America's too big. If, like many millions of Yanks, I lived hours and hours away from the sea I'd be pretty pissed off too. They also have the problem of there existing a significant better country to live in just to the north of them, which must be a constant annoyance.

There's a lot to be angry about here...

i haven't found too much to be angry about ever. i've never been wealthy, but have always managed to make decent choices and find ways do do things that i want to do. i've never understood "angry white americans" as they call them. there is plenty to have do and be in the states -- these angry fuckers over here just have a lack of imagination. and lots of racist, jingoistic feelings.

Well of course I'm angry! I asked for NO tomatoes on this sandwich, and what did they give me?! EXTRA TOMATOES!!!!!

living far away from the ocean is a problem.

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/04/opinion/white-americas-broken-heart.html?_r=0

Because the populace has fractured in to groups who will do anything to keep from having to associate with the population as a whole.

Blaming everything on whitey is a form of anger, ish.

I'm angry because I'm surrounded by morons and jackasses. If everyone else was polite and civilized I wouldn't be this way.

: )

Living far from the ocean doesn't bother me. The presence of Canada doesn't bother me. But the U.S. does have many problems and pride is at the root.

Being a Brit and having lived here now 15 years, I would observe the following:
- As the country becomes more diverse, so does the white majority feel more threatened. Why they act as if it is 'their' country when they originally took it off the natives I have no clue and cannot comprehend.
- Congress doesn't work. Once the house is locked, nothing gets done, and lobbyists have way too much power. Government is fundamentally broken, but it is not something that ever bothers me enough to get angry about.
- Guns, and the country's addiction to guns, is a major issue, and reminds me of smoking in the 60s and 70s. We all now look back and realize smoking kills. So does shooting guns. The more angry people are, the more likely a gun will be fired
- The media (and especially a certain corporation that calls itself news) has a lot to answer for. They spread lies and fear and the sooner people wake up to the tripe they are selling the better
- Mr. Angry Trumpet will only go so far. I am convinced he is only in this race for one reason. And that is to blow his angry trumpet as loud as possible so his next endeavor will be a huge financial success, whatever that may be (lets hope it is not Presidential Suites in hotels around the world)

Having said all of that, there are some really good people here. Great people. With good hearts. They need to stop listening to all the lies being fed to them by the media, they need to be less partisan and apply common sense more, and a complete overhaul of the tax system would go a long way to resolving the countries debt.

If you actually switch yourself off to the noise corporation and get unconnected for a while, this is a fabulous country in which to live and make a living.

It is extremely beautiful, in the South the weather is fabulous most of the year round, and hard work is rewarded.

I also think the grass truly isn't much greener elsewhere, and the Canadians can keep their winters.(you know who I am talking to lol ;)

"But the U.S. does have many problems and pride is at the root."

This goes to what i was going to say on the matter. People will get angry when they are promised, the biggest and best, but economics gives them less than their parents got (well more debt).

Pride, but also expectations derived from that pride.

If 9/11 was a kick in the teeth for america, a message saying 'actually you're not the best' - they responded with 'Yeah we are, Yee-Hay' (not entirely unsurprising in retro-spect, but not what i expected as a naive teenager watching the world trade centre being attacked.

The financial crisis was a kick in the teeth, economically. And Americans are ready to blame their bankers/wall street. So are angry that the politicians seem corrupt beyond compare... (Even those libertarians who think the banks should have been allowed to fail, and it is all the fault of wishy-washy democrats and their regulations/bail-outs...)

It's because the constitution says we can be racist angry bigots if we want to damnit

Don't blame the bailouts on Democrats. That was a bipartisan effort started under Dubya.

Don't tell me, talk to the libertarians who think that it is a sympthon of too much government involvement in the financial system.

fourofswords, how do you define "patriotism"?

Pride is as necessary to man as breathing is. It's close-mindedness, the idea that my beliefs are right, and your beliefs entitle me to not listen to you, that creates so much anger, and is choking out America.

@trip. "Pride is as necessary to man as breathing is."

That's a hollow statement, because it depends entirely on defining 'pride'.

I wouldn't agree that pride is a natural necessity in the way that breathing is.

Certainly not, one of the negative associations of pride, being a high or inordinate opinion of one's importance or superiority.

This notion of pride is what many outsiders see looking in at America, in the country's political discourse as well as a national mindset; "America, the best country in the world", it's a prideful fiction.

Thanks for proving my point.

The problem is less about pride and more about how Americans see themselves. For the last 100 years, (we believe) we have been the world's cop, the world's hero, and the world's *savior*. WW1, WW2, Marshall Plan, Fall of USSR/Communism, First Gulf War etc. The community of nations has *needed* our help and we have delivered. These are our historical triumphs.

The traditional meaning of "American exceptionalism" has enabled this, primarily due to amazing natural resources, and our geographic isolation from other countries and therefore most international border conflicts. We can be the rattlesnake that hisses "Don't Tread on Me." We can be the "sleeping giant" who awakes, marshals its might, and rushes in to save the day at the 11th hour. The mythology naturally and sometimes unconsciously minimizes the role other countries have played, but that only stands to outsize what our role has been in our own minds.

Now, more and more Americans see "exceptionalism" as something about our character, not about about our geopolitical advantages. Hero worship of our military does play a part. The problem lately is that we have partaken in a series of international conflicts where we have not been the clear victor: Korea, Vietnam, Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, War on Terror and now Daesh/ISIS/ISIL. We haven't had any clear victories *against an external enemy* (we are the sole "superpower" now) and that is really causing internal psychological problems for many Americans who cling to the global role we--uniquely--have played for a hundred years.

That, coupled with the stupid philosophy of "starving the beast" (not raising revenue and forcing government financial crises) which has undermined our capabilities and stability, and leaving us more fractured as a result. We're also in the midst of "the great sorting" which is where people of like political, ethical and religious perspectives are able to seek each other out and move across the country to be with those of the same tribe. These reinforces divisions even more. The other thing is simple demographics. There are LOTS of Millennials out there, more than Baby Boomers, and soon more than Baby Boomers and Gen Xers combined. Youth foments. That's just what youth does in any generation. In another 10-15 years, things will calm down as Millennials pair up, settle down, buy homes and start families. It will happen, but it takes time.

One other thing about those Baby Boomers: "Rage, rage against the dying of the light."

"that is really causing internal psychological problems for many Americans who cling to the global role we--uniquely--have played for a hundred years."

Not unique from a historical perspective. Before Pax Americana, we had Pax Britannica, and many years before that Pax Romana. Not to mention the Pax Sinica, and others...

Not from a historical perspective, but that's not really the point when we're talking about current events and why people are angry now. :)

I was exploring your point about pride, trip -- that's not a proving of your point about American close-mindedness. (although, perhaps, you thinking so may indeed prove your point).

At any rate, I really like your technique of saying "Thanks for proving me point" as an exit from a thread -- above is literally the third time I've seen you do that on WebDip, it's a funny one!

"The problem is less about pride and more about how Americans see themselves. For the last 100 years, (we believe) we have been the world's cop, the world's hero, and the world's *savior*."

I think that's an extension, rather than a difference, Jeff.

I agree with what you go on to remind people of though.

It's been an evolution from Roosevelt's self-assured "speak softly and carry a big stick" to the hubris of Dubya's "Mission Accomplished".

"Not from a historical perspective, but that's not really the point when we're talking about current events and why people are angry now. :)"

oh yes, if these people don't have the knowledge of history, then they can only see things from this unique perspective.... Entirely valid in this conversatin...

wjessop:

Sorry, I have this thing called a job, which gets in the way of my posting on the webdip forum from time to time.

Lucky for you, I have a little time to explain exactly how you proved my point.

fourofswords stated:

"But the U.S. does have many problems and pride is at the root.

My first part of my reply was:

"Pride is as necessary to man as breathing is."

Now, does what I said mean that what fourofswords said can't be true? No.
Is my quote in anyway denying fourofswords his opinion? No.
Did I deny him his definition of "pride"? No.

Pride can be both the root of all evils, and also be a necessary human emotion. To be honest, I wouldn't believe a person if he told me he had no pride. It's part of our fundamental nature, which is why it is necessary. It helps make us who and what we are.

The second part of my reply was:

"It's close-mindedness, the idea that my beliefs are right, and your beliefs entitle me to not listen to you..."

You then replied:

"That's a hollow statement, because it depends entirely on defining "pride".

Does your statement mean what I said isn't true? Yes.
Does your quote deny me of my opinoin? Yes.
Did you deny me my definition of "pride"? Yes.

You were in such a rush to shut down my opinion that you failed to actually understand what I was saying.

Close-mindedness? Yes.
Point proven? Yes.

Interesting that you can claim wjessop denied your definition of pride when you didn't present one in the first place.

Making a definitional argument is not the same as being close-minded. Contradicting you isn't the same as being close-minded. And no one denied you your opinion. However, I'm perfectly happy to deny you the opinion that wjessop's statement was close-minded, because it wasn't.