4 ms·

Americans are especially good when it comes to large efforts over the course of a short space of time to solve a major problem. Americans are also especially b

Americans are especially good when it comes to large efforts over the course of a short space of time to solve a major problem. Americans are also especially bad at tackling problems that require a small, consistent, amount of help over a long period of time. I’m honestly not sure why this is.

nkrisc 4y ago
The former feels like you’re doing something to immediate effect. The latter is invisible, both the solution and the problem, until it’s too late. I don’t think it’s a uniquely American trait.
sovande 4y ago
On a larger scale, the US Marshall Plan to help Europe back on its feet after WW2 was immensely important for Europe and for individuals. My uncle got help funding a successful garment factory in Bergen, Norway. He could employ over a hundred women, many widows. Those who still remember are forever grateful to the US. The same uncle also told me about how the Flesland airport outside Bergen was constructed. For years there had been bikesheeding about building an airport outside Bergen. After the war, it was finally constructed when NATO needed an airport. The US army came in with large bulldozers, shaved off the hilltops and put it into the valleys between the hills and in short time a large airstrip was made.
- TedDoesntTalk 4y ago
  Thank you for writing this. Reading it in the USA on our Independence Day reminds me how wonderful my country can be.
bigdict 4y ago
That's people.
- micromacrofoot 4y ago
  Yeah exactly, big efforts where you see short-term results are instantly gratifying - you see things change almost immediately. Small gradual changes are hard to see, many people might overlook them entirely, and the reward is stretched thin or very far off. You might not even see the full outcome in your lifetime. It’s easy to see why people favor short term results. This old proverb comes to mind: “A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.” We’ve still got a long way to go.
treis 4y ago
There's no real basis for this. America is at the forefront of any number of long running projects. Cancer research, self driving cars, and all things space are three things that immediately jump to mind.

nkrisc 4y ago

The former feels like you’re doing something to immediate effect. The latter is invisible, both the solution and the problem, until it’s too late. I don’t think it’s a uniquely American trait.

sovande 4y ago

On a larger scale, the US Marshall Plan to help Europe back on its feet after WW2 was immensely important for Europe and for individuals. My uncle got help funding a successful garment factory in Bergen, Norway. He could employ over a hundred women, many widows. Those who still remember are forever grateful to the US. The same uncle also told me about how the Flesland airport outside Bergen was constructed. For years there had been bikesheeding about building an airport outside Bergen. After the war, it was finally constructed when NATO needed an airport. The US army came in with large bulldozers, shaved off the hilltops and put it into the valleys between the hills and in short time a large airstrip was made.

TedDoesntTalk 4y ago
Thank you for writing this. Reading it in the USA on our Independence Day reminds me how wonderful my country can be.

bigdict 4y ago

That's people.

micromacrofoot 4y ago
Yeah exactly, big efforts where you see short-term results are instantly gratifying - you see things change almost immediately. Small gradual changes are hard to see, many people might overlook them entirely, and the reward is stretched thin or very far off. You might not even see the full outcome in your lifetime. It’s easy to see why people favor short term results. This old proverb comes to mind: “A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.” We’ve still got a long way to go.

treis 4y ago

There's no real basis for this. America is at the forefront of any number of long running projects. Cancer research, self driving cars, and all things space are three things that immediately jump to mind.