Is it my imagination, or is this country coming apart at the seams?..

[Virginia Dare]

am I just focusing on the negatives? Because it seems like we get deeper in the shit everyday and people are getting more and more desperate.

[flowomo]

1. the country has always been coming apart at the seams...

over some crisis or other. A little historical perspective is needed. The Civil War and the Depression are just two highlights. But the 60s weren't exactly an example of a well-stitched union either.

[Virginia Dare]

3. But I don't think it's just political..

as a society we have no moral compass anymore. We don't know what we actually stand for. What is freedom? What is liberty? What is success? What is happiness? We've lost our way.

[flowomo]

9. those exact sentiments have been expressed in every period

of American history. Especially the "moral compass" claims. Yes, things are bad now -- each successive period absorbs the damage done in the previous one and then adds to it. But the basic idea that things are worse now than ever has been made in every period in our history.

[Virginia Dare]

12. True, but the U.S.

has never invaded another country and caused what might possibly be 1 million innocent dead and a large-scale humanitarian crisis before. We've never openly condoned torturing other human beings in the name of freedom.

I really do think this is beyond the pale of what's happened in this country before, with the possible exception of the Civil War and the push West.

[wuushew]

19. Don't know about that...

The Mexican-American and Spanish-American wars were pretty messy affairs.

[Virginia Dare]

20. Maybe I expect too much..

maybe I thought we had progressed beyond those things. Obviously we haven't.

[AnotherMother4Peace]

25. You are correct: the US is inflicting horrendous damage in Iraq, & will somehow be held accountable

[phantom power]

2. The desperation is just getting warmed up.

If you haven't already, spend a week over in Environment/Energy. Any week will do.

[Earth_First]

4. Just like a garment "Made in China" n/t

[Cleita]

5. Bush has bankrupted this country. The MSM isn't telling you

but it's true. It will probably collapse after the next President takes office. I have a feeling this is why the Republicans are letting McCain be the front runner just in case the Republicans win. He or the Democratic President will take the blame and become a four year President, then they can make a power grab again in 2012. I believe this is how they are thinking.

[Virginia Dare]

7. Hillary or Obama will look like FDR compared to this clown..

they are both intelligent and capable, the polar opposite of shrubya. I think we've forgotten what it's like to have a President like that. Even McCain would probably be a marginal improvement.

[iris5426]

10. That's what I keep thinking too...

and wondering why no one seems to be picking up on it...

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

6. If it's just your imagination then you and I've been imagining the same thing...

[ladjf]

8. The fact that there has been no good news in years leads me to

believe that it isn't your imagination.

[asjr]

11. I feel that every day. It seems

whatever happens, good or bad, no one is held accountable. Why have we endured 7 years of criminality when no one says Stop? This administration has committed many, many impeachable offenses and has given America the finger. But no one does anything about it. Who is in charge? I am so tired of waiting.

[blues90]

13. It's not your imagination , not in my opinion , people lose

focus . Right now if you look at just the present and take the last 7 years alone it is clear we are in a world of shit .

If you take every issue apart you will find how it has been destroyed .

This is from the economy to infrastructure to schools and hospitals to this Iraq occupation and the list never ends .

Right now in spite of all of this and when there is another year of the bush admin where are people focused , on the elections , running like fools thinking some election will wash away all the problems we now face . It's not going to happen this way , it will take decades and this is the part that people do not want to focus on because if you offer hope of a better future this is what people will focus on and they will put all effort into this one area hoping that they will not be affected while they hang on .

There are elections coming up and going on now and this is un-avoidable but in despair it becomes the attention grabber .

The future is far off for many , they need help now not tomarrow or next year , the future is a dream made up of plans that have to be worked out .

We have been hearing about re-newable clean energy for years now but we are no closer to it today than years ago , it's still a dream of the future with alot of work and time to get there .

I don't find reality riding on hopes and dreams when the present is in such chaos . No one can just wash it away unless they are willing to ignore those who are suffering today and they can ride this out .

In the last year with the 110th congress what have we got , min wage increased to 1970's standards adjusted for inflation and this is if you have a job . You can't build a new house on a collapsed rotten foundation .

[opihimoimoi]

14. This is what Conservatism brings us,,,crap. Its all their fault..They gave us 2 Bushies and a Ronnie

its been down hill ever since...

Carter left us with a National debt of 350 Billion..

Reagan left us with 3.5 Trillion in the hole

Bushie is leaving us with a 10 Trillion debt...need I go on?

[Virginia Dare]

21. I'm sensing a pattern here...

:scared:

Nixon would never in a million years get the reboob nomination in this day and age. In fact he was to the left of a lot of so-called Democrats right now. Too bad he was such a nutjob, but reboob's love nutjobs.

[opihimoimoi]

23. Them Repubs have a RICH History of selecting Inept and Flawed Leaders

Is there a pattern? Sure there is....its like they are from a Flawed Section of our Society...Conservative is only a Facade for the selfish/greedy/delusional sector....they want arrogant POWER and all the Monies they can muster...through Hook or Crook.

Amazing they even running for office these days(daze)

and yet...there are enough of them to steal elections and such...Conniving assholes they are....

The worst part...many of the lower ranks are doing their dirty work and don't even know it....blinded as they are....Pathetic

[zonmoy]

15. it is falling apart.

I will be generous and give us 50 years before we collapse like all other empires before us. most likely much sooner.

[flashl]

16. Questions in my mind regarding the direction of this country began when

* was selected. Reconciling 'rule of law' in the aftermath of the 2000 election has been problematic, especially, when it appears the constitution is a 'dead letter'.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

17. Oscar Wilde said it best..

"America is the first country to have gone from barbarism to decadence without the usual intervening period of civilization." - Oscar Wilde

Although I think we seem to be stuck in greedy, swaggering, know-it-all, adolescence.

[Jamastiene]

18. Actually, it could go either way at this point.

Either we go ahead and have a second Civil War or we learn to get along. Faced with those two options, I'm not so sure you are imagining anything at all.

[Virginia Dare]

22. We've already had our first bloodless coup (2000)

maybe we'll have our first bloodless civil war?:shrug:

[Jamastiene]

24. It might not be bloodless.

In any case, it really REALLY is divided right about now.

[gulliver]

26. Nope. The world is beating the crap out of us. And the GOP is keeping...

...our hands tied behind our backs.