The "New Normal" in America...No Turning Back, Like It or Not

[SifuPhil]

Maybe I'm overly optimistic. I'm not pointing at the moral degradation - in that area, yes, I believe we are de-evolving. That's a separate issue. I'm not unaware that a lot of people are struggling financially as well an many other woes in our world - but like I said, is it really tougher now than the days of bygone generations?

Granted we have an "easier" time of things now, in general.

But easier is not always better - sometimes we need that adversity to shape us, to toughen us up. We're becoming a nation of flabby people, both physically and mentally. You can't stay sharp if you're not challenged on a regular basis, and the more we look in awe at all the shiny new bells and whistles that we've created, the more we're getting away from self-reliance.

We're becoming like the trained chicken that was in Chinatown - he seemed to be intelligent and even clever, but all he was doing was responding to behavioral cues.

"The animals are smarter, more supportive of each other and far more successful" which animals are you talking about? Can't say I've noticed this.

Pretty much any one you can name. Outside of a small group (chimpanzees and dolphins come to mind), animals do not kill for pleasure. They were around before us, the highest level of tech they've achieved is to use a rock to crack open an oyster, yet they'll probably be here long after Man has eliminated himself.

more late night madness (I THINK it's relevant): a link on the myth of overpopulation:

http://overpopulationisamyth.com

I'm sorry, but there are so many logical fallacies in that video I can't begin to address them all.

Here's a simple model:

• the Earth is X, X being a finite amount of livable space.
• the world population is Y, a number that is constantly increasing
• at some point, Y will exceed X. It HAS to, unless there is a radical decrease in births.

Yes, there are still empty land-masses that might be livable, but those will fill up as the population grows. We might start living in underwater habitats, but even that will have limits, which will again be reached quickly.

There is a delicate balance in any system that must be maintained. I'm no expert on the subject, but a casual look tells me that things are becoming unbalanced.

You CANNOT keep adding infinite people to a finite area - it has to end somewhere.

 

[Old Hipster]

Two things...a good perspective on the way things are, and secondly, Mr.O and I say often that we're glad to be on the tail end of life instead of coming into it. These truly are the last of the good old days.

I will not embrace and condone the loss of freedoms, and life as we knew it. That's the major reason I live rurally, and remotely. It gives me some sense of still being free and having some control over my life with nature to remind me everyday what life is really about.

In short, I'm watching what's going on with eyes wide shut.

We live in a tiny town that might as well roll up it's sidewalks, yet we are within a few miles of mini malls and shopping centers.

I pretty much live with my head in the sand, otherwise the world would drive me nuts, Ok more nuts than I think I am already.

We don't have kids and grandkids to worry about, at least for us we did the right thing there. I feel the world in general is going to hell in a hand bag.

 

[Jackie22]

Here's a bit of late night ramble - no doubt like a cheap date, I'll probably regret it in the morning


True, things will never be the same, but tell me, when have things ever remained the same? There are times of prosperity, times of war, times of hardship. A time for ever purpose under heaven - turn turn turn.


This year my father, if he were still alive, would be 100 years old. He endured the depression and the second world war - went to college and bought a house on the GI Bill and had a few years of relative prosperity before he died. His father saw the 1st world war, the depression and sadly, died in his prime while my father was in the Solomon Islands fighting the Japanese. But his generation witnessed the Roaring 20's. The generation before him witnessed the Industrial revolution, the taming of the West and the completion of the east west railroad. Reach back another generation and Johnny is marching to war against his brother.


You can read Steinbeck's Grapes of Wrath or Sinclair's The Jungle and it appears there never really was a Golden Age for everyone. Government corruption is nothing new. Neither is ecclesiastical corruption. How far back do you wish to go? The farther you go back in time you go the bloodier it gets.


So here we are in 2014 - most likely the average age here on this forum are Baby boomers. Some are in their 50's, some in their '70's. That makes the average in in the '60's. I don't know about anyone else, I'm not wealthy, but I'm not destitute either. I have a comfortable living standard, I can travel where I want whenever I want - I can dream about what I want to eat tomorrow, go to the grocery store and buy what I need from a well stocked store. Pretty nice! Went on a cruise last fall - that was PACKED with others, young and old (mostly older) who were enjoying the good life. We'll probably go again maybe even this year. I think if I can figure out how to get Seabreeze's pop-up camper or one like it I'll be the happiest man on earth.


By the way RV and the auto industry are experiencing a resurgence - with their most profitable quarters ever; people have money for Starbucks coffee, cell phones, computers and other electronic devices.


I'm not saying that everything is rosy. I lost thousands of dollars of equity as did most homeowners with the correction in real estate. Bummer. On paper, of course. Well, that's my share in the catastrophe. Meanwhile catastrophes continue to hit the planet like darts on a global dart board. We win some we lose some.


Betty Crocker may be gone forever, along with Howdy Doody and the Lone Ranger. It's been a great century. But barring some fallout from Fukushima or the likes we're likely to live longer than our parents did. And the next generation will find innovation and a way where it seems to us there is no way. So why worry about it? We won't be around in another 30 to 50 years anyway. See you on the road.

Well said, jr, totally agree.

 

[Judi.D]

I see both sides. IMO you all are right. However, I choose to look at the world through rose-colored glasses. I think that in the pass every older generation has felt the same way. I have no real control over what goes on in the world. The only true control I have is over myself, and how I react to what happens. I know the rain will fall, it always does, I just choose to dance in it. It sure makes those rainy days easier to survive

 

[Davey Jones]

So much for "Change and Hope" right?
GOD!! I miss Bill Clinton.

 

[SifuPhil]

Yeah, he had sax appeal, even when he wasn't wearing his blue dress uniform ...

 

[That Guy]

During the Stupor Bowl, I suddenly realized the man who told us a hard rain was gonna fall is now selling us cars. Yes, the times they have changed. Some call it buying in. I still call it selling out.

 

[JaniceM]

Feel free to drop any solutions into the suggestion box TG.

This thread was listed at the bottom of a thread I was posting on, so I hope it's o.k. to chime in:

One of the main points I've been trying to make on my blog (a wide variety of topics directed to fellow Baby Boomers) is the disadvantage younger generations have, solely due to their ages, is they look at 'the way things are these days' and assume 'it was always this way.' Thus, they're more likely to simply accept the unacceptable.
Another point I brought out: older generations proved that changes are possible- and many positive changes occurred within our lifetimes.