A question to ponder...

[Holden]

This doesnt necessarily need an answer but...

Has our country already hit its pinnacle or is it still to come? When I use the word pinnacle, I am using it in a general sense with regard to some of the following categories;

-economically
-politically
-militarily
-all around standard of living including appreciation for life by everyday citizens.

I see and hear a lot of things that make me want to believe that this nation has already lived through its pinnacle. And as an 18 year old, that disappoints me.

Just something to think about.

[Joker_114th]

Not to Really Answer your Question,But at Least I'll Be Dead in Bout 30-40 years,Maybe less if I get Lucky Sucks to be You Here

[Bronzebackfive]

if you think better days are ahead i'd say you are a fool

[buckwheat30us]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by Bronzebackfive &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">if you think better days are ahead i'd say you are a fool</td></tr></table>
way to have a positive outlook!!!
things are always bad and they always get better
we survived the depression -wars that would end all wars - infighting
this country was not founded by men who roll over and let bad things happen and I believe we are still like that and we will recover!!!!

[ol man river]

if we continue on the present path, id say our better days are behind us..if the PEOPLE of the US can take back our country from those who despise it, maybe not.....

[local16]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by Bronzebackfive &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">if you think better days are ahead i'd say you are a fool</td></tr></table>
Color me a fool.. Look for bad and you'll find..If anyone thinks everything was cherrys in any of the past generations, they are misinformed. This always has been, is and always will be the greatest country on earth..

[DG]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by Holden &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">This doesnt necessarily need an answer but...

Has our country already hit its pinnacle or is it still to come? When I use the word pinnacle, I am using it in a general sense with regard to some of the following categories;

-economically
-politically
-militarily
-all around standard of living including appreciation for life by everyday citizens.

I see and hear a lot of things that make me want to believe that this nation has already lived through its pinnacle. And as an 18 year old, that disappoints me.

Just something to think about.</td></tr></table>

You forgot "morally" in your list. I'd say this country is definitely on the down hill side of the slope for that.

[Bassngolfer]

You know what? Our country will continue in the same manner it has for centuries. I think what you are asking is, if we, as people have seen the pinnacle. And my answer is just as I said earlier...yes...some HAVE seen the pinnacle of America...while others...have yet to see that pinnacle.

I guess what I'm trying to say, is that whatever timeline YOU consider the pinnacle of America to have been, it was still sucking for some. That will continue. Some will witness what THEY feel to be that apex...and there will be others at the same time that couldn't have it worse...

[Ohirolina]

Until we turn around Morally, all other areas are destined for failure

[basscat21]

The pinnacle for some has gone for others it is yet to come...........Every wave of people that come to our great country start at the bottom, many stay there, yet some work hard and overcome. Those Who have been at the top, may slide back down when they believe the hard work in no longer necessary.....it is ever revolving......

The biggest issue we have it that there is mechinisms that allow people not to work hard to survive..... that will be the down fall of this great nation............

[TOXIC]

I understand what Holden is asking and I often wonder the same thing. If you look at other long lived civilizations (we are not the first) there is a pattern to their downfall. The Mayans, the Romans etc., and why do we have any reason to think that history will not repeat itself?

TOXIC

[fishhooked]

Gloom and Doom
Gloom and Doom!!!!!!!!!!!!

[wildturkey]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by Ohirolina &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Until we turn around Morally, all other areas are destined for failure</td></tr></table>

I agree with you here.

[NY Trooper]

My opinion is that our country is less than 300 years old. Through that time there have been highs and lows. Every generation is going to be able to say that they have seen the best and worst of times. Being that we live in a free democracy allows for us to adjust to things when they are not going well and enjoy them when they are elevated. Being that we are a free democracy also enables us to be better suited to adjust to the negatives and bring about change.

I don't believe that you have experienced the best of times as of yet in your young life. I do believe though that you will see greater prosperity before your time on earth is over.

[Jeff Hahn]

The record of the last 50 years is clear...we have less personal freedom now than we did 50 years ago. The government has grown exponentially larger and with it has gone our personal freedom. But, the government has not TAKEN our freedom, we (the public) has given it away, with both hands. We continually ask government to do things that government was not designed to do and can not do. Government has gotten its fingers in everything we do...from what kinds of food our kids eat at school to how many gallons of water can be used to flush our toilets. Government is obviously necessary. But, it has gone far beyond its basic functions of providing defense from foreign enemies, providing internal law and order, providing for public works, caring for those who can not care for themselves, and acting as an economic umpire and otherwise leaving the road open to free enterprise and competition.

Until we stop asking government to do other things and keep it within its legitimate boundaries, its power will continue to expand and our personal freedom decline. And, if fear, we are just about to the point that reversing this trend is nearly impossible.

[StratosBrad]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by Jeff Hahn &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">The record of the last 50 years is clear...we have less personal freedom now than we did 50 years ago. The government has grown exponentially larger and with it has gone our personal freedom. But, the government has not TAKEN our freedom, we (the public) has given it away, with both hands. We continually ask government to do things that government was not designed to do and can not do. Government has gotten its fingers in everything we do...from what kinds of food our kids eat at school to how many gallons of water can be used to flush our toilets. Government is obviously necessary. But, it has gone far beyond its basic functions of providing defense from foreign enemies, providing internal law and order, providing for public works, caring for those who can not care for themselves, and acting as an economic umpire and otherwise leaving the road open to free enterprise and competition.

Until we stop asking government to do other things and keep it within its legitimate boundaries, its power will continue to expand and our personal freedom decline. And, if fear, we are just about to the point that reversing this trend is nearly impossible.</td></tr></table>

/thread win

[Living Rangerously]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by Jeff Hahn &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">The record of the last 50 years is clear...we have less personal freedom now than we did 50 years ago. The government has grown exponentially larger and with it has gone our personal freedom. But, the government has not TAKEN our freedom, we (the public) has given it away, with both hands. We continually ask government to do things that government was not designed to do and can not do. Government has gotten its fingers in everything we do...from what kinds of food our kids eat at school to how many gallons of water can be used to flush our toilets. Government is obviously necessary. But, it has gone far beyond its basic functions of providing defense from foreign enemies, providing internal law and order, providing for public works, caring for those who can not care for themselves, and acting as an economic umpire and otherwise leaving the road open to free enterprise and competition.

Until we stop asking government to do other things and keep it within its legitimate boundaries, its power will continue to expand and our personal freedom decline. And, if fear, we are just about to the point that reversing this trend is nearly impossible.</td></tr></table>

This ^^^^^
Here's another historical observation:
"The average age of the world's greatest civilizations from the beginning of history has been about 200 years. During those 200 years, those nations always progressed through the following sequence:

1. From bondage to spiritual faith;

2. From spiritual faith to great courage;

3. From courage to liberty;

4. From liberty to abundance;

5. From abundance to complacency;

6. From complacency to apathy;

7. From apathy to dependence;

8. From dependence back into bondage"

At which stage in this sequence do you believe our great nation is currently in? At which stage? Seems pretty obvious we're already at 7 or 8.

[bassman34]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by Holden &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">This doesnt necessarily need an answer but...

Has our country already hit its pinnacle or is it still to come? When I use the word pinnacle, I am using it in a general sense with regard to some of the following categories;

-economically
-politically
-militarily
-all around standard of living including appreciation for life by everyday citizens.

I see and hear a lot of things that make me want to believe that this nation has already lived through its pinnacle. And as an 18 year old, that disappoints me.

Just something to think about.</td></tr></table>
I'm a positive & upbeat person but i too feel the good days are long gone in this country, it hasn't just happened over night but this country is on a slow & deadly decline, financially, criminally, morally, employment, spiritually. what needs to happen is two major things, 1st and foremost a giant toilet flush in the white house, we need to start with a clean slate of folks who know what they are doing & doing it to benefit our country, keeping the people in there that got us into this mess in the 1st place isn't working. 2nd & probably the most important thing is getting our industrial backbone back, all of our jobs reside in china now. This country is in huge trouble & anyone that tells you otherwise is full of..............

[Quickrelease]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by buckwheat30us &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">
way to have a positive outlook!!!
things are always bad and they always get better
we survived the depression -wars that would end all wars - infighting
this country was not founded by men who roll over and let bad things happen and I believe we are still like that and we will recover!!!! </td></tr></table> Want to give up on this great country? Move! Check your history, this country always comes through!
The whole world is going through tuff times, name another country that is better to live in than the USA! People from all over the globe are risking death trying to get into this country! People bitching about it should GTF out!!

[teeboy]

Yeah but, years ago our great nation was NOT flooded with aliens that's increasing everyday! It' won't be our country for long.
Not gloom and doom.....just reality!