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[Zangi]

We value everyone here as a part of the family.  As long as we know who the head of the house is around here.

[Squeegy]

It's shite being Scottish.

[wierd]

You know, this kind of thing just smacks of the British version of "American Exceptionalism."

"Oh yes, We LOVE you Scottland! Please don't go! (We get our jollies keeping you pushed down and under our thumb!)"

Or

"OMG, you mean we might actually have a Scottish dominated parliament (and or, prime minister) some day!? Oh noes! Our centuries worth of asshattery will doom us all!"

[nenjin]

You know, this kind of thing just smacks of the British version of "American Exceptionalism."

I'm not sure you're grasping what American Exceptionalism is about.

[Squeegy]

Yeah, and, America is mostly just Britain Plus. The smoother, crisper flavor.

[wierd]

You know, this kind of thing just smacks of the British version of "American Exceptionalism."

I'm not sure you're grasping what American Exceptionalism is about.

Oh, but I do.  It extends beyond just "I'm an american, so I deserve magically higher wages!", and sprawls into the territory of "I'm an american, the rest of the world is just my own personal walmart."  You know, the whole "Sweatshop labor? Who cares, as long as the price is cheap" thing, coupled with wars for oil, and other such fun things.  All the same clam-bake.

"We love China! They make all our cheap plastic crap!"

In this case though, it's British people culturally acting the same way, except with the people they have historically bullied.  The previous statement about the US just being Britian-Plus-One is pretty spot on.

[nenjin]

You know, this kind of thing just smacks of the British version of "American Exceptionalism."

I'm not sure you're grasping what American Exceptionalism is about.

Oh, but I do.  It extends beyond just "I'm an american, so I deserve magically higher wages!", and sprawls into the territory of "I'm an american, the rest of the world is just my own personal walmart."  You know, the whole "Sweatshop labor? Who cares, as long as the price is cheap" thing, coupled with wars for oil, and other such fun things.  All the same clam-bake.

"We love China! They make all our cheap plastic crap!"

In this case though, it's British people culturally acting the same way, except with the people they have historically bullied.  The previous statement about the US just being Britian-Plus-One is pretty spot on.

That's a whole lot of stereotypes about America, but that's not what American Exceptionalism means.

[wierd]

So you are referring to the political theory version, where the US was founded on free enterprise, and republican rule?

From wikipedia

American exceptionalism is the theory that the United States is qualitatively different from other nations.[2] In this view, U.S. exceptionalism stems from its emergence from the American Revolution, thereby becoming what political scientist Seymour Martin Lipset called "the first new nation"[3] and developing a uniquely American ideology, "Americanism", based on liberty, egalitarianism, individualism, republicanism, democracy and laissez-faire. This ideology itself is often referred to as "American exceptionalism."[4]

This is just nationalistic sensationalism, on par with the British notion of Empire from the day.  While it's true that the British version had more of a feudal flavor involved, and the US version has a more Fascist overtone, the basic notion at work is the same. "My nationality is the bestest ever, and deserving exceptional treatment because [convenient reason]." You'll find it everywhere that there is a strong government trying to justify its political actions against political rivals. I prefer the more generic moniker of "Nationalism," personally.

In the scope of it describing some uniqueness to the "american way of doing things" (culture, art, philosophy, whatever), it still is just puffery.  Yes, the US way is unique. Just like all the others. The US is NOT the first country to try rule by plutocracy (originally through republicanism)--  Rome did it first. It lasted a while, but didnt end well. Same issues with nationalism.

[nenjin]

I don't really think it has to do with preferential treatment (at least in our understanding.) It IS about the US being god's gift to the world, how everything we do is better than other people doing the same thing, ect....But I don't know if in our understanding it's ever been about how people treat us or what we get; it's how we view ourselves.

[wierd]

Exactly!

The British view themselves as being somehow innately better at governance than the Scotts, despite the two having co-habitated and integrated with each other to such a degree that the differences are pretty superficial.  There's pride in heritage, and that's about it. Still just petty nationalism in convenient wrapper.

[Sergarr]

"Scots ruling England" would be an interesting way to solve both the independence and devolution problems at once.

[mainiac]

Oh, but I do.  It extends beyond just "I'm an american, so I deserve magically higher wages!", and sprawls into the territory of "I'm an american, the rest of the world is just my own personal walmart."  You know, the whole "Sweatshop labor? Who cares, as long as the price is cheap" thing, coupled with wars for oil, and other such fun things.  All the same clam-bake.

I was unaware that enjoying high buying power when trading with the 3rd world was an exclusively American trait.  I guess it must be that Europeans buy the exact same tube socks and iphone covers that are made in China but it doesn't count because they dont have as large a military?

[Darvi]

"Scots ruling England" would be an interesting way to solve both the independence and devolution problems at once.

I, for one, support our Scottanian overlords.

[MarcAFK]

Just Jumping back to the textbook discussion from yesterday:
1000$ Tv Stand.
 

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Pearson is doing well at that college.

[da_nang]

Just Jumping back to the textbook discussion from yesterday:
1000$ Tv Stand.
 

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Pearson is doing well at that college.

My University Physics is still serving me well, keeping my monitor at a decent height.