Has the United States peaked as a society? If so can we bounce back and how would you propose we do this?

Answer 1

Erik,
If I may quote, "Those who fail to learn the lessons of history, are doomed to repeat them". It doesn't take a doctorate in history, to see that we are following the path of Rome. Most of the elements that contributed to the unraveling of the then, World's Greatest Empire, are occurring right now as we ponder your question. What do you think the odds are, that our "whichever way the wind blows" political "leaders", are suddenly going to start making decisions based on something besides polls? It is a sad fact of history, that no true democracy has ever lived for long. The reason for this, is that when people can vote for a standard of living (government granted benefits), they will always vote for the people who promise them the most. In time, this always bankrupts the economy, just as it is starting to now. When the inevitable collapse comes, and chaos ensues (New Orleans), a very strong new leader comes forward and restores order, at the expense of any freedoms you may have had (never to return). Thus ends democracy. I would like to hope that we might be the exception, but look around you. Every day, the freedoms for which our soldiers have spilled their blood for two hundred years, are being carved away by the government (both parties) for the purpose of "keeping our citizens safe". This has been the mantra of every dictator, despot, and tyrant who has ever ruled. May God have mercy on us.

Answer 2

I believe that the United States peaked at the same time that the NASA space program did. One might debate whether that was 27 years ago today when Neil Armstrong made his giant leap or whether it was later with the advent of the space truck, the shuttle, but clearly it is now in the past.

Why was this the peak for the whole country? Well, I'm not saying that the space program is the only viable barometer, but I think that it is an important indication for two reasons.

First: a nation that is not boldly going forward is falling back, there is no staying in place. Second: the reasons for the space program's deterioration are the same ones that are causing the decline in society.

In short it comes down to being cheap. In the last few decades (going back to 1980 at least) America has spent more time complaining about the cost of such forward thinking programs (be it the space program, other R&D or universally beneficial social programs) than of the benefits. Everything has to be put under the microscope of the minimalist tax schemes brought in by Reagan and pushed forward recently by Bush II.

You can't be the greatest nation in the world on the cheap. Can't be done.

It's too bad. Landing a man on the moon was likely the pinnacle of human scientific and exploratory achievement.

In Five Thousand years the Iraq war will be a footnote in history, George Bush will be a trivia question about worst presidents and famous catastrophes, tax cuts will be less than a debating point for historians, but everyone will remember that on July 20th, 1969 Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon for the first time in history!

Answer 3

I don't know if we have peaked but we are currently in decline. Voting for a demarcate will not fix the problem it comes from more than just the president. I see that people have an entitlement attitude more and more. If you want to eat work, if you want medical care work and so on. If we had Bill Clinton in office or Kerry we would still be getting hit by terrorist because their inability to do any thing that may be viewed as politically incorrect. We as a country need to stop worrying about if things are PC or not and do what is right. That means that if you are a non productive member of society we let you starve. If you are a law breaker we let you rot in a cell. If you try to hurt our people with out provocation we hunt you down and kill you. The only people who our taxes should pay to support are the children and the people who can not support themselves for reasons beyond their control. If someone drops out of school and can't find a decent job it is not everyone Else's fault and they should be left to their chosen destiny. Every choice in life has consequences and we should live with our mistakes or change the way we make our choices.

Answer 4

I agree with Gungnir, voting Democrat would be a good start.We were in good shape until 2,000 when the Republicans took over.Taking us from a 400 billion surplus to 8 trillion in the hole!There was concern about global warming,gas averaged 1.20 to 1.40 cents/gal. to the now 3.00 plus average.We now have an in your face (leader?) doing whatever he wants,ignoring the constitution.We are hated now more than ever by the rest of the world.The war for oil goes on,with the rich happy to see the unrest in the mideast as it drives the prices higher.The good jobs have been outsourced,our largest retail walmart is almost strictly Chinese imports.I could go on and on and on.

Answer 5

no human society can ever be at 'the peak' for we will always have something 'barberic' about us.

As for US - it must open its eyes to its double standards.

- The islamic Jihad was US policy tool created to throw out Soviets in afganistan.
- Bin laden was a CIA agent
- Most of the oppresive regimes -including the one of Saddam- were Amrerican Policy driven


All in all U always tries to act god and faces an ill fate.

Solution- the US voters should have asked "why iraq" istead of "why gay marriages (or not)". US's muscle changes world and its democrracy remains ignorant about the mercinery shipper called US administration.

Answer 6

We can bounce back through hard work and education. Education in this country has become a joke. The society has become one that believes it is every one Else's fault for their failures. I pin this on our out of control social programs and the media.

Answer 7

Apsolutely not,
We kill more of each other than we kill in wars each year.
Half of our country hates the other half unconditionally.
So many people screw things up because they view that their small lifetime of doing meaningless things qualifies them to make world policy.
As soon as people learn that you should listen to people smarter than you, we will have peaked.
I dream of the day that I, a pilot, forest ranger, computer shop owner, engineer, can have a conversation about flying, computers, physics, or the environment, without some person who has a degree in liberal arts telling me Im wrong.
I dream of the day that civilians stop pretending that they know about the military. You dont.
I dream of the day that the normal person is again viewed as normal, and doesnt need to fear that others be put ahead of them unfairly.

Answer 8

We can bounce back as a society with the reintroduction of SHAME.

No one feels shame anymore for anything. Hence the complete breakdown of civilized society.

Answer 9

Most of our problems as a society are caused by government. Reduce the size and scope of government and you will reduce those problems. Do this and we CAN bounce back as a society

Answer 10

Peaked? Without wishing to offend anyone... Don't you hear News from the rest of the world?