# American Exceptionalism **URL:** \ **Category:** Park Bench\ **Created:** [November 9, 2024, 7:14am UTC](https://bbad.com/t/american-exceptionalism/1793 "2024-11-09T07:14:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![thinkingaboutit](https://bbad.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/ce73a5/32.png) [@thinkingaboutit](https://bbad.com/u/thinkingaboutit)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2025, 8:36am UTC](https://bbad.com/t/american-exceptionalism/1793/121 "2025-01-25T08:36:14Z")
> [@Reg](#): > > In the US in 1825, life sucked in many ways, but it might have been the greatest nation at that point. It wasn’t the most powerful, but it might have been the best. right lol unless you were part of the native population… ---
**Author:** ![Reg](https://bbad.com/user_avatar/bbad.com/reg/32/6053_2.png) [@Reg](https://bbad.com/u/Reg)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2025, 8:38am UTC](https://bbad.com/t/american-exceptionalism/1793/122 "2025-01-25T08:38:27Z")
> [@thinkingaboutit](#): > > right lol unless you were part of the native population Of course, or black, or a woman. I figured you’d say something stupid like that. I am not arguing that it was good back then in the US. Only that it might have been better than anywhere else. The question in front of us is when was America the greatest country in the world. ---
**Author:** ![thinkingaboutit](https://bbad.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/ce73a5/32.png) [@thinkingaboutit](https://bbad.com/u/thinkingaboutit)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2025, 8:43am UTC](https://bbad.com/t/american-exceptionalism/1793/123 "2025-01-25T08:43:59Z")
> [@Reg](#): > > Of course, or black, or a woman. I figured you’d say something stupid like that. I am not arguing that it was good back then in the US. Only that it might have been better than anywhere else. > > The question in front of us is when was America the greatest country in the world. or poor indeed and the only correct answer is: it never was edit: now if the question is when was the best time for americans to live in america? then you could debate that time period ---
**Author:** ![NicksCafe](https://bbad.com/user_avatar/bbad.com/nickscafe/32/9765_2.png) [@NicksCafe](https://bbad.com/u/NicksCafe)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2025, 11:53am UTC](https://bbad.com/t/american-exceptionalism/1793/124 "2025-01-25T11:53:15Z")
What was the best nation to live in 1998 or 99? I think that was the peak of USA. No wars, good economy, Rodney King was a few years old by then, AIDS was well known. Car manufacturers did not suck, nearly as bad. I think that was our peak. What do you think was the greatest nation in 1999? ---
**Author:** ![NicksCafe](https://bbad.com/user_avatar/bbad.com/nickscafe/32/9765_2.png) [@NicksCafe](https://bbad.com/u/NicksCafe)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2025, 12:14pm UTC](https://bbad.com/t/american-exceptionalism/1793/125 "2025-01-25T12:14:30Z")
A black American woman has won the Australian Open and it wasn’t Coco Gauff or a Williams sister. She beat a Russian woman in a racist country. Exceptional. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/7X5STm7Vdpk/maxresdefault.jpg "Aryna Sabalenka v Madison Keys Highlights | Australian Open 2025 Final") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7X5STm7Vdpk) ---
**Author:** ![AgeofGrace](https://bbad.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/c2a13f/32.png) [@AgeofGrace](https://bbad.com/u/AgeofGrace)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2025, 12:44pm UTC](https://bbad.com/t/american-exceptionalism/1793/126 "2025-01-25T12:44:14Z")
> [@thinkingaboutit](#): > > > [@Reg](#): > > > > The question in front of us is when was America the greatest country in the world. > > or poor > indeed and the only correct answer is: it never was Jackass. > [@thinkingaboutit](#): > > now if the question is when was the best time for americans to live in america? then you could debate that time period There was a time before the federal reserve. According to Trump, it was when tariffs were imposed on goods and not Americans, where he wants to go back to. What’s wrong with that? > [@NicksCafe](#): > > What was the best nation to live in 1998 or 99? I think that was the peak of USA. No wars, good economy, Rodney King was a few years old by then, AIDS was well known. What was good about it? AIDS was a tragedy. My dad was telling me yesterday just how great the U.S. was between the 1970’s and early 2000’s. We were still paying taxes so I don’t think it was great at all. > [@NicksCafe](#): > > Car manufacturers did not suck, nearly as bad. I think that was our peak. That was a time before sensors and cameras. Now it seems like everything is wrong with them all the time. Lots of blinking lights and shorts in the electrical system. I personally wouldn’t have a new one or at least avoid it as long as possible. ---
**Author:** ![NicksCafe](https://bbad.com/user_avatar/bbad.com/nickscafe/32/9765_2.png) [@NicksCafe](https://bbad.com/u/NicksCafe)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2025, 1:31pm UTC](https://bbad.com/t/american-exceptionalism/1793/127 "2025-01-25T13:31:20Z")
I suppose my timeline is shorter than 30 years, but I would say the 80s was not a good decade for the USA. You want to talk about AIDS. Much worse in the 80s than 99. War on drugs was a disaster. US dollar was weaker in 1984 than Zimbabwe’s. President had dementia and was a racist. Other than Michael Jackson, Madonna, Prince and the Talking Heads, the music from the USA was awful. I think the Talking Heads were only half American. The only good thing about the 80s was no major long term war at the time for USA. ---
**Author:** ![NicksCafe](https://bbad.com/user_avatar/bbad.com/nickscafe/32/9765_2.png) [@NicksCafe](https://bbad.com/u/NicksCafe)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2025, 1:40pm UTC](https://bbad.com/t/american-exceptionalism/1793/128 "2025-01-25T13:40:20Z")
Also, the Vietnam war went until 1975. ---
**Author:** ![AgeofGrace](https://bbad.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/c2a13f/32.png) [@AgeofGrace](https://bbad.com/u/AgeofGrace)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2025, 1:47pm UTC](https://bbad.com/t/american-exceptionalism/1793/129 "2025-01-25T13:47:01Z")
> [@NicksCafe](#): > > I suppose my timeline is shorter than 30 years, but I would say the 80s was not a good decade for the USA. I agree. Interest rates were high. > [@NicksCafe](#): > > You want to talk about AIDS. Much worse in the 80s than 99. That’s only because it was just coming out and still making headlines. > [@NicksCafe](#): > > War on drugs was a disaster. In fairness, it had just begun. > [@NicksCafe](#): > > US dollar was weaker in 1984 than Zimbabwe’s. Stocks and bonds were good though. > [@NicksCafe](#): > > President had dementia and was a racist. Carter just died. We probably shouldn’t speak ill of him just yet. > [@NicksCafe](#): > > Other than Michael Jackson, Madonna, Prince and the Talking Heads, the music from the USA was awful. I think the Talking Heads were only half American. I may have to google. I don’t remember the talking heads. I mean…I’ve heard of them but I don’t recall their music. > [@NicksCafe](#): > > The only good thing about the 80s was no major long term war at the time for USA. Maybe no Congress approved war but we were involved in some kind of conflict in some part of the world we probably shouldn’t have been in. > [@NicksCafe](#): > > Also, the Vietnam war went until 1975. Another taxpayer funded war we might not have been in had their been no tax to fund it. ---
**Author:** ![NicksCafe](https://bbad.com/user_avatar/bbad.com/nickscafe/32/9765_2.png) [@NicksCafe](https://bbad.com/u/NicksCafe)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2025, 2:00pm UTC](https://bbad.com/t/american-exceptionalism/1793/130 "2025-01-25T14:00:33Z")
It sounds like you were a Ron Paul fan a few years ago. ---
**Author:** ![AgeofGrace](https://bbad.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/c2a13f/32.png) [@AgeofGrace](https://bbad.com/u/AgeofGrace)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2025, 2:03pm UTC](https://bbad.com/t/american-exceptionalism/1793/131 "2025-01-25T14:03:45Z")
> [@NicksCafe](#): > > It sounds like you were a Ron Paul fan a few years ago. No, I’m not. Why would I? I remember he ran for president as an independent once? ---
**Author:** ![NicksCafe](https://bbad.com/user_avatar/bbad.com/nickscafe/32/9765_2.png) [@NicksCafe](https://bbad.com/u/NicksCafe)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2025, 2:03pm UTC](https://bbad.com/t/american-exceptionalism/1793/132 "2025-01-25T14:03:59Z")
The Dire Straits were pretty good. ---
**Author:** ![NicksCafe](https://bbad.com/user_avatar/bbad.com/nickscafe/32/9765_2.png) [@NicksCafe](https://bbad.com/u/NicksCafe)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2025, 2:04pm UTC](https://bbad.com/t/american-exceptionalism/1793/133 "2025-01-25T14:04:34Z")
He wanted to get rid of the federal income tax. ---
**Author:** ![NicksCafe](https://bbad.com/user_avatar/bbad.com/nickscafe/32/9765_2.png) [@NicksCafe](https://bbad.com/u/NicksCafe)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2025, 2:07pm UTC](https://bbad.com/t/american-exceptionalism/1793/134 "2025-01-25T14:07:19Z")
He ran as a Republican. One thing that hurt him was he was not against gay marriage. Infact, he wanted the government to stay out of marriage and since he was against income taxes, he figured why would the government care if you were married. He lost some homophobic votes. ---
**Author:** ![AgeofGrace](https://bbad.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/c2a13f/32.png) [@AgeofGrace](https://bbad.com/u/AgeofGrace)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2025, 2:07pm UTC](https://bbad.com/t/american-exceptionalism/1793/135 "2025-01-25T14:07:30Z")
> [@NicksCafe](#): > > He wanted to get rid of the federal income tax. And do what? Replace it with tariffs? ---
**Author:** ![thinkingaboutit](https://bbad.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/ce73a5/32.png) [@thinkingaboutit](https://bbad.com/u/thinkingaboutit)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2025, 2:09pm UTC](https://bbad.com/t/american-exceptionalism/1793/136 "2025-01-25T14:09:13Z")
> [@NicksCafe](#): > > What do you think was the greatest nation in 1999? to live in? sweden, norway, australia, the netherlands 😉 if you mean size then russia is the greatest nation ---
**Author:** ![NicksCafe](https://bbad.com/user_avatar/bbad.com/nickscafe/32/9765_2.png) [@NicksCafe](https://bbad.com/u/NicksCafe)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2025, 2:09pm UTC](https://bbad.com/t/american-exceptionalism/1793/137 "2025-01-25T14:09:49Z")
> [@AgeofGrace](#): > > > [@NicksCafe](#): > > > > He wanted to get rid of the federal income tax. > > And do what? Replace it with tariffs? I’m not sure he ever said. My guess is he wanted to eliminate… Military spending USPS Medicare Social Security FEMA Transit I don’t think he wanted a government at all, therefore no taxes needed ---
**Author:** ![NicksCafe](https://bbad.com/user_avatar/bbad.com/nickscafe/32/9765_2.png) [@NicksCafe](https://bbad.com/u/NicksCafe)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2025, 2:34pm UTC](https://bbad.com/t/american-exceptionalism/1793/138 "2025-01-25T14:34:53Z")
> [@thinkingaboutit](#): > > > [@NicksCafe](#): > > > > What do you think was the greatest nation in 1999? > > to live in? sweden, norway, australia, the netherlands 😉 > > if you mean size then russia is the greatest nation Thanks for answering. I’m not sure the status of those countries at the time. In 1999, I was knee-deep in university studies and had no idea what was going on elsewhere for 2 years. ---
**Author:** ![thinkingaboutit](https://bbad.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/ce73a5/32.png) [@thinkingaboutit](https://bbad.com/u/thinkingaboutit)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2025, 2:36pm UTC](https://bbad.com/t/american-exceptionalism/1793/139 "2025-01-25T14:36:59Z")
> [@NicksCafe](#): > > In 1999, I was knee-deep in university studies and had no idea what was going on elsewhere for 2 years. is that slang for saying you were high/drunk and partying for 2 years? lol ---
**Author:** ![NicksCafe](https://bbad.com/user_avatar/bbad.com/nickscafe/32/9765_2.png) [@NicksCafe](https://bbad.com/u/NicksCafe)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2025, 2:54pm UTC](https://bbad.com/t/american-exceptionalism/1793/140 "2025-01-25T14:54:35Z")
Haha. I wasn’t quite smart enough to get through college that way. I also had a lot of internships that started at 7 am, so not quite. [Previous page](https://bbad.com/t/american-exceptionalism/1793.md?page=6) [Next page](https://bbad.com/t/american-exceptionalism/1793.md?page=8)