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I think the the tenacity and perseverance of the American character results in a nation that is better equipped to produce wealth than any other nation. It is f

by fleitz 16y ago

I think the the tenacity and perseverance of the American character results in a nation that is better equipped to produce wealth than any other nation. It is founded on entirely different principles than the rest of the world. Americans are optimists and that leads them to have the courage of conviction to do things like a Marshall Aid plan. America realizes that it stands on top of the world and thus the only way to lift itself up is to lift everyone else up with it. For many years America was one of the freest places to do business. Because of that and their geography they were able to leverage massive industrial power to fuel the Allied war machine while charging a large portion of that back to their allies. After WW2 they correctly realized that they needed a plan to get the rest of the world on track, because they were the only ones left with functioning industry, they gave and sold the world the means of production. (Marshall Aid plan) From these acts they became the worlds reserve currency and leveraged that into massive monetary expansion and reaped the rewards of seigniorage. The problem is that American has adopted a very anti-business climate (Sarbox, Dodd-Frank, etc) and is still acting like it represents 60% of world GDP. It's pretty much Silicon Valley that is still keeping the US in the game. Also, not to forget is the Americans were smart enough to offer to pay the Sauds their bribe to be able to protect them. The British scoffed at this offer and the rest is pretty much history. Basically, the Sauds said 'someone pay us for the privilege of protecting us' I'm not American but hold a deep respect for the things the country has done for the world.

pyre 16y ago
> It's pretty much Silicon Valley that is still > keeping the US in the game. While there may be some truth to it, I think that statement is a bit bold.
- fleitz 16y ago
  Bold ideas are what change the world. I don't think that it is the companies or the particular ideas that are keeping the US in the game, it's the spirit and the character. It's having the courage to dream, the passion to execute, and the friends and colleagues who will offer a hand up after you fail. No where else have I seen this spirit so embodied and embraced than in SV.
caf 16y ago
I don't believe the "American character" is fundamentally any different to that of the people of, say, the Ukraine or Brazil. When you get down to it, people are people, and the variance in people within nations is far greater than that between them. The reason that places like the US are prosperous is down to the basics: Low corruption; a functioning legal system; public trust in the institutions of the state. These are the (interrelated, and mutually reinforcing) preconditions for a stable and prosperous society. The US also has the advantage of very favourable geography - it has strategic depth, it is isolated on two sides by the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, and it has excellent internal transport routes to facilitate internal commerce (eg. the Mississippi River system).
- icegreentea 16y ago
  For the most part of America's history, there actually is a difference between American character and most of the rest of the world. America was made up of those who decided to leave their home countries. Even in extreme cases (Irish Famine) it takes a 'special' type of person to willingly uproot themselves and move to somewhere else where there is no real guarantee of work or success. America (and other high immigration countries) DO fundamentally have a different character. Though it is not inherent, it's emergent. And therefore, if you're not careful, you can lose it.
  - hasenj 16y ago
    People come to the US because they hear they can make a good living over there. None of the immigrants actually believe in any of the so called "American Values" that the right-wing media is so vocal about. Most of the immigrants don't actually uproot their origins; most immigrant communities still bond with their own country men, and they're probably more loyal to their home country than to the US. (of course, they can't show it when they're interviewed by the media; they have to pretend they've ditched their origins and became "Americans").

by fleitz 16y ago

pyre 16y ago

> It's pretty much Silicon Valley that is still > keeping the US in the game. While there may be some truth to it, I think that statement is a bit bold.

fleitz 16y ago
Bold ideas are what change the world. I don't think that it is the companies or the particular ideas that are keeping the US in the game, it's the spirit and the character. It's having the courage to dream, the passion to execute, and the friends and colleagues who will offer a hand up after you fail. No where else have I seen this spirit so embodied and embraced than in SV.

caf 16y ago

I don't believe the "American character" is fundamentally any different to that of the people of, say, the Ukraine or Brazil. When you get down to it, people are people, and the variance in people within nations is far greater than that between them. The reason that places like the US are prosperous is down to the basics: Low corruption; a functioning legal system; public trust in the institutions of the state. These are the (interrelated, and mutually reinforcing) preconditions for a stable and prosperous society. The US also has the advantage of very favourable geography - it has strategic depth, it is isolated on two sides by the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, and it has excellent internal transport routes to facilitate internal commerce (eg. the Mississippi River system).

icegreentea 16y ago
For the most part of America's history, there actually is a difference between American character and most of the rest of the world. America was made up of those who decided to leave their home countries. Even in extreme cases (Irish Famine) it takes a 'special' type of person to willingly uproot themselves and move to somewhere else where there is no real guarantee of work or success. America (and other high immigration countries) DO fundamentally have a different character. Though it is not inherent, it's emergent. And therefore, if you're not careful, you can lose it.
- hasenj 16y ago
  People come to the US because they hear they can make a good living over there. None of the immigrants actually believe in any of the so called "American Values" that the right-wing media is so vocal about. Most of the immigrants don't actually uproot their origins; most immigrant communities still bond with their own country men, and they're probably more loyal to their home country than to the US. (of course, they can't show it when they're interviewed by the media; they have to pretend they've ditched their origins and became "Americans").