Reply #46: It's not just that. It's also our education system and nostalgic outlook.

[UdoKier]

We were all raised in an education system that basically told us how noble and good we white christian folk were to settle and tame this great land, how we saved the "good" indians from savagery, and only killed the "bad" ones. We were taught that the USA NEVER starts wars of aggression or takes over other countries. The facts about Hawaii, Cuba, the Philippines and any number of other conflicts are spun and glossed over.

We're taught about all the wonderful reforms that occurred after the depression, but not about the unrest that would have eventually led to revolution had they not been done, or about the union people who DIED so that we wouldn't have to work for company scrip anymore.

We're indoctinated into believing the most unbelievably rosy portrait of America as breadbasket, treasure-trove, land of opportunity, and benevolent savior of the world, that any ideas that undermine that image are simply unthinkable to a large portion of the population. They see incidents like Teapot Dome, Vietnam atrocities, Watergate, Bhopal, Silverado S&L, Iran-Contra, Enron, etc. as anomalies, rather than just the tip of the iceberg.

Much like this billboard that taunted the famished millions during the depression:



We are still told that the USA provides the best way of life to the greatest number of people in the world, and that those who don't make it are just "lazy". That "Only in America could a poor (insert job)'s son/daughter grow up to be the owner/CEO of (insert lucrative business)."

Of course, anyone who's spent mucch time around the world can tell you that such rags-to-riches stories are JUST as common in other industrialized societies. Check out the story of the founder of Honda, for example. He started out tinkering on bikes in his garage!

So many of us cling to that hope of someday "hitting the big time" or the lotto or whatever, rather than supporting an agenda that would actually produce a better quality of life for all, just not that big Beverly Hillbillies payoff.


At least that's my theory - desparate people clinging to the hope of a jackpot...