America is in trouble. What can we do?

[exitseven]

The US is in trouble. The signal for that is flying old glory upside down. We should be putting postage stamps on our letters but putting them on upside down

SOS

[nightdrot]

It has been well said that the American people never panic - - - - except in a crisis. Nevertheless, as Rudyard Kipling said, "If you can keep your head about you when others are losing theirs', then you will be a man, my son."

Besides, a little historical perspective helps.

In the 1960s and 70s, we had an era of race riots, a low intensity war, campus radicalism, assassinations, populism, "do your own thing," and political extremism. One need only mention Kent State, the SLA, the Black Panthers, the Kennedy assassinations, and the Martin Luther King assassination, Charles Manson or the year 1968 to be reminded of the recent past.

Then there was the small matter of the aforementioned Civil War. Four years of war fought to the nth degree. The result was over 650,000 Americans, killed at each other's hands. That is an ocean of blood that Americans did not even match in either world war, indeed in both world wars combined.

Speaking of which, there was the country during World War I. Aside from an unprecedented curtailment of civil liberties by the government, as Americans watched warily for German spies, there were cases of mobs tarring and feathering those they thought guilty of siding with the enemy.

Even in World War II, the so-called "Good War," when Americans were united by Pearl Harbor, there was bloodiest race riot in American history in 1943. Also in 1943, the United States lost more hours of work to strikes and other labor unrest - some of which became violent - than in any other year in American history. This, when the nation was rallying to defeat the Axis powers.

That is not to say that these are not difficult times. Certainly the effects of technology may be magnifying some of the splintering forces in the culture. That technology makes every event seem larger and unprecedented because we just don't read or hear about them, but see them. Further, the technology reinforces a ethic of instant gratification and puts every person in their own mental universe.

This has created a cultural environment of mutual incomprehension, heightened emotionalism and the discounting of reason over feeling. The latter being a problem in the best of times, but in the current context it is arguable that the nation has conferred upon itself more rights than it can handle.

As Burke said, "Men have no right to that which is not reasonable." A difficult argument to make in a culture that is ardent about rights, but no so much about responsibilities.

Still, as Adam Smith said, "There is much ruin in a nation." These things come and go. The tumult of the 60s and 70s gave us the relative social peace of the 80s and 90s.

As noted, we've been here before. Imperfect beings cannot - and never will - create perfection. Ever it will ebb and flow.

Besides, as John Cardinal Henry Newman said, "Spring passes into summer and through autumn into winter. Only the more surely, by its ultimate return, to triumph over the grave toward which it resolutely hastens from its first hour. We mourn over the blossoms of April because they are to whither. But we know that withal that April is one day to have its revenge upon November, by the revelation of that solemn circle that never stops. Which teaches us in our height of hopes ever to be sober. And in our depths of desolation, never to despair."

[HighValue]

Since the government likes giving away tax money for student loans, they should offer the same amount to people that want to move to a different state. Then conservatives could move to red states and liberals could move to blue states. After that we could separate the country.

[exitseven]

If my kids didn;t live here and if I could talk my wife into it I would move to Florida in a heartbeat.

[HighValue]

I plan to move out of CA and go to Idaho next July. I recently got an elementary teaching degree, and because of the teacher shortages it really opened up a lot of options for me to move and have a job before I even move.
I didn't want to leave my mom behind in CA, but I can get her a webcam with a built in mic so it is simple and show her how to use it before leaving the state so I can use that once each week. I could still visit in the summer once per year.
There is just no way that I would be able to stand living in CA another 21 years until retirement to leave. Now is my best chance.

[exitseven]

@HighValue I went back to school to train for a career in IT when I was your age. My goal was to move to Florida. I hate the state I live in and winters are way too long. I had a good shot getting hired by NASA and when my wife found out she said if I want to Florida I would have to go by myself. She came from a really close family and I was just the opposite.

[HighValue]

Oh. Yeah, it is too hard for most people to leave family behind so they get stuck in a bad state. Most of my family/relatives are dead. My mom is the only one left that I ever talk to, so the move wouldn't be as bad I guess for me. I'd be totally by myself though because my friends wouldn't be there.

[exitseven]

@HighValue if you are going to do it , this is your last chance. Once you are 50 it is too late.

[HighValue]

Yeah, if I leave next year I will still be able to get in 20 years before retirement age for a teacher so that should work out for me.

[Dargil]

Vote straight Republican this year and in 2024. I strongly believe in the two party system when democrats put up good candidates. Mondale and Humphrey were good liberal Democrats. I watched a documentary on Truman yesterday. Truman was a statesman with rough edges like Trump. Thomas Dewey (ran against Truman) was a Limousine/Country club Republican. Truman was the right choice. There are "good" democrats around but they are keeping their heads down. Former Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson is a good democrat. Trump chose him as the designated survivor and would have become the next president if a disaster or attack had occurred.

It's going to take a decade+ to undo the damage Obama, Biden and (!) GW Bush have done to this nation.

[Anonymous]

Nah, we survived Clinton and Obama we'll survive Joey. But a political party now wielding the justice system like thier own stormtroopers should frighten all Americans.

[exitseven]

I bought firearms for the first time because I can see the rising crime rate and the local police have been defunded, Now I wonder if I need protection against the government.

[jshm2]

Do nothing.

All empires end in division, eventually. The USA is just the shortest lived empire in history, is all.

[lightbulb27]

I heard that was a way of signaling distress… wonder if police would show up eventually.


Yes we are… been a long time coming. We’ve been in trouble before…

[dustybiker]

I thought this was just a sign of disrespect.
Most people don’t even realize the Union Jack has a right side up, but old glory certainly does.

[exitseven]

yes I have heard it is a sign of disrespect too but most see it as an SOS.

[dustybiker]

Eh.. lets get real. I think it’s more certain people are trying to give themselves permission to use it for inappropriate reasons.

[exitseven]

honest, I am using it as an SOS. I have respect of the flag and the National Anthem.

[dustybiker]

I think Trump flags and “don’t tread on me” (which is also being used these days out of original context) fits that bills just fine without disrespecting the countries flag.

[Anonymous]

It can't rebuild till Republicans are wiped out.

[FunkyMonkee]

Yeah, because the dems are doing such a great job of destroying the country! No more republicans means the whole planet can crash & burn!!

[888theGreat]

split up , conservative states and liberal states. Liberal states will destroy themselves

[FunkyMonkee]

Use the damn 2nd Amendment, already, before there's no country left!!

[Hispanic-Cool-Guy]

Are you sure that's real or photoshop?

[exitseven]

it is real.

[Hispanic-Cool-Guy]

I looked for it in the news, I didn't see nothing about it.

[RealMarek]

Prepare for inflation and try to integrate yourself in a local community.

[rabbitzzz]

What trouble sirs? Only Alaska borders russia.

[Anonymous]

Yeah putting stamps upside down on letters will fix the problem.

[Bratsondanielle]

We can vote differently...

[FunkyMonkee]

What good will that do if they're gonna cheat?

[Shy_Steve]

The only way to save America is to Ban Guns completely, But that's not gonna happen is it.

[AviatorTom]

Sorry, that would be too disrespectful.

[exitseven]

it is a statement.

[dustybiker]

Agreed

[MrTaboo]

Stop voting Democrate

[In_Trance]

It always has been and always will be

[MiseriaCantareAFI]

America is in trouble alright... from trump

[msc545]

Seriously? Will it matter?

[Anonymous]

America still exist?