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Not everywhere is a democracy though. I'd hesitate to call even the US a democracy and therefore the government is independent of the will of the people.

xethos 1y ago
For sure. When it's Bush, Obama, Reagan or Kennedy, America is the leader of the Free World and what every other nation should strive to be. When it's Trump the government doesn't accurately reflect the will of the people. /s Like sure, I get that the above is propaganda spread by the machine, but good luck telling that to the Europeans that have dealt with Americans that believe it; furthermore, I think it's telling that a decade ago, Canadians would wear emblems to distinguish themselves from Americans, lest they be confused for the egocentric and rude Americans. The first paragraph is propaganda, but Americans haven't exactly denied it, nor have they been humble about their place in the world, or the flaws in their nation. Their actions have instead left many of us of the opinion that Americans actually believe it.
- arethuza 1y ago
  "nor have they been humble about their place in the world" To be fair - which country has ever been the most powerful in the world and humble about it. The UK certainly wasn't - and after more than a century still hasn't learned that it is no longer exceptional.
- petralithic 1y ago
  The US hasn't been a real democracy since the beginning, due to first past the post. It has nothing to do with Trump, there have been much worse conditions in the past such as the Civil War. Many Americans do believe it of course, otherwise they wouldn't have voted the way they did.
LadyCailin 1y ago
The specifics of the government don’t matter, insofar as the moral responsibility. A dictator by himself is powerless. He needs many people to prop up and enforce his regime. Of course, it matters a great deal in how the morally responsible people need to behave, and of course I feel more sympathy for people that stand up to Putin vs Trump, because the consequences for them are much more dire, but it doesn’t change the moral calculus.
- scarecrowbob 1y ago
  Since you are a resident of the planet earth, you should hold yourself personally responsible for the political outcomes there.

xethos 1y ago

For sure. When it's Bush, Obama, Reagan or Kennedy, America is the leader of the Free World and what every other nation should strive to be. When it's Trump the government doesn't accurately reflect the will of the people. /s Like sure, I get that the above is propaganda spread by the machine, but good luck telling that to the Europeans that have dealt with Americans that believe it; furthermore, I think it's telling that a decade ago, Canadians would wear emblems to distinguish themselves from Americans, lest they be confused for the egocentric and rude Americans. The first paragraph is propaganda, but Americans haven't exactly denied it, nor have they been humble about their place in the world, or the flaws in their nation. Their actions have instead left many of us of the opinion that Americans actually believe it.

arethuza 1y ago
"nor have they been humble about their place in the world" To be fair - which country has ever been the most powerful in the world and humble about it. The UK certainly wasn't - and after more than a century still hasn't learned that it is no longer exceptional.
petralithic 1y ago
The US hasn't been a real democracy since the beginning, due to first past the post. It has nothing to do with Trump, there have been much worse conditions in the past such as the Civil War. Many Americans do believe it of course, otherwise they wouldn't have voted the way they did.

LadyCailin 1y ago

The specifics of the government don’t matter, insofar as the moral responsibility. A dictator by himself is powerless. He needs many people to prop up and enforce his regime. Of course, it matters a great deal in how the morally responsible people need to behave, and of course I feel more sympathy for people that stand up to Putin vs Trump, because the consequences for them are much more dire, but it doesn’t change the moral calculus.

scarecrowbob 1y ago
Since you are a resident of the planet earth, you should hold yourself personally responsible for the political outcomes there.