[balok]

Originally Posted by kazbates

balok, your comments are terribly negative and insulting.

I apologize for the Hitler comment, which was in fact insulting, but as for the rest of what I wrote, I only spoke the truth.

I am not going to apologize for the fact that I am a middle class US American citizen who's family has worked very hard to have what we have. I have not exploited anyone.

The middle class is partly to blame for tacitly accepting the status quo, in order to maintain their standard of living, which has allowed the American/British economic model to become dominant.

The American people are not the villains of the world and it is narrow-minded to think that all the ills of the world can be laid at our feet.

The American people is like any other. No more virtuous, industrious, deserving than any other nation. They are not responsible for all the ills of the world, but they are partly responsible for some of them. However, I think the primary culprit is not the middle-class, but rather the modern aristocracy that controls the corporate and financial empires, influences public opinion, and generally pulls the strings behind the scenes.

unless you have given all income above and beyond what you need for basic survival to what you perceive as those in need, you should not stand in judgement of others.

Who's standing in judgment? I'm just stating the facts. I'm as guilty as anyone else, but the difference with me is that I acknowledge my fault, and the first step to solving a problem is to admit its existence. No one is asking you to give away your money. I think the reasonable thing to do would be to vote for candidates who promote sustainable development, accountability and transparency instead of candidates who simply promise lower taxes and more jobs and who talk a lot about national American identity.