Americans as a whole are more violent than Europeans: twice as likely as Frenchmen to commit murder and more than five times as likely as Germans to commit robbery. http://www.nationalistpartyusa.org/crime.htm I think something should be done about this. There's no REASON for America to be more violent, and it's a nice place. Why is it that we have more violence? Is it more poverty? Or something more sinister? I am not satisfied with the answers given (via politicians) to this question! :m:
We're a nation of dashing rogues and street toughs with soft sides and hearts of gold. Higher crime rates are just part of our national character, we don't always play by the rules, but by God we've got soul.
I agree with that in principle. However, I think it's due to our strong, general ideals of "individualism", which has over-balanced the ideal of a strong social order and harmony. I.e., the pendulm swung a bit too far toward the individual, without a good balance of social harmony. Baron Max
That's the most intelligent thing I ever seen written by you. Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
Oh, shit! I'm sorry ...must have been something I drank in the coffee!! I'll try not to let that happen again. Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! Baron Max
I feel forced now to write something intelligent too (but it won't happen). Since I am an european and currently living in the US I have made some observations (they are provisionary, I am still formulating my opinion on the US and americans). There is indeed more poverty in the US. At the same time money is a necessity for a secure life in the US. I think this induces crime. The other side of the spectrum is acceptance. The people are aware there is no way out in this system. The government is cold and non-caring (that is how it feels so far). Americans are aware of this and I think act accordingly (see the intelligent thing Baron wrote). Violence is not frowned upon. Violence seems to be worshipped even in American society. I am not sure why. We can't blame it all on TV after all. The American society feeds on fear. It seems America, as a country, needs fear to stay glued together. Fear of God, Fear of the Soviet Union (disappeared), fear of crime, fear of black people, fear of being politically incorrect, fear of the future. There doesn't seem to be relaxation on this level so life can be enjoyed. Life seems to be defined as a struggle here. I'm still not sure what is behind this all. It's weird. In Europe people are merely trying to have a nice life. Be comfortable. This also means there is more ambition here and it is bred into every american it seems. To be the best. And that is how deep (or shallow) that ambition ever goes. And this often results in putting up a fake front. Ambition will never be restricted to acceptable causes in a society. There will also be this kind of ambition in crime. The gun culture. I can't say much about it yet, since I haven't had really practical experience with it yet here. Haven't really spoken to pro gun people. Why are americans more violent? It has to be cultural. That's the only thing I am sure off. How it all fits together I don't know.
Then why and how does it seem that most people of the world keep uttering the phrase ..."damned, rich Americans!"?? And I'm not disagreeing with you, but it doesn't seem to be the widely held view of Americans that I perceive. There's no necessity for money in European communities? And if so, which I believe to be the case, then why does it not induce crime in Europe as well? I have no idea what that means??? Perhaps you wrote it using TOO MUCH intelligence, therefore it went completely over my head! Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! Okay, but then isn't that the very viewpoint of the French government which led to the recent riots in their nation? And isn't that also the complaint that we heard recently about Chancellor Whatshisname of Germany ...during the recent elections? And what of the recent "overthrow" election in Romania (or wherever those "yellow-shirted" hippies were demonstrating?)? Wasn't it the basic complaint of those activitists ...that the government didn't give a shit about the people? Perhaps you should give me a better understanding of the loving, warm and caring European governments ...because I just can't see it from here. I agree! But, just to clarify the point, we don't actually SAY that we love violence ...in fact, we CLAIM to hate it, ....but even as we SAY it, we're fascinated by violence and, indeed, as I see it, there's an underlying tone of the desire to do personal violence to ones "enemies" ...and that might even include the owner of a dog that barks too much!!! I disagree with your idea of our "fear" ...in fact, I think it might be the other way around! I.e., the desire to do violence to someone/some nation, but it's not exactly permitted! So there might be a bit of frustration, but I don't think it's fear. ...maybe some other term would work better, huh? I agree. But I don't know much about that in Europeans ...so comparing it is impossible for me. And I notice that you ddin't exactly compare it either, did you? Do Europeans have little or no personal ambition? And if so, why not? But, overall, Spurious, ...you did good, boy!! But I do hope that you don't think that I "forced" you do work with your intelligence and post that. Did it hurt your head? Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! Baron Max
What's "democatic socialism"? What's that mean exactly, in terms of living and working, etc? And why do Europeans have it and America not have it? Baron Max
I'm talking about our lack of social institutions for the public good, such as health care, drug rehabilitation, fair labor laws and longer holidays, free college education, ect.
We are talking about reality and not perceived reality. There are filthy rich people in america and there is a shitload of money in america. However, I already seen plenty of poverty. That is people living below a standard which I would find acceptable in a social wellfare state.
Is there no, or little, poverty in Europe? From what I understand, in the lastest issues in France, for example, one of the main causes of the riots was said to be the dire, hopeless poverty in the "ghettos". How am I supposed to view that in light of your comments? I think your observations are pretty important, and I hope you continue to observe things and make comments. For one thing, most people in America don't know where Europe is! And, in fact, now that I mention it, where the fuck IS Europe? ...where are the boundaries? Is there big black lines painted on the ground somewhere?? ;=) But that's not our nation governmental system. Are you suggesting that we change it to a more socialistic based system? And if you do, should it be voted on by the people or should govenrment just change without giving a shit about what the people want or say? I agree that there are problems, but I'm not so sure that the solution is to change our entire system of government ...one that's worked pretty damned well for over two hundred years. And, as importantly, seems to be being adopted by many nations of the world ...at least on an economic level. Baron Max
Before we reinstitute sticter punishments for murder, it needs to be proven that those statistics are accurate and precise, and that there is a in fact a problem. I mean, what were the conditions of the neghborhood(s) from which the samples were taken? Take a sample from Florida and Kansas and you have two different samples. Likewise, the samples from European nations differ according to geographical location. Besides, we all know the French's motto, but I don't want to be banned so I won't repeat it here...you fill in the blanks. "Make _ not war ." Or, "I'm a _ not a _." Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
America was founded on violence. We fought and threw out the British. We preserved our union in a war that killed thousands of Americans. We expanded our country by killing the native Americans, we established ourselves as a world power by entering and winning 2 world wars. Our tough guy image was tarnished in Viet Nam, but we kicked ass in the Gulf War. Our national identity is tied to violence. We love football, boxing, Nascar crashes & hockey fights We are not violent because we love and own guns, we love guns because we are violent. It's our culture, born over 2 hundred years of kicking somebodys ass.
