Is America getting better?

[Epic Beard Man]

Video by Vice which is relatively short I thought offered some interesting points of views which had some culturally polar views on the U.S. as a whole

So, is the U.S. getting any better? If so why, and if not, why not?

 

[PureX]

If a nation-sized shopping mall is what one thinks "getting better" looks like, then I guess it's getting better. But if, like me, you hoped for something more than this for humanity, or even just for your fellow citizens, then no, it's not getting better. It's just getting uglier, and more pointless, by the day.

 

[Stevicus]

Video by Vice which is relatively short I thought offered some interesting points of views which had some culturally polar views on the U.S. as a whole

So, is the U.S. getting any better? If so why, and if not, why not?

Well, since multiple votes are allowed, I voted both "yes" and "no."

Of course, the video is talking about whether America is better or worse in the past three years, which is too short a time frame to make any kind of meaningful judgment.

I might look at it from the standpoint of the past 20, 30, or perhaps even 50 years.

I would base the perception of "getting better" not just considering the state of things as they are now, but whether there's good reason to believe that things will be better in the future.

I remember as a kid growing up, there was a lot of talk about the future and where we were headed as a country - some filled with bright optimism of a glowing future, while others predicted the absolute end of civilization - such as a nuclear war or some great calamity. But there was also a sense of political activism and a strong belief among the people that the choice was theirs to make.

There was still a belief that people could make a difference and take a stand, but I think that that belief has diminished greatly in recent decades. I've noticed a certain attitude of complacency and/or defeatist coming from different quarters.

Even those who might be among the "optimists" tend to have this idea that America can't get any better, so there's no use in even trying. The "pessimists" think that the system is rigged and the Powers That Be are just sooooo powerful and diabolical that the people don't have a snowball's chance in hell...so there's no use in even trying.

I tend to reject both views. The people can make a difference and make America better, but too many are just passive and compliant, too willing to defer to others.

 

[Thief]

I watch reports made by people who once held important office

Robert Reich …..labor dude
Greenspan......money dude
a bundle of farmers.....having lost to big corp
doctors exposing health scams and practices

so on and so on

and no
America is doomed to implode

have bullets?

 

[Revoltingest]

I voted <yes>.
I can't make a strong argument for this.
I see the other side too.
But I'm an optimist, & inclined to be positive.

 

[Thief]

I voted <yes>.
I can't make a strong argument for this.
I see the other side too.
But I'm an optimist, & inclined to be positive.

stop eating haggis
your head will eventually clear

 

[Revoltingest]

stop eating haggis
your head will eventually clear

I'm happier with my current outlook.

 

[Thief]

in the mean time.....
the national debt spirals upward
the next generation is doomed to permanent debt
and the labor market will drain to only the 'fortunate' who know somebody who knows somebody

the end is near

 

[Nakosis]

I see America as constantly changing. Good in some cases, bad in some cases.

What I see as most important is how I'm dealing with the changes.

Life is going to change without my permission. Life (me living here in America) in general gets better for me as I become more capable of dealing with whatever life throws at me. I don't know about the rest of you.

 

[sun rise]

the video is talking about whether America is better or worse in the past three years, which is too short a time frame to make any kind of meaningful judgment.

I voted <yes>.
I can't make a strong argument for this.
I see the other side too.
But I'm an optimist, & inclined to be positive.

If we look at the long term trend I agree with @Revoltingest This country was born with wonderful ideals and ugly reality. Slowly, too slowly, we've been getting closer to have our actions reflect our ideals.

It took a horrible war to end slavery. It took years of struggle for women to get the vote and still that struggle for equality in action continues with women getting paid less than men on average.

The struggle against bigotry in all its forms continues. Sometimes the bigots are in ascendance and sometimes it's more subtle and underground. I had a black lady the other day say that in-your-face racism in the south was easier to take than polite, liberal racism. I saw her point. But at least institutional racism is not what it was during my youth.

Right now we see the polarity between those who want to turn the clock back and those who want to build a future. And of course the struggle is messy.

But I'm optimistic in the long term that we'll emerge from the current fight as a better nation. So my attitude is per aspera ad astra (through difficulties to the stars)

 

[Twilight Hue]

Video by Vice which is relatively short I thought offered some interesting points of views which had some culturally polar views on the U.S. as a whole

So, is the U.S. getting any better? If so why, and if not, why not?

I think so. I would say we are far more progressive and comfortable than we used to be. That said, we also digressed in areas where the past was much better than now.

Especially in terms of collective freedoms and liberties for individuals. Slavery and racism notwithstanding.

 

[PureX]

I see America as constantly changing. Good in some cases, bad in some cases.

What I see as most important is how I'm dealing with the changes.

Life is going to change without my permission. Life (me living here in America) in general gets better for me as I become more capable of dealing with whatever life throws at me. I don't know about the rest of you.

Surviving the endless thunderstorm isn't living, though. Not for humans. We need more then this to make living count for something. As greed has more and more become the primary motivation for all our actions in this country, we have less and less time or energy to seek out or create meaning for ourselves. And it all eventually just becomes meaningless, and exhausting. The endless "Battle for the Baubles". I think most of us are just getting sick to death of it.

 

[Nakosis]

Surviving the endless thunderstorm isn't living, though. Not for humans. We need more then this to make living count for something. As greed has more and more become the primary motivation for all our actions in this country, we have less and less time or energy to seek out or create meaning for ourselves. And it all eventually just becomes meaningless, and exhausting. The endless "Battle for the Baubles". I think most of us are just getting sick to death of it.

I don't need much myself to be happy. I don't see it as "surviving" as much as finding creative ways to be happy.

 

[Evangelicalhumanist]

I voted "no," but as I'm an outsider looking in, I doubt y'all will care.

Overarching almost everything I see, from my standpoint way up north (where We the North keep the Raptors and Bianca Andreescu) is how incredibly divided Americans appear to be. I've lived a long time, and I don't believe I've ever seen a nation that sees "eye-to-throat" the way you are doing now. The lack of civility in political debate is something that's hard to watch, but then I'm from another era, anyway.

Comments about the economy always give me the willies, since these things can (and do) change on a dime. Nothing that government does can force a sustainable economic growth -- the piper always needs to be paid, or he'll take your kids.

 

[Shad]

Surviving the endless thunderstorm isn't living, though. Not for humans. We need more then this to make living count for something. As greed has more and more become the primary motivation for all our actions in this country, we have less and less time or energy to seek out or create meaning for ourselves. And it all eventually just becomes meaningless, and exhausting. The endless "Battle for the Baubles". I think most of us are just getting sick to death of it.

Smacks of envy.

 

[Epic Beard Man]

Of course, the video is talking about whether America is better or worse in the past three years, which is too short a time frame to make any kind of meaningful judgment.

I think it was in relation to Trump’s presidency I thought that was pretty obvious.

 

[gnomon]

Video by Vice which is relatively short I thought offered some interesting points of views which had some culturally polar views on the U.S. as a whole

So, is the U.S. getting any better? If so why, and if not, why not?

Better from what?

 

[gnomon]

Video by Vice which is relatively short I thought offered some interesting points of views which had some culturally polar views on the U.S. as a whole

So, is the U.S. getting any better? If so why, and if not, why not?

I voted yes.

Despite that horrible video.

 

[Revoltingest]

I voted yes.

Despite that horrible video.

I know better than to watch some offerings.
I highly recommend this approach.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

So, is the U.S. getting any better? If so why, and if not, why not?

Which America?