Re: Question for John McAdams

Putting on my conspiracy theorist arguing cap for the moment, I found one 
major flaw in your arguments that invalidates everything you ever said, 
everything you say below, and everything you ever will say. See below.


On Sunday, March 14, 2021 at 8:49:44 AM UTC-4, John Corbett wrote:
> On Saturday, March 13, 2021 at 10:41:34 PM UTC-5, ajohnstone wrote:
> > 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. 
> >
> I've never understood why foreigners feel a need to criticize our society. 
> I've never had an urge to criticize how people from other countries choose 
> to live. That's their business.
> > Yet the paradox is that those promoting America is great can't help but 
> > expose its weaknesses and its failures. 
> >
> As I was saying...
> > 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. 
> >
> I'm sure we could find lots to criticize about your country but I for one 
> really don't care about your flaws.
> > 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
> I'm sure your politicians and commentators were all pure of spirit. 
> 
> As for Rush Limbaugh, his passing was a great loss to this country. 
> 
> As for Trump, for all his flaws, he accomplished a great deal in just four 
> years.
> > 
> > Americans just re-lives the mistakes of its past and re-names them. 
> >
> Why do you care?
> > Those who proclaim the USA a failed state may not be 100% correct but they 
> > do indicate the way things are presently going.
> Bullshit. If our country is so screwed up, why do people from all over the 
> world want to emigrate here?

You mean immigrate.

Immigrate means to "Come in" - people want to come into America.
Emigrate means to exit - people want to exit their own country and 
immigrate here.

So you're toast. ; )

> > 
> > 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.
> That's what losers do when they lose a close election. It's like the 
> losing team complaining that the referees screwed them. It's human nature 
> to make excuses. Are you going to tell us it doesn't happen elsewhere?
> > 
> > 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.
> Not all states failed. Just the ones run by Democrats.
> > 
> > Economically, financial elites get away with whatever they like.
> That's called free enterprise. It's one of the reasons so many people want 
> to emigrate here, legally and illegally.
> > 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.
> There are corrupt politicians wherever there are politicians.
> > 
> > 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?
> Food banks were providing basics for people. It's an example of American 
> compassion.
> > And because they aren’t able to provide basics,
> If the poor have it so bad in this country, why is there a flood of 
> illegal aliens coming into this country with little more than the clothes 
> on their backs? Could it be they know they will have a better life?
> > 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. 
> >
> We'll work it out. We always have.
> > Healthcare, retirement, medicine, education is viewed as a lesser 
> > priority to a bloated military and lucrative armaments industry. 
> >
> We have the finest healthcare in the world.
> > 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.
> Spare us. Why don't you worry about your own country and let us worry 
> about ours. We really don't care what outsiders think of how we manage OUR 
> affairs. You have no say here.