3 hard-hitting fictional TV minutes on America

News Night?

My thoughts of it are first off if liberals always lose how does that explain the last election?

Leaving that aside I agree with most of what was stated that the US does have some big problems but in terms of whether America is the still the greatest that really depends on what you look at. We are still the largest economy and by far the largest military. The rest of the world still depends mostly on us for international security and for better or worse we are still a hegemony and for the most part the only superpower. Also one problem I often had with this idea about the good old days of the US when we did big things it wasn't like those times were utopia either. One thing a lot of what drove the big things we were doing was a rivalry with another superpower where the possibility of global annihilation was a common concern. As far as fighting for ideals lets not forget that during the Cold War we supported coups that replaced democracies with tyrants and supported repressive regimes all around the world for our own strategic interest. While we are a fearful society now this isn't a new thing as we had Red Scares, racial strife and white flight all during those times.

While it may be that America's greatest days are behind us I think there is some truth to that but I don't think that doesn't mean we are no longer a great country and one that is unique in it's own way. I made this same comment in another thread a few months ago about someone bad mouthing the US.

http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showpost.php?p=7131647&postcount=31

As I said then what makes us better than many other places is our ability to reinvent ourselves and for those crying about how America isn't like it used to be that is true it isn't but that is one of the strengths of this country is that we are not tied to history.

 

To Giddyup I have a question. What he is talking about is the heyday of American Liberalism when we had things like the Great Society, the New Deal and massive government programs like the space program. Would you support the idea of undertaking such massive government programs again?

 

This show sucks, this was the awesome preview that convinced everyone to watch it. Pretty awesome though

 

Nice thing about fiction, it's easier to make your arguments when you can to write the arguments of those you disagree with. You get to craft a world as it ought to be.

You wouldn't see Aaron Sorkin ever debate someone in real life.

 

Never seen the show, but an interesting teaser.

 

Masturbatory, vulgar, and glib.

 

Woohoo stating the obvious!

Spoiler

....sure wish more people did though. National pride, if there is such a thing, should only stem from the present and nothing else. Truth is that the US is not a democracy anymore, that morality is not black and white anymore, and politicians aren't honest anymore- People aren't honest anymore. Consumption for the sake of consumption...a nation full of glutenous extravagance and worship of "famous" people, whatever that word means. People more worried about crime on TV than crime in their backyards, more concerned with what the 1st lady is tweeting than getting out of their chairs and helping the broken down war vet next door.

Whatever. Bottom line is that people get their kicks from all the wrong things these days. I'm 20, and this IS a ****ty era in humanity. #whatabravenewworld

 

So, can someone sum it up? I make it a general principle to not watch YouTube political videos unless they're from an actual newsource, and mostly not even then.

 

The Newsroom, written by Aaron Sorkin, is the source of the video. Jeff Daniels gives an impassioned answer to a college student, who asks "Why is America the best country on earth?", that is both angry, passionate and remorseful. This was leaked to the Internet before the premier of the show and caused many people to think that HBO had greenlighted an important, idealistic show that was important because it was idealistic.

Really, the show was about Jeff Daniels being in love with his executive producer and she wasn't named America.

 

Not least of all because it's not his job, and that conservatives seem to be getting whooped good enough as it is.

 

Great show and Daniels looks great for whatever age he's supposed to be; but the first two answers were just as valid and seemed less tainted by grumpy dad generational bias. Seemed like the political version of one of those corny-ass boomer emails talking about how no-one wore seat belts, recycled anything or had to press one for English and life was just hunky dory.

 

spot. on.

 

Aaron Sorkin has always been pretty preachy, I'm Australian so I can't really comment, but how does one define "freedom" anyway? I don't think most countries have freedom, as I thought freedom would be something like Libertarianism?

 

It would, but them dangerous words 'round these parts. Put yer flame suit on.

 

Lol, uh oh, my bad...
Thanks for the heads up

Just figuring out what everyone thinks freedom means...

 

Some say freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose, but they're wrong. Consequence goes hand-in-hand with freedom.

In political terms I would define it as the state protecting, and not restricting, the activity of citizens.

Sadly, the notion that people should be allowed to do whatever they want is considered radical these days (freedom naturally leads to inequality, and we just can't abide differences).

 

I agree, I think "pure freedom" would lead to anarchy. I sort of hope humans intellectually evolve enough though, that people can do what ever they want while being reasonable and understanding - definitely hard to picture with society the way it is, but I can dream.

 

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/YrXlA9FrsKM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

(summary for Kojirou- Freedom isn't free, it costs a buck o five)