Which government is more trustworthy?

[DontTreadOnMe]

A. United States
B. Russia
C. China

If your answer is "none of the above", you get an "F" for reading comprehension. The question is which one do you trust "MORE".

Or maybe the question should be: "Which government do you trust the least?"

As a follow-up, which country do you consider a "lawless, rogue empire"?

[Fumesucker]

1. Which of those nations has invaded two others on the opposite side of the world recently?

By recently I mean within the last fifteen years?

[DontTreadOnMe]

3. Reading comprehension?

you got an "F".

Did you ever take that test in high school, where the first direction of the test is to NOT answer all the questions on the test. You are instructed to sit quietly and watch all the others in the room frantically answer as many questions as they can, BECASUE THEY DID NOT READ THE DIRECTIONS... the actual test is about reading the directions?

[liberal_at_heart]

13. screw that. You want to give me an F for reading comprehension go ahead. I'll answer it however I

want. All the superpowers are just as trustworthy as the other which means the answer to the question is none of the above.

[noamnety]

22. I wonder if question 2 is

find the authoritarian in this thread.

[Fumesucker]

21. Objection, counsel is leading the witness n/t

[Proud Liberal Dem]

6. Depends also who was in charge when said invasions occurred

Launching an invasion of another country like Bush did in Iraq was something that has never been done before (and hopefully never will be again) and was done by a person who is now longer able to "decide" to use the armed forces in that way. Afghanistan was a legitimate target IMHO because of 9/11 and their "established" government choosing to shelter the group responsible for the attacks.

[Mika]

2. Cuba

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/10/world/americas/salons-or-not-cyberspace-is-still-a-distant-place-for-most-cubans.html?smid=fb-share

Ted Henken, a professor at City University of New York who closely follows the Cuban blogosphere, noting that Etecsa requires users to sign a contract warning that they will be monitored for subversive activity.

[DontTreadOnMe]

4. Very interesting reply

Is that choice "D"? Because there is no choice "D".

Another fail. You are free to make up your own post with your own question though.

[Mika]

7. Sweet jeezuz. Do you even know what is in your own OP?

Epic fail.

[DontTreadOnMe]

10. You are just hijacking the thread, go away

start your own thread.

Your grade will not be changed, no chance for extra credit. Return next semester and take the course over.

[hobbit709]

5. Define "more trustworthy" as compared to what?

[DontTreadOnMe]

9. The discussion is about each person defining "more trustworthy"

eom

[Mika]

15. See post #2

Jeezuz, can you be more obtuse?

[DontTreadOnMe]

17. Keep trolling, like a moth to a flame

you just can't stop coming back!

[Galraedia]

8. Freedom of the press worldwide in 2013:

[totodeinhere]

44. That map looks biased to me.

Notice that but for a few exceptions all of the white and yellow countries are white First World countries and almost all of the red and orange countries are populated by people of color. It has all the markings of a Eurocentric bias.

[WatermelonRat]

90. Are you freaking kidding me?

I actually thought this was snark for a moment. Is there any reason you have to dispute the map's accuracy besides disliking the results? Do you have a country-by-country press freedom analysis that you find more reliable? A quick search shows all such indexes to have roughly the same results as the one above.

[JaneyVee]

11. A. Of course.

[AllINeedIsCoffee]

12. A. Final answer. nt

[ForeignandDomestic]

14. I wonder...

how all the Iraqi citizens voted in this poll?

[NuclearDem]

18. Yeah, I'm getting an F.

None of the above.

I don't trust any of them.

As a follow-up, nuclear-armed states engaging in brutal occupations of Afghanistan, Chechnya, and Tibet, suppressing dissent through overwhelming police force, engaging in targeted assassinations worldwide, supporting brutal dictators, and serving economic interests at the expense of their own people all count as lawless, rogue empires.

[liberal_at_heart]

19. ah, critical thinking. It's a wonderful skill although it often gets you an F becuase those who are

grading us don't want us to critically think.

[DontTreadOnMe]

24. Critical thinking? It's not an essay, it's a multiple choice simple question.

You can opt out by not posting, but if you can't follow directions, then your test result is very easy.

"F"... can't play with others, Disruptive in class. Has trouble following directions.

[NuclearDem]

31. The question was stupid.

Do you prefer to eat:

A) Deodorized dog shit
B) Two week old dog shit.
C) Rancid fetid dog shit.

Only those choices!

It's what's called "leading."

Oh, and just so we're clear: reducing complex issues to a point where critical thinking can no longer be applied is a key element of fascist ideologies. Doubleplusungood.

[leftstreet]

34. +1 This shit makes DU look stupid

[DontTreadOnMe]

53. But the hair of fire statements doesn't?

Good luck with that! lol

[DontTreadOnMe]

35. I think the entire multiple choice has gone over you head.

Have you noticed how many people have posted here on DU how "bad" the United States is, and how "evil" we are, and how could it get any worse... etc.

Then take a step back and realize this is the best, most free country on the planet. Yes, there are problems that need to be fixed, but we are not the worst place in the world.

Now to answer your question... I'll take the A). Deordorized dog shit. Because comparing the United States to dog shit just seems like a good analogy, doesn't it?

[leftstreet]

40. How is the US the 'most free country on the planet?'

What does that even mean?

[DontTreadOnMe]

42. How about the 1st Amendment?

Do I need to point out 5000 more examples of the meaning of "free" to you?

What planet are you from?

[leftstreet]

56. So no other countries are free-est best-est?

[Electric Monk]

43. re: "Land of the free"

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023215198

[NuclearDem]

41. Pfft, don't complain about being "poor"! People in Nigeria don't even have cell phones!

Sorry I hold my country to a higher standard than "well, at least we're not China."

This perception that pointing out the faults of our system of economics, governance, and culture is akin to hating it is the same nationalist, "love it or leave it" bullshit we hear from the Right all the time.

[DontTreadOnMe]

45. No, that's NOT what I said.

My entire multiple choice comes from reading various posts here on DU that the US is WORSE than than Russ and China, and I find that to be ridiculous.

I like living in the United States. I have many things that I feel should be changed and fixed. But I am not going to tear it all down. That is a Republican trap, to get rid of all government.

[NuclearDem]

62. I have no desire to get rid of "all government"

And nobody's saying the US is worse than Russia or China. What we are saying is that the US is absolutely an imperial state that abuses its own citizens, and it must be reined in.

[totodeinhere]

50. This is by no means the "best, most free country on the planet." Far from it.

Look at infant mortality rates, income gaps between rich and poor, murder rates, incarceration rates, child hunger, voter suppression, health coverage, and yes NSA spying among many other things and you will find that we are very far down the list. With all due respect, anyone who doesn't see that is blind.

[cali]

54. oh for the love of reason.

this is not the "most free country on the planet" And "best" is just a value judgment. There are tens of millions if not hundreds of millions of people who think their country is the "best". No, we're certainly not the worst place in the world. There's cold comfort.

You're mired in reductionist garbage.

and by the by, this is a discussion board; you post an op here but you have no control over how people respond to it. that's just the way it works? Don't like it? That's a real pity.

[DontTreadOnMe]

64. I am just pointing out how many have there hair on fire! Like you!

"No, we're certainly not the worst place in the world. " oh really... go read crap posted here on the DU.

I like living here in the United States... and I am not a pessimistic , paranoid, hair on fire complainer. I am tired of people complaining about everything. That is a Republican trap. Don't like it? That's a real pity.

[cali]

67. nothing remotely hair on fire about any of my posts in your thread

simply pointing out facts and realities, dear.

No one asked you to not like living in the U.S. No one says you have to be a pessimist or any ist or ism at all. One can like living in the U.S. and still grasp certain realities that seem to scare you into a hostile, angry place.

I hate to break this to you, hon, but you're the one with flambe tresses.

[DontTreadOnMe]

70. you post just to show how boring you can be... dear. Nothing real to contribute.

re: Tough. I'll post where I want when I want what I want. "

[NuclearDem]

71. Hate to break it to you, but me, cali, leftstreet, and the rest of the dissenters

have been quite calm and collected in our responses.

You've been posting the hair on fire pictures and going into CAPSLOCK RAGE.

[DontTreadOnMe]

72. You are a dissenter to a mock question?

What organization are you with? Really. I think you are more of a troll that has nothing to contribute.

The entire thread was in jest.. a friend asked me to post the question and we wanted to see how many pro-Snowden, pro-Greenwald, anti-Obama, anti-US, the end of the world is coming, posters would reply. Like moths to a flame. And always the same people too! Basically a group of unhappy people pissed off at the world.

I find the statement from Greenwald today referring to the US as a "lawless, rogue empire" as hair on fire, over-the-top unprofessional journalism. Someone who can't be trusted as a source.

And then go read the posts in this thread that go out of the way to say how "bad" the US is... when the NSA scandel first broke, I was told that the US is now like when Stalin reigned! omg... or was it Hitler!

[NuclearDem]

73. "Dissenter" as in "person who didn't answer the question exactly how you wanted"

Since you just seem to have admitted you started this thread just to get a rise out of certain people, that certainly would qualify as flamebait.

Since your entire issue with the "pro-Snowden, pro-Greenwald, anti-Obama, anti-US, the end of the world is coming" posters here seems to be that we're vocal, all I've got to say is "tough." Sorry you haven't seen what we've done to Afghanistan, to thousands of good young people coming back, or to activists fighting income inequality and civil rights abuses, but these things have to be shouted from the rooftops.

[DontTreadOnMe]

74. And you fell for it hook line and sinker

Go yell from the rooftop!

[NuclearDem]

75. And you just keep waving that flag!

[G_j]

20. none of the above

and I'm sticking with that.

[DontTreadOnMe]

23. It's a multiple choice question, no need to make it hard for yourself

OMG, you people asking these questions are authoritarians! I am not going to give an answer but I am still going to post!!!!!11!!!!

[DontTreadOnMe]

27. Another low level reader, can't follow directions -- disruptive behavior and language

Made the decision to take the test, but did not pass.

Stick with easier subjects, like Basket Weaving 101.

[DisgustipatedinCA]

79. I notice that you think the vast majority of responders are stupid, since you keep saying so.

While we all go off to work on our reading comprehension, maybe you can ponder the notion that you, and not everyone else in this thread, have issues to work out. Find a rigid site that thrives on multiple choice questions instead of (mostly) reasoned discussion if you want your poll to enjoy more success.

[DontTreadOnMe]

80. How about just not post in this thread if you think the question is false....

You don't have to make a choice in the poll if you have an educated reply... but most replies are trolling, so I give a harsh reply.

People go out of their way, wasting a ton of time, to argue with people here on DU.

You can almost directly correlate that with the amount of posts a user has... the more posts, the more argumentative.

I love when people post... "because they can"... excuses... it shows they really have nothing going on in their life, so they troll internet forums.

[NuclearDem]

87. Huh.

"People go out of their way, wasting a ton of time, to argue with people here on DU."

You mean like starting threads to intentionally bait certain people and then proceeding to flip out on each of them?

[burnodo]

28. hmmm...and a Bernie Sanders avatar

hmmm

[DontTreadOnMe]

30. hmmm... no avatar

creepy?

[burnodo]

33. better than misrepresenting myself

nt

[burnodo]

26. "None of the above" was not one of the answers provided

...

[DontTreadOnMe]

29. OMG.. you didn't include "None of the above" 111!!111!!!1111!!!!!!

This question is not fair!

[burnodo]

32. Screw thoroughly loose

nt

[DontTreadOnMe]

37. Screw all the way, or just half way?

thanks for posting!

[Cleita]

36. Is that a trick question, perfesser?

If you can't define any of those countries as trustworthy, how can you trust more that which doesn't exist?

[DontTreadOnMe]

38. So you have ZERO trust in the United States government?

ABSOLUTE ZERO? Cup is totally empty? Not one drop?

[Cleita]

39. Not the federal government when it comes to them nosing around my privacy. n/t

[DontTreadOnMe]

48. All of the Federal government... or just the NSA?

I see... government is bad.... you are easily falling for the Republican trap.

[Cleita]

51. Not hardly. I'm not a White Supremacist whose motto is,

"I love my country but I fear my government." But there are rogue elements who when given power should make you wary. Would you have signed up for the war on terror? I certainly wouldn't have because I knew it was a ruse to make money and so it has proved out to be.

[cali]

46. I'm not a citizen of Russia or China so I don't have to think about the trustworthyness

of those governments.

I wish you weren't using my Senator as your avatar.

[DontTreadOnMe]

49. I wish you were not on this thread...

But then again, thanks for playing. Worthwhile contribution.

[cali]

58. if wishes were horses than beggars would ride

If ifs and and were pots and pans and all the sea were ink, and all the trees were bread and cheese, what would poor DTOM, have to drink.

All of which is just a way of saying: Tough. I'll post where I want when I want what I want.

[DontTreadOnMe]

83. re: " I'll post where I want when I want what I want. "

Knock yourself out... I just can't imagine wasting so much personal time.

DO you have a real life, except constant posting here on DU?
When is the last time time you step outside in the sun?

[NoOneMan]

69. Personally, my knowledge of their screwups is limited by what their press is allowed to cover and...

vastly influenced by what our governments want us to believe.

Frankly, its a silly question. Only a collection of international experts have the knowledge to answer it. From our perspective, either 1) we trust the country we are in because its our country or 2) we have experienced the burn first hand and know first hand of their abuses. We know, as a fact, little else.

[MNBrewer]

47. Irrelevant.

[Egalitarian Thug]

52. Would you rather be shot in the face or stabbed in the back? n/t

[DontTreadOnMe]

57. You have to have 3 choices to play the game, please add one more choice before I decide.

moths to a flame.. they can't stop coming to this thread.. 'cuz we all know we can trust the damn guvermint!

[cali]

60. bwahahahaha. this is quite amusing. this little moth intends

to... flutter all over your thread.

[Egalitarian Thug]

65. How about a sub-question, then? Regardless of your previous choice, would you rather it was done

by someone you thought a friend, or a stranger?

[cherokeeprogressive]

55. Are you talking about POLITICIANS or Rank and File government WORKERS?

If your question refers to the former, the answer is none of the above. If it refers to the latter I'd say it's almost too close to call but my nod goes to the United States.

[DontTreadOnMe]

61. First cohesive answer, go straight to the front of the class

[TheKentuckian]

59. B) Least wealth, least global influence, most behind on technology.

The most trustworthy global power is the one with the least juice and fewest or least dominating corporate ties.

I also tend to think that despite the occasional bluster and history, that the US and China are significantly aligned and that we are in the midst of equalizing with them economically and civilly to become a mega-power.

All are rouge empires but the real Evil Empire are multi-national corporations and since we serve them the most closely and are the de facto global security arm that makes this us too.

[DontTreadOnMe]

63. Multi-National Corporations

exactly. They pay no taxes and exploit the world's resources and workers.

But try getting that through DU heads here... they are so distracted with spying that they can't see the bigger picture.

Evil Obama!!11!!!!

[TheKentuckian]

91. Oh...I'm pretty confident that Obama is far more help than hindrance to the multi-nationals

Look at the push for these "free trade" agreements, education deform, continuing to press the failed drug war, and yes the blending of the security state with the government but he is just a placeholder participant.

[NoOneMan]

66. I don't know

I mean, what exactly is anyone "trusting" Russia or China to do anyway? I wasn't aware they were pretending to be benevolent. Do they even put on a charade and ask for their citizen's trust? Honest question. In any case, the "winner" is still ridiculously untrustworthy


Im not an international expert. I don't know how many others break international laws. I am aware that the US government does use predator drones in sovereign nations and has conducted military raids in sovereign nations, so with my knowledge, they do not completely respect international laws. As far as spying is concerned, they all do it. That Canadian spy recently said that Ottawa is crawling with Russian agents.

[AZ Progressive]

68. Typical manipulating of the frame of debate

Trying to reframe the debate to favor the U.S. Government.

Basically your saying: "Tough, deal with it."

[WovenGems]

76. Can't

I have only lived under one system and thus am unqualified to judge trust of other systems. And U.S. gets broken down to local, state and federal in which case the answers are yes, no and no.

[treestar]

77. A.

No question there.

[DisgustipatedinCA]

78. None. And I'll take my F as a badge of honor for refusing to answer

The question is fatally flawed.

[DontTreadOnMe]

81. Would you like some sprinkles on that?

You just couldn't resist to post, I bet you come back for more.

[DisgustipatedinCA]

84. It's a failed thread. It happens, NBD.

[DontTreadOnMe]

85. Total Failure. Thanks for being part of it.

Just think how much time you just wasted...

[DisgustipatedinCA]

86. It's never a waste of time to watch a Sanders avatar with a "patriotic" screen name raging on

...about reading comprehension and acceptable answers.

[DontTreadOnMe]

89. ahhh.. screen name + avatar image + my skin color + my age?

you forgot to calculate including my post number too!

You are a disgusting bigot. Way to go fellow Democrat.

[Bonobo]

82. No doubt opinions which differ based on where you live.

If you cannot see that, you get an "F" on common sense, world history and human psychology.

[GeorgeGist]

88. China.

USA.