Shallow mis-dis-information and stereotyping .

Submitted by E. Visconti (France), Sep 21, 2010 at 04:15

I am a European, however, I do not believe that comments, reference any subject/topics, race related or theologically based, are reserved/restricted to followers of particular issues, citizens of the nation in question or worshippers of a particular religion.

In Italian we use campanology = "ringing one's own bells" to cover/justify these occurrences, the result of this very strange habit results in a corruption of facts to meet with a more acceptable, and sometimes personal ideological outcome. An outcome, perhaps more in keeping with the mindset of a nation's or a person's beliefs, et.c.

The article informs us that the United States needs to move on and that it will not be in the same position in a decade. You clearly intend to insinuate that the U.S. does not move forward as a nation yet I am unable to find a decade in its history when it has not changed its modus operandi or its direction in order to meet the new challenges which arrive de rigour every 10/20 years. The comment is not accurate and the progress of the modern world reflects and substantiates this, in no uncertain terms.

Yes, of course it owes the world money, its a trading nation, credit and debit are part of the ball game and cash-flow reality of the business community. No country in the world is exempt from these contra temps they make the world go round. At this time and in this decade all the oil producing nations hold the Aces and when the oil stocks are finally depleted, things will change again. Make no mistake as to the innovative powers of the Americans who, let's try not to forget, created most of the wealth generating industries currently in the market place worldwide anyway.
Also, one has to realize that the world is in no position to pressure a major debtor into repayment of loans unless, the country that does can afford a world meltdown. Just look at the devastation caused by the Greek problem, or that of the real-estate industry and banking sectors and they are mere ripples in the pond next to the trillions to which you refer. Hard as it might be to swallow, nearly two thirds of the debts owed by the United States are directly attributable to spending in military hardware, foreign aid and assistance within its allied countries, post 2nd world war. This gesture was not solely made for the safety/security of the United States, as you suggest, but also for Europe and many other countries outside of that union.

"The responsibility of wealth"

Great Britain also had this responsibility during its enormously lucrative period of empire, accordingly, it too had to deliver responsible actions when it came to its allies and trading partners.

Reference "Ego"

Liking an American president to Hitler, Il Duce, Franco or Hussein is absurd. However unpopular President Bush became with the American peoples and other countries, it is certain that the ambitions of military actions were never made with a view to complete and totalitarian domination of the countries involved, ending with the culling of the peoples of those countries, quite the contrary to the agendas of most of the countries against which the United States has taken military action. The American people would not accept such policy. You will never see work camps, extermination centres or forced labour in the United States.

My dear fellow, the number of young and extremely brave Americans who died during the great war and the 2nd world war does not deserve your comment. Even before the Government of the United States entered into the 2nd world war American citizens were hopping over the Canadian border to enlist because of their abhorrence to the Nazi threat in Europe and you will find almost as many American gravestones in Europe as you will others. Your comment indicates that you believe that American citizens are war-mongers and want war because they have the balls and European citizens, to the contrary do not.
The Americans are an extremely tolerant body of different peoples and have a great respect for freedom which is, more often the case than not, the principle reason for military actions. That is not to say that there have, at times, been politically or financially motivated agendas, of course there have.
Clearly, on occasion, actions are required to protect assets and allegiances, and mistakes are made but the agenda will never encompass, knowingly to the American peoples, crimes against humanity.

Do not think for one minute that Europe would not fight back if it felt threatened, the Europeans are a very brave group of peoples and share the majority of the principles and moral thought processes of the United States and or its citizens. Being the defender, in this case the U.S. always comes back to those with wealth in order to pursue the issues with the goal of, contemporaneously, protecting the status quo. It has been the duty of Britain France and Spain at one time or another. The Europeans do not shrink in the face of adversity, indeed quite the contrary.

"The Amazon green frog is GREEN"

The world does owe the American people!!!! What's this you say?

Thank heavens the United States joined in the fight, particularly during the 2nd world war because I can assure you that, had it not, the European Union would have existed much sooner with the member states annexed by Germany, with work camps abounding and extermination camps to cleanse the Countries of their infirm/handicapped communities, religious groups and ethnic non-Arian races. Not to mention the yearly homicides in order to deal with dissenters and the like. Smell the roses, the Europeans need to lose their sense of superiority, ego and sensitivity, and "NO" it is not a question of "BEING UNGRATEFUL" but a much more humble sentiment and a level of due respect given to those who gave their lives to that great cause. Europe has a short memory but at least it belongs to each of the countries of the Union and in their own languages, because it can. The third Reich would have put paid to the privilege of said memories, you can count on that. Heaven forbid what would have occurred in Africa, Asia in the aftermath. Without even due consideration to the oil industry, world finances and the enslavement/extermination of the populations.

In reference to social issues, you have a point, however, American citizens do have a strong "family value regime" and it is not "Every man for himself" as you suggest. Europe has as many new age travellers on its streets as America has vagabonds and the like but the difference in the U.S. without considering true sob stories and the like, is that Americans believe that persons should work for a living and if one is prepared to work then one should receive the benefits. The nanny states in Europe are so busy making provisions for its, most-times idle/unemployable citizens that their social benefits budgets are sending them into bankruptcy. The European union is extending the pension thresholds, reducing an extremely questionable, disabled allowance and families cannot wait for the day when their children leave home, 18 year old children, and if female, hopefully with child, in the knowledge that the Local authority governments are legally duty-bound to house them, consequently, the number of single mothers is the highest in the western world, naturally said young ladies do not work, their families have washed their hands with them and the state foots the bill. Britain has the highest number of single parents, children's homes and old age pensioners' homes in the union. One should always guard against calling the pot black.
The new President of the U.S. has begun the process of health reforms and the American peoples, as is in their nature, will move forward with this programme, in a positive and fruitful manner. That is not to say that America should even begin to create the nanny state that Europe has so incredulously developed over the past 60 years because it has resulted in a Europe which has a demotivated work force lacking in direction and focus and a lost youth culture who believe that is has no future and doesn't need to worry anyway because the state will always step in the final result of this is that the people feel no sense of worth.The only communities in Europe, the ones that receive zero subsidies from the Union, who work extremely hard, are the small-holdings because they know if they do not till and plant and make provisions for the season to come, they will not eat. Having said this they are a dying race because, slowly-slowly, the nanny state is enticing them into the benefit strata.
People do not need to be controlled in order that the state might give them a "Psychologically" nicer pace or quality of life, people can and should be allowed to make up their own minds and set their own pace enjoy their vacations and leisure time as is their wan but not at a cost to the state, this is not the remit of government. Human beings are natural survivors, love challenges and used to enjoy achievement but the controls by the state quash their ambition/drive and eventually their true values become lost or massaged into a new acceptable form, one which must meet the mindset of the policy makers. Much like Hitler's Nazi youth. The net result of this system is that the state has now devised a new set of politically correct moral values which have replaced the values of yesteryear with huge conflicts and which create censorship at a subliminal level, one dare not express a thought which might possibly offend a yak herdsman, heavens forbid.

So, yes there are social issues to address in the U.S. but they are achievable because the people are not bribed into a benefit system that clearly does not work. The governments of Europe, to the contrary, are trapped in a system where, were the benefits of the state to be threatened by the Government of the day, it would lose the election. The reason for this is that the majority of voters receive social benefits of one kind or another. The results of this impasse is that no new ideas or forms of change necessary will ever come about. The danger with this system is the tendency to be drawn to extremely right wing parties who might come to power whether voted for or not, we have all seen just how dangerous that can be.

So far as "Global interaction" is concerned, the U.S. is the promoter of this new economic play, it does not require to be forced into compliance as it is the champion for that cause, it will adapt to new methods and working systems if they are deemed germane to the cause. The playing fields have to be level for this to happen and this is not yet the case. Its economy is doing poorly at this time as is the economy of Europe, there are issues to deal with and both Europe and the U.S. will, ultimately, regenerate and reinvent their new given situations to meet these challenging times, we always do here in Europe and so do the Americans. Your comments envelope and encapsulate the American peoples with its Governments or its Presidents and that is a huge mistake. That the credibility of a Government official or President influences a country's peoples' standing in the world eye is poppycock, with the exception of fundamentalist regimes and fanatics, Americans enjoy excellent relations on the world stage. Even when their Governments do not.

An economical/ecological level playing field means that 1 rule should exist for all nations and in this way the world will eventually arrive at a point of harmony. This dream should be the goal of the free world and those countries not complying should be subject to huge import duties to encourage compliance. The U.S. does have a small problem, for example, with sweat shops and central/south American labour, as do most European countries but places like China, India,Pakistan and many more use slave and child labour to produce goods at a very much cheaper cost and with no regards to design/patent laws or to the divine rights of children to a happy, fruitful childhood and a proper education et.c. These flagrant breaches cost bona fide Companies trillions each year and undermine the value of quality goods and the value placed upon the up-coming generations of children who will inherit the mess, a mess that will be difficult to resolve with an untrained, incapable, illiterate and generally, extremely psychologically damaged prospective workforce. On the particular point, reference the ecology, yes the U.S. has large issues to deal with and it will.

I wish people would stop bashing the Americans, instead embrace and attempt to work closer with them as they are "stand up people, hard working, innovative and, generally, compassionate and kind" .
Of course they have flaws but let's stop throwing stones in green/glasshouses. Or cast not the 1st.

When mankind gets together and has a common goal it achieves wonderful things but its the brain that makes the moves with humans, therefore, I say "down with bell ringing and being sensitive to issues" why are we still not able to embrace constructive criticism, work on the issues and develop nice thoughts and good resolves just like the Italian artists in Florence all those years ago. Just look at the beautiful things they managed to produce.

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