On the Decay of America

[The Hobbesian Metaphysician]

Late to this topic, but I have hope that, as class relations deteriorate, that Americans may well return to their originally more revolutionary identity and be willing to actually do something about it.

Which would be ironically because that would require a return of slavery.

[United Marxist Nations]

Late to this topic, but I have hope that, as class relations deteriorate, that Americans may well return to their originally more revolutionary identity and be willing to actually do something about it.

Which would be ironically because that would require a return of slavery.

Not at all:
1) There were American revolutionaries opposed to slavery (see Thomas Paine).
2) An identity is not necessarily wholly dependent on the existence of specific conditions (e.g. many post-Soviet people continue to identify with Stalin but don't want purges back).

[The Hobbesian Metaphysician]

Which would be ironically because that would require a return of slavery.

Not at all:
1) There were American revolutionaries opposed to slavery (see Thomas Paine).
2) An identity is not necessarily wholly dependent on the existence of specific conditions (e.g. many post-Soviet people continue to identify with Stalin but don't want purges back).

If you want a truly social revolution then going back to the American revolution itself is still a bad idea.

[United Marxist Nations]

Not at all:
1) There were American revolutionaries opposed to slavery (see Thomas Paine).
2) An identity is not necessarily wholly dependent on the existence of specific conditions (e.g. many post-Soviet people continue to identify with Stalin but don't want purges back).

If you want a truly social revolution then going back to the American revolution itself is still a bad idea.

We obviously can't go back to the revolution itself. I mean having a national identity associated with revolution (the concept, not the historical event).

[Jacobania]

Not at all:
1) There were American revolutionaries opposed to slavery (see Thomas Paine).
2) An identity is not necessarily wholly dependent on the existence of specific conditions (e.g. many post-Soviet people continue to identify with Stalin but don't want purges back).

If you want a truly social revolution then going back to the American revolution itself is still a bad idea.

Though some of the principles of the American revolution, I would hope, should be strived for in every society (such as secular democracy, equality under the law, separation of powers and of church and state, taxation with representation, etc.).

[Camelza]

I think that the US is in a much better situation than it was before, ie; Americans don't have to fear about MAD anymore, or ae; there is no segregation.
Furthermore, while there seems to be a sense of political polarisation in the US there really isn't; The Democrats and the Republicans of modern times, despite all the slurs and disagreements between them, they are two sides of the same coin.
As for how strong America is these days, I have only one word; superpower.

[New Rogernomics]

The US isn't falling apart, stop being so dramatic.

I don't have to associate with other Americans, save those I have to through work, or my bf.

So that allows me to avoid the tit for tat spats between political parties, but the OP (or who you are referring to) is a bit extreme on the whole 'US is falling apart thing'.

[Geilinor]

I'd like to disagree that America is decaying or falling apart. The social divisions the OP mentioned have always existed and the country always meant something different to different people. That's inevitable in a country of multiple races, religions, 50 states, and 315 million people, but I don't think we're about to split up or that hope is lost. There was a time when we were in civil war but we reunited. There was a Great Depression and a massive war - we survived.

I think that we need to calm down and try to reduce the tension that we've created. That requires all of us to listen to each other and to find solutions to problems. The United States can do well in the future if Americans decide to do so.

[Geilinor]

I have no proof to back up this statement, but I doubt most Americans in the 1920s were rolling in cash. If anything, most were probably only struggling a little less than they were a decade later.

You're right. Times were harder then they are now, but the huge collapse came rather unexpected.

The last collapse was in 2007 and we've mostly recovered from it.

[Vetalia]

The last collapse was in 2007 and we've mostly recovered from it.

Not really, not by a long shot at least for the lower and middle classes. That being said, there's been an ongoing decline since 1999-2000 by any measure.

[Pope Joan]

The problems of America have to do with the abuse of concentrated economic power. I see no sign of that changing.

[Haktiva]

Ever read the Fate of Empires by Joseph Glubb? Pretty much everything happening has already happened before. Such is the fate of human civilization.

http://www.rexresearch.com/glubb/glubb-empire.pdf

[Olerand]

Probably worse. America's best days are behind it, and it shall experience the fate of all empires, so if not collapse, decline. Thus joining the rest of the empires of history.

[Donald Trump 4 2016]

Things will be a lot better in America in 10 years if I am elected! Vote for DONALD J. TRUMP

[Imperial Esplanade]

Things will be a lot better in America in 10 years if I am elected! Vote for DONALD J. TRUMP

Mr. Trump, I have your inaugural address script all typed up and ready to go. It is as follows:



Oh, by the way Obama... YA FIYED.

Let's make America great again, America.

-Da Prez

[Donald Trump 4 2016]

Things will be a lot better in America in 10 years if I am elected! Vote for DONALD J. TRUMP

Mr. Trump, I have your inaugural address script all typed up and ready to go. It is as follows:

(Image)

Oh, by the way Obama... YA FIYED.

Let's make America great again, America.

-Da Prez

You sir are a true american, and for our sake- BUILD THE WALL

[-Ebola-]

Things will be a lot better in America in 10 years if I am elected! Vote for DONALD J. TRUMP

I can't vote because I'm a virus. Will you give viruses the vote?

[Bentrada]

Probably worse. America's best days are behind it, and it shall experience the fate of all empires, so if not collapse, decline. Thus joining the rest of the empires of history.

America is not an empire, no matter how much you or anybody else claims it is.

[The Hobbesian Metaphysician]

Things will be a lot better in America in 10 years if I am elected! Vote for DONALD J. TRUMP

I can't vote because I'm a virus. Will you give viruses the vote?

Better question actually.

If Ebola has a soul then are vaccines, and cures a form of murder?

[Haktiva]

Probably worse. America's best days are behind it, and it shall experience the fate of all empires, so if not collapse, decline. Thus joining the rest of the empires of history.

America is not an empire, no matter how much you or anybody else claims it is.

no but it is a superpower, which arguably isn't much different in terms of raw power and influence the nation can exert without directly controlling others.

[Schwere Panzer Abieltung 502]

I can't vote because I'm a virus. Will you give viruses the vote?

Better question actually.

If Ebola has a soul then are vaccines, and cures a form of murder?

Virii are not living creatures. They shouldn't be able to vote.

[The Hobbesian Metaphysician]

Better question actually.

If Ebola has a soul then are vaccines, and cures a form of murder?

Virii are not living creatures. They shouldn't be able to vote.

The human definition of life, at least according to viruses is inherent favoritism.

[Kelinfort]

Ever read the Fate of Empires by Joseph Glubb? Pretty much everything happening has already happened before. Such is the fate of human civilization.

http://www.rexresearch.com/glubb/glubb-empire.pdf

Less powerful, yes. However, with 315 million people, The US will dominate the Western Hemisphere long after it ceases to be the only superpower.

[Haktiva]

Ever read the Fate of Empires by Joseph Glubb? Pretty much everything happening has already happened before. Such is the fate of human civilization.

http://www.rexresearch.com/glubb/glubb-empire.pdf

Less powerful, yes. However, with 315 million people, The US will dominate the Western Hemisphere long after it ceases to be the only superpower.

provided it doesn't balkanize

[Olerand]

Probably worse. America's best days are behind it, and it shall experience the fate of all empires, so if not collapse, decline. Thus joining the rest of the empires of history.

America is not an empire, no matter how much you or anybody else claims it is.

Um.... It has no emperor, certainly; but it has worldwide power projection, disproportionate cultural power, colonies (territories), client states..... Awfully similar to an empire.