Robert Graybeal Loc: Myrtle Beach

Best description I have read.

Acountry330 Loc: Dothan,Ala USA

I tend to agree.

ngc1514 Loc: Atlanta, Ga., Lancaster, Oh. and Stuart, Fl.

Everything is born, matures, ages and dies. Plants, animals, nations, peoples, empires, planets, stars, galaxies and the universe itself.

Expecting one nation not to follow the same pattern is a bit unrealistic.

Roger Hicks Loc: Aquitaine

The USA isn't doing too badly, most of the time. It's just that like most countries, it has a lot of people on the far right. This is not unusual: look at Marine Le Pen's share of the vote in France in the first round of the presidential elections.

For reasons I can't quite fathom, though, there's no extreme left to counter their shrillness and silliness. I mean, anyone who calls Obama a Marxist clearly knows nothing about Marxism.

Cheers,

R.

ngc1514 Loc: Atlanta, Ga., Lancaster, Oh. and Stuart, Fl.

I suspect much of the United State's problems come from 24 hour a day right wing broadcasting telling people how bad things are.

It's turning into a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Frank T Loc: New York, NY

I'll never understand people who live in this Country and sing the Woe is me tune.. Put your nitpicking aside for a moment and realize that this is still the greatest country in the world. No, we're not perfect but, I'd rather be a lamppost in New York than the King of France.
America, where everyone, even the poor have food, shelter, televisions and refrigerators. America where the average worker can spend $4.00 for a Latte at Starbucks. America where even the housekeeper, butler or janitor still owns a car. America where a kid on welfare can grow up to be President. America, the one place in the world that people want to come to more than any other.
Instead of whining about 1950 being gone, why aren't we rejoicing for all we have?
God Bless America.

Roger Hicks Loc: Aquitaine

Have you ever been to France? Which, as I am sure you are aware, no longer has a king? France, where infant mortality is less than the USA, and life expectancy is longer? France, where three weeks' vacation a year is regarded as modest? France, where it's illegal to sell hormone-contaminated beef?

You're right. No country is perfect. But pretty much, it's swings and roundabouts: you gain on some things, and lose on others. I've lived in both countries, and find that for me, at my age (61), in my situation (semi-retired photographer and journalist with no debts), France is considerably preferable. That's why I moved here 10 years ago. Before that I spent 10 years on the UK, and before that, five years in California. Wild hyperbole about the advantages of one country over another (and the French are famous for that too) is generally a sign that you don't know much about any other country.

Cheers,

R.

mvy Loc: New Hampshire

This a well-written example of sophistry in motion, telling lies in such a way as to mantle them in an aura of truth. It's the big lie and it's been going on since Aristotle codified the technique of using generalities to deceive. Another variant of this deception is 'proof-texting,' which is the way people pick and choose items from cherished documents, i.e. bibles, koran's, constitutions, to prove a point or create a rule. Often, proof-texters, choose only the ideas they want to enshrine while ignoring the rest, i.e. the Bible says "Call no man Father,' so Catholics are unbiblical because that's what they call their priests. The same person will call for the death penalty while ignoring the Commandment that says, "Thou shalt not kill."

With the power of the Internet at our disposal, it would be a simple matter for thinking people to check out Aristotle's "Rhetoric," and build a personal check list for isolating deceptive arguments. This would be a heck of an improvement for self-defense against the agents of deceit who make a hell of a lot of money selling lies over the radio and on television.

Opus Loc: South East Michigan

And whose fault is it. People either don't vote, vote straight party, or vote based on sound bites. Apathy and an uneducated electorate is the cause of most of this country's problems. People tell me all the time how they don't have time to learn about the candidates but they never miss an episode of American Idol or Jersey Shore.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

Actually, your list would include those who haven't studied the bible in enough depth, in it's own cultural context to interpret it correctly and thereby make two statements that are untrue.

dragonfist Loc: Stafford, N.Y.

I have found that conservatives that howl the most about our government are the first in line when the government is providing a service with taxpayer money.

Wabbit Loc: Arizona Desert

Well Said Doc ....

Roger Hicks Loc: Aquitaine

Then again, facts don't really depend on cultural context. Or to be more accurate, if they do, the culture has not yet learned enough to see that they aren't necessarily facts at all.

Cheers,

R.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

Roger,
What he was referring to was an ancient document, written in a specific cultural context that had a specific meaning.

I realize that he was referring to people misusing the text of the bible to suit their own agenda, and I agree; people do that...but I was only pointing out that both of those instances cited didn't actually mean what they were purported to mean.

Possibly the poster was saying the same thing I was...if so...then I apologize for misunderstanding.

jasman Loc: Forte dei Marmi

Exactly... and extremists on the Left who call Republicans/Conservatives "Fascists" must not own a dictionary. Who's countering them?