Re: Question for John McAdams

Once more i encounter "American Exceptionalism"

Once again, any criticism of the way American society is run, raises the 
hackles of those who frequent this forum. Once again the assumption made 
is that the USA is the best at everything and has nothing to learn from 
any other nation.

Yet the paradox is that those promoting America is great can't help but 
expose its weaknesses and its failures.

Throughout history, America has suffered from its law and order policies. 
From the prohibition to the war on drugs. From Jim Crow laws to the 
"stolen election". The separation of church and state but the political 
power of religious Christian evangelicalism.

There is a naive belief that passing laws can fix things, in particular, 
the way people think and behave. The world doesn't work in that manner. 
Material conditions have to change before people's ideas do.

There is nothing new about Alex Jones or Qanon. In the past it was Father 
Coughlin and the "Know Nothing" Party. You had Rush Limbaugh and before 
that you had Charles Lindbergh. Before Trump there was Huey Long. I could 
go on

Americans just re-lives the mistakes of its past and re-names them.

Those who proclaim the USA a failed state may not be 100% correct but they 
do indicate the way things are presently going.

A failed state is one where governments are not legitimate. Republicans 
say Biden's government isn't. Before him the Democratic Party said Trump 
wasn't.

It is a failed state when the rule of law has broken down and how often 
have i noted here those who declared BLM and anti-police riots were 
nationwide and endorsed by governors and mayors, democracy was undermined 
i was told by protests and a sympathetic media to them.

Economically, financial elites get away with whatever they like. There is 
rampant corruption of politicians through lobbyists and Citizens United 
legality of bribery called donations. First the Trump tax cuts, then now 
the GOP wants Estate Tax cuts.

 Lastly, failed states aren’t able to provide basics for people 
anymore. Were the lines to the food banks a figment of my imagination made 
up by the media?  And because they aren’t able to provide basics, 
life becomes a brutal battle for self-preservation, and survival: with 
mounting cruelty and brutality, scapegoating with hate and violence. 
America is collectively increasingly exhibiting symptoms of mass neuroses 
and sociopathy, and i include those of both right and left political 
dispositions.

 Healthcare, retirement, medicine, education is viewed as a lesser 
priority to a bloated military and lucrative armaments industry.

Sound like America to me is becoming a dystopia, if it isn't already. Time 
for a reality check before it is too late. And i know the truth hurts and 
that denial is more comforting.

America is far too important to the planet to leave it in the hands of its 
citizens who have been shown to be too irresponsible or plainly too 
ignorant.