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As somebody else said in this thread, equating the USA with 'Western countries' in general is distorting reality. Most 'Western' countries are very different fr
by jonathanstrange 9y ago
As somebody else said in this thread, equating the USA with 'Western countries' in general is distorting reality. Most 'Western' countries are very different from the US. But I see how the equation 'Western world=USA' serves people well rhetorically if they want to make a case against democracy without clearly saying so.
The point is that there are many different democracies and the USA is not and never was a poster example of it. Some have argued that the US is more of an oligarchic republic based on the example of ancient Rome rather than a modern democracy. However, the fact that people like Noam Chomsky who make this critique can freely live and talk in the US readily tells you how misleading it is to ride on popular anti-American sentiment when it is done on behalf of a country where critics are simply imprisoned.
- saas_co_de 9y ago> equating the USA with 'Western countries' This is an article in a British magazine. Why blame the US? > people like Noam Chomsky who make this critique can freely live and talk in the US readily tells you how misleading it is In the US freedom of speech is part of the system of control. It is a safety valve that releases social pressure to prevent explosive revolutionary outbursts. The rulers of the US are no less dictatorial, they are just more sophisticated in their understanding of social control.
- jonathanstrange 9y agoI'm not replying to the article but to neves's post. >The rulers of the US are no less dictatorial, they are just more sophisticated in their understanding of social control. Though I'm not very fond of the US's political system, I don't think so.