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Yes, because you see?

My patriotism and love of country is predicated on what I believe are God-given rights of liberty, the pursuit of happiness, and all the things those very wise men wrote in the Declaration of Independence, in the Federalist Papers, in the Constitution. Re-read those things - re-read the writings of Hamilton, Adams, Jefferson, and the foundational principles of the nation they built for us.

It was not about magic dirt, magic lines on a map, or some hazy idea of the “volk” as someone like Hitler would write 150 years later.

There was a higher principle and idea bound in the idea of a new nation founded on idea unlike any other at the time: That a nation can and should exist to guard the liberty and freedom of the individual. Being as wise as they were, they knew a nation was *necessary* - a collective defense, a common good, yes. I am no more an anarchist than they were. They were practical. There are times when the citizenry of this Grand Experiment must band together - but to protect this basic idea of individual freedom and liberty, *not* to service the motherland or the “volk”.

You talk about unfair - but the reality is simply not that case. These other countries “ripping us off”? Have you visited them? They are only ripping off their own citizens. That’s too bad for them, but it is also not my problem.

The standard of living, the opportunity, the growth? The average - or median - if you prefer American enjoys a FAR better life and opportunity than citizens of these other nations who are supposedly “ripping us off”. Two car households? They don’t exist for the most part - not even in Europe. Air Conditioning? A luxury for the rich. Eating out? And on and on it goes.

I am sorry - truly, I really am - that *everybody* has not enjoyed the completely equal measure of prosperity. But - that was never the promise our founding principles; the promise was the *opportunity* to pursue them.

Other nations - other republics/democracies, even those supposed quasi-free markets have chosen to go the other direction. They have decided to create vast government programs. They have decided to, well... frankly? Make DEI writ large - everybody entitled to a nominally equal outcome. Everybody gets included.

I am sorry -really, I am - I’m not trying to pick a fight you do not agree.

But what you want? I do not.