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Culture War Roundup for the week of May 20, 2024

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America does not really seem to have a coherent philosophy

Of note - "America" isn't a person and can't have a coherent philosophy. Many individuals are equally incoherent to what you posit here, but others really aren't. There are plenty of police-state enthusiasts that think people shouldn't own firearms. There are plenty of firearm enthusiasts that want to eliminate no-knock raids (outside of rare, extreme circumstances).

Foster was allowed to open carry a rifle.

Again, many individuals may have an incoherent stance, but mine is fairly clear - blocking streets is a crime, using a firearm to do so is an escalator, and the government should have cracked down on BLM intimidation tactics. They didn't in Austin because Austin is a left-wing city and the city leadership offered tacit or explicit endorsement of BLM and its tactics.

Its true that it is difficult for a nation to have a fully coherent philosophy, but I do think the US is more..inconsistent than other Western nations. Probably because Federalism is essentially the idea that you can have different philosophies of government co-existing within the same nation. Its deliberate that Texas and New York can make different decisions on what they teach or tax. Even if the Federal government has steadily expanded its reach over time.

That and sheer size and population compared to most other single nations means you're not really propagandizing one single philosophy.

This happens other places as well of course but i think it is more evident in the US. Whether this is a positive or negative is dependent on your POV I suppose.

I do think the US is more..inconsistent than other Western nations

Because we are a union of separate nations, governing themselves separately, while allowing for free movement and free trade within the member states.

Right, exactly my point. So essentially this is kind of baked in to your model. That you are going to have even more incoherence because it's like comparing Germany to France. But due to the 2 party nature of your politics it's not 50 separate nations, it's become kind of twoish with a bit of wriggle room.