is larger than the US's and most Europeans have a better standard of living than the typical American, the USA has more crime than the majority of the developed world, more homelessness, and more convicts, you have worse health, more obesity and lower life expectancy than the rest of the developed world, etc., etc.

Got any statistics to back any of that up?
Krogenar, these are well known facts, I'm really not making stuff up here. I suggest next time you enter a debate and someone drops a few facts that you aren't aware of, that you do a 30 second Google search to verify them, rather than demanding statistics from the person you're debating and making yourself look ignorant in the process, since the majority of people are already aware of this widely-known information.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: paicrai on Thu, 26 June 2014, 15:20:34
you guys yell at eachother about anything, even on troll threads

i'm going to make a thread called post mortem ****s and farts and you'll still find some way to argue on the topic
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: Computer-Lab in Basement on Thu, 26 June 2014, 15:23:02
post mortem ****s

pls. make said thread.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: Malphas on Thu, 26 June 2014, 15:25:56
Also, for the record my girlfriend of seven years is American, and although I do think the USA is dreadful in many ways, one thing it is good for is if you happen to be wealthy, which is why I've considered/still considering migrating there at some point.

The USA is great if you're rich (and ideally WASP) and can live in a gated community or secluded residence, easily afford private healthcare, and easily afford to put your kids through a decent college. Most Americans probably don't fit into that category, frankly, but as John Steinbeck said: "in America because the poor see themselves not as an exploited proletariat but as temporarily embarrassed millionaires", due the lingering delusion of the American Dream. Which is why in red states you have "Joe the Plumber" idiots who view policies that benefit them as doing the opposite.
 
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: iri on Fri, 27 June 2014, 02:40:40
it is good for is if you happen to be wealthy
many countries are.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: microsoft windows on Fri, 27 June 2014, 08:33:22
Also, for the record my girlfriend of seven years is American, and although I do think the USA is dreadful in many ways, one thing it is good for is if you happen to be wealthy, which is why I've considered/still considering migrating there at some point.

The USA is great if you're rich (and ideally WASP) and can live in a gated community or secluded residence, easily afford private healthcare, and easily afford to put your kids through a decent college. Most Americans probably don't fit into that category, frankly, but as John Steinbeck said: "in America because the poor see themselves not as an exploited proletariat but as temporarily embarrassed millionaires", due the lingering delusion of the American Dream. Which is why in red states you have "Joe the Plumber" idiots who view policies that benefit them as doing the opposite.
 

Do you live in America?
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: vivalarevolución on Fri, 27 June 2014, 08:41:09
Until the USA invades Canada and takes their oil and eliminates custom fees, I cannot take this country seriously.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: Krogenar on Fri, 27 June 2014, 09:45:22
Quote from: Krogenar
China's Chairman Mao's 'Great Leap Forward' (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Leap_Forward) resulted in anywhere from 18 to 32 million deaths:
Quote
The Great Leap ended in catastrophe, resulting in tens of millions of deaths.[3] Estimates of the death toll range from 18 million[4] to 45 million,[5] with estimates by demographic specialists ranging from 18 million to 32.5 million.[4] Historian Frank Dikötter asserts that "coercion, terror, and systematic violence were the very foundation of the Great Leap Forward" and it "motivated one of the most deadly mass killings of human history".[6]

So between those two nations alone -- conservative estimate -- 40 million dead.

That's a mountain of dead bodies that can be laid directly at the feet of collectivist regimes. And yet, there goes Europe and the rest of the world marching in that direction. Good luck.
Yawn. When did I say anything remotely Marxist? When did I ever defend Marxist regimes. You made the statement that the USA was the "good guy". I listed some of the many scummy things the USA has done as evidence of the contrary (indisputable, factual things to boot, not vague assertions or opinions). Your retort is that Communist dictatorships which don't even exist anymore were worse, as if that something makes your original assertion correct. You must see how confused your argument and pathetic your straw-clutching has become at this point, Krogenar.

You can yawn at 40 million dead people and call America a bully? A 'bully' compared to whom? Has America murdered 40 million innocent people? Twenty? Not even close! Do we have our bad moments (Indian wars, internment camps during wars, slavery) -- sure, sure we do. But my point is that while you **** on America and call it "world bully" there are far worse actors in the world, past and present.

And for the record, I never claimed America was the 'best' country, I only asserted that I love my country. This was too much for you to take, so you decided to **** all over America. What do you expect people to do when you insult something they care about? You made a bunch of anecdotal statements about the U.S. without any references to facts and expect everyone else should 'do their research' in order to prove that you're right?

Your opinions about America are yours to keep, but America has a better moral track record than most other countries -- not perfect, but nowhere near as monstrous as you claim. Also, I don't care who you are, your education, your race, where you live, or who you date. Why suddenly state that you have an American girlfriend? It's like you said something that most would agree was racist, so you said, "... I have a lot of black friends!" as a lame moral backstop. None of your biographical information is relevant -- your opinions are stupid and easily debunked -- that's enough for me -- I don't have to make it personal.

Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: vivalarevolución on Fri, 27 June 2014, 10:24:01
Quote from: Krogenar
China's Chairman Mao's 'Great Leap Forward' (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Leap_Forward) resulted in anywhere from 18 to 32 million deaths:
Quote
The Great Leap ended in catastrophe, resulting in tens of millions of deaths.[3] Estimates of the death toll range from 18 million[4] to 45 million,[5] with estimates by demographic specialists ranging from 18 million to 32.5 million.[4] Historian Frank Dikötter asserts that "coercion, terror, and systematic violence were the very foundation of the Great Leap Forward" and it "motivated one of the most deadly mass killings of human history".[6]

So between those two nations alone -- conservative estimate -- 40 million dead.

That's a mountain of dead bodies that can be laid directly at the feet of collectivist regimes. And yet, there goes Europe and the rest of the world marching in that direction. Good luck.
Yawn. When did I say anything remotely Marxist? When did I ever defend Marxist regimes. You made the statement that the USA was the "good guy". I listed some of the many scummy things the USA has done as evidence of the contrary (indisputable, factual things to boot, not vague assertions or opinions). Your retort is that Communist dictatorships which don't even exist anymore were worse, as if that something makes your original assertion correct. You must see how confused your argument and pathetic your straw-clutching has become at this point, Krogenar.

You can yawn at 40 million dead people and call America a bully? A 'bully' compared to whom? Has America murdered 40 million innocent people? Twenty? Not even close! Do we have our bad moments (Indian wars, internment camps during wars, slavery) -- sure, sure we do. But my point is that while you **** on America and call it "world bully" there are far worse actors in the world, past and present.

And for the record, I never claimed America was the 'best' country, I only asserted that I love my country. This was too much for you to take, so you decided to **** all over America. What do you expect people to do when you insult something they care about? You made a bunch of anecdotal statements about the U.S. without any references to facts and expect everyone else should 'do their research' in order to prove that you're right?

Your opinions about America are yours to keep, but America has a better moral track record than most other countries -- not perfect, but nowhere near as monstrous as you claim. Also, I don't care who you are, your education, your race, where you live, or who you date. Why suddenly state that you have an American girlfriend? It's like you said something that most would agree was racist, so you said, "... I have a lot of black friends!" as a lame moral backstop. None of your biographical information is relevant -- your opinions are stupid and easily debunked -- that's enough for me -- I don't have to make it personal.

Your ignorance and propensity to voice it is startling.  Unprovoked US military interventions, along with support of despotic regimes throughout the world, has resulted in at least tens of millions, if not hundreds of millions, of deaths across the world.  Learn some history.   We just have not directly killed masses of our own population in our country.  Except for the Civil War.  Also by sending young boys off to war to die for causes they were duped into fighting for.  And we kill about 10,000 of each other each year without any help from the government.  Not sure that 10,000 includes murder by rouge cops with military surplus equipment.

http://www.globalpolicy.org/us-military-expansion-and-intervention/26024-us-interventions.html


Instead of wholesale slaughter of our own citizens (except for the Civil War and various other small rebellions here and there), the United States has always supported other countries doing the wholesale slaughter of their own citizens.  We just prefer outsource the bloodshed to other countries.  For now.

You are simply a fool to believe that the United States has the moral high ground over other nations.  Look at this list of interventions.  We are the poster child of imperialism.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: Malphas on Fri, 27 June 2014, 16:40:45
Quote from: Krogenar
China's Chairman Mao's 'Great Leap Forward' (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Leap_Forward) resulted in anywhere from 18 to 32 million deaths:
Quote
The Great Leap ended in catastrophe, resulting in tens of millions of deaths.[3] Estimates of the death toll range from 18 million[4] to 45 million,[5] with estimates by demographic specialists ranging from 18 million to 32.5 million.[4] Historian Frank Dikötter asserts that "coercion, terror, and systematic violence were the very foundation of the Great Leap Forward" and it "motivated one of the most deadly mass killings of human history".[6]

So between those two nations alone -- conservative estimate -- 40 million dead.

That's a mountain of dead bodies that can be laid directly at the feet of collectivist regimes. And yet, there goes Europe and the rest of the world marching in that direction. Good luck.
Yawn. When did I say anything remotely Marxist? When did I ever defend Marxist regimes. You made the statement that the USA was the "good guy". I listed some of the many scummy things the USA has done as evidence of the contrary (indisputable, factual things to boot, not vague assertions or opinions). Your retort is that Communist dictatorships which don't even exist anymore were worse, as if that something makes your original assertion correct. You must see how confused your argument and pathetic your straw-clutching has become at this point, Krogenar.

You can yawn at 40 million dead people and call America a bully? A 'bully' compared to whom? Has America murdered 40 million innocent people? Twenty? Not even close! Do we have our bad moments (Indian wars, internment camps during wars, slavery) -- sure, sure we do. But my point is that while you **** on America and call it "world bully" there are far worse actors in the world, past and present.

And for the record, I never claimed America was the 'best' country, I only asserted that I love my country. This was too much for you to take, so you decided to **** all over America. What do you expect people to do when you insult something they care about? You made a bunch of anecdotal statements about the U.S. without any references to facts and expect everyone else should 'do their research' in order to prove that you're right?

Your opinions about America are yours to keep, but America has a better moral track record than most other countries -- not perfect, but nowhere near as monstrous as you claim. Also, I don't care who you are, your education, your race, where you live, or who you date. Why suddenly state that you have an American girlfriend? It's like you said something that most would agree was racist, so you said, "... I have a lot of black friends!" as a lame moral backstop. None of your biographical information is relevant -- your opinions are stupid and easily debunked -- that's enough for me -- I don't have to make it personal.


Again Krog, place try reading and understanding what I've said before having another go at replying, then maybe it won't read as though you're on the verge of tears while typing your hysterical responses.

Also, for the record my girlfriend of seven years is American, and although I do think the USA is dreadful in many ways, one thing it is good for is if you happen to be wealthy, which is why I've considered/still considering migrating there at some point.

The USA is great if you're rich (and ideally WASP) and can live in a gated community or secluded residence, easily afford private healthcare, and easily afford to put your kids through a decent college. Most Americans probably don't fit into that category, frankly, but as John Steinbeck said: "in America because the poor see themselves not as an exploited proletariat but as temporarily embarrassed millionaires", due the lingering delusion of the American Dream. Which is why in red states you have "Joe the Plumber" idiots who view policies that benefit them as doing the opposite.
 


Do you live in America?
Why would I consider migrating to a place I already live? Think about it, MS.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: microsoft windows on Fri, 27 June 2014, 17:32:56
Quote from: Krogenar
China's Chairman Mao's 'Great Leap Forward' (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Leap_Forward) resulted in anywhere from 18 to 32 million deaths:
Quote
The Great Leap ended in catastrophe, resulting in tens of millions of deaths.[3] Estimates of the death toll range from 18 million[4] to 45 million,[5] with estimates by demographic specialists ranging from 18 million to 32.5 million.[4] Historian Frank Dikötter asserts that "coercion, terror, and systematic violence were the very foundation of the Great Leap Forward" and it "motivated one of the most deadly mass killings of human history".[6]

So between those two nations alone -- conservative estimate -- 40 million dead.

That's a mountain of dead bodies that can be laid directly at the feet of collectivist regimes. And yet, there goes Europe and the rest of the world marching in that direction. Good luck.
Yawn. When did I say anything remotely Marxist? When did I ever defend Marxist regimes. You made the statement that the USA was the "good guy". I listed some of the many scummy things the USA has done as evidence of the contrary (indisputable, factual things to boot, not vague assertions or opinions). Your retort is that Communist dictatorships which don't even exist anymore were worse, as if that something makes your original assertion correct. You must see how confused your argument and pathetic your straw-clutching has become at this point, Krogenar.

You can yawn at 40 million dead people and call America a bully? A 'bully' compared to whom? Has America murdered 40 million innocent people? Twenty? Not even close! Do we have our bad moments (Indian wars, internment camps during wars, slavery) -- sure, sure we do. But my point is that while you **** on America and call it "world bully" there are far worse actors in the world, past and present.

And for the record, I never claimed America was the 'best' country, I only asserted that I love my country. This was too much for you to take, so you decided to **** all over America. What do you expect people to do when you insult something they care about? You made a bunch of anecdotal statements about the U.S. without any references to facts and expect everyone else should 'do their research' in order to prove that you're right?

Your opinions about America are yours to keep, but America has a better moral track record than most other countries -- not perfect, but nowhere near as monstrous as you claim. Also, I don't care who you are, your education, your race, where you live, or who you date. Why suddenly state that you have an American girlfriend? It's like you said something that most would agree was racist, so you said, "... I have a lot of black friends!" as a lame moral backstop. None of your biographical information is relevant -- your opinions are stupid and easily debunked -- that's enough for me -- I don't have to make it personal.


Again Krog, place try reading and understanding what I've said before having another go at replying, then maybe it won't read as though you're on the verge of tears while typing your hysterical responses.

Also, for the record my girlfriend of seven years is American, and although I do think the USA is dreadful in many ways, one thing it is good for is if you happen to be wealthy, which is why I've considered/still considering migrating there at some point.

The USA is great if you're rich (and ideally WASP) and can live in a gated community or secluded residence, easily afford private healthcare, and easily afford to put your kids through a decent college. Most Americans probably don't fit into that category, frankly, but as John Steinbeck said: "in America because the poor see themselves not as an exploited proletariat but as temporarily embarrassed millionaires", due the lingering delusion of the American Dream. Which is why in red states you have "Joe the Plumber" idiots who view policies that benefit them as doing the opposite.
 


Do you live in America?
Why would I consider migrating to a place I already live? Think about it, MS.

Well, if you don't live in America, then why do you consider yourself to be more fit to judge it than we are?
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: Malphas on Sat, 28 June 2014, 07:32:06
Well, if you don't live in America, then why do you consider yourself to be more fit to judge it than we are?

Extensive experience there and in a variety of other countries (I could be wrong but I get the impression that you guys aren't particularly well travelled, or have experienced visiting other countries other than as short-term tourists), better informed of facts (as evidence by Krog's ignorance and demanding of statistics of things which are generally common knowledge, like the fact the EU economy is larger than the US's), emotional detachment (something clearly lacking in you guys) .
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: ferociousfingerings on Sat, 28 June 2014, 08:46:22
define terrorism (http://lmgtfy.com/?q=define+terrorism)

Hate links?

copy/paste from google:

ter·ror·ism
/ˈterəˌrizəm/
noun
noun: terrorism

    the use of violence and intimidation in the pursuit of political aims.


The U.S. Gov't has been infiltrated and hijacked by terrorists (not a new revelation). However, i will not say "America is the terrorists," because the infidel hijackers do not qualify, IMO, as "America." They masquerade as such, but it's simply false (or maybe it's true, since they are indeed running the show at this point). But then it gets very difficult to communicate this critical distinction to others (e.g. the ignorant, with whom we should not argue, but instead, should ask them to explain their understanding of any particular issue, so that they will learn on their own, that they in fact had a much lower understanding of said issue than previously assumed... art of persuasion ^^), and things always get oversimplified, for various reasons, which makes the real issues prohibitively complicated to discuss, which often means they don't get discussed, which means nothing ever gets done about it. It's pointless to attempt to communicate with unreasonable people who prefer to disregard facts, instead substituting their own preferred fantasies. That type of attitude assists the terrorists, and allows them to not only perpetuate their reign of terror, but also denotes complicity in that regime's quest to give itself more and more power, until there is none left for US (the REAL Americans), and nothing more we can do about it, because we are essentially outgunned by brainwashed mercenaries, who don't care what's true as long as they get paid.

Anyone got a legit solution for that problem?

Meanwhile, "best country in the world" really isn't saying much. From what i can see, all gov'ts are too corrupt to be called "good," and all countries are well-below their potential, including mine.

Saying "best country in the world" is kinda like saying "[...] is the best terminal disease to have," or "[...] is the best method of sawing off your own legs."

All the countries are bad, and none of their citizens should be judged by what their out of control gov'ts do.

Too bad there isn't another continent or large region to colonize... but if there were, it would probably only end up facilitating the establishment of yet another corrupt oppressive regime.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: microsoft windows on Sat, 28 June 2014, 10:59:58
Well, if you don't live in America, then why do you consider yourself to be more fit to judge it than we are?

Extensive experience there and in a variety of other countries (I could be wrong but I get the impression that you guys aren't particularly well travelled, or have experienced visiting other countries other than as short-term tourists), better informed of facts (as evidence by Krog's ignorance and demanding of statistics of things which are generally common knowledge, like the fact the EU economy is larger than the US's), emotional detachment (something clearly lacking in you guys) .

You can say all you want, but the bottom line is that I have more experience in America than you do. I also have more experience in the European Union as well. I have travelled to over 60 countries and have visited every continent except for Antarctica. And out of all that, I have personally observed that the United States of America is superior to any other nation. It may not be perfect, but the Earth isn't heaven either.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: iri on Sat, 28 June 2014, 11:23:46
sure, just like windows 98 is superior to any other operating system.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: Mooby on Sat, 28 June 2014, 13:00:37
Well, if you don't live in America, then why do you consider yourself to be more fit to judge it than we are?

Extensive experience there and in a variety of other countries (I could be wrong but I get the impression that you guys aren't particularly well travelled, or have experienced visiting other countries other than as short-term tourists), better informed of facts (as evidence by Krog's ignorance and demanding of statistics of things which are generally common knowledge, like the fact the EU economy is larger than the US's), emotional detachment (something clearly lacking in you guys) .

You can say all you want, but the bottom line is that I have more experience in America than you do. I also have more experience in the European Union as well. I have travelled to over 60 countries and have visited every continent except for Antarctica. And out of all that, I have personally observed that the United States of America is superior to any other nation. It may not be perfect, but the Earth isn't heaven either.

All of your experience convinced me that America must in fact be the best country in the world. It even didn't need a single valid argument to do so. Thank you kind sir.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: ideus on Sat, 28 June 2014, 13:08:22
US is a great nation, however to say that it is the best may be always debatable. In a side note, America is the continent, not the country. The proper name is United States of America. Many other countries may claim in proper right they are part of America as well.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: Malphas on Sat, 28 June 2014, 13:51:12
Well, if you don't live in America, then why do you consider yourself to be more fit to judge it than we are?

Extensive experience there and in a variety of other countries (I could be wrong but I get the impression that you guys aren't particularly well travelled, or have experienced visiting other countries other than as short-term tourists), better informed of facts (as evidence by Krog's ignorance and demanding of statistics of things which are generally common knowledge, like the fact the EU economy is larger than the US's), emotional detachment (something clearly lacking in you guys) .

You can say all you want, but the bottom line is that I have more experience in America than you do. I also have more experience in the European Union as well. I have travelled to over 60 countries and have visited every continent except for Antarctica. And out of all that, I have personally observed that the United States of America is superior to any other nation. It may not be perfect, but the Earth isn't heaven either.

I personally witnessed the signing of the Declaration of Independence, fought in the American Civil War, have visited every planet in the solar system, and shot Ronald Reagan, so it looks like I'm the winner now.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: iri on Sat, 28 June 2014, 16:02:46
US is a great nation
so is russia. and china.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: smknjoe on Sat, 28 June 2014, 17:09:59
America is the continent, not the country. The proper name is United States of America. Many other countries may claim in proper right they are part of America as well.

I think everyone knows that America is a dual continent. America is also used as a slang term to refer to the USA. Just like how everyone calls "America" a democracy when it is not a democracy and never has been...it's a Republic. That actually seems to be something that even most "Americans" don't realize.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: microsoft windows on Sat, 28 June 2014, 20:10:54
US is a great nation
so is russia. and china.

But they are not as great as America. That is why America is the best country in the world.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: microsoft windows on Sat, 28 June 2014, 20:11:19
Well, if you don't live in America, then why do you consider yourself to be more fit to judge it than we are?

Extensive experience there and in a variety of other countries (I could be wrong but I get the impression that you guys aren't particularly well travelled, or have experienced visiting other countries other than as short-term tourists), better informed of facts (as evidence by Krog's ignorance and demanding of statistics of things which are generally common knowledge, like the fact the EU economy is larger than the US's), emotional detachment (something clearly lacking in you guys) .

You can say all you want, but the bottom line is that I have more experience in America than you do. I also have more experience in the European Union as well. I have travelled to over 60 countries and have visited every continent except for Antarctica. And out of all that, I have personally observed that the United States of America is superior to any other nation. It may not be perfect, but the Earth isn't heaven either.

All of your experience convinced me that America must in fact be the best country in the world. It even didn't need a single valid argument to do so. Thank you kind sir.

You're welcome!
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: microsoft windows on Sat, 28 June 2014, 20:11:49
sure, just like windows 98 is superior to any other operating system.

That's right!
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: Elrick on Sat, 28 June 2014, 22:14:46
America is the greatest Country in the world because of the liberty in stockpiling as much personal weapons on your property to safeguard your family.

If I was an American, entire underground hangers with my own personal collection of rocket launchers, machine guns and explosives to protect what's mine and the glory of the American flag  :thumb: .

This is what makes the US of A so brilliant in every way, gawd how I wish to be there - somewhere in Wisconsin or North Dakota.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: VesperSAINT on Sun, 29 June 2014, 07:32:15
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=36895.msg1381923#msg1381923
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: berserkfan on Thu, 03 July 2014, 01:17:11
This much I’ll say about the US

When I lived there, it was a paradise of fear. Guns and [heavily] armed police or aggressive, unpleasant and rude turkey bacon guys with more donuts than good judgment under their belts were everywhere. Every building you wanted to enter, you either got searched or you went through a metal detector.

Even the freaking public libraries made you go through metal detectors.

Anything could set off a metal detector, including coins from Uncle Sam’s own mints, my belt with Uncle Sam’s eagle on it, and my boots which I’d bought from Uncle Sam’s army surplus store.

Is that freedom? Is that the greatest country in the world?

The most amazing thing was that YES, the American people thought that was freedom! Outside of North Korea, they were the most brainwashed people I’d ever seen, brainwashed by their own free media. (Strictly speaking, it’s Rupert Murdoch’s free media.)

One time I was visiting the county courthouse to do research and stood in line to be security-checked for 26 minutes. When I’d just stepped through the metal detector, I found myself reading a propaganda slogan on a big red, white and blue banner with the picture of an American Eagle facing the left. It said something like xxx (can’t remember what it was, but probably telling us to put up with security checks)… FOR FREEDOM.

I wanted to utter some vulgarities, but didn’t dare. At that time they were arresting and locking up non-US citizens (ie people not subject to constitutional protections) in indefinite detention for all kinds of trivial reasons.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: iri on Thu, 03 July 2014, 01:24:24
police is armed in most countries in the world though.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: ferociousfingerings on Thu, 03 July 2014, 15:05:50
This much I’ll say about the US

When I lived there, it was a paradise of fear. Guns and [heavily] armed police or aggressive, unpleasant and rude turkey bacon guys with more donuts than good judgment under their belts were everywhere. Every building you wanted to enter, you either got searched or you went through a metal detector.

Even the freaking public libraries made you go through metal detectors.

Anything could set off a metal detector, including coins from Uncle Sam’s own mints, my belt with Uncle Sam’s eagle on it, and my boots which I’d bought from Uncle Sam’s army surplus store.

Is that freedom? Is that the greatest country in the world?

The most amazing thing was that YES, the American people thought that was freedom! Outside of North Korea, they were the most brainwashed people I’d ever seen, brainwashed by their own free media. (Strictly speaking, it’s Rupert Murdoch’s free media.)

One time I was visiting the county courthouse to do research and stood in line to be security-checked for 26 minutes. When I’d just stepped through the metal detector, I found myself reading a propaganda slogan on a big red, white and blue banner with the picture of an American Eagle facing the left. It said something like xxx (can’t remember what it was, but probably telling us to put up with security checks)… FOR FREEDOM.

I wanted to utter some vulgarities, but didn’t dare. At that time they were arresting and locking up non-US citizens (ie people not subject to constitutional protections) in indefinite detention for all kinds of trivial reasons.


We're not all like that, but i applaud you for externally/objectively confirming what i keep trying to tell people. "I told you so!"

Some of us are very mind-control-resistant. We are often treated like second-class citizens, or even "the enemy." It really sucks. I wish i could go elsewhere, but... where would i even go? And then there's the problem that i can't integrate with this foul society well enough to generate the sufficient surplus of funds required to escape.

Surely this isn't the best humanity has to offer.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: smknjoe on Thu, 03 July 2014, 15:20:52
This much I’ll say about the US

When I lived there, it was a paradise of fear. Guns and [heavily] armed police or aggressive, unpleasant and rude turkey bacon guys with more donuts than good judgment under their belts were everywhere. Every building you wanted to enter, you either got searched or you went through a metal detector.

Even the freaking public libraries made you go through metal detectors.

Anything could set off a metal detector, including coins from Uncle Sam’s own mints, my belt with Uncle Sam’s eagle on it, and my boots which I’d bought from Uncle Sam’s army surplus store.

Is that freedom? Is that the greatest country in the world?

The most amazing thing was that YES, the American people thought that was freedom! Outside of North Korea, they were the most brainwashed people I’d ever seen, brainwashed by their own free media. (Strictly speaking, it’s Rupert Murdoch’s free media.)

One time I was visiting the county courthouse to do research and stood in line to be security-checked for 26 minutes. When I’d just stepped through the metal detector, I found myself reading a propaganda slogan on a big red, white and blue banner with the picture of an American Eagle facing the left. It said something like xxx (can’t remember what it was, but probably telling us to put up with security checks)… FOR FREEDOM.

I wanted to utter some vulgarities, but didn’t dare. At that time they were arresting and locking up non-US citizens (ie people not subject to constitutional protections) in indefinite detention for all kinds of trivial reasons.


It's obvious you hate the US with your unrealistically skewed view of the country. You are free (maybe) to never come back. The police here are not heavily armed - just a pistol for 99% of them. You don't have to go through metal detectors everywhere you go...just in some Federal and State buildings that typically house courtrooms or other law enforcement. I've never been in a library that required you to go through any security. As for the paradise of fear statement: It seems like you were the one who was afraid...of the the police carrying guns...you are from the UK aren't you? The only time I've ever heard anyone say they were afraid of cops carrying guns was from a woman that was visiting from London.

Edit: It's also obvious that you view guns as a tool for oppression only. Another uniquely UK view...a product of propoganda. The police carry side arms to protect themselves and law abiding citizens from criminals who are armed.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: JPG on Thu, 03 July 2014, 15:27:36
Until the USA invades Canada and takes their oil and eliminates custom fees, I cannot take this country seriously.


Soon you won't be after our oil but after our water. Choose the right target!


But don't dare come invade my country or i'll ... be sad  :'(
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: ferociousfingerings on Thu, 03 July 2014, 21:57:24
The police carry side arms to protect themselves and law abiding citizens from criminals who are armed anyone they dislike, and an increasingly unruly proletariat, who are sick-and-damn-tired of their blatantly obvious, deliberate violations of human rights, and their constant abuse of power, and inhumane treatment of those they are allegedly sworn to protect.

ftfy.

Gotta watch them typos man. ;)

2nd amendment rocks, but SCOTUS just ruled, unanimously i might add, that our bill of rights should be officially interpreted as privileges (and this was indeed a 2nd amendment-related case). Not acceptable!

However, i will say that no one should hate all cops: LEAP exists. Those guys at least have sufficient cognitive function and a conscience. Too bad they all get fired as soon as they're discovered to be against prohibition.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: iri on Fri, 04 July 2014, 02:04:31
Outside of North Korea, they were the most brainwashed people I’d ever seen, brainwashed by their own free media.
a few colleagues recently went to the american consulate. the process of applying for a visa, among other stupid things, almost always requires an applicant to spent quite a bit of time in the waiting room with a big loud tv constantly showing propaganda videos :D
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: paicrai on Fri, 04 July 2014, 02:22:56
isn't like everything that the government and their little agency *****es have done recently against every ****ing law and constitution and amendment or whatever older than 30 years old? i've heard the ironically named PATRIOT act is direct treason
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: hashbaz on Fri, 04 July 2014, 12:15:10
Happy Independence Day folks!

(http://s3-ec.buzzfed.com/static/2014-07/3/11/enhanced/webdr09/mobile-31871-1404402512-3.jpg)

more freedom (http://www.buzzfeed.com/erinchack/america-****-yeah)
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: SpAmRaY on Fri, 04 July 2014, 12:23:00
(http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/07/05/u2yme5yv.jpg)

'Murican lunchtime.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: paicrai on Fri, 04 July 2014, 12:25:05
murica
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: keyit on Fri, 04 July 2014, 16:44:06
This:

#murica (http://www.buzzfeed.com/erinchack/america-****-yeah?bffb)


Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: VesperSAINT on Fri, 04 July 2014, 17:55:46
Mission for July 4th Lunch:

- Burgers (accomplished)
- Hot dogs (accomplished)
- Bacon wrapped Filet Mignon (accomplished)
- Ribs that were cooked for 5-6 hours (accomplished)

Happy Birthday, 'Murica. I enjoyed it, for now. More to come later tonight.

Note: Best 3400th post ever.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: dustinhxc on Fri, 04 July 2014, 18:01:50
4TH OF JUUULY!! Woooo!
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: paicrai on Fri, 04 July 2014, 18:25:45
freedum
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: microsoft windows on Mon, 07 July 2014, 08:29:51
freedum

I bet you wish you had it. And knew how to spell it too.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: paicrai on Mon, 07 July 2014, 08:36:47

freedum

I bet you wish you had it. And knew how to spell it too.
FREEDUM HAS NU REWLS MUTHER****S
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: microsoft windows on Mon, 07 July 2014, 08:37:14

freedum

I bet you wish you had it. And knew how to spell it too.
FREEDUM HAS NU REWLS MUTHER****S

Tee hee traction.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: paicrai on Mon, 07 July 2014, 08:38:15
FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEDOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: paicrai on Mon, 07 July 2014, 08:38:33
terms and conditions may apply to freedom
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: heedpantsnow on Tue, 15 July 2014, 07:27:09
Having just gone on a major trip via airline, I'm wondering if we have any freedom left after the TSA.
Title: Re: America is the best country in the world.
Post by: vivalarevolución on Tue, 15 July 2014, 10:14:20
Until the USA invades Canada and takes their oil and eliminates custom fees, I cannot take this country seriously.


Soon you won't be after our oil but after our water. Choose the right target!


But don't dare come invade my country or i'll ... be sad  :'(

don't worry, we still have the Mississippi River and the Great Lakes to drain before we move up to Canada.   But there always is this ridiculous scheme lurking the background:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_Water_and_Power_Alliance