I can't believe some of you guys actually need an explanation for rising American dissatisfaction. As American citizens, our government lies to us every single day; people who do not accurately represent the American citizen pass laws against the better interests of the nation because they're just the minions of big business. Corporations and their lobbyists control everything with their seemingly infinite money. There's also the assholes who link "God and Country" make us look absolutely ridiculous as they talk about God's nation and Jesus/America hooplah. We have no pride because we have nothing to be proud of anymore. Just about everything has become mindless here; its hard to tell the difference between legitimate news outlets and the gossip-esque (The View/John Stewart) news shows. The line between reality and parody is now virtually nonexistent. Obviously done on purpose to cloud everything up. Don't forget how stupid current US movie releases have become either. Look no further than The Expendables for some bottom barrel bullshit. What happened to us? /early morning rant edit: also... Jersey Shore
Our country is what we make it. I'm still proud to be an American because the part of it that I live in and surround myself with is excellent. I wouldn't settle for anything less. America really isn't any worse than it was 20 years ago, or 50 years ago, etc. It's just become more open and the dirty laundry is out for everyone to see. And I'm telling ya, just visit a few other countries and you'll come home with a whole new appreciation for what we have.
I concure on both the last two posts. If I see bullshit, I'm going to call it "bullshit". What that gets me is ridicule, resistence and resentments. What the heck........ It's not going to be my house so y'all build it however you please. people used to work hard to build things and just as hard, if not harder, to maintain them. Or, is that the corporate monsters or gubberment's job now. Entities only have the power we surender to them. And, they are more than happy to assume it. They are more than glad to have everyone busy with selfish pursuits so there's ample oportunity to indulge in power grabbing unoticed. All things happen in our society because we allow them too. Either by buying into bullshit out of selfish pursuits or by keeping blinders on. I've seen this country realistically the best it can be. I know it's posible, I've seen it. We can regain all prior glory if there's a will to. Some of the biggest obsticles I see is people want to make mountains out of mole hills and pole vault mouse turds and expect everyone else to do something about problems. We are all part of the problem, even me.
I don't understand why someone who is unhappy with some aspect of our country would have to go somewhere else. Is this what Teabaggers should do? Well, we elected our officials, so you're right. We're also very apathetic. I want to do something, but who's gonna back me up? How can we make a difference?
In truth, a lot of the unhappiness in modern times has to do with nothing other than the "echo chamber" effect, created by the mass instant communication. It's the gossip network rumor mill on steroids, so that everything is in our face 24/7, and in typical human fashion, most communication is in the form of complaints. We ape-folk are designed for small group social interaction. Feeding us the cares of the World breaks our poor little brains, as we try to interpret things in a small-group setting, so that collections of thousands of different people in different groups are suddenly swept into a single name of some Nation/Corporation/Party or other, as if that nation/corporation/party were one person. Also, good stuff doesn't get posted, because those who are experiencing the good stuff would rather enjoy it than spread the word about it... Translation: We only squeak when we need grease!
Or when the ugliness is more than a rumor. http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/n...sons-why-the-obama-presidency-is-in-meltdown/ https://www.safelinkwireless.com/EnrollmentPublic/Home.aspx (now illegals can have cell service compliments of US tax dollars) (Q) Wanna know what'll really get the attention of whomever really does run the show? (A) Spend 1 year just wanting your needs, rather than needing your wants. I garranty that things will change in a big, big way.
Well I'm not for sending people away that aren't fans of the country that allows them to openly and loudly disagree with it's policies. That would be foolish and Un-American. I guess it just pisses me off when regardless of the subject, some American always blames America! It just gets old.
Funny you should mention the "teabaggers" and then lament there's nothing you can do. They seem to be doing quite well influencing policy and pushing their agenda. Disagree with their ideology if you like, make up funny names too, but they're out in mass and pushing hard for what they want. And I believe they'll get quite a lot of it.
You guys know me. I'm of the "solution is worse than the problem" camp. In reacting to the corruption of the Governor of Illinois, the people rose up and elected... Rod Blagoyovich... This is why the Tea Party won't help. The ones riding the T.P.'s coat tails are opportunists, pure and simple. I have yet to see any revolution of the "People" which has not ended up as a worse problem than the one they were fighting. The Russians got Stalin, the French got Robespierre, the Iranians got their current leaders. I submit this is due simply to the fact that it's the opportunists with catchy jingos and sociopathic tendencies that rise to the top in any crisis, rather than people who actually understand the complex issues involved. We have unrealistic and conflicting demands of any public official that practically GUARANTEES that they have to lie to us to get our votes. Getting votes by defenestrating Social Security and Medicare AND raising taxes, which is what TRUE budget balancing would really require, will get no votes from anyone. We'd rather hear honeyed lies about how to balance the budget without giving up the benefits we've "already paid for" by tinkering with the margins on all other government programs which, all added up, will hardly make a dent in the deficit, and how lowering our taxes will magically increase tax revenue. Because the type of change we want is unrealistic, the change we will get will be equally unrealistic. We have literally brought this upon ourselves, while constantly denying that it is we ourselves who have demanded the mess we currently have, and blaming "the other side" for all our current problems... The Founding Fathers set up the Representative Republic because they full well understood the dilemma of direct democracy. At the start, our representative government was even more indirect than it is now, since you elected your State representatives, then the state government would appoint Senators to the Federal Government. In modern times, the combination of the sheer size of the Union, combined with increasingly faster mass communication, have chipped away at the indirectness of the Representative Republic, so that the Representatives are no longer insulated from the pressures of the direct voting public, and I posit that things are falling apart as a result.
I believe the Teaparty wants what's best for this country but they have stated that they do not want to form a third party so they will be absorbed by the Republican party. It doesn't matter if they join either party they will be destroyed by the system. You may think I'm being pessimistic but that's not true this is history repeating itself.
IMO, the Tea Party is nothing more than astroturfing devised by the Republicans to mobilize their base to vote for them. They're doing quite well in that respect, like you said. However, besides putting them back in power, it's not going to change a thing. I've never understood Republicans, though; they don't like government, yet they want to be in charge of it? They want government out of people's lives... but they want to use legislation to force Christian values on society? You have to admit, those things contradict each other. Anyway, I can't speak for other people, but I don't hate America. I just feel disillusioned. Corruption and inefficiency are present everywhere and are hindering progress. And that's what we should all focus on minimizing. BTW, I'd never move back to Venezuela! I like it too much here.
Ugh. If ever there was a Country with far worse problems than us, it would be Venezuela! I'm glad you're here, and not there!
I have traveled to quite a few other countries over the last few years. I have visited Gibralter, France, Italy, Spain, and Scotland. I will say that America still is the best country by far. Although other countries may have certain benefits, they have their drawbacks as well. No country is perfect. But, I will tell you that America is as good as it gets. You think things are corrupt here? It only gets worse with the other countries. The more freedom we have the more chances we have of getting burned. I am all for personal freedom and having the choice to make our own decisions. But, I will tell you that a strong defense is the best offense. As for our resources, they honestly need to be focused on our citizens. I think that we need to lower the spending on government programs to help lower taxes and allow everyone to spend their own money as they see fit. But, that's only my opinion. I will support the ideas of any honest American Citizen that chooses to live their life in this country. I have said it many times, and I will say it again. I might not agree with what everyone else in this country says. But, I will gladly give my life to defend their right to continue speaking their minds. ~Will Courtier~
Thus: "(Q) Wanna know what'll really get the attention of whomever really does run the show? (A) Spend 1 year just wanting your needs, rather than needing your wants."
^^^^ THIS. bro, seriously we have our corrupt officials and bullshit here, but its almost a sacrifice for us to live comfortably UNDER this capitalistic society. Dont get me wrong, im not going to succumb to the bullshit, im always going to be on the side of "lets make things better and safer without casualties and being used as guinea pigs". I want to know the truth too. /consipracy mode ON. it makes me wonder if secret societies like the "illuminati", freemasons, CIA, and all those high level rumored departments are really the ones thats protecting this country FROM TURNING INTO OTHER COUNTRIES, or from being infiltrated by radicals and extremists. what if we should be praising big brother rather than fighting it?? I mean shit, i think theres a reason why they call it "big brother", hes our protector from outside danger. /mode OFF. ok, im going to listen to music and turn my brain off before i go off onto some wild shit.
Absolutely true. As I was saying to 950 the other day, they're basically Hessian Mercenaries. Also true. Of course they want to be in charge so they can pursue their ideology, control the size and structure of the government. But the Christian values thing? That's 100% true and I hate it. Hence the other comment I made to 950 - I'm a man without a home. Neither party suits me, and I too and disillusioned with the whole process.
What if : 1) *a central force runs the show in the background, independant of any self rule? 2) *commerce, government, and religeon are all just diversions? 3) *we're all just slaves in one degree or another to something and do not want to see that? 4) *what we're all really looking for is right here in front of us? 5) *dependency is what blinds us to the good stuff this universe has to offer? 6) *item one doesn't matter, because the "effect" is the same reguardless of the "cause"? It doesn't really matter if a forrest fire is caused by a kid playing with matches or by a lightning strike. The trees get burned just the same.
Yet when they are IN control, what they actually pursue is different from what they say they want to pursue. In point of fact, the budget deficits have been worse under Republican administrations than under Democratic, ever since the Reagan Revolution. Edit: We need nested quotes, I think. Your post, without the quotes you're answering, reads a bit strangely.
or..............................vids! This system goes way back. Long before us or they and them. Way before Plato and Socrates even. [video=youtube;zUpTJg2EBpw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUpTJg2EBpw[/video] or....... [video=youtube;tfp2O9ADwGk]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfp2O9ADwGk&feature=fvw[/video] Q)Why do people do it to each other? A) Because they can!
Also agreed. The Republicans don't represent me at all these days, I have no idea what I'm doing next November. Probably throw my vote down the drain on an independent or 3rd party.
I'm just putting my stock in firing as many as I can....that's where my vote goes. It won't change anything, but at least I will have said my spiel. all that really needs changing, i've already nearly accomplished.
