Dear TBC,

Freedom is an interesting concept when applied to the United States. With the world's highest incarceration rates by a country mile, about six times that of Australia and over ten times that of the Scandinavian countries, in a very literal sense it doesn't deserve the title 'the land of the free'.

While I think many Australian's have a idea of the attractiveness of the freedoms that come with any democratic society we do recognise there is a balance required to achieve a degree of egalitarianism in our country.

Lose some choices to get a universal health care system in place, give up the freedom of choice over wearing a seatbelt or motorcycle helmet to save citizen's lives. Etc.

To Americans the notion of freedom is virtually a religion and why not, it is a high ideal. But just as unfettered capitalism is destructive to the fabric of a society so is absolute freedom. It decrees a rejection of the notion of a common weal.

The real freedom on on offer is the freedom to have a crack at the big lottery that is the US, you even have a lottery for Green Cards. If you crash and burn then so be it but at least you got a ticket to the greatest show on earth. And I bet that if you did get yourself over to the States to visit some of the gutter dwellers a large proportion would not be prepared to deal themselves out of the game.

“the national mythology holds that we are a 'nation of rugged individualism', the implication is that there are no classes, no masses, just 300 million rugged, freedom loving Daniel Boone/Marlboro types in charge of their own destinies.”

That individualism myth has allowed the cutting off of the limbs of any proper union movement, the demonising of any notion of collectivism, and an easily conquered, hyper-divided under-class.

csteele

Indeed, I don't disagree with your round up.

Australia demonstrates many of the same afflictions.

There is an idea that Oz is not a working class nation but a middle class on. A denial as big as anything Joe exposes in the US.

It is 'faith' that drives these lies, and blind faith at that, plus a national reluctance to reflect and question.

That all comes from our economic system, which dangles tantalising images the weak and befuddled see not as holograms-on-the-clouds but 'real'.

Bread and circuses, son et lumierre, call it what you like, it's a national illusion/delusion.

Joe had the ability to understand that, see his neighbours as suckers, and yet still like them as fellow humans but he also made excuses for them, in my view.

Still, then again, maybe he just saw the futility of fighting in a nation that refused to read 'The Emperor' and so kept on with their blind faith, in religion, individualism and 'economics' as understood throughout the West today?

I enjoyed reading his book anyway.

Thanks for the introduction to a thinking American - I'd never heard of the guy before this thread.

I see lots to like.

"Tom [Thomas Jefferson] and Ben [Benjamin Franklin] could never have guessed we would chase prepackaged spectacle, junk science, and titillating rumor such as death panels, Obama as a socialist Muslim and Biblical proof that Adam and Eve rode dinosaurs around Eden.

In a nation that equates democracy with everyman's right to an opinion, no matter how ridiculous, this was probably inevitable.

After all, dumb people choose dumb stuff. That's why they are called dumb."

Nice work Joe.

Thanks Csteele

I doubt Joe Bageant would've give a fart's chance in a hurricane about how 'vale' was spelled. Indicating the author of that particular pedantic post being more a a part of the problem than contributing anything towards a solution.

Particularly after reading the following from Joe:

http://www.joebageant.com/joe/2010/12/america-y-ur-peeps-b-so-dum.html#more

Also, TBC I agree with your observation regarding Joe, like many 'Americkuns' tend to see no further than 'sea to shining sea', but he can be forgiven for his insight into a complex culture.

Thank you Joe Bageant.

Dear Ammonite,

In moving to Belize to live on $5,000 per year (much of his other earnings going to worthwhile causes) in response to his past consumption patterns speaks to me of someone with a greater world view than just from 'sea to shining sea'.

Sure his focus was on the States, understandably so, but he did not have the luxury of an Oxford education of the likes of Christopher Hitchens who has ended up somewhat as an apologist for the US anyway.

To me one of Joe's most visceral essays was Revenge of the Mutt People.
http://www.joebageant.com/joe/2006/01/revenge_of_the_.html

Some might read it and say Bageant was making excuses for what went on at Abu Grahib and perhaps it is the eye of the beholder but to me he was instead giving reasons or explanations. He was also apportioning blame and responsibility.

“Middle class American liberals cannot have it both ways. It has come down to the simplest and most profound element of democracy: Fairness. Someday middle class American liberals will have to cop to fraternity and justice and the fact that we are our brother’s keeper, whether we like it or not. They’re going to have to sit down and actually speak to these people they consider ugly, overweight, ill educated and in poor taste. At some point down the road all the Montessori schools and Ivy League degrees in the world are not going to save your children and grandchildren from what our intellectual peasantry, whether born of neglect or purposefully maintained, is capable of supporting politically.”

Joe finishes with;
“We mutt people, the pit bulls, have always been your own, whether you claim us or not. And until you accept that you are your brother’s keeper, and help deliver us from ignorance, you will continue to have on your hands some of every drop of blood spilled -- from the sands of Iraq to the streets of East L.A. All the socially responsible stock portfolios, little hybrid cars and post-modernist deconstruction in the world will not wash it off.”

http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2011/04/19/254411_news.html

csteele

AS I read your first link, I pictured the Australian Flag draped thugs at Cronulla.

I certainly do not deny that Joe's home grown philosophy has no relevance for the rest of the world - particularly many whites. I would also add that not only was he writing from an American perspective but also a male one. Not that there aren't white female rednecks - there are however, their experience would add another dimension to the diversity of white culture. Maybe there is a Joanna Bageant out there somewhere.