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Wednesday, November 11, 2026

Is America exceptional?

The nation's 250th birthday is an invitation to consider what made the American experiment unique in the first place. At a time when Americans increasingly disagree about our nation's history, identity, and founding principles, that question lies at the heart of today's debate over American exceptionalism. Too often, the conversation begins with a misunderstanding of the meaning of "exceptional." Many believe it implies that America is inherently superior. Others reject the idea of exceptionalism altogether, arguing that the United States is simply another nation. According to the American Enterprise Institute's America at 250 survey, 32% of Americans believe the United States is "just another country whose political system is not better or worse than other countries." Yet America is exceptional in the literal sense of the word.

Posted by BellRinger at 02:50 PM | 42 COMMENTS | permalink | Comment on This Entry |

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BellRinger

Joined 2021/02/07
Visited 2026/11/11

Status: user

MORE STORIES

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Admin's note: Participants in this discussion must follow the site's moderation policy. Profanity will be filtered. Abusive conduct is not allowed.

This is depressing - FTA:

" Unfortunately, too many young Americans are not learning these lessons. According to the Nation's Report Card, only 22% of eighth graders are proficient in civics, and in 2022, average civics scores declined for the first time since the assessment began in 1998."

#1 | Posted by BellRinger at 2026-11-11 02:51 PM | Reply

The good news is, another republican tax cut for the wealthy along with the destruction of public education (started when desegregation allowed Black children to attend white schools) will fix everything.

Keep Voting for Republicans!

Idiot.

#2 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-11-11 02:59 PM | Reply

#2. Public education IS the problem here. And the most impoverished districts receive the most funding.

Idiot.

#3 | Posted by BellRinger at 2026-11-11 03:09 PM | Reply | Funny: 2 | Newsworthy 1

#3 | Posted by BellRinger

Wouldn't the actual problem here be poverty within said districts?

#4 | Posted by rstybeach11 at 2026-11-11 03:12 PM | Reply

"The nation's 250th birthday is an invitation to consider what made the American experiment unique in the first place."

Racial Slavery

#5 | Posted by snoofy at 2026-11-11 03:17 PM | Reply

the most impoverished districts receive the most funding.

That must be why parents are always trying to move to impoverished neighborhoods to take advantage of their well funded schools.

What reality are you living in?

Keep voting for Republicans who actively destroy the education system in this country.

Idiot.

#6 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-11-11 03:17 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 2

" That must be why parents are always trying to move to impoverished neighborhoods to take advantage of their well funded schools"

Look at the numbers, moron.

Also, look at what teachers unions are prioritizing. Hint: it's not teaching. I created a thread about it.

#7 | Posted by BellRinger at 2026-11-11 03:21 PM | Reply

" Keep voting for Republicans who actively destroy the education system in this country."

Democrats almost exclusively run public education. Its failures fall squarely on the Democrat party.

#8 | Posted by BellRinger at 2026-11-11 03:22 PM | Reply

Republicans have done everything in their power to destroy public education.

Why?

Racism.

That's why BellRinger is such a proud Republican.

He's a racist.

#9 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-11-11 03:24 PM | Reply

This is November, Ballwasher, you pathetic imbecile.

#10 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2026-11-11 04:47 PM | Reply

Democrats almost exclusively run public education. Its failures fall squarely on the Democrat party.

#8 | Posted by BellRinger

Well that's an easily disproved pile of ----.

---- you.

#11 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2026-11-11 04:47 PM | Reply

Clownshack,

You are a seriously dumb person.

#12 | Posted by BellRinger at 2026-11-11 05:06 PM | Reply | Funny: 2

"Republicans have done everything in their power to destroy public education."

I doubt it's "everything".

I'm confident there is more they could do.

#13 | Posted by eberly at 2026-11-11 05:09 PM | Reply

I'm confident there is more they could do.

So are they.

It's no mistake that after 30 years of Republican control Texas fell from #7 in public education to #47 in public education.

"Mission accomplished!"
-Republicans

#14 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-11-11 05:16 PM | Reply

"Democrats almost exclusively run public education."

Admit you have no clue without using those specific words. School Boards run public education.

Teachers, meanwhile, are attacked on all sides: students, parents, administration, and school boards.

Frankly, I've never seen a group more in need of Unionization.

#15 | Posted by Danforth at 2026-11-11 05:16 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

You are a seriously dumb person.
#12 | POSTED BY BELLRINGER

Coming from a racist MAGA moron like you, I'll take your comment as a compliment.

#16 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-11-11 05:17 PM | Reply

Article is by the Chairman of...

"The Bradley Foundation is a major funder of state-level initiatives opposing public sector unions, particularly in Wisconsin."

That's Exceptionally Non-American Workers!

#17 | Posted by Corky at 2026-11-11 05:18 PM | Reply

" Public education IS the problem here. And the most impoverished districts receive the most funding."

Oh, you're on the right track ... now go a few steps further: WHY do impoverished districts receive more funding? What's the root problem???

#18 | Posted by Danforth at 2026-11-11 05:19 PM | Reply

Clownshack,
You are a seriously dumb person.

#12 | Posted by BellRinger

Says the paste-eating trisomy 23

#19 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2026-11-11 05:22 PM | Reply

All of this bantering just affirms my choice to send my kids to private school.

It was worth it.

#20 | Posted by eberly at 2026-11-11 05:24 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

20 posts about education. How many from actual parents or actual educators?

#21 | Posted by eberly at 2026-11-11 05:25 PM | Reply | Funny: 1

20 posts about education. How many from actual parents or actual educators?

All of them.

#22 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-11-11 05:26 PM | Reply

In many districts across the country, schools are funded via property taxes. And not state-pooled, state-distributed funds, but rather district funds kept and spent. Richer districts have better schools ... go figure.

This leads to higher tax rates on lower cost homes in poorer neighborhoods. And the poorest districts STILL need "more" money ... go figure.

My guess is increased costs due lower revenue, more languages in poorer neighborhoods, higher crime and insurance rates, and generally reduced early childhood development, among other factors.

#23 | Posted by Danforth at 2026-11-11 05:29 PM | Reply

"the most impoverished districts receive the most funding."

It's the opposite -- obviously -- since the local property tax base is the single largest source of public school funding.

JeffJ lives to lie.

JeffJ is an Alternative Facts Brownshirt.

#24 | Posted by snoofy at 2026-11-11 05:55 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

^^^you saved it but I'm still saying white males make thier own reality regardless of facts.

#25 | Posted by fresno500 at 2026-11-11 06:00 PM | Reply

20 posts about education. How many from actual parents or actual educators?
#21 | Posted by eberly

Anyone with half an education knows "American Exceptionalism" is a White Nationalist myth, not an educational concept.

#26 | Posted by snoofy at 2026-11-11 06:01 PM | Reply

@#18 ... WHY do impoverished districts receive more funding? ...

Here in Connecticut, schools are funded mostly by town budgets, not the state budget.

As a result, the wealthy towns (and CT has a few of those) have quite good public schools. The less-than-wealthy towns? Not so much.

#27 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-11-11 06:19 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

#2. Public education IS the problem here. And the most impoverished districts receive the most funding.
#3 | Posted by BellRinger

And that's why your problem isn't with public education, per se.
Your problem is that a tiny amount of Federal tax dollars are funding a small part of a poor person's public education.

#28 | Posted by snoofy at 2026-11-11 06:27 PM | Reply

@#27 ... As a result, the wealthy towns (and CT has a few of those) have quite good public schools. The less-than-wealthy towns? Not so much. ...

To wit ...

2027 Best School Districts in Connecticut
www.niche.com

...
#1 Best School Districts in Connecticut
Westport School District

#2 Best School Districts in Connecticut
Greenwich Public Schools

#3 Best School Districts in Connecticut
New Canaan Public Schools

#4 Best School Districts in Connecticut
Ridgefield School District

#5 Best School Districts in Connecticut
Darien School District
...


And, for the record, average household income fr those towns...

List of Connecticut locations by per capita income
en.wikipedia.org

... In terms of per capita income, Connecticut is the wealthiest state in the United States of America. As of 2024, Connecticut had a per capita income of $55,915.[1]

Despite its high per capita income, Connecticut is still mainly a middle to upper-middle class state. Much of Connecticut's wealth is concentrated in lower Fairfield County. Several zip codes in Fairfield Country are amongst the wealthiest in the United States. ...


Note that the five towns noted above are all in Fairfield County.

More from the Wiki link above, in the Incorporated county subdivisions area ...


Town - household income

Westport - $181,360
Greenwich - $128,153
New Canaan - $174,611
Ridgefield - $163,954
Darien - $208,848

...


#29 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-11-11 06:39 PM | Reply

#2. Public education IS the problem here. And the most impoverished districts receive the most funding.
Idiot.

#3 | Posted by BellRinger

Simply
Not
True

ex. NJ

www.google.com

Bergen County Special Services: Consistently ranks as the highest-cost district per pupil (around $97,000+ per student for specialized services).
Asbury Park School District (Monmouth County): $65,256 per student.
Brigantine Public School District (Atlantic County): $57,558 per student.
North Wildwood School District (Cape May County)
Cape May City School District (Cape May County)
Margate City School District (Atlantic County)
Long Beach Island School District (Ocean County)
Camden City School District (Camden County): $49,099 per pupil.
Somerset County Vocational and Technical School District: $48,372 per pupil.
Saddle River (Bergen County, K-6 non-special services): Close to $47,000

Bergen Co Special Services deals with special needs children
except for Camden the rest are middle to upper middle class towns

Some districts do get extra state and federal funding because their tax base is decimated by poverty

these are things called facts

Jeff is a lying piece of ---- trash person a troll, a disgusting vile ---- goblin

#30 | Posted by truthhurts at 2026-11-11 07:05 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

Stupid poor people !

-Lyin lil jeff

#31 | Posted by Alexandrite at 2026-11-11 07:07 PM | Reply


How many from actual parents or actual educators?
#21 | Posted by eberly

None.

I can tell you as a parent, the students discipline at school is horrible. The ability of the schools to kick a kid to the curb non existent.

So one bad student ruins education for the majority. This is fundamentally what's driving the disparity in education. Not money.

#32 | Posted by oneironaut at 2026-11-11 07:28 PM | Reply | Funny: 1

@#30 ... Jeff is a lying piece of ---- trash person a troll, a disgusting vile ---- goblin ...

Maybe, maybe not.

But it seems to be about the usual time it switches to another current alias ...

#33 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-11-11 07:32 PM | Reply

"So one bad student ruins education for the majority."

That's literally your role here.
To ruin discussions between honest people with your covert agenda.

#34 | Posted by snoofy at 2026-11-11 08:36 PM | Reply | Funny: 2 | Newsworthy 5

I can tell you as a parent
#32 | POSTED BY ONETRUMPER

You forgot, "open borders, liberal, Chinese immigrant who can't vote, pilot, yacht owner".

Really making the most out of this sockpuppet of yours.

#35 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-11-11 08:47 PM | Reply | Funny: 1

with your covert agenda.

Covert?

Which part?

#36 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-11-11 08:48 PM | Reply

Sure used to be,
www.youtube.com

#37 | Posted by morris at 2026-11-12 01:14 AM | Reply

No, it's not. Leave for a little while and see how at least a little of the rest of the world lives and you'll quickly realize it sucks. A lot.

#38 | Posted by jpw at 2026-11-12 01:57 AM | Reply

"American Exceptionalism" is a poorly conceived, lazily presented exercise in ignorant self-congratulation.

#39 | Posted by Doc_Sarvis at 2026-11-12 06:45 AM | Reply

Beverly the clown. You're irrelevant, too.

#40 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2026-11-12 10:37 AM | Reply

And the most impoverished districts receive the most funding.
Idiot.

#3 | Posted by BellRinger

Well, well. Look who has no ------- idea how education is funded. You're a complete joke, sonny boy.

#41 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2026-11-12 11:54 AM | Reply

We lead the world in number of incarcerated per capita, medical bankruptcies and defense spending where we spend more than the next ten nations combined.

#42 | Posted by Nixon at 2026-11-12 11:57 AM | Reply

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