Americans Aren't Interested in the World's Problems

realclearworld.com ^ | February 18, 2014 | George Friedman, chairman of Stratfor

[Second Amendment First]

Last week, several events took place that were important to their respective regions and potentially to the world. Russian government officials suggested turning Ukraine into a federation, following weeks of renewed demonstrations in Kiev. The Venezuelan government was confronted with violent and deadly protests. Kazakhstan experienced a financial crisis that could have destabilized the economies of Central Asia. Russia and Egypt inked a significant arms deal. Right-wing groups in Europe continued their political gains.

[Second Amendment First]

Americans for the most part aren't interested in anything other than pop culture. As for the world's problems, we sure as hell can't solve them; we will get blamed for making them worse while wasting our blood and treasure. We can't solve our own problems.

[T. P. Pole]

I think if the news media was interested, the American people might be. But as it is, the news doesn’t even mention this stuff. I suspect it really isn’t that we aren’t interested. I think that the LIVs don’t even know about it.

[kabar]

If the US moves away from its global leadership role, a vacuum is formed that will be filled eventually. Obama is part of the problem with his leading from behind. The US MSM is not interested in covering global events.

The dumbing down of America continues. We will pay a heavy price for our ignorance and disinterest.

[bert]

I can say with near certainty that with the possible exception of the Kasakstan financial problem, all the other stories were presented on Fox News

[Wolfie]

If only we could convince the people who spend our tax dollars and soldiers’ lives to feel the same way.

[G Larry]

Obama’s goal is the destruction of America.

His success in that effort helps diminish American’s concern in foreign affairs.

Our reduced involvement further diminishes our standing in the world.

Observe our support for anarchy in the mid-East and undermining allies like Israel.

[TexasFreeper2009]

I have a lot of interest in the rest of the world.

I was very concerned for instance when I revisited France and England about 10 years ago only to discover that they had both been over-run with Muslims.

But what can I do about it? I can’t even stop my own government from committing cultural suicide by stopping to flood of illegals here, what the heck am I going to do to talk sense into liberal hell holes in Europe.

The West seems to have lost he will to live. I am almost to the point of wishing the Germans had won World War 2. At least they wouldn’t have let this happen. And on a recent visit to Germany I noticed to stark difference between it and France and England, it was still clean as a whistle and full of... Germans *shock*

[griswold3]

Not a day goes by on CSpan that someone calls in a claims that the solution to our economic problems would be solved by eliminating foreign entanglements, especially military operations.
In a way, I agree. We’re broke. In order to provide monies to foreign governments, we have to borrow it ourselves.

[jazzlite]

You are exactly correct. Americans don’t even understand or know crucial facts about their own country or what made us free and what keeps us free. We have the educational system and the media to thank for that..I know many here do not like Bill O’Reilly and he often provokes me but last night he explained a big part of the problem..Take a look.
http://video.foxnews.com/v/3218282898001/why-many-americans-know-little-about-their-country-/#sp=show-clips

[BitWielder1]

The media is doing a good job of shielding the American public from what's going on in the world.
Unless we take time to read foreign news sources, we have no idea there was a problem in XYZ-stan until it blows up.
Too many times I've been throwing my arms up in disgust how poorly American officials have handled a situation.
Yes Kerry, Hillary, I mean you.
I don't always know what the right solution would have been but I can certainly recognize the wrong solution when I see it.

[Cowgirl of Justice]

For decades, we have been the world’s defender, subsidizer and caretaker and have been ridiculed, hated, terrorized and had our citizens murdered in return for our generosity and bravery.

Americans are just tired.

[DoodleDawg]

What has our interest in the world’s problems gotten us?

[alloysteel]

What price will Americans pay in the long term? Probably no more than the most isolated of all regimes in the world, that of North Korea.

This self enforced isolation adopted by the governance now in place in the territory once known as “the United States of America”, if it remains for more than a very few more years, shall be forced to turn to much the same means of compliance that has been so warmly embraced by the inhabitants of North Korea.

The People’s Republic of China is not advancing so much by their own bootstrap efforts, as they are being aided by the not very strategic retreat by the Current Regime now squatting in the White Hut.

[kabar]

I can’t even stop my own government from committing cultural suicide by stopping to flood of illegals here,

We are committing cultural suicide from our LEGAL IMMIGRATION policies. We bring in 1.2 million LEGAL IMMIGRANTS A YEAR, 87% of whom are minorities as classified by the USG. The vast majority come from the Third World.

In 1970 one in 21 was foreign born; today it is one in 8, the highest level in 90 years; and within a decade it will be one in 7, the highest in our history. We have just had the two highest decades of LEGAL IMMIGRATION in our history.

We now have close to 45 million foreign born in this country. Immigrants, legal and illegal, use the welfare system to a much greater degree than the native born. We are importing poverty and we are changing the demographics of this country rapidly. By 2019 half of the children 18 and under will be minorities and by 2043 half of the country will be minorities. Demography is destiny.

[cripplecreek]

I’d be happy if our media wasn’t desperately trying to direct our attention elsewhere while our own country burns.

[Resolute Conservative]

I can say that after the last 12 years or so I really don’t care what happens outside our borders and we have wasted so many young lives and capital pissin’ in the wind in the dark places of the world.

[FatherofFive]

I am almost to the point of wishing the Germans had won World War 2.

If the Germans won, we would not have Israel. I fear the Muslim problem would only be worse without that important ally. And the Germans alligned with the Muslims. Methinks it would be a nasty picture.

[bert]

We live in a world interconnected by trade. Our economy and jobs have strong reliance on exports.

Knowledge of customers is important

[allendale]

There is an appropriate reassessment of the role the United States should have in world affairs. Recent intrusions into the internal affairs of foreign countries have been disastrous. Foreigners will take our money and offer to fight their local enemies but in the end bitterly resent American efforts that “teach them how to live” or order their culture. They view it as the worst form of cultural imperialism. The United States is resented and American security is lessened. Ronald Reagan had an image of America being this moral, just, prosperous city on the hill for others to admire and mimic. That may be the way to go. Let others mimic us, but never have America intrude or impose. Foreign entanglements should only be initiated if and only if the actual security or real interests of the United States are at stake. Of course liberals and socialists will argue that the world is “one” and international intrusions and a diminution of American nationalism is a good and necessary thing. Yet one only has to reflect on the spectacle of that jet lagged gasbag narcissist Kerry pontificating around the globe, accomplishing nothing and making new enemies daily.

[sickoflibs]

RE :”Americans for the most part aren't interested in anything other than pop culture. As for the world's problems, we sure as hell can't solve them; we will get blamed for making them worse while wasting our blood and treasure. We can't solve our own problems. “

All true.