The Pursuit of Irresponsibility

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I see a lot of things on the news that are completely bizzare. I would like to discuss the irresponsibility of many Americans.
Why do we mess up all the time?

But also, do you think Americans are getting more and more reckless in everyday life? Many of the rights we have are being abused,
such as the freedom of speech and white supremacy groups. Why should people like that be allowed to shout hate speech out like that?
That is what I am saying. Why does everyone seem to be going a little crazy?

I am not quite sure I understand the thrust of your point, so sorry if I misrepresent you - feel free to correct me!

Firstly, white supremacists are nothing new. But they're also not being irresponsible (evil, sure, misguided, sure, but not irresponsible). It would defeat the point of having freedom of speech if people with controversial opinions couldn't express them for fear of having the right taken away. IMO punishing hate speech is OK in narrow conditions, but having a hateful opinion doesn't endanger freedom of expression.

As for Americans genuinely getting irresponsible... well, Americans do lead the world in dying of stupid accidents. I am not sure this has ever been explained, except perhaps for a cultural disregard for reading instructions. It's also not anything new.

Could you give an example of some way in which Americans are getting more irresponsible but comparable nations are not?

I feel you get the just of it. Example:

http://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/impaired_driving/impaired-drv_factsheet.html

Every 48 minutes, someone in the USA dies because of an alcohol related car crash.

But as for other countries, I'd not know it if there was a difference, so I'd say they too have a problem.

Freedom FROM responsibility?

That's wut bein' uh libertarian is awl abought!

America.....f**k YEAH!




But seriously folks,

With regards to white supremacy groups and free speech... As long as they are not inciting violence, KKK douchebags should be free to say any stupid s**t they can think up.

That's the whole point of the 1st amendment. The fact that this is even questioned makes me weep for America.

I don't think Americans are any worse than anybody else.

Overall, the world is getting better in many, many respects.

Conjecture: I think in the short term people could be irrational because we're in/just out of (depending) a recession and on average people are probably looking for ways to make themselves feel happier/find scapegoats.