Why Americans don't understand America's Mental Illness

[International Gringo]

As Winston Wu already mentioned (along with research on the web), America leads the world in mental Illness, loneliness, Anti Depressant pill consumption (over 50% of the world), use of Psychologists, obesity, shooting rampages, serial killers and jail population. These are horrific statistics that should cause alarm for any country (especially a developed one). Whenever a shooting rampage occurs Americans are quick to:

A.) Blame the killer is an isolated nut
B.) Start debating about gun laws or
C.) Say this poor man needs Jesus.

The awkward part is that very very very few people question American society itself. With the exception of Winston's website there are very few other information outlets who talk about why American society is dysfunctional. I can understand why the mainstream media/politicians doesnt talk about it (because it wants to keep the status quo), why the Pharmaceutical companies doesnt want to talk about it (because they are making millions off of everyone's misery). Even many American women are stressed out by the demanding over working hours in this country due to corporate influence over our politicians.

When will Americans finally began to wake up that something is not right with our American society? How many more shooting rampages do we need before they finally wake up?

[OutWest]

The word hyperbole comes to mind. I and many others observe USA social disfunction , as well as the prison and pharma industries that feed off the system. Overall crime rates in the USA are not especially high. If you look at subcultures, Latino and especially Black populations have crime commission and victimization rates that are vastly larger than White or Asian populations in the US.

However, when it comes to social disfuntion and alienation, one can argue that the USA is near the top in that category, although measurements are hard to come by. I and other men moved and married overseas, so we are less affected by all this.

To think that Winston and HA are lone voices in the wilderness on this topic is just silly. This site and all its membership is no more than a molecule of the vast body of writings on all of these topics, many of them dating back many decades. Google any aspect of any of this and you will see huge numbers of pages...in the millions.

Unfortunately, most men here will spend their lives crying in their beer rather than changing their lives.

[Winston]

Great point OP. Besides the toxic society in the US, here is a deeper reason for the high rate of mental illness in America that I've theorized. What do you think?

viewtopic.php?f=32&t=23301

Two other alternative researchers have come up with the same theory as me: Michael Tsarion and Stefan Molyneux. However, they both assume by default that America = The World and that all other countries are the same and have the same rate of mental illness. It's not true, but that's what they assume and think. For some reason, it's more politically correct to lump all countries together than to differentiate them.

[Contrarian Expatriate]

American Culture requires optimism at all costs, even when it is not warranted.

Slaves were expected to support the American revolution, and those that became the Black Loyalists and fought for Britain, were criticized.

Native Americans were considered ungrateful when they were rounded-up and placed on reservations, many of which were taken back or removed for various reasons.

When people understand they are disadvantaged, but are told that "everything's great," this creates madness which can boil over to violence.

[Jester]

Great posts here. Wisdom.

Thanks to all and especially the OP.

[GoingAwol]

Contrarian,
You are so right! Here recently in America feminists have been speaking out about white straight male privilege. Basically they tell us that we are the most privileged group in the world. Just look at me... I'm a young white straight male and I work a shitty low paying job. I have to work tons of overtime just to make ends meat and I'm lonely and can't find a girlfriend. Do I sound privileged? I don't think it's any mistake that most crazies we hear about on the news are white guys that had nothing to lose. The average straight white men are being marginalized by American society but you won't hear about that in the media.

[droid]

make ends meet

[Dragon]

make ends meet

Maybe he really means meat? Maybe he really likes BBQ.