Why ordinary Americans are prohibited from building and renovating their own homes

[Maxmars]

Hi DI!

I am glad you posted this.  It kind of speaks to one of my interests... how Americans are perceived by other people, given narratives that they are exposed to, and their own experiences with Americans in general.

I notice that you are a professional journalist.  That's good too.  I'm sure you are well aware of the trust such a profession carries.

You offer that common general competence is distinct from American.   That we lack the ability or means to 'take care of' our homes as "Russian men" can.

I can only congratulate you on your ability to intercede in restoring the electricity to your home.  Of course, the knowledge to repair that junction box problem must be common in Russia, so if it hadn't been you, given what you say, anyone else would have done it... that is fortunate.

Here, a different scenario would unfold.  I would hesitate and maybe even inquire if I saw a fellow tenant fiddling with the complexes' junction box.  Here, in America, our tenant communities are not such that we all glow with a confidence that "this guy must surely know what he is doing."  Here, I would think... "Huh... how do I know he is not going to accidentally start a fire, that he has any idea of what he is doing, or that he won't make matters worse?"  Never mind the possibility that the responsible agency for that equipment won't object so extremely as to invoke the law... which is just as likely to "undo" the fix... leaving us without power for as long as it takes to resolve the added 'unauthorized tampering' event.

But that's all hypothetical.

I feel the tale of your friend is what happens when politically-appointed authoritarian bureaucrats impose strict regulation on private matters... but that's just what you choose when you move to certain places which figure prominently in 'interceding' third-parties.  'Fines' are how they make their money...  In other places around the world, it is concealed within having to 'please' certain people to get good service... or any service at all... but it is there... and you seem to think that the narrative surrounding it makes all the difference. 

That idea is not unusual... we do that here too.  I've even heard of people "punished" just for confronting it... more 'fines,' enhanced 'scrutiny.'  This is what some people do for a living... the worst of them enjoy it almost as a sport.  I don't think that's just an "American" thing.  I'd bet it happens in Russia as well.

By the way, how the infrastructure of the US electrical system makes use of 110 volts vs. 220 volts is not about "power bragging rights"... it's about efficiency.  We get 220v where we need it... it's how the system is engineered; your comment reeks of "mine's bigger," the kind of 'political thespian' trope that doesn't really serve your purposes.



I sometimes feel like you paint an image of the United States as a bunch of hapless morons being led by self-serving political clowns, complete with circus music....

Well, we're not... The people of the United States are bunch of regular good people being led by self-serving political clowns, complete with circus music....

Just like the Russians (and most everyone else.)



I suspect your editorial sources appear concerned with making certain that "America" is always looked down upon...  and I can't fault you for that because the opposite but equal effect is felt here in media talking about "Russia."

"America" and "Russia" both are in quotations in that last sentence because unless you are a programmed person you know just as well as I that the people of Russia and America are extremely similar to one another... we laugh, we cry, we want things... the rest of it is just 'window dressing' for someone's narrative.