For Americans only... what's wrong with us?

Question

The Greatest Generation must get sick when they see what's happened to their country. They survive two world wars and a depression, and the greatest country in the world that they left to their children is in pathetic shape.

When did we lose the belief that there was nothing that we couldn't accomplish? When did we stop fighting for excellence in all areas?

I don't want to hear about BUSH or CLINTON. This goes beyond any one random political figure. This is a shift that has taken place over the last generation.

What's happened to America, and how can we be the greatest country in the world again?

Answer 1

Too much emphasis on personal rights, and not enough on personal responsibilty.

Answer 2

Look at history and the big picture.
I believe what we are seeing, is a natural consequence of 2 things: Capitalism and Global Economics.
As long as we were the world leader in capitalism, and the US held sway, we were fine. After WW2, globalization began, but we were still OK because the USSR formed a perfect counterpoint to our "way of life." However, we were still so caught up in focusing on Russia that other global markets were given short shrift. As the USSR began to fall apart in the late 80's and completely in the early 90's, it opened a huge portion of the world to other markets (including our own).
US companies began to build factories outside the US with increasing fervor. The computer technology explosion suddenly made this more feasible, with improved communications.
Now, as a natural consequence of US corporations seeking the highest possible profits for shareholders, most new jobs and economic stimulation is going out of the US.
The large US companies had a loyalty to this country, because that's where they were and it was in their best interest.
Now, they have no such loyalty. And they don't care or have to care anymore.
Since the Rebublican agenda has always been to play favorites with Big Business, they have done so even at the expense of the country. On the other hand, the Democrats tend to want to put the screws to Big Business, so there is no love lost there. And again the country suffers.
US corporations are now World corporations. And foreign companies who build in this country further dilute the "American spirit" you correctly find to be dwindling.
While it may be an oversimplification to point to Clinton or Bush, the last 12- 15 years were certainly a great turning point that neither of them picked up on or did anything about. Hindsight is 20 / 20, but this did happen to a large degree on their watches.
Not to say that they or anyone else could have altered world events enough to matter in our favor. But there was plenty that was done to make matters worse. You can fill in those blanks.

Answer 3

There are a lot of things wrong with America today. The first, and by far most important, would be education. Our education system is horrible. Teenagers aren't given the opportunity to succeed in life. My high school, for example, was a blue-collar public school. To get an A you simply had to show up for class (I got straight A's & B's in geology, chemistry, biology & physics in high school... I can safely say I didn't know the first thing about science upon graduation).

To continue on education - it's astonishing how many Americans feel so much pride in America's past... yet these same American's can't tell you who the second president of the United States was, what manifest destiny means or even who we fought in the first world war. They also feel that what we are doing in the middle east is important, but if you ask them where Iraq is on a map they draw a blank. And don't even ask them if Uzbekistan is an ally or enemy... ("ain't theys the ones that sponsored terror?" asks average Joe American).

I could go into issues of race, materialism/superficialness and individualistic self-pride... but I think I've covered enough.

Answer 4

What would happen to pro sports if players, on retiring, were allowed to pass on their positions to their sons? Not only would inferior people be doing all the playing, but talented athletes without family connections would be excluded and see no point in developing their talents. The "right" to inheritance and other birth privileges is a cancer that has destroyed all civilizations. Histwhorians and other pre-owned critics of society are all frauds financed by the hereditary regime.

The GI Billies after World War II were unmanly brown-noses who, even though their tuition was paid for, still spent 4 years working without pay and living like children. In general, absurd things that you are told are right (such as that, in order to get a good job, you have to go four years without a job) mean that you only think what you are told to think and can never realize what is wrong with this Matrix.

Answer 5

For one thing being a policeman is a thankless job either at the local level (like I did) or on the world's stage. We have to get over people not liking us always, it goes with the job.
You show me one nation that was more generous when the huge Tsunami hit S.E. Asia... hmmm.. guess that'd be score one for us. Did you see a huge thank you party? Nope, you never do.
After WWII we rebuilt France's railroads, but did DeGaulle give us a big thank you, no? Right again.
We could withdraw into our borders and keep everybody out, but it's not our nature. We do so much good all over the world, and still after all this time, we're surprised when nobody thanks us.
It's kind of like Judge Judy when some kindly little old lady loans her shiftless nephew countless thousands of dollars and is still surprised when she has to sue to get her money back. When it does get to court, the nephew says "how could you do this to me, I don't get it!" We need to scale back on our kindly ways and let the world go it's own way for awhile, and see how things go then.
With the billions of dollars that the extremist Islamic nations hold, let's see then step up to the plate for other nations, hmmm.... not gonna happen is it? They don't believe in helping others, just in conversion at sword point to their belief system, but don't let the U.S. publish a cartoon while they hang Uncle Sam dolls and set them on fire.
So, our problem is we are just too nice, and don't understand it when our kindness is not reciprocated.

Answer 6

The politicians have become a business who are for sale to the highest bidder and no longer consider the best intrest of the nation .
The anwser is that politicians need special punishments for breaking any law.
They were given immunity to prevent manulipating the goverment by law enforcement agencies and the evolution of a police state.
This has resulted in abuse of that privilage by the officials.
I think we need a way to call to account anyone in goverment. The arguments aginst term limitations are not valid but even so a enforced period of non involvement in goverment service or goverment related service would ensure that they spend some time with the citizenry and at that time all charges must be anwsered with increased punishments for abuse of position or powers.
If more that 2 months is sent out of the jurisdiction of the area they represented in a two year time then they are no longer elegable for goverment position or recieviong benifits from previous benifits.
this should be manditory every 8 years for reresentives 12 years for senators. after two years they would be eligable to run for office again if they have no convictions of abuse of position or residency rules.
These are some quick anwsers to abuse by politians, while not the complete anwser , at least it would ensure that they are aware that selling privilages to industries or persons will be punished.

Answer 7

Why must Americans think America is the best country in the world? Most Americans have this thinking, but what's the basis for this belief?

The era you talk about had just come out of WWII, after using nuclear bombs on Japan. Your tests showed complete devastation, but still two bombs were dropped. Japan was forced to surrender because of this. I wonder if you gladly celebrate this victory or feel any remorse from the destruction caused by this weapon. Do you even care?

Also, as a result of this weapon, a cold war which lasted 50 years with the Soviet Union began. During that period ending in 1989, you fought in Korea (draw), Vietnam (pulled-out) and funded several other wars.

Iran/ Iraq - both sides, so long as American weapons were being used. Publicly, you gave Saddam weapons for this war with Iran. Secretly, you were funneling weapons into Iran. Afghanistan-Soviet war. America was also providing weapons to Afghanistan, in its war against Communist Russia.

Three of these nations are now your enemy. Russia is in your pockets for money, when it needs you. Communist Cuba is at your doorstep and that scares you because of its close proximity.

The Cold War left America scared of the other side, Communist Russia, of the influences it has over China, Cuba, North Korea and Vietnam and Eastern Europe.

I think your use of the weapon made you scared, in that you realize, if used against America it would have more to lose, as America is not self-sufficient. Most resources come from other countries. Housing materials and electric energy and others from Canada, Oil from the Persian gulf region. Electronics from Japan, China, Taiwan and Korea. Cheap labor from Mexico, China, India, Pakistan and other third world nations.

Other than Canada and Japan, American trades with these countries and region have placed the US in a volatile and weak position.

I think American foreign policy is at fault. Your current and past presidents, not including Bill Clinton, did nothing, but damage American relations with the rest of the world. They do/did not understand the terrible consequences of their actions.

And, now outside the Iraq problem, you face economic battles with China and India for dominance and, on the political front, America is in a battle of words with leftist South American countries. Chavez and co. are on a tear.

So, remind me again why you think America is the greatest country in the world. Also, can you really call yourself the greatest country in the world. Wouldn't that judgment have to come from OUTSIDE America.

Peace and Love.

Answer 8

Here's what went wrong. It's called letting the Big Banks that swept in 1913 to take control of our currency printing. Now they pull the strings in order to accomplish a one world government, known as the New World Order. Bush Sr. said on 9/11/91 about a "big idea" a "new world order". Him, Clinton and George W. are all puppets of this NWO. The only way we'll win back our country is to put an end to the Federal banks/reserve. Abolishing them would end the masterminds pulling the strings. Thus enabling us to rebuild what they've taken away in 80yrs.

Do you really believe that giving up our liberties for security/freedom makes any ******* sense!!! It doesn't. They're in the building blocks of the North American Union. Tieing up the US, Canada and Mexico into some giant country. Don't believe me. Google "North American Union." You'll open your eyes to a new kind of hell. A one world government, police state where all liberties, privacy are in a controlled survelliance grid.

Answer 9

What are you basing your measurement on?

We can observe that divorce is more common today . . .
or that we have far less tolerance for spousal abuse and child abuse.

Abortion is legal (an injustice according to some and right according to others) . . . but isn't the import thing that it's being openly discussed and debated? And that much of the emphasis is on doing what's right for mother and child vs the past inclination to just cover things up.

We deal with AIDS and pharmaceutical companies and HMOs make big $$$, but overall health care is better around the world.

And so on.
For that matter, what makes you think that members of "The Greatest Generation" are of one mind on the state of things today vs how they were? Seems to me they're just as split on politics, morals and "progress" as anyone else.

Ultimately, the inclination to believe things are better or worse than they were in the 'good ole days' is misleading. Change is inevitable and what matters is how we deal with it.

To put things in perspective, the Greatest Generation deposed some terrible regimes (fascist Germany, Spain & Italy and imperial Japan), but did so in alliance with Stalin, who was arguably a worse tyrant than Hitler.
In contrast, the US recently deposed Saddam Hussein (sp?), but did so through a war of aggression, rather than at the bidding of any recognizable and democratically chosen government of Iraqi citizens.

Trying to paint either generation as wholly successful or failing seems a waste of effort. Better to learn what we can from the past, taking all in perspective, and try to build a better future.

Answer 10

We have changed from the people that said what can I do to help to the generation that said I better get what i deserve or I am calling my Lawyer. People want everything done for them rather than doing something for themselves. It starts with the heads of the family...people do not sacrifice anything for their kids like our parents did. We go out and buy whatever we want on credit and figure that if we don't pay then someone else will pick up the slack.

People have no sense of civil obligation like they did in previous generations; they take everything for granted like it is their god given right. We have become a happy welfare society, rather than try to pick ourselves up or better ourselves we want to blame Wal-mart for all the evils in society!

The big problem is that we have gone from looking at ourselves as a melting pot and instead call a "salad bowl". Melting pot meant that we take all the different people and melt their traditions together to develop the American tradition...Salad Bowl say that we are all different and should remain distinctly different!

Answer 11

the last positive thing that I can remember happening was during the Kennedy era, he said that we will have a man on the moon in this decade. It was accomplished in 8 years. Today we face a challenge with affordable health care, alternative energy, several places and there is so much diversion from the true answers to these problems that little progress has been made. I think it takes leadership such as Kennedy's to motivate the right people to solve the problems. In answer to your question, I do not think that we have the quality of leadership that we have had in the past. Nobody has a vision, there are no hero's beyond some air headed sports figure.