What in the world is wrong with us

[soonerborn]

Times are bad and they are gonna get worse. It seems like people are just sleepwalking through it. I used to get mad about different things going on in this country and the world, but now I just shrug because there are just so many things going on that it all seems rather hopeless. Hopeless to expect real change, and change is exactly what we need. I dont know why liberals get so upset about politics these days, they are winning. If you look at the last 50 years, since the birth of todays "progressive liberals" exactly what have conservatives won? Sure we elected a few presidents, temporarily lowered taxes, busted a few bad guys but overwhelmingly the liberal agenda is achieving its goal. From big government, high taxes, 2nd amendment rights to immigration, they are winning and its not even close.

There are a few key problems, I believe, that are our most serious threats to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Unfortunately I see no politician currently available to support that has the smarts or backbone to lead us through these.

1 Iran
Iran is going nuclear. If you do not believe they are trying to build a bomb then you are deluding yourself and you are part of the problem. They relentlessly state their intention to wipe out little Satan (Israel) and the big Satan (USA). They arent speaking metaphorically and they arent just waving their fist shouting "some day, I am gonna get you", they are building nuclear bombs. We are going to have to deal with them before or after they start lobbing bombs. The UN cant seem to do anything because they are too busy condemning Israel and the US.

2 Islam

How peaceful can a religion be that is responsible for 95% of the death and mayhem going on in the world today? Why do people not get this. I mean when you look at a map of the world showing the population density of muslims it directly corresponds to the most violent places to be on the planet. How can people defend a religion that relegates Jews and Christians to pigs and monkeys? How many Imams do you have to listen spout mysogynistic racist hate speech before you say "Hey, these guys suck?". Most people I have noticed have no idea what Islam really is, they either repeat some garbage their preacher took out of context (no offense to pastors here but I have yet to meet one that really understands what the koran says). The rest have hit the "Islam is peace" crack pipe so hard they refuse to listen to anything that contradicts that belief. I have read the koran, I know many muslims and have debated with them extensively. I am not an expert in this but I am positive that I have a much greater understanding about this religion than the typical non-muslim so I will try to give an abridged version of what makes this religion so terrible.

First from the muslims point of view the koran is THE last word of God. It cannot be changed. Therefore to be a muslim you must accept all that is in the koran, namely Islamic law (sharia law). Second, Islamic teachings divide the world into 2 groups, dal ar-Islam (the house of Islam) and dal ar-harb (the house of war). Islam means to submit, so the house of Islam are the areas or nations that have submitted to Islam and are collectively known as dal ar-Islam. The rest of the world is in a state of rebellion or war with God so they collectively are known as dal ar-harb, the house of war. It is the duty of muslims to make the dal ar-harb submit by any means necessary and the struggle between good (read Islam) and evil (read anything not Islamic) is known as jihad. All of this might lead you to the question of "How does a muslim live in a country that doesnt practice sharia law and still consider themself a muslim?" Its called taqiyya (deception). It is the sanctioned doctrine that absolves a muslim of sins committed for the sake of advancing Islam. Taqiyya makes it ok for a muslim to lie to a non-muslim or do anything else even up to renouncing Islam without fear commiting a sin, so long as it is done to advance the cause. This is the crux of the problem. When you hear someone spout of some koranic verse that advocates peace, what they are doing is lying because there is usually a later verse that cancels the peaceful verse. The koran is setup specifically this way to be used this way. When mohammed was in a weak spot (militarily) his verses are peaceful (and the source of all the great "islam is peace" lines) but after he built up his forces or gained an advantage his verses became shouts of war and bloodbaths (and the source of the major anti islam quotes). So what he was teaching was its ok to lie cheat steal until Islam has the advantage and is able to defeat its enemy. This should clear up your confusion as to how such diametrically opposed scriptures can appear in the same book.

The above paragraph is 100% accurate and any muslim that says otherwise is either lying or very ignorant of his/her own religion.

What does all this mean? It means that Islam cannot be reasoned with or changed, it must be met with force and repelled. Also the word kafir they like to toss around is a slur, just the same as calling a dark skinned person a n*****. Dont believe me? Try calling the next muslim that after they call you a kafir.

3. Socialism

I thought any idiot could see how wrong socialism is given the horrific deaths ALL socialist experiments have died. Newsflash here, a "progressive tax system", like the one we enjoy here, is SOCIALISM. If you tax a person more because he/she makes more and give it to a person who doesnt make as much you are practicing SOCIALISM. Our constitution gives us the right to pursue happiness, it does not give you the right to happiness. If you are stupid, you have the right to fail, the right to go broke, and the right to starve. Health care is not a right, its a comfort.

How many more people must suffer and die proving this grand experiment of socialism is a failure before we wake up and say "Gee, Socialism really sucks"? Why are so many people voting us down this path? Why are so many politicians pushing a socialist agenda?

Take the most recent example, the Bear Sterns bailout. They are a company, LET THEM FOLD. Bailing them out is just gonna make for a harder crash later down the road. Why should US taxpayers pay for the foolish speculation of a few. How can this happen in this country with so little opposition?

4. Republicans

In the name of all that is holy, how in the hell is it possible that the best candidate to put forward is John freaking McCain. Is this really the best they have? Where in the name of Reagan did all the strong conservatives go? What in the world is "Compassionate Conservatism"? Bush has thrown the whole party into a huge mess, and McCain isnt the man to clean it up. How many more elections do I have to sit through before a candidate emerges that I am actually proud to vote for? How is it possible that the majority of the most notable republicans Bush, Powell, McCain, Giuliani, Swharzenegger and Romney are all RINOs?

5. Democrats

If this crazy train turns any further left its gonna wind up on my right. How can their best be 2 junior senators with so little experience? Seriously, is Obama and Clinton the best they have? The only reason Bush won a second term is because they put up one of the most liberal hippie protesters they could find. Carter and Gore have both boarded the express to crazy town. Carter is the most miserable excuse of an ex president I have ever had the displeasure of seeing, all to frequently, on the news. He spends his retirement globe trotting, sucking up to every tyrannical dictator thug he can find. What a disgrace. Gore spends his retirement spreading his new found religion, the global warming prophecy. This nutjob was almost our President. Obama and Clinton have both been caught outright lying and it appears that none of the democrat voters care. Both have such grand socialist schemes that we are all going to be taxed into oblivion. You think we have a deficit now? Just wait until one of these 2 get into office. Where did all the strong on defense southern democrats go? Where are all the Jacksonian democrats?

With both parties this screwed up its really hard to vote for or listen to either.

6. Illegal immigration

This is the one I really dont get. I mean they are breaking the law, doesnt that mean anything anymore? Calling an illegal alien an "undocumented immigrant" is like calling a drug dealer an "unlicensed pharmacist". The real problem with this is that the new wave of immigrants arent here to become Americans and help America, they are here to milk us for everything they can. The real kicker is that we dont need any new legislation to deal with this problem, they just need to enforce what we have. I really dont get the whole waving the mexican flag thing either. I mean if Mexico is so great and your so proud to be mexican then GO LIVE IN MEXICO. They are destroying what left of our identity.

7. Education

The US spends more per child on education than any other country and has little to show for it. More spending is NOT GONNA FIX THIS. The sheer ignorance of todays high school and college grads is astounding. What in the world are they teaching our children? According to international test scores, nothing. From elementary to high school the scores go from average to the bottom 2 or 3 in sciences and math. I bet if they focused more on TEACHING instead of social engineering that would change. The state of our education is a good reason why our voters are getting dumber by the year.

8. The liberal agenda

The liberal agenda foisted onto our country is the major cause of the character crisis. The ironic thing about liberals is that the programs they like to push ALWAYS have the exact opposite result of the stated intent. Its like "Liberals Law" or something. Then they always ignore any facts that disprove their theory and charge on with a new program to fix the 2 or 3 problems their last program created. These are just a few of the prominent ones.

Displacement of family/morale values

Its ok if your gay, its not ok to force me to accept it as natural. Teaching your kids to recite the Lords prayer, the pledge of allegiance, to be thankful for veterans and respecting the flag are now all old fashioned and outdated. What a shame.

Shifting the blame

The concept of not being responsible for our actions and easy fixes for what should be a painful learning experience is having a big impact across a wide range of issues. Are you stupid enough to get an interest only ARM loan as a mortgage so you can buy more house than you can afford? Then you should pay for it instead of me. Are you clumsy enough to spill a hot cup of coffee on your leg? Then you should learn from it and be more careful instead of pulling the lever on the lawsuit slot machine. Think your old enough to have sex? Then you should man up and take care of the baby instead of your parents paying for an abortion.

2nd amendment assault

I really shouldnt have to go into detail on this board about this topic. lol.

Persecution of Christianity.

In this country we have FREEDOM OF RELIGION, not freedom from religion. If you dont like it then ignore it but dont expect me to stop just because you dont believe. Schools are going to the extreme to prevent any reference to God then the same schools turn around and teach about how great Islam is.

PC police.

This is getting ridiculous. Its to the point where it stifles debate and makes topics like racism taboo. Race baiting poverty pimps like Jackson and Sharpton have made a whole career of this. Let me get this straight, its ok to burn Old Glory but its criminal to rip the flag of Mexico? Really, its ok to have a special month or day for practically anyone unless of course you happen to be a white christian male. I read a stat just a few days ago where something like 100 or more kids in ELEMENTARY school where suspended for sexual harassment, in just ONE state. They are KIDS, that dont have a clue what sexual harassment is. Its way past ridiculous there.


All of these are going to come home to roost. Sooner rather than later. They are eroding the very foundation this country was built on. It is so true (whoever said it) that no democracy can survive once the voters realize they can vote themselves benefits. I do not see any politicians willing to take all of these things on, but I would support them with everything I could be they democrat or republican.

Sorry if this all sounds depressing but its just opinions that I felt like saying. Sorry for the rambling nature of it, I just kind of typed it out as it came to me.

[ArkansasHunter]

soonerborn I feel the Democrats and the Republican in Washington D.C. are the cause of the problems you list and many more.
Thats about all I care to say, because it is so depressing to me.

[Lng Rng]

You have a good post, but at what point in the last 100 years couldn't you make a list like this? The same thing could have been done during WWI, the Great Depression, WWII, the Cold War, Vietnam...the list goes on.

So, is what we are facing now any worse than anything that has happend in the past? I don't know, we just have to do what we can.

[Silent Shooter]

How peaceful can a religion be that is responsible for 95% of the death and mayhem going on in the world today?

Sadly, the same thing could be said about Christianity at many, many points in history...

[Seabeescotty]

I just try to keep my little piece of peace on an even keel, and hope for the best. I usually vote for the clown least likely to make things worse.

[mitch_mckee]

Originally Posted by Silent Shooter

Sadly, the same thing could be said about Christianity at many, many points in history...

but not in the last 800 years.

[ArkansasHunter]

There's enough Christians in the U.S that could unite and make some good changes in this country if they would just get off there butts and do it !!!
And the Non Christians would benifit too with no needed changes in there life style.
A.H

[TXplt]

Sooner--good words.

We can fix the bad things by standing our ground, doing the right things, saying the right things, and raising our kids right. We don't have to accept leftist (or whatever you want to call it) PC drivel.

[CrazyIvan]

Great thread! And I agree with about 99% of it.

Only thing I disagree with is part of the comment about Iran.

Iran is a separate country and has every right to persue whatever they want within their own country by the will of the people in that country. They have a right, just like the US, to defend their country from foreign invasion and attack.

But, IF they decide to use that freedom to attack us or anyone else without provocation, then they will reap the consequences.

I do agree that it is scary that they are persuing such technology. But I can't, and I don't believe we as a country can tell them not to. If they use it maliciously, then they will have the Iron Fist come down on them like the Nazis and Japanese did in WWII.

[soonerborn]

Originally Posted by Lng Rng

You have a good post, but at what point in the last 100 years couldn't you make a list like this? The same thing could have been done during WWI, the Great Depression, WWII, the Cold War, Vietnam...the list goes on.

So, is what we are facing now any worse than anything that has happend in the past? I don't know, we just have to do what we can.

Ah but during all those times we presented a strong united front, we still cared about words like respect, honor and integrity. The only time we were attacked from within and from the outside was the Vietnam War, and we all know how that ended.

This is the whole idea of the thread. Whats coming next is the culmination of what was started during the Vietnam War.

[nathangdad]

As a society we have become psychologically bludgeoned by the ineptness of our leaders over the decades since the end of WW2.
Sadly, we do not expect decisive leadership for the protection, enrichment, greater freedoms, and expansion of the middle class upon which the nation was built and has always been its backbone in times of peace and crisis. What we get for leaders expect the middle class to
suffer for the betterment of the upper and lower classes while sacrificing their sons and daughters on wars that are ill conceived, pointless in execution, and indeterminate in duration with no clear definition of victory.

What we get are second and third rate people who truly do not mind
having themselves and their families picked to death by a media interested in a 15 second soundbite rather than a professional analysis of events and trends affecting America and the world. McCain's news bite on this morning's TODAY broadcast had McCain and his wife denying McCain had a sexual relationship with a female special interest lobbyist four years ago when we need to know if McCain will hold the American military back from the Pakistan border as does Bush or will he order the American military into Pakistan to kill off Osama bin Laden and his group who have lived releatively well in Pakistan for nearly five years. Our War on Terror has created a protected sanctuary for the people we held responsible for 9-11.

For five years we have watched the same old news video from the middle east until we hear the daily American death reports and news of suicide bombers with less emotion than we generate for a video game because, at least, you can to some degree interact with and exercise control over a video game. Other than to vote at the end of a four year cycle for someone who promises to end the military action in the mid-East we, the people, have absolutely no input on the war. Watching senators toss simple, cotton candy questions to the commanding general in Iraq on CNN is really not much different than watching a news story of the emerging wine industry in rural England for most Americans when it comes to
psychological/emotional involvement. Neither story really touches the collective American consciousness as we, the people, have no more daily ability to impact senators and generals than we do grape plants in rural England.

I cannot help but think of the fall of Rome. While history books are correct about invaders from the regions that will later become Germany that does not tell the whole story. If you delve into the period you will learn some of the major cities north of Rome had become so indifferent to the nation they made deals with the invaders - you leave our cities alone and let us keep our gods and we will grant free passage south toward Rome. For the final fall it was often less about fighting than walking through a countryside populated by those with so little emotion left for the empire they no longer cared who attacked the capital.

[wunhunglo]

Originally Posted by CrazyIvan

Great thread! And I agree with about 99% of it.

Only thing I disagree with is part of the comment about Iran.

Iran is a separate country and has every right to persue whatever they want within their own country by the will of the people in that country. They have a right, just like the US, to defend their country from foreign invasion and attack.

But, IF they decide to use that freedom to attack us or anyone else without provocation, then they will reap the consequences.

I do agree that it is scary that they are persuing such technology. But I can't, and I don't believe we as a country can tell them not to. If they use it maliciously, then they will have the Iron Fist come down on them like the Nazis and Japanese did in WWII.

If you think that Israel will permit Iran to complete it's nuclear facilities you're living in cloud cuckoo land. In the first gulf war, why do you think your President Bush went to such great efforts to give Israel Patriot missiles to defend against incoming Scuds. Israel was ready then to wipe Bagdad off the face of the earth and they have the means to do this and more importantly, the will!

[soonerborn]

Originally Posted by Silent Shooter

Sadly, the same thing could be said about Christianity at many, many points in history...

There is a huge difference. At times, men have used Christianity as a cloak to carry out their brutal schemes to gain and keep power. That was men warping the teachings of Jesus, which have never changed. That was during a time when the entire world was barbaric. Christianity has progressed with the times, because it truly is a peaceful religion. Islam is locked, forever, in the middle ages, and it teaches the barbarism from those times even today. And that is the difference.

Originally Posted by CrazyIvan

Great thread! And I agree with about 99% of it.

Only thing I disagree with is part of the comment about Iran.

Iran is a separate country and has every right to persue whatever they want within their own country by the will of the people in that country. They have a right, just like the US, to defend their country from foreign invasion and attack.

But, IF they decide to use that freedom to attack us or anyone else without provocation, then they will reap the consequences.

I do agree that it is scary that they are persuing such technology. But I can't, and I don't believe we as a country can tell them not to. If they use it maliciously, then they will have the Iron Fist come down on them like the Nazis and Japanese did in WWII.

If your neighbor says, I am gonna go to my house and get a gun and come back and kill you and everyone in your house, would you actually wait for him to shoot first?

[CrazyIvan]

I would prepare myself for his assault. But, we hold the First Amendment sacred, and to prosecute others of speaking their mind before they actually take action is not a good way to go.

[TXplt]

The first amendment doesn't apply to countries considering pre-emptive strikes. Putin's been attempting to sell Iran (potentially pretty good) anti-aircraft missiles. This is a destablizing force, and, if coupled with Iran attempting to develop a nuclear capability, would likely force Israel's action before said missiles/nuke capability came on line. (possibly ours as well).

Oh, why can't we all just live together

[Pred]

My advice... buy more guns and ammo.

[CrazyIvan]

Originally Posted by TXplt

The first amendment doesn't apply to countries considering pre-emptive strikes. Putin's been attempting to sell Iran (potentially pretty good) anti-aircraft missiles. This is a destablizing force, and, if coupled with Iran attempting to develop a nuclear capability, would likely force Israel's action before said missiles/nuke capability came on line. (possibly ours as well).

Oh, why can't we all just live together

Israel is perfectly capable of defending itself. We don't need to come to their rescue anymore. We can be on their side in a war and in their politics, but they have plenty of power to knock other countries back into the stone age. We don't need to stick our military noses in their business really.

[Mad Hatter]

Things are getting worse quickly.. This GE earnings report loss today is huge !! Wait till next week when a lot of others report, could be VERY UGLY..

[TXplt]

Originally Posted by Mad Hatter

I agree with you Pred, things are getting worse quickly.. This GE earnings report loss today is huge !! Wait till next week when a lot of others report, could be VERY UGLY..

GE posted earnings loss ??? Hadn't heard that yet.

Oh, sorry, found it--not loss just profit didn't hit targets....still not good....but not as bad as a 1Q loss.

[CrazyIvan]

Originally Posted by TXplt

GE posted earnings loss ??? Hadn't heard that yet.

CNNMoney.com Market Report - Apr. 11, 2008