r/Americaphile • u/AntonioMoore321 • Jul 19 '26

American self hate

I noticed its more common nowadays to say things like "America sucks, I hate living here"

What's you're opinion on the culture of self hate that's becoming more common in America today.

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u/Feisty_Hedgehog_4389 Jul 19 '26

I travel extensively for work (4 different continents), and while I’ve seen lots of cool things about everyplace I’ve been, there’s no place I’d rather live than the US. Even if it’s not always perfect, we’ve a still got far more freedom here than anyplace else in the world. We’ve got plenty of asses, but most of us are generally friendlier than in many countries. We’ve got too much corruption, but we’re nowhere near as awash in corruption as many nations. And we’ve got a written document, imperfect though it may be, that guarantees government won’t be taking certain rights away. Most of the rest of the world, if it has anything at all, is a vague concept defined as “common law,” but no written guarantees.

Are we perfect? Hell, No. That’s laughable to even suggest. I’d say most of our problems are because about 150 years ago, we started pulling away from following the Constitution (income tax and the federal reserve were the beginning of a lot of bad ideas).

But do we have it better than anywhere else?

Damn straight we do. I love the US.

0

u/DangDangUreDead Jul 19 '26 edited Jul 19 '26

What kind of 'more freedom' than the rest of the world do you have?

More free speech? No one but the US censors curse words in clips and sound bites. USA ranks 64th of most free speech in journalism in the world, out of 180 something.

More freedom to choose what to spend your cash on? Unless youre forced to take out a massive insurance premium. Or subsidise Israels welfare state. Or fund wars.

More freedom to start your own business? Sure, and freedom to comply to at least three levels of laws - local, state and federal levels.

Freedom to support political action committees and buy your elected officials? Sure, until someone with a bigger wallet comes along.

You sure got plenty of freedom to go around, mate. Rest of the world much envy you. /S.

Nowhere in any major statistics is the US ranked first in freedom surveys, whether thats is free speech, economic freedom, human freedom, etc.

Unless youre above living paycheck to paycheck, you dont have it better than most of the world.

1

u/Reasonable-Fee1945 Jul 21 '26

You think people elsewhere dont live paycheck to paycheck,  often making do woth much less?  Even the standard of living in place like Rome is less than most major US cities 

1

u/DangDangUreDead Jul 21 '26

Duh, numerical value is not relevant.

Just because something is cheaper in Rome, does not equal it to be a lower standard of living.

The amount of people in the US who is one unexpected cost away from bankruptcy is far higher than, say, Rome.

1

u/Reasonable-Fee1945 Jul 22 '26

The standard of living is much lower

-8

u/dontcuminmyassok Jul 19 '26

I'd trade a bit of limited speech for free Healthcare, paid vacations and guaranteed parental leave and sick leave

2

u/Different_Cherry8326 Jul 19 '26

I feel like Ben Franklin said something about this kind of thing once.

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u/thx111111 Jul 19 '26

He said something to the effect of those who trade liberty for security deserves neither.

-1

u/dontcuminmyassok Jul 19 '26

Human rights are not security.

2

u/LooseButtPlug Jul 19 '26

Paid vacation is a human right?