Ask Lemmy

American foreign politics affects almost everyone on the globe. They have military bases everywhere and the dollar still is the currency used in a lot of international trade, although that's changing.

If they didn't want to be scrutinized, chastised or made fun of then they shouldn't be in the empire building business.

Yes, it ok for humans to speak and hold opinions on things.

Of course. Although I sometimes think the obsession with US politics goes above and beyond what is practical. It’s probably more important to focus on your local politics where you can actually have an influence.

In general grounds, I think that it's completely fine for people not directly affected by something to discuss it. Sometimes it's even useful for ones who are affected - because they tend to see the trees and miss the forest.

Country/government stuff is only an example of that.

It's hard to not have an opinion when we're fed more news about America than the average American. And no, blatant propaganda does not count.

Am American and welcome any kind of discussion. I don't think any country or group should be immune from discussion, including criticism.

As with any country, we have plenty to criticize and we are large and influential enough that there should be plenty of discussion about the things we do. Especially our meddling across the globe.

No, as an American, you are only permitted to talk about events within the boarder of the land that you are in. For this reason, Americans are recommended to get summaries of recent events in any country they plan an extended stay in. Failure to comply can result in imprisonment, or event death.

I don't mind it but I draw a line at criticism of the entire electorate. Many of us know that things are broken and we'd fix it if we could.

Edit: clarity. The entire electorate

To discuss events and have opinions? Yes. To backseat drive a nation that's not even theirs? No.

My county has very much felt it has a stake in your country, whatever country that may be. We probably enforced that stake with weapons at some point.

My countrymen spend a lot of time pontificating on how they feel about other countries. I think it is entierly welcome that people other than Americans and Europeans have some discussions about us.

I sincerely hope that some of my fellow Americans get mad about the things you might have to say about us. We very much deserve it.

I don't know why Americans' opinion would matter. That said, it is fine. We're used to it.

No one is completely living outside the US. No one. Especially big elections concern everyone on the globe to some degree. It's also simply interesting, although sometimes in a morbid way.

That being said, if you're into politics in the first place, the one in your own country should have the higher priority in my opinion. I'm saying this because I know non-Americans who concern themselves more with American politics (it's flashier and social media is so full of it, it's easy to fall down that rabbit hole) than those of their own country. I think that's a problem because it distracts them from problems they face in their own backyards that they might not even be aware of.

Of course it’s okay.

Generally speaking, it’s okay for people to discuss things.

That’s what a culture of free speech looks like. People can and should talk about things that are interesting to them.

I would say it is okay for non-Americans who live outside the US to discuss US events, as long as you have children. If you are a childless cat lady, I don't see how you have a stake in anything going on in your own country, let alone another country.