What Made America Great?

[AZGrizFan]

That's my point. When America had sweatshops, child labor and slavery, SO DID EVERY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD. Yet you'd rather skewer America than acknowledge that point.

And where in this thread do I skewer America, dumbass?

Your hatred of America oozes from every post you make, Myron.

[Skjellyfetti]

And where in this thread do I skewer America, dumbass?

Your hatred of America oozes from every post you make, Myron.

No, seriously. Since I've attacked America so harshly in this thread... please quote my post where I did so.

[native]

And where in this thread do I skewer America, dumbass?

Your hatred of America oozes from every post you make, Myron.

Still think skelly will volunteer for an organization in which he will be accountable for his own performance, responsible for his actions, serve a purpose greater than himself, and required to work with others in a team?!??

I doubt that skelly joins the military, but even if he accidentally does so in some drug-induced stupor, it is unlikely that he can cut the mustard.

[kalm]

I'm talking about the notion that businesses (especially corporations) ALWAYS do what's best for the economy, and the government ALWAYS **** it up. A careful balance between the two is needed.

I am not a lover of corporate power, but government screws up far more than corporations. At least corporate screw ups are eventually self-correcting.

Because of our creeping socialism and undermining of our Constitution, Elections do not have the same corrective effect on failed politicians as markets have on failed corporations. All the conservatives manage to do during brief periods of sanity is stabilize socialist tendencies in place, not turn them back.

Your theoretical blathering is irrelevant, GTHW. "Spreading the wealth" is socialism. Period.

What made America great was striking the right balance between socialism and capitalism in a mixed economy, abundant natural resources, and ocean borders on two sides. The benefits of big government and its impact on the success of the private sector are so numerous they shouldn't be neccessary to list. The same can be said for the positive influence of the competitive nature of the free market.

GATW nails it here with comment on balance.

[native]

I am not a lover of corporate power, but government screws up far more than corporations. At least corporate screw ups are eventually self-correcting.

Because of our creeping socialism and undermining of our Constitution, Elections do not have the same corrective effect on failed politicians as markets have on failed corporations. All the conservatives manage to do during brief periods of sanity is stabilize socialist tendencies in place, not turn them back.

Your theoretical blathering is irrelevant, GTHW. "Spreading the wealth" is socialism. Period.

What made America great was striking the right balance between socialism and capitalism in a mixed economy, abundant natural resources, and ocean borders on two sides. The benefits of big government and its impact on the success of the private sector are so numerous they shouldn't be neccessary to list. The same can be said for the positive influence of the competitive nature of the free market.

GATW nails it here with comment on balance.

The Brothers Grimm tell better - and more accurate - fairy tales.

[Skjellyfetti]

No, seriously. Since I've attacked America so harshly in this thread... please quote my post where I did so.

[native]

No, seriously. Since I've attacked America so harshly in this thread... please quote my post where I did so.

For my part, I confused one of d1b's posts on this thread with one of yours. I apologize.

But you have a track record outside of this thread. So what do you actually think is great about America?

[∞∞∞]

You need a text book to list the reasons why America is great. You need an equal size text book to list the reasons why America isn't great. That's the beauty of this country...

[AZGrizFan]

Your hatred of America oozes from every post you make, Myron.

No, seriously. Since I've attacked America so harshly in this thread... please quote my post where I did so.

I could explain it to you, but your blind hatred wouldn't allow you to see it anyway, so what's the point?

[kalm]

What made America great was striking the right balance between socialism and capitalism in a mixed economy, abundant natural resources, and ocean borders on two sides. The benefits of big government and its impact on the success of the private sector are so numerous they shouldn't be neccessary to list. The same can be said for the positive influence of the competitive nature of the free market.

GATW nails it here with comment on balance.

The Brothers Grimm tell better - and more accurate - fairy tales.

What a substantive response. Which part of our history don't you understand?

[native]

The Brothers Grimm tell better - and more accurate - fairy tales.

What a substantive response. Which part of our history don't you understand?

You made the assertion about striking the right balance between socialism and capitalism, but you did not make the case. We can agree on abundant natural resources and ocean borders, but the benefits of big government are debatable as well.

Any time you make the assertion "...so numerous they shouldn't be necessary to list..." your argument is in trouble.

[kalm]

What a substantive response. Which part of our history don't you understand?

You made the assertion about striking the right balance between socialism and capitalism, but you did not make the case. We can agree on abundant natural resources and ocean borders, but the benefits of big government are debatable as well.

Any time you make the assertion "...so numerous they shouldn't be necessary to list..." your argument is in trouble.

Louisiana Purchase, Railroad Act, Homestead Act, Land Grant College Act, the Panama Canal, GI bill, Interstate Highways Act, Space program, the V.A., Pell grants, socialist fire, police, military, court system...

[Skjellyfetti]

For my part, I confused one of d1b's posts on this thread with one of yours. I apologize.

But you have a track record outside of this thread.

Then I'll open it up to posts outside this thread. When have I attacked America? I've certainly questioned decisions and policies... but, I love my country, no reason to question my patriotism. That's so 2003.

So what do you actually think is great about America?

Diversity-- most of the things I enjoy and am passionate about wouldn't be possible without the diversity of our population. Music for instance... blues, rock, jazz, country, etc... none of that would exist without the combination of African and European music. It couldn't have happened anywhere else. America is one of the most diverse countries in the world... we probably have citizens from every single other country in the world. Pretty awesome.

Compassion-- we're probably the most generous country in the world. It's especially evident when disasters occur like the earthquake in Haiti. We give more than any other country... both privately to charities and as a government. Also, one of my favorite things about this country are our refugee laws. I've been helping out with a large extended family of refugees from Burundi. The things they experienced... even the kids... is amazing. Without the US's open arms they'd probably all be dead by now.

Freedoms-- Bill of Rights. Every single one.

Security-- military, police, fire department, judicial system... We live in one of the most secure countries on earth. I don't have to worry about a country invading us, walking down teh street at night, whether or not my mother is safe living by herself, etc.

Football

That's just off the top of my head. I love my country... why would I give a shit about politics if I didn't?

Y'all's assumptions that if someone disagrees with you then they "hate America" or "hate freedom" or are a "terrorist" is absolutely fucking stupid and you've been watching way too much Glenn Beck, Hannity, and Fox News.

Liberals love their country... they just have a different vision for it. Conservatives love their country... they just have a different vision for it.

One party's not composed of the only true Americans and the other isn't trying to destroy America. This shit is so fucking obnoxious.

[AZGrizFan]

Y'all's assumptions that if someone disagrees with you then they "hate America" or "hate freedom" or are a "terrorist" is absolutely fucking stupid and you've been watching way too much Glenn Beck, Hannity, and Fox News.

Liberals love their country... they just have a different vision for it. Conservatives love their country... they just have a different vision for it.

One party's not composed of the only true Americans and the other isn't trying to destroy America. This shit is so fucking obnoxious.

a) I've never watched 10 seconds of Beck, Hannity, O'Rielly, or Fox News
b) if you take the "hate America" baiting seriously you're dumber than I thought.

[mainejeff]

You made the assertion about striking the right balance between socialism and capitalism, but you did not make the case. We can agree on abundant natural resources and ocean borders, but the benefits of big government are debatable as well.

Any time you make the assertion "...so numerous they shouldn't be necessary to list..." your argument is in trouble.

Louisiana Purchase, Railroad Act, Homestead Act, Land Grant College Act, the Panama Canal, GI bill, Interstate Highways Act, Space program, the V.A., Pell grants, socialist fire, police, military, court system...

Where's "native"????.......

[blueballs]

The spirt of America is what made it great, not it's government.

Our SYSTEM of government is the best ever developed but our government itself is a dysfunctional, overreaching, overbearing, corrupt, moneywasting mess.

[AZGrizFan]

The spirt of America is what made it great, not it's government.

Our SYSTEM of government is the best ever developed but our government itself is a dysfunctional, overreaching, overbearing, corrupt, moneywasting mess.

[D1B]

The spirt of America is what made it great, not it's government.

Our SYSTEM of government is the best ever developed but our government itself is a dysfunctional, overreaching, overbearing, corrupt, moneywasting mess.

Game, set and match. Winner: Blueballs

[travelinman67]

The spirt of America is what made it great, not it's government.

Our SYSTEM of government is the best ever developed but our government itself is a dysfunctional, overreaching, overbearing, corrupt, moneywasting mess.

Game, set and match. Winner: Capitalism!

Fixed: Accuracy.

[mainejeff]

The spirt of America is what made it great, not it's government.

The spirit is fading......and in some cases gone.

[houndawg]

I'm talking about the notion that businesses (especially corporations) ALWAYS do what's best for the economy, and the government ALWAYS **** it up. A careful balance between the two is needed.

I am not a lover of corporate power, but government screws up far more than corporations. At least corporate screw ups are eventually self-correcting.

Because of our creeping socialism and undermining of our Constitution, Elections do not have the same corrective effect on failed politicians as markets have on failed corporations. All the conservatives manage to do during brief periods of sanity is stabilize socialist tendencies in place, not turn them back.

Your theoretical blathering is irrelevant, GTHW. "Spreading the wealth" is socialism. Period.

Your hat is too tight, Nathan. Corporate screw ups are not "self-correcting", unless by "self-correcting" you mean "rescued by taxpayers".

[houndawg]

Nope. Skelly is a genuine America hater and a hopeless - and worthless - dufus.

Better hope not...I hear he's thinkin' of joining the military.

I'm not sure he'd be a good fit in the military. I'd suggest the Navy instead.

[D1B]

No, seriously. Since I've attacked America so harshly in this thread... please quote my post where I did so.

I could explain it to you, but your blind hatred wouldn't allow you to see it anyway, so what's the point?

Nice dodge Z!

[houndawg]

"...The question is how solve problems. It's not bailouts. What made America great? Free markets, free enterprise, manufacturing, job creation. That's how we're gonna do it, not by enlarging government."

-Scott Brown


Quoted in a superb op-ed piece by Peggy Noonan in the Wall Street Journal

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142 ... LEFTSecond

What made America great was when the now-vanishing middle-class could afford to send their children to college.... probably before yours and Peggy's time, Nathan.

[Ivytalk]

The spirt of America is what made it great, not it's government.

Our SYSTEM of government is the best ever developed but our government itself is a dysfunctional, overreaching, overbearing, corrupt, moneywasting mess.

Nailed it, as usual. Never thought I'd agree with both BB and D1B on a topic, but...THAT'S WHAT MAKES AMERICA GREAT!