# Is America Really Backward Compared to the Rest of the West **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [March 13, 2010, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-america-really-backward-compared-to-the-rest-of-the-west/532329 "2010-03-13T05:30:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Laudenum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Laudenum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laudenum)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2010, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-america-really-backward-compared-to-the-rest-of-the-west/532329/101 "2010-03-14T05:24:23Z")
> [@Condescending\_Robot](#): > > There are ways in which the US is ahead of Europe, and ways in which it is behind. For all our racial flaws, and there are many, I think we do a generally better job of upholding racial equality and integration than Europe does; the way **Jews, Arabs, and Gypsies are treated even in Western Europe is atrocious, and in the East you’re lucky to make it down the street without being set upon by thugs if you don’t look white.** Oh. Wow. Yes, many European countries have fascists. Very many. However, Jews and Arabs are, by and large, able to exist peacefully in European countries, without fear. Europe isn’t really a fan of Israel, due to the whole civilian killing thing, but there are very few anti-semetic attacks in most European countries. So can gypsies, most of the time, but I won’t pretend that there isn’t widespread dislike of them. ---
**Author:** ![AboutAsWeirdAsYouCanGet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@AboutAsWeirdAsYouCanGet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AboutAsWeirdAsYouCanGet)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2010, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-america-really-backward-compared-to-the-rest-of-the-west/532329/102 "2010-03-14T05:41:22Z")
> [@](#): > > No but Koreans and other East Asians are better motivated for education by culture than whites, blacks, or Hispanics. This is not a claim to cultural superiority anymore than saying that “People in Argentina are more culturally practiced to eat meat than those in India”. THAT is very racist. Yes, there are some Korean and other East Asian immigrants who totally buy into the “high achiver” culture, but there are quite a few who are still scratching out a living below the poverty line. That’s like taking a suburban High Achiver Family (the type where its programmed that wittle Smashlie will go off to Name Brand Univeristy, and claiming they represent ALL of America! ---
**Author:** ![Revenant\_Threshold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@Revenant\_Threshold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revenant_Threshold)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2010, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-america-really-backward-compared-to-the-rest-of-the-west/532329/103 "2010-03-14T06:28:22Z")
> [@Curtis LeMay](#): > > America also doesn’t have any state churches which is far more religion in government than some slogan on coins. Actually, i’d say they are, effectively, pretty similar. Certainly in practice having a state church could well indicate a vast effect of religion on government - but it’s pretty much just a nominal thing here, as is a slogan on coins. It’s just words. What matters, i’d say, in the interpretation of and feeling and action behind those words. Here it really doesn’t have much practical effect, and the intangible effects are muted by people generally not considering it to mean much. Whereas having a particular slogan on coins over there seems to be something there’s a lot of interest and debate about, though likewise little practical effect. ---
**Author:** ![Chen019](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f19dbf/32.png) [@Chen019](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chen019)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2010, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-america-really-backward-compared-to-the-rest-of-the-west/532329/104 "2010-03-14T06:30:43Z")
> [@](#): > > Laudenum wrote: > > However, Jews and Arabs are, by and large, able to exist peacefully in European countries, without fear. Yes, but that may change as the demographic composition changes. > [@](#): > > In 2009, a chapel serving the city’s 700-strong Jewish community was set ablaze. Jewish cemeteries were repeatedly desecrated, worshippers were abused on their way home from prayer, and “Hitler” was mockingly chanted in the streets by masked men. > > “I never thought I would see this hatred again in my lifetime, not in Sweden anyway,” Mrs Popinski told The Sunday Telegraph. > > "This new hatred comes from Muslim immigrants. The Jewish people are afraid now… > > With its young people planning new lives elsewhere, the remaining Jewish households, many of whom are made up of Holocaust survivors and their descendants, fear they will soon be gone altogether. Mrs Popinski, an 86-year-old widow, said she has even encountered hostility when invited to talk about the Holocaust in schools. > > “Muslim schoolchildren often ignore me now when I talk about my experiences in the camps,” she said. “It is because of what their parents tell them about Jews. The hatreds of the Middle East have come to Malmo. Schools in Muslim areas of the city simply won’t invite Holocaust survivors to speak any more.” > **[Access Restricted](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/sweden/7278532/Jews-leave-Swedish-city-after-sharp-rise-in-anti-Semitic-hate-crimes.html)** ---
**Author:** ![IClaudius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c37758/32.png) [@IClaudius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IClaudius)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2010, 8:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-america-really-backward-compared-to-the-rest-of-the-west/532329/105 "2010-03-14T08:34:25Z")
> [@AClockworkMelon](#): > > Violence and gore in film/games are **heavily** censored in Australia. Under any fair assessment you wouldn’t say Australia heavily censors films for violence and gore. It would have to be a pretty confronting film involving sex and violence together, or depictions of under-age sex, to be refused classification. That happens, sure, but it’s rare and most films in that category like Ken Park etc., are similarly controversial overseas. It’s still fully legal to own and watch refused classification, btw, you just can’t show it at a cinema. On the other hand, games are censored here because we don’t have an R18+ category. That means all gaming content must fit MA15+ or it will have to be edited to avoid refused classification. Most Australian states and the federal government is onboard with reforming this situation, but the issue is currently being held hostage because one of our state attorney generals is a conservative Christian (albeit part of the nominally progressive Labor Party). He has the power to block reform. ---
**Author:** ![DWMarch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwmarch/32/1010_2.png) [@DWMarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DWMarch)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2010, 8:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-america-really-backward-compared-to-the-rest-of-the-west/532329/106 "2010-03-14T08:46:33Z")
> [@](#): > > any other examples of Canada heavily curtailing free speech? [http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2003/06/11/ahenakew\_charge030611.html](http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2003/06/11/ahenakew_charge030611.html) Ahenakew’s “freedom” to call Jewish people a disease was curtailed by our Criminal Code, specifically section 319(2) which is titled “Wilful promotion of hatred”. That’s the only case I can think of offhand where our government came down hard on someone for a “freedom of speech” issue. And it seems clear to me that Ahenakew earned all the flak that came down on him considering where and how he made his statement. But check the comments section on any CBC.ca article that has anything to do with Jews, Middle Eastern politics, native issues, et cetera and you’ll see that ignorant hateful speech is indeed alive and well in Canada and there’s enough ignorance going around to keep our “thought police” in business for a good long time should they ever decide to prosecute it all. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2010, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-america-really-backward-compared-to-the-rest-of-the-west/532329/107 "2010-03-14T14:12:18Z")
Ahenakew was acquitted, for the record, on the grounds that he wasn’t willfully inciting hatred. And in unrelated news, died of cancer the day before yesterday. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2010, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-america-really-backward-compared-to-the-rest-of-the-west/532329/108 "2010-03-14T16:24:32Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Mark Steyn’s books (including “America Alone”) are also available at my local library. I believe he’s also free to walk the streets, live anywhere he pleases, and leave the country if he wants. AFAIK, he continues to write what he wants (does he still write items for Maclean’s magazine?). Darnitall, that pesky Canadian _Charter of Rights and Freedoms_ just gets in the way of censoring this guy! > [@](#): > > I think we’ve pretty much put this one to bed - got any other examples of Canada heavily curtailing free speech? I’d like to see some more solid examples too, with direct cites to reputable news sources (i.e. not opinionated blogs). Question for those who seem to believe that we are “heavily censored” in Canada: Have you ever been here? Do you regularly read or watch or listen to our media? I ask because much of what you’ve been claiming seems to be introduced by “I heard from a guy” or “See this blog which has a link to an American news source.” Have you ever bothered to check these claims with Canadian sources, or even to visit to see for yourself whether we are repressed in the way you heard we are? ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2010, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-america-really-backward-compared-to-the-rest-of-the-west/532329/109 "2010-03-14T16:34:56Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > I believe he’s also free to walk the streets, live anywhere he pleases, and leave the country if he wants. AFAIK, he continues to write what he wants (does he still write items for Maclean’s magazine?). Darnitall, that pesky Canadian _Charter of Rights and Freedoms_ just gets in the way of censoring this guy! Indeed, Steyn is in almost every Maclean’s. Mark Steyn is the least censored censored writer who’s ever lived. The government has never once done a single thing to limit his ability to say and write whatever he wants. It amazes me that people hold the man up as a martyr when he’s never actually had anything happen to him. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2010, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-america-really-backward-compared-to-the-rest-of-the-west/532329/110 "2010-03-14T16:36:27Z")
The USA has weird sexual hangups. Most of them concern the use of nudity in advertising. Witness the brouhaha over Janet Jackson’s tits on TV-people got outraged over that. At the same time, the USA allows the most atrocious murders, violence,etc. to be freely shown on the media. The nudity thing is pretty strange-however, it is a good smokescreen issue for corrupt politicians-in states like Texas, politicians can divert attention away from their own corruption, by beating this dead horse. I remember bringing my Brazilan GF to a local beach-some old bat wandered over and told her to “put on some clothes”. The old hag was puffing on a cigarette-I told her to mind her own business and stop polluting MY air. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2010, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-america-really-backward-compared-to-the-rest-of-the-west/532329/111 "2010-03-14T20:45:12Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > \ > > Question for those who seem to believe that we are “heavily censored” in Canada: Have you ever been here? Do you regularly read or watch or listen to our media? I ask because much of what you’ve been claiming seems to be introduced by “I heard from a guy” or “See this blog which has a link to an American news source.” Have you ever bothered to check these claims with Canadian sources, or even to visit to see for yourself whether we are repressed in the way you heard we are? The only time I run into not being able to look at something I want to see is when I’m trying to look at a video online that originates in the United States. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2010, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-america-really-backward-compared-to-the-rest-of-the-west/532329/112 "2010-03-14T22:15:07Z")
> [@Curtis LeMay](#): > > If you don’t think homosexuality is a sin and that Chick Tracts are nonsense than that’s fine- I support your freedom to say it just as I support their freedom to say what they wish. If you want disprove them, than give them facts not ban them! Banning them gives them the martyr card and actually gives them fame in the news (“We’re being persecuted! They’re afraid of us !”). Enough people are dumb enough to believe the opposite, so much so that professing those beliefs make for a viable political platform. You answered your own question there. > [@Curtis LeMay](#): > > Do you have so little faith in people that they will become convinced by what they say? That’s funny you say that I shouldn’t be afraid of people spouting lies. A majority of the people in this country believe in creationism. A majority believe in a god. A large segment of the population thinks global warming is a scam, there are death panels, and Obama is a Muslim. So yeah, I’m sick and tired of people being allowed to lie. > [@Curtis LeMay](#): > > How would you like it that since I as a conservative advocated banning atheistic and communist literature? How is that stance any different from yours? All in all a very condemning statement on how some liberals would love to restrict freedom of speech and religion. How is any different from a Christian fundamentalist advocating banning pornography? Atheism is correct. Communism/socialism has it’s merits. Porn is just another industry like any other. That’s the difference ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2010, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-america-really-backward-compared-to-the-rest-of-the-west/532329/113 "2010-03-14T23:39:02Z")
> [@AboutAsWeirdAsYouCanGet](#): > > THAT is very racist. Yes, there are some Korean and other East Asian immigrants who totally buy into the “high achiver” culture, but there are quite a few who are still scratching out a living below the poverty line. That’s like taking a suburban High Achiver Family (the type where its programmed that wittle Smashlie will go off to Name Brand Univeristy, and claiming they represent ALL of America! I am just identifying general cultural paradigms of various nations and ethnic groups. > [@YogSosoth](#): > > That’s funny you say that I shouldn’t be afraid of people spouting lies. A majority of the people in this country believe in creationism. A majority believe in a god. A large segment of the population thinks global warming is a scam, there are death panels, and Obama is a Muslim. So yeah, I’m sick and tired of people being allowed to lie. Than where do you cross the line? Does anybody who disagrees with your exact views lying and thus should be censored? > [@](#): > > Atheism is correct. Communism/socialism has it’s merits. Porn is just another industry like any other. That’s the difference That’s your viewpoint! What makes you think that you have all the answers to what should censored or not? You are no better than religious fanatics who want to impose their morality on everyone. So much for liberals being tolerant and loving freedom. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2010, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-america-really-backward-compared-to-the-rest-of-the-west/532329/114 "2010-03-14T23:48:41Z")
> [@Curtis LeMay](#): > > One of the favourite claims of liberals and leftists is about how enlightened and advanced Europe and Canada is compared to America. They speak of how people have better welfare, are better educated, are more “progressive” and etc. etc. But is it really so? > > Racial tensions in much of Europe is far worse than it is in America. America’s last race riots were in 1992, France had one in 2005 (enough for it to become a national state of emergency). Plus in Europe far-right wing parties have much more political influence. While no American-style mainstream conservative group exists in Europe fanatical Pat Buchanan type reactionaries such as Jean Marie Le Pen wins signifcant amounts of votes in elections. > > Also in Europe and Canada freedom of speech is heavily curtailed. Most notably are the banning of the denial of the Holocaust and displays of the Swastika (even in video games!) in Germany, Austria, and other countries. In Sweden a minister was prosecuted for calling homosexuality a sin. In Canada Chick tracts are banned. While you may disagree with their viewpoints everyone should have the right to say what they want as long as it is not libel or slander-and yes that includes Holocaust denial. > > Thus on the balance Europe is in many ways far less enlightened than America. Nope, we liberals do not contend that Europe is more enlightened than America. We do contend that conservatives are in some instances unenlightened. But good points for setting up an elaborate straw man. ---
**Author:** ![Trepa\_Mayfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/edb3f5/32.png) [@Trepa\_Mayfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trepa_Mayfield)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2010, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-america-really-backward-compared-to-the-rest-of-the-west/532329/115 "2010-03-15T00:06:29Z")
> [@Curtis LeMay](#): > > That’s your viewpoint! What makes you think that you have all the answers to what should censored or not? You are no better than religious fanatics who want to impose their morality on everyone. So much for liberals being tolerant and loving freedom. :rolleyes: Yeah, Curtis gets a point here. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2010, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-america-really-backward-compared-to-the-rest-of-the-west/532329/116 "2010-03-15T00:24:44Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > That’s funny you say that I shouldn’t be afraid of people spouting lies. A majority of the people in this country believe in creationism. A majority believe in a god. A large segment of the population thinks global warming is a scam, there are death panels, and Obama is a Muslim. So yeah, I’m sick and tired of people being allowed to lie. From M-W Online: Main Entry: 3lie Function: verb Inflected Form(s): lied; ly·ing \ˈlī-iŋ Etymology: Middle English, from Old English lēogan; akin to Old High German liogan to lie, Old Church Slavic lŭgati Date: before 12th century intransitive verb 1 : to make an untrue statement with intent to deceive 2 : to create a false or misleading impression They aren’t lying if they believe they’re telling the truth. > [@\[QUOTE=YogSosoth](#): > > Atheism is correct. Communism/socialism has it’s merits. Porn is just another industry like any other. a). You don’t know that and can’t prove it. b.) No they don’t. c.) If porn was like any other industry it would be regarded like any other industry. See? What we both posted are opinions. Not lies, but beliefs that may or may not be correct. There’s a difference. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2010, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-america-really-backward-compared-to-the-rest-of-the-west/532329/117 "2010-03-15T01:09:20Z")
> [@Curtis LeMay](#): > > Than where do you cross the line? Does anybody who disagrees with your exact views lying and thus should be censored? That would be a nice start > [@Curtis LeMay](#): > > That’s your viewpoint! What makes you think that you have all the answers to what should censored or not? You are no better than religious fanatics who want to impose their morality on everyone. So much for liberals being tolerant and loving freedom. :rolleyes: Yes, continue trotting out this “But you’re just as bad as we are” bullshit. Like I said, one side is factually correct, the other isn’t. That’s where you draw the line. And I do love freedom, but I cannot stand people not being able to exercise it when they are being deceived, manipulated, and scared. [quote=“Starving\_Artist, post:116, topic:532329”] [quote=a). You don’t know that and can’t prove it. b.) No they don’t. c.) If porn was like any other industry it would be regarded like any other industry. See? What we both posted are opinions. Not lies, but beliefs that may or may not be correct. There’s a difference.[/QUOTE] a) It can and has been proven. Religious people simply refuse to accept the proof. b) Right, you really want to go down this road? In something as large as socialism you would be unable to find even one small tiny bit that has merit? If I pointed out all of the parts that coincide with democracy, are you going to tell me democracy is bad too? Don’t make me laugh, socialism has it’s ups and downs, but only fools and liars would say it is completely without merit c) That’s the fault of the religious people forcing their views on everyone. I haven’t posted any opinion that isn’t true. You can pretend all you want but it’s simply your bias clouding your reason ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2010, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-america-really-backward-compared-to-the-rest-of-the-west/532329/118 "2010-03-15T01:19:14Z")
In any sufficiently advanced culture, posting a dictionary definition as though it actually proved anything would be a felony punishable by banishment. ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2010, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-america-really-backward-compared-to-the-rest-of-the-west/532329/119 "2010-03-15T01:22:48Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > Yes, continue trotting out this “But you’re just as bad as we are” bullshit. Like I said, one side is factually correct, the other isn’t. That’s where you draw the line. And I do love freedom, but I cannot stand people not being able to exercise it when they are being deceived, manipulated, and scared. And so you’re right and your sociopolitical views are the only correct ones? And no you do not love freedom or else you wouldn’t be advocating censoring almost every conservative or religious figure. > [@](#): > > a) It can and has been proven. Religious people simply refuse to accept the proof. > > b) Right, you really want to go down this road? In something as large as socialism you would be unable to find even one small tiny bit that has merit? If I pointed out all of the parts that coincide with democracy, are you going to tell me democracy is bad too? Don’t make me laugh, socialism has it’s ups and downs, but only fools and liars would say it is completely without merit It’s the exact same thing with religion. > [@](#): > > c) That’s the fault of the religious people forcing their views on everyone. Well you’re also imposing your views on everyone or at least censoring opposing ones. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2010, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-america-really-backward-compared-to-the-rest-of-the-west/532329/120 "2010-03-15T01:40:52Z")
> [@Curtis LeMay](#): > > So much for liberals being tolerant and loving freedom. Hah! In point of fact, liberals are about the most intolerant people out there. Do anything less than follow in total lockstep with whatever they think or to whatever degree they think or favor it, and they want to SQUASH you, whether by judical fiat, legislative action or angry societal intimidation. There is no live and let live in the world of liberalism. There is no legitimate reason to disagree with liberals or to question the outcome of whatever it is they favor. There is no legitimate reason to disagree with them at all, as a matter of fact. Anyone who disagrees with anything liberal is by definition stupid or evil…or both, for there can be no legitimate reason to think differently than they do about anything. Do you question whether gangsta culture is harmful? Why, you’re a fucking racist! Do you question whether women could be firefighters because they lack the upper body strength to carry people down ladders? Why, you’re a sexist pig! Do you question the merits of UHC? Why, you’re an evil, selfish, heartless capitalist asshole who won’t be happy until you see sick people are dying in the streets. Do you object to homosexuality despite the fact that you may have grown up in a country - or world, for that matter - that considered homosexuality to be wrong, or you honestly believe that marriage should be between men and women only even though you may not object to homosexuality itself? Why, you’re the lowest form of scum on the planet and you don’t deserve the time of day. Have you uttered an insensitve or verboten word when referring to somone of another race? Why, you deserve to lose the career you’ve spent decades building and if at all possible to be ostracized from society for all time. Etc., etc., etc. Liberals are on the side of goodness and right, you see. Everything they want is noble and everything they try to do is just. And even when things go wrong, which they often do, well, they were only trying to do the right thing anyway and only an asshole would even bring it up. You don’t see conservatives making judgement calls and criticizing people over the kinds of cars they drive, the clothes they wear, the foods they eat, the language they use, the way they spend their money, the kind of life they live, or the amount of tax they pay. But you see this kind of behavior all the time coming from liberals all the time, and that is the reason I contend that liberals and liberalism are a far greater threat to our happiness and the freedoms we’ve always enjoyed than any other threat out there, including the Patriot Act, and that life in European countries, with their high tax rates and socialistic, nanny-state forms of government, where people can be fined and presumably imprisioned merely for complaining about or speaking out against PC-protected subjects, are perfect examples of that threat made manifest. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-america-really-backward-compared-to-the-rest-of-the-west/532329.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-america-really-backward-compared-to-the-rest-of-the-west/532329.md?page=7)