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I love this country, I have no no desire to leave, however it has been my observation lately that we are starting to fall behind the rest of the world. We were so much further advanced for so long we got stagnant, and i predict in the next 20 years we will start to see our country not be the most advanced/ highest quality of life. Here are some reasons behind this statement.
Oil - We are so accustomed to using gasoline and our dependence on foreign oil is through the roof. How was Brazil able to completely cut any foreign oil dependence out in 8 years while simultaneously bringing 40 million to the middle class all by growing sugar and making ethanol/methanol mainstream? We have made no real strides at the pending energy crisis and likely wont since our government can be bought. We literally have the ability to produce enough ethanol/methanol to cut out all foreign oil today, but we don't. We allow companies like Exxon/BP to run our life while simultaneously draining our pockets.
War - We are so worried about policing all these morons in the middle east when they have been war-ing since the beginning of man kind. When is enough enough? Why are wasting this money with all the issues we have here. We could eliminate hunger, homelessness, infrastructure issues, ect. very quickly if we just stopped dumping money into that **** hole of sandbox to accomplish nothing. The fact of the matter is they don't even really want us there! Lets invest in ourselves for a change, lets go back to building this country and taking care of our citizens.
Violence - Our country is wayyy to violent. I love guns, I have a gun, however who decided having a gun is a right? It is a privilege IMO not a right, one that needs to be restricted to those who can handle it. I am all for citizens having guns, but the truth is it is way to easy to acquire. Our violence is off the charts compared to the rest of the developed world. Culture needs to change, there is no logical reason Detroit alone should have more homicides than the entire country of Japan in a year, that is disgusting.
Middle Class - We have the rich and the poor and increasingly less in-between. In the long run this will not be good for either side. Something big and violent will likely happen eventually. Middle class is what made this country as great as it is, without it we lose our greatness. Socialism is horrible, I hate it, it gives no reason to push yourself. However there is no reason corporations/companies should not be paying a livable wage. There is no reason someone who works 40 hours a week should not be able to bring home even $20k in a year. We need to start being human again and being compassionate. Stock price is not more important than people. We throw thousands people into poverty by eliminating jobs just to save a buck and add a few pennies to a stock price. We pay people dirt wages that they cannot even afford their own food on while profiting billions on top of billions just to say we did. Its really ridiculous when you think about it.
Government - All this wraps into my final rant. Democracy is what makes a country great, however we are losing our greatness. If our four fathers saw what was going on in Washington today they would be disgusted!! We completely stomp on greater good now in the name of money. Any one with a brain can see how corporations are literally buying policies that favor them. Our government is supposed to be for the people, but yet we pass bills that corporations literally buy that do nothing but benefit a handful and hurt the rest of the population. Does this really sound like democracy?
I would love to here some intelligent discussions/opinions on these matters or anything i left out. I could go on but these are my biggest complaints about our society in America today.
I love this country, I have no no desire to leave, however it has been my observation lately that we are starting to fall behind the rest of the world. We were so much further advanced for so long we got stagnant, and i predict in the next 20 years we will start to see our country not be the most advanced/ highest quality of life. Here are some reasons behind this statement.
Oil - We are so accustomed to using gasoline and our dependence on foreign oil is through the roof. How was Brazil able to completely cut any foreign oil dependence out in 8 years while simultaneously bringing 40 million to the middle class all by growing sugar and making ethanol/methanol mainstream? We have made no real strides at the pending energy crisis and likely wont since our government can be bought. We literally have the ability to produce enough ethanol/methanol to cut out all foreign oil today, but we don't. We allow companies like Exxon/BP to run our life while simultaneously draining our pockets.
Unlike Brazil, the U.S. doesn't have the climate to support large scale growing of sugar cane and corn based bio fuels are really expensive to produce. This drives up the cost of other products that use corn as a base product, such as animal feed, poultry feed and the corn you buy. Plus the land that is lost for other crops due to replacing it with growing fuel corn. Currently we can get about 750 bushels of corn per acre and they can get about 2.5 gallons of ethanol per bushel. If you do the math, to replace our current fuel demand with ethanol, well, the only thing that would be growing on our arm lands is bio fuel corn.
War - We are so worried about policing all these morons in the middle east when they have been war-ing since the beginning of man kind. When is enough enough? Why are wasting this money with all the issues we have here. We could eliminate hunger, homelessness, infrastructure issues, ect. very quickly if we just stopped dumping money into that **** hole of sandbox to accomplish nothing. The fact of the matter is they don't even really want us there! Lets invest in ourselves for a change, lets go back to building this country and taking care of our citizens.
This I can agree with to an extent, however, when they bring their fight to our country this changes the dynamics completely. We need to invest more in our infrastructure, this would put a lot more Americans back to work.
Violence - Our country is wayyy to violent. I love guns, I have a gun, however who decided having a gun is a right? It is a privilege IMO not a right, one that needs to be restricted to those who can handle it. I am all for citizens having guns, but the truth is it is way to easy to acquire. Our violence is off the charts compared to the rest of the developed world. Culture needs to change, there is no logical reason Detroit alone should have more homicides than the entire country of Japan in a year, that is disgusting.
I will echo the mantra "guns don't kill people, people kill people" When you live in a free society you are going to have violence. Are you will to sacrifice your liberties for security, because security comes at a high price for a free society.
Middle Class - We have the rich and the poor and increasingly less in-between. In the long run this will not be good for either side. Something big and violent will likely happen eventually. Middle class is what made this country as great as it is, without it we lose our greatness. Socialism is horrible, I hate it, it gives no reason to push yourself. However there is no reason corporations/companies should not be paying a livable wage. There is no reason someone who works 40 hours a week should not be able to bring home even $20k in a year. We need to start being human again and being compassionate. Stock price is not more important than people. We throw thousands people into poverty by eliminating jobs just to save a buck and add a few pennies to a stock price. We pay people dirt wages that they cannot even afford their own food on while profiting billions on top of billions just to say we did. Its really ridiculous when you think about it.
First you have to ask, who is it that employees people to work, it's companies and companies have to make a profit to stay in business, the more profitable the company the more people they can hire. When was the last time you went to work for some company and told them how much to pay you. I'm all for a livable wage, but just how much money is a livable wage? The majority of companies in this country are small businesses with less that 20 employees, are you will to pay more for their product to increase their employees wages? If your answer is no, then I rest my case.
Government - All this wraps into my final rant. Democracy is what makes a country great, however we are losing our greatness. If our four fathers saw what was going on in Washington today they would be disgusted!! We completely stomp on greater good now in the name of money. Any one with a brain can see how corporations are literally buying policies that favor them. Our government is supposed to be for the people, but yet we pass bills that corporations literally buy that do nothing but benefit a handful and hurt the rest of the population. Does this really sound like democracy?
Yes, yes have a government by the people for the people, if only the people would stand up and demand accountability from the people they elect. In most jobs, if you fail to do your required duties, you are fired, but that doesn't seem to be the case in government. People will continue to elect the same people to office to do nothing. It isn't the government administration who is at fault, it is the people of this country who is the blame.
I would love to here some intelligent discussions/opinions on these matters or anything i left out. I could go on but these are my biggest complaints about our society in America today.
I'd say that America has fallen behind, (not falling behind).
I'd also add the following to the list:
Failing infrastructure. You just have to travel a bit outside the US to realize how bad our transportation, electrical generation/distribution and utilities are. Privatization of basic utilities has led to a lack of investment as the funds are channeled to shareholders.
Education. We could spend days here....
Healthcare. Another lightening rod. We can't agree on the most efficient way to deliver health care, so we end up ceding control to commercial operators.
Non functional government. Our elected officials are busy grabbing what power they can, and protecting the party, whilst forgetting to govern and work for the good of the country.
Lack of respect and understanding for science and engineering. For instance, I personally find it amazing that >40% of Americans support the notion that the earth is <10,000 years old, when the fossil records are staring them in the face. (source: In U.S., 42% Believe Creationist View of Human Origins)
Last edited by timfountain; 04-23-2015 at 11:28 AM..
Oh man. I agree with pretty much everything said so far and I think the simple answer to all these problems is money and (this will **** people off, but), republicans. Democrats aren't innocent either, but the majority of the problems listed can be linked back to republican policy and money.
Oil- this will kill our planet, but a certain few make too much money off of it to give it up. Why did we go to war a decade ago? For oil. Why do oil companies do what they can to prevent sustainable and environmentally friendly resources? Because they will loose money. Who represents oil companies and don't believe in climate change is caused by pollution? Republicans.
War- Again another profit machine for Republicans. Why are people like Cheny so obsessed with military spending and going to senseless wars? They make money. We spend waaay to much money on military spending it's completely ridiculous. Money that could be used to solve many of our other problems like education, infrastructure and rebuilding the middle class, but they would rather go to war and make money for the 1% than take cate of us in the bottom and the middle. Guarantee we will go to war if a republican is elected as our next president.
Violence- We are the most violent country in the industrialized world. Yes, the second amendment allows the right to arms, BUT we have to act responsibly with our rights and not every person is fit to own a gun. The first amendment allows for freedom speech, yet it is illegal to shout "bomb" or "fire" in a public place or verbally assault another person. Responsibility! The majority of Americans WANT sensible gun regulations (notice regulate and ban mean two different things), like extended background checks, but then the NRA and gun companies would lose profits. Guess who represents and receives money from the NRA? Republicans.
Middle class- definitely boils down to corporate greed. Productivity has risen over 80% while wages have mostly remained stagnant. If minimum wage had risen at the same rate as a CEO's salary it would be around $23 am hour. It is currently $7.25 an hour (around that). Republicans ***** about people being on welfare, but people have to eat! They will not starve to death if their income is not enough to cover their basic needs. These same people are vehemently opposed to raising the minimum wage! It makes no freaking sense. You can not offer slave wages AND NOT have people on welfare. Raise the wage so people can take care of themselves. And more money circulating improves the economy and creates jobs. Guess who gets funded by corporations like McDonald's, Papa John's and Walmart (who are making record high profits BTW)? Republicans.
Government- we need to get money OUT of politics. There needs to be a cap on donations and donations should not be allowed to come from corporations. Private only. If everyone can only donate a certain amount, there will be no swaying of votes and ideals. The politicians will then vote for what the people want and need, because they will be working for us and aren't being paid to vote for a corporations best interest. Also, the Koch brothers and their entire family needs to be put on a rocket and jetted into outter space!!
Oil - We are so accustomed to using gasoline and our dependence on foreign oil is through the roof. How was Brazil able to completely cut any foreign oil dependence out in 8 years while simultaneously bringing 40 million to the middle class all by growing sugar and making ethanol/methanol mainstream? We have made no real strides at the pending energy crisis and likely wont since our government can be bought. We literally have the ability to produce enough ethanol/methanol to cut out all foreign oil today, but we don't. We allow companies like Exxon/BP to run our life while simultaneously draining our pockets.
It's not ExxonMobil or BP who have thrown up roadblocks to fracking and further use of our existing resources (e.g. ANWR); it's the government and their environmentalist bedfellows. Bear in mind, I wholeheartedly agree with you that we should not need to import any oil.
War - We are so worried about policing all these morons in the middle east when they have been war-ing since the beginning of man kind. When is enough enough? Why are wasting this money with all the issues we have here. We could eliminate hunger, homelessness, infrastructure issues, ect. very quickly if we just stopped dumping money into that **** hole of sandbox to accomplish nothing. The fact of the matter is they don't even really want us there! Lets invest in ourselves for a change, lets go back to building this country and taking care of our citizens.
Can't say I disagree, but as was pointed out earlier, the dynamic changes when they bring the war to our own shores. Personally, I'd rather fight them in the streets of Fallujah and the deserts of Kandahar than the streets of New York and the deserts of Arizona.
Violence - Our country is wayyy to violent. I love guns, I have a gun, however who decided having a gun is a right? It is a privilege IMO not a right, one that needs to be restricted to those who can handle it. I am all for citizens having guns, but the truth is it is way to easy to acquire. Our violence is off the charts compared to the rest of the developed world. Culture needs to change, there is no logical reason Detroit alone should have more homicides than the entire country of Japan in a year, that is disgusting.
The Founding Fathers are the ones who decided that keeping and bearing arms is a right. And I mean no offense, but your opinion on the matter does not trump the written words in our Constitution.
I love this country, I have no no desire to leave, however it has been my observation lately that we are starting to fall behind the rest of the world. We were so much further advanced for so long we got stagnant, and i predict in the next 20 years we will start to see our country not be the most advanced/ highest quality of life. Here are some reasons behind this statement.
The U.S. fell out of the Top 10 highest standard of living countries a few years ago. Hong Kong is the new number 10 but... ... when we were #5... or #6, or #7 even... was there any concern? How could there be, even now at number 11 or 12 we still think we are number 1. What, me worry? This thread will be shouted down as much ado about nothing. When we are #25 the rich people will start to live abroad and control their American interest remotely via the Internet. Many already do. Figuring the taxes for people that live on American soil four months out of the year is a lucrative career for a growing number of middle tier Americans.
Rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer blah blah blah thats every country. Go to Mexico and see how bad the poor have it, its depressing as hell and then see how the Mexican cartel guys live.
Rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer blah blah blah thats every country. Go to Mexico and see how bad the poor have it, its depressing as hell and then see how the Mexican cartel guys live.
It is not like that in all countries. Europe is the best. They also have better schools, good healthcare for everyone, good public transportation, and lower violence. Imagine that.
"Purple countries are about in the middle -- that includes the United States, which is the most unequal of any developed country measured."
We will be a third world country if this continues.
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