[knighthawk]

Ping

[shezza]

It's quite simple, really: “We the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”

[xJones]

Thank you, knighthawk.

The Americans, with their 18th-century constitution, have maintained civil peace, democracy, and high levels of economic activity across a vast sea-to-sea territory for more than a century. In the same period, Continental Europe has suffered for long periods from monstrous burdens that its leaders have placed on the people -- fascism, communism and two catastrophic wars. Twice, Americans have had to cross the Atlantic to pacify Europe.

All that is tragedy, but it has a comic side. While these facts would fascinate an impartial observer, not one in 100 European political writers ever notices them. And of those who notice, only a few imagine that Europe might learn something, maybe just a little, from this unprecedented American experience. Europeans, looking at America, like to notice lynching in one era, McCarthyism in another, race riots in another -- as if these were comparable to the catastrophes of Europe.

Yes, we had slavery which ended about the same time as it did in Russia. We had a very bloody civil war which ended it. We do tend to admit and correct our sins. Sometimes the pendulum of correction swings too far one way, but it always swings back. And afterall, we aren't France or Germany, and Canada doesn't even count.

[tbpiper]

"a dull day of mind-numbing American piffle-culture." (As opposed, presumably, to Canadian high-culture.)

Red Green show = Canadian high-culture??? Maybe it's the refined sensibilities of the McKenzie Brothers, eh, hozer?

[baseballmom]

European culture teaches its elites that America is run by ignorant gun-toting cowboys. How could Europe possibly learn from people like that?

Hehehe, pay attention weenies. Our beloved cowboy is driving them nuts. Just like our other cowboy President, Ronald Reagan. God bless both of these great leaders.

[cake_crumb]

"It is based," he said, "on the powerful but irrational impulse of envy -- an envy of American wealth, power, success and determination."

I have said for decades and continue to maintain that ENVY is the root of all evil.

[cake_crumb]

Here's another way the rest of the world puts IT'S guilt on our shoulders : American culture is not taking over the world. American culture is being subsumed by the socialist collectivism of EUrope. Canada has already been subsumed. SO, while they blame America for what they are doing, they can continue to do it guilt free and maintain that false sense of snide superiority.

[austinTparty]

In re the mention of Tyler Cowen and his approach to cultural influence: Tyler Cowen is a fascinating guy, and he keeps a mean homepage. Check it out here.