Are people in the U. S. chronically angry and overly interested in vengeance because of capitalism?

[msc545]

I think that people who are forced to live in a capitalist system are chronically angry because capitalism rewards a few people and makes everyone else a loser. It's almost like living in a gambling casino. A few people get rich, and everybody else loses their money or does very poorly. If you are forced to live in such a system as people in the U. S. are, I can't imagine how you would be anything but very angry most of the time.

[ChiTown33]

Only when there's vast income inequality. Because at that point it's BLATANTLY obvious that the system is not working for everyone. There is nothing wrong with Capitalism. It's a system that needs to be reigned in every now and then. We had a guilded age once. It didn't last forever,. It got reigned in. The trick is fixing it before a revolution happens. But those only happen when people feel they have no other recourse. What we have today is a form of paid slavery. And by that i mean if you're poor you'll probably stay poor. But you are afforded the opportunity to change slavemasters and decide to and extent how you live that slave life. So while people aren't happy as you put it. People are underpaid and overworked. And they can just keep their head above water so long as the get sick or hurt. But it's these options that they do still have that give them the feelings of control. So yes they are angry. Because the realization that they're not getting where is slow. By the time you realize it. Have you working life is over.

[msc545]

I think, in many ways, that the Gilded Age led to the Great Depression, and another Great Depression is likely to lead to a revolution if it occurs again.

[ChiTown33]

I can't disagree with that. I should've proofread my last post before i hit submit. It was terrible. But it sounds like you got the gist anyhow.

[msc545]

I thought your last post was very good

[andreasderjuengere]

Economy may play a role here. But the U. S. population generally had been aggressive and borderline violent even before 'capitalism' expanded to its full present version.

There were times when the U. S. overall did relatively well - still the angriness was there - in numerous details (internal, and internationally)

Isn't it more like a cultural national 'trait'?

[msc545]

You are certainly not wrong in that it is sort of a national trait, but I don't think it arose by accident. What do you think?

[andreasderjuengere]

A harsh historical beginning produced harsh people. Nice people usually bit the dust. Add American Football, Baseball, Coca Cola and MacDonalds and no Mickey Mouse or Batman can compensate for it. Natural selection.

[msc545]

Can you describe the harsh historical beginning? I can think of several things, but I would rather hear it from you.

[andreasderjuengere]

Early - I think of settlers who struggled to survive: food, diseases, winter weather. No ''infrastructure''.
Following - With expansion, the result was frequent conflict or war. With locals, and among one another. Especially war with natives wasn't fun. ''Total War'' is not a German invention.
Where ever you looked, death was potentially waiting. And back then the only way to prevent death was to be tougher, to be ''on top of it''.
Somewhere during that time a behavioral necessity then morphed into a habit.
I mentioned 'Football' - it's a celebrated war simulation.

[msc545]

If we look at the beginning, I guess it was mostly colonists from various European countries, primarily England and perhaps France, although I think the French went to Quebec before coming to the U. S. coast. I wasn't aware that they were harsh. Do you have some data or information you can share regarding that? After all, they did basically commit genocide on the Native Americans for years and didn't seem to bother them a bit, so yeah, that kind of goes to harsh.

[msc545]

Thank you. Very good points that had not occurred to me.

[andreasderjuengere]

Where did those people come from? Mostly Europe. And Europe as well back then was a violent environment: numerous brutal wars, inhumane treatment of convicts (guilty, or not), religios atrocities, diseases as well. That's what they took to the colonies; consciosly, or subconsciously.
Interesting process: thereafter Europe and ''America'' went into different directions.
Americans are exposed to cultural and economical anxieties that in Europe had been resolved. I'd phrase it: ''You're on your own. I am not''
And here the idea of American Greed Capitalism comes back into the picture.

[lightbulb27]

I don't see that. I see most people whom are being successful, doing well, having families, enjoying their daily lives and vacation time.

China is really awsome, for some. For those chinese that are super smart and driven to get into top universities, they do very well. The rest are stuck in meaningless boring jobs standing in empty stores all day... collecting money doing nothing. That's communism... govt controlled. That's why so many like to leave, they can live, but it isn't really living. Many may not know the difference, but people ask, explore.

So, you have to pick a system that works. Maybe it's socialism. But talk to some French people... many like to escape. They forget that that free education and huge benefits for retirement comes with a price for the middle of life.

I do think we USA have some serious social flaws and capitalism is really sick and demented in areas. The Bible is clear about how wicked the love of $ is and that is correct. We are lost in many ways. But I don't see vengence other than with those that are excluded.

[Sevenpointfive]

no. the problem with the capitalist society is that the winners were chosen a long time ago. it takes money to make money. but i'm talking honest money. not exploitation. capitalism isn't fair. it's there to protect those families that started it.

being exploited is the reason for the vengeance. capitalism put evil people in charge. some people are good but the power money hungry instinct is almost driven into us at a young age. i remember stealing erasers that were like a few cents. i liked the way they felt when i bit into them. but they weren't free and i was punished for being poor. you can argue that i was a stupid 4 year old that doesn't understand capitalism, but i did that day. did it stop me? only at that store. why would i steal? to have something to give at Christmas. how fucked up is that?

[Snakeyes7]

No they are angry because the solution to all of our economic problems do not require a revolution, just a shit ton of things need to be abolished that interfered with the economy, and none of the parties in power are doing that. One just wants the state to be all powerful and the other is too busy trying to make peace with the sand people.

[NathanDavis]

some are... for sure

not me though... I rather be happier instead