Are Americans brainwashed?

In most countries, allowing a corporation to donate  to a political party/candidate in return for a favor is called "Corruption "

"lobbying is legal"

THAT'S THE EXACT PROBLEM!!!

I am Norwegian. What we learn is critical thinking. Do not believe the things you hear from authorities. Do your research, triangulate, be curious and inquisitive. Think for yourself.

He said you were ranked 57th on press freedom, the 2026 figures came out two weeks ago, and now you're 64th.

we don't do pledges of allegiance here in Europe. that reminds us a bit too much of 1940-1945

You cannot solve a problem until you admit you have one

"in our country, lobbying is legal"
That's exactly why it isn't a democracy.
Because companies aren't people. Shareholders are not "majority of people".

People, who don't know history, are doomed to repeat it!

I am Canadian.

One summer I worked as a camp councillor in Pennsylvania at a camp that mostly catered to kids from New York City.

The 10 year old kids I worked with found me very confusing.

They asked me if I would move to the states if I had the chance. I said no.

I said Canada is the second largest country in the world. Then I "lied to them" about America not being the largest country. They were offended when I told them that Russia is the biggest, then Canada, then China...

I didn't put my hand over my heart for the playing of the us national anthem. The kids confronted me and told me that it was rude, how would I feel if someone came to Canada and refused to put their hand on their heart while the Canadian anthem was played? I replied that nobody does that in Canada I turned to an Irish co-worker who commented that they don't do that in Ireland either.

I was a foreign exchange student in the US for 6 months and was in trouble daily for refusing to do the pledge of allegiance, the teachers didn't seem to be able to understand that it wasn't my flag so why should I pledge allegiance to it.

16:36 As an Aussie, hearing Americans constantly talk about how they're the "freest country in the world", I would always be thinking something like "The lady doth protest too much, methinks"

I am an American, but I'm also Puerto Rican. And in Puerto Rico we are taught world history extensively. And Of course we are also taught American History. And every time I am in the States or the main land as we call it... I'm astounded about how little history people from the States really know.

Reminds me of an old joke:

American and Russian citizen are talking.
Russian: Your propaganda machine is so great!
American: What do you mean? We don't have one!
Russian: Exactly!

As an Australian the idea of having to recite a pledge to a country before class everyday sounds like something straight out of a cult

There is no propaganda in Ba Sing Se

I've met a few US Americans in my time ... and especially their lack of knowledge of history and culture was shocking ... even more shocking was the lack " US" history pre independence...as if nothing existed beforehand.. so if they don't even know their own ( and their immediate neighbours) history,  you cannot expect them to know anything about the rest of the world

Yes. The pledge of allegience is creepy as hell, very culty.

Honestly, I think the problem far more basic and far more severe: The american education systems just sucks bigtime. I once heard a story from someone who was assisting in the organisation of student exchanges or studying abroad.

That person told about a young german man who had just gotten his certificate for entry into university in a european education system. His grades werent all that good, he passed, yes, but nothing exceptional. He went to study in the USA. There he outclassed every other student and passed every exam with flying colors.

But that person also shared a story about an american girl, who had always gotten top grades during school in america and who then decided to study at a university in Germany. The result you ask? She had to prospone her studies, because she had 4-5 years worth of european school education to catch up on, before she was even able to keep up with the basic teaching at a european university.

Of course these are only examples, but from that person's experience, this kind of difference was common.

And also since you mentioned how some countries had really good free education and how it was it expensive to get into those: Yeah, germany doesn't have that. There are private schools but they are only special needs childreen or the exceptionally gifted. But germany's publics schools provide excellent education and, provided your marks are good enough for, you can get all the way to a university entry qualification, while at most paying for a few school books, if even that. Also all childreen are legally required to visit a school in germany. Homeschooling is illegal in germany and exceptions can only be made under very special circumstances.

Going to a university or vocational training does require some amount of money.

Semester fees are ~300-400€ (varies by university, subject and semester) and you will also need some money for your living expensive. Some student do sidejobs, but there are also public funds, which you can apply for, if your personal means are not enough. No need to go into debt for studying.

Vocational traing is usually funded by company that trains you and they also give you a salary.

There was no American side of the war it was the Allied side and the Axis side.