Jul 03, 2008 05:18PM GMT
Question
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Politics - United States
Is America headed in the right direction?
Surveys nearly always show Americans feel the country has headed in the wrong direction. Recent polls suggest nearly 80% of the participants disagree with the direction because of things like immigration, government spending, lack of civil rights, moral decline, etc...I think we can all agree that America has its problems, about which the news constantly likes to remind us. We don't see the good things that happen on a daily basis. The quiet good deeds. The longer life span and the shrinking of the gap in lifespan between rich/poor. The charitable giving. A safer world without the imminent threat of nuclear holocaust.
We also turn toward the government much more today than before to see the direction of our country rather than look at our neighbors to help them or build communities.
So, what do you think.... Whom do you blame or credit? How can we get things going in the right direction?
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raves +2 posted Jul 03, 2008 05:55PM GMT
Answered No, here's why... (leave comment)
We are at war, threatening to expand the war! We are at the mercy of other countries for our energy! We are giving away our manufacturing to communist China! We are seeing home foreclosures unlike anything we have seen since the Great Depression! Over 35 million Americans live in poverty, 1/3 of them children! 48 million Americans have no health care coverage! Our schools are broke and failing, our dollar is in the toilet, our bridges, levy's and roads are crumbling....so with all of this said....you tell me! -
raves Jul 03, 2008 09:14PM GMTI could list numerous things pointing at our great success. Consider the low unemployment, high life expectancy, charitable giving, home ownership despite the 'crisis', strong economy/consumer spending, outstanding legal system, etc...
The list of good/bad doesn't mean we've headed in the right or wrong direction as much as it talks about our current status. Can we fix it? Will we make our country greater? Do you have "Hope"? ;) -
raves Jul 03, 2008 10:00PM GMTlow unemployment? Are you kidding? The government just released figures showing 62,000 Americans lost their jobs last month alone! Nearly 500,000 since January! Do you realize that after a person exhausts their unemployment benefits, they are no longer counted? Same thing for the discouraged that simply give up....they are no longer considered unemployed...then we can talk about the underemployed....you can try to put lip stick on a pig...but it will still smell like a pig! THIS ECONOMY IS A PIG!
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raves Jul 03, 2008 10:42PM GMTthe rate of nearly 5.5% reflects near full employment. Many lose their jobs, and many entered the job force because they just graduated schools, so the number indicates a cyclical rise around this period. Compare our numbers vs the world.
I feel bad for the unemployed, but we have a great nation that offers opportunity to all. -
raves +1 Jul 05, 2008 07:32AM GMTLet me play the optimist again...
I don't have a study handy, but I bet we have a better food supply than we did 50 years ago (or even more recently). And we have better prescription drugs today saving far more lives than ever before. And, as far as pet's, today we have Petco... that counts for something! -
raves Jul 05, 2008 11:35AM GMT (edited)but again, I will defer to the question, do you believe that the country is "headed in the right direction", when you are NOT investing in the infrastructure and the infrastructure is failing, when you are CUTTING BACK at agencies such as the FDA and USDA and people are dying as a result our trade policy is GIVING AMERICA TO THE LOWEST BIDDER and as a result COMMUNIST CHINA CONTROLS MORE AND MORE OF WHAT WE CONSUME...I will say it again...NO! A RESOUNDING NO! We are NOT HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION! I appreciate your optimism, however I suggest you also sprinkle i a bit of realism!
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raves +2 posted Jul 03, 2008 05:46PM GMT
Answered No, here's why... (leave comment)
We must work to make this country independent, pull back from international involvement, cease being the policeman for the world. Our economy is in chaos, thousands of jobs have been lost, we are headed down a slippery slope. Costs of everything are soaring, home values have plummeted, wages have not kept pace, those on a fixed income are suffering the most. Are there parallels to the fall of other once powerful civilizations? I think we may find them. It's not too late to turn things around, but it will take discipline and organization by our leaders to do so. Unfortunately I am not encouraged by the current crop of leaders, that much will happen in the way of correction. It's a sad state of affairs. -
raves +1 posted Jul 03, 2008 05:45PM GMT
Answered I feel mixed because... (leave comment)
We do a lot of good we just don't do it right. While I feel we need to help people in need our Welfare and Social Security programs are in need of some major overhauling. There are too many people on disability that don't need to be taking advantage of those of us who work. There are children receiving SS benefits until the age of 18 due to the death of a parent. How about a SS death benefit instead a payout of what has been paid in by the parent? Welfare has become a way of life for many on the program instead of a helping hand to get you back up on your feet as it was intended. It is a shame that our government doesn't have the guts to do what needs to be done for our country to thrive as it would not be a popular stand. They need to get their spending under control. Government contracts are a joke. These corporations are ripping the US government off on pricing because they can. It is rediculous! Sorry to rant I could go on and on but I won't becuase it is a moot point. Our leaders in the House and Senate don't care and until we vote in those that do things will never change. -
raves +2 Jul 03, 2008 07:27PM GMT (edited)That depends on the teacher. I teach my children the basic values intertwined with their daily lessons. I apply all my teachings to everyday life. But we can't continue to teach on salaries that are near poverty levels, which is why I am leaving Florida and heading to New York. Tell me why New York pays their first year teachers 15,000 more than Florida? I don't think the cost of living is that much different. Why is Florida not giving us any raises this year while New York will give a gradual 10,000 raise within 3 years?
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raves +2 Jul 03, 2008 07:22PM GMTjust rave that thought! If it is out of school lets put it back in-
http://www.goldenruleradical....
Answered Yes
Take everybody back to kindergarten and learn the Golden rule again.