The End of Exceptionalism

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I think the important point in this article is about american attitude. We are becoming more isolationist, more illiberal (liberal as in a classic liberal), and more distrustful; the political discourse is not helping either. NONE of the presidential candidates are talking about how to make America a better country and that, I must agree, is a big problem

one of the great American values is fairness, and there lies most of the problem in the society. Free market? It's not when the market is distorted by unfair illegal wages and subsidies. Free trade? How do you explain the unfair labor, environmental and currency standards that American companies are subjected when our competitors are not. Many more but we now can see the effects of haphazard decision making policy in our government and its people and the unfair system that favors the highest lobbying bidders over the national well being.

I agree with you, Fareed. I just wish people would stop defending the image of America and start defending the values of America: Freedom, Equality, and Happiness. If we continue to be bible-thumping, gay-bashing, SUV-driving, xenophobic hypocrites, then our nation will fail and rightly so.

Could we PLEASE stop perpetuating the myth that Americans are upset about "immigration"? America does not have an immigration problem; it has a problem with its ECONOMIC RELATIONSHIP WITH MEXICO. In other words the issue's not immigration per se but a tidal wave of illegal immigration by illiterate and semi-literate dropouts fleeing the devastation of rural Mexico. And what caused that devastation? Many factors, but the one that stands out is the botched "free trade" deal, NAFTA, that carved out US agriculture, resulting in massive dumping of subsidized US ag products into Mexico! Again, to be clear, Americans are PRO-immigration, provided the immigrants are _educated_. And pro-free trade, provided it's truly free (as opposed to full of loopholes for politically-powerful companies like Cargill, ADM etc).

Could we please stop perpetuating the myth that Americans are upset about immigration generally? The issue is not immigration per se but a tidal wave of illegal immigration by illiterate and semi-literate dropouts fleeing the devastation of rural Mexico. And what caused that devastation? Many factors, but the one that stands out is the botched "free trade" deal, NAFTA, that carved out US agriculture, resulting in massive dumping of subsidized US ag products into Mexico! Again, to be clear, Americans are PRO-immigration, provided the immigrants are _educated_. And pro-free trade, provided it's truly free (as opposed to full of loopholes for politically-powerful companies like Cargill, ADM etc).

Analysis without historical perspective, as represented by Fareed Zakaria is little use. Rather than polling the attitudes of people from across the world regarding their attitudes about global trade or immigration, an examination of the historical record connects the argument to reality. If one compares how Mexico treats its illegal immigrants from their south, I think one would find America exceptional in comparison; likewise the legal, political, economic legacy of the other countries Zakaria references would be helpful to understand American exceptionalism or lack thereof. Polls are not policy or the historical record. This is truly an adolescent commentary.

Mr. Zakaria
Americans are not against immigration. They are against ILLEGAL immigration. It is strange how many intelligent people keep forgetting that little adjective.

I mean, one particular metric of the absolute RETARDATION that is typical of the American public is the "Top 10" news stories on this very site... (1) is a VERY biased and limited look at the Clinton's marriage, 2) is totally irrelevant, 4) is disgusting, 5) (this article) is mildly thought-provoking but also simplistic, 6) irrelevant, 6) irrelevant, 8) simplistic, but somewhat important, etc etc.

Dude, 100's of thousands of Iraqis have died at American hands, no-one hears about it. Palestinians continue to die and suffer with no peace in sight, no-one hears about it. The media coverage of Iran is flat out WRONG and American perceptions of the country are so skewed that it's almost unrecognizable that this is IRAN we're talking about. North Korea...whatever happened to THAT? Somehow a (literally) crazy dictator having the N-bomb (in a country that has been in DIRECT war with the US) is not as big a deal as the sovereign government of a nation that's never been at war with the US, Israel, or any of her allies pursuing nuclear power WHILE COMPLYING WITH THE IAEA's laws and regulations...No-one hears about the fact that Iran is UNDER THE LAW allowed to enrich uranium.

Americans need to realize that they DON'T HAVE A GOD-GIVEN RIGHT to dictate the world's policies. You really don't. Heavy handed, hypocritical, and selfish ultimatums brandished by the US every day erode what little goodwill the world has for the strongest country.

True about immigration; illegal immigration SHOULD be opposed by all means, also true about homosexuals; it is a fallacy to assume more acceptance of homosexuals is somehow more "civilized", I believe the exact opposite. HOWEVER, the article makes correct points about American opposition to free trade, foreign companies, distrust of foreigners, and treatment of foreign visitors. Further, America is barbaric in its continuing support for the death penalty, and its people are backward because of their heavily biased and simplistic media analysis.

True about immigration; illegal immigration SHOULD be opposed by all means, also true about homosexuals; it is a fallacy to assume more acceptance of homosexuals is somehow more "civilized", I believe the exact opposite. HOWEVER, the article makes correct points about American opposition to free trade, foreign companies, distrust of foreigners, and treatment of foreign visitors. Further, America is barbaric in its continuing support for the death penalty, and its people are backward because of their heavily biased and simplistic media analysis.

So the reason Fareed thinks the U.S. is no longer exceptional is that we are less accepting of homosexuality, based upon polling data, than people in other countries? And that's the first point (and presumable, one of the most important) made in his piece? That is simply not an indicator of anything to do with the status or condition of a country. Furthermore, that we believe that ILLEGAL immiagration is wrong is another reason? What? Should we be OK with enforcing some laws and not enforcing others? Countries that have problems are one where the rule of law does not apply in a disinterested manner. Geez, Fareed.

Sloppy journalism, or just playing the same game the American elite like to play. Americans are not opposed to LEGAL immigration; they are opposed to ILLEGAL immigration. They are not the same thing, but the open-border types conveniently don't make the distinction. The USA will continue to lead the world in generosity and welcoming LEGAL immigrants.

Well, reismc1 beat me to my main point, which is that Americans are not against immigration. Illegal immigration, yes. Immigration? No. What would happen to me if I walked in to Mexico and tried to get a job and set up residence there without going through the proper channels?

As far as where we are "lagging behind" ... that depends on whose definition of "ahead" you want to use regarding social issues. If you insist on using your measuring stick, it's going to say what your measuring stick is going to say.

I'm against protectionism and for free trade. This is pretty much in line with the much maligned "right".

Other countries may say that military action is sometimes necessary, but who is it left to to actually use it and pay for it, and take the criticism for it?

We are exceptional, and we want everyone else to share in being exceptional. Being proud of who we are does not mean we feel like we're better than everyone else.

Well, reismc1 beat me to my main point, which is that Americans are not against immigration. Illegal immigration, yes. Immigration? No. What would happen to me if I walked in to Mexico and tried to get a job and set up residence there without going through the proper channels?

As far as where we are "lagging behind" ... that depends on whose definition of "ahead" you want to use regarding social issues. If you insist on using your measuring stick, it's going to say what your measuring stick is going to say.

I'm against protectionism and for free trade. This is pretty much in line with the much maligned "right".

Other countries may say that military action is sometimes necessary, but who is it left to to actually use it and pay for it, and take the criticism for it?

We are exceptional, and we want everyone else to share in being exceptional. Being proud of who we are does not mean we feel like we're better than everyone else.

Fareed,

You need look no further than your own article to see why the "worlds" perception of us has fallen, or, why some of our own perceptions of ourselves has fallen. You article is totally slanted to wht you belive or want to happen. You also are lying, or at best, are disingenuious why you talk about "immigration". Conservatives, Republicans....me...are NOT against "iimigration"...we are AGAINST ILLEGAL immigration, as are all the countries you listed! Another point, so you want the entire contry to look like San Fransico? Folsom Street parades everywhere?? I guess it's ok to have your own opinions or beliefs, as long as you agree with you? or the left? I do not believe in gay marriage and will continue to believe that way. You, abd the rest of the left media are responsible for much of the negative perception both hear and abroad, because you want to advance your agenda. Why do you think Newsweek and the rest of the MSM is going down the tubes. Look in the mirror.

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