Sociologically speaking, what is wrong with America?

Question

A friend of mine was raving about this amazing class she just finished for her sociology major called "What's wrong with America." This topic sounds really interesting and I'm trying to come up with as many different points as possible. Any ideas? Thanks!

I noticed a few similiar questions with immature answers like "george bush" or "we pollute" so ONLY SOCIOLOGICALLY SPEAKING, PLEASE.

Answer 1

What was first right with America were the principles espoused by the founding fathers, namely freedom and the right to pursue life, liberty and happiness. What's wrong now, America has abandoned principles for materialism, and we have put equality ahead of freedom, leading to a nation of weak individuals that expect some entitlement, and who have become incredibly apathetic, ignorant and complacent.

Answer 2

Perhaps we must first establish a common ground for evaluating an answer to this question.

I know that there have been many profound and highly intelligent sociologists that your friend will have learnt about but I hope that it will be conceded that the "boogy man" of politics was the first true sociologist even though much of what he predicted just didn't happen.

Forgive me then if my answer is Marxist. First my old mate Karl saw capitalism as capitalists " cynical exploitation of the means of production in their own interests and for their own profit."

Poor old Karl thought that man could overcome these limitations and become truly human, that is social, beings. Karl believed that human beings aware of their propriety interests, had it within their capacity to fly above the restrictions imposed by power and by history and become the wonderful people of a wonderful World.

Equality and tolerance (of the sexes and all nationalities and races) and social services (especially free education and health) and cooperation with our natural environment are Socialist ideals.

In fact within my lifetime, (I'm sixty) there has been some movement towards some of these objectives. Disability persons are better cared for. Racism is less. Even Japanese and Russians work along side Americans and paltry though it is there is a health service and there are schools of a sort.

Marx did not anticipate just how bloody clever Capitalists are. Where any sense of logic would have foreseen the overthrow of the filthy rich and the distribution of their wealth to the poor, business has convinced people that there are only two sides to politics: a "free market" or a "controlled market". A combination of both is needed.

I believe that if one of your political Parties (the Democrats I guess) would take upon itself the responsibility of looking after all people , especially the poor America, would cease to be a pariah among nations.

I use such a pejorative term because the difference between rich Americans and poor Americans is greater than anywhere in even moderately developed countries and whither goes America goes the World.

Answer 3

Our culture is what's wrong with America. MTV, I guess could be a short answer. The social bar has been raised so high, the masses will do anything to compete. There is an increasingly high number of Americans in their 20's and 30's who still depend on their parents to help them along. While they cannot afford necessities such as rent and utilities, the luxuries can always be found. The new mp3 players, the high definition TVs, and all the latest options on the new $30,000 car , with daddy's signature of course. And hey, if the parents are game, what's going to change?
Nobody wants to make a stand anymore. If you stand up, you look different, and that can't happen. We are all given a mind, it's just easier to waste it away with mindless, sugar coated garbage.

Answer 4

christianity still makes the laws

gays are not evil

entertainment idols are paid more than the military

clothes cost way too much

shoes cost more than clothes which has always been weird to me

discriminate against people who's lives probably suck enough on their own already

believe orange is the new white--stay in the tanning bed too long ehemcoughcoughskincancercough

the leading cause of death is no longer viral related but is now people eating themselves to death

we have more drunk drivers when a lot of other countries don't even have a drinking age

more and more people start smoking just because its illegal

men get paid more

no one knows how to dance anymore so they resort to grinding

they refuse to say what is really in tapioca pudding

we give more h/w then people in japan when japan kids do way better in school

the law says you must burn the flag if it touches the ground yet they make flag underwear

people don't listen to the hundred billion warnings the media, teachers and random strangers give on a daily basis.
so they think they know everything and nothing can kill them

our presidents have been getting dumber as technology and knowledge advances

we think everyone should learn english when maybe we should another language

basically we're ignorant and arrogant and have stupid leaders

Answer 5

due to the rapid input of information and culture clash from sources like the TV, America has in many areas of the country forgotten the rules of engagement. Basically because the TV shows rudeness people accept it as a way of life.
In short we are no long as polite as we need to be to socially interact, because we as a people have come to believe we are entitled to express our point of view at any time for any reason. Although this is a "right" there is a time and place for everything.

An example is that group that was protesting miltary furnerals to make their point about life and the war. A right "maybe" but not right at all.

Answer 6

I think it's that there is no accountability for anything. If you make a mistake or do something wrong its now the "American Way" to either sue or blame someone else.

I also saw a very interesting letter to the editor article the other day about drug testing and government assistance. The woman who wrote the article was referring to how her tax dollars are being used. Her thought was if she had to take a drug test to get the job and earn the money, then why shouldn't the person receiving govt assistance have to take a drug test to receive theirs?! She was glad to help people get back on their feet, but did not want to pay bills for those who refuse to work.

I think if people in general were more accountable we would have far fewer problems.

Answer 7

Sociologically speaking whats wrong are people who outwardly diss our president.like the jerk before me. I think if you don't agree with him vote him out next election.He is our commander in chief now and you should support him now.To publicly humiliate him is totally disrespect full of the office he was elected to.You may not agree with him but you respect the office .I did not agree with allot Clinton did in office nor did I respect him as a man but to humiliate him for selling rooms in the White House for political gain For blatantly lieing to the people and to the Supreme court was and is grounds for impeachment.But that is better left out of the media especially in times of war.Why humiliate him or the USA at these times this just makes us look like fools and un -divided and not strong as hole 0h what a joke we must seem like.

Answer 8

I believe it has to do with a number of circumstances, the biggest being the ability to fantasize about unlawful and unmoral things, but yet not being actually allowed to perform the acts.
For an example, you can't get arrested for playing grotesque cop killing games like Grand Theft Auto. You can dream and actually visually see yourself killing cops, yet it's actually disgusting and sickening when people kill cops in real life.
Yet it seems that we turn the other cheek- it's ok to dream and conceive corrupt ideas in our minds and heart, as long as you don't do them in real life.
It's ok to hate people, printout pictures of them and shoot the picture with a rifle, and ok to tell someone you do that.
I've got news for you however, the more we allow ourselves to fantasize the more these rituals become true. The more these kids idolize these games they more they will think to do.
The more someone prinouts out a picture of someone and shoots it with a rifle - makes people more comfortable to carry out such sick acts.
The more these kids kill cops in games, the more comfortable they are to do it.

Answer 9

You take me back to the actuality of a non smoker that attends a people who smoke assembly and then complains with regard to the smoke. From what you're saying is it achievable which you have been in a Hispanic shop for this reason they have been talking Spanish. They have been do no longer something incorrect by utilising talking between themselves, it grow to be in spite of everything their communique. it sort of feels the priority this is which you weren't waiting to or did no longer prefer to "pay attention" the numbers being referred to as and complained. basically approximately each and every shop that I see utilising wait numbers also have a seen counter on the wall. For me whilst and if i'm in such circumstances I watch the seen count huge form for the reason that i'm no longer able or do no longer prefer to pay attention the numbers being referred to as. nevertheless you ought to confess complaining as quickly as they effortless "took me right then" to ultimate your no longer being waiting to understand Spanish is relatively extremely trivial. If their reason grow to be to disrespect then you definately they might have pushed the entire you missed your huge form excuse. i'm guessing given which you spoke to the administrative and the shop's workers movements that they did talk English in effortless terms you nevertheless are no longer satisfied. in case you determine to proceed to shop there then i might say the two learn Spanish or watch the numbers.

Answer 10

What's bad are bad examples for the society, abuse of human rights, focusing too much on personal rights rather than doing what's good for the society.