What is "The American Way of Life"?

brianlux

While shelving books today, I came across one written by Dick Morris.  I happened to read the blurb on the back and it said something about such-and-such threatening "the American way of life."  What struck me was not that such-and-such was supposedly doing something horrible to our way of life (that specific is probably irrelevant to this discussion), but rather, that an assumption was being made  implying that "the American way of life"  is somehow flawless. Yet at the same time, that so-called "way of life" is not something easily prescribed by a single set of parameters.  So just what the heck is "the American way of life" and who is supposedly following it correctly and is it indeed a system so flawless and well defined that it should never be tampered with?

dankind

It's a bullshit prison construct of the mind.

Fuck that!

I live my way of life. America can go fuck itself!

hedonist

dankind said:

It's a bullshit prison construct of the mind.

Fuck that!

I live my way of life. America can go fuck itself!

Bolded part - we already are!  In some ways, at least.

Italicized part - as do I, my friend.  Whether or not that is considered American...who knows?  Works for me, though

fife

I don't know if there is a specific "american way of life" but I do believe that there is are some characteristics of a "Liberal way of life"  when i say liberal, I do not mean  as in liberal party or anything like that.  I mean Liberal in the historical view point.  Now does america follow that view point I would say no. 

to answer your other questions, I do believe liberalism is well define but the issue is how people view the means to how to follow it.  for example, freedom of speech is a corner stone of liberalism but we see battles about what it covers.  for some all speech is allowable but for some not all speech is allowable such as hate speech. 

hope this makes sense

dankind

I will concede that there are likely more local ways of life (New Yorker, Angelino, New Orleanian, Portlandian, Masshole, etc.). America is too vast and, as Jedi pointed out, too busy fucking itself--although I'd say it's more akin to rape than fucking; there is no uniform consent--to present a unified way of life. 

dudeman

IMO, the American way of life applies to individuals, not necessarily groups. In that way, the ideology can be interpreted as a the ability to reach whatever goals one wishes, limited only by ones own motivations and the laws that govern the land. 

pjhawks

dudeman said:

IMO, the American way of life applies to individuals, not necessarily groups. In that way, the ideology can be interpreted as a the ability to reach whatever goals one wishes, limited only by ones own motivations and the laws that govern the land. 

I agree with this.  We don't have to conform to a certain lifestyle, job, education, etc. here.  You have many different paths you can take and that decision is an individuals own decision.

CM189191

This American Life is a weekly hour-long radio program produced by WBEZ and hosted by Ira Glass

Jason P

It's Foosball tournaments and ice cream.

brianlux

fife said:

I don't know if there is a specific "american way of life" but I do believe that there is are some characteristics of a "Liberal way of life"  when i say liberal, I do not mean  as in liberal party or anything like that.  I mean Liberal in the historical view point.  Now does america follow that view point I would say no. 

to answer your other questions, I do believe liberalism is well define but the issue is how people view the means to how to follow it.  for example, freedom of speech is a corner stone of liberalism but we see battles about what it covers.  for some all speech is allowable but for some not all speech is allowable such as hate speech. 

hope this makes sense

A bit confusing here, fife.  Are you saying you see liberalism as defining the "American way of life" exclusive of conservatism?

brianlux

pjhawks said:

dudeman said:

IMO, the American way of life applies to individuals, not necessarily groups. In that way, the ideology can be interpreted as a the ability to reach whatever goals one wishes, limited only by ones own motivations and the laws that govern the land. 

I agree with this.  We don't have to conform to a certain lifestyle, job, education, etc. here.  You have many different paths you can take and that decision is an individuals own decision.

I interpret this to mean you guys see the American way of life as the freedom to be who or whatever you want.  I agree with that notion but only somewhat idealistically.  It's a lot easier to be who or what you want to be if you are born into enough wealth.  But what if you are born into poverty?  What if you are born a U.S. citizen but also happen to be Arabian or Hispanic, for example?  Equal opportunity for all?  Horacio Alger story?

Go Beavers

I think conservatives use it as code speak to rile up fear in the context that the American way of life is being threatened. I look at the term in how immigrants would probably define it: a place where you have opportunity and freedom of choice to become the person you want to be. 

dankind

Compromise
Conformity
Assimilation
Submission
Ignorance
Hypocrisy
Brutality
The Elite
All of which are American dreams! 

F Me In The Brain

dankind said:

Compromise
Conformity
Assimilation
Submission
Ignorance
Hypocrisy
Brutality
The Elite
All of which are American dreams! 

This played in my head when reading this thread. 

dankind

F Me In The Brain said:

dankind said:

Compromise
Conformity
Assimilation
Submission
Ignorance
Hypocrisy
Brutality
The Elite
All of which are American dreams! 

This played in my head when reading this thread. 

https://youtu.be/4smim2MNvF8

HughFreakingDillon

same as the canadian way of life. just with less alcohol per volume. 

Halifax2TheMax

HughFreakingDillon said:

same as the canadian way of life. just with less alcohol per volume. 

But way more calories and "consumption" in general.

cincybearcat

fife

brianlux said:

fife said:

I don't know if there is a specific "american way of life" but I do believe that there is are some characteristics of a "Liberal way of life"  when i say liberal, I do not mean  as in liberal party or anything like that.  I mean Liberal in the historical view point.  Now does america follow that view point I would say no. 

to answer your other questions, I do believe liberalism is well define but the issue is how people view the means to how to follow it.  for example, freedom of speech is a corner stone of liberalism but we see battles about what it covers.  for some all speech is allowable but for some not all speech is allowable such as hate speech. 

hope this makes sense

A bit confusing here, fife.  Are you saying you see liberalism as defining the "American way of life" exclusive of conservatism?

sorry should have been more clearer and taken more time to write.  I do believe that liberalism does define the "American way of life" but its not exclusively American.  I don't know if I see America as conservatism in the classical sense.  

pjhawks

brianlux said:

pjhawks said:

dudeman said:

IMO, the American way of life applies to individuals, not necessarily groups. In that way, the ideology can be interpreted as a the ability to reach whatever goals one wishes, limited only by ones own motivations and the laws that govern the land. 

I agree with this.  We don't have to conform to a certain lifestyle, job, education, etc. here.  You have many different paths you can take and that decision is an individuals own decision.

I interpret this to mean you guys see the American way of life as the freedom to be who or whatever you want.  I agree with that notion but only somewhat idealistically.  It's a lot easier to be who or what you want to be if you are born into enough wealth.  But what if you are born into poverty?  What if you are born a U.S. citizen but also happen to be Arabian or Hispanic, for example?  Equal opportunity for all?  Horacio Alger story?

equal no but yes you have an opportunity to rise from poverty in America as well as or better than most countries.  that's getting a bit harder these days with the shrinking middle class and less middle class incomes but it's not impossible.  I would imagine that is the reason so many immigrants still want to come here.

brianlux

fife said:

brianlux said:

fife said:

I don't know if there is a specific "american way of life" but I do believe that there is are some characteristics of a "Liberal way of life"  when i say liberal, I do not mean  as in liberal party or anything like that.  I mean Liberal in the historical view point.  Now does america follow that view point I would say no. 

to answer your other questions, I do believe liberalism is well define but the issue is how people view the means to how to follow it.  for example, freedom of speech is a corner stone of liberalism but we see battles about what it covers.  for some all speech is allowable but for some not all speech is allowable such as hate speech. 

hope this makes sense

A bit confusing here, fife.  Are you saying you see liberalism as defining the "American way of life" exclusive of conservatism?

sorry should have been more clearer and taken more time to write.  I do believe that liberalism does define the "American way of life" but its not exclusively American.  I don't know if I see America as conservatism in the classical sense.  

We're a liberal nation yet with Trump as president and Republicans controlling the House and Senate?  The American way of life is peculiar indeed!

brianlux

pjhawks said:

brianlux said:

pjhawks said:

dudeman said:

IMO, the American way of life applies to individuals, not necessarily groups. In that way, the ideology can be interpreted as a the ability to reach whatever goals one wishes, limited only by ones own motivations and the laws that govern the land. 

I agree with this.  We don't have to conform to a certain lifestyle, job, education, etc. here.  You have many different paths you can take and that decision is an individuals own decision.

I interpret this to mean you guys see the American way of life as the freedom to be who or whatever you want.  I agree with that notion but only somewhat idealistically.  It's a lot easier to be who or what you want to be if you are born into enough wealth.  But what if you are born into poverty?  What if you are born a U.S. citizen but also happen to be Arabian or Hispanic, for example?  Equal opportunity for all?  Horacio Alger story?

equal no but yes you have an opportunity to rise from poverty in America as well as or better than most countries.  that's getting a bit harder these days with the shrinking middle class and less middle class incomes but it's not impossible.  I would imagine that is the reason so many immigrants still want to come here.

No doubt, PJH.  Conditions are certainly worse in many other countries.

But beyond the (shrinking) opportunities to improve one's lot in life, what is that way of life here in the U.S.

I think it's hard to argue that this is not a big part of it:

dankind said:

Compromise
Conformity
Assimilation
Submission
Ignorance
Hypocrisy
Brutality
The Elite
All of which are American dreams! 

and if so, is this what Morris, et al, are afraid we are in danger of losing?

oftenreading

pjhawks said:

brianlux said:

pjhawks said:

dudeman said:

IMO, the American way of life applies to individuals, not necessarily groups. In that way, the ideology can be interpreted as a the ability to reach whatever goals one wishes, limited only by ones own motivations and the laws that govern the land. 

I agree with this.  We don't have to conform to a certain lifestyle, job, education, etc. here.  You have many different paths you can take and that decision is an individuals own decision.

I interpret this to mean you guys see the American way of life as the freedom to be who or whatever you want.  I agree with that notion but only somewhat idealistically.  It's a lot easier to be who or what you want to be if you are born into enough wealth.  But what if you are born into poverty?  What if you are born a U.S. citizen but also happen to be Arabian or Hispanic, for example?  Equal opportunity for all?  Horacio Alger story?

equal no but yes you have an opportunity to rise from poverty in America as well as or better than most countries.  that's getting a bit harder these days with the shrinking middle class and less middle class incomes but it's not impossible.  I would imagine that is the reason so many immigrants still want to come here.

In studies that look at standard of living via ranking important parameters, including the ability for social mobility, the USA does not even rank in the top 10. Yes, immigrants want to come to the US; they want to go to lots of different counties where their lives might be better than what they have. Media also has a big influence on that. 

PJfanwillneverleave1

OP
Are you asking the masses, the board or Americans?

dankind

https://youtu.be/f7PlSUQiISY

brianlux

PJfanwillneverleave1 said:

OP
Are you asking the masses, the board or Americans?

Not the masses because only 10 Club members can give an answer.

Board members, yes.

Board members who are not Americans?  Yes, in fact, yes, please.  It would be useful to know what people from outside the U.S. think our "way of living is".

Also consider whether or not you consider the term "the American way of living" to make sense or have any relevance or to even be definable.

Smellyman

It's a subtle catchpharse to keep people under control.  Mostly to keep the ignorant republican base scared of things.


Edit:  I see Go Beavers had the same notion.

brianlux

Smellyman said:

It's a subtle catchpharse to keep people under control.  Mostly to keep the ignorant republican base scared of things.


Edit:  I see Go Beavers had the same notion.

That sounds about right to me.

The other thing is, it makes no sense.  Who gets to define what this "way of life" is and who gets to live it?  And what makes it so exclusively immune to change or improvement?  It's got to be one of the most ambiguous and misleading terms around.  And how many people would read it and simply knee-jerk react to it as though it has some awe-inspiring meaning and substance. 

fife

oftenreading said:

pjhawks said:

brianlux said:

pjhawks said:

dudeman said:

IMO, the American way of life applies to individuals, not necessarily groups. In that way, the ideology can be interpreted as a the ability to reach whatever goals one wishes, limited only by ones own motivations and the laws that govern the land. 

I agree with this.  We don't have to conform to a certain lifestyle, job, education, etc. here.  You have many different paths you can take and that decision is an individuals own decision.

I interpret this to mean you guys see the American way of life as the freedom to be who or whatever you want.  I agree with that notion but only somewhat idealistically.  It's a lot easier to be who or what you want to be if you are born into enough wealth.  But what if you are born into poverty?  What if you are born a U.S. citizen but also happen to be Arabian or Hispanic, for example?  Equal opportunity for all?  Horacio Alger story?

equal no but yes you have an opportunity to rise from poverty in America as well as or better than most countries.  that's getting a bit harder these days with the shrinking middle class and less middle class incomes but it's not impossible.  I would imagine that is the reason so many immigrants still want to come here.

In studies that look at standard of living via ranking important parameters, including the ability for social mobility, the USA does not even rank in the top 10. Yes, immigrants want to come to the US; they want to go to lots of different counties where their lives might be better than what they have. Media also has a big influence on that. 

here is an interesting article.

http://inequality.stanford.edu/sites/default/files/Pathways-SOTU-2016-Economic-Mobility-3.pdf

concerning PJ comment, yes you are right anything is possible but looking at the stats it is more rare than what people believe.  but I will say this, looking from the outside of america, americans in general have a strong belief that they can be anything and anyone.  maybe more than any other country I have ever seen. 

HughFreakingDillon

as a canadian, my perspective is that americans see the american way of life as freedom to succeed and prosper. they also see it as the best way of life. which is odd to me. I never have, nor will I ever, understood patriotism in that sense. how is the american way of life, really, honestly any different from any other first world country's way of life? I think the only main difference is other countries don't tend to brag about it. 

in my mind, the whole idea of the american dream started out as a way to attract european immigrants so they could stack the labour force and help the economy. and over time, people bought into it, and it became a national source of pride. 

brianlux

HughFreakingDillon said:

as a canadian, my perspective is that americans see the american way of life as freedom to succeed and prosper. they also see it as the best way of life. which is odd to me. I never have, nor will I ever, understood patriotism in that sense. how is the american way of life, really, honestly any different from any other first world country's way of life? I think the only main difference is other countries don't tend to brag about it. 

in my mind, the whole idea of the american dream started out as a way to attract european immigrants so they could stack the labour force and help the economy. and over time, people bought into it, and it became a national source of pride. 

We are a braggadocio people, without a doubt.