# How I Feel Aboit The US These Days **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 31, 2018, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-i-feel-aboit-the-us-these-days/807874 "2018-01-31T14:37:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![3trew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/13edae/32.png) [@3trew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3trew)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-i-feel-aboit-the-us-these-days/807874/101 "2018-02-02T01:27:48Z")
> [@Scylla](#): > > The OP is definitely on to something. I think you have one too many words in this sentence. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-i-feel-aboit-the-us-these-days/807874/102 "2018-02-02T03:55:00Z")
> [@BeeGee](#): > > Well, now I’ll never look at you the same way. Baked beans my ass. > > Borracho Beans > soak or do not soak 1lb of dried pinto beans overnight\* > Saute an chopped onion and six slices of chopped bacon in a dutch oven along with your level of garlic and jalapeno. Add 32oz chicken stock, oregano, cumin, and 1 can of fire roasted chopped tomatoes to the pot and cook as usual: 8 hours in the crock pot, 5-6 on the stove (\<—suckers!), or 20 minutes in the instant pot. > \*the cool kids don’t soak beans anymore > [So You Like Flavor? Don't Soak Your Black Beans!](http://www.seriouseats.com/2014/09/soaking-black-beans-faq.html) > [How to Soak Beans Quickly—And Why You Should | Epicurious](https://www.epicurious.com/expert-advice/soaking-salting-dried-bean-myths-article) Where’s the “borracho” in this? Shouldn’t you at least cook the beans in _cerveza?_ If you want good Mexican beans in a hurry, try _sofrito_ (Goya makes a good one). Put two tablespoons of _sofrito_ in a one-quart saucepan, drain and add a 15-oz can of pinto beans, top with a tablespoon of dry oregano, a few good shakes of _adobo_ seasoning, a tablespoon of white or cider vinegar, and enough water or beer to just cover the beans. Simmer for at least ten minutes, then mash the beans with a potato masher (or don’t) and serve. On a corn tortilla with a scrambled egg would be good. Salsa and hot sauce at your discretion. Hell, slam a slice of bacon or two in there, while you’re at it. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-i-feel-aboit-the-us-these-days/807874/103 "2018-02-02T03:58:27Z")
**Morganstern’s** suggestion of baked beans and egg on toast would be acceptable if you were hungry for British food. WIth gammon or white pudding on the side. Grilled mushroom. Grilled to-mah-to. Mug of strong black tea fit for a navvy, with a splash of whole milk. ---
**Author:** ![BeeGee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5a626/32.png) [@BeeGee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeeGee)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-i-feel-aboit-the-us-these-days/807874/104 "2018-02-02T06:00:16Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > Where’s the “borracho” in this? Shouldn’t you at least cook the beans in _cerveza?_ > > If you want good Mexican beans in a hurry, try _sofrito_ (Goya makes a good one). Put two tablespoons of _sofrito_ in a one-quart saucepan, drain and add a 15-oz can of pinto beans, top with a tablespoon of dry oregano, a few good shakes of _adobo_ seasoning, a tablespoon of white or cider vinegar, and enough water or beer to just cover the beans. Simmer for at least ten minutes, then mash the beans with a potato masher (or don’t) and serve. > > On a corn tortilla with a scrambled egg would be good. Salsa and hot sauce at your discretion. Hell, slam a slice of bacon or two in there, while you’re at it. Well, Damn me to hell and back. Left off the fucking beer. I promise you that I have never neglected a beer in my life. Yes, absolutely correct. Add a bottle of beer like Modelo to the pot with the broth. Drink the other five with your tacos. I use Goya sazon in many dishes. I’ve been known to gussy up a can of pintos like that, but it’s pretty easy to make them from scratch with the instant pot. Avocado crema and potatoes with beans on a corn tortilla. Ok, I know what I’m making this weekend. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-i-feel-aboit-the-us-these-days/807874/105 "2018-02-02T13:50:31Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > My impression is fear of muslim immigration is behind the rise of right wing populism in Europe. Right, but what really triggered this fear in recent years has been the waves of migration of people coming from North Africa, Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan. I suppose you could argue that Afghanistan was already destabilized, but the situations in the rest of these countries are the direct result of American (and to varying degrees US-allied) foreign policy. When we invaded Iraq, we set off a chain of events that displaced tens of millions of Muslims and created mass migration, which Europe has been struggling to cope with. It’s naturally going to make people in Europe more skeptical of globalization’s benefits and in turn spark a nationalist backlash. Remember when ‘appeasers’ in Old Europe warned us that the invasion of Iraq was a bad idea? That’s exactly what they feared. Simply put, Europeans are more educated than Americans when it comes to basic geography and understanding the implications of a war such as the one that a majority of Europeans opposed and a majority of Americans supported (in early 2003, that is). ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-i-feel-aboit-the-us-these-days/807874/106 "2018-02-02T14:26:51Z")
> [@Batano](#): > > Imagine that you were in love with the girl next door. She is smart, kind to animals, and laughs at your jokes. She isn’t a supermodel, but has wholesome good look’s and a cute little gap between her front teeth. You are totally smitten. I think the major problem here is unrequited love. The girl next door isn’t really interested, and that smarts. ☹ For a better analogy, think of your “girl” as having a bit of a borderline personality at times. But the prognosis is good. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-i-feel-aboit-the-us-these-days/807874/107 "2018-02-02T14:28:27Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Nor would I, but I’d applaud his stick-to-itiveness. He’d certainly have a lot of it afterwards, at least until he’d taken a shower. > [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > You mean _revueltos?_. Isn’t that just scrambled eggs? Normally yes, but it’s the way he cooks 'em. > [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > My impression is fear of muslim immigration is behind the rise of right wing populism in Europe. Really, you could have just left it at “fear”. It’s always “fear”. ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-i-feel-aboit-the-us-these-days/807874/108 "2018-02-02T14:41:10Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > I wrote [this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=19763641&postcount=752) the night of the election when things were clearly going sideways. > > I still consider the U.S. a friend, but I’m more keenly aware that some of my friend’s shortcomings are not mere quirks, but major personality flaws. Weed is getting more legal, so maybe we’ll mellow out. I’m working on it. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-i-feel-aboit-the-us-these-days/807874/109 "2018-02-02T14:49:37Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > **Morganstern’s** suggestion of baked beans and egg on toast would be acceptable if you were hungry for British food. WIth gammon or white pudding on the side. Grilled mushroom. Grilled to-mah-to. Mug of strong black tea fit for a navvy, with a splash of whole milk. You bloody well spelled my name like a Frenchman would. May your strudel forever be burned to a crisp. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-i-feel-aboit-the-us-these-days/807874/110 "2018-02-02T16:24:09Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > Simply put, Europeans are more educated than Americans when it comes to basic geography and understanding the implications of a war such as the one that a majority of Europeans opposed and a majority of Americans supported (in early 2003, that is). It also helps to have thousands of miles of ocean between us and the hornets’ nests we like to swat. Makes “implications” a lot less urgent for us. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-i-feel-aboit-the-us-these-days/807874/111 "2018-02-02T18:54:21Z")
> [@B-Rad](#): > > It also helps to have thousands of miles of ocean between us and the hornets’ nests we like to swat. Makes “implications” a lot less urgent for us. Okay, but Canada, Australia, and New Zealand are just as far (if not further) away as we are, and most citizens in these countries were against the invasion as well, foreseeing many of the same consequences even if they knew they’d likely not be living with them. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-i-feel-aboit-the-us-these-days/807874/112 "2018-02-02T23:18:14Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > You nailed it. It’s like Biff gave the sports almanac to Trump in 1955 instead of to his younger self. Biff was the better man. ---
**Author:** ![Noborry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/noborry/32/2564_2.png) [@Noborry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noborry)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2018, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-i-feel-aboit-the-us-these-days/807874/113 "2018-02-03T06:45:30Z")
“How I Feel Aboit The US These Days” I feel that the educational system is failing us. This is most obvious in the decline in literacy. ---
**Author:** ![Brayne\_Ded](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Brayne\_Ded](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brayne_Ded)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2018, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-i-feel-aboit-the-us-these-days/807874/114 "2018-02-04T18:04:53Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > Right, but what really triggered this fear in recent years has been the waves of migration of people coming from North Africa, Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan. I suppose you could argue that Afghanistan was already destabilized, but the situations in the rest of these countries are the direct result of American (and to varying degrees US-allied) foreign policy. When we invaded Iraq, we set off a chain of events that displaced tens of millions of Muslims and created mass migration, which Europe has been struggling to cope with. It’s naturally going to make people in Europe more skeptical of globalization’s benefits and in turn spark a nationalist backlash. > > Remember when ‘appeasers’ in Old Europe warned us that the invasion of Iraq was a bad idea? That’s exactly what they feared. Simply put, Europeans are more educated than Americans when it comes to basic geography and understanding the implications of a war such as the one that a majority of Europeans opposed and a majority of Americans supported (in early 2003, that is). Speaking as a European, the right-wing backlash has been largely anti-Muslim (PEGIDA, Front Nationale, etc.) but also directed against “economic refugees”, such as many Africans. But many Africans are also driven to seek a life elsewhere due to constant strife throughout much of Africa, and some of this constant warfare is a spillover from the Middle East, with the likes of Boko Haram. The USA and its none too willing allies have been the cause of much of this, the rest comes from more or less failed states that are gutted by the debt load to the banks. Europe gets the brunt of this in the form of the refugees. Another reason why may Europeans don’t want the refugees is that they already have a problem with the Third Worlders and Middle Easterners that they have already, forming indigestible urban ghettos that are a fertile recruiting ground for the radical mullahs. Various kinds of immigration policies have been tried, and frankly, none of them have worked. ---
**Author:** ![Brayne\_Ded](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Brayne\_Ded](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brayne_Ded)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2018, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-i-feel-aboit-the-us-these-days/807874/115 "2018-02-04T18:07:50Z")
“Also, I’m getting the feeling that populism is on the rise globally. I don’t know if it’s a backlash from the sound byte social media culture or what, but it’s hardly just an American phenomenon.” It is. Lots of that in Europe, and probably set to increase as more refugees come in. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2018, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-i-feel-aboit-the-us-these-days/807874/116 "2018-02-04T19:39:38Z")
Even the kicker? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2018, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-i-feel-aboit-the-us-these-days/807874/117 "2018-02-06T01:30:49Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > Please explain for the assembled multitude, and especially for the OP, who may not know of you, two or three of the ways Obama personally ruined your life. I’m sure much sympathy will be forthcoming. Personally, I can only hope that a few more years of the Trump kleptocracy will ease your evident pain. Ruined my life? No, I managed to survive. Made _everybody’s_ life worse? That’s a different story, and this list is a good starting place. > **[18 Major Scandals in Obama's ‘Scandal-Free’ Presidency](https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2017/01/02/18-major-scandals-obama-presidency/)** > > President Obama and his mouthpieces have embarked on a bizarre scheme to hypnotize America into forgetting the many scandals of his presidency. They seem to think that intoning "this administration hasn’t had a scandal” over and over again will make... If you can’t be bothered to read it because you’re afraid of the big, bad Breitbart label on it, then we’ll just stick to the colossal fuckup that is Obamacare. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2018, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-i-feel-aboit-the-us-these-days/807874/118 "2018-02-06T01:33:48Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > If you can’t be bothered to read it because you’re afraid of the big, bad Breitbart label on it, then we’ll just stick to the colossal fuckup that is Obamacare. Nah, we’re not afraid of them. We won’t read them because we know they’re dishonest partisan bullshit. One of the least truthful so-called “news” sources on the planet. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2018, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-i-feel-aboit-the-us-these-days/807874/119 "2018-02-06T02:37:13Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > Ruined my life? No, I managed to survive. Made _everybody’s_ life worse? That’s a different story, and this list is a good starting place. > > [http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/01/02/18-major-scandals-obama-presidency/](http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/01/02/18-major-scandals-obama-presidency/) OK, so Obama didn’t ruin your life. You’d never know it, from your endless bitching. And, no, I’m not “afraid” of Breitbart, I just recognize that they are primarily a source of right-wing propaganda, and thus somewhat lacking in the Reliable Facts department. BTW, Obama certainly didn’t make MY life worse in any way, nor the lives of the people I know. Who are all these people who are worse off, and in what ways are they worse off? You still haven’t made a coherent argument. So, in the absence of any specific facts to back up your viewpoint, I guess you are just “exaggerating for effect”. I suppose that once again, this affirms that you are not a person to be taken seriously. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-i-feel-aboit-the-us-these-days/807874.md?page=5)