How has it come to this?

How is it that in the course of human events we have come to this? This being the state of our Government and Society in these formerly greater United States. Have no question. We are still a great nation. Perhaps still the greatest on Earth, but why are we villified and demonized by all peoples of this planet? Whether it comes from abroad or an ignorant mind here in the States, we are demeaned and denigrated from every angle. "I mourn the state of our country" "This ignorant community leader in chief has ruined our nation..." Our own nature works against us it seems. Qualities of perserverence, ingenuity, and an exhaustive work ethic seem to bring the walls closing in around us, ever closer to a status of no escape. We use our fine quality of character no longer for the benefit of mankind, but for the elevation of our own egos. We now "perservere" against those whose views differ from our own, even in the most miniscule of ways. We now invent new ways of invoking hatred and contention amongst our fellow man. We now work ceaselessly to supress the views and ideas of those who would diessent. Where is the compromise? Where is the compassion that once so defined us?

We were a nation of givers and debaters. We could resolve a dispute over whether the grass was green or the sky is blue. We would give our fellow American the shirt off OUR back or the plow for OUR field if it meant that it made his life easier. Yes, there was greed. Yes, there was envy, but even those of us who had the greatest wealth gave fortunes for the sake of others, and the poorest of us were greatful. We used our perserverence to survive against the elements confronting us. We used our ingenuity to criss-cross the continent with iron rails and asphalt roads. We used our work ethic to build the greatest nation on Earth and fight to win two World Wars. Where has the spirit gone? What is it that changed?

Perhaps it is not our country that has fallen, but ourselves. Decieved by willful ignorance and enchanted by tales of our own superiority we have allowed ourselves to falter. It is not the institutions of our government or the corruption of our representatives that have caused our demise, but our own indecision about what our future should be. We sit and squabble at the brink of destruction for what reason? Indecision. Whether it be the role of our government, the role of our military, or how our economy should function we sit and bicker like mice arguing over the last scraps of food in the dining room of a sinkingTitanic. So I ask you ATS, how did it come to this and how do we avoid it?

As we wait in the percieved twilight of our glory, waiting for the bitter end to come, what do we take away from our time here? What went wrong? What went right? I ask only for a civil discussion, for our collective futures. So that when the dream comes crashing down around us and all the world shakes with chaos, we pereservere, we invent and we work towards a better tomorrow. If we know now the errors and truths of our time here spent, perhaps we can march with unwavering resolve towards the brightness of the future that awaits us. We will make sure that, at least this time, history does not repeat itself and the nation we build together, conservatives and liberals both, in the coming years will regain our lost splendour. So ATS what do we do? How do we Suceed?

The thing that caused our demise is the same thing that takes down every empire. Greed pure and simple. Germany got greedy Rome got greedy. England got greedy. Russia greedy. Every empire that ever was always wanted more and the people at the top caused its destruction. It seems to be the same blueprint but nobody ever learns from the last time it happened. They rock the general populous to sleep and keep taking while they keep them entertained or occupied over something dumb usually.

You really think this last President is the one who took us from greatness please ask the rest of the world if they think so. We've been treading down this path long before Obama, Bush, Clinton, Bush Sr or Reagan. One of the last Presidents with promise , Kennedy, caught a bullet they always do. Anyone who doesn't allow the complex to take over is killed or converted.

Whoever is up next be it China or other. I say other because if we go to war neither Russia, China or US will come out on top . It will be whoever stays out of it the longest who will have the next stint that's if we don't go nuclear, and even then they will get greedy.