The Stupidity of American Exceptionalism

Perhaps with an open mind, which no longer exists in this country, we could learn much from others.

African American Slavery and Native American genocide flourished in this era and beyond, where the concept of American Exceptionalism was coined to be the phrase, “Manifest Destiny.” Courtesy" patheos.com

(JAMESTOWN, RI) - One of the worst features of American Exceptionalism, the belief that the US is the best in everything, is that it leads to the inevitable conclusion that since we are the best in everything we can learn nothing from anyone else in the world.

Along with this attitude comes a bunker mentality that no one has anything worthwhile to offer the US, since we are the best in everything; so wave the flag, call yourself a patriot, and the rest of the world be damned.

Perhaps with an open mind, which no longer exists in this country, we could learn much from others. Two examples might prove a point.

Canada has a strong economy, with no banking crises, national health insurance for all citizens, and more social programs than offered in the US; yet it has no national debt and a government surplus for the past 12 of 13 years.

We might just learn something by looking north, but with our American Exceptionalism attitude, the blinder interferes with our vision north.

Look south then, and see another strong powerful emerging nation in Brazil. Brazil is an emerging superpower and has closed the gap tremendously between rich and poor, while that gap continues to increase exponentially in this country. Brazil did not have a banking crises, bank failure, or bailouts.

In Brazil the CEO of a bank has personal legal liability for banking crimes, while in the US big time bankers are given immunity from prosecution. Too bad our vision is so clouded by our belief in US supremacy.

Meanwhile US taxpayers have been mugged and robbed by the US government’s transfer of 12 trillion dollars from the pockets of citizens to large powerful influential banks, while banking leaders are given legal immunity. Taxpayers were not even asked or consulted; their money was simply taken. What fools we are.

Many will criticize, saying if you don’t like it here get out; another stupid side effect of American Exceptionalism.

Salem-News.com Writer Joe Clifford, who lives in who lives in historic Jamestown, Rhode Island, has contributed a number of articles relating to foreign policy to newspapers in the Rhode Island area for years.

He graduated from Providence College earning both an undergraduate and graduate degree, and after a lengthy career as a high school teacher he turned to the study US foreign policy, and then to writing as a means of expressing an alternative perspective. His reading and research on foreign policy is broad and extensive, especially as the policy relates to the Middle East. His interest in foreign policy was inspired by the American misadventure in Vietnam. You can write to Joe at this address: jc21131@gmail.com

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Comments

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Daniel Johnson February 21, 2012 6:38 pm (Pacific time)

Well put.
Canada does have a national debt of just over $500 billion or about $16000 per person compared to the US which is about $45000 per person.
I once read (don't remember where or who) a commentator who said that Americans don't want universal health care because they want to be free. American health care is top heavy with administrative, insurance company costs, profits, etc., that countries like Canada and France do not have. The point was that Americans are willing to pay that extra money which gives them the illusion of freedom, i.e., they can choose a health care plan among different insurance companies--not realizing that they are all the same, just like arguing that one brand of gasoline is superior or inferior to another.

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