NotCrazyDan Posted June 4, 2009 Report Share Posted June 4, 2009 I'm convinced that the US has reached the point of no return. It's gone from sickly to dying, and I no longer believe that it can recover. I believe that we've reached the beginning of the end. The erosion of our culture of self-reliance and individuality has paved the way for the destruction of our constitution and our rule of law, which has led to the destruction of property rights. Now it's no longer a question of whether government can take control of a thing, but how quickly it should take in accomplishing the task. We are at 10 Trillion dollars of hard debt, and 60 trillion dollars of unfunded liabilities through Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security. There is no reasonable model for us to EVER be able to dig our way out of this debt. The government will be forced to monetize the currency in order to pay off its debt, which will result in inflation such as the world has never seen. Decades of irresponsibility led to this moment. It was coming for awhile; the current president just accelerated it. I hope Texas secedes while it has the chance. I don't think that they were serious when they threatened it the last time, but if they saw the world through my eyes, they'd already be gone. I've served my country in the army for 12 years. I never thought it would come to this in my lifetime. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grames Posted June 4, 2009 Report Share Posted June 4, 2009 And yet, life goes on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheEgoist Posted June 4, 2009 Report Share Posted June 4, 2009 Explain how this situation is worse than the late 30s. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NotCrazyDan Posted June 4, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 4, 2009 (edited) Explain how this situation is worse than the late 30s. It's not yet. We're still in the early 30s. Edited June 4, 2009 by NotCrazyDan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheEgoist Posted June 4, 2009 Report Share Posted June 4, 2009 You've said we have reached the point of no return. You then mention that things are bad. Fact is, things are usually bad. I doubt we've ever gone one hour in our media lives without hearing we live in times of great crises. This too will past. What we have to be worried about is the consequences of what will be done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thales Posted June 4, 2009 Report Share Posted June 4, 2009 Explain how this situation is worse than the late 30s. The American sense of life was MUCH stronger in the 1930s. We've decayed a great deal since then. On a positive note, the one thing we have going for us now that we didn't then is Objectivism. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thales Posted June 4, 2009 Report Share Posted June 4, 2009 A few other things strike me. In the 1930s we weren't nationalizing industries, working to confirm subjectivist/racist judges, promulgating an extremely anti-American foreign policy, and pushing anti-man environmentalism. Furthermore, let us not forget things like faith-based initiatives and creationism. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheEgoist Posted June 4, 2009 Report Share Posted June 4, 2009 A few other things strike me. In the 1930s we weren't nationalizing industries, working to confirm subjectivist/racist judges, promulgating an extremely anti-American foreign policy, and pushing anti-man environmentalism. Furthermore, let us not forget things like faith-based initiatives and creationism. Economy in shambles, Passing the new deal, nationalizing gold reserves, being on the eve of the worst war in human history, Roosevelt not even acknowledging the Supreme Court. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Axiomatic Posted June 4, 2009 Report Share Posted June 4, 2009 Pfft, all you Americans complaining, try living in the UK. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheEgoist Posted June 4, 2009 Report Share Posted June 4, 2009 I was there for 2 days and contemplated suicide. You have my sympathies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greyhawk Posted June 4, 2009 Report Share Posted June 4, 2009 And yet, life goes on. Thanks Grames, if you didn't say that, I was. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Axiomatic Posted June 4, 2009 Report Share Posted June 4, 2009 I was there for 2 days and contemplated suicide. You have my sympathies. Like Wynand in The Fountainhead, there is a point almost everyday when that thought crosses my mind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
softwareNerd Posted June 4, 2009 Report Share Posted June 4, 2009 Like Wynand in The Fountainhead, there is a point almost everyday when that thought crosses my mind.I truly do not get that, unless it is hyperbole. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Axiomatic Posted June 4, 2009 Report Share Posted June 4, 2009 (edited) I truly do not get that, unless it is hyperbole. The thought does cross my mind frequently with little or no emotionality attached. Does that somehow not make sense to you? Edited June 4, 2009 by Axiomatic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AllMenAreIslands Posted June 4, 2009 Report Share Posted June 4, 2009 On a positive note, the one thing we have going for us now that we didn't then is Objectivism. I agree. Dan, I hope reminding yourself of that fact will help you through this bad patch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
softwareNerd Posted June 4, 2009 Report Share Posted June 4, 2009 It is hyperbole, but say for a second it wasn't, what about the statement would you not 'get'.Well, if it is not hyperbole, you obviously know the reasons Growing up in a country that was fairly poor and fairly socialist (and not knowing that I would come to the U.S. some day) I had no doubt that I would have a happy life. Suicide would not be anywhere in my thoughts. In numerous real ways, my life today is better than it would have been had I lived in an older, yet poorer time. Obviously, it is frustrating to see things change for the worse, particularly when the right path seems so clear and obvious from the lessons of history. At times, it makes one wish to commit suicide -- but only in the sense of hyperbole. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Axiomatic Posted June 4, 2009 Report Share Posted June 4, 2009 Well, if it is not hyperbole, you obviously know the reasons Growing up in a country that was fairly poor and fairly socialist (and not knowing that I would come to the U.S. some day) I had no doubt that I would have a happy life. Suicide would not be anywhere in my thoughts. In numerous real ways, my life today is better than it would have been had I lived in an older, yet poorer time. Obviously, it is frustrating to see things change for the worse, particularly when the right path seems so clear and obvious from the lessons of history. At times, it makes one wish to commit suicide -- but only in the sense of hyperbole. I guess it is hyperbole. The thought would never come close to fruition in action, this I know for certain, I have too much self-esteem for that. The frustration is definitely real though, seeing all I have seen has made me somewhat bitter towards the society I live in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
softwareNerd Posted June 4, 2009 Report Share Posted June 4, 2009 ...seeing all I have seen has made me somewhat bitter towards the society I live in.Yeah, I feel that way too... sometimes. I think there are two solutions I know of. One is fighting for the world one wants. Second -- and, I believe, far more important -- is to categorize part of the "man-made" into the "might as well be metaphysically given". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thales Posted June 4, 2009 Report Share Posted June 4, 2009 Economy in shambles, Passing the new deal, nationalizing gold reserves, being on the eve of the worst war in human history, Roosevelt not even acknowledging the Supreme Court. The War wasn't part of America's culture, so you can't pin that on us. In fact, at that time we had the moral certainty to actually fight the bad guys and completely defeat them! Today we grovel and bow before them. The important thing here is the nature of American culture then and now. The sad fact is that Americans are not as good today as they were then. We live in a more nihilistic, low-brow, anti-freedom society than ever. As Anne Wortham said, in the battle between John Wayne and Jane Fonda, Jane Fonda has won. I'm not completely pessimistic, I'm just pointing out the way things are. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
themadkat Posted June 4, 2009 Report Share Posted June 4, 2009 Yeah, I feel that way too... sometimes. I think there are two solutions I know of. One is fighting for the world one wants. Second -- and, I believe, far more important -- is to categorize part of the "man-made" into the "might as well be metaphysically given". You know, I have never been able to do that second thing. Perhaps it's because I work in the natural sciences and feel like I have a pretty good sense of the genuinely metaphysically given, things like the way genes work and such, and so I see what people do and there's just no way for me not to violently react against the stupid. I never have been very good at accepting things LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Axiomatic Posted June 4, 2009 Report Share Posted June 4, 2009 You know, I have never been able to do that second thing. Perhaps it's because I work in the natural sciences and feel like I have a pretty good sense of the genuinely metaphysically given, things like the way genes work and such, and so I see what people do and there's just no way for me not to violently react against the stupid. I never have been very good at accepting things LOL I get that! I have never been good at accepting things. I was such a difficult child. You know, one of those inquisitive little shits that would always want to know 'Why' and was always told 'Because I said so!'. Never could accept that answer, no matter what the consequences of not shutting my mouth. LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ctrl y Posted June 4, 2009 Report Share Posted June 4, 2009 I was there for 2 days and contemplated suicide. You have my sympathies. Like Wynand in The Fountainhead, there is a point almost everyday when that thought crosses my mind. This is foreign to me. Could you two explain what it is about the country that makes you feel that way? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Axiomatic Posted June 4, 2009 Report Share Posted June 4, 2009 (edited) This is foreign to me. Could you two explain what it is about the country that makes you feel that way? Sure. The job market is extremely precarious, the people are usually vacuous and pretentious. The youth are vehemently hardcore liberal. There are more Muslims of the Palestinian supporting variety than any freedom loving person would care for. The political system is an absolute joke. Everything is expensive. The intellectuals have always and always will support the likes of Marx and Immanuel Kant. Poltical correctness in its grotesque anti-success and anti-free speech form is the norm. The Law is generally unintelligible and 84% of it is not even decided within my own country. People are routinely called racists for stating there opinions on immigration and the war on ideas, and put in the same category as the BNP. Taxation has crept above the 50% mark for most and is looking to rise further. Most people are genuinely selfless and act for the most part like mindless sheep, bowing to the ethical bromides espoused by the intellectual elite. The health care system is completely inadequate and unethical. The welfare state is breeding an ever-growing subculture of anti-western civilisationism (I like that word, and yes, I made it up). I mean seriously the list could go on and on. Would you want to live in a country (world) which was not only unsupportive of, but completely opposed to every idea and value you hold dear? Edited June 4, 2009 by Axiomatic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AllMenAreIslands Posted June 4, 2009 Report Share Posted June 4, 2009 Sure. The job market is extremely precarious, the people are usually vacuous and pretentious. The youth are vehemently hardcore liberal. There are more Muslims of the Palestinian supporting variety than any freedom loving person would care for. The political system is an absolute joke. Everything is expensive. The intellectuals have always and always will support the likes of Marx and Immanuel Kant. Poltical correctness in its grotesque anti-success and anti-free speech form is the norm. The Law is generally unintelligible and 84% of it is not even decided within my own country. People are routinely called racists for stating there opinions on immigration and the war on ideas, and put in the same category as the BNP. Taxation has crept above the 50% mark for most and is looking to rise further. Most people are genuinely selfless and act for the most part like mindless sheep, bowing to the ethical bromides espoused by the intellectual elite. The health care system is completely inadequate and unethical. The welfare state is breeding an ever-growing subculture of anti-western civilisationism (I like that word, and yes, I made it up). I mean seriously the list could go on and on. Would you want to live in a country (world) which was not only unsupportive of, but completely opposed to every idea and value you hold dear? Impressive, and you didn't even really touch on the enviro-tard issues. How willing are you to help start a new country, supposing that we could find or build an undeveloped or under-developed patch of land somewhere? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Axiomatic Posted June 4, 2009 Report Share Posted June 4, 2009 Impressive, and you didn't even really touch on the enviro-tard issues. How willing are you to help start a new country, supposing that we could find or build an undeveloped or under-developed patch of land somewhere? Sounds like a pipe-dream. If we could come up with a sane, practical idea however, then of course I would be interested. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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