I came to America in 1985, believing in the American idea for one simple reason: It sounded fascinating. However, shortly after realizing my American dream (My American Dream Story), I started doubting it. Now, I have concluded that the American idea is a lie.
1. What is the American idea, anyway
Below is an excerpt from Is the American Idea Doomed?
The American idea, Parker declared in an 1850 speech, comprised three elements: that all people are created equal, that all possess unalienable rights, and that all should have the opportunity to develop and enjoy those rights. Securing them required “a government of all the people, by all the people, for all the people.”
2. Why is it a lie?
Let us examine its three elements one by one:
- All people are created equal – It is a lie (Not all men are created equal!).
- All possess unalienable rights – It is a lie for many Americans, at least (American “human rights” is a lie).
- All should have the opportunity to develop and enjoy those rights – It is a lie because the first two elements are lies, for many Americans, at least!
Now, let us look at the prerequisite: Securing them required “a government of all the people, by all the people, for all the people.”
It is an impossible dream for Americans. The image below highlights America’s history over the past 248 years.
Unconvinced? Read the image below!
Still unconvinced? Read the image below!
For more, read Brainwashing and America.
3. Idea vs. lie
When an idea is too remote, it often becomes a lie (e.g., communism). But the American idea is far worse than that: It was a lie from the start! Two main arguments:
- America was founded on a pile of lies, with (1) “all men are created equal” being the mother of all American lies (Not all men are created equal!) and (2) “We the People” being a close second (“We the people” without them!).
- America was born as a new colonial power, hugely expanding colonialism throughout North America, without Britain. Now, as the last big colonial power standing, America is collapsing – America is not only failing as a state (Is America no longer governable?), but also may destroy us all as a species by inciting World War III (Will America lie all the way into WW III?)!
In short, the American idea is a lie, and America is doomed without foundational political reforms (Colonial America 1776-2040?)!
4. Profound reasoning
Read the image below and think.
For more, read Did John Adams say it, really?
5. How was America founded?
Via the American Revolution! But what was the real reason behind the revolution?
“Greed” on the part of many [rich] colonists! Specifically, they wanted not only to keep more to themselves (instead of paying [more] taxes), but also the possibility of hugely expanding America beyond the original 13 colonies against Royal Proclamation of 1763.
For more, read What is the American Revolution, anyway (V3)?
Then, America became a republic by accident – It was neither a reason nor a goal throughout the American Revolution.
A republic, by definition, is socialistic, because everything is for the “public.” America is no exception – America has been socialistic from the start. For example, American slavery is one of the worst forms of socialism: socialism supporting capitalism with free labor.
In short, America was founded by/of/for the rich, with money behind everything.
6. America’s evolution
At the conclusion of the American Revolution in 1783, America inherited two big issues from Britain:
- Slavery
- Gun ownership.
Additionally, America created a new big issue for itself as a result of the American Revolution: 13 colonies became even more fiercely independent after deposing the British King, demanding a weak Federal government in the name of self-governing.
How have these three big issues evolved from 1783 to 2024?
6.1 Three big issues in 1801
Two of the three big issues became much worse by 1801 as follows:
- Slavery: The slave trade was gravely exacerbated after 1783 because of the huge desire for more “free labor”, thanks to the surge in cotton (vs. tobacco) production.
- Weak Federal government: The debate between Democratic-Republicans and Federalists was practically over after Thomas Jefferson won the 1800 election (See image below), which has profound implications to date (Has Jeffersonian America Run Its Course?).
6.2 Three big issues in 2024
Let us examine them one by one …
6.2.1 Slavery
America seriously addressed the issue with a Civil War, without resolving it to date. The image below offers a highlight.
6.2.2 Gun ownership
It has become a major means (if not the source) of violence, “black” (43 shot, 5 fatally, in Chicago this weekend) and “white” (White supremacists remain deadliest US terror threat, Homeland Security report says). The image below highlights one example – Senator Tom Cotton is either stupid or a liar!
As a result, it may require another civil war to address this issue seriously. For more, read America: Guns vs. Slavery.
6.2.3 Weak Federal government
The Federal government not only remains weak, but also is corrupted to the core, firmly controlled by moneyed interests! Two prominent examples:
- The NRA: It has such a firm grip on the government that nothing real can be done with gun violence uniquely American. For more, read It’s guns, stupid!
- The MIC (Military-Industrial Complex): It has been running the country over the past few decades, reducing the American government to a clown with two primary functions: (1) making or buying weapons at home and (2) selling them abroad. For more, read America’s evil MIC.
6.3 Summary
All three issues are big, with the weak Federal government being the biggest because a strong and effective Federal government is needed to address the other two.
7. America in 2024
Despite all the considerable progress made over the past 230 years, from the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 to the Voting Rights Act of 1965, America remains essentially unchanged: Today, America is still by/of/for the rich, with moneyed interests behind everything, especially in politics!
What about justice? Read the image below!
8. Discussion
Okay, America remains essentially unchanged over the past 230 years. Does that explain why America is so deeply in trouble today?
No, not completely …
Profoundly, here is why America is so deeply in trouble:
- America started on the wrong footing at its inception!
- America was set out on a wrong path at its inception!
To briefly elaborate on each …
8.1 America started on the wrong footing at its inception!
The image below highlights the main reason.
Largely because of it, America has focused little on governance over the past 230 years, which is essential for a country built to last. This should be obvious if you know anything about Confucius—see the image below.
8.2 America was set out on a wrong path at its inception!
The image below highlights the main reason.
Largely because of it, America has, over the past 230 years, been single-mindedly pursuing voting rights without meritocracy, which is key for a country built to last. This, too, should be obvious if you know anything about Confucius—see the image below.
9. More discussion
Two basic questions:
- What is wrong with America’s pursuit of voting rights?
- What about the huge prosperity in America?
To briefly answer them one by one …
9.1 What is wrong with America’s pursuit of voting rights?
Significant progress has indeed been made over the past 230 years on voting rights, but mostly in a wrong direction. The image below offers one perspective.
Bottom line: The image below is a harsh reality check: Many Americans no longer vote for a President but vote against the alternative!
The image below is simply reasoning …
For more, read American democracy: what is it and what’s wrong with it?
9.2 What about the huge prosperity in America?
America has indeed created huge prosperity that is unprecedented in history. Three main reasons:
- Unfettered capitalism and rugged individualism, on top of socialism for the rich.
- America was born as a new colonial power, enriching itself by plundering. For more, read The Monroe Doctrine at age 200.
- Abundance of natural resources.
Still wondering why America is (1) so polarized that everything has become political and (2) so divided that everything is subject to debate?
Wonder not!
There are two systems in America: one for the rich and the other for the poor!
For the economy, read the image below.
For justice, read the image below.
Bottom line: America is becoming ungovernable. For more, read Is America no longer governable?
10. Still more discussion
Two more basic questions:
- What is today’s America, anyway?
- Why are you so critical of America?
To briefly answer them one by one …
10.1 What is today’s America, anyway?
Three perspectives:
- America is a great country without a working government.
- America is an empire without an emperor.
- America is an empire of lies.
To briefly elaborate on each …
10.1.1 America is a great country without a working government
The image below highlights America’s epic failure in basic governance.
The image below is simply reasoning.
10.1.2 America is an empire without an emperor
It is held together by a tried-and-failed ideology called “democracy,” as shown in the image below.
History is not with America, unfortunately!
The image below is a reality check – American democracy is a weapon of mass destruction (WMD), both at home and abroad!
The image below offers yet another example of American democracy as a WMD.
For more, read Are Democracy and NATO a lethal combination?
Finally, the image below highlights America’s leadership over the past few decades.
10.1.3 America is an empire of lies
In addition to the two biggest American lies (i.e., “All men are created equal” and “We the People”), below is a list of big American lies:
- American “human rights” is a lie
- American “free press” is a lie!
- American “free market” is a lie
- American “free trade” is a lie!
- Will America lie all the way into WW III?
Here is one thing great about America: freedom of speech! Let us use it to save America – Read the image below.
10.2 Why are you so critical of America?
To save it with my pen (or keyboard, to be more precise)! For more, read My American Dream Story.
More profoundly, 200 years may be a long time for most Americans, but not for this Chinese American, who was cultured with China’s long view of everything, as exemplified below.
Bottom line: America has been Jeffersonian so far, but Jeffersonian America has run its course.
Specifically, saying democracy worked in America in the 1990s is like saying communism worked in the USSR in the 1950s – Both were passing fads!
For more, read Has Jeffersonian America Run Its Course?
11. Summary
The American idea is a big lie for one reason: America simply does not meet its prerequisite: Securing them required “a government of all the people, by all the people, for all the people.”
After all, what do you expect from colonial America, which first descended from colonial Britain and then enhanced it with more brutality of colonialism?
Theoretically, the American Revolution was a bourgeois revolution, as opposed to the Chinese Communist Revolution, which was a proletarian revolution. The image below highlights the net results of these two revolutions.
For more, read American Revolution vs. Chinese Communist Revolution.
12. Closing
Okay, the American idea is a lie. What is the solution for America?
Reform our failing political system, as I have suggested (History 2.0 – China’s Comeback vs. America’s Decline), or face a bloody revolution (A quarter of Americans open to taking up arms against government, poll says)!
Now, please sit back and enjoy the video below.
