You (and many others) are having a knee-jerk reaction to what I said. I'm not saying that the US has the best example of democracy (and based on the rest of my post, you would think that would have come across).
What I am saying is that there is a widespread public perception that "America knows best" — the news supports this, Hollywood supports this, and yes, loads of people around the globe support this notion as well.
Please tell me I'm not the one bursting your bubble on this one.
Now what you mention about having lived in Europe/other countries: I hear you. I've lived in other countries as well (Spain, Costa Rica, and a brief stint in Saudi Arabia). Everyone in all of these countries talks shit about the US. It's the cool thing to do. Like us talking shit about Facebook.
But what do they want come their birthdays? Xboxes! Call of Duty! Pizza and Coca Cola!
There is a deeply imbued adoration for America as a model of "all that a country can aspire to be" — and this image is what I'm referring to.
[EDIT:
you know, I knew since this was the internet, someone was going to bring up the whole "hey, did you know pizza is italian". Yes, I did. And as people from NYC or Chicago can tell you, the US has created it's own version which has taken on its own fame.
But while we're on it, did you know that French Fries aren't actually from France?
And to those who are going to take what I said as "because I buy these products I endorse America" , you have clearly missed the broader message of my post.
It's not about the specifics of Coke, Xbox, or fast food (I can't believe I actually have to explain this but, wait, yes I can). It's the overall "image" that America sells overseas. It's the reason why Hollywood movies are popular all around the world, yet not as much the other way around. Again, that is just ONE example, so no need to hyper focus on just that. The fact is, there's an undeniable adoration of American culture abroad --- and it exists RIGHT ALONGSIDE the contempt and disgust for American culture abroad.]
How I see the situation as an European and Finnish US is as a country and a democracy very mediocre or below median level. It's good place if you have top 95% percentile income but otherwise there are lot's of better places to live in.
In my view one part of the success of US is collective belief in American Dream. If you work hard and try you will get Rich. And this leads to kind of prove of infinite monkey theorem: when lot's of people try to achieve something eventually someone will. Of course this will benefit only small partition of people but others are still satisfied since they have a dream, hope for glory even rationally costs are higher than most probable profits ( see Income inequality in the United States, Socio-economic mobility in the United States, Poverty in the United States ).
I'm very happy that monkeys will keep trying and eventually produce great things to me to consume. This doesn't have anything to do with the democracy in the US though.
Tons of electronics and silly throwaway gadgets we have in the EU are produced in China. I guess that must mean we endorse and envy their political system as well.
Ridiculous conflation of politics, culture, economy and military.
Talking shit about US politics isn't just because it's "the cool thing to do", it's also because US politics is kinda shit, and it does affect us over here as well. And apparently all American people are so very helpless to do anything about it, even your president ...
> did you know that French Fries aren't actually from France?
yes, because nobody calls them French Fries outside the US and McDonald's :)
So you're extrapolating from the fact that people like Coke, Xboxes, CoD and pizza (which is Italian btw) that they must also adore America? That's way too much of a stretch.
What I am saying is that there is a widespread public perception that "America knows best" — the news supports this, Hollywood supports this, and yes, loads of people around the globe support this notion as well.
Please tell me I'm not the one bursting your bubble on this one.
Now what you mention about having lived in Europe/other countries: I hear you. I've lived in other countries as well (Spain, Costa Rica, and a brief stint in Saudi Arabia). Everyone in all of these countries talks shit about the US. It's the cool thing to do. Like us talking shit about Facebook.
But what do they want come their birthdays? Xboxes! Call of Duty! Pizza and Coca Cola!
There is a deeply imbued adoration for America as a model of "all that a country can aspire to be" — and this image is what I'm referring to.
[EDIT:
you know, I knew since this was the internet, someone was going to bring up the whole "hey, did you know pizza is italian". Yes, I did. And as people from NYC or Chicago can tell you, the US has created it's own version which has taken on its own fame.
But while we're on it, did you know that French Fries aren't actually from France?
And to those who are going to take what I said as "because I buy these products I endorse America" , you have clearly missed the broader message of my post.
It's not about the specifics of Coke, Xbox, or fast food (I can't believe I actually have to explain this but, wait, yes I can). It's the overall "image" that America sells overseas. It's the reason why Hollywood movies are popular all around the world, yet not as much the other way around. Again, that is just ONE example, so no need to hyper focus on just that. The fact is, there's an undeniable adoration of American culture abroad --- and it exists RIGHT ALONGSIDE the contempt and disgust for American culture abroad.]