“It’s as Backawards as Can Be”: Things in American Culture That Make No Sense to the Rest of the World

Self-reflection is necessary for growth, right? A fellow American acknowledges how US culture as a whole has adopted a “crab bucket” mentality. This way of thinking is summed up by the phrase, “if I can’t have it, neither can you.” It’s inherently selfish, short-sighted, and not a great look.

This person feels that the “crab bucket” mentality is most prevalent when it comes to US politics. Many politicians lean into feelings of fear and focus on people’s differences rather than their similarities. We fall for it and tear people down rather than lifting them up. Every human wants to lead a happy, fulfilling life, so why not help each other?