[Discussion 2017] What are America's Core Values?

Free speech, guns, cheetos.

 

I don't like this. The idea that 320 million people could (much less should) have the same "core values" just doesn't seem right.

When talking about large groups like that I think you can only safely make very vague generalizations about "core values" that are so broad as to be basically meaningless.

I don't know, man. I'm probably not making much sense. I just personally don't like this type of thinking.

 

oil
racism
worship rich people
war

 

Money

 

I think there'd be more rioting and crime without internet dating apps and online p*rn.

 

I never signed a "social contract" so it requires nothing of me.

 

Don't be a dick.

 

Freedom to grab p*ssies.
Freedom to have improper sexual conduct with 14 year old girls.

 

It should be don't be a hypocrite and do as you say, but that seems too hard.

 

I mean not really right? it's not like 320 million people all interact with each other. I think different regions probably has its own core values more or less, but that can also differ depending on wealth, level of education, race and culture.

I think most people just live by common sense and follow the law and mind their own business. You don't have to agree on core values to have a functional society.

 

But we do pretend we have a set of core values.

 

America is very diverse. This is why its hard to find a solution to anything.

Our core values have eroded into selfish behavior and our creature comforts. Everyone is entitled to everything.

 

The core value for the country as whole should be to make the United States prosper in the long run, but vast majority of the politicians really don't care about that today.

 

I think we do have some and they are very general. But, I don't think that's meaningless. I would say our values are at least: personal freedom, capitalism (hat tip @arno_ed), rule of law. Sounds pretty vague, but it isn't hard to think of times and places when societies did not have each of these and how it made those societies very very different from ours. Now, the particular things we do won't always adhere, but I think you'd find broad agreement among Americans that we ought to pursue those.

 

I wholeheartedly agree. There was a time politicians encouraged sacrifice for the greater good. Now politicians only do just enough to get re-elected.

...such as Kennedy's 'Ask not what your country can do for you...'

 

Free speech is a core value and it has always been attacked and argued over since the founding of the country.

Free enterprise, voting, and the right to be a complete jackass all are American virtues. We protect the rights of people to expose themselves as complete assholes.

 

Awwww you are so cute my little Chinese red star.

 

The Core values differ greatly based on where you live, the color of your skin, and who you vote for.

Core values for California liberals -
-Free Speech, protest, & dissent
-right to vote, and voting should be incredibly easy
-equality for women and minorities
-strength in diversity
-Free to work whatever I want, or not work at all
-love has no gender or race rules
-even a minority religion like Islam should have equal religious rights to Christianity
-Government should be completely separate from religious groups
-If you aren't a liberal you are probably a racist

Core values for Alabama conservative-
-freedom of religion only means evangelical Christianity
-Republican or you are going to hell
-voting should be hard, and you have to earn it like I have
-Everyone should pack heat
-Oil & Gas career is the only career that matters
-Football and NASCAR (but football players aren't allowed to be actual people....just war machines)
-abstinence is the only form of birth control. If not you are going to hell
-Pedophilia is okay if you go to Church on Sunday and are a Republican