The globalists have been working towards "reducing" American dominance across the globe and moving to a multipolar architecture. Our enemies are emboldened, and the Petro dollar at risk. All of our enemies want to reduce our strength and break our economic hold, and the Democrats, and some of you Republicans are willing to go that direction as well. You see the complete destruction the left is trying to bring to traditional America.

Trump is not willing to do that, he is resetting the stage and is trying to make America the dominant unipolar power again - Venezuela, Panama, Suez canal, Greenland, Cuba, Abraham accords, and now Iran.

If you are on the side of Democrats, you have a 99.5% chance of being on the wrong side of things.

redfish961 said:

---

I lived in a better world than my stepdaughter will and that is sad.

---

My parents lived in a better world than I

And I live in a better world than my children will inherit.

The only thing I can do for my grandchildren is leave them as much cash as possible.

After that it will all come down to luck and their choices.

redfish961 said:

---

KaiBear said:

---

redfish961 said:

---

I lived in a better world than my stepdaughter will and that is sad.

---

My parents lived in a better world than I

And I live in a better world than my children will inherit.

The only thing I can do for my grandchildren is leave them as much cash as possible.

After that it will all come down to luck and their choices.

---

I don't think my parents lived in a better world.

Vietnam, Watergate, Kent st, etc.

I think I grew up in as perfect a world and country as it gets.

I wish it was still the same.

Baseball in the cul de sacs using tennis balls so we didn't break any windows.

Neighborhood football teams that would play each other in the park on saturdays.

Chasing crawdads, snapping turtles, bullfrogs, and fish, while wading in the creeks.

No video games, no cellphones, no spam, no e-mails.

Just hard work and fun.

I lived in a better world than my parents.

Unfortunately, even as much as I try, that life probably will be lost on my doodle because most just doen't live that way anymore.

---

If I may ask, what generation are you?

Sam Lowry said:

---

Obsession with unipolar dominance is only hastening the American empire's demise. An old, old story.

---

America has gotten worse by reducing our influence.

TinFoilHatPreacherBear said:

---

Sam Lowry said:

---

Obsession with unipolar dominance is only hastening the American empire's demise. An old, old story.

---

America has gotten worse by reducing our influence.

---

America wasn't designed for global hegemony, and it's only gotten worse in the pursuit of it. It has sapped our wealth, corrupted our morals, undermined our liberty, and now endangered our very survival.

Sam Lowry said:

---

redfish961 said:

---

KaiBear said:

---

redfish961 said:

---

I lived in a better world than my stepdaughter will and that is sad.

---

My parents lived in a better world than I

And I live in a better world than my children will inherit.

The only thing I can do for my grandchildren is leave them as much cash as possible.

After that it will all come down to luck and their choices.

---

I don't think my parents lived in a better world.

Vietnam, Watergate, Kent st, etc.

I think I grew up in as perfect a world and country as it gets.

I wish it was still the same.

Baseball in the cul de sacs using tennis balls so we didn't break any windows.

Neighborhood football teams that would play each other in the park on saturdays.

Chasing crawdads, snapping turtles, bullfrogs, and fish, while wading in the creeks.

No video games, no cellphones, no spam, no e-mails.

Just hard work and fun.

I lived in a better world than my parents.

Unfortunately, even as much as I try, that life probably will be lost on my doodle because most just doen't live that way anymore.

---

If I may ask, what generation are you?

---

1966...I don't put myself in a box, so I don't know what that generation makes me.

All I know is I was too young to understand the bull****, but I sure had a lot of fun.

FYI, my entire family was military.

Grandfather (retired USAF), Grandfather (retired USN), Father (retired USN), Uncle (USN), Uncle (USN), Uncle (USN), Uncle (USN), Aunt (USN), Uncle (USCG), Brother (USMC), and me (US Army).

Granted, I'm biased and didn't live the life most on this board did.

No racism, no woke, not wealthy, but a healthy respect for brotherhood.

I'm quite thankful for that.

Memories over materials all day long.

redfish961 said:

---

Sam Lowry said:

---

redfish961 said:

---

KaiBear said:

---

redfish961 said:

---

I lived in a better world than my stepdaughter will and that is sad.

---

My parents lived in a better world than I

And I live in a better world than my children will inherit.

The only thing I can do for my grandchildren is leave them as much cash as possible.

After that it will all come down to luck and their choices.

---

I don't think my parents lived in a better world.

Vietnam, Watergate, Kent st, etc.

I think I grew up in as perfect a world and country as it gets.

I wish it was still the same.

Baseball in the cul de sacs using tennis balls so we didn't break any windows.

Neighborhood football teams that would play each other in the park on saturdays.

Chasing crawdads, snapping turtles, bullfrogs, and fish, while wading in the creeks.

No video games, no cellphones, no spam, no e-mails.

Just hard work and fun.

I lived in a better world than my parents.

Unfortunately, even as much as I try, that life probably will be lost on my doodle because most just doen't live that way anymore.

---

If I may ask, what generation are you?

---

1966...I don't put myself in a box, so I don't know what that generation makes me.

All I know is I was too young to understand the bull****, but I sure had a lot of fun.

FYI, my entire family was military.

Grandfather (retired USAF), Grandfather (retired USN), Father (retired USN), Uncle (USN), Uncle (USN), Uncle (USN), Uncle (USN), Aunt (USN), Uncle (USCG), Brother (USMC), and me (US Army).

Granted, I'm biased and didn't live the life most on this board did.

No racism, no woke, not wealthy, but a healthy respect for brotherhood.

I'm quite thankful for that.

Memories over materials all day long.

---

Thanks, I was thinking you were older for some reason. I grew up pretty much as you describe. Wish my kids had more of those memories.

Sam Lowry said:

---

redfish961 said:

---

Sam Lowry said:

---

redfish961 said:

---

KaiBear said:

---

redfish961 said:

---

I lived in a better world than my stepdaughter will and that is sad.

---

My parents lived in a better world than I

And I live in a better world than my children will inherit.

The only thing I can do for my grandchildren is leave them as much cash as possible.

After that it will all come down to luck and their choices.

---

I don't think my parents lived in a better world.

Vietnam, Watergate, Kent st, etc.

I think I grew up in as perfect a world and country as it gets.

I wish it was still the same.

Baseball in the cul de sacs using tennis balls so we didn't break any windows.

Neighborhood football teams that would play each other in the park on saturdays.

Chasing crawdads, snapping turtles, bullfrogs, and fish, while wading in the creeks.

No video games, no cellphones, no spam, no e-mails.

Just hard work and fun.

I lived in a better world than my parents.

Unfortunately, even as much as I try, that life probably will be lost on my doodle because most just doen't live that way anymore.

---

If I may ask, what generation are you?

---

1966...I don't put myself in a box, so I don't know what that generation makes me.

All I know is I was too young to understand the bull****, but I sure had a lot of fun.

FYI, my entire family was military.

Grandfather (retired USAF), Grandfather (retired USN), Father (retired USN), Uncle (USN), Uncle (USN), Uncle (USN), Uncle (USN), Aunt (USN), Uncle (USCG), Brother (USMC), and me (US Army).

Granted, I'm biased and didn't live the life most on this board did.

No racism, no woke, not wealthy, but a healthy respect for brotherhood.

I'm quite thankful for that.

Memories over materials all day long.

---

Thanks, I was thinking you were older for some reason. I grew up pretty much as you describe. Wish my kids had more of those memories.

---

Well, I probably look older, but it's well deserved.

You are not supposed to arrive at home base fresh and ready.

You are supposed to be skin burnt, scarred, and bleeding.

That means you have lived and not simply existed.

Life was better then.

Technology is great, but it also a bane on society.

I honestly could do without it and I think as a culture we would be better off.

As humans we tend to make things more complex than it needs to be.

Keep things simple and life gets better for everyone.

Sam Lowry said:

---

TinFoilHatPreacherBear said:

---

Sam Lowry said:

---

Obsession with unipolar dominance is only hastening the American empire's demise. An old, old story.

---

America has gotten worse by reducing our influence.

---

America wasn't designed for global hegemony, and it's only gotten worse in the pursuit of it. It has sapped our wealth, corrupted our morals, undermined our liberty, and now endangered our very survival.

---

I don't know, seems like it's only gotten worse in the last two decades when Obama started the US world apology tour.
Likely many factors, but being at the top of the food chain is preferable to being an equal partner in dystopia with Europe.

redfish961 said:

---

Sam Lowry said:

---

redfish961 said:

---

KaiBear said:

---

redfish961 said:

---

I lived in a better world than my stepdaughter will and that is sad.

---

My parents lived in a better world than I

And I live in a better world than my children will inherit.

The only thing I can do for my grandchildren is leave them as much cash as possible.

After that it will all come down to luck and their choices.

---

I don't think my parents lived in a better world.

Vietnam, Watergate, Kent st, etc.

I think I grew up in as perfect a world and country as it gets.

I wish it was still the same.

Baseball in the cul de sacs using tennis balls so we didn't break any windows.

Neighborhood football teams that would play each other in the park on saturdays.

Chasing crawdads, snapping turtles, bullfrogs, and fish, while wading in the creeks.

No video games, no cellphones, no spam, no e-mails.

Just hard work and fun.

I lived in a better world than my parents.

Unfortunately, even as much as I try, that life probably will be lost on my doodle because most just doen't live that way anymore.

---

If I may ask, what generation are you?

---

1966...I don't put myself in a box, so I don't know what that generation makes me.

All I know is I was too young to understand the bull****, but I sure had a lot of fun.

FYI, my entire family was military.

Grandfather (retired USAF), Grandfather (retired USN), Father (retired USN), Uncle (USN), Uncle (USN), Uncle (USN), Uncle (USN), Aunt (USN), Uncle (USCG), Brother (USMC), and me (US Army).

Granted, I'm biased and didn't live the life most on this board did.

No racism, no woke, not wealthy, but a healthy respect for brotherhood.

I'm quite thankful for that.

Memories over materials all day long.

---

Sounds like you grew up exactly like I did socially and economically pretty much. For a kid it was a much better time. My son, an old soul though only 21, points that out to me pretty often. He believes the combination of constant social media and instant access to almost anything immediately online by anybody has degraded social structure more than anything.

TinFoilHatPreacherBear said:

---

The globalists have been working towards "reducing" American dominance across the globe and moving to a multipolar architecture. Our enemies are emboldened, and the Petro dollar at risk. All of our enemies want to reduce our strength and break our economic hold, and the Democrats, and some of you Republicans are willing to go that direction as well. You see the complete destruction the left is trying to bring to traditional America.

Trump is not willing to do that, he is resetting the stage and is trying to make America the dominant unipolar power again - Venezuela, Panama, Suez canal, Greenland, Cuba, Abraham accords, and now Iran.

If you are on the side of Democrats, you have a 99.5% chance of being on the wrong side of things.

---

US Debt Clock

If you've never looked at that site, spend some time looking at all the details on there.

That is what is reducing American dominance, breaking our economic hold, and destroying the Petrodollar.

That is a bipartisan problem.

redfish961 said:

---

KaiBear said:

---

redfish961 said:

---

I lived in a better world than my stepdaughter will and that is sad.

---

My parents lived in a better world than I

And I live in a better world than my children will inherit.

The only thing I can do for my grandchildren is leave them as much cash as possible.

After that it will all come down to luck and their choices.

---

I don't think my parents lived in a better world.

Vietnam, Watergate, Kent st, etc.

I think I grew up in as perfect a world and country as it gets.

I wish it was still the same.

Baseball in the cul de sacs using tennis balls so we didn't break any windows.

Neighborhood football teams that would play each other in the park on saturdays.

Chasing crawdads, snapping turtles, bullfrogs, and fish, while wading in the creeks.

No video games, no cellphones, no spam, no e-mails.

Just hard work and fun.

I lived in a better world than my parents.

Unfortunately, even as much as I try, that life probably will be lost on my doodle because most just doen't live that way anymore.

---

me too Red. It was a much more simple and better time with a better quality of life even if middle class. wouldn't change it!

Forest Bueller III said:

---

redfish961 said:

---

Sam Lowry said:

---

redfish961 said:

---

KaiBear said:

---

redfish961 said:

---

I lived in a better world than my stepdaughter will and that is sad.

---

My parents lived in a better world than I

And I live in a better world than my children will inherit.

The only thing I can do for my grandchildren is leave them as much cash as possible.

After that it will all come down to luck and their choices.

---

I don't think my parents lived in a better world.

Vietnam, Watergate, Kent st, etc.

I think I grew up in as perfect a world and country as it gets.

I wish it was still the same.

Baseball in the cul de sacs using tennis balls so we didn't break any windows.

Neighborhood football teams that would play each other in the park on saturdays.

Chasing crawdads, snapping turtles, bullfrogs, and fish, while wading in the creeks.

No video games, no cellphones, no spam, no e-mails.

Just hard work and fun.

I lived in a better world than my parents.

Unfortunately, even as much as I try, that life probably will be lost on my doodle because most just doen't live that way anymore.

---

If I may ask, what generation are you?

---

1966...I don't put myself in a box, so I don't know what that generation makes me.

All I know is I was too young to understand the bull****, but I sure had a lot of fun.

FYI, my entire family was military.

Grandfather (retired USAF), Grandfather (retired USN), Father (retired USN), Uncle (USN), Uncle (USN), Uncle (USN), Uncle (USN), Aunt (USN), Uncle (USCG), Brother (USMC), and me (US Army).

Granted, I'm biased and didn't live the life most on this board did.

No racism, no woke, not wealthy, but a healthy respect for brotherhood.

I'm quite thankful for that.

Memories over materials all day long.

---

Sounds like you grew up exactly like I did socially and economically pretty much. For a kid it was a much better time. My son, an old soul though only 21, points that out to me pretty often. He believes the combination of constant social media and instant access to almost anything immediately online by anybody has degraded social structure more than anything.

---

wise young man, right there. well done

TinFoilHatPreacherBear said:

---

The globalists have been working towards "reducing" American dominance across the globe and moving to a multipolar architecture. Our enemies are emboldened, and the Petro dollar at risk. All of our enemies want to reduce our strength and break our economic hold, and the Democrats, and some of you Republicans are willing to go that direction as well. You see the complete destruction the left is trying to bring to traditional America.

Trump is not willing to do that, he is resetting the stage and is trying to make America the dominant unipolar power again - Venezuela, Panama, Suez canal, Greenland, Cuba, Abraham accords, and now Iran.

If you are on the side of Democrats, you have a 99.5% chance of being on the wrong side of things.

---

Pax Americana was a short period that came about because of the peculiar fall of the USS, it was not the dominant condition during America's ascension.

Actually, there is an argument to be made believing that condition has led to the current downturn where we are not fighting a peer enemy, but money from within.

Question is whether as a Nation is trying to recreate Pax Americana a good thing for the Nation or citizens? Some might say we need a Teddy Roosevelt to break up the big money and limit the influence more than setting up artificial US foreign dominance. Influence of big money is more of a problem that NATO putting in 3% or 5%?

redfish961 said:

---

Sam Lowry said:

---

redfish961 said:

---

Sam Lowry said:

---

redfish961 said:

---

KaiBear said:

---

redfish961 said:

---

I lived in a better world than my stepdaughter will and that is sad.

---

My parents lived in a better world than I

And I live in a better world than my children will inherit.

The only thing I can do for my grandchildren is leave them as much cash as possible.

After that it will all come down to luck and their choices.

---

I don't think my parents lived in a better world.

Vietnam, Watergate, Kent st, etc.

I think I grew up in as perfect a world and country as it gets.

I wish it was still the same.

Baseball in the cul de sacs using tennis balls so we didn't break any windows.

Neighborhood football teams that would play each other in the park on saturdays.

Chasing crawdads, snapping turtles, bullfrogs, and fish, while wading in the creeks.

No video games, no cellphones, no spam, no e-mails.

Just hard work and fun.

I lived in a better world than my parents.

Unfortunately, even as much as I try, that life probably will be lost on my doodle because most just doen't live that way anymore.

---

If I may ask, what generation are you?

---

1966...I don't put myself in a box, so I don't know what that generation makes me.

All I know is I was too young to understand the bull****, but I sure had a lot of fun.

FYI, my entire family was military.

Grandfather (retired USAF), Grandfather (retired USN), Father (retired USN), Uncle (USN), Uncle (USN), Uncle (USN), Uncle (USN), Aunt (USN), Uncle (USCG), Brother (USMC), and me (US Army).

Granted, I'm biased and didn't live the life most on this board did.

No racism, no woke, not wealthy, but a healthy respect for brotherhood.

I'm quite thankful for that.

Memories over materials all day long.

---

Thanks, I was thinking you were older for some reason. I grew up pretty much as you describe. Wish my kids had more of those memories.

---

Well, I probably look older, but it's well deserved.

You are not supposed to arrive at home base fresh and ready.

You are supposed to be skin burnt, scarred, and bleeding.

That means you have lived and not simply existed.

Life was better then.

Technology is great, but it also a bane on society.

I honestly could do without it and I think as a culture we would be better off.

As humans we tend to make things more complex than it needs to be.

Keep things simple and life gets better for everyone.

---

I hear you. Dad had a gas station. Simple life, either you worked or got the hell away before you would end up working! Miss that world, leaders kept the Nation even keel, don't remember people chasing wealth like they have during my lifespan.

Realitybites said:

---

TinFoilHatPreacherBear said:

---

The globalists have been working towards "reducing" American dominance across the globe and moving to a multipolar architecture. Our enemies are emboldened, and the Petro dollar at risk. All of our enemies want to reduce our strength and break our economic hold, and the Democrats, and some of you Republicans are willing to go that direction as well. You see the complete destruction the left is trying to bring to traditional America.

Trump is not willing to do that, he is resetting the stage and is trying to make America the dominant unipolar power again - Venezuela, Panama, Suez canal, Greenland, Cuba, Abraham accords, and now Iran.

If you are on the side of Democrats, you have a 99.5% chance of being on the wrong side of things.

---

US Debt Clock

If you've never looked at that site, spend some time looking at all the details on there.

That is what is reducing American dominance, breaking our economic hold, and destroying the Petrodollar.

That is a bipartisan problem.

---

But even if we get more money, spending doesnt stop. Just reallocated. Trump was supposed to bring in billions, all being spend now on wars. How much went to lower debt?

Numbers too big for spending cuts to do it. Need new revenue and spending limits.

redfish961 said:

---

Sam Lowry said:

---

redfish961 said:

---

Sam Lowry said:

---

redfish961 said:

---

KaiBear said:

---

redfish961 said:

---

I lived in a better world than my stepdaughter will and that is sad.

---

My parents lived in a better world than I

And I live in a better world than my children will inherit.

The only thing I can do for my grandchildren is leave them as much cash as possible.

After that it will all come down to luck and their choices.

---

I don't think my parents lived in a better world.

Vietnam, Watergate, Kent st, etc.

I think I grew up in as perfect a world and country as it gets.

I wish it was still the same.

Baseball in the cul de sacs using tennis balls so we didn't break any windows.

Neighborhood football teams that would play each other in the park on saturdays.

Chasing crawdads, snapping turtles, bullfrogs, and fish, while wading in the creeks.

No video games, no cellphones, no spam, no e-mails.

Just hard work and fun.

I lived in a better world than my parents.

Unfortunately, even as much as I try, that life probably will be lost on my doodle because most just doen't live that way anymore.

---

If I may ask, what generation are you?

---

1966...I don't put myself in a box, so I don't know what that generation makes me.

All I know is I was too young to understand the bull****, but I sure had a lot of fun.

FYI, my entire family was military.

Grandfather (retired USAF), Grandfather (retired USN), Father (retired USN), Uncle (USN), Uncle (USN), Uncle (USN), Uncle (USN), Aunt (USN), Uncle (USCG), Brother (USMC), and me (US Army).

Granted, I'm biased and didn't live the life most on this board did.

No racism, no woke, not wealthy, but a healthy respect for brotherhood.

I'm quite thankful for that.

Memories over materials all day long.

---

Thanks, I was thinking you were older for some reason. I grew up pretty much as you describe. Wish my kids had more of those memories.

---

Well, I probably look older, but it's well deserved.

You are not supposed to arrive at home base fresh and ready.

You are supposed to be skin burnt, scarred, and bleeding.

That means you have lived and not simply existed.

Life was better then.

Technology is great, but it also a bane on society.

I honestly could do without it and I think as a culture we would be better off.

As humans we tend to make things more complex than it needs to be.

Keep things simple and life gets better for everyone.

---

Live hard, play hard, die young and leave a good looking corpse.

FTR I generally agree with you but your kids will have it better than you did and their kids will have it better. Our time is a speck. The odds are you're typing this on a computer in your hand that send a message to outer space and back in seconds. That, in and of itself, is insane.

The default across time is chaos and war. Not peace. So we have had a relatively large span of time that's out of the norm.

I'll give you an example. I was in the auto repair business forever. Customers used to say things like "back in the good old days" and I would always respond with "you're either too young to remember those days or your memory is no good". You can buy a car right now, put oil and fuel in it and drive for 5-6-7-10 years. In the 1950s-1980s a car with 100k was fit for the scrap heap for the most part. They required constant maintenance and I mean constant. In the 90s my shop was doing 70 cars a day. The average for stores now is in the upper 20s and busy shops are at 35ish. Things get better over time but our memories are better than that reality was.

In any event to the OP; when we started teaching Americans that we aren't the best and most important civilization that ever existed that's a problem. The number of Americans that will **** all over this country but have never spent a day outside her borders is incredible.

nein51 said:

---

redfish961 said:

---

Sam Lowry said:

---

redfish961 said:

---

Sam Lowry said:

---

redfish961 said:

---

KaiBear said:

---

redfish961 said:

---

I lived in a better world than my stepdaughter will and that is sad.

---

My parents lived in a better world than I

And I live in a better world than my children will inherit.

The only thing I can do for my grandchildren is leave them as much cash as possible.

After that it will all come down to luck and their choices.

---

I don't think my parents lived in a better world.

Vietnam, Watergate, Kent st, etc.

I think I grew up in as perfect a world and country as it gets.

I wish it was still the same.

Baseball in the cul de sacs using tennis balls so we didn't break any windows.

Neighborhood football teams that would play each other in the park on saturdays.

Chasing crawdads, snapping turtles, bullfrogs, and fish, while wading in the creeks.

No video games, no cellphones, no spam, no e-mails.

Just hard work and fun.

I lived in a better world than my parents.

Unfortunately, even as much as I try, that life probably will be lost on my doodle because most just doen't live that way anymore.

---

If I may ask, what generation are you?

---

1966...I don't put myself in a box, so I don't know what that generation makes me.

All I know is I was too young to understand the bull****, but I sure had a lot of fun.

FYI, my entire family was military.

Grandfather (retired USAF), Grandfather (retired USN), Father (retired USN), Uncle (USN), Uncle (USN), Uncle (USN), Uncle (USN), Aunt (USN), Uncle (USCG), Brother (USMC), and me (US Army).

Granted, I'm biased and didn't live the life most on this board did.

No racism, no woke, not wealthy, but a healthy respect for brotherhood.

I'm quite thankful for that.

Memories over materials all day long.

---

Thanks, I was thinking you were older for some reason. I grew up pretty much as you describe. Wish my kids had more of those memories.

---

Well, I probably look older, but it's well deserved.

You are not supposed to arrive at home base fresh and ready.

You are supposed to be skin burnt, scarred, and bleeding.

That means you have lived and not simply existed.

Life was better then.

Technology is great, but it also a bane on society.

I honestly could do without it and I think as a culture we would be better off.

As humans we tend to make things more complex than it needs to be.

Keep things simple and life gets better for everyone.

---

Live hard, play hard, die young and leave a good looking corpse.

FTR I generally agree with you but your kids will have it better than you did and their kids will have it better. Our time is a speck. The odds are you're typing this on a computer in your hand that send a message to outer space and back in seconds. That, in and of itself, is insane.

The default across time is chaos and war. Not peace. So we have had a relatively large span of time that's out of the norm.

I'll give you an example. I was in the auto repair business forever. Customers used to say things like "back in the good old days" and I would always respond with "you're either too young to remember those days or your memory is no good". You can buy a car right now, put oil and fuel in it and drive for 5-6-7-10 years. In the 1950s-1980s a car with 100k was fit for the scrap heap for the most part. They required constant maintenance and I mean constant. In the 90s my shop was doing 70 cars a day. The average for stores now is in the upper 20s and busy shops are at 35ish. Things get better over time but our memories are better than that reality was.

In any event to the OP; when we started teaching Americans that we aren't the best and most important civilization that ever existed that's a problem. The number of Americans that will **** all over this country but have never spent a day outside her borders is incredible.

---

Last paragraph is so spot on. Travel is education and understanding different countries/cultures. We ain't got it all figured out as you mentioned. I'm prolly the poster boy for travel. (44 countries)Got to see the world on someone else's nickel. Lived in 2 countries. Now living in 3rd. Starting a business here which is certainly different than the I started in the US. Heck, I'd submit we have tons of great places to visit in the US. Something for everyone.

J.R. said:

---

nein51 said:

---

redfish961 said:

---

Sam Lowry said:

---

redfish961 said:

---

Sam Lowry said:

---

redfish961 said:

---

KaiBear said:

---

redfish961 said:

---

I lived in a better world than my stepdaughter will and that is sad.

---

My parents lived in a better world than I

And I live in a better world than my children will inherit.

The only thing I can do for my grandchildren is leave them as much cash as possible.

After that it will all come down to luck and their choices.

---

I don't think my parents lived in a better world.

Vietnam, Watergate, Kent st, etc.

I think I grew up in as perfect a world and country as it gets.

I wish it was still the same.

Baseball in the cul de sacs using tennis balls so we didn't break any windows.

Neighborhood football teams that would play each other in the park on saturdays.

Chasing crawdads, snapping turtles, bullfrogs, and fish, while wading in the creeks.

No video games, no cellphones, no spam, no e-mails.

Just hard work and fun.

I lived in a better world than my parents.

Unfortunately, even as much as I try, that life probably will be lost on my doodle because most just doen't live that way anymore.

---

If I may ask, what generation are you?

---

1966...I don't put myself in a box, so I don't know what that generation makes me.

All I know is I was too young to understand the bull****, but I sure had a lot of fun.

FYI, my entire family was military.

Grandfather (retired USAF), Grandfather (retired USN), Father (retired USN), Uncle (USN), Uncle (USN), Uncle (USN), Uncle (USN), Aunt (USN), Uncle (USCG), Brother (USMC), and me (US Army).

Granted, I'm biased and didn't live the life most on this board did.

No racism, no woke, not wealthy, but a healthy respect for brotherhood.

I'm quite thankful for that.

Memories over materials all day long.

---

Thanks, I was thinking you were older for some reason. I grew up pretty much as you describe. Wish my kids had more of those memories.

---

Well, I probably look older, but it's well deserved.

You are not supposed to arrive at home base fresh and ready.

You are supposed to be skin burnt, scarred, and bleeding.

That means you have lived and not simply existed.

Life was better then.

Technology is great, but it also a bane on society.

I honestly could do without it and I think as a culture we would be better off.

As humans we tend to make things more complex than it needs to be.

Keep things simple and life gets better for everyone.

---

Live hard, play hard, die young and leave a good looking corpse.

FTR I generally agree with you but your kids will have it better than you did and their kids will have it better. Our time is a speck. The odds are you're typing this on a computer in your hand that send a message to outer space and back in seconds. That, in and of itself, is insane.

The default across time is chaos and war. Not peace. So we have had a relatively large span of time that's out of the norm.

I'll give you an example. I was in the auto repair business forever. Customers used to say things like "back in the good old days" and I would always respond with "you're either too young to remember those days or your memory is no good". You can buy a car right now, put oil and fuel in it and drive for 5-6-7-10 years. In the 1950s-1980s a car with 100k was fit for the scrap heap for the most part. They required constant maintenance and I mean constant. In the 90s my shop was doing 70 cars a day. The average for stores now is in the upper 20s and busy shops are at 35ish. Things get better over time but our memories are better than that reality was.

In any event to the OP; when we started teaching Americans that we aren't the best and most important civilization that ever existed that's a problem. The number of Americans that will **** all over this country but have never spent a day outside her borders is incredible.

---

Last paragraph is so spot on. Travel is education and understanding different countries/cultures. We ain't got it all figured out as you mentioned. I'm prolly the poster boy for travel. (44 countries)Got to see the world on someone else's nickel. Lived in 2 countries. Now living in 3rd. Starting a business here which is certainly different than the I started in the US. Heck, I'd submit we have tons of great places to visit in the US. Something for everyone.

---

The most closed-minded people I have met stayed within 50 miles of where they were born.

I don't think travel is enough. Living somewhere else forces you to address differences. A week here or there at an all-inclusive or on a cruise ship really doesn't impact realizing that other cultures have perspectives that may not align with ours and also have value.

Sam Lowry said:

---

TinFoilHatPreacherBear said:

---

Sam Lowry said:

---

Obsession with unipolar dominance is only hastening the American empire's demise. An old, old story.

---

America has gotten worse by reducing our influence.

---

America wasn't designed for global hegemony, and it's only gotten worse in the pursuit of it. It has sapped our wealth, corrupted our morals, undermined our liberty, and now endangered our very survival.

---

Entitlement programs are the number one contributor to US debt, and it's not even close. While being the world's policeman and involving ourselves in unnecessary wars has helped contribute, if you want to pinpoint where we went off the rails, you can look no further than FDR's presidency, and then the LBJ presidency, which ended up being unmitigated disasters in terms of domestic policy (and with LBJ, foreign policy as well).

nein51 said:

---

redfish961 said:

---

Sam Lowry said:

---

redfish961 said:

---

Sam Lowry said:

---

redfish961 said:

---

KaiBear said:

---

redfish961 said:

---

I lived in a better world than my stepdaughter will and that is sad.

---

My parents lived in a better world than I

And I live in a better world than my children will inherit.

The only thing I can do for my grandchildren is leave them as much cash as possible.

After that it will all come down to luck and their choices.

---

I don't think my parents lived in a better world.

Vietnam, Watergate, Kent st, etc.

I think I grew up in as perfect a world and country as it gets.

I wish it was still the same.

Baseball in the cul de sacs using tennis balls so we didn't break any windows.

Neighborhood football teams that would play each other in the park on saturdays.

Chasing crawdads, snapping turtles, bullfrogs, and fish, while wading in the creeks.

No video games, no cellphones, no spam, no e-mails.

Just hard work and fun.

I lived in a better world than my parents.

Unfortunately, even as much as I try, that life probably will be lost on my doodle because most just doen't live that way anymore.

---

If I may ask, what generation are you?

---

1966...I don't put myself in a box, so I don't know what that generation makes me.

All I know is I was too young to understand the bull****, but I sure had a lot of fun.

FYI, my entire family was military.

Grandfather (retired USAF), Grandfather (retired USN), Father (retired USN), Uncle (USN), Uncle (USN), Uncle (USN), Uncle (USN), Aunt (USN), Uncle (USCG), Brother (USMC), and me (US Army).

Granted, I'm biased and didn't live the life most on this board did.

No racism, no woke, not wealthy, but a healthy respect for brotherhood.

I'm quite thankful for that.

Memories over materials all day long.

---

Thanks, I was thinking you were older for some reason. I grew up pretty much as you describe. Wish my kids had more of those memories.

---

Well, I probably look older, but it's well deserved.

You are not supposed to arrive at home base fresh and ready.

You are supposed to be skin burnt, scarred, and bleeding.

That means you have lived and not simply existed.

Life was better then.

Technology is great, but it also a bane on society.

I honestly could do without it and I think as a culture we would be better off.

As humans we tend to make things more complex than it needs to be.

Keep things simple and life gets better for everyone.

---

FTR I generally agree with you but your kids will have it better than you did and their kids will have it better.

---

Likely depends on what your criteria for "better" is. Will life be in some ways easier for them than it was for us, given the current state of technology? Sure. Not sure that is a good thing, however. Medical advances - and AI in particular - will likely lead to the end of a number of diseases. But they likely will not be better off financially, given the gap between salaries and cost of living. They also live in a time where people are on screens all day, rather than interacting with one another. And the filth that is at their finger tips is incredible. And of course AI is a double-edged sword. It giveth and it taketh away, especially jobs.

FLBear5630 said:

---

J.R. said:

---

nein51 said:

---

redfish961 said:

---

Sam Lowry said:

---

redfish961 said:

---

Sam Lowry said:

---

redfish961 said:

---

KaiBear said:

---

redfish961 said:

---

I lived in a better world than my stepdaughter will and that is sad.

---

My parents lived in a better world than I

And I live in a better world than my children will inherit.

The only thing I can do for my grandchildren is leave them as much cash as possible.

After that it will all come down to luck and their choices.

---

I don't think my parents lived in a better world.

Vietnam, Watergate, Kent st, etc.

I think I grew up in as perfect a world and country as it gets.

I wish it was still the same.

Baseball in the cul de sacs using tennis balls so we didn't break any windows.

Neighborhood football teams that would play each other in the park on saturdays.

Chasing crawdads, snapping turtles, bullfrogs, and fish, while wading in the creeks.

No video games, no cellphones, no spam, no e-mails.

Just hard work and fun.

I lived in a better world than my parents.

Unfortunately, even as much as I try, that life probably will be lost on my doodle because most just doen't live that way anymore.

---

If I may ask, what generation are you?

---

1966...I don't put myself in a box, so I don't know what that generation makes me.

All I know is I was too young to understand the bull****, but I sure had a lot of fun.

FYI, my entire family was military.

Grandfather (retired USAF), Grandfather (retired USN), Father (retired USN), Uncle (USN), Uncle (USN), Uncle (USN), Uncle (USN), Aunt (USN), Uncle (USCG), Brother (USMC), and me (US Army).

Granted, I'm biased and didn't live the life most on this board did.

No racism, no woke, not wealthy, but a healthy respect for brotherhood.

I'm quite thankful for that.

Memories over materials all day long.

---

Thanks, I was thinking you were older for some reason. I grew up pretty much as you describe. Wish my kids had more of those memories.

---

Well, I probably look older, but it's well deserved.

You are not supposed to arrive at home base fresh and ready.

You are supposed to be skin burnt, scarred, and bleeding.

That means you have lived and not simply existed.

Life was better then.

Technology is great, but it also a bane on society.

I honestly could do without it and I think as a culture we would be better off.

As humans we tend to make things more complex than it needs to be.

Keep things simple and life gets better for everyone.

---

Live hard, play hard, die young and leave a good looking corpse.

FTR I generally agree with you but your kids will have it better than you did and their kids will have it better. Our time is a speck. The odds are you're typing this on a computer in your hand that send a message to outer space and back in seconds. That, in and of itself, is insane.

The default across time is chaos and war. Not peace. So we have had a relatively large span of time that's out of the norm.

I'll give you an example. I was in the auto repair business forever. Customers used to say things like "back in the good old days" and I would always respond with "you're either too young to remember those days or your memory is no good". You can buy a car right now, put oil and fuel in it and drive for 5-6-7-10 years. In the 1950s-1980s a car with 100k was fit for the scrap heap for the most part. They required constant maintenance and I mean constant. In the 90s my shop was doing 70 cars a day. The average for stores now is in the upper 20s and busy shops are at 35ish. Things get better over time but our memories are better than that reality was.

In any event to the OP; when we started teaching Americans that we aren't the best and most important civilization that ever existed that's a problem. The number of Americans that will **** all over this country but have never spent a day outside her borders is incredible.

---

Last paragraph is so spot on. Travel is education and understanding different countries/cultures. We ain't got it all figured out as you mentioned. I'm prolly the poster boy for travel. (44 countries)Got to see the world on someone else's nickel. Lived in 2 countries. Now living in 3rd. Starting a business here which is certainly different than the I started in the US. Heck, I'd submit we have tons of great places to visit in the US. Something for everyone.

---

The most closed-minded people I have met stayed within 50 miles of where they were born.

I don't think travel is enough. Living somewhere else forces you to address differences. A week here or there at an all-inclusive or on a cruise ship really doesn't impact realizing that other cultures have perspectives that may not align with ours and also have value.

---

I do agree entirely. Living somewhere different is a way different experience. I'm living it. Trying to blend in as much as a Farong (westerner) can. Going to language class 5 days a week. Have had to dial back the American Type A business guy to a much softer approach. I take public transportation everywhere and don't miss a car. When we lived in Paris, we made the kids 13 and 14 take the metro, lived in a neighborhood, no speaking English, no English menus. Great experience. I do think that folks who can't take away and live somewhere else, I highly recommend when traveling, be a traveler , not a tourist. I find value and going to a spot for a week or 2 and taking in the local culture and not hopping about at 100k feet and see only tourist attractions. just my take

FLBear5630 said:

---

J.R. said:

---

nein51 said:

---

redfish961 said:

---

Sam Lowry said:

---

redfish961 said:

---

Sam Lowry said:

---

redfish961 said:

---

KaiBear said:

---

redfish961 said:

---

I lived in a better world than my stepdaughter will and that is sad.

---

My parents lived in a better world than I

And I live in a better world than my children will inherit.

The only thing I can do for my grandchildren is leave them as much cash as possible.

After that it will all come down to luck and their choices.

---

I don't think my parents lived in a better world.

Vietnam, Watergate, Kent st, etc.

I think I grew up in as perfect a world and country as it gets.

I wish it was still the same.

Baseball in the cul de sacs using tennis balls so we didn't break any windows.

Neighborhood football teams that would play each other in the park on saturdays.

Chasing crawdads, snapping turtles, bullfrogs, and fish, while wading in the creeks.

No video games, no cellphones, no spam, no e-mails.

Just hard work and fun.

I lived in a better world than my parents.

Unfortunately, even as much as I try, that life probably will be lost on my doodle because most just doen't live that way anymore.

---

If I may ask, what generation are you?

---

1966...I don't put myself in a box, so I don't know what that generation makes me.

All I know is I was too young to understand the bull****, but I sure had a lot of fun.

FYI, my entire family was military.

Grandfather (retired USAF), Grandfather (retired USN), Father (retired USN), Uncle (USN), Uncle (USN), Uncle (USN), Uncle (USN), Aunt (USN), Uncle (USCG), Brother (USMC), and me (US Army).

Granted, I'm biased and didn't live the life most on this board did.

No racism, no woke, not wealthy, but a healthy respect for brotherhood.

I'm quite thankful for that.

Memories over materials all day long.

---

Thanks, I was thinking you were older for some reason. I grew up pretty much as you describe. Wish my kids had more of those memories.

---

Well, I probably look older, but it's well deserved.

You are not supposed to arrive at home base fresh and ready.

You are supposed to be skin burnt, scarred, and bleeding.

That means you have lived and not simply existed.

Life was better then.

Technology is great, but it also a bane on society.

I honestly could do without it and I think as a culture we would be better off.

As humans we tend to make things more complex than it needs to be.

Keep things simple and life gets better for everyone.

---

Live hard, play hard, die young and leave a good looking corpse.

FTR I generally agree with you but your kids will have it better than you did and their kids will have it better. Our time is a speck. The odds are you're typing this on a computer in your hand that send a message to outer space and back in seconds. That, in and of itself, is insane.

The default across time is chaos and war. Not peace. So we have had a relatively large span of time that's out of the norm.

I'll give you an example. I was in the auto repair business forever. Customers used to say things like "back in the good old days" and I would always respond with "you're either too young to remember those days or your memory is no good". You can buy a car right now, put oil and fuel in it and drive for 5-6-7-10 years. In the 1950s-1980s a car with 100k was fit for the scrap heap for the most part. They required constant maintenance and I mean constant. In the 90s my shop was doing 70 cars a day. The average for stores now is in the upper 20s and busy shops are at 35ish. Things get better over time but our memories are better than that reality was.

In any event to the OP; when we started teaching Americans that we aren't the best and most important civilization that ever existed that's a problem. The number of Americans that will **** all over this country but have never spent a day outside her borders is incredible.

---

Last paragraph is so spot on. Travel is education and understanding different countries/cultures. We ain't got it all figured out as you mentioned. I'm prolly the poster boy for travel. (44 countries)Got to see the world on someone else's nickel. Lived in 2 countries. Now living in 3rd. Starting a business here which is certainly different than the I started in the US. Heck, I'd submit we have tons of great places to visit in the US. Something for everyone.

---

The most closed-minded people I have met stayed within 50 miles of where they were born.

I don't think travel is enough. Living somewhere else forces you to address differences. A week here or there at an all-inclusive or on a cruise ship really doesn't impact realizing that other cultures have perspectives that may not align with ours and also have value.

---

Having lived in numerous countries I agree. However, give most Americans a week and they will figure it out pretty quickly.

Wait for them to go order their oat milk latte and find out that's not gonna happen for them.

You could change American attitudes towards immigration in about 4 weeks. Most Americans have no idea how hard it is to get a work permit in most euro countries. It's requires an address which you can get if you don't have work permit but no one will rent to you if you can't show income.

Try stepping off a plane in Asia with no travel visa. See what happens if you overstay your visa.

American is exceptional. It's not perfect but it's absolutely amazing.

Mothra said:

---

Sam Lowry said:

---

TinFoilHatPreacherBear said:

---

Sam Lowry said:

---

Obsession with unipolar dominance is only hastening the American empire's demise. An old, old story.

---

America has gotten worse by reducing our influence.

---

America wasn't designed for global hegemony, and it's only gotten worse in the pursuit of it. It has sapped our wealth, corrupted our morals, undermined our liberty, and now endangered our very survival.

---

Entitlement programs are the number one contributor to US debt, and it's not even close. While being the world's policeman and involving ourselves in unnecessary wars has helped contribute, if you want to pinpoint where we went off the rails, you can look no further than FDR's presidency, and then the LBJ presidency, which ended up being unmitigated disasters in terms of domestic policy (and with LBJ, foreign policy as well).

---

True. FDR and LBJ were the two most fiscally damaging presidents the country has ever had from a long term impact perspective as they both enthusiastically pursued policies premised on the belief that government and government dependence is "the answer" to just about everything. And the country has been paying the price in ever increasing numbers ever since.

Mothra said:

---

Sam Lowry said:

---

TinFoilHatPreacherBear said:

---

Sam Lowry said:

---

Obsession with unipolar dominance is only hastening the American empire's demise. An old, old story.

---

America has gotten worse by reducing our influence.

---

America wasn't designed for global hegemony, and it's only gotten worse in the pursuit of it. It has sapped our wealth, corrupted our morals, undermined our liberty, and now endangered our very survival.

---

Entitlement programs are the number one contributor to US debt, and it's not even close. While being the world's policeman and involving ourselves in unnecessary wars has helped contribute, if you want to pinpoint where we went off the rails, you can look no further than FDR's presidency, and then the LBJ presidency, which ended up being unmitigated disasters in terms of domestic policy (and with LBJ, foreign policy as well).

---

100% dead on