Is It Really Getting Worse?

[charlietwo]

This is a very pessimistic post, but I feel the need to bring it up. I would like to see some perspective from my wiser, older brothers out there. It seems to me that we're willfully walking towards the edge of a precipice. I understand we're not faced with nuclear annihilation, nor are we facing a war that encompasses the entire world in organized conflict, but it seems to me that America is dying from within. So, my question is, has it ever been this bad?

Every day that goes by, I see more stories about various aspects of the American society crumbling under the weight of anti-American ideology. Everything from Islamism to aggressive secularism is making the not-so-subtle argument that the average American either doesn't want to survive, or they don't know how to regain the power that is obviously lost.

I have no faith in our government as an institution, nor do I have faith that the institution itself wants to survive. It appears to my young eyes that we've somehow made a death pact and this beautiful ship that is America is on cruise control and we're heading towards an iceberg. The worst part is that the two parties that are supposed to be guiding this ship are nowhere to be found. One party wouldn't know which way to steer if they got control, and the other party seems to be content with crashing just so they can blame the other. All the while, we sink into the abyss.

I understand this is a very pessimistic view, and I hesitate to even bring up these thoughts. At the end of the day, my faith brings me peace and serenity, so I don't fear the future, only try to find a path to make it better. But ultimately, as a sheepdog, I see many wolves among us. Worse yet, I see the sheep I've been charged with protecting guarding the wolves who are sitting back and salivating for their opportunity. I feel powerless, and I don't see any representation in this supposedly representative government.

So again, my question is, has it ever been this bad?

[PSM]

Originally Posted by charlietwo

So again, my question is, has it ever been this bad?

You mean besides the Civil War of Northern Aggression (I'm covering my ass here) and the late '60s? No.

See if you can dig up a copy of the movie "Wild in the Streets" (1968). The scenario depicted in that movie didn't happen at that time, but those guys grew up to become lawyers and "community organizers" and are taking a second shot.

We stopped them then. Let's get out there and stop them again.

Pat

p.s. IIRC the music in that movie was pretty good.

[C0B2A]

While I have no answer for your question because I am just as young as you, I must say that I agree whole'-heartedly on your feelings and ......

Originally Posted by charlietwo

At the end of the day, my faith brings me peace and serenity, so I don't fear the future, only try to find a path to make it better. But ultimately, as a sheepdog, I see many wolves among us. Worse yet, I see the sheep protecting these wolves, while the wolves sit back and salivate for their opportunity.

is beautifully put and I think should go in the "Best Quotes of 2008" thread.

[Richard]

If you truly study History, you will find it has always been so and your concerns are nothing new. Study, learn, and keep it all in perspective. Be positive, remember you are a citizen of the greatest nation this planet has ever known, and join the club of all those who are doing their damndest to maintain it and make it even better. And remember, it could always be worse and has been so in the past.

Richard's $.02

[Sigaba]

CT--

From my perspective, things are holding steady at 'not so great.' I felt that things were much worse in the 1970s and the early 1980s.

When I was near your age back in the mid 1980s in college at Berkeley, some of the student protests were getting very heated. A few years before, protesters had burned down the hall housing the military, naval, and aerospace departments. Now, these folks had returned as a mob chanting "ROTC OFF CAMPUS" in front of the collection of double-wides that comprised Callahan Hall.

An ROTC cadet commented about how bad things were getting. The Soviets, the furor over Iran-contra, and the flatulent ravings of the radical left were on everyone's mind. The instructor, an Army officer in artillery, stopped his lecture and provided us with a corrective emotional experience.

He told us that, upon returning to the U.S. after one of his tours of duty in SE Asia (and this was a time when soldiers who wore their uniforms stateside risked, at best, hateful remarks and spittle) the men in his battery did some training and planning in case the on-going civil disturbances of the day got any worse. He let the ambiguity of that statement sink in. He then gave us one of his rare grins that said "this is nothing" and we all felt a lot better.

I agree with Richard. The 'lessons' of history have been co-opted by politicians, ad-men, and some of the folks responsible for network television programming. This country has been through intervals of worse turmoil.

I would add that part of what is happening is that we as a nation are using an interpretive lens built on sound bites, unrealistic expectations, pipe dreams of easy a la carte fixes, the desire for single-shot silver bullet solutions, really crappy journalism, poorly written instant messages, inarticulate posts in the blogosphere, too much caffeine, and narcissistic rage.

[nmap]

Sir, it may be that I am out of my lane in posting this, since you referred to your brothers. If I have erred in posting, please accept my apologies. It is not my wish to intrude.

I believe I sense many of the same problems you refer to. Others have made cogent points about past problems, and it is true that we have united and overcome a great many challenges in years past. It is certainly possible that our best traits will again come to the forefront. I hope that is the case.

That said, I observe a variety of risks within our society. With excellent leadership and some good luck, we can overcome any of them; for that matter, we can overcome all of them. However, if we choose badly, the problems could – in my opinion – be destructive. I have listed, in no particular order, several I perceive.

1. The dissipation of a common culture. First, let me be clear – culture means precisely that, and is not a code word for anything else. Culture includes language, religion, values, and aspirations among other matters. At one time, the U.S. population seemed to have a dominant culture. Other cultures were brought into the primary culture, not always gently. When fundamental beliefs of what is right and wrong diverge, when goals and hopes are deeply different, there are many opportunities for conflict. For example, one value is freedom of speech, particularly political speech. However, considerations of political correctness are, in some areas, regarded as more important than freedom of speech. In addition, beliefs about democracy are not universal. One must ask whether a subpopulation that does not support democracy can integrate into our society effectively. I note that the former Yugoslavia broke apart, and my understanding is that cultural conflict contributed to the breakup.

A useful experiment consists of asking others what they believe the American dream is. Generally, the dream consists of getting a well-paying job or a big house. Does a shared marketplace suffice to bind a nation together? I wonder.

2. Fragmentation. In the case of fragmentation, people in various segments of society don’t communicate very much. Therefore, the ability to exchange views and concerns, is reduced.

3. Television and air conditioning. Seriously. By the way, I’m fond of both. That said, notice that each contributes to a withdrawal from interaction with the people in the neighborhood. Prior to TV and AC, people went to the front porch and (unavoidably) interacted with the neighbors. Most people could not provide the first and last name, the profession, and a few minor facts about their eight closest neighbors. Will such people draw together? Will they help each other, or will each focus on themselves alone? The withdrawal from public interaction may represent a problem. It is worth noting that many of the great public service clubs of past decades are slowly dying – and their membership is old and aging.

4. Dependency. Many have developed a tendency to call on government to address any and all problems. I cannot help wondering if we, as a nation, might sell our birthright for a mess of pottage. When I look at the burgeoning trade and budget deficits, with China as a large creditor, I cannot help but wonder. Still worse – can a people who embrace dependency be expected to sacrifice or fight for their freedom and independence? Or will they lick the hand of whoever fills their food dish?

5. Involvement. There is a tendency for leaders to tell the public to refer problems to the professionals. In essence, the public should go shopping. I suspect those who perceive that they are actively making a contribution to something greater than themselves value that something far more than do those who merely shop. Do untrained, undisciplined people make annoying messes? Of course. But the benefits of involvement may outweigh the inconvenience.

The issue of the various protests against the Vietnam war has been mentioned; but I wonder – was that really an example of divisiveness, or could it be an example of large numbers of people who agreed about a particular course of action and worked together? Could it be that those who can unite, even in disagreement with national policy, are more likely to come together than are those who withdraw into their various individual pursuits? I don’t claim to know.

Whether the above are valid or not I leave to others. Perhaps they will provide grist for the discussion.

[charlietwo]

Thanks to all for their responses. In regards to nmap, I consider everyone my brother and sister regardless of opinion or origin, so fire away brother

I think it's important to add that my intent of this thread was not to cry or whine, but to illuminate the disconnects between the American public and those who are making decisions. I feel completely disconnected from those in office and I don't feel as if the American public at large has any representation that is worth mentioning in the higher offices.

If the American people were represented in any fashion, the following items would have been addressed strongly long ago:

1) Border security -- Our borders are wide open, and I don't have to expand on the dangers of this. If we seriously intend to maintain sovereignty, our borders need to be sealed by whatever means necessary. Businesses need to be fined heavily for employing illegal aliens, and government entities that do not enforce this should no longer receive the support of tax payers. Prisoners who are not legal residents should be deported immediately, and their countries of origins should be pressed for repayment.

2) Voter protection -- American citizens should not have to worry whether or not their vote will be counted, nor should they have to worry if their vote will be discounted by fraud. Any individual, or organization found involved in fraudulent voting activity should be prosecuted for treason, and punished as such. As a democracy, fraudulent voting is the tantamount to selling secrets to enemies. This activity is unacceptable, and turning a blind eye is equally offensive.

3) English language -- Without a common language, cohesion is non-existent. Cohesion is essential in a state of peace. In a state of war, a lack of common language is divisive. Western civilization is currently in a state of war with Islam and socialist ideologies. We are divided by a plethora of loyalties to various states and entities. All state business should be conducted in English, and all matters of business conducted by the state should be conducted in English.

I realize my ranting is rather insignificant and irrelevant, but I know these things are very important to the survival of our great nation. I am only reverberating what is already widely known amongst those who care about this country the most. But if it is not said, it will be forgotten. These concepts should be spread aggressively in the mainstream thought of the population.

From the perspective of an insurgency, we are losing. We are losing to an insurgency of socialist doctrine because we have lost the ability to fight against it. Our institutions have been destroyed from within. The hearts and minds of America are enslaved to the teat of the Nanny state, and only our voices will break those chains. I know of no other way to rise up against this.

I have faith that the foundation of America is set into the Earth itself. I do not doubt that we will survive beyond troubles and hardship, as our constitution is simply a representation of what we all already know -- man is created by God and we are all imbued with the rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. This can not be destroyed, only squelched. I see it to be extremely important to raise our voices until we deafen those who make decisions. We are being ignored by those charged to represent us, and they will preside over our funerals if we let them.

I don't know what's gotten into me tonight, but I'm tired and pissed,. I want to have children one day, and I don't want them to be born into the country I see in the near future. Our G-Base is already breached, and it's only going to take one dark night to turn our secure haven into a cradle of anarchy and death. The seeds of destruction have already been sewn, and I don't want to wait for them to bloom.

C2

[Sigaba]

C2--

I agree that the disconnect between the American public and the elected officials in the federal government is huge. We members of the public can help to bridge that gap by getting better informed and more involved. This board and the honest efforts of its participants to discuss and to debate the issues of the day is but one example of how Americans across the country are trying to do more.

I respectfully disagree that the American system is in mortal peril. The ferocious engine of democracy is sputtering right now but it is going to get a tune up and a motorist who knows something about driving in the fast lane.

Is the political opposition winning or is it on its last legs? I think it is the latter. Here's part of the reason why.

By any reasonable measure, the Democrats should have won each of the last two presidential elections and should win this one. Yet, Senator Obama has a slim lead in the polls and only because America is facing a unique crisis and he's appropriated the rhetoric of class warfare that is patently empty. (To paraphrase Senator Bentsen: Senator Obama is no Karl Marx, hell, he's not even Karl Malden or Harpo Marx.) He's the political version of Sanjaya Malakar but with even less range.

The darkness we're witnessing is the moment before the dawn. Ours is the inheritance of Lincoln, TR [Theodore Roosevelt], Eisenhower, and Reagan. Our esteemed friends across the aisle know this is true; hence the shrillness of their empty polemics.

Americans buy books about Senator Obama but they read books about Abe, Ike, and the Great Communicator. A few thousand Germans took a few hours off to listen to some music for free and to take a gander at the novelty item. Europeans by the tens of thousands spend their time and money to come to Simi Valley to pay homage at Dutch's resting place.

Is the question: 'are we losing?' or is it 'when will the dawn come again?'. In 23 days.

[nmap]

Sir, I believe the items you mention are simply manifestations of a deeper underlying problem. That problem, in my opinion, includes culture, values, and fragmentation.

Let’s start with border security. Why are the laws not enforced? The majority of voters want border security; why does our government fail to act?

The businesses that hire illegal aliens do so to reduce labor costs. Their owners can make direct contributions to politicians and hire lobbyists to advance their interests. The voters who oppose open borders are not united, do not make significant contributions, and do not hire lobbyists. In addition, one of the drivers of inflation is increasing wages. If an influx of illegal aliens suppresses wage increases, then overall inflation is reduced. That, in turn, tends to reduce increases to Social Security and other such programs.

I believe it is fair to say that the issues of border security have been subordinated to the desire for profit and a national policy that uses this mechanism to fight inflation. Our politicians listen more closely to money than to the voters.

Voter fraud is a tool used by some (generally leftist) politicians to acquire votes. It is interesting that the press, the courts, other political parties, and the public are not incensed. It suggests that people perceive little value in their vote. Voter turnout seems to imply the same. This looks like disengagement from the greater society and the political process. Could it be that we have withdrawn from public life as the political commons cease to share universal views?

The value of English is another point – and deserves careful examination. A strong movement toward multiculturalism has existed for some time. An element of culture is language. Thus, different segments of society are being encouraged to maintain their culture and hence their language. The process of encouraging English fluency is sometimes referred to as “cultural domination” and even “cultural genocide”. I hasten to add these are not my views; however, the terms are included in readings I am required to do in a university class. Here we have a class, in a state university, that actively promulgates positions detrimental to the maintenance of a unified culture.

In darker moments, I wonder if such fragmentation is not encouraged. A nation with a united people may be difficult to control. However, a fragmented people, filled with groups who distrust and fear each other – who do not understand each other – is easy to rule. One simply plays one group against another. Groups that do not conform can be punished easily. Do some of our politicians act in such a Machiavellian manner? I suspect so.

My concern is that we are likely to enter an extended period of financial stress for many people. If that’s true…and if our national bonds are little more than a shared marketplace…then the future holds some significant challenges both for us as individuals and for the nation as a whole.

None of this is whining. It is political discourse in the classic sense; it is a discussion of ideas and perceptions that deepens understanding. It is the essential first step toward constructive change.

[rubberneck]

Originally Posted by charlietwo

So, my question is, has it ever been this bad?

Yes, 1972 to 1980 were pretty dark times. High unemployment, run away inflation, mass gas shortages and there was a very large segment of our society that indulged themselves in self loathing. In fact those young people are now the clowns running one of the two major parties, but I digress.

I almost started a thread last week about the similarities between this years election and the one in 1976. If Obama wins the outcome will be similar to the disaster that happened under Carter. Sadly I don't see a Reagan on the horizon to come our rescue.

[charlietwo]

Originally Posted by nmap

My concern is that we are likely to enter an extended period of financial stress for many people. If that’s true…and if our national bonds are little more than a shared marketplace…then the future holds some significant challenges both for us as individuals and for the nation as a whole.

None of this is whining. It is political discourse in the classic sense; it is a discussion of ideas and perceptions that deepens understanding. It is the essential first step toward constructive change.

Sir, I think you've officially outlined the cracks in the foundation in a concise, eloquent manner If only a fraction of the population wasn't hypnotized by everything around them I think my biggest problem is that I have no faith in our elected officials to govern this country away from the precipice we're facing. It is definitely a shame that I felt obliged to preface this with a disclaimer for whining. Serious political discourse has become somewhat of a "tin foil hat" past-time for the sleeping masses.

Mr. nmap, in your opinion, what course should be taken in the financial sector? It appears to me that either Mr. Paulson is getting incredible deals under the table, or he has some very ugly skeletons in his closet (with pictures to prove it). Aren't they simply devaluing the dollar in the face of increased competition?

I am seriously at a loss of what can be done to achieve redress in this country. Even Joe the Plumber has become a national pariah in the eyes a portion of this country. Do we really have to wait for World War III before people to wake up to the threats we face?

[Defender968]

Charlietwo, I share many of your pessimistic views on what is going on in our great nation, (I think it comes from being a LEO and seeing the dark and dependent sides of society for so long) specifically the fact that lobbyist have much more power and influence than we the people do. I don't have a simple solution for you, but being aware of the problem is the first small step. My argument on the second step is becoming politically active, now as a member of the military you must be careful, no campaigning in uniform, I wouldn't even email my congressman or senator from my military account, however contacting your representatives is important. Keep them honest, what I mean by that is weigh in on the issues and if they don't represent you, fire them, by casting your vote for another candidate. The beauty of the internet is we no longer have to type a hard copy letter, put a stamp on it and send it to our representatives, a candid succinct email serves the same purpose. I did exactly that a couple of weeks ago, my belief on this bailout bill is that it was the wrong bill, we needed to act but I don't think this was the best way to do it. I emailed my views to both my congressman and senator, and I made it very clear that I would vote against either of my representatives who voted for this bill. Both of my reps voted for the bill, and I emailed them to tell them not only had they lost my vote but I would actively vote against them.

Now not every issue is going to be a line in the sand, but whatever yours is, make your representative aware of it and then follow through by voting them out if they do not represent you.

I personally think we should clean house in Washington, fire all incumbents and let’s start over. I further think we should elect officials who will vote for term limits as a large part of the problem in my opinion is the Bidens and McCains who stay in office for 30+ years, hell I don't think Biden has ever even done anything else besides be a Senator.

As others have said, keep the faith, we are in tenuous times, but while the liberals and crazies on both sides of the isle are actively driving our country towards destruction, the backbone of this country is not those nut jobs, it is the people, and while there are lots of morons out there, they are still vastly outnumbered by the good people like you who worry about where we are headed and are willing to step up to divert us from destruction.

Just my .02

[Detonics]

Originally Posted by Defender968

they are still vastly outnumbered by the good people like you who worry about where we are headed and are willing to step up to divert us from destruction.

The above is for the moment, true. We'll see who ends up completing the "step up to divert us from destruction" part.

The word for our situation has been defined for ages.

plu·toc·ra·cy /pluˈtɒkrəsi/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[ploo-tok-ruh-see] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun, plural -cies.
1. the rule or power of wealth or of the wealthy.
2. a government or state in which the wealthy class rules.
3. a class or group ruling, or exercising power or influence, by virtue of its wealth.

I don't believe our Founding Fathers could have anticipated outcome based education, the extent of media manipulation or most importantly, career politicians. The political process was envisioned as being completed by intelligent men serving temporarily to better the lives of their constituency, which is quite different than what it has devolved to.

[nmap]

Sir, I would take it as a great favor if you would call me Dave.

Let us consider our political leaders for a moment. Who are they? How do they get in office? How do they remain? In essence, they are people who look good on television and say various things that focus groups tell them are popular. They must raise large sums of money to fund future campaigns, and they must placate those who influence groups of voters.

From this, much follows. The need for money makes them susceptible to influence. Do people contribute hundreds of thousands of dollars to candidates because of their dedication to good government, however defined? That seems unlikely. Can money persuade an officeholder to modify his or her position? Can it change votes? Clearly, both individuals and organizations believe this to be the case, else they would not support the expense of such efforts.

We might, perhaps, also wish to look at the voters. Let us engage in a bit of whimsy for a moment. Suppose Sarah Palin, when asked about the economic crises, had furrowed her brow for an instant, leaned forward, and started talking about the details and particulars of economic theory, banking, international trade, and the various structured investment vehicles involved. After a brief pause to catch her breath, she leans forward, fixes the interviewer with her gaze, and discusses the implicit assumptions used in the statistical models used, and points out the flaws involved. She then might lean back and outline the impact on global GDP, bank capitalization, and the capital formation function of the investment banking industry. Even if it were broadcast, how many would watch? How many would understand? And - would she be admired for such in-depth knowledge, or dismissed as an egg-head?

We accept sound bites and slogans instead of educating ourselves on the important matters of our day, and then demanding (through our vote) that our leaders address issues with depth and seriousness. Our discussion here has better interaction and greater depth than did the recent political debates. What does this say about the quality of discourse the voters tolerate?

Let us look hard at our voting. On the upcoming ballot, in my location, voters will have the opportunity to vote for Chief Justice of the State Supreme court. An important position, certainly. How many will study the candidates and their positions? How many will make an informed, intelligent decision? For lesser offices, will the voters look deeply into the candidates? If the answer is no - and it often is - what sort of leadership can we expect?

The financial sector, in my opinion, represents a variety of trade-offs. One trade-off is economic pain. We have a lot of bad debts, and hence a lot of bad securities based on those debts. If we take our bitter medicine and write off the losses with no bailouts, then we will see quite a lot of economic pain. That will include failed banks, bankrupt businesses, evicted (former) homeowners, and substantially increased unemployment. On the positive side, we avoid increasing our national debt, we let those who made poor choices experience the consequences of making those decisions, and we clear out the problems quickly. I question whether our politicians or the voters will accept such a course. I suspect we would see calls for socialism that would make Lenin blush.

The other choice, bailouts, may mitigate the consequences. We will see some of the various effects mentioned, but (perhaps) to a lesser degree. In addition, the politicians can say they are "doing something", which is useful in dealing with voters. The price may include increased inflation, increased debt, and increased taxes. Those who made poor decisions will escape the consequences, so the same behavior will crop up in a different form. The public, since it perceives less pain, will be less inclined to demand government solutions.

Now Detonics brings up a good point about plutocracy, and it is worth some serious reflection. First, a poll (of limited size), done by a Wall Street Journal blogger, suggests that most (three-fourths) of the rich (defined as between one and ten million dollars net worth) support a conservative approach, and hence will vote for Senator McCain. But two-thirds of the super-rich (those with over 100 million dollars net worth) support Obama. Perhaps money and trust funds will insulate the super-rich; however, I suspect that the real reason is that the increases in inflation will help them. If one owns a lot - property, stocks, precious metals, or what-have-you, then inflation increases the value of your holdings over time. However, if one has little more than a pay stub and a rent receipt, inflation is devastating. So...we have a category of super-rich, and a category for Joe six-pack. Which category fits Secretary Paulson best? Which group writes big checks to politicians? Which, then, will be protected by the politicians?

There is a second point we might consider about a possible plutocracy. Politics requires a great deal of money as well as ample free time. A person working two jobs at a low wage is highly unlikely to enter a political contest, and still less likely to win. Most of our political leaders are well off. They own assets that will protect them from inflation. They own stocks. They do not live on a modest wage or a limited fixed income. Will they vote in terms of their self-interest? I suspect so.

More pointedly - if the dollar declines and gasoline goes to $10 per gallon, who does it hurt, and how much? And, if they have the knowledge or staff to guide them, can they invest to profit from such action? (Yes, they can profit.)

You ask what we can do to change our path. I'm tempted to offer a cryptic answer - everything, and nothing.

Everything in the sense what we could all do as Defender suggests and communicate with our elected leaders, along with intelligent voting. In addition, we can work to change policy. Quite seriously, there is an excellent book on how to influence political policy and create real changes - the title is Policy Studies for Educational Leaders: An Introduction, by Frances C. Fowler. It focuses on educational policy, but can be expanded to any area. It's well-written, easy to read, and deeply revealing. It's a bit pricey, so you might wish to ask your library if they can get a copy through interlibrary loan. As active-duty military, you may not be able to use the methods provided - that does not mean you cannot learn them. The book shows how ordinary people can go from reactive to proactive - how we could actually shape policy and legislation over time. No, it is not easy, and yes, it would take time and effort to do so - but it is possible. The book tells how. (By the way - the book does not involve sedition. It is not radical. It is a mainstream discussion of how to enter into the policy-making process.)

So, with time, effort, and energy, we could turn things around. In a few years, we could find ourselves on a much better path.

But I also said nothing, didn't I? The problem is not that we cannot act, but rather that we will not act. We are comfortable. Most of us have plenty (or too much) to eat, have reasonably nice houses and cars, possess more entertainments than we can possibly attend to, and enjoy abundant free time. Our lives would be the envy of the rich from a century ago, and of the royalty of three centuries past. The task of change requires that a satisfied people stir themselves to get off the couch, turn off the TV, and start educating themselves on serious matters and working toward change.

Therein lies the great problem. Will it take WW III to change our national attitude? Not necessarily. It will require substantial discomfort (pain) for a majority of the population, such that they choose to reform themselves. Until the environment changes, they will choose to remain as they are.

I think we can be confident the financial and geopolitical environment will change. There are a number of converging possibilities, and unless our leadership and population do a lot of things right, we will experience significant adversity. When that happens (I do not use the term "if"), people will be shaken from complacency, and they will seek solutions. (Of course, that's just my opinion. Others see a far brighter, more affluent future.)

And that is where you - you personally - come in, along with many members of this online community. I recognize there are constraints imposed by service, so please do not take anything I mention as suggesting any violation of those constraints. That said, you know how to lead. You have skills in working with and through people. There will come a time (in my opinion) when those around you will look to you for guidance, for direction - and, perhaps, even for protection. With wise leadership, they can move to a better path. Perhaps formally; or, perhaps informally, behind the scenes, with a few words - you can be one of those leaders. I hope you choose to do so.

[American_Pinoy]

Complacency has beset many within our country. A few in here have also mentioned what others feel; those who hold offices of authority are maintaining status quo rather than blazing new trails.

For many of us here who have been down range you can tell the wealthy from the poor. I can not recall seeing many of the “working class” being overweight. We have become so used to the good life here that we feel things should be given to us and not earned.
In many places people struggle to maintain survival while in others they struggle for a place in line at the burger joint.

Throughout the history of this country we have faced many tumultuous and trying times. It seems now more than ever we have become a society of instant gratification. A nation living beyond its means and soaring debt are a testament to this. Whatever happened to hard work and savings to obtain something?

There has been a division among those who have and those who have not for many years. There will be until the end of time in my opinion. Keeping up with the Jones’s is never a good thing and goes back to the instant gratification society we have become.

How many today have experienced rationing of food, natural resources, etc? Today it seems an impossibility but not too long ago it was a reality. How can you learn to pick yourself up if you never fall? How can America learn to live within its mean if we bail out those who made bad decisions? In essence what we are doing is socializing the bad decisions of a chosen few. The consequence is a debt that my grand children may be paying.

In as much as our government is responsible for many things why should it make us any less accountable for our own actions? People need to wake up and learn to take care of their own issues.

Give a man a fish and feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and feed him for a lifetime.