Have we lost control of the helm & doomed ouselves
126314
Not quite but i am pretty sure that you can see it from here
152121
All of this is typical of a World superpower that has gotten out of control. Simply look at the histories of Greece, Rome/Byzantium, Egypt, Ancient China, etc. What it means is that things are about to come crashing down, and hard.
195796
this would be interesting except for your last point.  Look at our system.  We already have one in place and its not working. The Executie Branch has gained a ton of power and the Leg and Jud brances have lost their power.  It's become about helping each other out instead of maintaining balance.  Otherwise your outline exists in Canada.
19250
we've been conditioned to accept, or at least tolerate what the powers-that-be come out with. Our nation has been dumbed down and dehumanized into thinking everything they do is either okay because of the sterilized language they use, not worth getting all fired up about, or at the very least, knowing there is little to do about it to make any type of significant change.\nIf this country were filled with real patriots and people with guts and a beefy education in history, you wouldn't see the types of administrations in present and recent years last long whatsoever, if not entirely prevented.\nBut people are used to be getting dealt BS so they won't see much of a reason to look further than what they're getting. Especially when the BS itself is downplayed as being normal or just too confusing sounding..blame the media for this.\nDictatorships and fascist states have come along in peacemeal and seemingly-trivial events.\nIt's all about getting the people to accept more and more small steps towards being totally controlled. And once we're totally controlled, most of us won't even know.\nthe bigger and more spread out the lies, the easier they are to believe.\nGetting people to be mad at each other over insignificant and chickensh** issues goes a long way in the distraction process to mop up the rest who do see the harmful steps being imposed. Then there's the minority who see it all and know what's going on, only to be badgered and ridiculed by the rest.\n\nthe guy who answered before me, hot_iron_smith is right. there is no difference between the parties.\n"they're two sides of the same coin. two management teams bidding for the CEO position of slavery incorporated." ^1
183936
I really hate being pessimistic about our country, but I think we're on the way out.  Every major nation in the world has had their rise and fall.  I think it's now, unfortunately, our turn to bite the dust.  Just look at history.  The Roman Empire, the British Empire, on and on.  Yep, we're on the way down.
398143
Neither.\n\nHaven't you ever heard the old saying: "The hand that rocks the cradle rules the nation."  I'm thinking we need to keep our hands on the cradles.  ; )
581559
Actually, we've moved away from empire. We used to have more foreign territories and be more aggressive supporting the Monroe Doctrine in the Americas, but we got rid of most of our territories and have taken a more hands-off approach to issues in the Americas.\n\nNow, every important country has gone through various stages, including expansion and empire type stages. And there is no certainty that the US will not go through the same thing in the future. But we seek no empire - heck, most of us would like to dump Puerto Rico - and we've given sovereignty back to many of our one time possessions / territories, e.g. Philippines, Panama canal, etc.\n\nThere has been no concentration of power in the executive, considering the recent power grabs by the legislature / judiciary in oversee the President in exercising his powers, such as trying to limit his ability to conduct national security intelligence gathering by wiretap or phone records.\n\nThis kind of power jousting has been going on for 225 years, and isn't about to stop now. Actually, the judiciary has been the worst offender regarding usurping power most recently. And after Watergate, Congress had attacked the powers of the presidency.\n\nAt this time, the executive and legislature have regained a parity. I do not see the executive having gotten out of control in the least.\n\nIf anybody claims that today we have some kind of dictatorship, they are peddling nonsense, and have a shameful ignorance of US history.
245274
I couldn't agree with you more. That flame has died, don't try to rekindle that old fire people.\n\nMove on, there are plenty more fucked up fish in the sea to capture before our time is up
432370
have you completely LOST IT??!!!!
99980
Lack of control of the situation.. People are afraid of what they can't control...
347501
I agree! It seems as though things in our government have gotten out of hand. I don't know if it would take a good president or the united states keeping our noses to ourselves. Its like we are trying to fix the world and we can't even fix ourselves. I'm glad that I'm not the only one who thinks our America is in need of dire help. Good job for speaking out.
408740
your question does not make much sense. its good that we have both so no single side can get complete control, now that's something to be afraid of
417093
I agree with some of your other answerers, we're not a laughingstock.  Other countries are alarmed, and probably quite disgusted and disappointed as well, but they're not laughing.\n\nThe first step to returning to respectability probably won't ever happen, but it should.   Our leaders need to 'reach out'--issue a statement, or meet individually with other heads of state--and tell the world that we are going to make things right.  Ask for help to resolve Iraq.  Display a little humility, instead of barrelling on down the same old arrogant path we've been on.  Give the world a reason to believe we understand our own culpability in our current mess, and how big an impact it has had on our allies.\n\nThen, we need to clean house.  Investigate ourselves.  Bring the light of open scrutiny into the decisions this administration has made, and the actions that are questionable.  If there were laws broken, we need to show the world that we won't accept that from our leaders.  Then, and only then, in my opinion, can we make any claims to integrity.
53494
God knows.  Sometimes I think it started with this Neocon PNAC invasion of Iraq, but it seems to me that ever since the end of WW II, the US has tried to assert its dominance over much of the world.  We seem to have lost our way since Bush stole the first election.  Byzantium, China, Persia, the Ottomans, Rome, Great Brittain, France...and the good ole USA.\nthey all decline and fall.
289301
Good Lord. We are doomed.
466107
Have a look at this it's more than just interesting.\nIt tells you the story where we are heading in our free Press\n\nhttp://www.free-radio.de/epic/ols-master.html
6928
NO!!!!!  Our coutry is controled be a network of people, Alumin, Mayson, skulls. United Nations.  They give WE THE PEOPLE a false sence of security.  Media feeds our nation only what these groups want us to see And as a nation we walk blind folded threw darkness holding the hand of our enemies, as we Vote for fools with hidden agendas.   WE THE PEOPLE because of our sin and lust have allowed this to happen.  WE THE PEOPLE have tried to remove God from our nation and our lives, But then ask him to bless us with prosperity.  WE THE PEOPLE allow gay's to teach our children, WE THE PEOPLE are ok with abortion, WE THE PEOPLE sugar coat our own lies, murders, adultries, greed and lust.  \nNO!!!!!!\nWE THE PEOPLE lost control long ago.\nWE THE PEOPLE need to repent and invite God back into our country. \nLess we fall in a ditch, when the blind leads the blind. *****BIBLE SAYS*******\nWE THE PEOPLE need to elect true men of God, as Heads of State not false ones "GB" \nanalizing the fruit that they bare before we elect them.\nI feel dispare for WE THE PEOPLE because I know that we won't change. \nWE THE PEOPLE will just go on feeding our fat faces watching reruns on TV, and playing Video Games, While little satans grow in power and run our nation.\nWE THE PEOPLE please!!!!   look for Christ