Comments on: Hypocrisy and credibility issues for the U.S.A. http://whatprivilege.com/hypocrisy-and-credibility-issues-for-the-u-s-a/ so you think you don't have any Sun, 13 May 2012 08:20:01 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Kirsten http://whatprivilege.com/hypocrisy-and-credibility-issues-for-the-u-s-a/comment-page-1/#comment-1826 Kirsten Thu, 09 Dec 2010 04:11:38 +0000 http://whatprivilege.com/?p=210#comment-1826 I'd be going with the poorly educated bit. We're so set on failing all our tests in our overcrowded high schools that we never look beyond the facts we're memorizing to see how they actually connect and work together! We take things in bits and pieces and keep them in bits in pieces. Years later, someone says we're wrong but it's been so long we've got this separatism locked into our brains, we aren't used to or encouraged to put things together, and so we semi-panic and shut it out or deny it. Though how anyone believes a candidate is really going to "help schools", I can't imagine. We are lied to so blatantly EVERY SINGLE ELECTION, from the lowest County to the highest offices in the Federal government. I cannot remember the last time a Governor didn't cut budgets to schools in California after promising to give them more funding. And the whole system has made so darn well sure that it protects itself that the scale of revolution we would need to help boggles my mind. So many people, so many laws, so many opinions. Time to start, everyone! Get out there and talk, educate, search! I’d be going with the poorly educated bit. We’re so set on failing all our tests in our overcrowded high schools that we never look beyond the facts we’re memorizing to see how they actually connect and work together! We take things in bits and pieces and keep them in bits in pieces. Years later, someone says we’re wrong but it’s been so long we’ve got this separatism locked into our brains, we aren’t used to or encouraged to put things together, and so we semi-panic and shut it out or deny it.

Though how anyone believes a candidate is really going to “help schools”, I can’t imagine. We are lied to so blatantly EVERY SINGLE ELECTION, from the lowest County to the highest offices in the Federal government. I cannot remember the last time a Governor didn’t cut budgets to schools in California after promising to give them more funding.

And the whole system has made so darn well sure that it protects itself that the scale of revolution we would need to help boggles my mind. So many people, so many laws, so many opinions. Time to start, everyone! Get out there and talk, educate, search!

]]> By: Jennifer Kesler http://whatprivilege.com/hypocrisy-and-credibility-issues-for-the-u-s-a/comment-page-1/#comment-1384 Jennifer Kesler Sat, 04 Sep 2010 04:36:35 +0000 http://whatprivilege.com/?p=210#comment-1384 If you read the whole paragraph instead of isolating bits, it's pretty clear I'm not talking about people who can't afford stuff. I am talking about the people who are, ironically, Communist haters <em>and </em>shoppers who don't think twice about fortifying the Chinese economy in order to save a few bucks to put toward out-doing the Joneses next door. If you read the whole paragraph instead of isolating bits, it’s pretty clear I’m not talking about people who can’t afford stuff. I am talking about the people who are, ironically, Communist haters and shoppers who don’t think twice about fortifying the Chinese economy in order to save a few bucks to put toward out-doing the Joneses next door.

]]> By: hailey http://whatprivilege.com/hypocrisy-and-credibility-issues-for-the-u-s-a/comment-page-1/#comment-1381 hailey Thu, 02 Sep 2010 07:28:30 +0000 http://whatprivilege.com/?p=210#comment-1381 I agree for the most part with this, but I did have a problem with this: <i>They’re too busy wanting to buy stuff cheap at Wal-Mart and not tell the all-hallowed Big Business what to do.</i> I believe that being able to choose where to shop based on principles rather than budget and convenience is very much a privilege. While I'm sure a lot of people would like to buy organic food, or locally made products, the price increases that accompany those things make it an impossibility. While there certainly is a large section of the population that shops at WalMart and the like out of ignorance and laziness, I think it is important not to overlook the people who shop there because it is what they can afford. I agree for the most part with this, but I did have a problem with this:
They’re too busy wanting to buy stuff cheap at Wal-Mart and not tell the all-hallowed Big Business what to do.

I believe that being able to choose where to shop based on principles rather than budget and convenience is very much a privilege. While I’m sure a lot of people would like to buy organic food, or locally made products, the price increases that accompany those things make it an impossibility. While there certainly is a large section of the population that shops at WalMart and the like out of ignorance and laziness, I think it is important not to overlook the people who shop there because it is what they can afford.

]]> By: Jen http://whatprivilege.com/hypocrisy-and-credibility-issues-for-the-u-s-a/comment-page-1/#comment-1236 Jen Tue, 22 Jun 2010 04:59:51 +0000 http://whatprivilege.com/?p=210#comment-1236 test test

]]> By: Emma http://whatprivilege.com/hypocrisy-and-credibility-issues-for-the-u-s-a/comment-page-1/#comment-1232 Emma Tue, 18 May 2010 02:20:22 +0000 http://whatprivilege.com/?p=210#comment-1232 @Glauke: To be fair, him being first elected was kind of a fluke. We've got no excuse for the second time though. @Glauke: To be fair, him being first elected was kind of a fluke. We’ve got no excuse for the second time though.

]]> By: Jennifer Kesler http://whatprivilege.com/hypocrisy-and-credibility-issues-for-the-u-s-a/comment-page-1/#comment-1229 Jennifer Kesler Mon, 10 May 2010 16:35:59 +0000 http://whatprivilege.com/?p=210#comment-1229 Glauke, the idea that the US can make no mistakes and anyone who says we can is the enemy is mainly a right-wing conservative philosophy. It's actually amusing to watch them employ the following alleged logic: --When the president is Republican, anyone who doesn't support him uncritically is anti-American. --When the president is Democrat, anyone who supports him is anti-American and pro-Commie and out to destroy the country. Er, yeah, okay. Glauke, the idea that the US can make no mistakes and anyone who says we can is the enemy is mainly a right-wing conservative philosophy. It’s actually amusing to watch them employ the following alleged logic:

–When the president is Republican, anyone who doesn’t support him uncritically is anti-American.
–When the president is Democrat, anyone who supports him is anti-American and pro-Commie and out to destroy the country.

Er, yeah, okay.

]]> By: Glauke http://whatprivilege.com/hypocrisy-and-credibility-issues-for-the-u-s-a/comment-page-1/#comment-1228 Glauke Mon, 10 May 2010 12:15:01 +0000 http://whatprivilege.com/?p=210#comment-1228 I was going to reply by detailing exactly why it is Europeans distrust the US, especially under Bush. But you seem to get it already. My major issue is with the "my country, right or wrong"-mentality that appears to render many of your fellow countrymen incapable of comprehending your leadship could gasp <i> take a wrong decision </i>. Like torturing people, and putting them in prison without trial. I'm profoundly embarrassed by my continent's obvious lack of cooperation in closing Guantanamo, however, many Americans do not seem embarrassed it was opened in the first place. It's in part a generational shift as well: my father is staunchly pro-American. I'm not, nor is my sister. We live in a much more complex world. As delighted as we were to hear you've managed to elect a guy with a lot of working brain cells, and an equally brilliant wife, we're still worried about the American people, who elected GWB, and then managed to re-elect him. I was going to reply by detailing exactly why it is Europeans distrust the US, especially under Bush. But you seem to get it already. My major issue is with the “my country, right or wrong”-mentality that appears to render many of your fellow countrymen incapable of comprehending your leadship could gasp take a wrong decision . Like torturing people, and putting them in prison without trial.

I’m profoundly embarrassed by my continent’s obvious lack of cooperation in closing Guantanamo, however, many Americans do not seem embarrassed it was opened in the first place.

It’s in part a generational shift as well: my father is staunchly pro-American. I’m not, nor is my sister. We live in a much more complex world. As delighted as we were to hear you’ve managed to elect a guy with a lot of working brain cells, and an equally brilliant wife, we’re still worried about the American people, who elected GWB, and then managed to re-elect him.

]]> By: Jennifer Kesler http://whatprivilege.com/hypocrisy-and-credibility-issues-for-the-u-s-a/comment-page-1/#comment-1223 Jennifer Kesler Wed, 28 Apr 2010 04:49:28 +0000 http://whatprivilege.com/?p=210#comment-1223 Yeah, the promise of tax relief works amazingly well over here, too. The actual tax relief either never happens, or if it does, they get it back from you somewhere else. But people just believe these promises like there isn't ample evidence to the contrary two inches from their noses. Yeah, the promise of tax relief works amazingly well over here, too. The actual tax relief either never happens, or if it does, they get it back from you somewhere else. But people just believe these promises like there isn’t ample evidence to the contrary two inches from their noses.

]]> By: Elee http://whatprivilege.com/hypocrisy-and-credibility-issues-for-the-u-s-a/comment-page-1/#comment-1221 Elee Tue, 27 Apr 2010 16:23:55 +0000 http://whatprivilege.com/?p=210#comment-1221 It made me feel uneasy to hear about citizens voting against building minarets in Switzerland (I believe), but easier to dismiss because the country is small enough to be dependent on good relations with their neighbours and doesn't have a lot of cannon-fodder. USA is pretty autarchic. Besides - it is on another continent, which would make Europe an easier target. Knowing that Bush government wanted to pursue war with Iraq - well you see why it is more difficult to revert to ostrich-strategy. On the other hand I am at a point where I seriously don't know what party to vote for. There is not one in Germany that I can say are worth it, if I want my vote to count, but not voting isn't an answer. So it might be a combination of knowing how hypocritical my own government is and fearing what the imbalance would mean if it is encouraged by one of the most powerful countries out there.Jen, our conservatives won the election mostly with the promise of tax reduction. Still not seeing anything of it, only talking. I wasn't even counting on it, but still amuses me in an unfunny way. Of course for the tax reduction being a viable option one needs to actually have some income besides benefits. D: It made me feel uneasy to hear about citizens voting against building minarets in Switzerland (I believe), but easier to dismiss because the country is small enough to be dependent on good relations with their neighbours and doesn’t have a lot of cannon-fodder. USA is pretty autarchic. Besides – it is on another continent, which would make Europe an easier target. Knowing that Bush government wanted to pursue war with Iraq – well you see why it is more difficult to revert to ostrich-strategy. On the other hand I am at a point where I seriously don’t know what party to vote for. There is not one in Germany that I can say are worth it, if I want my vote to count, but not voting isn’t an answer. So it might be a combination of knowing how hypocritical my own government is and fearing what the imbalance would mean if it is encouraged by one of the most powerful countries out there.Jen, our conservatives won the election mostly with the promise of tax reduction. Still not seeing anything of it, only talking. I wasn’t even counting on it, but still amuses me in an unfunny way. Of course for the tax reduction being a viable option one needs to actually have some income besides benefits. D:

]]> By: Jennifer Kesler http://whatprivilege.com/hypocrisy-and-credibility-issues-for-the-u-s-a/comment-page-1/#comment-1220 Jennifer Kesler Tue, 27 Apr 2010 04:07:52 +0000 http://whatprivilege.com/?p=210#comment-1220 Scarlett, that sounds about right. We have some very strange ideas about tariffs in this country, if you ask me. Jen, this country also has a lot of disadvantaged people voting for the party that thinks if you're poor, it's because you deserve it so shut up. It's almost like an internalized abuse cycle. And, oh, abortion protesters. Once upon a time, I had to cross a picket line to get in to see my OB-GYN. They were yelling angrily and hoisting signs that said, "Adoption not abortion!" I took one look at the woman in the lead and her two kids who looked just like her and yelled, "Yeah, how many have YOU adopted?" She just stared at me like no one had EVER introduced her to the concept of putting her money where her mouth was. I mean, really - if you're not willing to adopt someone else's unwanted child, then you have no business lecturing others on how adoption is the solution. Scarlett, that sounds about right. We have some very strange ideas about tariffs in this country, if you ask me.

Jen, this country also has a lot of disadvantaged people voting for the party that thinks if you’re poor, it’s because you deserve it so shut up. It’s almost like an internalized abuse cycle. And, oh, abortion protesters. Once upon a time, I had to cross a picket line to get in to see my OB-GYN. They were yelling angrily and hoisting signs that said, “Adoption not abortion!” I took one look at the woman in the lead and her two kids who looked just like her and yelled, “Yeah, how many have YOU adopted?” She just stared at me like no one had EVER introduced her to the concept of putting her money where her mouth was. I mean, really – if you’re not willing to adopt someone else’s unwanted child, then you have no business lecturing others on how adoption is the solution.

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