America in Decline - economic, intellectual etc...

[DeclinetoState]

They're talking about me at Donkey Union! :grin:

I am listening to a forum broadcast by the Commonwealth Club of California on the impending fiscal/economic crisis facing the nation. Namely:

1) the retirement of the baby-boomers who will begin to draw on Social Security, and the aging of the American population in general

2) the annual budget deficits and the ever accumulating federal national debt

3) the extremely low rate of savings among all Americans

4) exploding costs of Medicare and Medicaid, and health care in general

5) our dependence and increasing dependence on foreign sources of oil

6) the steady decline of the manufacturing sector of our economy

7) our consistently large trade deficits

8) the two wars in Iraq and Afghanistan which are costing the nation billions of dollars

Kevin Phillips, in his book "American Theocracy", puts it quite simply - American is in economic decline.
:sheeple: (http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x1885468#1885492)

Actually, I think they're taking this seriously. Of course, the average (or "median") poster at DU probably thinks this is a good thing.

[Timberwolf]

1) the retirement of the baby-boomers who will begin to draw on Social Security, and the aging of the American population in general
Which wouldn't BE a concern had the democrats left SS alone throughout the past 70 years...and lately, the republicans. Make no mistake, the liberals raiding the "Trust Fund" in order to "balance" the budget is WHY the now retiring BBs are a "problem".

2) the annual budget deficits and the ever accumulating federal national debt
Thanks, in VERY large part, to liberal "programs of benevolence". The growth authored into which is bankrupting the country.

3) the extremely low rate of savings among all Americans
Yes, the "ME" generation just has to "keep up with the Joneses"...another liberal attribute. Those of us who are living within our means (personally the savings rate of our family is roughly 15%).

4) exploding costs of Medicare and Medicaid, and health care in general
Again, WHO/WHAT gave us those programs? The liberals.

5) our dependence and increasing dependence on foreign sources of oil
Thanks to liberals suing the government/private sector to prevent the development of our DOMESTIC reserves and blockage of refinery and nuclear power plant construction.

6) the steady decline of the manufacturing sector of our economy
Because of the inflation of union wages thanks to the liberal notion of a "minimum wage" upon which union wages are set.

7) our consistently large trade deficits
Due to the high cost of goods here at home, which entices companies (like Wal-Mart) to look to countries like China for "cheap-shit-to-foist-upon-the-general-public.

8) the two wars in Iraq and Afghanistan which are costing the nation billions of dollars
Which is the ONLY true legal function of the FedGov listed amongst the delusional rantings of this list. Were it not for the unconstitutional "programs of benevolence", funding those wars would not be a problem.

Kevin Phillips, in his book "American Theocracy", puts it quite simply - American is in economic decline.
Thanks to liberalism. It is the cancer which is killing America.

[Jack_Savage]

When I was a kid the anticipation about tomorrow was everwhere. An expectation of something great just around the corner. Always breaking developments. An American could go anywhere in the world and be safe. America was loved. "Proud to be an American," was a given. No resentment. We have done bad things, thats for sure. The way we have treated people, our own people gave us pause and we worked to correct that in each of us. Maybe the only nation in the history of the world that worked on those things like we did. It is something to be proud of, it should not be a source of resentment for anyone.

But it is. That and the wonderful things America brought into existance has caused people to take this great country for granted. Caused people to think they are better than everyone else, so much so that they think we should do everything they can think of and if we don't they will teach us all some lesson.

What do they anticipate for America now? Global Warming. Nuclear war. Epidemics. The schools teach our kids to live in a drug-induced un -experienced experience of constant thrills and compulsions. Botox-it, pull-it, fake-it, making everything the way it isn't. And every day wake up with the unfullfilled expectation that everything is going to be Ok. It just isn't if we keep forgetting the way it really is.

[Seabee]

Most of these problems do exisit nationally, but they were either casued by the Libtards or are talking points they pick and choose to promote their socialist agenda.<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=6 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=alt2 style="BORDER-RIGHT: 1px inset; BORDER-TOP: 1px inset; BORDER-LEFT: 1px inset; BORDER-BOTTOM: 1px inset">
1) the retirement of the baby-boomers who will begin to draw on Social Security, and the aging of the American population in general
Timberwolf eloquantly covered this one.

2) the annual budget deficits and the ever accumulating federal national debt
Quite freaking spending or trying to put in new programs that will increase it. You do not correct a spending problem by spending more money.

3) the extremely low rate of savings among all Americans
Then why do they continue to propose tax increases?

4) exploding costs of Medicare and Medicaid, and health care in general
So, we are going to spend more money and further bloat the deficet through spending on socialized health care, a system that has proven to be a failure across the globe.

5) our dependence and increasing dependence on foreign sources of oil

Let us drill at home.

6) the steady decline of the manufacturing sector of our economy
Here are their ideas to correct this: minimum wage increases, increased
unionization through a “card check” program, trade
protectionism, and proposals for “living wages” and
risk insurance. Nothing to do with increasing manufacturing itself. I will give President Bush credit on this one, his administration is actively tackling this one by increasing productivity of American products.


7) our consistently large trade deficits

Protectionalist isolationism? That is the answer to this? This one is tied into President Bush's solutions.


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