What Actually Makes America Great?

1. 83

   Rock_njposted 7 years ago

   What Actually Makes America Great?
   
   What actually Makes America Great is what distinguishes the U.S. from some other countries in the world?  Things such as trying to provide universal clean water to its citizens, having protections in place for the air and water to be clean, having a 1st Amendment that allows for freedom of speech and religion.  I say "some other countries", because many 1st world countries also provide these things that distinguish them from the 3rd world to their citizens.  What else can you think of?

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2. 77

   jackclee lmposted 7 years ago

   Yes, what makes America great is our freedom given to us by our Constitution. The right of everyone to reach their dreams by using their God given talents whatever they may be. The right to try and fail and try again... The right to live our lives without government intrusion and over taxation in an attempt to redistribute wealth.

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3. 47

   Ericdierkerposted 7 years ago

   It would be so cool to state a great concept of what greatness is, and I wish that I could. My wife came from a "developing" nation. I spent a lot of time in the worst places life has to offer.
   We hold hands with our first grader and walk down the street unimpeded and greeted. Our hood is impoverished. As much age as diversity immigrants.
   My simple neighborhood and how we neighbors make life good as a reality does not stop in my hood. It is America. Come visit and you will find our America.

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      Kathleen Cochranposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      Eric:  I lived in the middle east in the early 90s with my husband and children for four years.  Many of our freedoms were curtailed. 
      For years after we got back, we'd stop, look at each other and say Isn't America wonderful? It is.

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   2. 83

      Rock_njposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, we should all be thankful to live in a country in which freedom of expression and association are tolerated.  Thanks for sharing Kathleen.

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   bradmasterOCcalposted 7 years ago

   Your question presupposes a truth in the current tense. Well the US has been declining since the 70s, and today they are not great. Giving defacto citizenship rights to illegal, and refugees that don't really want to be Americans. Dilutes greatness.
   
   Not to long ago, for example, illegal aliens protested in the streets of Los Angeles. They burnt American Flags while flying the Flag of Mexico. When foreigners came "illegally" come into the US or overstay their Visas and demand the US do anything is not a sign of a Great America.
   
   The 1st Amendment allows the peaceful assembly, but looking at most of the protests that wind up in riots, this is not a 1st amendment right, even for the citizens of the US.
   
   A great country protects its citizens, unlike 1993, 2001, 2015. On 911, not a single effective defensive action was waged by the trillion dollar plus Military, National Intelligence agencies and any other group that is funded to protect us. A great country doesn't let 19 terrorists on a very low budget take down the WTC, and 3,000 people. As well as damaging the Pentagon. With Andrews AFB nearby.
   
   The 1956 National Highway System created by president Dwight D Eisenhower is no longer functional. In general none of our infrastructure has even been maintained much less improved.
   
   FEMA didn't help in any of the "Acts of God" did they.
   The latest rain storms in drought ridden California turned out to be a big disaster for Lake Orville, and its dam. Both the Federal and California govt knew years ago about the problem, and both decided not to do anything.
   
   We have a government that spies on its own people because they couldn't stop 19 terrorists. Is that a great country. Because of that failure, people are treated like terrorists at the airport. And the sad thing is that there are so many soft targets here that this will fail to protect us. As we have seen in San Bernardino, and Orlando.
   
   The national intelligence agencies failed in 2001, and 2004, and most everything they do. Is it failure or their goal?
   
   The problem is that there a only Reactive while the terrorists are proactive.
   
   Putting American Citizens in second place to illegal immigrants, and refugees is not a great country. Mexico doesn't let them in from their southern border, but they want us to it. They also can't or won't stop the $biilions of illegal drugs, human trafficking, and contraband coming from their Mexican to US border.
   What will actually make America Great is pres Trump!
   del if u wsh

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5. 83

   Rock_njposted 7 years ago

   Another thing that makes America great is the opportunity for a person to choose their path in life and make what they want with their life, be it a billionaire businessperson or a social worker that works for their community and foregoes riches.  I had a neighbor once who grew up in Cuba before he emigrated to the United States.  He said it wasn't nice to have your future occupation decided by a committee of people in your town.  It made me feel how lucky I am to live in a country where my destiny is in my own hands.  For all it's faults, at least you can be what you want to be in America (also known as the United States of America).  Yes, there are economic barriers to being what you want to be, but that hasn't stopped many from achieving what they want in life in America.

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6. 71

   dashingscorpioposted 7 years ago

   
   
   The constitution and the beliefs/spirit of it's citizens.
   You take that way you'll simply have another huge land mass.
   Continuous human habitation in England dates to around 13,000 years ago.
   Written records of the history of China can be found from as early as 1500 BC under the Shang dynasty.
   America is only (241 years old) but look how far she's come.
   A great deal of accomplishment in such a short amount of time!
   Even in this era there is still the belief that it's possible to start a business in a garage or on a kitchen table and become a multi-millionaire in America more than any other country.
   If a country is measured by it's wealth, military strength, size of population, economy, inventions, freedoms, power and influence around the world it's impossible to deny that America is great.
   This is especially true when you consider she's only 241 years old. Essentially she's still the baby among many older countries!
   "And a child shall lead them..."

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7. 71

   clivewilliamsposted 7 years ago

   Still trying to decide. America was once the land of the free. Where people would come for opportunities they never had in their own lands. A place where the freedom of expression was never stifled. A place where the world looked at for hope. But America has taken a dark shift. It is now the place for police harassment and church killings. A place where the color of your skin gives you a slap on the wrist or life in prison. America......?!! Great?!!

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   1. 77

      jackclee lmposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      It still is land of the free, better than another country on earth.

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      Ericdierkerposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      And please my friend compare the occurrences to occurrences in what Turkey, Russia, Mexico, Indonesia, Germany, France and England. Check your hat at the door in NY and feel safe -- except for that bald spot.

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