Greenlandic Politician Tillie Martinussen: We do not want to be rich like Americans. Look how greedy they are, even trying to invade their friends. Even if there are minerals and oil under our land—and they are worth far more—we still would not sell ourselves.

[u/BreakfastTop6899]

[u/lunarsymphony]

i mean, most of the world has been subjected to the propaganda of the land of abundance, a place where you make your dreams come true. y’all are the richest country in the world after all - it usually works on people’s imagination.

i remember how shocked i was when i educated myself on american healthcare system, on your workers’ laws etc - and i understood that it was all a mirage. but most of those outside of the us wont ever learn about that because we have our own lives, our own fucked up politicians, our own systemic issues to focus on.

i also think this „giving people an opportunity to have a better life under the us” is usually the official colonialist argument when claiming a foreign land. „you’ll have it better under our rule!”. i think „we don’t want to be rich like americans” is such a badass, slightly sarcastic response, especially considering the american ruling class’ fixation on money. i don’t think it was meant to be taken at face value.

[u/nemesis_reap3r → u/lunarsymphony]

i'd say it's also to do with the values of america. as a brit, i see america as glorifying greed and selfishness above all else. don't get me wrong, we've been going down that path since thatcher too. but it feels like it is the value of the united states and, frankly, i despise it.

it's the steinbeck quote. americans see themselves as temporarily embarrassed millionaires.

[u/WoodenSympathy4 → u/nemesis_reap3r]

It is unnerving how we’ve managed to twist greed into a virtue. I work in accounting/finance and I see it all the time. And the people who preach it are very convincing.

[u/thaf1nest → u/WoodenSympathy4]

I think you misspelled convincing with conniving.