2 ms·

Nobody is saying the U.S. is flawless, but people in the U.S. are far more free, prosperous, and safe than those in China. As one simple example, Americans choo

Nobody is saying the U.S. is flawless, but people in the U.S. are far more free, prosperous, and safe than those in China. As one simple example, Americans choose who governs them and can openly criticize them. As another, Americans can do all these things you dislike, whether you or the government like it or not. All of the most prosperous, most free countries in the world are democracies. The most prosperous, most free parts of China are democracies (Taiwan and Hong Kong). As Churchill said (reputedly): Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others. I wish my brethren in China great freedom, prosperity and peace.

wu-ikkyu 9y ago
>people in the U.S. are far more free, prosperous, and safe than those in China. This sort of statement is entirely subjective. As a counterpoint, many people in China would say the US is less free and less safe, because the US has by far the most amount of people locked in cages and a higher per capita homicide rate. Whether or not one country is "better" than the other is nationalist subjectivity.
- forapurpose 9y ago
  >> people in the U.S. are far more free, prosperous, and safe than those in China. > This sort of statement is entirely subjective It's not at all subjective. There are many objective measurements of prosperity, such as income and wealth per capita, and freedom, such as human rights. Freedom House is a good source for an an objective, annual review of human rights (last I knew; I haven't looked at it in a little while).
123ol12313 9y ago
"Nobody is saying the U.S. is flawless" If you read enough comments online, you will realize that's exactly what all Americans say: they are the best country in the world and they are the freest. First is highly subjective, and second proven to not be true (few European countries are technically freer). "Americans choose who governs them" Bit idealist. Those chosen are of well off families. You can't play in the political game without some form of money to pay for not working in a real job. "most free countries in the world are democracies" True
catnaroek 9y ago
“Freedom” and “peace”, for some bastardized version of those words, presumably something along the lines of “we can go there and do as we wish” [0] and “they will never attempt to contest our dominance”, respectively - that I can believe. “Prosperity”, nope. That has never been what Westerners wished for China. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extraterritoriality https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extraterritoriality

wu-ikkyu 9y ago

>people in the U.S. are far more free, prosperous, and safe than those in China. This sort of statement is entirely subjective. As a counterpoint, many people in China would say the US is less free and less safe, because the US has by far the most amount of people locked in cages and a higher per capita homicide rate. Whether or not one country is "better" than the other is nationalist subjectivity.

forapurpose 9y ago
>> people in the U.S. are far more free, prosperous, and safe than those in China. > This sort of statement is entirely subjective It's not at all subjective. There are many objective measurements of prosperity, such as income and wealth per capita, and freedom, such as human rights. Freedom House is a good source for an an objective, annual review of human rights (last I knew; I haven't looked at it in a little while).

123ol12313 9y ago

"Nobody is saying the U.S. is flawless" If you read enough comments online, you will realize that's exactly what all Americans say: they are the best country in the world and they are the freest. First is highly subjective, and second proven to not be true (few European countries are technically freer). "Americans choose who governs them" Bit idealist. Those chosen are of well off families. You can't play in the political game without some form of money to pay for not working in a real job. "most free countries in the world are democracies" True

catnaroek 9y ago

“Freedom” and “peace”, for some bastardized version of those words, presumably something along the lines of “we can go there and do as we wish” [0] and “they will never attempt to contest our dominance”, respectively - that I can believe. “Prosperity”, nope. That has never been what Westerners wished for China. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extraterritoriality https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extraterritoriality