Why Do Americans Demand Nothing of their Government unlike others?

[DemocracyInaction]

Throughout the other democracies of the word, their people demand things of their governments and get them. They pay their taxes and they receive something back, ie., healthcare, elder care, etc. In the US we send in our taxes and are told to "shut up" and expect NOTHING in return. So, we obediently shut up and don't demand. In fact, if anyone suggests it, fellow Americans turn on them like animals.

The result is that these other democracies are much closer to their people's needs and wishes and are simply an 'arm' of the people. Here, the government takes our money and shuts the door in our faces and meets with corporations to decide in what ways they can rob more from the people. By our lack of demands, we have killed democracy. The power structure doesn't come from us but simply feeds off our money. We are left to face this power and corporations on our own and we think that that makes us strong. No, it just makes us stupid....and broke.

[bemildred]

1. A good questioon.

Two answers:

1.) Collectively, we are dumb as rocks. You get the kind of government
you deserve, especially in a democratic system.

2.) A good deal of concious effort goes into keeping things this way.
The political elites cannot rule if the people do. This is why populism
is anathema, it is the end of things as they are, if it succeeds.

[DemocracyInaction]

2. bemildred--I guess what amazes me is that the people are

outright TOLD that "class warefare" is not tolerated by Americans and they buy it and go vote against themselves in every increasing droves. BUT it was just that kind of 'class warfare' that gave rise to the Unions in this nation which created a middle class and put robber barrons on a leash. We would be working like our peon ancestors (America was not some worker paradise in bygone days--it was brutal)if it wasn't for those Unions rallying people against this decadent ruling class. To return to that era will be the death of this country. Inbred, inherited wealth causes stagnent, poor countries. Democrats need to start right now waging class warfare----they never seem to want to dirty their hands with it anymore and that's why the Jesus freaks are taking over (oh, and a religious run country is the second way to achieve a stagnent, poor country).

[bemildred]

6. Most people believe what they are told.

Critical thinking must be taught. The problem is precisely
that the US has a ruling elite, and that elite prefers, knowingly
or not, to forgo the long term welfare of the nation to retain
power. This will have consequences, in the long run, but from
what I can tell, they don't think long term. This is typical
of decadent ruling elites, which is how I and a number of others
who have written of this over the last few decades interpret the
present situation here. I can't say I am optimistic that we will
escape a national crisis, although I would not presume to predict
how things will unfold, or when other than fairly soon. Big trees
fall slow.

[bemildred]

9. FWIW, the only author I know to address the question

directly in the form you ask it is Walter Karp.
"Indispensible Enemies", a fascinating read whether you buy
all of it or not.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

3. American Exceptionalism...

Americans are taught that individualism is for the strong and collectivism is for the weak...

[sweetheart]

5. and the diminished expectations that entails

The meme is that the government is not "your" government, which is
in direct contrast to the very meaning of the word "liberty"... but
since when do republicans care about liberty. The government is
as much "ours" as some removed monarch, and like evil monarchies of
past times, the strife will have to get much worse until the public
rises up in a peasant revolt, or a french revolution and demands
its natural rights.

America is a young country, and has yet to experience its people's
revolution. The other nations you contrast to, are all from much
older stock, and have incorporated the lessons of their people's
revolutions in to the very fabric of their democratic systems.

It is why blair pains me so deeply. He is the enemy of Wat Tyler
and Jack Straw, selling them out to king edward the evil (peasant revolt of 1381) The wanker has lived in a society that has
deeply benefitted from the equality of a people's revolt, and yet
himself is busy undermining the values of his own foundation. What
kind of rat or cancer attacks the very foundation of their own
good health?

[bemildred]

7. Nicely said:

America is a young country, and has yet to experience its people's
revolution. The other nations you contrast to, are all from much
older stock, and have incorporated the lessons of their people's
revolutions in to the very fabric of their democratic systems.

:thumbsup:

European societies are under stress, I think, from demographic issues,
and that may explain the recent course of events in Britain, but it
remains true that the political spectrum in those countries lies far
to the left of what we have here.

[The Chronicler]

4. Friedrich Hayek has played well here (nm)

[DemocratSinceBirth]

8. and Milton Friedman..

nt