Has it always been fashionable for American Youth to bash their government?

Question

Now, I'm not saying that there aren't things very wrong in our current government, but every kid and his sister will take every chance they get to bash America without any knowledge or research or factual basis. They themselves are in a sense lowering the standards of our generation by not being to back up what they say.

I was in history class and a girl blurted out how corrupt the government is these days, and I asked her how, and she couldn't back up anything she said.

I honestly agreed with some of her half-points, but she was obviously repeating things she heard from somewhere else. Anyone could change her mind too, if being a conservative was fashionable, she would be a conservative. And if she has an opinion shouldn't she be well versed on it? I know I wouldn't go on America-bashing without knowing any information.

So what are your thoughts on this? Do you think it will be changed? I'm willing to hear all! Thanks.

Haha, and the first answerer brings up a good point. I don't mean that children should be zombie-fyed government-lovers with no opinions other then "The government is so nifty spiffy and swell" Im just saying, whatever happened to being INFORMED?

To reiterate, I'm all for questioning the government, but not bashing it because its the fashionable thing to do.

My former comment meaning that kids are saying "BUSH SUCKS" without knowing what the heck they're talking about. Their criticism is therefore useless because it one, is in no way constructive, and two, doesn't offer any solutions.

By the by, Im not happy with any of that little eccy, try reading the question more thoroughly.

Answer 1

ai ai ai. The government IS corrupt.
(and this isnt comming from a "fashionable" point of view)

60% of america is in debt, another 10% in jail and "washington fat cats" are making tons of it. Also, 90% of the earths wealth belongs to the top 5% of people....

something is wrong here.

Answer 2

No, it has not always been something that the young have done. When I was growing up, it was not done. Oh, I heard my Step-Dad bash the government but, I just thought it a grown up issue, didn't concern me; I was a kid! You are right, I see things posted on here that I know some kid has posted, some of it makes no sense & what does make sense, is nonsense! In my estimation, no kid under the age of 17 should be making any statements about the government. At that age they are almost of voting age & they should have some idea of what they are speaking about before they start to vote! That is also the legal age when they start thinking about military service, they should have some idea of what is going on in the world before they decide to enlist! I don't know why parents don't monitor their children's activity on the internet a bit more, that could stop some of it.

Answer 3

It is healthy to do so. Franklin Delano Roosevelt said it is our patriotic duty to question our government. WE pay their salaries. This current administration is currently suspected by millions of Americans as being complicit regarding 911 OR for planning and executing the entire 911 attacks. A pretty severe accusation, if you ask me. The internet has provided us with many documentary type videos regarding 911 which are available to everyone on Google or YouTube. Check out 911 Justice on YouTube and maybe you will understand why kids are angry. Bashing America is NOT OK. We are a great nation as a people. The government is NOT the same as the United States of America. Politicians can be corrupt and deceitful. Our flag and constitution never are.

Answer 4

I hate Bush for the unconstitutional wire taps, the unlawful arrests made after 9/11 of protesters of US citizens, I dislike the fact he pushed for efforts to be able to declare anyone an enemy combatant and throw them into a secret prison site (there is an infamous one in Cuba) with out trial, pass an executive order that shut down habeas corpus, tried or probably created a program called TIA (total information awareness.) that spies on the average citizen without just cause, created a war without rhyme or reason, put us even further into debt, cause real strains on our foreign relations, is a constant embarrassment to our nation when ever on camera and has so many underhanded deals with private contractors that it would be scary just to realize had bad such corruption is. His administration is pushing Russia in the wrong direction (how many enemies does the US really need I wonder?) Not to mention he does not take his job seriously. How many vacation days has this man has since in office?
Hell, he was off when Katrina struck the US. How uncaring and unprofessional is that? Not to mention two election years in a row, his election results have turned up in suspicious circumstances (How can a mis count happened the same place, the same way two ties. Something is not right.)

However I do agree with the man on certain points. I do agree with the fact he has not passed any more gun laws. I did agree with his stated reasons why he vetoed the recent health care program for children (yet I doubt he is sincere.) and he tried to least to lower taxes, however I doubt it was for the right people who needed it.

Answer 5

The biggest problem is that both educators and media outlets offer up anti-administration points of view. Seeing as the young of this country absorb most of their knowledge from television, it is no surprise that they become emulators. The nightly news is heavily biased toward the left as is academia. I believe both want to change our society into one where restorative justice (rehabilitation) is the norm and that poverty can be offset by infusing more money into the welfare system. Also, todays teens seem easily swayed by pop figures and the majority of these "role models" are quite radical. One cannot argue that tax dollars have been misspent and no one favors war, but the congress has done nothing to change this. They offer little but more "Bush-bashing" and inflated further taxation. My feeling is that congress spends too much time attacking current policy while not offering viable alternatives. Furthermore, it is my humble opinion that patriotism has been diminished as an American value.

Answer 6

Well here's a little more history for you: bashing our gov't goes back to its very founding, and is something the Founding Fathers recognized as an essential check against inevitable gov't corruption and unaccountability. They considered criticism of the gov't to be one of the highest forms of patriotism.

Please don't confuse criticism of America's gov't with criticism of America the country. The two are VERY different things! There is so very much more that defines who and what we are as Americans than just our gov't. And while our gov't is a lot better than most, it is still composed of entirely human, fallible individuals with their own agendas who more often than not do NOT act altruistically, even if they entered gov't service with the best of intentions.

So don't feel like you're being a disloyal person for criticizing our gov't, because all too often our gov't has been immensely disloyal to we, the American people and to the principles of freedom this country was founded on. And think for yourself, too; dividing everything up into liberal vs. conservative only serves to distract from the real issues and limit our options for taking action. The fact that you say you're "willing to hear all" speaks well of you. Good luck!

Answer 7

During WWII young people were very patriotic!

It was during the 60s and 70s that people started really distrusting government. Watergate had a lot to do with it, also the Vietnam War.

Also certain politicians began using 'wedge issues' to polarize Americans. And this continues to this day as a political technique.

A few years ago, after 9/11 but before the invasion of Afghanistan, I saw a pickup truck in the parking lot where I worked. It had a bumper sticker on one end of its bumper that said 'United We Stand'. On the other end of the bumper was another sticker, somewhat faded, that said "I Love My Country but I Distrust My Government". This was obviously left over from the Clinton administration. Doesn't it seem that the way this guy felt about his government depended on which party was in office?

I think our government is very corrupt these days, and it doesn't matter -which- party is in government. Our government is not accountable to us, it no longer works for the majority of Americans, as I think it should. To say America is a great country doesn't mean you can't criticize it. And it certainly is not unpatriotic and subversive to criticize it when one party is in power and your patriotic -duty - to criticize it when the other party is in power.

Back during the Vietnam War we used to hear the slogan 'My Country Right or Wrong' . But the entire text of this quote is: "My country right or wrong. If right to be kept right, if wrong to be -put- right!"

Answer 8

It's natural for teens to rebel against perceived authority figures and institutions. And a lot of people formulate opinions without hearing all of the information. I don't think this will change anytime soon since we live in relatively peaceful times and the usefulness of government isn't immediately obvious. People should inform themselves more so they can justify their positions, but the fact is they don't. The only way I can think of correcting this is to point out their ignorance. Fear of being made a fool will encourage people to either do more research or keep their half-baked opinions to themselves.

Answer 9

The sad thing is that our youth, especially those that are educated at University's are done so by far left liberals. I remember getting a bad grade in a combo Poly Sci, English 301 class because my views on Elie Wiesel's book Night and it's relation to American Genocide did not coincide with the Liberal views of the English teacher. Although my views were factual and well written she was the teacher and a liberal to a fault. Our youth learn from their teachers unfortunately a lot of the teachers pass on their values to our youth, which to the core is wrong. Anyway, I am glad that I strayed from her flock and formed my own opinions.

Answer 10

No in the day of the hippie they bashed war not the government. this fad of disrespect came from USA television.

They were allowed to roast the guest and after they had been rude to all of the movie stars they started on Ronald Regan. Then it was all down hill. They bashed the president and the speaker of the house and every politition that existed.We never thought it was here to stay.