We are the richest country on the face of the earth.
We always have plenty of money for new whizbang arms systems. Tanks, planes, carriers, missiles--everything the military wants, everything the defense contractors can come up with, we can't get enough of it. Just tell us how much and it's a done deal.
We always have plenty of money to fight seemingly endless wars all across the globe. Our troops have the best equipment and plenty of it.
We always have plenty of money to bail out failing banks or Wall Street institutions. All they have to do is fuck up badly, and then cry for help, and voila! Their money worries are over.
We have so much money, we can give great big tax cuts to the richest Americans and let most of our largest corporations get away with paying little or no taxes at all.
But when it comes to helping regular people, that's where we make an exception to American Exceptionalism.
Universal health care? Sorry, can't afford it.
Concerted effort to fight climate change? Sorry, can't afford it.
Free, or at least cheaper public colleges? Sorry, can't afford it.
House our homeless? Feed our hungry? Sorry, can't afford it.
Strengthen the "safety net"? Sorry, can't afford it.
Retrain those who lose their jobs to technology? Sorry, can't afford it.
Clean green economy? Sorry, can't afford it
High speed rail? Sorry, can't afford it.
Paid maternity leave? Sorry, can't afford it.
Universal pre-K and after school programs? Sorry, can't afford it.
Progressive taxes on billionaires? Wall Street transaction tax? Sorry, can't afford it.
I guess it's these "exceptions" that make us so exceptional.
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