We are Losing America...

[Political Heretic]

We are Losing America Right Before Our Blind Eyes
by Political Heretic

What is the most non-talked about reality in the United States of America today? The fact that we no longer lead the world in almost any indicator.

NOTE: this post did not survive the server migration. It's too much formatting effort to redo it all. You can find the original in its entirety at my blog here: http://radical-visions.blogspot.com/2010...e-our.html

[Political Heretic]

We are Losing America Right Before Our Blind Eyes
by Political Heretic

What is the most non-talked about reality in the United States of America today? The fact that we no longer lead the world in almost any indicator.

[Montag]

I've believed for some time all this we're number one propaganda, is to make people think they are fault if/when they run across problems in life. It's not 'the system', government (well maybe government, lol), corporations or whatever it's you. It keeps people in the individualistic mindset, not to band together with others, and hold the corporatocracy's feet to the fire and make change. Instead pop some pills and everything will be alright...

p.s. The key here is to convince Americans they live in the best country in the world, when little/if any of the facts and evidence back that up. But there's the rub -- belief -- I think polls generally show a high percentage of the country thinks they live in the best country on Earth. I also think that I've read somewhere or other that Americans are among the most nationalistic people in the world.

[Montag]

I've believed for some time all this we're number one propaganda, is to make people think they are fault if/when they run across problems in life. It's not 'the system', government (well maybe government, lol), corporations or whatever it's you. It keeps people in the individualistic mindset, not to band together with others, and hold the corporatocracy's feet to the fire and make change. Instead pop some pills and everything will be alright...

p.s. The key here is to convince Americans they live in the best country in the world, when little/if any of the facts and evidence back that up. But there's the rub -- belief -- I think polls generally show a high percentage of the country thinks they live in the best country on Earth. I also think that I've read somewhere or other that Americans are among the most nationalistic people in the world.

[TheKentuckian]

Marvelous post PH!

[TheKentuckian]

Marvelous post PH!

[Zenlitened]

A powerful, powerful post. Lots of ugly truth in there, and we as American citizens have a decision to make:

Do we deny the truth, deny the ugliness, and stubbornly insist that all is well?

Or do we acknowledge the truth, see reality for what it is, and commit ourselves to improving things?

Too often, many of the people we encounter (online and out in the world) choose option 1, denial. And they get pretty damned pissy when contradicted.

Those who choose option 2... well, a lot of them are getting tired. I know I am, and I hear it a lot from others.

We were Fired Up and Ready To Go. Now the message manipulators would have us believe that it's silly to get all worked up over things, and the best way to go is to go slowly. And wherever did we get this absurd notion that change was in the air, anyway?

We thought having Democrats in the White House, the Senate and the House of Representatives... during a time of genuine crisis, no less... we thought the time was ripe for confronting the ugly truths, and doing something bold about it.

Instead we hear over and over again that Ugly Is the New Beautiful. That it's really not so ugly after all. That it could be worse, it could be tragically disfigured, so really we ought to be a bit more grateful for the ugliness we're lucky enough to enjoy.

This turd is not a turd, it's actually something quite awesome, so don't even suggest that it could use a little polishing, at least.

Well, fortunately, there are plenty of people left who refuse to fall for it. They know what this country could be, and they know it when we fail to live up to our potential and our ideals. We can do better, if only we can find a way to summon the will.

So, thank you for your post, Political Heretic. As I said, I'm tired. But seeing the facts laid out under such bright light reminds me that I've still got some fight left in me. Changing things for the better is not impossible, and let's not let anyone tell us otherwise!

[Zenlitened]

A powerful, powerful post. Lots of ugly truth in there, and we as American citizens have a decision to make:

Do we deny the truth, deny the ugliness, and stubbornly insist that all is well?

Or do we acknowledge the truth, see reality for what it is, and commit ourselves to improving things?

Too often, many of the people we encounter (online and out in the world) choose option 1, denial. And they get pretty damned pissy when contradicted.

Those who choose option 2... well, a lot of them are getting tired. I know I am, and I hear it a lot from others.

We were Fired Up and Ready To Go. Now the message manipulators would have us believe that it's silly to get all worked up over things, and the best way to go is to go slowly. And wherever did we get this absurd notion that change was in the air, anyway?

We thought having Democrats in the White House, the Senate and the House of Representatives... during a time of genuine crisis, no less... we thought the time was ripe for confronting the ugly truths, and doing something bold about it.

Instead we hear over and over again that Ugly Is the New Beautiful. That it's really not so ugly after all. That it could be worse, it could be tragically disfigured, so really we ought to be a bit more grateful for the ugliness we're lucky enough to enjoy.

This turd is not a turd, it's actually something quite awesome, so don't even suggest that it could use a little polishing, at least.

Well, fortunately, there are plenty of people left who refuse to fall for it. They know what this country could be, and they know it when we fail to live up to our potential and our ideals. We can do better, if only we can find a way to summon the will.

So, thank you for your post, Political Heretic. As I said, I'm tired. But seeing the facts laid out under such bright light reminds me that I've still got some fight left in me. Changing things for the better is not impossible, and let's not let anyone tell us otherwise!

[SphericalXS]

Well said, PH. Thanks for pulling this all together.

By the way, two of your charts are the same (the downward and upward mobility one) which makes me think that one may have been left out by mistake.

[Mari333]

I bookmarked this page.


this should be posted everywhere.


I have given up. I have no hope left for the USA I once knew.

its a done deal, stick a fork in it.

right now I am just trying to get thru the day and wishing for old age to hit hard.

all those middle aged people commiting suicide makes total sense with these kind of statistics. hard , but true. there is no other way out, it seems.