What's Wrong With America?

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

I post this as an honest question. The economy is slipping away due to a combination of oil prices, the collapse of the mortgage industry, and the subsequent devaluation of the Dollar. I fear that a combination of both short-sighted politicians and businessmen have conspired to ruin us in the long term for short term gains. The blame belongs not only to one major political party, but to both as both have done things that have harmed us. We are a nation primarily of consumers, and not producers. Problem is, we spend a lot of money, but where is it coming in from? We export jobs and import products. In return, all we provide is a market. Now, politicians on both sides want to sell us all out in the name of global warming. They have devised schemes that would not provide any net reduction in emissions, only change the nations that are producing the emissions, at the expense of American factory workers. There is a lot more I could write, as the problem comes not only from one direction, but from all directions. We need to change something, but what I am not certain. There is no simple answer. Comments?

 

[STLRegal]

Part of me thinks we are screwed. But i also think that nothing ever really changes and that weve always had problems similar to this, and that the media just hypes it up to get more ratings. Doesnt mean I like the gas prices one bit, but besides that things might be being a little overplayed.

 

[srercrcr]

Exports from the US are BACK. Unfortunately, imported oil is GROWING.
It is imperitive we get off importing oil from unfriendly sources, including but not limited to all the Middle East and Venezuela. That oil is driving our foreign policy. It "only" represents like 15% of our total oil use. We could get there with fuel stingy vehicles, drastically cutting back on unnecessary plastics, and similar initiatives. Although not popular, high fuel prices will drive the transition to better solutions. Low fuel prices only encourage wasteful use, dependency on Middle East oil, and the deployment of our young men and women to unfriendly lands to lay claim to that oil. Remember, they SHUT OFF exports to us in the last energy crisis. They are not our friends.

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

My problem is that much of our shortage of domestic production is artificial. When oil was cheap, many wells were capped because it was not cost-effective to keep them going. Now, it is not easy to reopen them due to environmentalists. Plus, the eco-nazis are blocking new domestic exploration and refineries which would help alleviate the situation in order to push their agenda. Why can China, aided by Cuba, explore for oil in the Gulf of Mexico in international waters when we can't? Do we really think they will give a damn about our shores as much as we would?

 

[Tony_SS]

We can speculate on high dollar gas all day, but its only one symptom of the problem. To answer the question generally: Politics, Greed and Corruption.

The main problem is that the current administration has a Neocon agenda that is bankrupting our country, dissolving our Constitution and slowly stripping away our Liberties. All because we are trying to 'bring peace' (kill Muslims) in the middle east and 'promote democracy' (instigate civil unrest to topple and install a puppet governments in middle east to gain control of oil revenues).

Here at home this is all wrapped up in a nice Flag and Bible package by our corporate owned main stream media and promoted as being patriotic. Our government uses the supposed 'terror' threat as an excuse to dispose our rights and marginalize the population creating a culture of fear and violence. If our government is so concerned about protecting us from terrorism, why do the Mexican and Canadian borders remain wide open? Maybe it goes against their idea of a One World Government where there will be no borders or national sovereignty.

The fact is, America is neither feared or respected in the middle east and probably though out most of the world. And I think slowly this resentment is showing up here at home. Why else would a book titled, the Revolution: A Manifesto be #1 on the NY Times best sellers list. Folks are starting to wake up to the fact that if you give up your liberty for security, you deserve neither!

The problem is we have allowed this to continue for too long, just as long as we have a few creature comforts like out HD TV's, Ipods and a new car every few years.

 

[Coveted]

Legalize hemp.
It would be a huge economic boost for america.
We could farm large amounts of it.
Use it in place of alot of synthetic stuff, which will lower us having to rely on plastics.
Also use it to bully back at BIG oil companys.
Its a win win.
But it will never happen.

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

I think another problem is that the lazy poor get too much assistance. They need to be put to work to provide something for the common good to offset the price of their care. They do nothing to contribute to the economy and are a huge burden to the rest of us. Also, if you ever get a drug charge or DUI, you should have a lifetime loss of any and all government benefits. The government also needs to shrink drastically and start laying off about half of it's workers and closing agencies. people need to learn to fend for themselves and stop making dumb decisions that impact the rest of our wallets. Then there is Social Security. It needs to go too.

 

[2000.malibu.ls]

i say we over-throw the government and behead all out political leaders with a guillotine, and over turn the church! oh wait.. the french already tried that...

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

i say we over-throw the government and behead all out political leaders with a guillotine, and over turn the church! oh wait.. the french already tried that...

Yeah, and the outcome was far worse than what we have today! Robespierre was a real nut job, believing that tyranny was the only way to enforce freedom. We just need to go back to the original intent of the framers of the Constitution. That did not include using the Interstate Commerce Clause as an excuse to massively expand the Federal Government. Maybe if more politicians would take the time to read The Federalist Papers they would understand what it means when they take an oath to uphold the Constitution.

 

[STLRegal]

We all know that all politicians suck, and cant be trusted. Thats not even an issue to be discussed.