HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMERICA!!

[machinehead]

That is a good example of
A snark
Since we obviously did not
Win the Drug war

Spent enough money
On it to buy
A kegerator for every
Man, Woman, or whatever
On Earth

Which in retrospect
Would have been a better deal

[NYDingbat]

The beacon of freedom,

Not really, signed by The rest of the world

The teachers and adults that were responsible for my upbringing in the USA taught me, most emphatically, that the USA was the greatest country in the world and, just like NYD said there, a "beacon of freedom." Of course the rest of the world knows that's a bunch of malarkey. And I'm a little confounded on how it is still a widely held belief here. Certainly, a lot of people immigrate to the USA to live and work here, but I don't think it's because the USA has more freedom than the rest of the world. A Mexican living in Tijuana has the freedom to push a food cart out onto a city sidewalk and sell his food. Try that in any American city and an armed law enforcer will shut your ass down. The USA has over 2 million people sitting in jails right now. That's hardly a beacon of freedom.

Over the last few years I've noticed a lot more homeless people in my city, and I've read about increases in homelessness in other cities, too. Whenever it gets discussed, people try to explain it with different reasons. Some people blame laziness, some blame the high cost of housing. It usually depends on the political beliefs of the person offering their two cents. (Nearly everybody says it's caused by mental illness. I don't buy that. People don't understand the difference in mental illness and just being a little weird.) Myself, I think the main reason for so many homeless people in USA is addiction. We're a nation of addicts. Not only is it difficult for an addict to hold down a job, it's nearly impossible to get a job in the first place because a lot of American employers require pre-employment drug screening. Even people who do nothing more than smoke weed can be barred from employment because they can't get by the drug screening.

I've taken two world excursions in my life, both at government expense (thanks US Navy!) and both times I was gladdened to return to the USA. There's no place I'd rather live. But just because we're number 1 in military spending, doesn't mean we're number 1 in the world. Hell, despite getting into war after war after war for decades and spending all that money, we haven't won one since 1945.

Tell that to Saddam in 1991.

[NYDingbat]

Not really, signed by The rest of the world

The teachers and adults that were responsible for my upbringing in the USA taught me, most emphatically, that the USA was the greatest country in the world and, just like NYD said there, a "beacon of freedom." Of course the rest of the world knows that's a bunch of malarkey. And I'm a little confounded on how it is still a widely held belief here. Certainly, a lot of people immigrate to the USA to live and work here, but I don't think it's because the USA has more freedom than the rest of the world. A Mexican living in Tijuana has the freedom to push a food cart out onto a city sidewalk and sell his food. Try that in any American city and an armed law enforcer will shut your ass down. The USA has over 2 million people sitting in jails right now. That's hardly a beacon of freedom.

Over the last few years I've noticed a lot more homeless people in my city, and I've read about increases in homelessness in other cities, too. Whenever it gets discussed, people try to explain it with different reasons. Some people blame laziness, some blame the high cost of housing. It usually depends on the political beliefs of the person offering their two cents. (Nearly everybody says it's caused by mental illness. I don't buy that. People don't understand the difference in mental illness and just being a little weird.) Myself, I think the main reason for so many homeless people in USA is addiction. We're a nation of addicts. Not only is it difficult for an addict to hold down a job, it's nearly impossible to get a job in the first place because a lot of American employers require pre-employment drug screening. Even people who do nothing more than smoke weed can be barred from employment because they can't get by the drug screening.

I've taken two world excursions in my life, both at government expense (thanks US Navy!) and both times I was gladdened to return to the USA. There's no place I'd rather live. But just because we're number 1 in military spending, doesn't mean we're number 1 in the world. Hell, despite getting into war after war after war for decades and spending all that money, we haven't won one since 1945.

Tell that to Saddam in 1991.

Uh, screening someone for a drug addiction prior to hiring is not a problem. Ya said it yourself, "difficult for an addict to hold down a job". Well fuckin' DUH. I run a company, you're fuckin' a right I'm not gonna hire some damned drug addict. Why don't I just burn the money instead?

Regarding prisoners - ya do get the people there willfully broke the law, right? That is an inspid observation.

Fuck yeah we're #1.

[Badfellow]

Nobody wants to address the root of the problems at hand. Most people can't even define or agree upon what the problem is, let alone propose a solution to it.

No, shifting blame and levelling accusations are much easier and, in the short term, far more effective. Hardly constructive though infinitely more convenient. And, as we all know, humans are above all creatures of both habit and convenience.

Also, I'm totally for the political banter. But there's an entire fucking section of this forum devoted to it. Just sayin'.

[Artful Drunktective]

Also #1 for Corona virus. 'murrica #1 in most Corona virus cases in one day! Fck yeah! 'murrica the free...the freedom to not wear masks but also the freedom to spread a rampant infectious virus!

[TheDrunkardAnglo]

I know i'm late to the party:

How do I mix this canned cheese with this bourbon?

[Artful Drunktective]

The beacon of freedom,

Not really, signed by The rest of the world

[Badfellow]

I know i'm late to the party:

How do I mix this canned cheese with this bourbon?

I'd use a blender set on frappé. Or maybe muddle it a bit and make yourself a cheese old fashioned.

[Hugh]

Still number 1?

Saigon. Beirut. Mogadishu. Kabul.

Where's that clip from the Monty Python movie where they are all running away and screaming, "RUN AWAY! RUN AWAY! RUN AWAY!"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FPELc1wEvk

[benitobeast69]

American patriotism sounds exhausting....As a Brit the 2 weeks leading up to the World Cup/Euros is enough.

I'm still not positive if it's real or satirical....maybe a mix of both.

You Yankees are fucking good people though I'll give you that.. and you brought the world Bourbon as well..

So god bless MERICA!!!

[Badfellow]

Jesus died on the toilet— or maybe it was Elvis— so that we the American people might have to fight for the right to the freedom of the pursuit of happy hour with chicken wings and NASCAR for all. I believe it was the great Ben Franklin who said, "If you want to soar with the eagles, you have to know how to dance with the chickens." Indeed.

American patriotism sounds exhausting...

It’s easier to think of patriotism as a consumer commodity rather than a feeling or sentiment. It’s something a person buys into, and when they run out, they simply buy more. Of course, the goods are sometimes shoddy and the onus is on the buyer to know the difference.

[ThirstyDrunk]

I saddens me to hear these things.

[oettinger]

I saddens me to hear these things.

I`m not surprised though