Why Do Europeans Get It--But We Are Such Morons Heading for Cliff??

[BabsSong]

Been around for way too many decades. Three years ago I sat on a Sunday morning in Notre Dame Cathederal in Paris with about 4 pews full of old Frenchmen. For me it was the most powerful experience of my life as history, religion, philosophy and some sort of mind blowing force swept over me. It was then I realized some depressing truths about my country because of the contrast I was seeing in Europe.

We have middle class America being beat over the head with a lead pipe with blood flowing down their faces and all they do is cower in a corner and try to survive. Not exactly talking about the French Revolution here where the pesants had enough of the arrogant aristocracy and went for the "head". Yet, we still have a way to control our government. We can go vote in people who will help us---but our aristocracy only permits us to still have elections because they know we keep voting in the "pipe swingers". But there is something different in Europe.

After centuries of arrogant, useless aristocracy and sons-of-bitches like Hitler, they demanded a contract with their governments. They may not have the money to shop until they drop for stupid plastic crap like we do; but they demand healthcare, veterans care, elder care, education, etc. And there is something else there, too.

It's hard for me to say it as a Christian, but it is so true. They have the most magnificent cathederals, churches, art glorifying God; but today they have basically turned away from religion. Religion was one of those corrupt forces that was as brutal to them as the aristocracy and the dictators.

I just wonder where are we, the land of the 'beat over the head', headed to?? We will never have a revolution in this day and age because any discontent can be identified and removed easily. So where do we finally end up...and where do the people who wield the "lead pipe" end up???

[sweetheart]

1. Time heals a wound

If america survives as a nation, it will one day have its own french
revolution. The country is simply too young. It is still a
juvenile playground bully.

The most likely ending, however, is the total bankruptcy of the US
government and a total collapse of the empire, very similarly to
what happened with the former USSR.

Whilst you sat in that cathederal, your government has been spending
your taxes dilligently to conquor every nation on earth and space that all will bow in fear before the great imperial terrorist with
more WMD's than anyone.

The government has become so evil, that the only justice for it is
to kill it off... and nobody need bother... it is bankrupting itself
with imperial overreach, just like all empires in the last 1000 years
of history. same same.

The churces will still be there after we adopt a new constitution and
start over.. and so will all the good parts about humanity and the
world... and with the end of the USA, we can leave behind a terrorist
state of nuclear, biological and chemical militarism that threatened
every person on this earth with a terrible death to secure their
own survival.

Until we kill the beast, there will be no peace.

[BabsSong]

2. Agree-we still have to go through the "stages" that took

..Europe centuries before we are forced to 'start over'. I suppose those who beat us over the head will have migrated to someplace else with their money to kick the shit out of them. We will have finally grown up when we realize that we pay the bills and, therefore, can make he contract with those who aspire to public office.

[librechik]

3. socialism was never demonized there the way it was here

Europeans are far more responsible about taking care of their people--here we are proud of individuals who are "taking care of ourselves." Anybody that doesn't is marginalized and life is made as difficult as possible for them in the vain hope that this will motivate them to get good paying jobs in an economy that hasn't provided that in decades. How long has it been since it became necessary for both parents to work, since one job isn't enough to pay rent, since health care is beyond average family's means? A long long time.

Both viewpoints have their problems, but if you are planning a Thomans Friedmanesque society where there are no jobs here except for nice creative ones, it might be wise to rethink the social safety net otherwise there will be corpses of the starving and disabled on our city streets. But we won't, because 50 years ago fear about a guy named Stalin allowed Republicans to defeat liberals at the polls. They are still ringing that red bell, long after communism is dead.

[ex_jew]

4. Maybe if Ohio and Indiana had been party to multiple bloody wars

against each other, their populace might have learned from the experience. Instead, we learned only about "the greatest generation", which taught only about the successful use of force. Pretty thin training for a nation.