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More than half of Americans—56 percent—say they're not proud of the country

usnews.com — Those are some pretty scathing numbers, according to the second annual poll on leadership conducted for U.S. News and Harvard University's Center for Public Leadership. And they don't just reflect Americans' disgust with politicians this election season or a knee-jerk reaction to an event.

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  • ashok, on 11/14/2007, -117/+25I don't know very much, but I'm really happy with leadership in this country. I wish - as a conservative - that the Democrats were less radical, and that Republicans would push more tax cuts and control the budget, but those aren't things I want to scream about or say that I'm "disillusioned" about. I'm even happy with most of the people I meet, most Americans seem like really good people and I wish I could do more for them.

    Maybe I took a happy drug? I dunno.
    • holygram, on 11/13/2007, -4/+39If you aren't angry - you aren't paying attention.
      • ashok, on 11/13/2007, -3/+10Harvey Mansfield once said that Platonic reasoning about justice stems from anger - since we can put our complaint into words, anger might actually be a sign of the presence of mind.

        Your criticism is noted, and I appreciate it. Will pay attention better.
      • 5urr3al5am, on 11/12/2007, -1/+2that sounds like something long the lines of what a used car sales man would say
    • Chompy, on 11/14/2007, -5/+24I used to laugh with disdain at those "if such and such happens I'm leaving this country!" morons. Now, well..
      ..***** if New Zealand'd take me and my family we'd be on a plane tomorrow. This is no longer my country, and I'm not sure it's ever going to come back.
      • Hananda, on 11/12/2007, -0/+7Well, New Zealand probably would. They've got a comparatively open immigration policy as they're looking to attract a lot of skilled labor. My understanding is that you can have citizenship in around 4 years, though I assume that's best-case.
        • ddawggin, on 11/14/2007, -1/+8Key word is skilled.
        • Iconoclast25, on 11/14/2007, -2/+2Those who are brain dead can hardly be called "skilled labor" and liberalism is prima facie evidence of a flatliner.
      • firejack007, on 11/14/2007, -13/+8See Ya. Don't let the plane door hit you in the a$$ on the way out.
      • hambend, on 11/12/2007, -0/+9Really? Man, I live here, and sometimes I think about moving to the states where I might be able to make some measurable difference.

        It's a nice country, and the people are great, but New Zealand's not exactly immune to international politics. McCarthyism lasted longer here than it did under McCarthy himself. The UN -- presumably at the behest of the US -- publishes a Terror Watch List which lesser nations like ourselves are obliged to enforce with anti-terror legislation. If we don't, no-one is allowed to trade with us. Same deal with drugs. Of course, the police aren't so skeptical about where a law comes from if it gives them more power and recently 17 run of the mill gang members have been arrested on charges relating to "terrorist training camps."

        So it's kind of a shame when right-minded people like yourself talk about leaving, while all the crazies and conservatives get left behind to run amok. And it's frustrating as ***** when Americans complain that there's nothing they can do, because if I was an American I'd be doing a ***** more than nothing.
        • ashok, on 11/13/2007, -2/+4I disagree with whom you consider "right-minded," but I think your sentiment is far more rational than some other positions evinced here.

          You might find yourself agreeing with "crazies and conservatives" at some point - some of us can argue without shouting at other people as if they're wrong right from the get-go. Part of that is a realization that politics is about trade-offs, some not so pleasant such as the pressures of international law NZ is subject to.
          • blagoaw, on 11/12/2007, -0/+7"crazies and conservatives".. "some of us"?

            Has the US has become so politically polarized that you can no longer discuss issues rationally? Growing up in Canada, I heard in the early 80's that Americans often consider themselves either "Republican" or "Democrat" and that people generally are not aware of the polarizing effect of a system where it is not uncommon for people to register with a particular political party long before the election -- and before the final candidate has even been determined. In Canada (as an example), a person may vote for the "Conservative" party.. but that person will generally not refer to himself as a Conservative, and will quite likely vote for the "Liberal" party in the next election without betraying a group or ideology. It is commonplace. At the time, I didn't quite believe in the difference.. but in recent years, it has become increasingly clear that it is, and that it has been a long time coming. Canada does seem to be moving more in the polarized direction, but has not yet gone nearly as far.

            I have seen you here responding to comments.. and in your responses, you are primarily directing your attention to the personal nature of their attacks, and generalizing it to a larger group to which you perceive them to be a representative. Would it not be better if we all focused on the merits of individual issues and put the personal loyalties aside? I can understand that seeing others as members of opposing groups is a common (and often ugly) part of human nature.. but when you consider yourself a "conservative" or member of any other faction, you introduce a conflict of interest that is liable to color your judgment in just about any discussion of which you are a party.
          • hambend, on 11/12/2007, -0/+4Well I chose "right-minded" because it was the most loosely defined compliment I could think of. That doesn't mean I think you're "wrong-minded" or anything but yeah, I guess if you're happy with your country's leadership then you and I disagree.

            For what it's worth, I agree with conservatives (and even crazies) fairly often. Online arguments tend to go straight to the point, but in real life there's always plenty of middle ground. I think arguments should be about trying to find out what the other person knows, rather than trying to point out what they don't. So it's always nice to meet someone who can disagree with a bit of civility.
        • Chompy, on 11/12/2007, -0/+2Heh, let's swap! FYI, you can't really make a difference here either, not in an election anyway. Most states go to the same party election after election, and s for the presidential election the people's choice doesn't matter. I'm just tired of seeing this country and it's economy spiral into the *****, it's depressing.
      • 5urr3al5am, on 11/14/2007, -2/+3See you later dude.. become part of the solution one way or another
      • ChaosMotor, on 11/14/2007, -1/+3Stay and fight. Don't abandon your countrymen to murders and thieves. This is the home of the Brave and the land of the Free. Stay with us and fight for our nation. Only a coward runs.
      • Iconoclast25, on 11/14/2007, -1/+3PLEASE . . . GO !! GO NOW !! GO ANYWHERE ELSE !! Don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out. Take all your leftard buddies from the dnc, the daily kos, msnbc, etc. with you. AND DON'T COME BACK. For sure you are NOT an American and will NOT be missed.
    • ashok, on 11/13/2007, -14/+6I want to thank stonedslacker publicly for this comment:

      http://digg.com/political_opinion/More_than_half_o ...

      The thoughtfulness, kindness and ability to appreciate others being shown in this thread does not cease to amaze me. Truly I am not worthy to be accounted for among Diggers, as they have spoken, and I should be angry about America and aware and instead I'm just one big drooling, illiterate moron.
      • bjornski, on 11/14/2007, -5/+4blocked.

        moron.
        • ashok, on 11/14/2007, -4/+4Thank you! It's good to know that you've made a decision about the content of your mind that is final. If more people do that, the world will be a place where people act with confidence, and prove the truth of statements such as "we don't need no education." I wish I had your level of enlightenment, but as it is, I thank you for proving my point above.
        • betterth, on 11/12/2007, -0/+4Blocked as well. Your passive aggressive ***** is more than just annoying, it's childish and immature. We get it, we're being mean to you because of what you said. Yes diggers are terrible and mean and horrible people. We're violent about our passions for truth and justice and we're mad as hell that we have to sit here watch as everything country stands for is ***** on by our leadership.

          And it's the internet, so we're all naturally mean.

          Grow a sack or leave. Either way, blocked so i don't care.
          • ashok, on 11/13/2007, -3/+2I don't know that we're all naturally mean. You've shown a lot about yourself in this comment, at least your online persona. Maybe you're a saint in real life, and if so, that's great.

            But yeah, if what you're saying is true, this experiment worked way better than anyone could hope for. You have a lot of explaining to do if you want to be taken seriously by anyone who isn't full of rage in the same way you are.
          • Iconoclast25, on 11/14/2007, -0/+3"Grow a sack or leave."

            THIS from one of the spineless traitors who are destroying our country? /* Laughing uproariously!

            Here's a clue, lefty: "The liberal is a strange species notable for its jaundiced skin shades, lack of a brain or spine, and the difficulty of distinguishing the females from the males due to the extraordinarily tiny reproductive organs of the latter."

      • mightydavefish, on 11/14/2007, -2/+2So you want to be a right wing dick, but you don't want people to think you are a right wing dick?
        Typical right wing *****.
        • ashok, on 11/14/2007, -0/+1I don't know that I am typical. I am way more of a "dick" than most rightwingers, and quite obviously hypocritical. Your powers of discernment are excellent, good luck living with yourself.
    • gwolf, on 11/14/2007, -5/+11Given a choice, and I am not certain we were given a choice; I think I would rather be mad at my politicians for taxes than mad at them for all the blood on their hands. The current leadership is quite barbaric and frankly sadistic. Dick Cheney is a sociopath and I detest having someone like him represent this country in any way.
      I retain my faith in our system because shortly they will be put on the trash heap of American history where they will be reviled for centuries to come.
      • ashok, on 11/12/2007, -7/+7The lack of name-calling in your argument, as well as the restraint in using extremes to attack people in difficult jobs, has me in awe. Your thought about the Administration has just blown me away and convinced me that they are "barbaric" and "sadistic." As I'm reading more, as bangor and friends have suggested in this thread, I'm learning so much!

        Thank you all for your kind help, it's a real wonder why the world isn't a different place, you guys are great!
        • dpv1, on 11/12/2007, -3/+6You seem to be very nice. It's even strange, really. Are you being sarcastic?!
          • ashok, on 11/12/2007, -6/+3I don't think I'll ever be as nice as bangor:

            http://digg.com/political_opinion/More_than_half_o ...

            or stonedslacker (in response to my comment that I probably don't deserve to exist):

            http://digg.com/political_opinion/More_than_half_o ...

            I know I'm not capable of that, to reveal my character to be such would seem to one as pitiful as me to be a disgrace.
          • betterth, on 11/12/2007, -0/+5He's a passive aggressive douche who's probably from some neocon forum out just to prove how mean and ugly diggers are lol. Or most likely, he's just being immature. Ignore him. It's not nice, it's a thin layer of "nice" with a thick portion of sarcastic asshole, hence "passive aggressive". It stops being acceptable in middle school.
          • Arcesius, on 11/12/2007, -0/+2you know the old adage about your face getting stuck in that silly position if you hold it too long like that?... I think it works that way with mannerisms, too... I don't think he can not be sarcastic...

            kudos for actually responding to people who responded to you, though... instead of the oh-so-classic post and run...
    • ashok, on 11/12/2007, -2/+3It has been noted below that this article is a year old, and so the information might be wholly out of date. Guess I am pretty dumb.
      • betterth, on 11/12/2007, -0/+4The constitution is over two hundred, and yet it is still as applicable today. But in the case of statistics, you're absolutely right, especially with economy so greatly ***** in the past year, the percentage unhappy with the leadership has probably multiplied exponentially.
    • Randinn, on 11/12/2007, -1/+5Fantastic troll comment, you got quite a response....
      • ashok, on 11/12/2007, -5/+5I'm not sure this was a troll comment. It really is how I feel. People decided to elaborate on what I don't know.

        If I'm a troll, what does that make all the responses that say I know nothing, or ask me what drugs specifically I use, or tell me I should die? There are times people bait others, but usually that baiting takes place because there's cursing or shouting or something overtly provocative. Here, people used my own self-deprecation to attack me.
        • betterth, on 11/12/2007, -1/+3And you return it in full force with your passive aggressiveness. You are worse than they are because they are honest in their insults, you are lying and pretending to be calm and nice, and loading every comment with as much sarcasm as possible.
          • ashok, on 11/12/2007, -1/+1Please explain why you deserve any better.
        • Arcesius, on 11/12/2007, -1/+1despite the fact that you're actually witty... you're still very dicky =/...
          • ashok, on 11/12/2007, -1/+1True. No argument there.

            Then again, I haven't really argued the entire thread.
        • 5urr3al5am, on 11/12/2007, -3/+2Man ashok these crazy digger users are trying to slam you coming and going.. "honest in their insults".. give me a break.. what a bunch of a-holes
    • LukasSmith, on 11/12/2007, -8/+5Dont worry ashok bieng dugg down is natural on digg.com when your not a democrat or libertarian. Just take it as a compliment and a sign of how greatly democrats and libertarians appreciate freedom of speech or different opinons. They really are more like the Bush they imagine then they think.
      • betterth, on 11/12/2007, -1/+6The point of digg is to digg up or down comments we like or don't like. The country doesn't work that way, the site does. We're not quelching free speech and removing constitutionally granted rights by accessing a feature of a website, so don't you ***** dare compare us to Bush.
        • ashok, on 11/12/2007, -2/+2Just because something is legal doesn't make it right.

          Just because you can tell someone to shut up through burying comments doesn't mean you should.

          I'm pretty dumb though, so keep ignoring me. And as you say below, this is just the internet, clearly you're not angry about anything and just mean because this is a persona of yours. Your tone and behavior are probably not reflective of anything you might be.
          • betterth, on 11/12/2007, -1/+2Are you seriously making the argument that digging down comments we disagree with is wrong? It's not a question of legality, it's a question of purpose. That's the point. To filter comments that the social masses feel are the best. This isn't government, it's a purely democratic approach to social news. Pure wolves eating sheep democracy. What you see is what the users like the most, even if its not the most balanced and accurate.

            And stop the ***** insulting yourself. You're not a fifteen year old girl who's has her self-esteem beaten out of her. It's disgusting.
          • ashok, on 11/12/2007, -1/+1The comment below the URL is a response to the comment linked to in the URL:

            http://digg.com/political_opinion/More_than_half_o ...

            You've told me my opinion is not in accord with the "social masses," and that a purpose beyond legality - beyond rights - drives these masses. I must be a total idiot to not have realized that democracy is wolves eating sheep. My life is disgusting and not worth living, I'm sure you have a plan to deal with people like me somewhere in your journal. Thank you for your kindness!
      • LukasSmith, on 11/12/2007, -3/+0Mr.Bush your couch is waiting. Oh and I found a site for the democrats to take over like digg.com here http://iraqpundit.blogspot.com/2007/11/when-good-n ...
      • LukasSmith, on 11/12/2007, -2/+2but you cant digg down on this site. Maybe you dont want to go there after all. They respect different opinions tooo much. Just stay here where you can feel safely in control of the world and democrats and libertarians camp out to digg down anything that doesnt follow thier party line. They are the Deciders dammit conform or feel the wrath of - digg. ahahah. Oh no im not conforming please No nOOOOoo dont please dont - digg me NOooooooo. oops too late.
    • mrgreenjeans9, on 11/14/2007, -6/+2burn in hell
      • ashok, on 11/12/2007, -1/+1Will do. Thank you!
      • edwartica, on 11/14/2007, -0/+3Ok, so while I have a problem with conservatives, I also have a problem with people who say such things to others who express their viewpoint.
        Who was it that said something like "I may disagree with what you believe, but I'll fight to the death for your right to believe it?"
        Then again, you're expressing your belief.
    • edwartica, on 11/12/2007, -0/+4Interesting, I think that the democrats are not liberal enough.
      • ashok, on 11/12/2007, -1/+1I don't agree with you, but I'm adding you as a friend so that issue can be further discussed if you so choose. Generally speaking, some of us on the Right are curious if liberalism is coherent as it moves to extremes - can identity politics, equality, and moral libertarianism, carried to their logical extremes, create a society that can actually exist?

        Of course those of us on the Right are susceptible to the same charge, for an emphasis on tradition isn't easily reconcilable with an emphasis on liberty, even if one's traditions are the birth and defense of liberty. So again, this is a discussion which we could pursue if you so choose. I just don't want to do it on this thread.
  • appleann1, on 11/14/2007, -36/+237Buried for a VERY MISLEADING headline.
    Actual:
    More than half of Americans—56 percent—say they're not proud of the COUNTRY'S LEADERS. Of course you didn't do this on purpose, did you?
    • anachronaut, on 11/12/2007, -5/+30"Of course you didn't do this on purpose, did you?"

      Take a good look at the headline. In addition to being copied verbatim from the article, it appears to me that Digg itself pruned the headline, as it seems to be the maximum length allowed. It's _entirely_ possible and, indeed, quite likely that the submitter pasted the full sentence into the form and it was truncated to what you now see. It wouldn't be the first time it happened, you know... although admittedly it doesn't usually get neatly truncated at the end of a word like that.

      Of course, it's much easier to have a knee-jerk reaction and and blurt out something asinine without putting any real thought behind your words, isn't it?
      • MisterWonderful, on 11/13/2007, -2/+4You should check the rest of her comments. Pretty standard stuff from her.
        • appleann1, on 11/13/2007, -1/+1Actually, that's pretty tame.
          While you're at it check out" Mr Leaves something to be desired" comments.
    • Babblin5, on 11/13/2007, -3/+43My apologies... Digg has a limit on the no. of letters in the headline, and I pasted and didn't notice it had chopped off the last part 8P
      • killakan, on 11/12/2007, -11/+1I think you are lying. I think you know what it did.
    • ashok, on 11/12/2007, -7/+6anachronaut's complaint is valid, just wish he was a bit more polite to appleann in making it. It is true people manipulate headlines and I'm happy for Babblin's comment.
      • Arcesius, on 11/12/2007, -3/+2dude... you're going to get torn apart... gleaning what I can from your comments, it seems like you think it's fine and dandy, politeness-wise, to just be ***** dripping with sarcasm, but when someone has a criticism and perhaps is a bit rough about it, then you don't think that's okay? justify that for me...
        • ashok, on 11/12/2007, -2/+1Tell me that it's possible to be torn apart any worse than I have been above, and you have a case.
          • mightydavefish, on 11/13/2007, -1/+3Right wing asshats get tore up.
            That's just how it goes when you support morally and ethically unsupportable positions.
            Quit ***** whining about it. Not only is the right wing full of clueless *****, but you are crybabies on top of it.
            Damn, just enlist and make yourself useful.
          • Beveridge89, on 11/13/2007, -0/+3I'd be more inclined to believe you had the more moral and ethical positions if you didn't spend so much time name calling.
      • anachronaut, on 11/12/2007, -0/+2Someone who would apparently rather jump to conclusions than use their brain is being dugg way up for making a hostile, erroneous remark and I'm the one who's being impolite for pointing that out? Notice, if you would, how my final sentence (the only one which could possibly be considered impolite due to my use of the apparently strong curse word "asinine") mirrors the original poster's words.

        You know, I'm not the one who jumped all over someone and made erroneous assumptions and slammed the submitter because of the way Digg truncates headlines. THAT is impolite behavior, and by doing acting thus, appleann1 invited my remarks.
        • ashok, on 11/12/2007, -2/+1Look, when one is right, it's tough to ease up on people. I'm not saying you did anything terribly awful, I'm just trying to gently point out that you're continuing a cycle of accusation that hasn't stopped - people are hitting Babblin directly with the "you made that headline misleading" comment now, right where he's commenting.

          If you want people to not accuse each other of stuff, then the trick is to be as gentle as possible when you're right. I know from experience that this isn't easy, and I'm really not meaning to lecture you. I think we're all in the same boat as to whether or not a rational discussion is possible on Digg, and we're all kinda lost about that, myself included.
    • blackmage439, on 11/13/2007, -5/+2I'm with the other people on this. It's not an inaccurate title, just another case of a lazy ass moron who didn't bother to think up their own title for the submission and succumbed to Digg's headline leng...
    • vade79, on 11/12/2007, -0/+1We re-elected him (them in the case of congress). We should partly not be proud of ourselves, as a group.
      • tyboulder, on 11/12/2007, -0/+1in this polluted 2 party system chalk full of crooks, what else is there to elect?
        • vade79, on 11/12/2007, -0/+1We had a situation where we had a guy in office that brought us into this war, generally hasn't done anything good...I can't think of one anyways. And then we had a "wildcard", an unknown...as he wasn't president. We stuck with the guy who had knowingly done a horrid job. It makes no sense to me, completely illogical.

          So my answer is: You elect the (possibly) less ***** one.


  • allaboutdatiki, on 11/13/2007, -1/+100"More than half of Americans—56 percent—say they're not proud of the country's leaders. Two thirds and more say the country is in a leadership crisis. Nearly three quarters say the nation will decline without better leadership."
    • apraxia, on 11/12/2007, -11/+4Three very straightforward sentences. The last one makes you sound like a cult leader.
      • bjornski, on 11/12/2007, -6/+3Yes. It makes him sound like a Paulbot.

        Same thing.
    • capiCrimm, on 11/12/2007, -4/+4Holy *****! Quarters can talk, why is everyone ignoring this?
    • nnagflar, on 11/12/2007, -1/+1Yeah, I read the article too. It's good to see that we both read the same words.
    • Herostratos, on 11/12/2007, -1/+2"Nearly three quarters say the nation will decline without better leadership."

      It seems to me(an outsiders view) that the problem is not the quality of leadership, it is the idea of leadership itself - that others shall tell you what and how to do stuff. You (and everyone else, for that matter) do not need more, better or other kinds of leadership, you need *less* leadership.
  • LukasSmith, on 11/13/2007, -13/+41More then half of Americans arent really doing anything about it. Just saying your not proud of your country and giving up. Shame.
    • AriaStar, on 11/12/2007, -4/+20We vote and the courts and politicians overturn it. So what I'm doing is getting the hell out of here next year.
      • RobotBuddha, on 11/12/2007, -0/+13I hate to say it, but that might be the best choice. My branch of the family is the 'only' part still alive, simply because my great-grandparents jumped ship when hitler came to power. The rest were either in denial, or thought they'd just work to change things. Outspoken jews in Hitler's Germany, you can guess how long they lasted. I'm not trying to make a godwin, just to agree that a small minority has very little chance of effecting change in a far larger population when they really don't have much voice.

        Leaving, however, does a few things. First, it removes the individual from the situation he wasn't happy with. If he's part of a skilled minority, that does create some small ripple eventually. Especially if it winds up countering a brain drain. As it is, huge amounts of American achievement in the sciences comes from people who immigrate here, rather than who are solely products of that system. Any country which becomes seen as a new head of scientific or other learning will instantly get a huge boost from that new influx of talent.

        That said, I think a lot of Americans tend to be a bit arrogant about the whole immigration thing. The vast majority of countries have very strict, often more so than the US, policies on getting in. And being an American can actually work against you, not for you, in receiving citizenship.
        • AriaStar, on 11/12/2007, -0/+2Your story about Germany is exactly something I've been saying to people. Denial got you nowhere but a trip to the gas chamber and those who tried to speak out were silenced. If this country doesn't get so bad, then I'm still in a good place. If it does, then I escaped and am in a good place.

          This is what I'm finding about getting to another country. It looks like it'll take upward up two years to get in.
      • roguepuppy, on 11/12/2007, -6/+2Need help packing?
    • synce, on 11/12/2007, -5/+6I'm going to give it a few more years before I move out, personally. If things haven't changed by 2010 I'm looking to move to Canada.
      • bjornski, on 11/12/2007, -4/+3Yeah, like they want a flood of 2nd nation citizens swarming across their borders.

        They saw what it did to our economy.
      • zelig, on 11/12/2007, -2/+1Your capitalist parents will be footing the bill no doubt...
    • chukd, on 11/12/2007, -0/+1Second day in a row that news from a year old makes it to the front page. Look at the date on the article, its from October of 2006. With all the garbage that is happening now, why the hell are people posting stuff from a year ago.
  • wonderpants, on 11/12/2007, -6/+11it was like this after vietnam and watergate too, and we recovered - what might be different now is the prevalence of slash and burn campaign tactics and the 'gotcha' approach of corporate media
  • pcflea, on 11/13/2007, -24/+5America is set to self destruct. Remember, England is our biggest enemy. They have taken back certain leadership roles within our Government and have slowly worked to take us down while also taking down other enemies of theirs,Vietnam, Germany, Korea, Iraq, Iran. The proof is in the pudding on this one and it isn't lookin good for people like us.
    • LargeTrout, on 11/12/2007, -1/+2What? You are the most stupid person I've encountered online since I first hooked up to the net 10 years ago!!! Not only have we (the UK) helped you conduct a pointless war in both Afghanistan and Iraq, but our government (first under Blair and now under Brown) willingly obeys whatever the US tells us to do. If anything, your claim that the UK has taken over the US leadership should be reversed. Since 9/11 everything the UK has done has been a kneejerk response to whatever is going on in the US.
    • ciaran036, on 11/12/2007, -1/+2England? Well, the British did invade Ireland and deny our rights. They also went to Africa and enslaved and killed 2 million people. And many many other countries. Those are just 2 quick examples off the top of my head. The borders in this world have been set, so why don't we accept what's been set! There would be no problem if America said to everyone that every country in the world is their ally and they didn't go around bullying countries, dropping bombs, stealing resources and taking land.
  • Stuart.n, on 11/13/2007, -8/+37Though the information is very interesting, it's probably inaccurate because the article is over a year old. It was originally posted on 10/22/06.
    • apraxia, on 11/12/2007, -3/+8Best post. I do not know why you do not have more diggs. Funny thing is... The numbers have most likely gone up.
    • PopcornDave, on 11/12/2007, -0/+6I'd like to see results from say the last 50-100 years to compare just out of curiosity. I know public opinion of Nixon was low, and Carter wasn't much better while in office, but I'd still like to see the data.
    • spoonboy, on 11/12/2007, -2/+8The only thing that can make it inaccurate is the fact that maybe the numbers have gone up.
    • ashok, on 11/12/2007, -2/+3Good one, I didn't catch that. I gotta be more careful before ranting myself.
    • anachronaut, on 11/13/2007, -0/+4Interestingly enough, the 2007 National Leadership Index is going to be published today, November 12. The 2006 NLI is where the statistics in this article came from. It will be extremely interesting to see how the 2007 report compares to these numbers.

      Here's the general link: http://www.ksg.harvard.edu/leadership/index.php?op ...
      Here's [what should be] the 2007 NLI specific link when it's published later today -- PDF warning: http://www.ksg.harvard.edu/leadership/images/CPLpd ...
    • ciaran036, on 11/12/2007, -0/+2I'm just going to point out that whilst some of that is true, George Bush hardly led people in the so-called dark days after 9/11. It is highly likely that 9/11 was an inside job by people in the US government, the evidence is all there and if an investigation does not take place soon, we will never EVER know. Also, George Bush didn't keep us safe from terrorists attacks, he made up terrorist attacks himself to instil fear into the public and to justify the war on Afghanistan, Iraq and soon Iran (eg. Anthrax) and for what George Bush has done in Iraq and Afghanistan, it has been the equivalent of dozens of 9/11 terrorist attacks over in the Middle East. George Bush has misled us, lied to us, made the wrong decisions, the equivalent of murdering tens of thousands of people and completely ***** this planet up. George Bush is just like Hitler, only this time because the public is smarter and opinionated, it hasn't been in-our-faces dictatorship, it's been we'll make you believe that attacking other countries is for a good cause dictatorship.
  • Lane, on 11/13/2007, -8/+25And the rest, they listen to country music?
    • mydigglogin, on 11/12/2007, -1/+27I listen to both kinds, country *and* western.
      • ashok, on 11/12/2007, -0/+6Ditto.

        Currently playing Johnny Cash, whose politics I don't agree with but whose heart can't be questioned.
    • nnagflar, on 11/13/2007, -0/+4...and watch Nascar.
  • AriaStar, on 11/14/2007, -16/+82Not proud? NOT PROUD?! I know people from ex-communist countries who dislike me for being born here, some reminiscing about how the old country was better than America now. "Not proud" is an extreme understatement. I am so ashamed of this country, not only its leaders, but its general attitudes on things such as parents leaving the raising of their children up to everyone else, suing over spilling your own damned coffee, and obesity being so accepted. Rudeness is out of hand, doors being pulled closed in a woman's face (this has happened to me) instead of holding it, short tempers, selfishness.... A lot of the people really are hardly better. They complain about the state of the country, yet do nothing. Not improve their own behavior to others, in many case, not even bothering to vote (rigged or not, it's good to try).

    I am personally so ashamed of this country that I can hardly wait until I'm in Canada. Steps are being taken so I can get the hell out of here.
    • tucsonsun13, on 11/12/2007, -6/+14let me know how it goes when you are in Canada -- I want some feedback and I might be right behind you.
    • ddawggin, on 11/12/2007, -20/+13I can hardly wait till you're in Canada too, let me know if theres anything I can do to expedite it.
    • GRTWHT, on 11/13/2007, -2/+37I mostly agree, but I have to comment on one point: I was raised to open doors for ladies and have all my life, but in recent years I have been literally screamed at by women that are somehow offended by that practice.
      "I can open my own damn door!", from a complete stranger...maybe this type of attitude is why guys aren't doing this as much as they used to?
      • PopcornDave, on 11/12/2007, -0/+22There's no way to combat people who don't like manners. I open doors for people all the time and years ago women used to give me dirty looks , which made me do it all the more as an f-u to their feminism, but I'm starting to get thank yous more and more nowdays.
        Don't give up the fight for manners.
        • AriaStar, on 11/12/2007, -1/+6Thank you. :)
        • pineutrino, on 11/12/2007, -1/+2I wish it was possible for me to digg you up more than once...
        • ZenMojo, on 11/12/2007, -0/+1I like the response from guys who have doors held open for them. A lot more polite.
      • Tanyanika, on 11/12/2007, -0/+10That's awful. I find rudeness like that inexcusable when you obviously meant well. I'm not all that into men opening doors for me purely because I lack a *****. However I don't abuse them for it either. I'll smile and thank them for being thoughtful, and hold the next door open for them. Equality of status shouldn't be about no-one holding doors open, it should default to everyone holding doors open for each other.
      • octophobic, on 11/12/2007, -0/+9I hold the door open for anyone within a reasonably close distance.
      • betterth, on 11/12/2007, -0/+2I've dealt with that before. You just give them a screwed up expression and say "I was just trying to be polite, jesus ***** christ." and they generally realize that they're giant douches and walk away ashamed. That or they get really even more ***** off because they think you're judging them or something lol.
    • Flarble, on 11/12/2007, -11/+6so the country is terrible because people don't hold the door open for you? instead of attempting to fix it or any other problems you flee to canada?
    • JohnFromChicago, on 11/12/2007, -3/+14You can thank feminism for the lack or respect for women. But more to the point, it's not that we don't hold doors for women that's shameful. It's that we allow our govt to wage illegal wars that kills 100's of thousands for profit, we allow them to use the Constitution like toilet paper, and all we care about is what Britney's wearing. If America becomes a fascist police state, we will deserve it.
      • AriaStar, on 11/13/2007, -1/+4I mean I'm disgusted by more than just the government.
        • mchinsky, on 11/13/2007, -2/+2Folks, you read this article as a hate bush. Bush is only part of the government. The democratic congresses ratings are well below bush.

          Peoples lives are too well off currently so they have to much time to find fault in everything. People need to think more positively to improve their lives
    • jamessavik, on 11/12/2007, -10/+10How long will it take Canada to become a sewer when people like you immigrate there?
    • octophobic, on 11/12/2007, -0/+3When I visited Montreal I noticed a number of times that doors were not held open. They weren't even pushed open extra wide so I could catch them on the rebound. People literally slipped through it as it closed without touching it!
      If when you visited someone held the door open it was probably a tourist like me. ;)
    • tomasII, on 11/12/2007, -6/+4I wish everyone who hated this country would move to Canada
    • runic, on 11/12/2007, -2/+3Please stop posting about leaving the country and just do it.
    • MikeFallopian, on 11/12/2007, -5/+2Hurry and the ***** up and leave already, thanks.
    • M4tt3r, on 11/16/2007, -0/+1Aria Alexandra Anastasia Austin, an absolutely amazing arrangement of A's, albeit an arrogant attitude assassinating an abnormal anatomy,... have fun in Canada. eh.
  • seinfeldking, on 11/12/2007, -19/+16My family and I have already got our bags packed, and we are going to leave the country if Ron Paul doesnt get elected. We can't live in fear in this police state. We could stay and fight, but it's not worth the effort. The nation is lost.
    • thebellmaster1x, on 11/13/2007, -3/+12Again, Kucinich is in no way a bad choice.
      • pelosislefttit, on 11/12/2007, -4/+3Kucinich will win. Hands down. We need a department of peace. Show them chickenhawks what the world is really like.
        Dennis will save us. I just know it.
      • ozymandias2012, on 11/12/2007, -1/+1A Department of Peace? Have you ever read 1984?
    • Jamihabs, on 11/12/2007, -9/+3Go!
    • RobotBuddha, on 11/13/2007, -0/+7Do you have solid plans for getting citizenship in whatever country you're headed for? I'm "married" to a Canadian, have skills that are in demand there as well as a degree, and years later still have paperwork in progress. Despite the common assumption in the states, going to a border and yelling out "I'm an American! You're LUCKY that I want to live in your country!" isn't appreciated.
      • Kinkistyle, on 11/12/2007, -2/+1My sister is in a similar situation. Apparently there are Help Wanted signs posted all over Vancouver, so there are tons of jobs apparently, but the Visa process is surprisingly difficult for Americans (being an arrogant American I thought it would be a breeze) and companies are reluctant to sponsor her. So she might just run across the border and find a job as an intern to build trust before asking for a work visa.
    • bowens44, on 11/12/2007, -1/+3Might as well leave now, replacing one nut job with another isn't a solution.
    • Defuser, on 11/12/2007, -0/+1As much as I hate George Bush, I have to say that I hate the nimrods who keep threatening to "leave the country" even MORE.
  • tucsonsun13, on 11/13/2007, -11/+55IM IN UR WHITEHOUS BURNIN UR CONSTITOOSHUN
    • pelosislefttit, on 11/12/2007, -2/+6Hey you can spell better than Bush. Wait a minute. It is Bush!
    • ZenMojo, on 11/12/2007, -1/+9Ceiling cat is watching you get waterboarded.
    • scottknick, on 11/12/2007, -0/+5Democracy Cat is off-line for repairs.
    • tucsonsun13, on 11/12/2007, -0/+3Gitmo Cat iz taking dunk bath.
  • DesertDude, on 11/14/2007, -3/+58What do you expect? Their big debate now is this: "is drowning someone to near-death torture? Is that bad?"

    • dk911, on 11/13/2007, -8/+1You are a total and complete idiot. Waterboarding someone does not bring them to "near-death". It simulates drowning -- at no time is the person in danger of drowning. It's the fear of drowning that breaks the person's will to arrogantly ignore the questions being asked. Maybe you should be waterboarded -- so then you can make an actual assessment of what it is. Then you can comment intelligently on the subject. Until such a time, stop mindlessly repeating what the media and the left want you to think it is.

      And FWIW, I've been through it. Yeah, it sucks and it scares the ***** out of you -- but I'd take it over electric shocks to my genitals or my nipples. It'd be a cold day in hell before I'd want to be put on the rack, or have reeds driven under my fingernails.
      • MentalV, on 11/13/2007, -0/+6If I see you on the street I am going to near-run you over... you will in no moment, be in danger of being run over...
      • scottknick, on 11/13/2007, -0/+4LOL, dk911 -- you had me going. But seriously, I'll bet there are monsters out there who really think that way.
  • goforbroke, on 11/13/2007, -27/+12Yea ! I'm not happy that the tax cuts haven't been made permanent. I'm not happy that we are not drilling for oil in ANWR. I'm not happy that many politicians of every persuasion get inside the beltway an loose perspective. I'm not happy that companies find it easier to deal with taxes and regulations in foreign countries. I'm not happy that those that scream the loudest are regarded as the American public. I'm not happy liberal lawyers have essentially undermined the Constitution.

    Other than that I'm happy. And I'll be thrilled when the democratic party gets the snot knocked out of them a year from now. Oh yea, I'll be happy when Ron Paul goes back to his little part of Texas.
    • ddawggin, on 11/13/2007, -12/+6Overuse of double negatives.

      But right on brother.
    • PopcornDave, on 11/12/2007, -4/+5Dugg for the thought of a loose perspective.
    • anachronaut, on 11/13/2007, -2/+8"liberal lawyers have essentially undermined the Constitution"

      If by liberal you mean corrupt scumbags working for the current Republican administration, then yeah... I suppose you're right.

      Oh wait, I get it -- you're talking about the Second Amendment (have the dreaded liberals threatened any of the others lately? not that I'm aware of). I'll operate under the assumption that you're one of those rabid gun nuts who doesn't give a ***** about the rest of the Constitution as long as no one tries to mess with your guns. Face it, buddy: your guns (and mine -- I own a few) don't mean squat these days compared to the heat the government's packing, and the threats to the Second Amendment absolutely pale in comparison to the ongoing threats to the First, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, Ninth, and Tenth Amendments that the current administration is doing their damndest to destroy.

      Do I want anyone messing with the Second Amendment? Absolutely not, but get your priorities straight -- it's not really the "liberals" you have to worry about when it comes to OVERT threats to our Bill of Rights. Christ, man... if you can't see that already by now, I'm just wasting my words.

      Am I wrong? Please point me to these "liberal threats" to the Constitution (not counting gun control, as I've already addressed that) if you feel that I am.
    • dk911, on 11/13/2007, -1/+1Right on brother... amen to that.
  • binman, on 11/13/2007, -34/+14Jay Leno puts it into perspective and makes us think about the pathetic
    negativity.

    Jay Leno wrote this; it's the Jay Leno we don't often see....

    "The other day I was reading Newsweek magazine and came across some poll
    data I found rather hard to believe. It must be true given the source,
    right?

    The Newsweek poll alleges that 67 percent of Americans are unhappy with
    the
    direction the country is headed and 69 percent of the country is unhappy
    with the performance of the president. In essence 2/3s of the citizenry
    just
    ain't happy and want a change.

    So being the knuckle dragger I am, I started thinking, ''What we are so
    unhappy about?''

    Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 days
    a
    week? Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the
    summer
    and heating in the winter? Could it be that 95.4 percent of these
    unhappy
    folks have a job? Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store
    at
    any time and see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last
    year?

    Maybe it is the ability to drive from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic
    Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through
    each state? Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would
    find
    along the way that can provide temporary shelter? I guess having
    thousands
    of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not
    good
    enough. Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers
    show up
    and provide services to help all and even send a helicopter to take you
    to
    the hospital.

    Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home. You
    may
    be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of a fire, a group of
    trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment
    to
    extinguish the flames thus saving you, your family and your belongings.
    Or
    if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar
    or
    prowler intrudes, an officer equipped with a gun and a bullet-proof vest
    will come to defend you and your family against attack or loss. This all
    in
    the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and
    pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90 percent of teenagers own
    cell phones and computers.

    How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we enjoy
    that are the envy of everyone in the world? Maybe that is what has 67
    percent of folks unhappy.

    Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world
    has
    ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S., yet has a great disdain
    for
    its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most blessed people in
    the
    world who do nothing but complain about what we don't have, and what we
    hate
    about the country instead of thanking the good Lord we live here.

    I know, I know. What about the president who took us into war and has no
    plan to get us out? The president who has a measly 31 percent approval
    rating? Is this the same president who guided the nation in the dark
    days
    after 9/11? The president that cut taxes to bring an economy out of
    recession? Could this be the same guy who has been called every name in
    the
    book for succeeding in keeping all the spoiled ungrateful peoples safe
    from
    terrorist attacks?

    The commander in chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there
    defending
    you and me? Did you hear how bad the President is on the news or talk
    show?
    Did this news affect you so much, make you so unhappy you couldn't take
    a
    look around for yourself and see all the good things and be glad?

    Think about it......are you upset at the President because he actually
    caused you personal pain OR is it because the "Media" told you he was
    failing to kiss your sorry ungrateful--- excuses every day.

    Make no mistake about it. The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have
    volunteered to serve, and in many cases may have died for your freedom.
    There is currently no draft in this country. They didn't have to go.

    They are able to refuse to go and end up with either a ''general''
    discharge, an ''other than honorable'' discharge or, worst case
    scenario, a
    ''dishonorable'' discharge after a few days in the brig.

    So why then the flat-out discontentment in the minds of 69 percent of
    Americans? Say what you want but I blame it on the media. If it bleeds
    it
    leads and they specialize in bad news. Everybody will watch a car crash
    with
    blood and guts. How many will watch kids selling lemonade at the corner?
    The
    media knows this and media outlets are for-profit corporations. They
    offer
    what sells, and when criticized, try to defend their actions by
    "justifying"
    them in one way or another. Just ask why they tried to allow a murderer
    like
    O.J. Simpson to write a book about how he didn't kill his wife, but if
    he
    did he would have done it this way......Insane!

    Stop buying the negativism you are fed everyday by the media. Shut off
    the
    TV, burn Newsweek, and use the New York Times for the bottom of your
    bird
    cage. Then start being grateful for all we have as a country. There is
    exponentially more good than bad.

    We are among the most blessed people on Earth and should thank God
    several
    times a day, or at least be thankful and appreciative."

    "With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding,
    severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and
    with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, "Are we sure this is
    a
    good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?"



    Jay Leno
    • JoshDaFink, on 11/13/2007, -3/+22http://www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/hitnail.asp
      FALSE
      • binman, on 11/12/2007, -12/+5Still has a good point even if Leno didn;t write it
        • Immij, on 11/12/2007, -2/+6If it did have such a good point it wouldn't need to be falsely attributed to Leno. That, and I'm not sure what twisted view you must have that you think "don't try and improve things, shut up and be grateful you spoiled brat" is a "good point."
    • redfan, on 11/12/2007, -8/+3As if I needed another reason not to watch his crappy show.
      America--it's just good enough to get by.
    • schnitzi, on 11/12/2007, -2/+12I'm not the biggest Leno fan, but I knew all that was too full of jingoistic idiocy to have originated from him:

      http://www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/hitnail.asp
    • trikstep, on 11/12/2007, -5/+2all the stuff that he said we should be thankful for cannot be sustained in our current state and soon all those services will start to dwindle away.

      nahmean
    • dagamer34, on 11/12/2007, -1/+5We're not unhappy because we have it. We're unhappy because idiots are taking it away with no reason.
      • binman, on 11/12/2007, -8/+3I didn;t realize I had lost anything I am as free today as I was 10 years
      • ddawggin, on 11/12/2007, -6/+2I didn't realize my water was being shut down??? Crap, better save the toilet water.
    • jdevilz, on 11/12/2007, -7/+3F Jay Leno
    • apraxia, on 11/12/2007, -4/+2It is leaving everyone else behind... in the dust without all of those numerous wonders we have in the first world that makes our country so ***** disgusting.
    • halavais, on 11/12/2007, -3/+7Yeah, quit your bitchin. You've got running water, why should you care about the government reading your emails without a warrant, or employing the same torture techniques as Pol Pot. If you are unhappy now, just think about how much worse it can (and might) get, and I'm sure that will cheer you up.

      [Warning! Sarcasm may be found in the above statement. If allergic, please do not read.]
    • ddawggin, on 11/12/2007, -7/+5Who would bury this? Oh yeah, the same people who are about to bury me right after they complain about something on TV and tell somebody about how much they want to move to Canada.
      • Immij, on 11/12/2007, -2/+4"Who would bury this?" People who dislike lies and *****?
        • zelig, on 11/13/2007, -1/+1Give me ONE LIE already. From Bush, no doubt.
    • zelig, on 11/12/2007, -2/+1Face it binman. The spoiled assholes written about above are the very same teenage mushbrains who are digging you down. Don't expect them to recognize themselves.
  • trikstep, on 11/13/2007, -25/+14simply put. Ron Paul is the answer to this country's problem.
    • StaticThunder, on 11/13/2007, -5/+5I am so going to laugh when he loses. It won't be happy laughter, but it will be justified after listening to so many decide that all they have to do is support another messianic cult personality rather than get off their ass and fix something.
    • bowens44, on 11/12/2007, -3/+3Simply put, Ron Paul is a nut job, a different kind of nut job then we have in the oval office now but a nut job none the less. Where Ron Paul is concerend the phrase 'cut off your nose to spite your face' comes to mind.
  • benroy, on 11/12/2007, -4/+3read before you comment or digg. little detail. http://www.usnews.com/usnews/images/news/leaders/N ...
  • bigwrestlerguy, on 11/13/2007, -5/+32When you write a title make sure you do not exclude words that completely change the meaning of the sentance.

    not proud of country vs. not proud of country leaders = big difference
    • gwolf, on 11/12/2007, -2/+4Whoever wrote that headline is an idiot. I will be proudest of all when the American people realize the depth of their mistake and send the Neocons packing.
  • gr0ss, on 11/12/2007, -10/+6Did they really poll that many people... I for one have not been polled, I call fake...
    • halavais, on 11/12/2007, -1/+7FTFA:
      "A total of 1,604 respondents were interviewed. Random-digit dialing was used to ensure that
      individuals with unlisted numbers would also be included in the study. U.S. Census data were
      used to weight key demographic dimensions to ensure that the study was representative of
      the adult population."

      A perfectly respectable sample for the purposes of inference. Someone in that survey represented your position.
  • fantasyballa, on 11/13/2007, -8/+3Just be thankful you live in a free country and that you have the freedom to even express your opinions about politicians.
    • trikstep, on 11/12/2007, -2/+3we wont have that freedom for long. dont you see that this is the very problem we face.
      • nastronomical, on 11/12/2007, -7/+4You idiots have been saying the same ***** now for 7 years. Get a clue and stop smoking crack.
        • pelosislefttit, on 11/13/2007, -5/+1We are fascist and going socialist. Like it or not. We need to share this countrys wealth. I want free healthcare and a new car. Maybe a new house. Hard to do working at Burger King. But not for long. I am voting Hill. She will get me what I deserve so screw you capitalist pig.
          • jimski1961, on 11/12/2007, -2/+2Please say that was sarcasm, if not, modern day Socialism is just inches away from Fascism and we all know where that will lead this country.
          • ozymandias2012, on 11/12/2007, -0/+1Wow, that may be one of the most ignornat comments I've ever seen!
    • halavais, on 11/12/2007, -1/+4It's not a switch. You don't have "free" and "oppressed" countries. You have more and less freedom to do various things. The US tends toward the "more freedom" side, though it certainly does not swing to the extreme end of that. It would be difficult to argue that the country with the greatest prison population in the world was also its freest.

      If you are saying Americans should be thankful that they are not yet being locked up for their political beliefs (for the most part), I agree, but would argue that they should be pretty damned ***** off about what they have lost.
    • RobotBuddha, on 11/12/2007, -0/+2There's also no large social movement to take down the two party system, while trying to stifle discussion of it would create that very thing. So Americans should be thankful that the leaders give them a right that coincides exactly with the best interests of the politicians? I'm all for being thankful for any freedoms one has, but that seems like a rather flimsy one to grasp at in the US.
  • stack3r, on 11/12/2007, -3/+9A Vote of No Confidence By Silla Brush
    Posted 10/22/06
    lol what?
    Buried for being old or wrongly dated
  • BagginsBoy, on 11/12/2007, -6/+3Down in the shadow of the penitentiary
    Out by the gas fires of the refinery
    I'm ten years down the road
    Nowhere to run, ain't got nowhere to go
    I'm a long gone Daddy in the U.S.A.
    Born in the U.S.A.
    Born in the U.S.A.

    Be proud of your country and the foundations it was built upon, regardless of the jackasses running it.
  • HotSaucePanCake, on 11/13/2007, -7/+3Maybe because more than half of Americans haven't done anything to help there country or give back...
    • Comatose51, on 11/12/2007, -2/+2And you?
      • jimski1961, on 11/13/2007, -2/+2typical response from a liberal. I bet you Hotsauce pancake is NOT a Paulist or Liberal
    • sheki, on 11/13/2007, -0/+1My ***** wasted tax money. That's my contribution.
  • mattsw84, on 11/12/2007, -7/+2What country are they proud of?
    • ozymandias2012, on 11/12/2007, -0/+2None...they're too self centered to be proud of anything but themselves.
  • mattsw84, on 11/12/2007, -7/+1What country are they proud of?
  • nastronomical, on 11/12/2007, -20/+5Repost ....may not be Jay leno but its 100% right.


    hope you will all read to the end, Jay Leno puts it into Prespective and makes us thik about the pathetic negativity. That's right, Jay Leno !! And before all the hate mongers start ranting about this just go sit in front of a mirror and take a very long look at yourself and into your soul and Heart and ask yourself, Do I Really need to Post Negative Comments about this ?????


    Jay Leno wrote this; it's the Jay Leno we don't often see....

    "The other day I was reading Newsweek magazine and came across some poll data I found rather hard to believe. It must be true, given the source, right?

    The Newsweek poll alleges that 67 percent of Americans are unhappy with the direction the country is headed, and 69 percent of the country is unhappy with the performance of the President. In essence, 2/3's of the citizenry just ain't happy and want a change.

    So being the knuckle dragger I am, I started thinking, ''What are we so unhappy about?''
    Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 days a week?

    Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter?

    Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job?

    Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time, and see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year?

    Maybe it is the ability to drive from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through each state?

    Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter?

    I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough.

    Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and
    provide services to help all, and even send a helicopter to take you to the hospital.

    Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home. You may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of a fire, a group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames thus saving you, your family and your belongings.

    Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or prowler intrudes , an officer equipped with a gun and a bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack or loss.

    This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90 percent of teenagers own cell phones and computers.

    How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world?

    Maybe that is what has 67 percent of you folks unhappy.

    Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S. , yet has a great disdain for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what we don't have , and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord we live here.

    I know, I know. What about the President who took us into war and has no plan to get us out? The President who has a measly 31 percent approval rating? Is this the same President who guided the nation in the dark days after 9/11? The President that cut taxes to bring an economy out of recession? Could this be the same guy who has been called every name in the book for succeeding in keeping all the spoiled ungrateful brats safe from terrorist attacks?

    The Commander-In Chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there defending you and me? Did you hear how bad the President is on the news or talk show? Did this news affect you so much, make you so unhappy you couldn't take a look around for yourself and see all the good things and be glad?

    Think about it...are you upset at the President because he actually caused you personal pain OR is it because the "Media" told you he was failing to kiss your sorry ungrateful behind every day.

    Make no mistake about it The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have volunteered to serve, and in many cases may have died for your freedom. There is currently no draft in this country. They didn't have to go.

    They are able to refuse to go and end up with either a ''general'' discharge, an ''other than honorable'' discharge or, worst case scenario, a ''dishonorable'' discharge after a few days in the brig.

    So why then the flat-out discontentment in the minds of 69 percent of Americans? Say what you want, but I blame it on the media. If it bleeds, it leads; and they specialize in bad news. Everybody will watch a car crash with blood and guts How many will watch kids selling lemonade at the corner? The media knows this and media outlets are for-profit corporations. They offer what sells , and when criticized, try to defend their actions by "justifying" them in one way or another. Just ask why they tried to allow a murderer like O.J. Simpson to write a book about "how he didn't kill his wife, but if he did he would have done it this way"...Insane!

    Stop buying the negativism you are fed everyday by the media. Shut off the TV, burn Newsweek, and use the New York Times for the bottom of your bird cage. Then start being grateful for all we have as a country. There is exponentially more good than bad.

    We are among the most blessed people on Earth, and should thank God several times a day, or at least be thankful and appreciative.

    "With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, "Are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?"

    Jay Leno
    2007
    • RobotBuddha, on 11/12/2007, -2/+3http://www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/hitnail.asp
      Not Leno, and it'd be insulting in the extreme if it was. An upper class person such as Leno lecturing the lower class about why they have no right to complain is the stuff that "Let them eat cake" is made of.
    • tricks574, on 11/12/2007, -2/+2How can someone bury this? If you are really that discontented with our country that you could say this does not merit reading, that after reading that you still feel as though you would rather live in a country somewhere else, i'm sure that they would be glad to have you wherever that may be.
      • Immij, on 11/12/2007, -1/+3"How can someone bury this?" They can see the utter ***** that is this argument. It's saying that things are at a standard acceptable to some, so others should not point out the remaining problems and try to fix them.
    • webcite1, on 11/12/2007, -2/+2In other words.....bend over America! We (Bush&Co.) have not yet found a complete way to impoverish all of you!
      • jimski1961, on 11/12/2007, -1/+2Impoverish? Why then a low unemployment rate, why then the highest home ownership rate why then real incomes rising your a communist tool buried for being stupid
    • blagoaw, on 11/12/2007, -1/+0If you were an extremely selfish person, this would make a great argument for the US being the greatest place on earth. Unfortunately, some people actually do get upset when their elected government employs fear and deception to start a war that results in countless deaths even when it is on the other side of the planet. Legislation that has a disproportionately adverse effect on people other than ourselves remains open for criticism in general.

      Also, "No wonder the world loves the U.S. , yet has a great disdain for its citizens."..?
      Excuse me? Is this the same US that has its rampant patriotism, "Republicons" vs "Libertards" *****, war rhetoric, politicians shamelessly and transparently catering to the "God vote", neighborhoods where people are afraid to go (which are often predominantly black and woefully neglected), lack of free healthcare, roads falling apart and smashed out windows (depends on the state), and so on? We see so much ***** from the US on a daily basis (I'm not an American) that when we actually do meet Americans and see how kind and reasonable they are, it is absolutely astonishing. We understand that the US populace is not uniform in its opinions and conduct.
  • 80hd, on 11/12/2007, -3/+2+1
  • Skepsis, on 11/12/2007, -6/+1So?
  • bushisterrorist, on 11/12/2007, -11/+4Bush and Cheney aren't as clever as the terrorists before them. They can't even lie, and not get caught. The whole world knows that America is a fraud!

    United States Government are terrorists, war criminals, and horrific liars.

    9-11 was an inside job! What happened to building 7?

    Depleted uranium is a weapon of mass destruction!
    • webcite1, on 11/12/2007, -3/+1Bush Bots are fools and the sad part.......they know it and can't let go of a doomed government!
    • tricks574, on 11/12/2007, -2/+0Didn't someone already debunk the 911 inside job thing.......a few times.......and depleted uranium is not a weapon of mass destruction. A weapon of mass destruction is something that can cause death over a wide area. Depleted Uranium does not have that capability.
      • webcite1, on 11/12/2007, -2/+1Drink the kool-bush-aide, you will be fine! *****!
    • ciaran036, on 11/12/2007, -0/+1Why is he/she being dugged down? Try and prove him wrong. Go ahead. Try your best. Just make sure you research those facts.
  • nastronomical, on 11/12/2007, -16/+754% of those who hate America have no problem living, working and using its resorces to their own benefit. They hate it because they cannot get their way 24/7.
    • Arcesius, on 11/12/2007, -1/+1You're brainwashed, you know that, right?
  • nastronomical, on 11/12/2007, -21/+5LIBERAL ***** Strikes once again. They have no argument so they twist the truth....Same Ol dumbass libs.

    "More than half of Americans—56 percent—say they're not proud of the country's leaders. Two thirds and more say the country is in a leadership crisis. Nearly three quarters say the nation will decline without better leadership."
    • webcite1, on 11/12/2007, -1/+5So? You like the rape of America? ***** fool!
    • Hazardc, on 11/12/2007, -1/+7Maybe next time you can go for the LIBTARD, maybe the LIEberal, or the new hottness... JIHADOCRAT
      troll on brotha
  • webcite1, on 11/13/2007, -4/+3It's called the "Bush&Co. effect!" PUKE!
  • jmcin, on 11/13/2007, -4/+4Good, they dont have much to be proud of at the moment.
  • jmcin, on 11/13/2007, -6/+2Good, they dont have much to be proud of at the moment.
  • spyd3rweb, on 11/13/2007, -2/+756% only i figured it'd have been 99.9999999999999999999%
    • pelosislefttit, on 11/12/2007, -3/+3Not with the dems kicking their neocon asses. It will get higher . Necons suck . Realists will save this country with socialism. It is the way of the future. I dont want to work too hard and neither should you. Screw the neocon chickenhawks that say I have to work 5 days a week. Make it like Europe. Coming soon. Cant wait
  • Tommy3000, on 11/12/2007, -3/+556% and that's amazing because if those 56% did something about what's wrong with the country than things would be different. Did those 56% vote? Have those 56% done anything to put in motion things to fix the problem? No they just protest the military and talk trash from their couches. SHUT UP!
    • appetite, on 11/12/2007, -0/+2Well, shutting up would be even less effective. America is a sleeping giant that's slowly waking up. I think we'll see some good stuff happening in the next few months. There are lots of people with pent up frustration about the US, but no idea how to direct it. Once someone comes up with a good idea for what to do that the average person can do, it will open the flood gates for action.
  • mblanken, on 11/12/2007, -1/+4This story was released a year ago. What would the results be today? No use to conduct the poll since we already know the answer.
  • 55sams, on 11/13/2007, -1/+7I just became aware of this site, via the Rollye James show.
    http://cafr1.com/
    Gov't is not out of control.
    Gov't is in Full control.

    15% of the population is starting to notice.
    If you notice, you couild be targeted.
    The guest on a recent Rollye James showhas suffered greatly.
    He didn't elaborate, but mentioned the courts.

    I beilieve that there was a great deal of accuracy, in what I was hearing.
    All of which appeared to be more than plausable.
    • ZenMojo, on 11/12/2007, -1/+1Government is out of control. Voter participation and enfranchisement keeps it in control. Unfortunately, we have seen active attempts by a certain political party to interfere in both...
      • IMJGalt, on 11/12/2007, -0/+2Please be so good as to explain how the attempt by the democrats to enfranchise illegal aliens by providing drivers licenses helps our republic.
        It appears to be a blatant attempt at buying more votes.
        • ianfranklin1, on 11/12/2007, -0/+0Cute little old people. They think they are giving us a transparent government and a vote that counts.
  • webcite1, on 11/12/2007, -2/+3The 25% that still love Bush&Co. will vote for 9-11 Ghoul-in-anus! .......Thus, the mental health profession in America is well fed! The 2008 elections will make them eat their own children!
    • tricks574, on 11/12/2007, -2/+1........that is a ridiculous comment.................being on the internet doesn't give you a free pass to act like a jackass, as much as you want it to
      • webcite1, on 11/12/2007, -1/+2Truth is a bitch and you can't deal with it! Kiss off fool!
  • mooboy322, on 11/12/2007, -2/+4if you asked the 56% of people "why?" there only answer would be something they herd on Fox News
  • Comatose51, on 11/13/2007, -4/+5Way to twist the article and post a misleading headline. I would be very, very surprised if the vast majority of Americans aren't proud of their country.

    http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/lif_ver_pro_of_t ...

    77% of Americans take pride in their nationality, sharing the #1 spot with Ireland.
    • tnoy, on 11/12/2007, -2/+5"DEFINITION: Percentage responding in 1990s surveys that they were very proud of their nationality"

      Translation: Completely useless statistic.
  • Dylson, on 11/12/2007, -1/+3Sad. Just so sad.
  • Syphermce, on 11/12/2007, -14/+8I am VERY proud of this country and everything our leaders in office have done for it. If you don't like it, then get the ***** out of American you terrorist loving assholes.
    • webcite1, on 11/12/2007, -2/+3Another mind fart from a Bush lover! ***** you fool!
      • wramos, on 11/12/2007, -1/+2I bet you arent an ex combat solidier so STFU!
    • Tommy3000, on 11/12/2007, -5/+3I'm no Bush lover but I'm proud of my country. There is a reason everyone wants to come here maybe all you hippies who are ashamed should switch places with them. You hate America so much but you LOVE FREEDOM OF SPEECH. Can't get that hardly anywhere else.
    • ZenMojo, on 11/12/2007, -1/+3While I'm getting out of "American" should I bring you back some maple syrup and hash from "Canadian?"
    • TheInfamousOne, on 11/12/2007, -2/+1Calling anyone who doesn't agree with you or questions you a terrorist lover is moronic. And if your very proud of everything our leaders have done, perhaps you should try reading a bit, rather than swallowing everything you hear on the news for "truth".

      People to lazy to do research and formulate an opinion based on that research are what have been killing this country for years.
  • Grumps, on 11/13/2007, -1/+13Who would be proud when their country spends more on foreign policies than in its very own country?
    • webcite1, on 11/12/2007, -0/+1The CIA/Black opps will now come for you! But, you are right!
      • Grumps, on 11/12/2007, -1/+1Im behind 15 rerouted proxy when i made this post :)
  • techweenie1, on 11/12/2007, -2/+9I don't care how many Republicans say Giuliani is electable....this conservative ain't voting for him...quite frankly if ***** doesn't start improving then I'm definitely thinking the UK or Australia....and by improving I mean getting rid of Push 2 for Spanish..and the people who use it.
    • TheMadCow, on 11/12/2007, -1/+5Thank You for saying what everyone else is scared to say.
  • Mysticrabbi, on 11/13/2007, -8/+3Love it or Leave it.
  • lordterrin, on 11/12/2007, -1/+6it's that low?
  • TheMadCow, on 11/12/2007, -1/+6October 2006. It takes this long for an article to hit dig? Or is the submitter fanning the flames of hysteria?

    • Marcsib, on 11/12/2007, -0/+3Can't believe nobody else noticed the date of the article. Any excuse for a good moan about the government. Sure beats actually DOING something about it.
      • antdude, on 11/12/2007, -0/+2Probably 56% of the Digg readers didn't notice. :D
  • jamessavik, on 11/12/2007, -6/+8For a country that no one is proud of, we don't ask anyone to be suicide bombers. [Palestine, Syria, Iraq, Iran, etc.]
    We don't practice conscription (that is draft for the MTV retard generation). [Many, many countries]
    We don't use child soldiers. [Africa, Middle East, SE Asia]
    We don't use slave labor. [China, Africa, ME]
    We don't allow child prostution/ white slavery. [Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, Iran, others]

    While Americans are not immune from making mistakes, we have managed to avoid cold-blooded evil for the most part. Those that haven't will retire and write books when the neo-cons Bush-ites go home next year.
    • webcite1, on 11/12/2007, -4/+1Torture is OK then I guess! Fool! The kids fighting this war are 18 to 26 years old.....they are children! Kiss my ass fool!
      • tricks574, on 11/12/2007, -0/+3They're not children, 18 is not a child. 18 year olds have been fighting our wars forever, hell in the civil war 16 year olds were sneaking in. People may not be proud of America, and we may be in a bit of a downward trend right now, but we're in better shape than 80 % of the world, and as much as the rest of the world hates us right now, we've yet to match the level of evil that has been acceptable to the rest of the world for so long. We may be the ones in the Middle East right now, but we wouldn't be there without the actions taken by the Europeans that were hundreds of times worse than what we have been doing over there lately.
        • TheMadCow, on 11/12/2007, -1/+2And that makes it all okay! "Being in better shape" than the rest of the world just means we're not picking up the bodies of our mothers and sisters from the mall or bus that was bombed. Your comments are almost as scary as the fact that we have to "realign" our definition of privacy in order to expect any from our government. Of course, that means "a bit of a downward trend" in our rights as citizens, but then hey! We're doing "better".
        • ianfranklin1, on 11/12/2007, -0/+1Drinking age: 21 Ass shot off age:18. Any questions?
    • ZenMojo, on 11/12/2007, -1/+4Africa's not a country. Carpet-bombing civilians is cold-blooded evil -- so is propping up dictators.
    • acidbass, on 11/12/2007, -1/+2"We don't practice conscription (that is draft for the MTV retard generation). [Many, many countries] "

      Many democratic peace loving countries practice conscription and it in fact keeps them out of wars,
      b/c since citizens know their own children may be called up to serve in a war,
      then public is more involved in the govt.

      USA govt knows this, So to keep you from stopping the murderous oil and money grab in iraq, they make serving voulentary and hire mercenaries at 100k a year to fight instead of your child. Bush is racking up a bill that USA will never be able to payoff so you can feel *safe* knowing that they cant foce you to serve (which can change in the blink of an eye if Bush declares Marshal Law, Bush can make EVERYONE serve, even your grandma)
    • MyHandle, on 11/12/2007, -0/+0Aside from the fact the US has used slave labor (the genesis source of US wealth) and conscription in the past, a ridiculously large percentage of the leaders in the world that do these things today are supported by the US or were put in power by the US. It is easy to point the finger at poor countries after you have become wealthy enough to not need these extreme measures anymore, but to leach off the misery of others just to pad an already bulging wallet, as the US does globally - using the military as it's corporate enforcers - is sickening.
    • ciaran036, on 11/14/2007, -0/+2I digged you up, because you're right. But when you say America isn't immune from making mistakes, what America has done (due to the leadership, not the people), have killed tens of thousands of innocent people and stolen resources and lied to everyone and also 9/11 was an inside job. More than just a 'mistake'.
    • gyver, on 11/12/2007, -0/+0Funny how you listed white slavery separate from slavery in general.

      I don't think a parent considers age when their child is sent off to die.
  • Babblin5, on 11/12/2007, -1/+0My apologies all... was NOT trying to be misleading in the title, just didn't notice that the Digg limit on number of title characters had chopped off the end of the the title paste 8P... Bury this comment if you want, but that be the truth.
  • webcite1, on 11/12/2007, -0/+1It's that low! Bush&Co. have made USA world pride even lower than Nixon did! And..that is saying a lot!
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