Is the US dying?

[sbriscoe]

The responses, if any, on this topic will be interesting to say the least. Is the United States dying on the vine while we watch? Read the newspaper, watch the news (your pick of which news network), read the internet, news magazines, you name it. So much bad news, a guy in Florida commits suicide while on a webcam and many watch but few do anything of substance to prevent it. We dump millions into schools, and increase it yearly but education in the States is dismal at best compared to other developed nations. Freedom of speech is used more to spread trash and gossip rather than valid ideas. Christian speech is stifled in schools but other religions are hands off and protected. You cannot stop an Arab in an airport for fear of offending but you can search an old lady who wouldn’t know a gun if you showed it to her. If we are democrat we blame rising prices on the republicans and if we are republican we blame the democrats. Let’s blame the President even though the real power to control is in the Senate. A candidate for the Vice President is slammed for lack of experience but a Presidential candidate with no experience is hailed as the new Golden Child. We give money to corporations who have for years ripped of the consumer and when the consumer asks for help they are told no. We’ll protect the right to kill an unborn but put you in jail for mistreating an animal. If you are not of a liberal mind set then you have no right to speak your mind. We will spend billions on another country in trouble (Iraq-Afgan) but only if they have something to offer; other countries in need are ignored (African countries). I could go on and on; is it me or have we lost our way. Is it me or is this country slowly but surely going down the drain.

Your thoughts.

[NOVAX5]

Originally Posted by sbriscoe

...We give money to corporations who have for years ripped of the consumer and when the consumer asks for help they are told no. We’ll protect the right to kill an unborn but put you in jail for mistreating an animal...

I dont know about others stuff, but the above part is true and stupid. BAIL OUT my butt, ANIMAL RIGHT my butt. Hypocrites.

[B-Line]

WOW, that's quite an agenda for such a new member...

Welcome to the forum... I think your list is asinine.

Carry on.

[sbriscoe]

Originally Posted by B-Line

WOW, that's quite an agenda for such a new member...

Welcome to the forum... I think your list is asinine.

Carry on.

I would be intersted to know why you think it is asinine.

[brian5]

Originally Posted by B-Line

WOW, that's quite an agenda for such a new member...

Welcome to the forum... I think your list is asinine.

Carry on.

On all four points.

The guy in Florida who commits suicide on webcam and many do nothing? How is this something new? Atrocities like this occur, and have occurring globally, for centuries...

We dump millions into schools but education is dismal? You have a solution?

Freedom of speech is used more to spread trash and gossip...

I'm checking out of this thread...

[sbriscoe]

Originally Posted by brian5

On all four points.

The guy in Florida who commits suicide on webcam and many do nothing? How is this something new? Atrocities like this occur, and have occurring globally, for centuries...

We dump millions into schools but education is dismal? You have a solution?

Freedom of speech is used more to spread trash and gossip...

I'm checking out of this thread...

You are correct; the guy in Florida is not an isolated instance or “new” and has been going on since time began. However, in this day and age when it can be viewed world wide and be reported with a simple phone call shows a gross level of unconcern and lack of compassion.

I do have a solution, as does anyone with an opinion I'm sure, on education. Get back to basics, stop catering to special interest and if a child does not make the grade then they are held back as it was when i was in school. My wife is a school teacher and has tried to hold students back a number of times and has been told to back off for fear of intervention by special interest groups (ACLU, Rainbow Coalition to mention a few).

Freedom of Speech is used to maintain access to questionable material in a public library (pornography to name one). Websites are protected by law so long as there is a notice that questionable material is posted; this does not stop underage participation.

Let me explain a bit about where I’m coming from. I spent 27 years in uniform (US Army) and lived and worked in places where freedom as we know it is unknown. We have so much freedom but I think it has been twisted. This much freedom carries with it responsibility. I believe we have turned from that responsibility as a society. I believe Miranda Rights are needed but it has been twisted to represent more legal rights to the criminal rather than justice for the victim. When I returned to the States after three years in Iraq it was a culture shock to see the amount of change in society’s attitude (I have been away from the US for a number of years due to overseas assignments and deployments). Having been gone for so long and then come back gives me a perspective of change that may not be visible by some individuals who have been here all along.

Not looking to start an argument or change anyone’s viewpoint. I just need to understand for my own edification. Perhaps this is not the media to do that but considering some of the other topics I figured this is as good a place as any; besides, responses here will be from all walks of life and perhaps even people from other countries. These are the opinions I’m looking for; not local opinion that is derived from local issues.

[Dannyell]

NOVAX5 I agree with you on the bail out...as for animal rights I think jail is too extreme for violating these ... but i would expect hefty fines...because really if we have no animal rights then bored effed up kids will start killing them for 'fun' or something...

[sbriscoe]

Originally Posted by Dannyell

NOVAX5 ...as for animal rights I think jail is too extreme for violating these ... but i would expect hefty fines...

I would recommend hefty fines and jail time for people who commit offenses to animals. Children has been and always will be our greatest resourse... "Teach Your Children Well..." CSN.

[B-Line]

Originally Posted by sbriscoe

[SIZE=3][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] a guy in Florida commits suicide while on a webcam and many watch but few do anything of substance to prevent it.

Not that they did the right thing, but candyjunky, the guy who committed suicide had made several threats and outbursts before. No one thought he was serious. Ever heard the story of the boy that cried wolf?

Originally Posted by sbriscoe

We dump millions into schools, and increase it yearly but education in the States is dismal at best compared to other developed nations.

Ohhhh, is that why people travel from all over the world to go to our colleges and graduate schools, etc? I guess it's cause we're all just a bunch of dummies.

Originally Posted by sbriscoe

Freedom of speech is used more to spread trash and gossip rather than valid ideas.

You think the news media has changed? Clearly you spent too much time in school huffing glue and bible thumping that you forgot to do your homework:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow_journalism
The news is a business, just like Starbucks and a local movie house. The news media is not there for your informational benefit, it's there to increase market share by selling people what they want.

Originally Posted by sbriscoe

Christian speech is stifled in schools but other religions are hands off and protected.

As a non Christian, you can take your values and stick it right up there where the sun don't shine. Separation of church and state. As far as other religions being hands off.... You're just retarded... I don't need your values being forced on me.

Originally Posted by sbriscoe

[SIZE=3][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] a guy in Florida commits suicide while on a webcam and many watch but few do anything of substance to prevent it.

Not that they did the right thing, but candyjunky, the guy who committed suicide had made several threats and outbursts before. No one thought he was serious. Ever heard the story of the boy that cried wolf?

Originally Posted by sbriscoe

We dump millions into schools, and increase it yearly but education in the States is dismal at best compared to other developed nations.

Ohhhh, is that why people travel from all over the world to go to our colleges and graduate schools, etc? I guess it's cause we're all just a bunch of dummies.

Originally Posted by sbriscoe

Freedom of speech is used more to spread trash and gossip rather than valid ideas.

You think the news media has changed? Clearly you spent too much time in school huffing glue and bible thumping that you forgot to do your homework:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow_journalism
The news is a business, just like Starbucks and a local movie house. The news media is not there for your informational benefit, it's there to increase market share by selling people what they want.

Originally Posted by sbriscoe

You cannot stop an Arab in an airport for fear of offending but you can search an old lady who wouldn’t know a gun if you showed it to her.

Ummm, okay... And should the police be able to pull over African Americans and other minorities for no good reason also?

Originally Posted by sbriscoe

If we are democrat we blame rising prices on the republicans and if we are republican we blame the democrats. Let’s blame the President even though the real power to control is in the Senate.

You can blame me, directly, B-Line, if it makes you feel better. It was all my fault.. Sorry. I won't let it happen again.

Originally Posted by sbriscoe

A candidate for the Vice President is slammed for lack of experience but a Presidential candidate with no experience is hailed as the new Golden Child.

No, the vice president candidate was slammed for being, uneducated, poorly spoken, not aware of world events, foreign policy or even being able to cite the periodicals that she reads. (I was a McCain supporter until Palin opened her stupid mouth.) She is dumber than George W.

Originally Posted by sbriscoe

We give money to corporations who have for years ripped of the consumer and when the consumer asks for help they are told no.

Umm, a 4% interest rate isn't exactly a rip off, especially when it was obtained by falsifying documents and lying about income. It's a privilege to own a home, not a right.

Originally Posted by sbriscoe

We’ll protect the right to kill an unborn but put you in jail for mistreating an animal.

The physical and emotional health of a living person, the mother, is more important than a life that does not yet exist. Besides, I'm not going to tell you when and where you can defecate and eat so you have no right to tell a woman what she should do with her body either.

Originally Posted by sbriscoe

If you are not of a liberal mind set then you have no right to speak your mind.

You're speaking your mind right now, no matter how stupid it is, it's all there for us to read. p.s. - I'm not a liberal, just more liberal than you.

Originally Posted by sbriscoe

We will spend billions on another country in trouble (Iraq-Afgan) but only if they have something to offer; other countries in need are ignored (African countries).

Well DUH !! Charity starts at home.

Originally Posted by sbriscoe

I could go on and on; is it me or have we lost our way. Is it me or is this country slowly but surely going down the drain.

Yes, in many ways it is. Largely because of the Christian right and their desire to force their beliefs on everyone else as if they are holier than now. The best was for this country to move forward is to respect other people, despite the differences in the way you live your life and the way they live theirs. Practice your beliefs but keep them to yourself.

The B.

[Wagner]