A little rant on the state of America

[PQ]

Very well written. I agree. Your point is absolutely inarguable. I'd like to see someone try. It is a fact, and not just an opinion. And it's happening.



I see our sense of self entitlement as the biggest downfall and the underlying reason for the erosion or our leadership in technology and our shrinking GDP as well.


COMPLACENT, we have become as a nation.

[WadeWilson]

Complaceny and arrogance has been our worst enemy. The USA used to mean something to people outside our country. They respected and feared us and now that's just a story we tell our kids.

I'm proud to be a part of this country and to be able to take advantage of the freedoms our forefathers and veterans have provided but it saddens me that we are now in the state we are. We have become lazy, complacent and entirely to politcally correct. We are worried too much about not hurting someone's feelings rather than doing what's right. Why should we ban the pledge of allegiance in schools in order to bow to someone else's beliefs? Would they do the same for us? I think not. This country has always been the land of opportunity and the melting pot of the world, and that's what is so great about it, but too many people have taken advantage of that opportunity without doing their part.

We never seem to have the appropriate funding for education but there is always enough to send to Haiti or to Iraq to fight a war. We wonder why our children's education is lacking. Many teachers don't care anymore because of the lack of respect they're shown.

Things need to change but I fear things will get worse before they improve.

[AZCamaroFan]

Yeah, but if we were doing big things, creating new industry, then big government wouldn't get to take care of us all.

[Oddball]

Less laziness and less selfishness among Americans would do MUCH to improve the condition of our country and its position among the nations of this planet. That said, I have some improving to do. If I'm going to expect it of others, I had better get busy "practicing what I preach".

[brandotron]

Originally Posted by Oddball

Less laziness and less selfishness among Americans would do MUCH to improve the condition of our country and its position among the nations of this planet. That said, I have some improving to do. If I'm going to expect it of others, I had better get busy "practicing what I preach".

Agreed. There is a general sense of malaise that has swept over this country. We're fat, we're lazy, and the rest of the world mocks us for it due to our former success in so many fields.

I'd like to think that we're realizing what we've done to ourselves, and we're working to change things. Every time I flip though the channels, I see "get fit" infomercials and new stories about how we screwed up this war or that war. Media reports whatever makes money, and right now it's reporting our own failures as Americans. Perhaps we're ready to own up to them, take responsibility, and get back to changing the world for the better. It's what we do best.

[5thGenOwner]

First... I love Camaro5

&

America... what does she stand for? Well, for me it has always been the line from the Declaration of Independence:

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the persuit of Happiness."

This is AMERICA, everything that the OP was talking about... exactly why people came/come here. This is also why a 'New World Order' will never work. America stands for personal success and failure, but the rest of the world doesn't work that way... their Governments decide who succeeds or fails.

[bobby35ny]

I agree with the OP, 110%!

I'll take it to the next step, Go to the supermarket, we are even outsourcing our food supply.

-Bobby

[MLL67RSSS]

Very good and thought provoking post OP! As a former Engineering Tech in consumer products I sure hear you. First it started with manufacturing being shipped out becaues it was SOOO much cheaper, all the while they/we were building up their skills overseas until eventually they could do all of the engineering and design. At least I didn't have to go over and train my replacements like some of my colleagues had to do before they shut us down. Hey they have got to save very penny they can, how else can they pay all those executives eliminating all the decent paying manufacturing jobs those 7 and 8 figure yearly compensation packages. Seems they're not too concerned that when no good jobs are left, who's going to buy their stuff? I know it sure concerns me. I saw a documentary on the History channel a while ago that said after WWII over 70% of the worlds goods were designed, developed, and manufactured in the USA. I don't think I want to know what that percentage is today.

Also the point Qwkss bring up is a big concern of mine. With many schools no longer giving acheivement awards for excelling in reading, or spelling, or math, etc., because it hurts the self esteem of the students who don't get them. Or when children participate in sporting events where they don't keep score because it makes the losers feel bad. Or as he stated where everyone gets a trophy because it makes those that don't get one feel bad. All that type of thinking just scares the heck out of me. What is going to happen when all these ill-prepared and overly coddled children grow up and go out into the REAL dog-eat-dog world?!?!?! There are going to be some real unhappy people out there that are going to expect someone to make everything all right for them, and who do you suppose they'll expect that to be? IMO I fear it will only worsen the trend of the direction that this once great country is taking.

[Brokinarrow]

Originally Posted by MLL67RSSS

What is going to happen when all these ill-prepared and overly coddled children grow up and go out into the REAL dog-eat-dog world?!?!?!

Nailed it right there!

[bigearl]

I agree with a lot of what people are saying. However I still think we have the kids in this country who could kick it into gear if they found a big enough dream to use their brainpower on.

Right now as a country, there just isn't anything amazing the world looks to us for. I don't want to belabor my point, but a couple more examples. In 1969 they estimated that 80+% of all television sets that existed on the entire planet were tuned to the moonlanding. In the 80's viewership of Reagan's speaches as he was standing off against Gorby was in the 70% range. That last 2 Presidents have struggled to break into the mid 30% viewership (except immediately after 9/11) because they don't have anything of real direction to offer. After 9/11 there was a sudden rush of people inspired to charity or to the military to try to make America safer. Then for the next 7 years I watched as various people did everything they can to delegitimize people's efforts to do right after that event. The only 'doing better' that counted was recycling.

It's all tax-cuts or health care or the crisis du jour. I'm not saying those debates aren't important, but they're hardly the things that inspire the young or the brilliant to step up their game or move here. There are coddled kids to be sure, but it's a coddled spoon fed country- what do you expect out of the kids.

I was a teen in the 80s, so the things that defined my world view were making money and kicking commie ass. A teenager today is going to have the defining world views of cultural integration and green-ness.

[Brokinarrow]

Fusion power I'm tellin ya! Get someone to give a fiery speech on how it will change the world (cuz it will) and launch this country into a new Golden Age!!! (cuz it will)

[arod55]

That why I bought a Camaro, I have been buying foreign cars for 30 year's. My wife just recently traded her Camary in for a Chevy Malibu. We are doing our part. What is scarry is that I just bought new American Racing rims for my 55 Chevy and guess what they are made in China. If I would have known that I would have never bought them. I realize about Globelazation, but we can do a better job on choosing our purchases.

[CamaroSpike23]

Originally Posted by Qwkss

And the fact that when Lil Johnny or Lil Susie doesnt win at something, they make up some BS trophy for last place. Seriously, where is the Drive to do better?? We are rewarding sub-par performances so that we dont hurt someones feelings.

Beware the lolipop of mediocrity. Lick it once and you suck forever.

[cab2g]

We ARE America. Do your part and don't let your kids settle for 2nd best. The only way to make sure that we stay on top is to make our kids see that they can always do better than their parents.