To the OP:

I hear you. I grew up in a time where I had advantages you don't, and I don't mind at all admitting them. I'm 50 years old as of April this year, and I had more choices that I perceive of modern day. I chose to leave after high school, flee to L.A. and basically find out what I wanted to do, all the while earning minimum wage, but enjoying life. I later chose to go to school, and given that my SAT was dandy, but years had passed, I had to work while going through school. I chose to run alcohol from one state to another, made some good money, and worked in a pizza place to have a verifiable source of income. I transferred those 2-year credits to California, continued on and after 3 more years, got my degree. I then was very fortunate, and got on with several in-line government contracts, which lead to more, and good duckets for me, as well as having a sense of actually positively affecting things. That last bit has made all the difference.

You have a time and place here where many of those options are still there, but perhaps considerably more difficult to engage. You, like me, see the world economies going to crap, and things just seem worse every day. The "news" is a joke, just more spin churned out day after day, depending upon the direction we the people are supposed to be directed.

You live in a country that doesn't currently go out of its way to shoot your butt for exercising your freedom of speech. That's a big one. I personally hate being shot at, and I feel really fortunate that I landed in a place where that doesn't happen.

For what it's worth, I think you're doing the right thing...... speaking out about your impressions, what you see, where you think things are gravitating towards. You live, IMO, in the country with the most choices. You seem intelligent, and I think you've probably landed on your feet, but what of everyone else, that seems mired in the day-to-day consequences, with little regard for tomorrow? I think we all need to offer solutions, and offer them to others, and maybe, somehow, we'll find ideals outside our our paradigms that really make differences.

I'm not too old to help, but I'm too removed to influence. I will always help. It's who I am.

Good post. Don't ever think you have to defend speaking your observations. Keep in mind while you do, just how amazingly fortunate you are to live where you do. I'd guess that most of here own shoes. A simple thing we take for granted. Most of us probably don't have to concern themselves with water needs. I wish that were true for everyone.

Cheers

Believe me fully here, when i say I do enjoy america, its why i live here an havent tried to live anywhere else, but does that make me have to keep my mouth shut at the things Im not too happy about? when I see a problem Im not the kind to overlook it, I look for a solution, an writing congressmen an women isnt the answer not while Lobbists are around... We must unite an become One Loud Booming voice instead of many smaller inaudible Voices..

I love My country, thru an thru, an thats why I will speak out, Just becuz you are comfortable doesnt mean others are, or that things shouldnt be repaired....

If you ask me we could do alot better... Specially since you cant learn too much.....

We need our Issues to be met with swift an precise action the same a General would do when in a time of crisis or war.
But All I see is Focus on Everyone else but Americans.... Like the Schoolyard bully instead of finding something to better himself with or his fellow playmates we tend to metal in others affairs more so then our own.... Untill its become some HUGE deal an even then a little bit of focus is given just to shut the clamers up...

If Your a American an All you think is people are bashing america an not trying to live in it then you are sadly mistaken, This is truey a land of the free, but we also have some people an Companies that are making it harder an harder to exercise that ideal.

If we are not careful we will end up a divided country... Some would say thru Economic variables we already are an that could be alot of the problems, Congressmen an women are normaly not from the lower end of the economic totem pole, since the amount of money needed for schooling an the street credit can yeild some Money on its own in the form of favors an such, Most congressmen have forgotten where they came from by the time they are in congress,

So many are put into others pockets as safeguards for another day or voice, an this is driving America into a Hole of which even a stairway to heaven wont be able to reach. We need to focus More On Man An less on What we can do in another country or How we can Secure Big Oil.



No more quarters, dimes, Nickels or Pennies, just Good Honest Change.

[edit on 25-6-2008 by Trance Optic]

[edit on 25-6-2008 by Trance Optic]

I wonder what a President Obama will do with a "Patriot Act"?

I would imagine a thread like this one would come under scrutiny and my friend slackerwire would be no more..

I have never been worried about Bush and the Pat.Act but it's the next guy that bothers me.

Can't you see Nancy P. going to Pres. Obama and complaining about ATS?

They need to be shut down she'll say.

I can just see the IRS agents now, wearing ninja suits and carrying MP5's, you will donate to the cause!

Sorry for the random thoughts.

Roper

I agree completely.

Americans are dumb, dumb, DUMB!

The sad part is that they're getting dumber by the day.

More movies, more videogames, more television, more pleasure.

More, more, more. It doesn't stop.

People don't even read anymore.

Go to the mall on Saturday, and then go to the library. Where are the most people?

...We're headed for trouble, but the absolute worst part is that there is nothing we can do about it.

If I might make a small suggestion, you use the word "They" a lot.

If you work toward defining "Them" a little more, your writing style and your thinking style would become more focused.

The issues would be more complex, however without an understanding that "We" are "Them", you will never come to the conclusion that only through personal responsibility, can positive change occur. You cannot change others. You cannot control "Them". Attempting to do so, only enflames and outrages "You", "Them".

You can however demonstrate a more enlightened approach, which inspires emulation. This takes generations to work, but you will realize it is the only way. You will not be the beneficiary, but what a glorious legacy you will leave the world.

I made a thread near this thread, but it got no response. It was called "the conspiracy against the new race". It reveals the kind of ppl out here.

What I'd like to see is every one seperate, and go to their own world where they may give their world a preference type destiny. It'll happen.

Originally posted by slackerwire

Originally posted by vance
This great country is what you make of it my friend. If you want change make change. Get an education and a job and that will change your circumstances - I've seen it. Don't like the politics? Get out and vote.
This is the freedom land. If you aren't lazy, you truly have the opportunity too prosper. Higher education and a good honest job, that's the ticket to freedom.
Thanks,
Vance

Money isn't a problem for me, nor is getting a job. I own my own business.

There are more important things than employment and cash however, freedom being one of them.

Dude... Look at the UK. Spend a week over there with all the cameras and then come back. You will feel much better.

I don't think American's are dumb, we are just well fed and comfortable but it looks like that is about to change.

Roper

America has turned stupid. Maybe it's was the shots, the fluoride in the water, all the chemtrails, the pollution in the air, I dunno. You can't fix stupid. This country has two prospects for the future. Slim and none. And slim left the country. If you think it stinks now, you better hold on to your hat. This place hasn't hit bottom yet.

My friend, I feel ya. My solution?...

Become a superhero. Your life would be much more.... interesting.

America has been 'Dumbed Down" in a very insidious way. Our schools no longer demand anything approaching excelence. They have no way to measuer accomplishment. Its all personal, and self awareness, non-competitive, self esteem. If you don't know how hard life realy is growing up, you have no idea how to fix whats wrong in your own life later on. You become a victim. The perfect victim to be used by TPTB.

Zindo

Originally posted by RRconservative
So I guess your looking for a country where it is perfectly legal to run around naked, abuse drugs, get housing for free, and never have to worry about people disagreeing with you?

This is a republic not a democracy. Laws should be laws of trespass only. We should NOT have to pay property tax they tax us enough at the paycheck end and the million other taxes. If we were not using our tax dollars on third world nations and going on the offense with our military for corporations interest and NOT the American people we wouldn't be getting taxed to death!

The government needs to stay OUT of peoples lives in telling us what we can do with our own bodies and most of all needs to not mess with our privacy.

I don't care if ALL other countries were tyrannical we cannot let America slip from its foundations one bit. If you don't care you are not a true American. You are just a capitalist.