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In other countries, when the government is corrupt, people get outraged and call for reform. In America, when the government is corrupt, people say "Well it's

In other countries, when the government is corrupt, people get outraged and call for reform. In America, when the government is corrupt, people say "Well it's the government, what did you expect?" America is like this because corrupt corporations spread the meme that the government is always corrupt, lest those pesky people demand that the government actually do something to those corporations.

unclebucknasty 5y ago
With all of the arguments about government, elected officials have managed to divert attention from the two reforms that matter most: campaign finance and term limits. Disastrous rulings like Citizens United, which further codified direct avenues to further government capture should still have people in the streets. These two reforms would absolutely overhaul our system, greatly diminish corruption, and restore democracy. But, you rarely even hear them discussed.
colpabar 5y ago
Any popular movement to address corruption would immediately be decreed a "dangerous conspiracy theory" and demonized by the mainstream media. Any politician would be excluded from mainstream debates. And even if they could get into office, they would be totally unable to do anything, because the rest of the system would be against them. I know this sounds like more of "well it's the government, what did you expect?" But my point is that the American government is rotten to its core and it's going to take _a lot_ to undo it. In other countries there is sometimes violent revolution, but we consider that unspeakable here.
- scohesc 5y ago
  With the number of firearms scattered around the USA, ripe for the taking (according to the media) - I'm surprised the proverbial nut hasn't been tightened enough for the bolt to shear - yet. (I am not condoning or encouraging violence in any way with this comment)
- yongjik 5y ago
  Compared to most of the world, America's government system is still very competent and accountable. Think about highways, OSHA, FAA, NASA, etc. I'd certainly not call it "rotten to the core." Other countries' citizens rage not because they have it better than America - they rage because (usually) they have it worse! But calling it fundamentally corrupt serves as self-fulfilling prophecy, because once citizens internalize the concept that the government is corrupt and nothing can be done (short of an armed revolution), then of course nothing can be done - because even in the most pessimistic scenario America will still take a generation before an armed revolution would look palatable. It sets up the false dichotomy between "uprooting the society and everyone's lives in it" vs. "doing nothing and saying that nothing can be done."
  - trasz 5y ago
    > Compared to most of the world, America's government system is still very competent and accountable. Compared to third world countries. I'd argue most people complaining how broken US government system is are citizens of developed countries, most of which score better than US.

unclebucknasty 5y ago

With all of the arguments about government, elected officials have managed to divert attention from the two reforms that matter most: campaign finance and term limits. Disastrous rulings like Citizens United, which further codified direct avenues to further government capture should still have people in the streets. These two reforms would absolutely overhaul our system, greatly diminish corruption, and restore democracy. But, you rarely even hear them discussed.

colpabar 5y ago

Any popular movement to address corruption would immediately be decreed a "dangerous conspiracy theory" and demonized by the mainstream media. Any politician would be excluded from mainstream debates. And even if they could get into office, they would be totally unable to do anything, because the rest of the system would be against them. I know this sounds like more of "well it's the government, what did you expect?" But my point is that the American government is rotten to its core and it's going to take _a lot_ to undo it. In other countries there is sometimes violent revolution, but we consider that unspeakable here.

scohesc 5y ago
With the number of firearms scattered around the USA, ripe for the taking (according to the media) - I'm surprised the proverbial nut hasn't been tightened enough for the bolt to shear - yet. (I am not condoning or encouraging violence in any way with this comment)
yongjik 5y ago
Compared to most of the world, America's government system is still very competent and accountable. Think about highways, OSHA, FAA, NASA, etc. I'd certainly not call it "rotten to the core." Other countries' citizens rage not because they have it better than America - they rage because (usually) they have it worse! But calling it fundamentally corrupt serves as self-fulfilling prophecy, because once citizens internalize the concept that the government is corrupt and nothing can be done (short of an armed revolution), then of course nothing can be done - because even in the most pessimistic scenario America will still take a generation before an armed revolution would look palatable. It sets up the false dichotomy between "uprooting the society and everyone's lives in it" vs. "doing nothing and saying that nothing can be done."
- trasz 5y ago
  > Compared to most of the world, America's government system is still very competent and accountable. Compared to third world countries. I'd argue most people complaining how broken US government system is are citizens of developed countries, most of which score better than US.