The American way of life is dead… , page 3

Whatever. I didn't even read this thread. For as long as I've been alive, every time there is a news story involving America, no matter if its good or bad, it has meant that it is a sign of "The impending collapse of the American way of life."

Our way of doing things is perfect in that allows the imperfect.

We know we are imperfect and in order to improve, we must change. The process so unfamiliar those who would criticize us, this process of changing for the better, sometimes involves accepting the inevitable mistakes.

The "perfect" and "morally superior" systems that America's critics would impose...what are they? They rarely say what they'd replace it with. If they do, its usually some vague notion of a paradise utopia. Hey guys, bring it on! I want Utopia too! Make a case for your Utopia, and Americans will build it.

Not being able to make a case for any realistic way of achieving Utopia, these critics are left with foul and outdated systems such as what? Feudalism? Slavery? Communism? Take your pick from a long litany of failed, unjust, and or otherwise unacceptable systems.

In our current situation, the markets are going through a significant and painful correction due to some creative, new, and now-understood-to-be flawed financing instruments - namely sub-prime mortgage loans. Our system encourages innovation, and by default, in a truly free and perfect system, mistakes are MANDATORY.

Our system allows us to explore and innovate in a way that leaves every other society in the dust, and we are going to discover some bad ideas every now and again. But its a damn sight better than not discovering at all.

Some would like to make the conclusion that a certain large event is irrefutable proof that the "American way of life is fatally flawed."

Sadly, what they fail to realize, is that same disastrous event that is causing them such excitement and joy, is a mere side-effect of the very thing that makes America the greatest country in the world.

Also, what the critics do not understand is that, inherent in our system, is the machinery (and mindset) for disaster recovery, rather than relying on airdrops from another nation.

We have the freedom to help ourselves and thrive afterwards.

America stands stronger after every crisis.

A crisis of this magnitude might not even happen in a communist country, a socialist country, or whatever pompous un-greedy societal system you care to imagine. Nope, those morally superior systems usually just outright fail.

And Americans end up airdropping food and supplies to them.

Their governments just disappear, and usually are replaced by some other shaky system, and guess what? The whole damn thing falls apart again within 5 years.

Crises such as these rarely occur in other countries, because the system fails before the society is capable of reaching that point, with corrupt officials making off with all the riches. Sure, sometimes the corrupt in our society get away too, but at least our whole government is not going to be overthrown as a result. That happens in our elections.

Some may say our "excesses" are at the expense of the rest of the world. Well, to that I'd say that every now and then, our system is going to rightfully put a ding in the Iron Curtain. And as for your miseries, well, examine the curtain rather than the tiny dings in it.

I'm not criticizing the people of these countries; they are the victims of these systems.

I'm not even criticizing those who champion communism, socialism, tyranny, oppression, and whatever else proven-to-ultimately-fail system you can think of.

Until you show a better system, though, our system will accommodate and welcome ANY criticism you may have for us.

The American way of life is not dead. This crisis is the imperative proof of that. We understand we are not perfect, and continually accept that we must improve. And we'll gladly continue to provide fodder for people who just don't get it