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Picture this: a massive nation filled with endless opportunities and freedom of speech where anything you can dream of is achievable. It’s the best country in the world! As long as you make hundreds of thousands of dollars a year, you aren’t a minority, you manage to avoid gun violence, and you never have to go to the hospital, you’re going to live a wonderful life there!

Global opinion on the United States might be split, but there’s one thing we can all agree on: we enjoy poking fun at the country. So whether you live in the land of liberty and bleed red, white and blue or you’re a curious spectator from another country, enjoy this list we’ve gathered of some of the best down-home ‘Merica memes on the internet from the American Memes Facebook page. Then if you’re interested in even more content about the good old USA, we’ve got the perfect Bored Panda piece for you to read next right here.

#1

Funny-American-Culture-Jokes

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Marek Yanchurak
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The sad part (well, all the parts are sad, honestly) is that easy access to preventative care significantly saves money over all. But, yay for free market capitalism make our healthcare sooo efficient...

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Whether you love it or hate it, the United States is hard to avoid. Being the third largest nation in the world based on landmass and population, the influence of the US reaches across the globe. Almost everyone knows who the president is at any given time (especially when they’re as outspoken as the last one was…), and millions of people who have never visited the country have an idea of the culture just from media exposure. Home to nearly 45 million immigrants, the US is also a cultural melting pot and a popular destination for international travel. It’s a global powerhouse in terms of the economy too, accounting for about one quarter of the world’s economic output.

And clearly, as the American Memes Facebook page shows, there is a global audience for making fun of the US. With over 550k followers, American Memes has uploaded over 600 photos sharing painfully true jokes about the United States. The topics of the memes cover anything ranging from health care to American sports, and sometimes they even include comparisons to other nations.    

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Part of the reason making fun of the United States is so easy is because of how much everyone knows about it. It’s a lot easier to make jokes about a loud and proud nation that's influence reaches the entire world than it is to make specific cultural jokes about smaller countries. But despite being an easy target, sometimes it feels like the US is just asking to be made fun of. Don’t get me wrong, I love certain things about it too. The city I grew up in is full of friendly people, and I’ve never had to pay to use a public restroom there. Also have you tried Tex-Mex? It’s incredible. But I can’t help but agree with some of the critiques people from around the world make about the US.

Of the many quirks of the US that people like to make fun of, one of the biggest is the culture of individualism. Americans tend to be taught that everyone is responsible for their own success and that they don't need to take care of or worry about anyone else. Contrary to nations like Sweden, where there is a cultural emphasis on equality and a lack of hierarchy, the US encourages individuals to boast and be proud of their accomplishments. Being "the best" is something to be proud of, and standing out is admired.  

#4

Funny-American-Culture-Jokes

American Memes Report

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Sheila Stamey
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well, not my generation. I'm one of the gen x evidently that were educated under the Jimmy Carter era in that brief and shining moment of clear thought where the metric system was actually taught alongside the imperial. I would have preferred to have had more time with it, but hey a year is something. At least I get this . Okay. This is comparable to Florida folks wearing coats in 60 degree Fahrenheit, versus my Maine neighbors who moved to SC and would wash their car in shorts anytime the weather was above 40 degrees fahrenheit.

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The American culture of individualism didn’t necessarily have to be a bad thing. In theory, it could motivate hard work and encourage everyone to do their best. But in reality, it creates a competitive culture where people tend to have little sympathy for others who are struggling. For example, some Americans look down on homeless people assuming they didn’t work hard enough to end up in their situation, and wealthy individuals aren’t typically concerned about the high health care rates because they have no problem paying their bills. The Pew Research Center even conducted a survey a few years ago to see just how individualistic Americans are. They found that 57% of Americans disagree that success in life is mostly determined by forces outside our control. To compare that to another powerful nation, only 31% of Germans thought the same. 73% of Americans also said that it is “very important to work hard to get ahead in life”.

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#9

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Lucas
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ah, I've been bitten by some evil wee beastie on my hand and had a nasty localised allergic reaction and not gone to the doctors. Saw a pharmacist who gave me some over the counter meds and that did the job. A lot of things don't require a doctor, if unsure a pharmacist can be a good place to check.

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Another interesting quirk about the US is how religious the nation is. Among the rest of the world, richer nations tend to be less religious, with fewer than 25% of the population saying religion plays a very important role in their lives in countries like Australia, Canada, Germany, France, Japan and Great Britain. However, in the United States, 54% of Americans consider religion to be very important. 53% of the US also said that “belief in God is a prerequisite for being moral and having good values”, compared to only 23% in Australia and 15% in France.

Americans also contradict the global trend on wealth of a nation compared to people’s positivity. The Pew Research Center explained that when interviewing participants for this survey, they asked everyone at the beginning how their day was going. They found that the participants most likely to say they were having a good day came from poorer nations like Nigeria, Colombia, Nicaragua and Kenya. Whereas less than 28% of participants from Germany, Spain, France and the UK had the same response. Meanwhile, 41% of Americans reported having a good day. Something about that individualistic culture really puts a smile on their faces I guess.  

#11

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American Memes Report

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JinxBox
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah you know you've been a jerk when you can't freely walk among your people 😉

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Something else the rest of the world loves to mock the US for is their health care system. Contrary to most other developed nations, the US does not have universal health care coverage or any uniform health system, and the rates for treatment tend to be much higher than in other comparable countries. In 2019, for example, the average American spent about $11,000 on health care, whereas the average Canadian spent only $5,418 and the average Brit spent $4,653. Dealing with complicated insurance policies varying widely between companies is another issue Americans have to face, but these high costs and hassles don’t even seem to be worth it. The US spends more money on healthcare than any other developed nation, but its health outcomes are not any better. For example, the US is on the lower end of life expectancy and safety during childbirth and the higher end of infant mortality rates and heart attack mortality compared to other wealthy nations. Why the system is this way is beyond me, but it certainly makes for good meme content.

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#15

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Nathaniel
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How is it right you can get married, own guns, join the army, drive, vote all before you are allowed to have an alcoholic drink?

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Detroit Citizen
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1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I stand with you Nathaniel. I dont understand that either. We expect our kids to go fight all over the world and they cant even drink. Ive meet teenagers (19 yo) who was on leave who had seen some sh#t, more than i have in my 45 yrs, yet they cant even have a beer legally. Go frakkin figure.

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Alex Ernst
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I actually agree with this US quirk. Based on what we know about brain development, I don't think people should drink hard alchohol until they're 25.

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Tamara
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ah, the Netherlands desided no alcohol under 18 years. I heard we are also considering no Mac Donalds under 18

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Max Hogan
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You should have to be 18 to do everything, drink, drive, vote, serve in military and serve in a marriage.

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BroknBtBlesd
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well yeah! Who wants a drunk groom or bride, an armed drunk or a drunk army private driving to the polling place to cast his/her ballot. Instead let's get drunk and trash people on the way to the football stadium.

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Scotira
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Last time I was in the US I've been told, not all the States in the US have the "no drinking under 21" law. But that might have changed though 🤔 it's already been 20 years since my last visit...

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Detroit Citizen
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Its all the states, 21 to drink, 18 for tobacco and guns, and weed if its legal in their state. Im in Michigan, so weed is legal at 18. Im not sure about Puerto Rico and our other territories.

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Awsomemom52
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Have you seen European teenagers lately... and most importantly, compared them to Americans in terms of average height? Just saying . German teenagers are tall. 6 feet is the average height, but many are way taller. My two sons for example are 6 feet and 6,1 feet tall... and they're both in their 20s. The Teenagers now are even taller than that.

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Fitz_N_Fartz
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I can relate to that. Schoolfriends dad owned a pub, maybe that is why I got good playing pool when under the influence?

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GramDB
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

American born cultures have a DNA alcohol intolerance that European cultures do not have.

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MimSorensson
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well… We do need to be eighteen up here in Sweden. But 21? That’s just cray cray.

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HumanBeingFromEarth
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When we made it 21, car crashes decreased dramatically. I personally think it should be higher, like 25, but 21 is necessary. Car crashes dropped by a drastic amount. I’m not shaming America on that.

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Another aspect of American culture is the idea that “bigger is better”. This comes into play with elaborate displays of wealth like purchasing fancy cars and multi-million dollar mansions. But it also affects the way some Americans eat. According to Health Day, the standard American diet has increased by over 300 calories a day over the past 25 years. The US ranks twelfth in the world for obesity rates at the moment, with about 40% of the population being considered obese. There are many contributing factors to these rates including calorically-dense processed foods being less expensive than healthy foods, large portions of food, a culture that revolves around sitting in cars, and an overall lack of physical activity. And while the US isn’t the only nation in the world struggling with rising obesity rates, it certainly has become known for this issue.     

And how could we discuss the United States without mentioning the elephant in the room: guns. While the topic of guns is extremely controversial and sensitive, it is worth mentioning because the gun ownership rates in the US are certainly unique to the country. For every 100 residents in America, there are over 120 guns. Yemen, the nation with the second highest gun ownership rates, doesn’t even come close, with only 52 firearms per 100 people. And after Yemen, no countries have over 40 guns per 100 residents. Sadly, the US also has to deal with the issues of mass shootings and school shootings more than any other nation, due to their lax gun control policies. These tragedies are certainly not a joking matter, but they are an unfortunate, unique facet of American culture.   

#20

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American Memes Report

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Deborah Harris
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1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We have the same in South Wales, UK , we have the bigger story ... it's just that the English Government forced us to stop talking in our own language to tell it

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The American education system is yet another topic other countries tend to harp on. Americans are notorious for not being able to speak any other languages and for being comically bad at geography (even their own nation’s geography). For example, a 2019 survey testing Americans on geography, foreign policy and world demographics found that less than half of the participants could “identify Afghanistan as the country that provided al-Qaeda with safe haven prior to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, despite America having waged a war in Afghanistan due to this fact for nearly two decades”. And slightly over half of the respondents could locate Iraq on a map, even though 100k American soldiers were stationed there fifteen years ago. Less than 30% said they learned about foreign policy in school, and most of them could only answer about half of the questions correctly. Schools are lacking funding, and it’s becoming increasingly difficult to find passionate and effective teachers because educators are often overworked and underpaid.

#24

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PCW10101
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I wish! So many 'final tours' don't bother coming to Oceania, its so upsetting.

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Even though we all like to make fun of the US, there are certain achievements that the rest of the world can acknowledge. The Pew Research Center conducted a survey in the fall of 2021 to see how 17 other nations perceived the US, and the results weren’t all negative. Most respondents considered American technological achievements, entertainment, military and universities to be above average or the best in the world. American entertainment is particularly embraced by young people around the globe, with over 75% of respondents between the ages of 18-29 considering movies, music and television coming out of the US to be some of the best in the world. The majority of participants also said that they think the US government protects Americans’ personal freedoms and rated President Biden’s international policies positively. 

#26

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John Lun
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When an American loses argument. "We got freedoooom". Confused looking europeans, yes so have we.

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Every nation has its pros and cons, but as a country that tends to boast that it's the "best in the world", the United States deserves to be the butt of a few jokes. These memes are all in good fun, and we recognize that the US is a massive country full of a wide variety of individuals. Enjoy the rest of these pics, and don't forget to upvote all of your favorites. Then let us know in the comments what you think the best and worst parts of American culture are, whether you live in the US or you're an observer from the outside!

#28

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Raccoon Queen
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The thing with the imperial system, is that I in practice think it makes more sense because I grew up with it. In theory, metric all the way

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#29

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Nathaniel
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Having to pay for an ambulance. Seriously? The USA is backwards with it's health care. Choose between necessary medical help or debt!

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#30

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lenka
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Bahaha. At least Emus are huge and have giant talons and are scary as f%$k when they are angry.

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#31

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Thomas.Rudd
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Uh, oh. You are in trouble. (Also, was it on purpose Switzerland is on the goofy one?)

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#32

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Sean Merchant
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

At least SpaceX is actually used by NASA. Unlike Jeff Bezos and his big penis rocket for super rich tourists.

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Nathaniel
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I thought this was an American culture thread? Also, you really need to come to England and have some proper English grub.

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#36

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Raven Sheridan
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1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ha! That's nothing! I live in Western Australia. From our state capital, (Perth) it takes over 15 hours just to drive over the border to our neighbouring state of South Australia!

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#40

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Aran Lindvail
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have cups in half a dozen different sizes in my kitchen. They are a ridiculous unit.

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#41

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Nathaniel
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The irony of the USA thinking they are "free" compared to the rest of the developed world.

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Nathaniel
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The European one is probably healthier. And I would choose over the other option. And I do not even smoke or drink coffee.

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#43

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SelkieBlackfysh
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Pff, not exactly true. They'll want you to fill out a paper so they can charge the hurt person thousands of dollars. If you're hurt they'll want you to fill it out too. Broke both arms and they wanted me to fill out paperwork before they'd help me out it was a joke.

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#44

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Lyop
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Is it just me or did I just feel hotter looking at the second picture?!

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#46

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Kristal
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Haha the head on the cup aligns with the man standing in the bleachers

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#47

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Kathryn Baylis
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1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Some of the last vestiges of the worst of colonialism has to do with oil. We really need to divest ourselves of those incredibly racist attitudes. We also need to divest ourselves of our dependence on oil. OIL. IS. A. FINITE. RESOURCE!!! Only so many forests and dinosaurs died to create it and we’re now obviously scraping the bottom of the barrel for it—-pun intended—-because we have to drill deeper and more expensively to find it, and pump an increasingly dirty and low dried crude that costs an arm and a leg to clean and refine—-ending up with a mere fraction that’s usable afterward. Not to mention the issues of transporting it from the oil fields to the refineries—-train wreck = environmental disaster for the place it wrecks + biohazard for that place’s residents. And don’t get me started on oil companies wanting to foul the few pristine wildernesses still in existence, for no other reason than they think there’s oil there and want to do some filthy and permanently destructive drilling just have a look-see and maaaaybeee find a drop or two of oil. Switching to alternative sources will loosen Big Oil’s stranglehold on us, and finally level the energy playing field.

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#50

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Note: this post originally had 131 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.