Sage

Man, what I think is scary is that if China were to bring its population up to the same level of consumption that Americans have, then it would take 4 Earths just to produce enough food and resources to keep China going, much less the rest of the world. (Was a factoid given by the most respected teacher I've ever had in the best class I've ever had, and no I don't have a website to back that claim up). I believe us to be living in the decline of the WORLD, not just the US. Everyone fighting, oil potentally running out, everyone in debt to everyone else, no one knowing what's going on because there's so much doubt and misinformation running around. I know this is all transient, and it isn't real, but sometimes it's hard to not get lost in the big play that is life and start freaking out a-la Chicken Little style.

Another thing I have noticed is that people who grew up with a very stable goverment and who grew up believing firmly and wholly that America is Great are having a very, very passe' attitude towards everything. LIke, people my parent's age (in their 50s, 60s, and 70s) are thinking "oh, everything's fine, we're fine, the goverment is great, the president (no matter who he is) is fabulous, I love Nick at Nite." Meanwhile, everyone who grew up post Nixon (and you know, I think that really was the first time the pillar of American "superiority" was shaken) is realizing that this whole "globlization" thing has some very worrying side effects- mainly, eventually everyone is going to want to have what those in the richest and most diversified countries have, and they're not gonna care who they step on or what they fuck up to get there.

I for one am glad that I don't believe in the Second Coming, because if I did I'd probably be walking around with a sign that says "The End of the World is Near!"

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