Living well --> Laziness/Boredom --> Watching TV/Plugging in -->

[Guaranteed]

Apathy/Powerlessness/Brainwashing--> Fascism.

Is America suffering from Spoiled Brat Syndrome? Before I had reserved this term for devout atheists who based their beliefs (or lack thereof) on how "horrible" the world is. But it seems to me that the syndrome has spread- not only have people lost their belief in a higher, benevolent power, but it seems as if they don't even believe in America anymore (while, oddly enough, these seem to be two entirely different groups of people). They're out of touch with what previously made America the greatest country on Earth, even though, supposedly, our level of education is the best it's ever been. They don't care about the foundations of democracy, what the fathers of our country thought to be essential to its long life- a free media, equality among men, a strong middle class, open-mindedness, and religious freedom, among many other principles.

What happened? Two ideas come to my mind, here, the first being one discussed quite often here on DU- the fact that us liberals fought so hard for a decent living standard for all Americans, and now we're betrayed by those very same people we fought for- but there is also this, something I found coming out of my mouth when I was only teenager:

"Society changes, but humanity doesn't."

We've seen the epogee of America, just as the world saw it 2000 years ago when the Roman Empire stretched across the known Earth. They were spoiled, and lost their values. They forgot what made them great- if there truly was anything that made them "great" in the first place (but at least they believed it)- and, no, they were never conquered. They simply fell apart from the inside, for there was nothing holding them together anymore. There was no common bond. There was nothing to fight for.

But, make no mistake- the decay of America will not take centuries. The world evolves in a much accelerated manner nowadays, what with our superb communications systems. This will not be drawn out.

I'm really, really sad- because I really did believe.

[fujiyama]

1. Other than your rip

on athiests, I agree with you.

I don't see how believing in a belevolant higher power has anything to do with this though.

[Guaranteed]

3. I think there's a psychological link, there...

It's the "Spoiled Brat Syndrome" thing.

The thing I find most interesting is that the two groups splintered in the way that they did, each losing belief in one thing, but maintaining the other.

On edit: I'm really not meaning to rip on atheists, by the way. Yeah, I know I was being mean, but I was just trying to relate the two concepts together. I think they're connected.

[knowbody0]

2. i carry this sadness as well

i fight it, but often it overwhelms me. i fought hard in the 70's and believe that we indeed changed the world. but in the 80's hippies turned into yuppies and babies were sent to day care ten hours a day for that great house and really cool car.
i weep today for the world i leave to my children and to all children. i will not stop fighting for what is right and my god will forever be truth, but i am weary weeping woman today.

[Guaranteed]

4. Well, then, as Paul McCartney would say...

Live and let die.

That's what I'm coming down to. This is a cultural issue, not a political one- that's pretty obvious. I'm really not sure that there's anything that can be done about it. It's on the downhill, and I think the country's finished.

[knowbody0]

5. winter is the season of death

time to go inside of the inside and wait for the worm to turn. i'm embracing this despair with a knowing of its necessity, with faith in the collective spirit of mankind. we breathe the same air. this night's wind carries the death cries of those slaughtered in our name. how can we dance while the world is burning. peace to you bullgooseloony. this too shall pass

[Chicago Democrat]

6. This world is doomed... but life will survive...Sadly there are far too

few honest men.

I believe that souls survive death. I don't know about god, but I know that. I also "know" that earth is only one of many planets with life and that life will go on long after earth is forgotten.

Be happy.

Live your life here and now while you can and don't worry about things you can't change.

[Guaranteed]

7. Seeing the Ukranians doing what they're doing gives me hope.

There are young, budding democracies all over the globe.

It's such a bittersweet thought, other countries putting ours to shame in the way that they are, but being so proud of humanity at the same time.

[OutsourceBush]

8. We are living in...

The Republican Christo-Fascist Matrix.

[Guaranteed]

9. Kick! nt

[MsAnthropy]

10. I don't believe the end is near

I believe life is cyclical, that everything runs in cycles. There have been times before when I didn't think America was going to make it (Vietnam, Watergate, disco, etc.) but change is inevitable. When it's been bad long enough, it gets good again. As low as this country is now, the renaissance is going to be spectacular.