Are other countries as obsessed over telling people what to do as America is?

Question

If not, then why is it that Americans are like this? As a Libertarian, I am apalled by the hipocracy of anti-smoking organizations, anti-obesity movements, anti-abortion protestors and even most vice laws. Was the Constitution not clearly defined enough? I mean, what do people care what other people do if it doesn't affect them?

What really bugs me is when people use words like "epidemic" in regards to obesity; "parent education" when it comes to parenting; or even "disease" for alcoholism. I'm sorry, but I was born with Spinal Muscular Atrophy; I've never walked before in my life and THAT, my friend, is a disease.

Sorry, I just had to vent.

By the way, I must not have made it clear enough. I DO NOT SUPPORT CHILD MOLESTATION.

Answer 1

I agree with you on most points. However, it's not wise to assume that what other people do doesn't affect someone else. So where should we draw the line? Should your neighbor be allowed to beat his wife or molest his child? Why not, it doesn't affect you? So it's illegal, it wasn't always illegal, and if that's the case, abortion used to be illegal too? Should we legalize child molestation now? According to you, who are we to say anything when it doesn't affect us.
I understand your point, it has gotten out of hand in some ways. And alcoholism is a disease that affects everyone around them. You should focus more on your bitterness and not be so selfish. Just b/c it doesn't affect you, doesn't mean it isn't wrong.

*I know you don't agree with child molestation. I said that to make a point. God bless. :o)

Answer 2

Yes, they are. In Britain every single type of potentially incendiary speech is barred. There have been instances where political commentators have acutally been fined for some fairly mainstream critiques of Islam. As the West loses its traditional Judeo-Christian values that governed society without government coercion, it has to replace these "old fashioned" virtues with new ones: health (no smoking, anti-obesity laws), tolerance, speech codes, etc. It's a pity really. Once upon a time we values personal responsibility and trusted people to use the Bible as their guide for good character. Now the government is the only recourse and that's why everyone is so hot for the nanny state.

Answer 3

Libertarianism is weak for one reason: what you do, no matter how small it may seem to you, can very well affect someone else. It's the butterfly effect. And technically speaking, anything is an "epidemic" if it runs rampant among the population (etymology of the word.)

Either way, I would find a more intellectually sound group of people to learn from than the Libertarians. Anything that weak isn't worth the time. I also have growth hormone deficiency--that's technically a disorder rather than a disease. But I'm proud of it (can't change my height, after all.)

Answer 4

You need to read a history, 9/11 was the first attack on US soil since Pearl Harbor and yes as much as it was harsh to say, yes the US have the right to tell other countries to not have nuclear weapons because the US doesn't want nations to use them and repeat the mistake again after the nuclear bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Rogue Nations like Iran and North Korea should not have them because that would threaten the international peace and security in the region and had no problem using them. If North Korea have them, they would use it against South Korea with no hesitation (If you read back from 1953 to today since the ceasefire agreement, North Korea continues on attacking US and South Korea forces many times). If Iran actually have nuclear weapons, then they would give it to terrorists to use them against the US and the West for no valid reason. Do you not forget that the Germans and the Japanese have their own atomic bomb programs during World War II? If they had the nuclear bombs first before us, then they would have been the first to use them in warfare but they would use it for testing and not military means. The US was and is not rogue like Iran and North Korea does, we don't execute homosexual people just because they are homosexual unlike Iran and we do not starve our people for the sake of creating military weapons like North Korea does.

Answer 5

Australia is the Super Power of telling its citizen what to do.

We have the lowest number of smokers in the world and the most expensive cigarettes in the world.

We have the lowest number of car death due to very heavy penalties for every breach of the law.

Over the Christmas period... 203.000 people were pulled over and breath tested in Sydney. 660 were charged with drink driving. It is called an outrage.

We have fix speeding cameras everywhere... usually hidden behind a tree... so that you cannot see them. Getting caught 5km/h over the speed limit will cost you $150.00... $250.00 if you are over 15km/h. And during the holidays... the cost is double.

Australia is about zero tolerance. The government wants to achieve zero smoking and zero car death. Of course... I know that from a logical point of view... this is impossible. But the government use this argument as an excuse to boost its revenue through heavy taxes on cigarettes and high penalties for road users breaking the law.

Answer 6

Australia is the superpower of the South Pacific. We boss Fiji, New Zealand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Tonga, East Timor, Papua New Guinea, Samoa and the Soloman Islands around and they listen because without us they would not receive $2 billion worth of financial aid each year.....

Answer 7

To thine ownself be true, live and let live. From your comments "what really bugs..." One could suggest that you guilty of the very thing that upsets you: telling people what is/is not okay to say/think/believe...wee hypocritical and lack of acceptance of your own situation methinks. Try to dethrown yourself from your pity pot and try seeing the good in people, in America, in this world that you are passing through oh so quickly. It is a heck of ride, much too short spent worrying about what others are saying/doing THAT DON'T AFFECT YOU.

Answer 8

The United Nations is way more guilty of this.

Among other things, they've pressured and lectured predominantly Catholic countries on the need to legalize the murder of unborn babies.

.

Answer 9

you are so right my friend. yesterday i saw some poor dude huddled in the corner of an empty parking garage smoking - because it was pouring rain outside and a girl stopped and started hassling him for smoking! i told her he's OUTSIDE where else is he supposed to smoke? not a smoker but i feel sorry for them it's getting ridiculous. who freaking cares?

Answer 10

The UN seems to enjoy it.