Ted, > Unfortunately, my standards are not as low as yours.
Oh please, I too have high standards. Probably higher than yours. I too don't think it's acceptable for Americans to be apathetic at the voting booth, or for too much wealth to be in the hands of a few, or that violence continues to run rampant in the inner cities, or that poverty continues to ensnare millions of people here.
One major difference between the two of us is that you are unwilling to emphasize personal responsibility, preferring instead to whine about the system, about society, about those in power (but only those who happen to be Republicans).
There are more opportunities here than in any other nation to break free from the cycle of poverty, violence, and apathy, but it takes effort and motivation. Americans have the capacity for both; I've seen it time and time again.
Also when you look at the trends of the 21st century, including environmentalism, high-tech, health care, and ubiquitous access to information, America is STILL the driving force behind most of them. Not China, not Japan, and certainly not Europe, but America. That forms the basis of "American exceptionalism," which liberals usually refer to in a derogatory tone because they can't get over their self-hatred.
Tenchusatsu |
