Do you think American society is getting better overall?

[listen2me 23 1,952]

This is a sad thread. May not be thriving, but go move to a different country if it is so bad here and we are in big trouble. You mouf breathers. Put you money where you mouf is.

[Phurfur 70]

This is a sad thread. May not be thriving, but go move to a different country if it is so bad here and we are in big trouble. You mouf breathers. Put you money where you mouf is.

A perfect example of someone riding the hard work and success of past generations.

 

If you don't have any skin in the game you don't care.

 

Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.

- Ronald Reagan

[MDC 7,889]

A perfect example of someone riding the hard work and success of past generations.

]

This from the leech who brags about collecting a federal pension.

 

You are a colossal focktard.

[FlaHawker 24]

This is a sad thread. May not be thriving, but go move to a different country if it is so bad here and we are in big trouble. You mouf breathers. Put you money where you mouf is.

Voltaire already left

[GobbleDog 1,010]

Scumbags tend to have the most kids, while good/classy people tend to have the fewest kids. This has been going on for about a century and eventually, the American population will be mostly scumbags draining on society. It could be argued that this is already the case. Well, it's only going to get worse - a lot worse.

[TD Ryan2 316]

I think this is the type of question with a ton of supporting evidence either way. If you think things are getting better, you can point toward increased lifespan, better access to education and healthcare, increased technology etc. as the reason why. And if you think things are getting worse, you can point toward higher crime, poverty rates, declining influence in the world etc. How you answer also depends greatly on who you are. I'm sure the world looks a lot better to women and minorities now than it did in the 1950s. I'm sure it looks a lot worse to middle class whites. It all depends on your perspective.

 

I'm inclined to say we're trending downward right now and have been since the 1980s or so. Our global influence and economic / military dominance is in decline and has been for a while. The trend toward economic globalization has caused a "race to the bottom" and just decimated US manufacturing and the working class. There's just no way a blue collar guy can compete with a pennies-on-the-dollar worker in India or China unless he's willing to work for a sub- living wage. I really worry that we're heading toward the kind of society you see in emerging 2nd world countries, where a very small group of people are very wealthy and a very large group of the population are working poor or in poverty.

 

I don't know what the answer is but I do think there used to be a sense of shared responsibility in America that's largely gone. At one time companies might have been ashamed to pay CEOs 350 times more than their average worker, outsource jobs overseas, operate through tax shelters etc. Today it's all about the dollar with no sustainable long-term vision.

 

So that's one thing I worry about.

 

The other thing is just the coarsening of our narcissistic, me-first celebrity worship culture, which is all about being young rich and hot and does not in any way value things like having integrity or being intelligent or a good person. The 24/7 news cycle and the Internet have given people access to an incredible amount of information but it has not taught people to be thoughtful or critical thinkers.

 

I can't say people are stupider today than they were 50 years ago but I do think attention spans are a lot shorter and in general people are a lot more full of themselves and concerned about the wrong things. Course, I'm sure people were saying the same thing in the 1950s so who the hell knows.

That is one terrific post. Nice job MDC.

[Phurfur 70]

This from the leech who brags about collecting a federal pension.

 

You are a colossal focktard.

This is just another example of your generation not being willing/able to pick up the torch when it is passed to you.

 

“The commitments we make to each other — through Medicare, and Medicaid, and Social Security — these things do not sap our initiative; they strengthen us. They do not make us a nation of takers; they free us to take the risks that make this country great.” - Barack Obama

[Mookz 1,374]

I don't wear them, so I really can't comment, but I will say that Levi generally makes a good product.

[MDC 7,889]

This is just another example of your generation not being willing/able to pick up the torch when it is passed to you.

I go to work everyday to support my family while you and your fatarsed pig wife sit around sobbing like sandy cvnts about people with more drive and ambition than you'll ever have.

 

Just STFU and cash your federal check til you die leech.

[Voltaire 5,491]

Scumbags tend to have the most kids, while good/classy people tend to have the fewest kids. This has been going on for about a century and eventually, the American population will be mostly scumbags draining on society. It could be argued that this is already the case. Well, it's only going to get worse - a lot worse.

Not always. Women wouldn't go near FlaHawker so there are some middle school dropouts who don't procreate.

[Phurfur 70]

I go to work everyday to support my family while you and your fatarsed pig wife sit around sobbing like sandy cvnts about people with more drive and ambition than you'll ever have.

 

Just STFU and cash your federal check til you die leech.

My wife and I did the same thing for 40 years only we didn't spend half of our work day posting on the internet. Now why don't you go to your "Man Cave" and look at all the participation trophies you won as a kid. To bad no one told you that life is a lot tougher than Cub Scout softball.

 

“The commitments we make to each other — through Medicare, and Medicaid, and Social Security — these things do not sap our initiative; they strengthen us. They do not make us a nation of takers; they free us to take the risks that make this country great.” – Barack Obama

[MedStudent 56]

I don't know how people can point to crime and say we are getting worse. Crime peaked around 1990 in the crack head times and has trended downward quite dramatically since that point. Most American cities are much safer now than they were 20 years ago. It may not be as safe as in the 1950's but its a lot better than the 70's and 80's and its trending down.

 

I do not like the Kardashian Culture of today but I get the feeling that its more of a fad that may come crashing down rather dramatically. At least I hope so.

 

Some people pine for the 1950's but it was kind of a fake time. TV shows showed perfect families that pushed conformity. McCarthyism was a modern version of the Salem witch trials, and racial issues were simmering below the surface the whole decade. The 1960's confronted all These demons and although the 1960's was a messy decade, at least it brought out issues into the open and questioned things.

[Phurfur 70]

Men On Strike - Helen Smith

 

 

American society has become anti-male. Men are sensing the backlash and are consciously and unconsciously going “on strike.” They are dropping out of college, leaving the workforce and avoiding marriage and fatherhood at alarming rates. The trend is so pronounced that a number of books have been written about this “man-child” phenomenon, concluding that men have taken a vacation from responsibility simply because they can. But why should men participate in a system that seems to be increasingly stacked against them?

 

As Men on Strike demonstrates, men aren’t dropping out because they are stuck in arrested development. They are instead acting rationally in response to the lack of incentives society offers them to be responsible fathers, husbands and providers. In addition, men are going on strike, either consciously or unconsciously, because they do not want to be injured by the myriad of laws, attitudes and hostility against them for the crime of happening to be male in the twenty-first century. Men are starting to fight back against the backlash. Men on Strike explains their battle cry.

 

 

[MDC 7,889]

My wife and I did the same thing for 40 years only we didn't spend half of our work day posting on the internet. [/size]

My work day starts at 7 AM and runs until I go to sleep at night. I was at my current job 4 months before I got a promotion. Meanwhile you and your disgusting pig of a wife leech off the efforts of people like me.

 

Just STFU and enjoy your allowance kid.

[Phurfur 70]

My work day starts at 7 AM and runs until I go to sleep at night. I was at my current job 4 months before I got a promotion. Meanwhile you and your disgusting pig of a wife leech off the efforts of people like me.

 

Just STFU and enjoy your allowance kid.

When you have put 40 years into the workforce come back and talk to me. Right now you are nothing but a lightweight whiner with a burning hatred for people who are more successful than you are.

 

“The commitments we make to each other — through Medicare, and Medicaid, and Social Security — these things do not sap our initiative; they strengthen us. They do not make us a nation of takers; they free us to take the risks that make this country great.” - Barack Obama

[MDC 7,889]

When you have put 40 years into the workforce come back and talk to me. Right now you are nothing but a lightweight whiner with a burning hatred for people who are more successful than you are.

 

The commitments we make to each other through Medicare, and Medicaid, and Social Security these things do not sap our initiative; they strengthen us. They do not make us a nation of takers; they free us to take the risks that make this country great. - Barack Obama

Holy irony - you spend all day bragging about your taxpayer provided pension and ridiculing people who work. America is better off without hypocritical crybaby leeches like you in the workforce.

[Phurfur 70]

Holy irony - you spend all day bragging about your taxpayer provided pension and ridiculing people who work. America is better off without hypocritical crybaby leeches like you in the workforce.

I am ridiculing people that believe showing up for a job is the same as working.

Why do you hate people who are more successful than you are, or is it just envy?

 

Once again I will quote the man you voted for twice, according to him you have it backward.

 

“The commitments we make to each other — through Medicare, and Medicaid, and Social Security — these things do not sap our initiative; they strengthen us. They do not make us a nation of takers; they free us to take the risks that make this country great.” - Barack Obama

[MDC 7,889]

I am ridiculing people that believe showing up for a job is the same as working.

Why do you hate people who are more successful than you are, or is it just envy?

I have leeches who milk off the taxpayer and then have the audacity to lecture hardworking people. Your massive sense of entitlement is what's wrong with America.

[FlaHawker 24]

Not always. Women wouldn't go near FlaHawker so there are some middle school dropouts who don't procreate.

Carnac the Magnificient raises the envelope to his forehead:

 

"Bob, John-Paul, and Voltaire."

 

Opens envelope:

 

"Who are a hope, a pope, and a homeless dope!"

[penultimatestraw 473]

I don't blame them, they are financially incentivised to play the system which is guaranteed and supplement with under the table jobs, rather than risk a low end job or multiple part time jobs and the hard fight up the totem pole that provides no guarantees, just opportunity... Its a no brainer. Other than the fact leaving the work force means losing job skills and competitiveness.

Why don't you blame people for gaming the system?

[penultimatestraw 473]

A married couple with advanced degrees and no kids are working 65 hr weeks to scrape by? Something is very wrong here.

No kidding, and it ain't all society's fault.

[penultimatestraw 473]

 

You can add a bunch more to this list. Corrupt union bosses, teachers, etc. Politicians, government bureaucrats, labor, corporations, media, etc. are all in bed together one way or another. Just a bunch of people ensuring they take as much as they can for their own power. They’ll screw you or anyone else, if they can get further ahead.

All of the things you specify as downtrends could be tied to moral issues. <Fill in the blank> (Corporations, unions, politicians, etc) don’t think about was is best for anyone other than themselves. Does anyone here really think the group of thieves in DC really care about people? Of course they don’t. They are more obsessed with their power, money, etc. Those are their gods.

The internet can be useful at times, but it really hasn’t become the tool it could have been. It’s filled with porn and cat videos. Most of it is a waste of time. Even supposed reporting sites do little more than push their own agenda. Facebook and Twitter are nothing more than altars of narcissism. Who really needs to know your kids did something insignificant?

Ultimately, it’s the fault of everyday people. They’re the ones who buy crap they don’t even need that make CEO’s wealthy; elect weasels to represent them; focus on themselves rather than their own families. Nothing is more important that themselves. They’ll talk a good game, but ultimately buy from Walmart rather than spend a nickel more at some mom and pop store. They’ll whine and complain that Walmart is unfair, but in the end their off to buy a supersize bag of potato chips.

Americans have been duped. Our own greed and selfishness led us here. Unless people change, I don’t see how it ever improves. Most folks are too wrapped up in their own lives. Until people actual personal responsibility to be their brother’s keeper, it will just get worse.

 

This guy really gets it. Greed on every level is our downfall.

[LOD01 199]

This country gets dumber by the minute. The stupid are free to breed and collect $ from the govt. The more losers they pump out, the more $ they get. At the same time smart people struggle to get by and cannot keep up pace with the rabbit like breeding retards. It's over people. We peaked years ago.

[wiffleball 4,797]

Not sure if this is better - or worse:

 

 

Was at a picnic yesterday. Started raining. The kids started playing "life". Little girl lands on "take a wife" (or something like that).

Nobody giggled, nobody was phased. Little 7 y.o. cousin matter of factly states "That's okay, I saw on the news that's Okay now."

 

 

Me:

[jets24 6]

The further God is removed from our society, I believe we are headed in the wrong direction.

[Voltaire 5,491]

The further God is removed from our society, I believe we are headed in the wrong direction.

My take is the exact opposite. The more removed we are from believing ancient fairy tales about the invisible man in the sky, the better.

[frank 2,346]

I think they were probably as good as they were going to get decades ago. Who really cares, noone really wears them besides farmers anyway.

 

Eta: damyoumookz

[wiffleball 4,797]

Well, there IS one less gold-toofed, hoodie-wearing Skittles thief in the world...

[mobb_deep 920]

Huge shocker that the conservatives think it's getting worse, and the progressives think it's the same/better.

 

We should go back to riding horses and taking dumps in the back yard. That will fix things!

 

My take is the exact opposite. The more removed we are from believing ancient fairy tales about the invisible man in the sky, the better.

+1

 

The one common thread is almost every single war torn craphole on the planet is religious oppression.

[penultimatestraw 473]

Huge shocker that the conservatives think it's getting worse, and the progressives think it's the same/better.

 

We should go back to riding horses and taking dumps in the back yard. That will fix things!

 

 

+1

 

The one common thread is almost every single war torn craphole on the planet is religious oppression.

I'm fairly progressive, and I think it's getting worse. We're all too selfish, lazy and dependent on technology.

 

It's hard to know whether religion is net good or bad. Many people need a rulebook and fear to motivate them - too bad some of them can't read well.

[naomi 360]

It's hard to know whether religion is net good or bad. Many people need a rulebook and fear to motivate them - too bad some of them can't read well.

 

Not in the sense you mean it..but the "can't read too well" thought definitely applies with the first part being understood that way.

 

Christianity wise, you can follow all the rules and still be unregenerate- a dead man spiritually. Following rules doesn't reconcile you to God. Imputed righteousness is the only way man is reconciled to God. So if I read the bible, fear of God's wrath wouldn't be what keeps me from doing x,y, or z.

 

Fear of not being reconciled to God...and knowing he needs to be because of his nature is what draws a sinner God is dealing with to Christ. "For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Having your heart identify with God's law isn't the natural state of man. Fittingly, he didn't go to Calvary on account of non-natural men.

 

In short, if rules are followed to dodge judgement...the system is thought to work that way, it's not Christian in the literal sense. My link

 

"For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." What would keep me sanely avoiding x,y and z and my heart actually being on board is only that (assuming there's not worldly or self-righteousness boosting incentive at play). Not fear of judgement, because whether my sin is outwardly expressed with me or not, my nature is already on the hook. "There is none righteous, no, not one."

[penultimatestraw 473]

 

Not in the sense you mean it..but the "can't read too well" thought definitely applies with the first part being understood that way.

 

Christianity wise, you can follow all the rules and still be unregenerate- a dead man spiritually. Following rules doesn't reconcile you to God. Imputed righteousness is the only way man is reconciled to God. So if I read the bible, fear of God's wrath wouldn't be what keeps me from doing x,y, or z.

 

Fear of not being reconciled to God...and knowing he needs to be because of his nature is what draws a sinner God is dealing with to Christ. "For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Having your heart identify with God's law isn't the natural state of man. Fittingly, he didn't go to Calvary on account of non-natural men.

 

In short, if rules are followed to dodge judgement...the system is thought to work that way, it's not Christian in the literal sense. My link

 

"For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." What would keep me sanely avoiding x,y and z and my heart actually being on board is only that (assuming there's not worldly or self-righteousness boosting incentive at play). Not fear of judgement, because whether my sin is outwardly expressed with me or not, my nature is already on the hook. "There is none righteous, no, not one."

Too many words. It's a lot simpler to abide by the Golden Rule and common sense to behave morally. Granted, religion tries to incorporate, and may even be the origin of such rules, with a whole lotta brimstone sprinkled in to frighten people who have no sense.

[TD Ryan2 316]

Too many words. It's a lot simpler to abide by the Golden Rule and common sense to behave morally. Granted, religion tries to incorporate, and may even be the origin of such rules, with a whole lotta brimstone sprinkled in to frighten people who have no sense.

pen - I was going there with the religion thing - respecting your neighbor, not being self centered, moral behavior - all things religion brought to the table.

Religions certainly have faults but the better parts they bring coupled with a bit of civics and gym in school could really help things.

[penultimatestraw 473]

pen - I was going there with the religion thing - respecting your neighbor, not being self centered, moral behavior - all things religion brought to the table.

Religions certainly have faults but the better parts they bring coupled with a bit of civics and gym in school could really help things.

But all those things can exist without a creator, or rewarding/punishing based on her instructions.

[naomi 360]

In a nutshell...in regards to rewards/punishments based on following instructions, there isn't biblical doctrine that amounts to that. There is morality laid out, but not the cause and effect dynamic that following of it reconciles you to God. Only what Christ did has that power. No big point, it's just an incredibly pervasive erroneous understanding of Christianity.

[penultimatestraw 473]

In a nutshell...in regards to rewards/punishments based on following instructions, there isn't biblical doctrine that advocates that. There is morality laid out, but not the cause and effect dynamic that following of it reconciles you to God.

I have a very simplistic understanding of Christianity, but I thought you had to believe in God/Jesus (and implicitly, their teachings/rules) to have a shot at eternal life. Isn't that a reward, and eternal damnation a punishment?

[naomi 360]

I have a very simplistic understanding of Christianity, but I thought you had to believe in God/Jesus (and implicitly, their teachings/rules) to have a shot at eternal life. Isn't that a reward, and eternal damnation a punishment?

 

You do. According to the bible, he does the drawing, reveals himself, opens your eyes (to yourself and who he is). When that happens, a person believes. You can't make it happen.

 

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest anyone should boast."

 

"...Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."

 

No one believes in the real sense of the word out of erring on the safe side...in case what's said is true. "Ok God, I'm letting you know that I think you and Jesus are real, better safe than sorry and this is what I'm supposed to do." No one truly believes anything in that style.

 

John 1 lays it out "...Which were born, not of blood (the Jews believed lineage under Abraham made them holy), nor of the will of the flesh, (your own will) nor of the will of man (people making it happen for you, this can encompass rite and ritual, and supposed holiness of men), but of God."

 

Why Christians see purpose in sharing the gospel then...knowing that men have no power to bring about salvation, is because it's his tool. The verse in my sig touches on that.

 

eta: You do...have to believe. Didn't mean that for the simplistic understanding thought.