I'm not sure where to start with that one Chaingun...Some day I'd love to hear about the name...anyway, there's something to some of what you say but you have a mighty broad brush for someone that came here a few years ago from Russia.
Maybe so. Or maybe I offer a fresher, more unbiased view based on my experiences. I was born in Communist USSR, saw the system and whole country that we were taught was invincible collapse, go through a turnmoil of changing governments, ideals, constitutions, values, currencies, etc, etc, etc. I lived and worked in 2 countries and traveled extensively around US, Europe and Asia. I've seen and experienced quite a bit. I agree that there are more shades of grey to the issue, but the tendency I outlined is definitely there.
People have been POOR, in this country from the beginning. It was poor people who founded it, cleared it, kicked the British out and shaped it. There was no shame then or now in being poor.
Well, first of all a lot of people founded and shaped America. Some were poor, some were rich, some were wealthy slave owners, including those we praise for their accomplishments. Second, it was really a different situation. These people were coming from countries where strict "cast" soceity prevented smart and talented from the lower classes to succeed.
They came to America for a level playing field. There was also no social programs, no welfare, no social support net, nothing. You could quickly succeed or you could die. It was a differnt place under different circumstances.
My whole point about bringing up my story was not to brag, but to give a real life example that the playing field here is still fairly level and success is out there to get. No, it's not perfect by any means, and life ain't fair. But it's a lot better than in most of other countries in the world and I can attest to this as someone who's been around.
While I agree that the cities are full of welfare rats, that doesn't mean all poor people are like that. I dislike city people rich or poor. They're part of the problem.
As someone who grew up in a city of 10 million people but now trying to stay away from any and all big cities, I generally agree with you. Way too many city folks completely lost any touch with reality, both rich and poor.
But poor folks in the country are not saints either. A lot of them are poor because they choose not to leave their comfort zone to seek better life. Life in the cities or suburbs may not be what they want, but there is a whole lot more opportunity out there.
I frankly don't have much respect for the country folks that sit around their small dying towns and complain that there are no jobs, but do nothing to seek them elsewhere. It may be sad and unfair, but things naturally change and sometimes you have to leave your comfort zone to pursue better opportunity - this is exactly what these first American settlers did by the way!
Suppose I said "All foreigners are dangerous idiots and need to get their arses back where they came from". I don't actually believe that, but it's the same type of sweeping statement you just made.
My statement wasn't as sweeping as you make it out to be. Note that I purposely used words like "most" instead of "all" and said that there are exceptions. But exceptions are exactly this - exceptions to the general rule. So I still say that statistically my argument stands.
There are a lot of problems in this country and the reasons are extremely complicated.
Agreed.
Making idiotic comments like you did won't solve any more than the Occupiers taking over Monroe park with no cause other than to take down the system.
Here you go with name calling. I've read hundreds of your posts over roughly 5 years I've been on this forum and while I didn't agree with everything, I have always had lots of respect for you. I really thought you knew better than that.
And yeah...for the most part, the American Dream is dead...at least the dream as it once was.
I agree that American Dream is definitely dying and is currently a far cry from what it used to be. BUT, it is still alive. That, again, was the reason I brought up my story. It seems that too many people nowadays just get lazy and say "well, the opportunity is just not there, no matter what you do" instead of trying to do it.
Again, not all people, but a lot of them. Especially the younger generation, which should if anyting be more flexible and active. It's no big secret that it's a lot easier to "not do" and waste your energy justifying why, than to "try to suck it up and do it". Just saying...
