American complacency

Even just north of the boarder we think you all are a bit much (but aren't much better) though we have the worlds best maple syrup, the Montreal Canadiens and "same sex marriage" (in reality I just call it marriage but a tad harder getting my point across in text)

 

Americans are selfish consumers.

We've been raised to buy buy buy and then buy some more. We dont' care about other people, we don't care about other things. As long as we can get the newest i-thingymawhatsit the rest of the world can go burn in hell for all we care.

We're a pathetic lot.

 

You think the US has better Maple Syrup?!

(I was just listing a few of Canada's pro's, we don't have a lot of them...)

 

The solution is simple...

Stop consuming. If the American people stopped feeding the corporations, the corporations would collapse. End of story.

 

Sounds interesting. Really, I'd personally just like to see people be more responsible with what they have. We have the tools, technology, and means to take care of each other and take care of the planet...we just don't use them that way because we're all too selfish -.-'

 

This is what the French do when fuel prices increase too much..

 

Love the French!

 

Yeah seems like we're on the same page ^^

 

We live in a crappy, selfish, individualistic society whose only concern is me, me, me. That's what happens here. I am not saying collectivist cultures cannot be selfish but look at what we've become here...it's sad and it can be seen in every macro and micro transaction that takes place throughout the day. From terrible government invasions all the way down to every ***** driver who feels that their journey is more important than the journey of everyone else. It's all around us almost every minute. Myself included! I've been selfish on many occasions. I want to stop but that is something I am working on now through my own personal work.

 

I won't speak as to the character of the american people. Yes, they do have a reputation for excess, but you might be surprised to find that the rest of the developed world isn't much better. I have a particular concern about the environment, and though european governments make token attempts to tackle climate change, they're doing nothing, and they won't do anything helpful. People only do things that are convenient. The real problem is the culture of consumption. Of excess. People are only happy when the economy grows, and growth requires consumption of resources that simply won't exist forever. My personal (and non-scientific) observations are that when people get money, they spend it instantly and unwisely on material things they don't need. My friend makes enough money in a month that I'd be able to survive on pretty happily, and she spends it within a week.

I like the return to the land thing. I don't actually have any land. We live in a rented house with a paved yard. I do grow a bit of veg in pots - onions on my windowsill currently. But it isn't enough.

Basically, our civilisation and society is destroying the planet. And it won't change. And it isn't just americans.

EDIT: Foxface, your post reminded me of something I read recently. "No raindrop feels responsible for the entire flood," said to someone complaining about traffic. This detour has no point.

 

This.

 

Complacency could be our downfall. As long as we have what we need or want, we don't care much about the next person. Also, many feel powerless to take a stand.

 

Posting as an outsider here, so I'd be interested to know what people in the US think...

I think, since 9/11, the US has become a more paranoid nation that sees itself under attack from all corners and has gone into overkill with intelligence. The reaction to what happened in New York that day has led to some fairly catastophic decision making, that the government here in the UK has been a party to as well, I'm sorry to say. We've certainly got our own :***: to deal with regarding government snooping, illegal phone tapping, rogue newspapers, crooked cops and cover ups, but we're also too keen to indulge the US government with information in the name of trans-atlantic partnership working. How much of the information gathered and shared is even relevant to national security in either country is questionable though.

Of course, a response to 9/11 was necessary to protect innocent people from further atrocities, but when governments start monitoring and spying on their own citizens on the scale we've seen recently, something is very wrong... and when you start monitoring the phone usage of the German Chancellor you're gonna spark a fairly serious diplomatic issue. Maybe that's what it takes though to provoke attention and outrage?

 

While I don't completely disagree with you, I've got a couple points on your first two examples:

1. The NSA has gotten out of control, and things need to be a little more transparent. However, they are still needed.

2. As for Congress, it's a mess right now, but legislation was never intended to just fly through both the House and Senate.

 

1.) Why? Why are they still needed? Why does America think it needs ( or even has the right ) to watch everyone on planet earth?

2.) Legislation wasn't intended to do that, but it also wasn't intended to be entirely dependant on whether or not corporations give a bill the thumbs up ^^