Not for the first time, I disagree with the general sentiments. True, many of the reasons given for the "decline" are problems, and I can bitch for hours about some of them, but I suspect that we will overcome them in the fullness of time.
We are the greatest and most powerful nation in history and will probably remain that way for a good while. I think our kids are smarter and far better educated than we give them credit for. In spite of our current misadventure in Iraq, I think our military is a finely honed weapon that, like any weapon, can be misused but is incredibly powerful and can be used as a force for good in the world. Any system as complex as ours will have many "squeaking wheels" but they will get grease and the system will endure. Religion, in any form, is not the reason for our greatness, capitalism is. The nearly certain knowledge that with hard work and sacrifice and just a bit of luck we and our children will have it better and easier than our parents did is a driving force.
America the Beautiful.
Of course, everything would be better sooner if we kill all the lawyers. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Hi, Steve. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
