Better... or worse?

[Jennifer5]

I've just been thinking... with all the election stuff that has been going on, the question has come up, "has this country become something better or have we lost the things that we once stood for?"

I feel like we have lost some things that were good... but as a whole I don't see how people can even suggest that we've moved back, I don't see how that's possible!

...but I was just curious, how do you feel about this?

[Omadon]

While the nation has overcome many things and has, in more recent time begun to extend its freedoms to those within its borders once denied them, I would have the say the Country, on the whole is getting worse. I base this thought almost entirely on the fact that apparently these days the Constitution is a joke and no longer worthy or our leader attentions. The country has long been drifting away from those founding principles and needs to hand the power back firmly in the grasp of the people, not activist judges and trigger-happy presidents. A strict interpretation of the Constitution and a realigning with its mandates wold fix a lot of things in this country and would certainly make it a more prosperous nation.

[Jennifer5]

While the nation has overcome many things and has, in more recent time begun to extend its freedoms to those within its borders once denied them, I would have the say the Country, on the whole is getting worse. I base this thought almost entirely on the fact that apparently these days the Constitution is a joke and no longer worthy or our leader attentions. The country has long been drifting away from those founding principles and needs to hand the power back firmly in the grasp of the people, not activist judges and trigger-happy presidents. A strict interpretation of the Constitution and a realigning with its mandates wold fix a lot of things in this country and would certainly make it a more prosperous nation.

Good way of putting it into words... I agree with what you've said here! :)

I really like your picture BTW.

[Vanessa White]

This was tough to answer. Part of my answer probably lies in my perception of how it is; better or worse. Economically, I believe, not just because of recent circumstances, that things are progressively, and have been getting, worse. Less money to have to do more with, whether it be gasoline, oil, mortgages, subway fare, plane tickets, or groceries. That I have seen progressively worsening over the last few years. j

Technologically, things have definitely gotten better, if more efficient and easier access is better. For me as a grown adult (most of the time anyway) I find the ease of googling or finding out about a topic extremely exciting; however, it also, in some ways, shortens my attention span to have to bring IMMEDIATE GRATIFICATION when I want to find out. ANyone else find themselves get annoyed if Google can't seem to complete a search, or if it takes awhile to narrow it down?? However, the technological advances are less favorable for our young people, who now have easier access to segments of the world that I would rather shelter our daughter from for a longer period of time: internet lurkers who want to bring harm or take advantage of.

Socially, some days we seem better, some worse. When I say socially, I mean the idea of our principles, values, etc., and how much more embracing as a society we have become. Most days, I don't think very far. We still as a gay community are abhorred by many, and when we aren't the ones being targeted, there are plenty of other groups to be intolerant of.

I am overall an optimist, and as I feel more balanced and peaceful in my demeanor, I see the world, or the world has become, more complex, disturbing and menacing in some ways....

[Omadon]

Heh, thanks. :)

http://www.digitalblasphemy.com/

one amazing artist is all I can say. and yeah, I know its a weird choice for the name of the site, but I can assure you the link is quite safe and contains no actual blasphemy :D

[Gregory_de_Bois]

While we have made much progress in many ways, I think we are becoming worse and worse as time goes on. With the War in Iraq, the economy as it is, the state of same-sex unions in this country, the lack of healthcare, the rising numbers of those trapped in poverty, Global Warming, the oil crisis, etc. I think you get my point. However, just because I think it is getting worse does not mean I think it's all hopeless. I think there are so many, many solutions. We are still a democratic republic and there are many ways we can fix these problems. I think there are severe limits to our democracy right now, but nothing that cannot be overcome. AS Angel says on RENT "The times they may be sh***y, but I'm sure they can't get worse."

Namaste,

Greg

[Daniel]

While we have made much progress in many ways, I think we are becoming worse and worse as time goes on. With the War in Iraq, the economy as it is, the state of same-sex unions in this country, the lack of healthcare, the rising numbers of those trapped in poverty, Global Warming, the oil crisis, etc. I think you get my point. However, just because I think it is getting worse does not mean I think it's all hopeless. I think there are so many, many solutions. We are still a democratic republic and there are many ways we can fix these problems. I think there are severe limits to our democracy right now, but nothing that cannot be overcome. AS Angel says on RENT "The times they may be sh***y, but I'm sure they can't get worse."


Not that I'm a pessmist, but I really think we are in for some very rough waters ahead, both as a Democracy and Internationally, and, of course, as you mention, Global Warming etc. I hate to say this: but sometimes things have to get worse before they get better- that's when people start waking up out of their self-imposed watch-media/entertainment-and-get zoned out state- which is not the same thing as being informed. For that, you have to be able to read, and seek out a number of sources- sources which you won't get in sound bites watching CNN.

I don't think we've 'hit bottom' yet. A recent Vanity Fair article on the cost of the War(s) shows that the shit hasn't even begun to hit the fan yet: there is going to be hell to pay. And pay it we will. We are up to our necks in debt to China etc.

Health care for everyone? That's going to be a huge stretch. And I'm not holding my breath on that one. My sense is that our debt is going to eat us alive if we don't do something soon- and it may be too late for that. You can't have programs you can't pay for!

How so like us: credit carding a war. No sacrifice. No taxes being raised to pay for it. The genius of Pres Bush is that he is leaving his mess for the next person to take office, and the truth of the matter is that people have a very short memory: the person in office is probably going to be eaten alive and a one term President. Pity the poor soul who gets the job.

We only have to look back at the Great Depression, where my grandfather could not get work for 7 years. Now....there was some hard times. That could happen again, though in not quite the same way. Everything, from international banking to the little corner drugstore is connected via a global economy- banking and trading system. What one part does affects the whole. That's one thing I think we are just starting to catch on to. But just barely. Our country, while playing the big moral leader, has really just looked after itself for a very long time.

It's liberal thinking, but if you took oil- and the demand for it- out of the picture, the world would be a better place and the countries that we buy it from would have to produce something else of value. Right now, there is no incentive to do that. So we have the status quo.

Gerald Ford was the first President to give a speech in which he said what I've noted re oil in the paragraph above. Did anyone listen back then? No. Are people listening now over the din of the talking heads who declaim and know little or nothing? Not really. Reporters are personalities now: news is entertainment and while we have the ability to communicate with each other at the drop of the hat with sophistication, I don't see the people of our country really doing anything except looking after themselves and their two car garages.

Media - and our cars- have made us a very insular people. Only a really big deal is going to bust through all that 'it's all about me crap', set people's hair on fire and get things done. We had it for a moment after 9/11. And what did we do? Mess that up real bad.

Will things change for the better? Only when the pain gets bad enough. That's what I think. And what about health care for everyone?

If the corporations have anything to say about it? No.

And know what really gets me? Our senators spend more than 60 precent of their time raising money to get elected, and less and 40 percent of their time doing the poeple's business.

Time for real campaign finance reform. But does anyone think that the very people who are getting rich are going to turn off the faucet?

Good question.

Sometimes I think the Great American Dream is simply obtaining the right to be greedy. And that's really sad.

Rant over.

[Gregory_de_Bois]

Not that I'm a pessmist, but I really think we are in for some very rough waters ahead, both as a Democracy and Internationally, and, of course, as you mention, Global Warming etc. I hate to say this: but sometimes things have to get worse before they get better- that's when people start waking up out of their self-imposed watch-media/entertainment-and-get zoned out state- which is not the same thing as being informed. For that, you have to be able to read, and seek out a number of sources- sources which you won't get in sound bites watching CNN.

I don't think we've 'hit bottom' yet. A recent Vanity Fair article on the cost of the War(s) shows that the shit hasn't even begun to hit the fan yet: there is going to be hell to pay. And pay it we will. We are up to our necks in debt to China etc.

Health care for everyone? That's going to be a huge stretch. And I'm not holding my breath on that one. My sense is that our debt is going to eat us alive if we don't do something soon- and it may be too late for that. You can't have programs you can't pay for!

How so like us: credit carding a war. No sacrifice. No taxes being raised to pay for it. The genius of Pres Bush is that he is leaving his mess for the next person to take office, and the truth of the matter is that people have a very short memory: the person in office is probably going to be eaten alive and a one term President. Pity the poor soul who gets the job.

We only have to look back at the Great Depression, where my grandfather could not get work for 7 years. Now....there was some hard times. That could happen again, though in not quite the same way. Everything, from international banking to the little corner drugstore is connected via a global economy- banking and trading system. What one part does affects the whole. That's one thing I think we are just starting to catch on to. But just barely. Our country, while playing the big moral leader, has really just looked after itself for a very long time.

It's liberal thinking, but if you took oil- and the demand for it- out of the picture, the world would be a better place and the countries that we buy it from would have to produce something else of value. Right now, there is no incentive to do that. So we have the status quo.

Gerald Ford was the first President to give a speech in which he said what I've noted re oil in the paragraph above. Did anyone listen back then? No. Are people listening now over the din of the talking heads who declaim and know little or nothing? Not really. Reporters are personalities now: news is entertainment and while we have the ability to communicate with each other at the drop of the hat with sophistication, I don't see the people of our country really doing anything except looking after themselves and their two car garages.

Media - and our cars- have made us a very insular people. Only a really big deal is going to bust through all that 'it's all about me crap', set people's hair on fire and get things done. We had it for a moment after 9/11. And what did we do? Mess that up real bad.

Will things change for the better? Only when the pain gets bad enough. That's what I think. And what about health care for everyone?

If the corporations have anything to say about it? No.

And know what really gets me? Our senators spend more than 60 precent of their time raising money to get elected, and less and 40 percent of their time doing the poeple's business.

Time for real campaign finance reform. But does anyone think that the very people who are getting rich are going to turn off the faucet?

Good question.

Sometimes I think the Great American Dream is simply obtaining the right to be greedy. And that's really sad.

Rant over.

Yeah. Basically, in my naivete, I spoke too soon. I tend to be a little to idealistic, and in the school, family, and general environment I'm in, I tend to forget how bad things can get. Not that I'm uninformed, or anything. I just tend to get so sick and tired of being the only one (seemingly) who cares in my school (not to mention actually believes) about so many issues that I give up. I know that they do actually care to some degree, but it really doesn't show. What bothers me the most are the families that can afford to change their lifestyle to be more earth/people/animal-friendly, but don't. Maybe they just don't know. But it's just sickening. A lot of people I know (including my own family) don't know what to do in order to help. I should say they don't know how they can help given their financial or other circumstances. AAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!

You said it all much, much nicer than I did, but the feeling is the same, I think. It makes me think of what our lovely (gag) vice president just said a little while back: http://abcnews.go.com/WN/Politics/story?id=4513250&page=1

Moby (http://www.moby.com/journal/2008-03-25/ew_ew_i_feel_i_just_ate_something_disgus.html) had a nice little response.

[Jennifer5]

Health care for everyone? That's going to be a huge stretch. And I'm not holding my breath on that one. My sense is that our debt is going to eat us alive if we don't do something soon- and it may be too late for that. You can't have programs you can't pay for!
The beauty of dreamers... we believe that anything is possible, despite you very good points.

Daniel, I think we probably both agree... I hope you're wrong about all this! :love: