Views on America

I am Australian (wee seem to be the majority on this thread..), but I've lived in the US for the past 6 years or so.
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On the other hand, there are things I will never comprehend. The gun thing is just madness to the eyes of aussies - we have something like 100 random gun-related homicides per year. In the whole country. The blind adherence to the 'right to bear arms' with no critical consideration that more guns is not actually a good way to prevent shootings.
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Some of us believe that we should have the right to bear arms so that we can overthrow the government when it becomes too radical or reactionary, and peaceful means to fix it have been exhausted. I believe that is the purpose of having the "well-regulated militia" referred to in the 2nd amendment. It is, afterall, how the authors of that amendment used their militia - to overthrow their government and create a new one. Obviously, small arms would not win a war against the actual army, but they may be enough to help gain some of the larger weapons required. (of course, I'm not saying that time has come, and I'm not advocating a revolution against the government of today, but I do want that option if it became necessary)

Wait. What? This is what scares the ever loving *kitten* out of me with this country. :noway:

I don't think the general public should have access to guns, just cops and the military. Guns scare the crap out of me as well.

I am Australian (wee seem to be the majority on this thread..), but I've lived in the US for the past 6 years or so.
...
On the other hand, there are things I will never comprehend. The gun thing is just madness to the eyes of aussies - we have something like 100 random gun-related homicides per year. In the whole country. The blind adherence to the 'right to bear arms' with no critical consideration that more guns is not actually a good way to prevent shootings.
....

Some of us believe that we should have the right to bear arms so that we can overthrow the government when it becomes too radical or reactionary, and peaceful means to fix it have been exhausted. I believe that is the purpose of having the "well-regulated militia" referred to in the 2nd amendment. It is, afterall, how the authors of that amendment used their militia - to overthrow their government and create a new one. Obviously, small arms would not win a war against the actual army, but they may be enough to help gain some of the larger weapons required. (of course, I'm not saying that time has come, and I'm not advocating a revolution against the government of today, but I do want that option if it became necessary)

Wait. What? This is what scares the ever loving *kitten* out of me with this country. :noway:

I don't think the general public should have access to guns, just cops and the military. Guns scare the crap out of me as well.

Yeah, it's not even the guns that scare me, my husband is a soldier, so guns are normal to me, though we don't actually own any. What scares me is that people own them thinking one day they will have to overthrow the goverment. Like....BWAH?? makes me wonder what will happen to the rest of us.i can't see it ending well.

Tell me which other countries has a policy in fill-out application forms indicating their ethnicity or race. Only in the US. Not to mention that they love to give out stupid useless labels to minorities such as "Hispanic/Latino", "Asian". FYI Hispanic belongs to the Spaniards & not all Latin Americans have direct Spanish lineage. Asia is a CONTINENT & saying one is of "Asian race" is such stupid. The funny thing is that the term "Asian" doesn't include Middle East, Central Asia or sometimes even India as part of "Asian" category whereas they are technically part of Asia.

I want to say, that I truly love our country. I have traveled to other countries and enjoyed all of them, but I am very happy that I live here.

That being said, I do think our political system needs to be changed. I am a conservative...but, I think we need an Overhaul. Not just an R in the White House. I think that our Senators and Representatives should only serve 2 terms (like our President) and then get out. After they have served their 2 elected terms, then they should go back to work like the rest of us.

I think if we got the career politicians out and we had normal people to serve, our country would be so much better. Ya, we do not all agree on everything, but I know that I could sit down with a liberal and we could find a happy medium on most issues, and do so without compromising ourselves or our values.

And as far as education....we need our parents to expect more out of their children. A teacher can only do so much, the rest has to be done at home. My sons are shocked at how most of their classmates do not know what is going on in the world.

I am all for helping the poor, but when do the poor have to help themselves? When we have generations of people on government assistance, some of us getting tired of it. My husband busts his butt to support his family and it is upsetting to see our high teenage pregnancy rate, when you know that these girls grew up on government assistance and now they are receiving it with their children. I am not making this up, I see it in our community. I even spoke to our Superintendent about how can we emphasize that education is best for these young girls and not their boyfriend. Again, the school can only do so much, those values can only come from home.

Our military is wonderful and I love the sacrifices that our soldiers make. I do think we can get to eager to "help" the world. If the world does not want our help, I say bring our troops home. We have plenty of work to do in our own country. I also think we should no longer fund or cut back our funding to the UN.

But, I do love the US and I think that most people in the US are very generous!!

Fellow conservative here! I agree with every statement you just made!

This thread makes me very sad.

I am a proud American. I am also a Texan! I have guns. Lots of them. Its my right as an American to bear arms. I have a right to defend my family and my home. I appreciate the choice to own them if I so wish. There is a sign outside of my home that says "nothing in this house is worth dying for" and WE MEAN IT.

I appreciate our military and the sacrifice that they give to defend our freedoms and to pretect this great nation.

Unfortunately not all Americans feel this way. Like my friend said earlier thats the great thing about living here, if you dont like it you have the choice to leave.

I wish we could come together as a nation cause were falling apart.

P.S. we do not refer to african americans as "coloureds" as a few of you did earlier and neither did Rick Santorum.
P.S.S. our leadership sucks right now. however, fortunately we get to vote soon. oh yea another right i have as an American.

I am Australian (wee seem to be the majority on this thread..), but I've lived in the US for the past 6 years or so.
...
On the other hand, there are things I will never comprehend. The gun thing is just madness to the eyes of aussies - we have something like 100 random gun-related homicides per year. In the whole country. The blind adherence to the 'right to bear arms' with no critical consideration that more guns is not actually a good way to prevent shootings.
....

Some of us believe that we should have the right to bear arms so that we can overthrow the government when it becomes too radical or reactionary, and peaceful means to fix it have been exhausted. I believe that is the purpose of having the "well-regulated militia" referred to in the 2nd amendment. It is, afterall, how the authors of that amendment used their militia - to overthrow their government and create a new one. Obviously, small arms would not win a war against the actual army, but they may be enough to help gain some of the larger weapons required. (of course, I'm not saying that time has come, and I'm not advocating a revolution against the government of today, but I do want that option if it became necessary)

Wait. What? This is what scares the ever loving *kitten* out of me with this country. :noway:

I don't think the general public should have access to guns, just cops and the military. Guns scare the crap out of me as well.

Yeah, it's not even the guns that scare me, my husband is a soldier, so guns are normal to me, though we don't actually own any. What scares me is that people own them thinking one day they will have to overthrow the goverment. Like....BWAH?? makes me wonder what will happen to the rest of us.i can't see it ending well.

This.

I want to say, that I truly love our country. I have traveled to other countries and enjoyed all of them, but I am very happy that I live here.

That being said, I do think our political system needs to be changed. I am a conservative...but, I think we need an Overhaul. Not just an R in the White House. I think that our Senators and Representatives should only serve 2 terms (like our President) and then get out. After they have served their 2 elected terms, then they should go back to work like the rest of us.

I think if we got the career politicians out and we had normal people to serve, our country would be so much better. Ya, we do not all agree on everything, but I know that I could sit down with a liberal and we could find a happy medium on most issues, and do so without compromising ourselves or our values.

And as far as education....we need our parents to expect more out of their children. A teacher can only do so much, the rest has to be done at home. My sons are shocked at how most of their classmates do not know what is going on in the world.

I am all for helping the poor, but when do the poor have to help themselves? When we have generations of people on government assistance, some of us getting tired of it. My husband busts his butt to support his family and it is upsetting to see our high teenage pregnancy rate, when you know that these girls grew up on government assistance and now they are receiving it with their children. I am not making this up, I see it in our community. I even spoke to our Superintendent about how can we emphasize that education is best for these young girls and not their boyfriend. Again, the school can only do so much, those values can only come from home.

Our military is wonderful and I love the sacrifices that our soldiers make. I do think we can get to eager to "help" the world. If the world does not want our help, I say bring our troops home. We have plenty of work to do in our own country. I also think we should no longer fund or cut back our funding to the UN.

But, I do love the US and I think that most people in the US are very generous!!

Fellow conservative here! I agree with every statement you just made!

Conservative leaning Libertarian here and I agree with just about all of that. But you can add legalization of pot and gay marriage to my agenda!

I understand that the person who started the thread asked for the opinions but as I go through the thread reading I just have to laugh at how ignorant some of the responses are. I am not trying to be mean but really all you have to do is see the high rate of people trying to get citizenship here and the fact that there are quite a few people here illegally. As for politics all countries have their own problems no matter where you live. If people were to go back and brush up on their US history they would understand why and how this country was settled. As for complaining about our school systems when you have never attended an American school...... Lets just say I would not complain about your school system. If you all believe what CNN or Fox News airs and that is how you view the country then maybe you should off your t.v. and visit sometime because everyone knows no matter where you are or in what country the media airs what they feel will give them the best ratings.

We are not perfect all you have to do is look at the government assisstance programs and how easy it is to get this assisstance in many states and to live off of it. All you have to do is walk into any grocery store at the beginning of the month where I live and watch people fill their carts pay with a benefit card then walk outside and load their groceries in a new vehicle. Or buy steaks for their dogs because dog food is not covered (True story I was behind this in line one time) . It just shows how easy governments can be manipulated.

i meant everything I said. Nothing sarcastic at all. Im very passionate about this topic.
With that said, you have to have a license to walk around with a gun legally in the Great State of Texas. I also understand what youre saying though. Its foreign to you.
P.S. Texas is a great state and the people are awesome. Just ask any Texan, we will tell you. But truthfully, Texas is unique in so many ways. I love it here.

Personally I wish I could pack up all my loved ones and leave America. Unfortunately I teach classes in human differences at a University where I am forced to face the dark side of the US on a daily basis. The drugs, guns, shootings, horrific crimes of everykind, homelessness, joblessness, desperation in peoples lives, lack of health care.......I could go on and on. I am soooooooo tired of how we live here. I want peace and safety for all. Today I am VERY sad about the state of the U.S.

Ron paul for president