Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - Are we seeing the collapse of America as a superpower?

pan6467 · 09-04-2005, 01:52 PM

I don't believe this event shows decline. It shows many things but not decline. Although combined the weaknesses show problems we need to workout as a nation.

The US will never fall as a "superpower" our egos are too great and we have nukes. People would rather enter losing wars and threaten the world that if they aren't with us they are against us and they could be next. Bush may have done this but it was grandstanding and he has since kissed some asses to try to smooth some ruffled feathers.

World view of us changes as we change presidents and policies, so it bothers me but doesn't signal our end until the world reacts to their negative views. When countries start demanding they collect on their debt, instead of protesting actions like Iraq actually going to war with us, and so on, and until that happens I'm not going to worry. I may see signs of it coming and talk about it happening, but I'd rather be safe then let it happen and not have tried to stop it.

As for the weaknesses and problems this has shown (in my views and opinion only):

We have a president that knows how to go to war but not how to handle true disaster at home.

We have 2 political parties jockeying for power and both are passing the buck and waited to long to do anything.

We are too involved militarily in Iraq and have greatly shortened and hurt our own homeland defenses and systems to help in these cases.

We have people who DESERVE tax monies (they paid into the system) to help them and the money and assistance, food, water, shelter, are being used as political power.

We have a mayor that truly earned my respect and told the truth..... that when the WTC fell Bush was everywhere making sure there was help..... with this he has been relatively quiet and slow. And the BS the president has to wait for the governor is just that, he didn't wait in NYC. One could argue NYC is more important, more people and all.... but that is an excuse for slow reactions.

This also shows no matter how "civilized" a society given the right scenarios we revert back to animal instinct and as painful as it is to watch 1000's die, we have 10,000's surviving and finding ways to live. "American" spirit? No, TRUE HUMAN spirit, that will be talked about as "American" by people who want to wave flags.

But the worst is the Limbaughs, O'Reillys, Robertsons and company that have made this political and religious. I am saddened to see people ask if N.O. is worth being rebuilt and the negativity they show. It's fucking B.S. and not what this country used to be about. We used to rebuild bigger and stronger and worked to make sure we were ready the next time...... respect was shown to those who died by our rebuilding and making sure we learn from events. (Of course, when a hurricane hits S.Carolina, or Fla. or the East Coast, we don't even question about rebuilding...... but here one has to ask, if this were an 80% rich white majority and not 80% poor black majority would things have been and would the future of things to come be different........ I sure as hell hope they wouldn't.... but the question as ignorant as it sounds has to be asked.)

All the negativity out now, I also see great oppurtunity to be had here.

Jobs created to help rebuild not just N.O. but the whole area hit, Mississippi, Alabama, etc. Those economies will boom and will help the nation as a whole.....

Of course that was said about WTC and it didn't really help.... but it wasn't to this extent.

It will be interesting to see how our nation reacts to the overt racism that has been shown. And if President Bush spends as much down there on the families and businesses hit as he did on the WTC families and airlines.

09-04-2005, 01:52 PM	#27 (permalink)
pan6467 Lennonite Priest Location: Mansfield, Ohio USA	I don't believe this event shows decline. It shows many things but not decline. Although combined the weaknesses show problems we need to workout as a nation. The US will never fall as a "superpower" our egos are too great and we have nukes. People would rather enter losing wars and threaten the world that if they aren't with us they are against us and they could be next. Bush may have done this but it was grandstanding and he has since kissed some asses to try to smooth some ruffled feathers. World view of us changes as we change presidents and policies, so it bothers me but doesn't signal our end until the world reacts to their negative views. When countries start demanding they collect on their debt, instead of protesting actions like Iraq actually going to war with us, and so on, and until that happens I'm not going to worry. I may see signs of it coming and talk about it happening, but I'd rather be safe then let it happen and not have tried to stop it. As for the weaknesses and problems this has shown (in my views and opinion only): We have a president that knows how to go to war but not how to handle true disaster at home. We have 2 political parties jockeying for power and both are passing the buck and waited to long to do anything. We are too involved militarily in Iraq and have greatly shortened and hurt our own homeland defenses and systems to help in these cases. We have people who DESERVE tax monies (they paid into the system) to help them and the money and assistance, food, water, shelter, are being used as political power. We have a mayor that truly earned my respect and told the truth..... that when the WTC fell Bush was everywhere making sure there was help..... with this he has been relatively quiet and slow. And the BS the president has to wait for the governor is just that, he didn't wait in NYC. One could argue NYC is more important, more people and all.... but that is an excuse for slow reactions. This also shows no matter how "civilized" a society given the right scenarios we revert back to animal instinct and as painful as it is to watch 1000's die, we have 10,000's surviving and finding ways to live. "American" spirit? No, TRUE HUMAN spirit, that will be talked about as "American" by people who want to wave flags. But the worst is the Limbaughs, O'Reillys, Robertsons and company that have made this political and religious. I am saddened to see people ask if N.O. is worth being rebuilt and the negativity they show. It's fucking B.S. and not what this country used to be about. We used to rebuild bigger and stronger and worked to make sure we were ready the next time...... respect was shown to those who died by our rebuilding and making sure we learn from events. (Of course, when a hurricane hits S.Carolina, or Fla. or the East Coast, we don't even question about rebuilding...... but here one has to ask, if this were an 80% rich white majority and not 80% poor black majority would things have been and would the future of things to come be different........ I sure as hell hope they wouldn't.... but the question as ignorant as it sounds has to be asked.) All the negativity out now, I also see great oppurtunity to be had here. Jobs created to help rebuild not just N.O. but the whole area hit, Mississippi, Alabama, etc. Those economies will boom and will help the nation as a whole..... Of course that was said about WTC and it didn't really help.... but it wasn't to this extent. It will be interesting to see how our nation reacts to the overt racism that has been shown. And if President Bush spends as much down there on the families and businesses hit as he did on the WTC families and airlines. __________________ I just love people who use the excuse "I use/do this because I LOVE the feeling/joy/happiness it brings me" and expect you to be ok with that as you watch them destroy their life blindly following. My response is, "I like to put forks in an eletrical socket, just LOVE that feeling, can't ever get enough of it, so will you let me put this copper fork in that electric socket?"