I mean...they’re also not ALLOWED to spend their money on that as a result of treaties signed after the end of WWII and their attempt to dominate the world with Nazis. So yeah...thank GOD that we spend a considerable amount of resources on our military (you included—thank you for your service) lest we all be speaking German today....or Chinese if we fail to keep our military strong. |
Everyone getting focussed on the taxing the rich to death bit...which I disagree with, but no one addressing the out of touch piece. DCUM folks are willfully out of touch about how the rest of society lives. And they fail to recognize that hard work in and of itself does not translate into making loads of money. Nor does it mean that you are smarter than people making less money than you do. Lots of brilliant physicians, scientists, professors making a whole lot less than Big Law and overpaid government contractors. Just acknowledge **that**. You picked a profitable career but it does not make you more hard working/smarter than others. I think some people just need to justify the obscene amount of money they make. |
I would say MOST do not. They don’t teach this in school anymore because the idea of “American Exceptionalism” has been distorted as racist and “nationalism” seems to be a dirty word that is immediately distorted to mean “WHITE nationalism” when the point of exceptionalism is not to highlight that American *people* are better than other people in the world, but that the concept of AMERICA as a place to find freedom—life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness—is exceptional! People all over the world recognize our great country as this land of opportunity. Opportunity to build a better life for their children and grandchildren is literally why they come to the United States of America. Are things perfect for all Americans? No, of course not. But we all need to check our American privilege because no matter what your situation is inside our borders, you are better off than 95% of the world’s population. |
Americans in general are “out of touch” with the way the majority of the world suffers. And first world countries are “out of touch” with the way people from developing countries struggle. But it doesn’t mean people aren’t allowed to dismiss the challenges they face in their own loves with other people who have similar challenges. Or that they aren’t allowed to celebrate their successes with people who are striving for similar success. All human experiences are valid, so maybe just allow people space to have their own lived experiences. |
That’s “discuss” not dismiss. And “lives” not loves. |
this is good My wife, who is arguably much smarter and works harder than me, makes 4x less than I do and will be capped whereas my income could climb to 10x + hers. She could make more if she wanted but she loves what she does. She isn't dumb for not wanting to make 1m a year. In no way shape or form do I work harder, I simply chose a career that is very lucrative. I also take a lot of financial risk by buying into my company and reinvesting hundreds of thousands a year back into my business. I am also lucky. I fully understand this and wish more people did. |
Where did I say otherwise? No one is saying well off people don't have challenges. |
American Exceptionalism is a racist and a nationalist practice and still very much alive! You are embarrassingly uneducated. And just like so many stupid people you have no idea how stupid you really are. |
Agreed. DCUM is purposefully missing the point, which is on trend. I also think that the OP is narrowly focused on the DCUM folks which appear to have inherited wealth. It's those folks that are grossly out of touch and privileged. Think the Ivanka Trumps of the world who've never had to work, struggle or really understand what it means to make a buck. If you haven't ever struggled financially, empathy is usually wanting. Self awareness, too. |
You also realize there are a lot of brilliant people who don't get to realize any of these careers too, right? Everyone will tell you how hard they worked to get to the top, but they were born 80% of the way there. |
+1 ITA.. for those of us who came from nothing, like immigrants with no education and not able to speak English, we know we are lucky and privileged, but most of us also did earn it. We worked hard, sacrified a lot, and lived really frugally. That's not to say that everyone who does this will make it, but the majority of those who grew up poorer but made it did so by living this way. Of course there is some luck involved like timing or not falling seriously ill, but there is also a lot of hard work and sacrifices that went into getting to where we are. Don't be dissmissive of that, either. |
I don't think anyone is arguing we should be more like China. I think they're arguing we should be more like Scandinavia. |
Off to the re-education camps with them. |
OP, you're projecting. Stop blaming the hardworking families who gasp... provide jobs for the working class. Get off your high horse and work harder. |
this has been the story of the US from its founding. People escape the poverty and oppression of their origin, come here, and in 1 or 2 or 3 generations become successful beyond whatever they might achieve in their homelands. That might mean being a cop or a firefighter, or starting a company and becoming incredibly wealthy. Either way, to live in the US is have a level of freedom, wealth, and security unavailable to most of the rest of world. This what makes America exceptional. |