Is it wrong to be "proud to be an American"?

People from the right can't be held liable for the handful of trouble makers that share their ideas. Same for the left when what's his name called for the rape of Trumps son.

saddly their are far more alt right then some damn retard shooting his mouth off

No. It's just when someone from the right says or does anything it's headline news and they're a nazi. But if it's from the left very little is reported on and the left worships them as some hero.

@dpad_5678 Owning responsibility is something you can be proud of. Like lets say I bought myself a nice new house and paid it off, versus living in my parents basement. I can be proud of the former because it took responsibility.

@dpad_5678, what? John Wilkes Booth was a Democrat and the KKK was founded by Democrats. Furthermore, JFK's assassination was more than likely organized by those within his own party.

@Jambione well... That, and money

@TotalInsanity4 Its all relative. Ive never had any money, I dont own my own home - but I have some pride in the things I take responsibility for - like trying to raise my kids. If I do the best with what I got, I can be proud of that. But I think there is so much on the left that tries to lay blame where it shouldnt be, and dismissing responsibility - it gets maddening for those who have nothing and yet still try to do whats right.

I would say the "blame" being placed is rather proportional on both ends of the political spectrum; except that the left targets the upper economic class while the right targets the lower. Who's right is a different topic entirely, but I can say with confidence that both sides clearly see their own claims as legitimate

However, speaking for MYSELF, I would say that there's no reason that anything you just said should conflict with leftist ideals; if anything I think that's what most of us strive for - having enough to live comfortably (read: not paycheck-to-paycheck) and to be able to take pride in what we have influence over in our lives

Not wrong, but I believe it's kinda dull to be proud of a thing that you not accomplished yourself, either that being American, European, black, white, man, woman, etc. You just happen to born that way or on that place. I think people should rather say they are happy to be x/y/z and at most be proud of their parents or precursors, etc.

@TotalInsanity4 Ive read your posts for years - and have come to respect your opinion. Your responses to me - Im thankful for and respect.

I guess my point is that everyone should take responsibility for themselves. This would make America a better place. Now where the Left and the Right come down on this, is very different. Think for yourself, make your own money, earn your own college admissions, dont rely on government handouts, build yourself up, have a little dignity in doing things for yourself. These are not from the left.

Again, I personally see nothing wrong with dipping into the communal pot for help when you need it, especially if you're paying into said pot. When it comes specifically to both healthcare and higher education, I still say Germany has it figured out; even if you aren't a taxpaying citizen, both are 100% free, no strings attached. They do that because they understand that a healthy and educated populous will ultimately pay for itself through economic growth, and if they can manage to convince the foreign exchange students to stay in the country to work and ultimately be successful, in the end that means more taxpaying citizens to return the favor.

Because of that, specifically, I have a hard time swallowing the "pay for college yourself, because you'll take pride in your own success that way" pill; not just because I see it as an unnecessary barrier that discourages otherwise talented lower-income individuals from seeking higher education, but also because other countries have proven that it's ultimately an unnecessary expense that society as a whole IS capable of footing, so long as taxes are budgeted accordingly

No one likes paying for things - especially for others. College is a crippling expense. My Grandmother said she couldn't afford college for her kids, but the government was taking taxes from her to pay for other kids to go to college. Leftism sucks. They steal from others to pay for what they want.

The problem with college expenses is everyone goes. If you cant afford it - say no, be a plumber and make more money without the debt. Colleges charge as much as they do cause everyone thinks they need to go - they dont. If people said, Im doing something else - college would be less expensive.

College aside, I absolutely agree with you in that if someone pays for something - they should see some benefit. Even if you need help, America is the best place to receive charity if you are down on your luck, through churches and other organizations. Ive actually been down on my luck and tried the government. If you are not a woman or a minority - they wont even consider you. Even if you paid taxes.

This is the best country to be able to have a descent life, considering you want to take on the responsibility. You cant trust anyone else to make your life better, nor the government.

Anyways, dude - have a great night. Peace.

I'm proud of my country as well. It's all fine to be proud. What I don't like is when people believe their country to be miles ahead of everyone else's.

@Jambione several things:

- If in your grandmother's time college would was public funded, her kids could have gone. Social States provide equilibrium to everyone.

- University in the states are expensive because they mostly aren't public funded and for-profit.

- Not everyone needs to go to university but we as a society need more and more qualified work, specially in the technological areas;

@pustal public funded means everyone pays taxes for them. I dont want to pay for someone else. My Grandmother didnt want to pay for someone else - via taxes. Pay for your own stuff, and make good decisions about what you choose to buy. Supply and demand dictact prices. Public funded institutions are a problem for the society as a whole for the most part.

@Jambione we live in society, it benefits everyone in your country to produce specialized engineers, workers, etc - from your country point of view it'll mean employ local citizens for a lower price or outsource them from elsewhere. Not only that but public funded universities means public investigation, rather then private funded for proprietary use. The same way it benefits everyone if the global health increases.

This is the way most Europe works and it turns out living conditions end up better - better wealth distribution, better general health, lower crime rates, etc, it's all connected.

America: home to the most retarded conspiracy theories you will ever hear of.

@pustal I can understand your point, I just disagree. With collectivism (wealth distribution) you lose the power to choose. Not all common good runs toward your individual good. And when this happens and you can not choose, your SOL.

I cant speak to the anecdotal evidence that your country is better to live. I just dont believe the empirical evidence would bear that out, or that it could be sustained.

@Jambione , no but basic needs, including health and things that enrich society like education benefits everyone. A more well educated society has greater progression possibilities, makes better political choices, has lesser tendencies to fall into crime, etc. And you still have choice, there are still private universities and hospitals, and better yet, the cost is still far from the cost in the US, pecauze public institutions makes them compete for it, having to justify themselves to offer a better service (not always true even if they try to advertise that) for still an affordable expense.

I'm not speaking of experience of my country alone, but almost my whole continent. I also have family in the US, I can see the differences in difficulties and oportunities. And of course it can be sustained, most countries in the G7 are social states.

You as an American are proud of the men and women who have fought and are fighting to defend our country? Really ? Every countries are. And I dont agree with you because they fought to defeat our country and they died and lost their lives. They desperately want to live but they go to war because they choice it for their wrong reasons and they knew thy would died and thats not worth. That's so wrong. War is not the ANSWER and NEVER WILL! PEACE NEVER EXIST BECAUSE OF THOSE PEOPLE GOING TO WAR FOR WHAT ? KILLING PEOPLE! DISGUSTING!

We are all one big family but sad. An enemies are everywhere and they are an idiots. We are all the same human being with love, honor, and family! It doesnt work that way. Most human being is the scum! Sorry about my English.

Again, I just dong agreeing people fighting to defend our country. For what ? They are killing EACH OTHERS. ITS SO WRONG! ABSOLUTELY WRONG! Just saying.