Ten inconvenient truths about the United States

Ten inconvenient truths about the United States They have a point. So this week I have listed ten issues which makes the United States less than it could be, less than it should be. I would also add that would be easy for me to list at least one hundred qualities which makes me proud to be an American. But that is for another time. 1. The Gun Culture. I confess that I do not fully understand it, but a large percentage of Americans are fanatical about their right to easily buy, own and carry every kind of firearm known to mankind. Assassinations of Presidents, killing of celebrities such as John Lennon, and massacres at schools and other places make absolutely no dent in this fundamental belief. Around 60 million people own guns and about 30,000 people each year die from them in suicides, murders, and accidents. 2. Lack of critical thinking about our own system of democracy and its practices. We are taught from birth that our own system of democracy is the best in the world. We are exceptionally proud of it, but in an uncritical way. This has a lot of negative consequences. First of all, we fail to realize just how flawed the system is and how it is increasingly preventing us from moving forward. Ultimately, it will be one of the major factors why our role in the world will diminish. But secondly, overvaluing our own system causes us to undervalue all others. It also leads us to believe that "one model fits all" and to over-simplify the world as a result. 3. Our Underclass. One of the greatest positive features of the United States is that by and large, our economic system rewards all those who are willing to work hard. At the same time, there is a sizeable underclass in America, which is not on any "ladder" to a better life. It is not simply that they are poor. They also have been brought up in a specific sub-culture with its own system of values, practices, and experiences that almost guarantees that they cannot "break through" to the rest of American society. We don't have any answer to the problem and to a large extent, we deal with it by ignoring it and making its members effectively "invisible." 4. Consumerism. If one lives in the United States, one is infected with some sort of virus whereby material possessions come to be more important and there are never enough of them. Money consequently also assumes more importance. The end result is that we work too much, enjoy ourselves too little, and long for more. There is little time for friends and family. We need a better balance to improve the quality of our lives. The downsides of this consumerism include unconcern about our overuse of natural resources and the impact it has on the world, including, of course, global warming. 5. Arrogance of Power. We absolutely believe that we can solve any problem and right any wrong, if only we put our minds to it. This has lead to major positive accomplishments in a world where all too often others are reluctant to commit themselves. But it has also left us with an attitude that leads us into situations like Iraq and all too often comes across to the rest of the world as arrogance. We tend to see problems in black and white with individuals either as heroes or villains with little insight into the actual workings of other cultures, religions, and societies. We are also far surer of the correctness of our views than we should be with little patience to hear anything different. The classic example of all of the above is the banner reading "Mission Accomplished" on a U.S. aircraft carrier greeting President Bush in the immediate aftermath of the defeat of the Iraqi Army in 2003. 6. Importance of lobbyists. It is a sad commentary when most countries have come to believe that to get proper access to key officials in the United States, they have to shell out hundreds of thousands of dollars annually to lobbying firms. The key to success in the Washington environment for businesses and countries is to have the right lobbyist. Access - and legislation - is effectively for sale. 7. Lack of consistency in our foreign policy. Following the end of the Cold War, our foreign policy lost its direction. Historically, there has always been strong support for isolationism. But there have also been activists wanting to use American power for specific reasons such as spreading democracy, stopping the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and combating terror. Add to this a strong element of pragmatism, which has lead to support for authoritarian regimes such as Saudi Arabia because of oil or Pakistan because of its importance in the fight against the Taliban and Al-Qaeda. This same pragmatism causes us to ignore issues in some countries (human rights violations in China and North Korea, for example) when the cost of doing anything about them is deemed to high. Finally, we have to add the influence of powerful interests in the United States, which have dominated our policies towards Cuba and Israel. When all of the above comes together, it makes for an overall policy, which is difficult to articulate, filled with inconsistencies, and hard to predict. 8. Insularity. It is absolutely striking how inward looking we are. The national television news spends more time on OJ Simpson and Britney Spears than it does on all international events combined. Only around 25% of the American population even has passports. Most Americans think very little about the rest of the world and are not really even very curious. What this means is that our foreign policy is largely developed by a very small percentage of the population. 9. Impact of Terrorism. Thanks in large part to how the Bush Administration has reacted to September 11; Americans have willingly given up a significant percentage of their individual freedoms without any serious debate. Nowhere is this more evident than at airports, where security is both pervasive and aggressive. There is an attitude present in virtually all personnel at airports that I find positively scary. In the name of the war on terror, we have a President defending the use of "enhanced interrogation methods," wiretapping Americans without required court orders and doing broad reviews of financial transactions around the world. Guantanamo Bay remains open. We have lost the moral high ground and few seem to care much about it. 10. Polarization. There are several "hot button" issues on which large numbers of people feel passionately to the point of fanaticism. This includes abortion, gay rights, and gun control. But this is only the tip of the iceberg, as racial issues, wealth versus poverty, gender issues, and religious activism all combine to create a witches brew of negative energy, rage, and confrontation. We all learn quickly (and sometimes painfully) all of these "landmines" and how to avoid them. One of the negative results is "political correctness." Another is self-censorship, where professors and researchers avoid certain topics or approaches to issues. The head of Harvard University endured a firestorm of criticism, for example, when he raised as one of many possible reasons for a scarcity of women in certain "hard sciences" the possibility that it could be due to some genetic differences between men and women. Americans willingly gave up some individual freedoms in the wake of 9/11? (Beta, archive) Over the past few months, I have written columns listing "inconvenient truths" about Bosnia, Kosovo, and Serbia. Many of the more critical readers instead of thinking about my comments, have simply retorted "What about your own country?" William Montgomery "I have written columns listing 'inconvenient truths' about Bosnia, Kosovo, and Serbia. Many of the more critical readers instead of thinking about my comments, have simply retorted 'What about your own country?'"

Ten inconvenient truths about the United States

They have a point. So this week I have listed ten issues which makes the United States less than it could be, less than it should be. I would also add that would be easy for me to list at least one hundred qualities which makes me proud to be an American. But that is for another time.

1. The Gun Culture. I confess that I do not fully understand it, but a large percentage of Americans are fanatical about their right to easily buy, own and carry every kind of firearm known to mankind. Assassinations of Presidents, killing of celebrities such as John Lennon, and massacres at schools and other places make absolutely no dent in this fundamental belief. Around 60 million people own guns and about 30,000 people each year die from them in suicides, murders, and accidents.

2. Lack of critical thinking about our own system of democracy and its practices. We are taught from birth that our own system of democracy is the best in the world. We are exceptionally proud of it, but in an uncritical way. This has a lot of negative consequences. First of all, we fail to realize just how flawed the system is and how it is increasingly preventing us from moving forward. Ultimately, it will be one of the major factors why our role in the world will diminish. But secondly, overvaluing our own system causes us to undervalue all others. It also leads us to believe that "one model fits all" and to over-simplify the world as a result.

3. Our Underclass. One of the greatest positive features of the United States is that by and large, our economic system rewards all those who are willing to work hard. At the same time, there is a sizeable underclass in America, which is not on any "ladder" to a better life. It is not simply that they are poor. They also have been brought up in a specific sub-culture with its own system of values, practices, and experiences that almost guarantees that they cannot "break through" to the rest of American society. We don't have any answer to the problem and to a large extent, we deal with it by ignoring it and making its members effectively "invisible."

4. Consumerism. If one lives in the United States, one is infected with some sort of virus whereby material possessions come to be more important and there are never enough of them. Money consequently also assumes more importance. The end result is that we work too much, enjoy ourselves too little, and long for more. There is little time for friends and family. We need a better balance to improve the quality of our lives. The downsides of this consumerism include unconcern about our overuse of natural resources and the impact it has on the world, including, of course, global warming.

5. Arrogance of Power. We absolutely believe that we can solve any problem and right any wrong, if only we put our minds to it. This has lead to major positive accomplishments in a world where all too often others are reluctant to commit themselves. But it has also left us with an attitude that leads us into situations like Iraq and all too often comes across to the rest of the world as arrogance. We tend to see problems in black and white with individuals either as heroes or villains with little insight into the actual workings of other cultures, religions, and societies. We are also far surer of the correctness of our views than we should be with little patience to hear anything different. The classic example of all of the above is the banner reading "Mission Accomplished" on a U.S. aircraft carrier greeting President Bush in the immediate aftermath of the defeat of the Iraqi Army in 2003.

6. Importance of lobbyists. It is a sad commentary when most countries have come to believe that to get proper access to key officials in the United States, they have to shell out hundreds of thousands of dollars annually to lobbying firms. The key to success in the Washington environment for businesses and countries is to have the right lobbyist. Access - and legislation - is effectively for sale.

7. Lack of consistency in our foreign policy. Following the end of the Cold War, our foreign policy lost its direction. Historically, there has always been strong support for isolationism. But there have also been activists wanting to use American power for specific reasons such as spreading democracy, stopping the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and combating terror. Add to this a strong element of pragmatism, which has lead to support for authoritarian regimes such as Saudi Arabia because of oil or Pakistan because of its importance in the fight against the Taliban and Al-Qaeda. This same pragmatism causes us to ignore issues in some countries (human rights violations in China and North Korea, for example) when the cost of doing anything about them is deemed to high. Finally, we have to add the influence of powerful interests in the United States, which have dominated our policies towards Cuba and Israel. When all of the above comes together, it makes for an overall policy, which is difficult to articulate, filled with inconsistencies, and hard to predict.

8. Insularity. It is absolutely striking how inward looking we are. The national television news spends more time on OJ Simpson and Britney Spears than it does on all international events combined. Only around 25% of the American population even has passports. Most Americans think very little about the rest of the world and are not really even very curious. What this means is that our foreign policy is largely developed by a very small percentage of the population.

9. Impact of Terrorism. Thanks in large part to how the Bush Administration has reacted to September 11; Americans have willingly given up a significant percentage of their individual freedoms without any serious debate. Nowhere is this more evident than at airports, where security is both pervasive and aggressive. There is an attitude present in virtually all personnel at airports that I find positively scary. In the name of the war on terror, we have a President defending the use of "enhanced interrogation methods," wiretapping Americans without required court orders and doing broad reviews of financial transactions around the world. Guantanamo Bay remains open. We have lost the moral high ground and few seem to care much about it.

10. Polarization. There are several "hot button" issues on which large numbers of people feel passionately to the point of fanaticism. This includes abortion, gay rights, and gun control. But this is only the tip of the iceberg, as racial issues, wealth versus poverty, gender issues, and religious activism all combine to create a witches brew of negative energy, rage, and confrontation. We all learn quickly (and sometimes painfully) all of these "landmines" and how to avoid them. One of the negative results is "political correctness." Another is self-censorship, where professors and researchers avoid certain topics or approaches to issues. The head of Harvard University endured a firestorm of criticism, for example, when he raised as one of many possible reasons for a scarcity of women in certain "hard sciences" the possibility that it could be due to some genetic differences between men and women.