# OK so here's my last thread to settle down my stuff- **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 28, 2018, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-heres-my-last-thread-to-settle-down-my-stuff/809736 "2018-02-28T06:20:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Luciano700](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Luciano700](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Luciano700)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2018, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-heres-my-last-thread-to-settle-down-my-stuff/809736/1 "2018-02-28T06:20:35Z")
Look I am trying to understand American social and political culture, that’s all. Why I am doing this? To understand and know the world around me better, and I really been over thinking my shit and you know what I am proud of it So my big question is: What’s the big key to understand when it comes to US social and political issues? Really just want to dissolve this from my head already. Even better: Why does the corporate world love to spin the shit off so much? Thnx in advance. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2018, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-heres-my-last-thread-to-settle-down-my-stuff/809736/2 "2018-02-28T07:20:38Z")
> [@Luciano700](#): > > Look I am trying to understand American social and political culture, that’s all. Why I am doing this? > > To understand and know the world around me better, and I really been over thinking my shit and you know what I am proud of it > So my big question is: What’s the big key to understand when it comes to US social and political issues? Being GQ I can’t really give what I think is the real answer. Suffice to say, our two main political parties are diametrically opposed on all issues and politics seem to override what I would consider to be reasonable interaction with each other. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2018, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-heres-my-last-thread-to-settle-down-my-stuff/809736/3 "2018-02-28T11:51:24Z")
Define the universe and give two examples… ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2018, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-heres-my-last-thread-to-settle-down-my-stuff/809736/4 "2018-02-28T11:58:58Z")
**Luciano700** , First, I would suggest you try to wrap your head around smaller concepts such as which forum to post in. Then, once you’ve mastered that, you can move on to more complex issues such as politics and American culture. Baby steps **Luciano700**. Gotta learn to crawl before you can walk. ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2018, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-heres-my-last-thread-to-settle-down-my-stuff/809736/5 "2018-02-28T12:26:16Z")
I was going to say that pure capitalism defines American culture … but we do have a few regulations governing business … from Barrow to Drake’s Passage, everyone is trying to take money out of your pocket and put it in theirs … ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2018, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-heres-my-last-thread-to-settle-down-my-stuff/809736/6 "2018-02-28T12:41:22Z")
There is no one big key. Understanding complex things is both complicated and nuanced. Sorry to disappoint you. ---
**Author:** ![PlaceboTarget](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/placebotarget/32/1073_2.png) [@PlaceboTarget](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlaceboTarget)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2018, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-heres-my-last-thread-to-settle-down-my-stuff/809736/7 "2018-02-28T13:14:20Z")
> [@watchwolf49](#): > > I was going to say that pure capitalism defines American culture … I think it would also be appropriate to mention how important are cults and gun ownership in the USA (compared to most countries). ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2018, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-heres-my-last-thread-to-settle-down-my-stuff/809736/8 "2018-02-28T13:24:02Z")
> [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > Suffice to say, our two main political parties are diametrically opposed on all issues It may seem that way from the inside. To people from other countries, the two major American parties are pretty close on the political spectrum. ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2018, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-heres-my-last-thread-to-settle-down-my-stuff/809736/9 "2018-02-28T13:29:20Z")
> [@PlaceboTarget](#): > > I think it would also be appropriate to mention how important are cults and gun ownership in the USA (compared to most countries). Unless that’s a typo, then yes our Freedom of Religious belief is very important … as are all our First Amendment rights … however, I don’t think the lack of a State Church is all that important to the average American today, compared to the right to get rich … sure, they will be some very upset people if we take all the guns away … but if we switch to a Soviet-style economy, there will be riots in all the cities and on all the streets … not to mention the capital flight … ---
**Author:** ![Luciano700](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Luciano700](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Luciano700)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2018, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-heres-my-last-thread-to-settle-down-my-stuff/809736/10 "2018-02-28T13:29:28Z")
Cultism, materialism, capitalism, social tribalism, greed, etc What other big words to summarize it all? ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2018, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-heres-my-last-thread-to-settle-down-my-stuff/809736/11 "2018-02-28T13:31:22Z")
> [@Luciano700](#): > > Cultism, materialism, capitalism, social tribalism, etc > > What other big words to summarize it all? "We the People in order to form a more perfect union … " ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2018, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-heres-my-last-thread-to-settle-down-my-stuff/809736/12 "2018-02-28T13:57:24Z")
> [@PlaceboTarget](#): > > I think it would also be appropriate to mention how important are cults and gun ownership in the USA (compared to most countries). Yep, I remember (and it is _still_ trotted out) how angry people were when Obama [slipped and told the truth about this](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/apr/14/barackobama.uselections2008). ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2018, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-heres-my-last-thread-to-settle-down-my-stuff/809736/13 "2018-02-28T15:03:38Z")
> [@Luciano700](#): > > Look I am trying to understand American social and political culture, that’s all. Why I am doing this? > > To understand and know the world around me better, and I really been over thinking my shit and you know what I am proud of it > So my big question is: What’s the big key to understand when it comes to US social and political issues? Really just want to dissolve this from my head already. > Even better: Why does the corporate world love to spin the shit off so much? > > Thnx in advance. **Moderator Note** **Luciano700** , you’ve been around long enough that you should know that this kind of thread is not suitable for General Questions. However, it’s too vague to really justify moving to Great Debates or even IMHO. Therefore I’m going to close it. Do not open another thread in General Questions unless it is on a simple factual question. Colibri General Questions Moderator