What the HELL happened to MY country........

[thane]

The answer to that began when so many people adopted the "entitlement mentality" that was pushed by politicians in order to gain influence, power and a lifetime job in congress. You can thank modern liberalism for that.

It's not even all that modern. It's been in the doing since the beginning of the 20th century.

One of the above posters referenced jefferson... by far my biggest hero and favorite founding father. Read those quotes and you will know exactly why our country is where it is.

Our government is to powerful, our people are to weak.

The broad majority of the american public would rather be safe, taken care of, and inevitably enslaved to debt and taxes,

than be free, reliant on the sweat of your own brow, and responsible for your own well being.

I love America and everything it was meant to be with the deepest parts of my heart, but she is NOT what she was meant to be.

Democracy fails as soon as the government takes responsibility for well-being and safety away from the individual.

Our nation and our form of government is dependent upon an active, driven, and responsible community of voters, who must be willing to accept the consequences of their own actions, and hold the government accountable when they overstep their bounds.

We have drifted so far from that. Maybe people like us who frequent venues like this forum are trying to stay on the right track,

but we are outnumbered 10 to 1 by the vast populations in large cities that simply don't care.

I don't know what the real solution is, other than to do what you can to spread awareness and knowledge about the way this country was intended to be, and how it could be so much better.

Because that's a knowledge that's been all but lost over the past hundred years.

I pray that I see a great change in my lifetime, although I doubt that I will.

But little by little I see more and more people waking up to the truth....

hopefully one day, it will be enough to provide some real change (and not the obama kind.)

[sniper7]

I am still pretty young but try to catch up on the experience and knowledge of those who have been around and seen much more than I have.
I know I am disappointed in the leadership of our country, the way things have happened as of recent in our country and am pissed about both.

BUT, America is still the greatest country and I couldn't ask to be anywhere else. With as much as we have limited to us by our government, we still have some of the greatest liberties than any other country.

We are all lucky to be Americans

[BigBear]

With as much as we have limited to us by our government, we still have some of the greatest liberties than any other country.

We are all lucky to be Americans

Sniper, I'm going to comment on some things you said. This is by no means an attack on you, ok brother?

Here's my thoughts: I am young as well and also try to study history and other facets of our lives. I have never been impressed by any of our leadership (except Schwartskoff's handling on OIF). The problem I seen in America is that we ARE the greatest nation, BUT we still compare ourslves to other countries as referenced by Snipers comment. We should stand on our own.

"We still have some of the greatest liberities than any other country" Yes, I agree, but they are still being whittled down every day. We shouldn't compare ourselves to other countries. It's like comparing the CEO of a fortune 500 company with a blue collar construction worker. .... Grr, I don't know how to express what I feel correctly and cohesively. There are certain "inalienable" rights given by God that we should possess. They are being given up day after day to the nanny state....

[Bailey Guns]

Hey, Jake...

Congrats on your transformation from subject to United States citizen. I have a few friends who immigrated from the UK last year and they really love it here.

[thane]

I don't know how to express what I feel correctly and cohesively. There are certain "inalienable" rights given by God that we should possess. They are being given up day after day to the nanny state....

You expressed it perfectly.

Sure, we arguably have more liberties than almost any other country in the world.

but comparing inadequacy to inadequacy is beyond pointless.

The point is not that we are better, the point is that we are not as good as we should be, and if we continue on the current trend, we eventually won't be any good at all.

[sniper7]

Sniper, I'm going to comment on some things you said. This is by no means an attack on you, ok brother?

Here's my thoughts: I am young as well and also try to study history and other facets of our lives. I have never been impressed by any of our leadership (except Schwartskoff's handling on OIF). The problem I seen in America is that we ARE the greatest nation, BUT we still compare ourslves to other countries as referenced by Snipers comment. We should stand on our own.

"We still have some of the greatest liberities than any other country" Yes, I agree, but they are still being whittled down every day. We shouldn't compare ourselves to other countries. It's like comparing the CEO of a fortune 500 company with a blue collar construction worker. .... Grr, I don't know how to express what I feel correctly and cohesively. There are certain "inalienable" rights given by God that we should possess. They are being given up day after day to the nanny state....

I totally agree! I tell my fiance this constantly as a matter of fact. I am sick of having our rights compared to that of other countries and have them degraded down to that level. We need a coach (.gov leadership) that can keep us in OUR game, not play down to the level of other countries. little sports metaphor for ya'll!

[theGinsue]

Great points on this thread. I'm floored almost on a daily basis by the mentality of some folks who can't see the truth of what we can see so clearly.

We don't need big government. We don't need a nanny state. We do need people to be accountable for themselves and their actions. We need to hold people accountable. We need to quit providing for those who have the ability to provide for themselves - even if it's not to the degree of luxury they'd like. We need to quit with the mentality that says someones elses "need" is more important than my wants. My "want" being the desire (want) to keep that which I earn.

We, as a people, have lost our pride. Pride in our works. Pride in doing a job and doing it well. Pride in earning our own way and not becoming a burden to someone else.

[Troublco]

You go, Ginsue. Welfare was supposed to be a safety net, not a lifestyle. Too many lazy people now that just want a handout, and then to be able to bite that hand.

[Elhuero]

You go, Ginsue. Welfare was supposed to be a safety net, not a lifestyle. Too many lazy people now that just want a handout, and then to be able to bite that hand.

those people, along with everyone else living off the government (right on up to capitol hill) are why real change will never come. They will not give up what they have without a fight.

And by fight, I don't mean petitions and heated debate in parliament.

[theGinsue]

those people, along with everyone else living off the government (right on up to capitol hill) are why real change will never come. They will not give up what they have without a fight.

And by fight, I don't mean petitions and heated debate in parliament.

I think that statement is dead-on-balls-accurate!