Re: Question for John McAdams

On Wednesday, March 24, 2021 at 7:10:08 PM UTC-5, Hank Sienzant (AKA Joe Zircon) wrote:
> 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. ; ) 
> 

Wow!  Hank sure is full of understanding and mercy these days.  :-)

> > > 
> > > 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.