What is causing the downfall of our country?

[BogWalker]

The Welfare State.

Read it. Go read it now: Life at the Bottom: The Worldview That Makes the Underclass: Theodore Dalrymple: 9781566635059: Amazon.com: Books

I second reading this book. Many of you are posting things that are very close to the truth as Mr. Dalrymple tells it, but he tells it in a way that is far more well-defined than I could personally lay down. Certainly helped me refine my position and arguments.

A big part of it comes down to lack of personal responsibility, or rather the efforts of one part of society to free another part from having to take responsibility. (the liberal establishment of the welfare state)

 

[JS1911]

Regressive Leftist Fascism.

 

[oldpink]

People who value safety over freedom, which is the very root of the welfare state, statism in general, groupthink, and allt eh other myriad ills that afflict us as a nation.
The social justice warriors are the living embodiment of this thinking, and they are the mafia enforcers of this ideology.

 

[Spear Dane]

Lyndon Baines damned Johnson and his Great damned Society bs.

 

[jd4320t]

The people.

Hard work, responsibility and wanting to do the right thing are dying more every day.

We can blame the government, the past, the color of our skin, our sex or what's going on halfway around the world but it all comes down to us.

Regardless of what happens I will work to get what I need and want. I will provide for my daughter. I will enjoy life with my family and friends.

 

[whiskeytangofoxtrot]

Not enough good old fashioned a** beatings, when they are called for. Teaches respect, and right/wrong.

 

[The Bubba Effect]

I am pretty sure it is me.

 

[GodFearinGunTotin]

I'll go there------Some of it, I think is the moving away from religion. As we no longer govern ourselves from within, we have to have more external laws to govern our behavior. When our mindset becomes "if it's not illegal, then why can't I do it?" then others demand our legislators enact law after law, create felon after felon to prescribe what acceptable behavior is in various circumstances. The ugly little secret is you can't legislate morality---as is evident.

 

[Birds Away]

A total lack of shame. Which goes hand in hand with what GFGT stated above. No one ever gets called out for bad behavior unless it is by the PC police. The truth is no longer valued. As long as "our side" wins it doesn't matter what tactics "we" use to get there.

 

[1861navy]

I think this is a multi faceted issue that boils down to numerous causes. On one hand I want to say our corrupted/inept leaders. On another I want to say the selfish ineptitude of the masses. In realty it can't be so simple though because of the complex nature of a down falling nation and the debate as to whether that nation was truly "falling" or not.

I do see a trend though between more laws, luxuries, and laziness taking a simultaneous effect upon us with the growth of a welfare state. This seems to have created a mindset of entitlement in our leaders and general populous that appears to serve the notion of decline. Combine that with what the average person needs monetarily to survive compared to 20, 40, or even 60 years ago a lot of people I think have either given up hope, or are giving it up. Others never even cared to begin with.

 

[Expat]

I'll go there------Some of it, I think is the moving away from religion. As we no longer govern ourselves from within, we have to have more external laws to govern our behavior. When our mindset becomes "if it's not illegal, then why can't I do it?" then others demand our legislators enact law after law, create felon after felon to prescribe what acceptable behavior is in various circumstances. The ugly little secret is you can't legislate morality---as is evident.

Agreed. I am reminded of the John Adams quote that our Constitution was only suitable for a religious and moral people... Sadly we are neither now.

 

[cobber]

Lyndon Baines damned Johnson and his Great damned Society bs.

Lest we forget FDR and the "New Deal".

Even more so, the 16th Amendment, without which DC would be a village in a swamp.

 

[rob63]

I agree with much that has been said, but would like to add one more thing. The lack of any meaningful dialogue between people with different viewpoints. Regardless of which side you want to blame for starting it or how far back it goes, politics is now just a world of shouting down your opponent. Anyone that disagrees with you must be an idiot. The result is that decent people don't even want to get involved anymore (or can't pass the ideological litmus tests), and we end up choosing between the lesser evils.

 

[DoggyDaddy]

I am pretty sure it is me.

Well stop it!

 

[KG1]

Everything mentioned above and open borders with lack of assimilation. Noone respects America. That includes many "americans" seeking to tear it down from within.

 

[IndyDave1776]

I attribute it to the combination of the declining willingness to take responsibility for one's self coupled with the lack of moral self-governance already explored by GFGT. Everything else can be traced straight back to this.

 

[spec4]

Liberal democrats.

 

[KittySlayer]

Ethics and Morals... the lack thereof.

 

[lizerdking]

Complacency.

We all have our satellite TV, our Ipads and our Internet Social Media for entertainment and a place to interact. Why bother risking all of that to change something that doesn't bother us that much?

Our ancestors had none of the comforts of modern living, when they earned something they EARNED it.

 

[T.Lex]

Time.

All good things must come to an end.

There is an arc to greatness, and it always fades.