09-23-2008, 01:46 AM
Hi,
I've seen a nation that at least payed lip service to, "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." turn into the nation of Enron, S&L bailouts, and government by special interests. I've seen the 'free love' generation turn into the egocentric, selfish, grubbing AARP. And I've seen the potential of the computer turn into a bunch of "My . . ." folders.
We're losing the scientific battle, the SSC lives . . . in CERN not Texas. We're losing the freedom battle, ten European nations, New Zealand, and Australia ranked ahead of the USA in personal freedoms in a survey conducted last year. As you've pointed out, we're losing the economic battle. And it appears that we've thrown in the towel in the educational battle. And we went from respecting too much to respecting nothing.
But in many ways, we are still the best nation in the world. The average American contributes more to charity than any other person on earth. When disaster strikes, we are there fast (except, of course, within our own borders), often faster than the response teams from the nations involved.
So, how to answer your question?
I guess things were never perfect. Perhaps they have gotten worse as time has gone by, but that could be nostalgia. I think we've got the capacity to pull ourselves out of the mire we're in, but I don't know about the character, the desire, and the drive. And I still break out crying less than half a minute into my life, the short version.
--Pete
Quote:I'm curious if you've ever felt this nation has been going alright.Intellectually, I know that this nation, like any nation, has its good points and its bad in all times. Sometimes the good outweigh the bad and that was probably the case in the '50s but I was too young then to really know. I think there was a feeling of exuberance that led to some good in the early '60s and those I do remember, being in high school at that time. But then came Kennedy's assassination, the heightened awareness of the cold war and MAD, the Vietnam war, the counterculture and the backlash. And by the '70s, "I'm from the government and I'm here to help you." had become a cruel, grotesque, joke.
I've seen a nation that at least payed lip service to, "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." turn into the nation of Enron, S&L bailouts, and government by special interests. I've seen the 'free love' generation turn into the egocentric, selfish, grubbing AARP. And I've seen the potential of the computer turn into a bunch of "My . . ." folders.
We're losing the scientific battle, the SSC lives . . . in CERN not Texas. We're losing the freedom battle, ten European nations, New Zealand, and Australia ranked ahead of the USA in personal freedoms in a survey conducted last year. As you've pointed out, we're losing the economic battle. And it appears that we've thrown in the towel in the educational battle. And we went from respecting too much to respecting nothing.
But in many ways, we are still the best nation in the world. The average American contributes more to charity than any other person on earth. When disaster strikes, we are there fast (except, of course, within our own borders), often faster than the response teams from the nations involved.
So, how to answer your question?
I guess things were never perfect. Perhaps they have gotten worse as time has gone by, but that could be nostalgia. I think we've got the capacity to pull ourselves out of the mire we're in, but I don't know about the character, the desire, and the drive. And I still break out crying less than half a minute into my life, the short version.
--Pete
How big was the aquarium in Noah's ark?