While I involve myself in these discussions (because I think it important WHY people think what they do, more than WHAT they think), I am increasingly troubled by the belief that the so-called "issues" we debate are actually completely unimportant.
Will the relative treatment of Rights and cultural norms mean much in a country that is getting sectioned up by global corporations? Will your gun rights matter when there is no work for the majority of Americans?
Alarmist? Probably. But what is holding us from backsliding into oblivion? Is our country really qualitatively different from 1950's America in terms of wealth, influence, efficiency or quality of life? Are we a generation facing down global Communism, winning the space race or making up for the darkness of the Great Depression?
I don't think so. We don't have a society, technology or mission that is really any different than we had in 1975. The internet fails to actually achieve any sort of new understanding - it just allows factionalizing to occur at a greater rate than ever and encourage the spread of disinformation and rhetoric.
Corporations are now bigger than ever before, dominating the attention of the governments that rely on them for GDP. Wealth IS moving away from the center.
Education is faltering, and no one knows if it is educators, junk food, ADHD, video games, teen pregnancy or budgets that are the cause. Autism comes out of nowhere to affect something close to 1 in 100 children - for life. Asthma and obsetity leave their mark on way too many kids as well.
I frankly don't see how anyone is doing anything more than coming up with different (and mostly ineffective) ways of pumping the bilge on our sinking ship. Like I said in the other thread, we aren't thinking big enough.
At the time I advocated the US going into space. It is familiar territory and Americans have a social set up more conducive to massive changes in economy and mission than Europeans. But an economic revolution could also be achieved by actively attacking fusion power, nanotechnology or genetic manipulation. They all have varying levels of affect, and inherent danger - but all are able to change our paradigm.
Why? Because I'm getting the very sick feeling that the US is about to graduate to the post-world power status that the British have worn for so long. They once influenced the world, now they're more of a footnote. How are we so different? We don't do much of anything that can't be done as well in many other lands. Our ability to open more Tex-Mex chain restaurants and write video game code doesn't count for much.
The future is China, unless we step up. They have the type of cultural control, eager public and general resources to execute an economic revolution when it becomes necessary. Personally, while I have no beef with Chinese people, they are a culture of serfs, and that is not a culture that I want to see become the movers and shakers of the coming century.
We need to stop talking about trying to "fix" America so it resembles some idylic Leave It To Beaver vision of a past we never had. The march of time is either a bull we ride or a steamroller. We are exhibiting way too many hallmarks of statists in a world that has less profit margin to divey up.
I would seriously recommend you all examine our world and recent history to determine for yourself if we are on a road that is sustainable. I fear we are going from holding our own to economizing, economizing to tightening the belt, and from there to closeout prices for the highest bidder as desperate adults pledge their allegiance to ANY intity that will promise to preserve a mockery of their former affluence and station in a world that doesn't need any more picket fences, mortgages and SUVs.
China? Corporations? Or a leadership that advocates change at the most basic level? Your call.
Will the relative treatment of Rights and cultural norms mean much in a country that is getting sectioned up by global corporations? Will your gun rights matter when there is no work for the majority of Americans?
Alarmist? Probably. But what is holding us from backsliding into oblivion? Is our country really qualitatively different from 1950's America in terms of wealth, influence, efficiency or quality of life? Are we a generation facing down global Communism, winning the space race or making up for the darkness of the Great Depression?
I don't think so. We don't have a society, technology or mission that is really any different than we had in 1975. The internet fails to actually achieve any sort of new understanding - it just allows factionalizing to occur at a greater rate than ever and encourage the spread of disinformation and rhetoric.
Corporations are now bigger than ever before, dominating the attention of the governments that rely on them for GDP. Wealth IS moving away from the center.
Education is faltering, and no one knows if it is educators, junk food, ADHD, video games, teen pregnancy or budgets that are the cause. Autism comes out of nowhere to affect something close to 1 in 100 children - for life. Asthma and obsetity leave their mark on way too many kids as well.
I frankly don't see how anyone is doing anything more than coming up with different (and mostly ineffective) ways of pumping the bilge on our sinking ship. Like I said in the other thread, we aren't thinking big enough.
At the time I advocated the US going into space. It is familiar territory and Americans have a social set up more conducive to massive changes in economy and mission than Europeans. But an economic revolution could also be achieved by actively attacking fusion power, nanotechnology or genetic manipulation. They all have varying levels of affect, and inherent danger - but all are able to change our paradigm.
Why? Because I'm getting the very sick feeling that the US is about to graduate to the post-world power status that the British have worn for so long. They once influenced the world, now they're more of a footnote. How are we so different? We don't do much of anything that can't be done as well in many other lands. Our ability to open more Tex-Mex chain restaurants and write video game code doesn't count for much.
The future is China, unless we step up. They have the type of cultural control, eager public and general resources to execute an economic revolution when it becomes necessary. Personally, while I have no beef with Chinese people, they are a culture of serfs, and that is not a culture that I want to see become the movers and shakers of the coming century.
We need to stop talking about trying to "fix" America so it resembles some idylic Leave It To Beaver vision of a past we never had. The march of time is either a bull we ride or a steamroller. We are exhibiting way too many hallmarks of statists in a world that has less profit margin to divey up.
I would seriously recommend you all examine our world and recent history to determine for yourself if we are on a road that is sustainable. I fear we are going from holding our own to economizing, economizing to tightening the belt, and from there to closeout prices for the highest bidder as desperate adults pledge their allegiance to ANY intity that will promise to preserve a mockery of their former affluence and station in a world that doesn't need any more picket fences, mortgages and SUVs.
China? Corporations? Or a leadership that advocates change at the most basic level? Your call.