As an outsider, I feel like the United States is a great country but with crazy people. Agreed?

[WhiteSteve]

I agree with your overall point that people are crazy but I think we’re coming from different angles. You think we’re crazy for not appreciating how good we have it. While I appreciate that sentiment, I kind of fundamentally refuse to base “how good I have it” based on comparison to worse scenarios. Like do I generally feel lucky to live in a country like this vs a place where I might get killed by the government over something I’d consider a basic “right?” (I personally don’t really believe in “rights”, conceptually, but for lack of a better word) Yes, of course, I could be living in much worse conditions and I recognize the fortune to not be somewhere worse. But that in no way will change my standard of expectations. America falls short for me in a lot of those expectations, and I’m not just going to say “welp, at least I don’t live in (insert 3rd world country or dictatorship)” and be satisfied with that. I expect the best possible option to be delivered, and I won’t grade on a curve. When you can do that, then my allegiance is for sale. Until then, free agent of the world, I be where I be, I’m at where I’m at, come and try to move me if you have a problem with that. Maybe you’ll succeed and I’ll die, but until that happens, I win. But for now, I’ll be wherever I’m most comfortable until someone comes and kills me for the asinine reason of not buying into somebody else’s program. There’s no available program on earth that I’m willing to buy into, and I have to be somewhere, so I don’t know what to tell ya, haha.

But in terms of the average American, I see it the same as the rest of the world. Most of us are relatively average at best, and a very small group of people are probably elite at things conducive to running a society (which I’m still not sure is what we’re supposed to be doing as humans, but that’s a whole other discussion). I really don’t trust that vast majority to make sound collective decisions, I think the ideal situation is the benevolent rule of the elite who actually know what the fuck they’re doing, because like 999,999 people out of a million are ultimately morons who I wouldn’t trust to get a group pizza order correct. The problem of course is how do you ensure that the elite will be benevolent towards the ignorant masses, and the answer is probably “you can’t”, and that just leads me back into my contention where we’re all just meant to survive or perish like all other species of animal in a wild and individual situation, it’s the only thing that makes sense to me where it all works out. And that’s a bummer, cuz I like air conditioning, lmfao. Luckily, humans are way too selfish to ever do what’s best for the planet and go feral while suffering mass casualties as the earth naturally recalibrated our population to a sustainable level.

[MCheetah]

As an American, I can tell you the US is a country with the greatest people in the world, run by some of the worst politicians and businesspeople on the entire planet. It's the best country in the world, suppressed by the most evil people in government (outside of China). If not for them supressing our public education system, our healthcare system, and brainwashing people with sham elections and mainstream news propaganda, we'd still unquestionably be the shining beacon of light in the first world. The only "bright side" is that there's not a single country in the entire First World that doesn't have a corrupt government. Ours is just one of THE MOST corrupt. And many people, mainly the progressive left, are brainwashed by them all.

For all of those out there not American, just know... MOST of us aren't BLM, social justice warriors, man-hating feminists, or "white nationalists". Most Americans are probably politically moderate, but the craziest people are certainly the loudest. And the ones who are on social media the most.

[KnightKissedbyFire]

This question has been asked so many time and is great. The United States was founded and built on the Constitution for almost 300 years now. However we have made minor adjustments for progression towards the new freedoms immigrants from all countries have brought us. Yet we still need to rely on the Constitution and Amendments that give America those Freedoms that we live for and that so many immigrants still are coming to this land for each day. Funny how my friends who now live here but are orginally from other countries tell me that they are scared for these "new changes" the Americans keep pushing for and why? We have everything why do we need more freedom if we have it they say? I agree. Interesting how American born citizens want and want but those who are new to this country are happy with how things are. I always say to anyone, dont like it then go live somewhere else, and that's usually to American born citizens.

[supercutebutt]

We are the richest nation on Earth but because our citizens are basically babies, they piss and moan about irrelevant bullshit and play the victim instead of taking control and fixing their own lives. And that comes off as "crazy." If you are a failure in America it is your fault. You have one or more of the following:
1) no discipline when it comes to money
2) an addiction
3) an irrational hatred of another race that consumes your every waking hour

People from fucked up countries rightly can't understand why our people are "crazy". And they all want to live here because they realize that if you just behave, respect others, and invest your $$$, you can live like royalty in the USA. When people ask Warren Buffett why others don't do what he did he simply says, "nobody wants to get rich slow."

[Anonymous]

The American system is broken as fuck, yes. But the American people are also a certain brand of crazy.

As with every population, there's a spectrum of crazy, but American cultural values are definitely... at odds with a lot of the world's cultures. They're highly individualistic (to the point of neuroticism in some cases), highly consumeristic, most American-born people are monolingual, and most don't understand global perspectives.

However, that's not exactly the average American's fault. Even a brief look into US education (and lack thereof) makes it obvious that even among upper-middle class white Americans there's a huge variation of quality and topics. Most Americans have a very sanitized view of their country and lack opportunity to study other cultures - not to mention only 13 states require any sort of sex education.

Americans as a people tend to value individualism, loud opinions, blunt honesty, and "freedom" (although recent years have kind of made this mean something different than what it used to mean to most Americans I've known). Their lack of worldview can lead to them being unconsciously American-centric and they tend to forget the world doesn't actually revolve around them - which can lead to them getting hurt feelings or feeling judged (which is accurate) when they travel the world.

But they also have a certain charming brand of loyalty, enthusiasm, and brashness. There's qualities among Americans which are endearing.

[Anonymous]

The problem in the US is unscrupulous, power hungry politicians on both sides of the aisle who constantly try to make the other side look as bad as possible for the purpose of getting their candidates elected. They benefit from a divided populace and they have no problem inciting the type of hatred that leads to violence on both sides. And both sides have equally unscrupulous media outlets that support their campaigns of dishonesty.

And perhaps most importantly, there are enough stupid people in the US that fall for their rhetoric and allow themselves to be unwittingly grabbed by their noses and led down the respective paths of hatred by their political party of choice.

What happened when Trumptards stormed the Capital last week was pure insanity, and the liberal media has used it at every opportunity to fan the flames of hatred for the other side. Of course, they did just the opposite and downplayed the terrorist violence carried out in dozens of cities across the US day after day for week last year while Fox news played it up and fanned the flames of hatred on the other side of the political spectrum.

Both sides are more than happy to take full advantage of the stupidity and naivete of many young (and many older) Americans, and those Americans TRULY don't realize what is happening. I see it here on GAG every day.

[hellionthesagereborn]

Many in america do understand how lucky we are, unfortunately those who hate america own our media, own our educational system and now own our government so that they get to dismantle all the things that made our nation great. They brainwashed children for years, then they brainwash the teenagers, then they brainwash them some more when they are in college, each step of the way convincing them that america is the exact opposite of what it actually is (They are young, they don't know any better and that is what makes them easy to manipulate). Then when they become adults they have spent half their life being brainwashed so most keep those ideas in their head and just slowly poison our nation until you have what we have now, a bunch of people who utterly despise this country that has given them and the world more then any one has ever wanted to admit. Its rather depressing sadly.

[WindAtMyBack]

Outsiders and insiders alike don't really know or understand what's going on. The problem is deep rooted and has been building for decades.

With some of the things that have happened, people try to explain it in their own minds by oversimplifying it. They will simply write it off as crazy, or just a bunch of rednecks who don't matter. Nothing like this is ever going to be that simple. There is a heck of a lot more behind it. But by oversimplifying it, people can avoid looking at the real problem.

This question can't be answered by "crazy" or any other simplified terms like that. The real answer would require a book, with people not bothering to read the book because it's so much easier to say "crazy" and be on their merry way as if everything is fine. Or if they read it, they don't believe it. But one thing is certain, it can't be simplified with a word like crazy.

[Anonymous]

Seems like a pretty good assessment. The reality is that most Americans have done little travel abroad and so they don't realize how good they have it. And what's especially ridiculous is that the folks who think America is awful think I'm talking about the folks who think America is great when I say most Americans haven't done much travel abroad. The reality is that it applies JUST as much to the America bashers if not MORE to the America lovers. Think America has problems with race? Sure it does but have you seen how much more racist pretty much EVERYWHERE in the world is that in America? Probably not if you haven't traveled.

[BadMedicine95]

The people are the product of American homes, American schools, American churches, American families, and American communities. It's a cycle. The American system creates ignorant, selfish people who create ignorant, selfish children, who grow up to be ignorant, selfish leaders who make laws the satisfy their ignorant, selfish needs. The people are crazy because of the country, and the country is screwed up because of the people.

[JackSmy]

No, I totally disagree!! The VAST MAJORITY, are good people, but Trump is an EVIL PERSON, and has caused many problems. Much of the media has supported his lies, as happened, with Hitler, in Germany!!
The American PEOPLE, individually, are mostly good people, but are confused, and have been lied to, by so many, for so long, nobody knows what to believe!!
We cannot believe Trump, the Great Liar, and we can hope for Joe Biden, but with all the DAMAGE Trump did, how long will it take, for the world to accept, and believe, that the American PEOPLE, are NOT like TRUMP, and not like his lies, and most are good people?

[Mijopapi215]

The crazy people in the US are like 99% of the population who are brainwashed statists who believe the government cares about them and believes everything the mainstream media is saying at all times. The rest of us who are no longer brainwashed are pretty sane. I will say the US is the dumbest country in the world though.

[RolandCuthbert]

We are only having the confrontation that we needed to have decades ago.

We forced a lot of vitriol underground. We covered it up and told ourselves lies about our inherent goodness. Now we have peeled back the layers to see this underbelly that is maggot-infested and rotting.

And it is time to be honest about it.

[MissDawn7961]

America is a great country B cos God has blessed Americans so much ! however , sometimes the leaders of America get to carried away with what other countries R doing and they do not concentrate on what is needed done N America ! no American is crazy but some Americans do not seem to B able to make sound or reasonable decisions on what should B considered a top priority N their life ! thanks

[NarutoUzumaki007]

Bruh this type of shit happens in all countries. Especially in democracies where people have freedom to express themselves and their anger. I don't condone this behaviour but the fact that they were able to do it is a proof of how lenient and tolerable a democracy is

Now imagine China or North Korea , would they be able to pull this off there? Of course not

[AdithyaR]

Basically it's like what Thor said, " Asgard is not a place, it's the people."
Any country's greatness is determined by the people in it cause they're the ones who do all the work and represent the country.
So yeah USA seems to have a lot of crazy people, from an outsiders perspective.
But then again, I'm from India so I don't really have a moral high ground to say that.😅😅

[Anonymous]

The USA USED to be a much greater country, back when we were a more MORAL country. But I've heard that the Pastors and Preachers are mostly to blame, by watering down the Word of God in their churches, and becoming involved in sin. Therefore we now have vile national laws in place, and Supreme Court decisions that are being allowed to stand. Is it any wonder that God has finally started His Judgment on the USA? (the fraudulent win by Harris/Biden is part of His Judgment to punish the USA)

[crmoore]

When the Democrat nominee says our current president has never condemned racism, and then our prominent media figures say anyone who voted from him are on the same side as the KKK, gullible people are going to go crazy.

[Hydra6544]

With this you have to be here to understand but what you see is all in the big cities but in my town everything is almost normal aside from the whole virus thing but it’s just fine here.

[EssenceOfLight]

It's the system.
People are like people everywhere. In times of prosperity are protest rare, in times of social division and decay protests and riots increase.
GDP per capita means nothing if average real wage isn't enough for appropriate life quality. Maybe for someone from North Korea or Mexico it's American dream of life to put burgers at a grill for 5$/h, for people who grow up in wealthy society is this not enough..

[genericname85]

i don't think it's a great country. it's a powerful country. not a great one. i would actually not wanna live there. i mean there's surey worse... but still not a favourite.

[BeMuse]

You haven't seen our crazy side yet... The rioters are the weak ones...

[ETfoneh0me101]

There are crazy people everywhere. The media blows things out of proportion. These things that people see on TV or on the internet are small isolated events. It's not at all how the vast majority of Americans behave. It's similar to saying all Muslims are terrorists, all Jews are bankers, all Chinese love to do math. It's just not true.

As the saying goes:
"One rotten apple spoils the bunch"

[TerminallyChill]

I can't be the only one who sees the fundamental flaw in the question. This is populated with a lot of mental retardation I see. A nation and it's people are not mutually exclusive, the social and cultural relations acted out by a people stem from the overarching superstructure that spawns them.