Speaking of the USA as a natural-born American citizen, I think yes, it is going down the tubes for a number of reasons.
It's important to note that we've, in many respects, been at or near the "top" for a long time now. We've forgotten what it's like to be really "hungry" in life. Apparently-new factors are now working against us, and most of us are, for one reason or another, not aware or are not caring enough to act.
Economically--The Asian countries (I have nothing against them, BTW), especially are going to be eating our lunches for several generations... This is largely due to the nature of global economics (they are hungry and willing, and we are used to over-eating and only taking on the best work, if we feel like it.) Most of them will work 12 hour days, 6 days a week just to put a modest meal on their modest tables a couple times a day... Meanwhile, WE have to have more and more...live in McMansions, have steak several times a week, drive cars the size of buses, and retire at an early age. So of course, the jobs are going to Asia (even as the stockholders make profit on this idea, quarter-over-quarter.) It is still working for my parents' generation, it might work for my own, but our grandchildren will be lucky if they aren't living in those crumbling McMansions burning heirloom furniture for heat...
Education-wise, we fall short as a whole. I worry what will happen when we have far fewer elligible teachers than are needed. It could be a downward-spiral.
We're starting wars all over the planet that aren't necessary and that we can't afford...
Life, on a global level is not necessarily a zero-sum game... If we each lived modestly and inspired others do the same, other people could survive and return the favor, and we could stem this issue of imbalance. I am not a proponent of communism or against rewarding merit in truly commensurate ways.
They catch monkeys in some parts of the world by putting bait in coconut shells...A monkey is attracted, reaches in and grabs the bait, clenches its fist and won't let go, even as it gets pulled into capture. Analagously, if we all studied this trap, we wouldn't get captured if we didn't clench stuff so tightly...
Is This country going to the Shits?
← View full post
Speaking of the USA as a natural-born American citizen, I think yes, it is going down the tubes for a number of reasons.
It's important to note that we've, in many respects, been at or near the "top" for a long time now. We've forgotten what it's like to be really "hungry" in life. Apparently-new factors are now working against us, and most of us are, for one reason or another, not aware or are not caring enough to act.
Economically--The Asian countries (I have nothing against them, BTW), especially are going to be eating our lunches for several generations... This is largely due to the nature of global economics (they are hungry and willing, and we are used to over-eating and only taking on the best work, if we feel like it.) Most of them will work 12 hour days, 6 days a week just to put a modest meal on their modest tables a couple times a day... Meanwhile, WE have to have more and more...live in McMansions, have steak several times a week, drive cars the size of buses, and retire at an early age. So of course, the jobs are going to Asia (even as the stockholders make profit on this idea, quarter-over-quarter.) It is still working for my parents' generation, it might work for my own, but our grandchildren will be lucky if they aren't living in those crumbling McMansions burning heirloom furniture for heat...
Education-wise, we fall short as a whole. I worry what will happen when we have far fewer elligible teachers than are needed. It could be a downward-spiral.
We're starting wars all over the planet that aren't necessary and that we can't afford...
Life, on a global level is not necessarily a zero-sum game... If we each lived modestly and inspired others do the same, other people could survive and return the favor, and we could stem this issue of imbalance. I am not a proponent of communism or against rewarding merit in truly commensurate ways.
They catch monkeys in some parts of the world by putting bait in coconut shells...A monkey is attracted, reaches in and grabs the bait, clenches its fist and won't let go, even as it gets pulled into capture. Analagously, if we all studied this trap, we wouldn't get captured if we didn't clench stuff so tightly...
Life is a moving, accelerating target...