we are the only country founded on the idea of inalienable human rights - life, liberty, pursuit of happiness
Posted
Jul 22, 2018
Strauch
American exceptionalism is not in the soil or in the DNA of the people. It is a concept that can be adopted by anybody. However, most people do not want it. Exceptionalism stems from the belief that an ordinary individual can make a difference. Either people need the government to force them to make the right decisions or they can be counted on the make the right decisions themselves. If ordinary people can be relied upon to make good decisions, then there is no reason to forcibly keep then in line. This belief leads to freedom. The problem is, freedom comes with responsibility. Most people would rather abdicate freedom than face the possibility of being responsible for their own failure.
Responses
we are the only country founded on the idea of inalienable human rights - life, liberty, pursuit of happiness
American exceptionalism is not in the soil or in the DNA of the people. It is a concept that can be adopted by anybody. However, most people do not want it. Exceptionalism stems from the belief that an ordinary individual can make a difference. Either people need the government to force them to make the right decisions or they can be counted on the make the right decisions themselves. If ordinary people can be relied upon to make good decisions, then there is no reason to forcibly keep then in line. This belief leads to freedom. The problem is, freedom comes with responsibility. Most people would rather abdicate freedom than face the possibility of being responsible for their own failure.