5 Reasons why America is Going to Hell in a Handbasket.

Seeing what America has devolved into is unnervingly depressing. The people no longer have any power, and are often too apathetic to care. Often it can be chalked up to ignorance. 90% of everyone has no idea what is going on in their country. It makes me want to scream, cry, and punch holes in my wall, but we all know how much that will accomplish.

I must first state I agree with the OP's premise and subsequent list. I also feel other posters in this thread have added important elements for us all to ponder.

Many of you have described some deeply personal feelings and how you would like to express them to others. It is completely acceptable to want to open one's window and shout at the top of one's lungs in hopes you might be heard, understood, and ultimately agreed with. Others speak of actions such as protests towards govermant entities. Some describe peaceful gatherings while others may prefer to ramp it up a bit. Some want to tutor parents, others want to mass along the border in solidarity. You see a pattern here? It's like herding cats! There is no cosensus on the approach or whom to voice our outrage.

I'm of the belief we may want to take a slightly different direction in order to achieve the goal. Most importantly I think it is imperative to establish the "origin of the origin"

When did things like political correctness start?
Who was responsible for its launch?
When did apathy begin?
How have these and other topics posted on the various lists become such incredible issues of the day?

I ask you intelligent posters to provide your thoughts, hypotheses', and beliefs to determine how this all began.

Once established perhaps we will find a person, group, or other entity in which we can begin our process of dismantling these ways. Until then we are not a group to be dealt with instead, merely a band of individuals with no clear cut direction.

Becker

Originally posted by SimiusDei
Issues such as homosexuality and racism fall under the "Political Correctness" section. "Reverse" racism falls under there as well.

The irony here is that your own OP takes a politically correct approach to referencing political correctness as a problem.

I simply said it like it is no holds barred and bluntly pointed out the problems this country is facing, something you didn't do. Hence why my comments are ripped apart while yours are tolerated, despite the fact we have similar opinions.

SimiusDei

You say "America is going to hell in a hand basket"...

Well... I'd just like to see what you're using as a point of reference...

Are you using 9/11 as a point of reference? Has this country "gone down" since then?

Are you using yesterday as a point of reference?

The clinton years?

Have we been going down since day 1, July 4th, 1776?

For reference sake, where was the high point on your "chart"?

I agree. And its not only in the USA that the media drug is keeping people from seeing through the smokescreen of corruption which will eventually lead to a Global government.

Thats why globalization the "American" way has a negative aspect to it.

Although McDonalds can stay, can´t live without a Big mac a week.

Originally posted by JessicaS
The whole reason people started coming to America was to escape persecution.

The original settlers to America ran away from Europe because they refused to accept that the state should be impartial when it came to religion; they were the bigots and basically modern American Christian fundamentalism is NOT modern or strange.

So why should we persecute gays, lesbians and bisexuals who were born of this country (or any other country) is beyond me. Ever heard of equality? If your being called a bigot cause of this, maybe you should do some internal reflection... you might actually be one, and if that bothers you... CHANGE!!!!!!

Sounds about right to me.

Originally posted by fweshcawfee
Yes, there are racial extremists on both sides. There are black people who hate white people and want them all dead, just like there are white people who hate black people.

The difference is that white people are far better armed ( intercontinental bombers aircraft and nuclear missiles to say nothing of hunting rifles and the like) and that coloured people could kill a few hundred million whites without having settled 'the score'. I am not advocating this but i always find it funny how the oppressors get so very angry when the oppressed sometimes reacts in like ways.

ANY RACISM IS WRONG!!!

That may be so but if you were a slave two centuries ago your racism would have been logical and not really something you had much choice about.

That doesn't mean racist people try to use the race card to get out of getting in trouble. Like saying... You are punishing me for something I did wrong cause I'm black/white/muslim/gay/female/male/fat/thin/eating figs... Accept it's not all about what you are but what you did.

Fine but when are some reparations going to be made to the victims of white racism and oppression?

I agree with the vast majority of your post so i hope you take these as 'additions' rather than 'corrections'.

Stellar

Originally posted by JessicaS
reply to post by SteveR

 

LOL! I have, and yes she's ugly... but frankly they don't really talk of her "Accomplishments" from my memory, only bout how she messed things up. So, bad women are ugly. lol!

Sorry Jasn. Had to comment here. I'm done!

Haha it's all good. Though I gladly started you guys a thread in skunk works to cover this discussion.

I'd like to see this convo. carried on there, could be very interesting and informative.




Jasn

reply to post by StellarX


StellarX, pay attention and get your quotes right pal because I didn't say what you quoted me as saying. Someone else said that.

reply to post by microcosm


Though America has had many "high" points and even more "low" points. Were I to label a time when the tide really changed in favor of tyranny, I would have to go with the point in time that the Federal Reserve was created.

From that point on, I think things have really changed for the worse looking at it from an "overall" perspective.

High points in America would be the transition of years when people who weren't white ceased being looked at as second class citizens as a whole. I know there are some that will say that it has never stopped, but, as a whole I must say you guys are wrong.

The days of "whites only" toilets and drinking fountains were truly sad days in our society.

The segregation that takes place now is a more willing and natural one and not what would be considered "forced" by a logical person.

For more on this, see my "Are you a racist" thread.

But yea, the creation of the Federal Reserve would probably be my number 1 in a list of horrible events in America's (and the world's) past.


I no longer speak of that event that happened in September of whatever year it was. Therefore, it's a non-issue in how I view things.

Jasn

I will say, the attention that this thread has garnered certainly shows me that there are a great deal of people out there who still care.

Caring is apathy's only antidote.

All hope is only lost when 100% of the population has embraced apathy.

As long as there are a few remaining who care to see change, change is very possible.


Jasn

I totally agree with this post particularly with the stripped of all things that makes us real men and women that is not to say that I don't like the phrase testicles just trying to relate to a larger audience

great Post

GEO

reply to post by SimiusDei

AS well as our Schools Cramming down our throats that we are a Democracy. AS well as the Politicians Cramming down our throats that we are a Democracy.
WE ARE NOT, We are a Republic, Check the Constitution "Form of Government Republic". Democracy is a every man for himself Mob Rule. A path to Socialism which ends in Communism.

The number 1 reason why we are going to hell, is because our children have no moral value, the past 2 Generations were UNLEASHED upon the world, not Raised to it.

reply to post by SimiusDei


Don't worry too much about the national debt. There is clear solution
to that. Our future has never been brighter. Cheer up.
Pop in a copy of Back to the Future II. Advanced technology will
save the day. The truth will be revealed to you 2012.
Hang in there.

Simius, you are right on with everything you said. Political corectness is killing this country. It is a terrible thing to remove "underGod" from the Pledge of allegiance, and the fact that we have freedom of religion but are not able to celebrate Christmas break in our schools anymore for fear of "offending" someone is just sick.

I cannot believe some of the laws and lawsuits that are permitted to happen nowadays. I thought surely they must be kidding when they said that low slung pants were going to be made illegal, but they were serious. What about Plumber's moons? lol What next?

The fact that anyone should be able to sue Mcdonalds for serving hot coffee or to sue a doctor for doing what is necessary to treat you if you don't agree with the treatment is just a couple of examples of things that need to be changed. Frivolous lawsuits are the reason why healthcare is so terribly expensive.

I spanked my children when they were young, and I don't apologize for it. As soon as I stopped, they knew it, and I lost control of them, and have yet to get any level of respect from them, and it kills my soul, as I am a hard working and loving parent, and respect should just be a natural, but not in todays society it seems.

Our runaway Government is scaring the heck out of me right now. The astronimical debt we have accrued to support this never ending pork barrel war is going to be the downfall of this country. I agree very much that we need more than a two party system, and I am very grateful for the fact that somehow I was able to make my kids politically aware, if I failed in all else.

What can be done about it? I think it is totally ot of our control, because America is filled with couch potatos that are more into videogames and the internet than actually getting off their butts to do anything in real life. I think the days of revolution are over in this country. I for one am just waiting for it to fall, and with this North American Union coming into reality it is geting closer and closer.

Its like king of the hill!!

Everyone wants to be on top!

America has been on top for the last 200 years!! sorry folks, as much as you envy us, the crumble.. it aint going to happen.

Their are way to many people/corporations that just wont let your doomsday america happen!!!

It is nice to pretend and hope here on a message board though isnt it!!

Why dont all you just try harder, and get a good job???

Then you could live like all of us evil americans!!??

No, wait you would rather bitch and complain and envy others thatn make your own situation better....It really is easier isnt it!

"No it is not. The racist system that leads to a great proportion of African Americans landing up in American jail speaks volumes as to who the real racist are. I know what racism is and i can tell you who is normally responsible for it."

Actually I am a Criminology student, let me throw some figures at you. There has been more than 60,000 black on white murders since 1967. That is more American deaths than in the Vietnam war. White on black murder is actually very rare, I have been hard pressed to find an actual figure, but through my research I have been able to narrow it (roughly) done to a ratio of 16:1. If you want to further slice it down, blacks commit about 44% of all violent crime in America.

If we apply Ockham's razor to this situation we can come to the conclusion that if there is a disportionate amount of African-Americans in jail, it is in align with reality.

I would have a very hard time accepting that these numbers are a result of some smear campaign against blacks, considering the government has programs in place that give them preferential treatment.

In the end, it really doesn't matter what justification is used, murder is wrong and those comitting it have no right to blame "racism" or other copious amounts of excuses for their behaviour. There is no reason in the world that is justification for the taking of an innocent life.

If you believe I made this post to be anti-black, you would be dead wrong. I take personal offence at this person blaming "racist America" for the murders anyone, regardless of race or creed.

Why do some people simply refuse to acknowledge the fact that blacks commit more crimes and use social services per capita than any other race?

Is it a case of the truth being too painful, or is it just plain ignorance?

reply to post by Becker44


It started with Nixon, IMO. He introduced double standards on government level. And his vanity became his fall.

No doubt the present administration have learnt there lesson from him. They've learned what measures to take to guard themselves, legal or not. They don't keep their e-mails like Nixon kept his tape.

Also I think the media (entertainment) has its responsibility, the dreamfactory of Hollywood in particular. Another conspiracy worth investigating.

For Simius: Thanks for bringing the topic, you restore my faith in Americans. Just remember the double standards also work on ATS. The language you know. To me and you and alotta other members f-words are kinda natural language.

I won't go as far as to call ATS mainstream, but it does have an intentions of being family friendly. I agree in that, to get our thoughts out to the broadest of the masses.

It is possible to get your point across without profanity and swearing.

Just one thing... man, don't ever get banned, ATS needs you. Your way is refreshing to this site.

reply to post by Coopdog


Respect is not natural and should not be given freely. Respect is something that is EARNED.

Good luck to you in your endeavors, I hope things can turn out better for you and yours.



Jasn

reply to post by khunmoon



Trust me, I do NOT want to be banned.

However, and perhaps unfortunately, I have that pride bug crap that bites me everytime I feel I back down when I shouldn't have to. I really need to work on that.

As far as the language stuff goes, my only real problem was disagreeing with what constituted censor circumvention. I am personally of the philosophy that using the asterisk(*) to censor words is CENSORING and NOT circumvention. My problem came in when I asked the question (several times) about how exactly censoring one's words with asterisks was "censor circumvention" and I never got a reply. However, Springer explained to me earlier why the asterisk usage still presents a problem and his explanation was perfectly logical. That being the case, I certainly agree (based on the rationale he put forward to me) and I will no longer be using the asterisk method of censorship.

It was simply a matter of me having a stubborn need to know before I bent to any rules. Once I know the logic behind WHY something is done, I am usually much more willing to accept it haha. At least in cases where the logic makes sense. In this particular case, the logic makes perfect sense and using the **** method to censor words CAN indeed hurt ATS as a whole and that is something I do not want to see happen.


Jasn