Opportunity has been HUGE in the US historically... both for the country
and individuals ... unlike Europe and other parts of the world who have
experienced true widespread hardship more recently than 1929.
Because of that, I think Americans generally have come to take personal
opportunity, accessible services and infrastructure support for granted
and don't credit its critical value and importance.
If we do without and struggle hard for a period now, I suspect
American's general appreciation for what government can and does do ...
despite its imperfections... will rise.
Now that free marketeers, in successfully freeing themselves from
governance/ oversight, have severely trashed our collective wealth and
opportunity, the mood and opinion about government is already changing
dramatically.
If the economy continues to worsen, I think American's attitude about
the need for good government will more closely align with the rest of
the world who are more acutely aware of government as being essential
and more helpful than not.
(I apologize to those concerned if I have re-awakened this thread...)
db
John Emmerling wrote:
Some general observations (I make some assertions without proof, feel free
to provide contradictory data):
1.) Compared to other western countries, Americans are significantly more
religious. Religious folk seem to see life's problems as being between
themselves and God, and don't have much use for the government. BTW I don't
mean this as a criticism.
2.) The US has always embraced small town and rural culture and disdained
urban life. Rural and small-town people typically depend on themselves,
their family, and their neighbors for survival, and don't have much use for
the government. In other western countries, the urban elite seem to have
more influence, and they look down on country folk as backward. And urban
existence, with its dependence on a complex infrastructure, depends heavily
on having an effective government (go visit Mogadishu if you don't believe
me).
3.) Americans have come to expect government initiatives to fail. They
consider a career working for the government (except in the areas of law
enforcement and national security) as a refuge for the incompetent. Largely
a self-fulfilling prophecy.
As a consequence, Americans don't see themselves as getting much return for
their tax dollars, and so they basically feel they are being robbed. I am
not prepared to say whether they are right or wrong. Having grown up and
lived all my life in the US, it always amazes me that people in countries
like France are not afraid to trust their health care entirely to government
employees. On the other hand, I can't ignore the ample evidence that
supports this conclusion.
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