What is causing the downfall of our country?

[Hoosierkav]

The destruction of the nuclear family.

As soon as there were avenues and it was acceptable to have both parents in the workplace, letting paid strangers handle their children for eight + hours/day, parents became less important, discipline became less (daycare can't spank or punish), hugs/love/parental bonding became less. Parents then had to work to maintain their expensive lifestyles, which are seen as the norm, and Timmy and Susie no longer had parents invested in their academics. Enter in anyone with an agenda, and all it takes for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing--if I'm too busy building my career, I'm too busy to get involved in my community. This leads to a reliance on the schools and churches, etc., to create the foundation for the future, instead of the parents instilling the bedrock values that have stood the test of time.

 

[AllenM]

The destruction of the nuclear family.

As soon as there were avenues and it was acceptable to have both parents in the workplace, letting paid strangers handle their children for eight + hours/day, parents became less important, discipline became less (daycare can't spank or punish), hugs/love/parental bonding became less. Parents then had to work to maintain their expensive lifestyles, which are seen as the norm, and Timmy and Susie no longer had parents invested in their academics. Enter in anyone with an agenda, and all it takes for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing--if I'm too busy building my career, I'm too busy to get involved in my community. This leads to a reliance on the schools and churches, etc., to create the foundation for the future, instead of the parents instilling the bedrock values that have stood the test of time.

Agreed. we are now experiencing the Day Care generation. extreme example are the SJW's

 

[T.Lex]

On the nuclear family thing, I think there's a bit of romanticization about that. Dad's weren't around much because of work, often 12 hours a day. There was maybe a decade or so after WWII (maybe the entire Boomer generation childhood) where the idyllic 9 to 5 and still home for dinner and to play catch with Johnny, but for the vast majority of American history life was hard. Either agriculture-based or industrial, and either way work usually was more important than

This "breakdown of the nuclear family" thing is more a symptom of other cultural issues than a cause.

https://www.amazon.com/Way-We-Never-Were-Nostalgia/dp/0465090974?ie=UTF8&*Version*=1&*entries*=0

 

[ghuns]

I'll go there------Some of it, I think is the moving away from religion.

A total lack of shame.

I agree, and I'm not a religious person.

So I'll go here, and it's gonna sound condescending as hell----

Most reasonably intelligent human beings, with or without religion, can recognize behavior that is detrimental to their well being, and to society, avoiding such behavior.

The cognitively challenged, you know, morons, who lack a fear of eternal damnation, don't seem to be able to practice such self restraint. Nor do they possess shame, so they are totally immuned when shame is directed towards them by others.

The scary part, those behaviors and lack of shame seem to trickle up. Up to people who know better, either because of religion or just self respect. A life free of shame is a seducing proposition to many. Those behaviors are encouraged through entertainment and media. Don't judge, let your freak flag fly, it's my world, you're just living in it... The pervasive message is, there is no objective right and wrong, no moral truths.

They are pushing a religion without even knowing it. It's the religion of good old Aleister Crowley. It's only commandment; do what thou wilt.

I am agnostic, I don't profess to know anything. But if there's one thing I'm pretty sure of, it's that the world could use more, love thy neighbor and less do what thou wilt.

 

[olhorseman]

Those who blame others.

 

[miguel]

People who want to solve other people's problems with your money, rather than their own time and treasure.

 

[indiucky]

The pervasive message is, there is no objective right and wrong, no moral truths.

They are pushing a religion without even knowing it. It's the religion of good old Aleister Crowley. It's only commandment; do what thou wilt.

I am agnostic, I don't profess to know anything. But if there's one thing I'm pretty sure of, it's that the world could use more, love thy neighbor and less do what thou wilt.

Well put ghuns...Rep inbound....If you have not seen it here is a neat bio of Crowley...Plus good on you for stating you are Agnostic rather than Atheist...Even Richard Dawkins states he is Agnostic because he knows Atheism doesn't stand up to scientific testing any more than Theism...Both are evidence based but tough to prove...That shows you are intellectually honest (as most Blazing Saddles fans are) as well.....


[video=youtube;jsm6WI5i7p0]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsm6WI5i7p0[/video]

I am reminded of a quote from the Big Lebowski by the John Goodman character Walter....."Nihilists??? I mean say what you will about the tenets of National Socialism but at least the Nazis had an ethos..."

 

[GodFearinGunTotin]

I agree, and I'm not a religious person.

So I'll go here, and it's gonna sound condescending as hell----

Most reasonably intelligent human beings, with or without religion, can recognize behavior that is detrimental to their well being, and to society, avoiding such behavior.

The cognitively challenged, you know, morons, who lack a fear of eternal damnation, don't seem to be able to practice such self restraint. Nor do they possess shame, so they are totally immuned when shame is directed towards them by others.

The scary part, those behaviors and lack of shame seem to trickle up. Up to people who know better, either because of religion or just self respect. A life free of shame is a seducing proposition to many. Those behaviors are encouraged through entertainment and media. Don't judge, let your freak flag fly, it's my world, you're just living in it... The pervasive message is, there is no objective right and wrong, no moral truths.

They are pushing a religion without even knowing it. It's the religion of good old Aleister Crowley. It's only commandment; do what thou wilt.

I am agnostic, I don't profess to know anything. But if there's one thing I'm pretty sure of, it's that the world could use more, love thy neighbor and less do what thou wilt.

Certainly agnostics and atheists are perfectly capable of living moral and respectable lives. Many do. Conversely, as we've all seen on the news and amongst our neighbors, so-called "religious" people are perfectly able to live corrupted and fallen lives. In fact, as our pastor pointed out in his sermon a few weeks ago, it's getting awfully difficult to tell who the Christians are and who are not. They (and I'll include myself in here, to be honest) often live lives that are anything but moral and forthright. They divorce, commit adultery/sexual immoralities, lie, cheat, steal, abuse each other and themselves, etc. as much, if not more than, the general "non-religious" portion of the population. Hardly the inspiration that would tend to draw folks to that lifestyle.

 

[seedubs1]

The sky is falling

 

[BugI02]

Water fluoridation polluting our vital essences

 

[ghuns]

Water fluoridation polluting our vital essences

Duh, it's only the most dangerous commie plot we've ever faced.

 

[NIGHTRIDER]

Lack of religion,lack of national pride,lack of public shaming,lack of respect,

 

[Leadeye]

Over our lives, we all collect obligations of various sorts, monetary, relationships, children, jobs, the list is long by the time you get to be old like me. I believe that the measure of a person is how you discharge these obligations.

What we do in life, echos in eternity, to quote a line from a recent movie.

 

[calcot7]

What caused the downfall? Good people tolerating evil entering their communities and the minds of their children.

How else can you explain how anyone in this country would vote for someone being investigated for espionage, who would attack rape victims, and laugh about overthrowing legitimate governments?

I think you left out more than a few other instances, occurances and suspiscions associated with the person I believe you may be talking about.

 

[Bennettjh]

50 MILLION people on Welfare, and food stamps, and less and less people WORKING !!!!!

Can't work hard enough to support those losers.

 

[trucker777]

It's the same thing that's brings down every culture over time. It's SIN, said the preacher!

 

[Twangbanger]

The destruction of the nuclear family.

As soon as there were avenues and it was acceptable to have both parents in the workplace, letting paid strangers handle their children for eight + hours/day, parents became less important, discipline became less (daycare can't spank or punish), hugs/love/parental bonding became less. Parents then had to work to maintain their expensive lifestyles, which are seen as the norm, and Timmy and Susie no longer had parents invested in their academics. Enter in anyone with an agenda, and all it takes for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing--if I'm too busy building my career, I'm too busy to get involved in my community. This leads to a reliance on the schools and churches, etc., to create the foundation for the future, instead of the parents instilling the bedrock values that have stood the test of time.

Agreed. we are now experiencing the Day Care generation. extreme example are the SJW's

I know this is probably not supposed to be a debate thread, but I just wonder what's the explanation for the Baby Boomers? They were still mostly raised by single-income parents, and by this reasoning should have turned out great. If single-income families inoculate a society against downfall, they certainly seem to have been an anomaly, because the era of really massive quantities of widespread, bad personal life decisions being made by "common little people" seems to have begun with them.

 

[MisterChester]

Fanaticism.

Religious fanaticism. Social justice fanaticism.

Everybody forgot to leave people the heck alone. We'd be much happier and better off if we just stopped trying to tell others how to think, what to say, and how to feel.

 

[BehindBlueI's]

Everyone demanding their "rights" and running from their "responsibilities". No, "ask not what your country can do for you..." mentality.

Demanding immigrants assimilate, but when they do continuing to treat them as outsiders. Seeing absolutely no issue with denying goods and services to someone based on religion or ethnicity, yet demanding they feel a sense of belonging to your community.

Turkey bacon.

 

[churchmouse]

Everyone demanding their "rights" and running from their "responsibilities". No, "ask not what your country can do for you..." mentality.

Demanding immigrants assimilate, but when they do continuing to treat them as outsiders. Seeing absolutely no issue with denying goods and services to someone based on religion or ethnicity, yet demanding they feel a sense of belonging to your community.

Turkey bacon.

​Turkey Bacon sucks