Does It Feel Like The US Is Fragmenting & Eroding Socially & Economically.

[TheMastersNemesis]

When you look at the news and politics with all these GOP screwballs running, all the racists and bigots in hysteria and all the problems that are being ignored you have to wonder how we are going to surmount this chaos. It is not just the idiots in the public forum it is their supporters who are coming more and more out of the woodwork.

When you think someone cannot say or do something more outrageous something more outrageous comes out in spades. There seems to be no end to it. And we are just at the beginning of the political season.

[lovemydog]

1. It's difficult for me to tell.

When I read history it seems like things have always been pretty messed up. Yes it does when I see the news. I guess I've determined that I'm part of the struggle to make things better. Those people have always existed too. I think many who post here at DU are like me in that way.

[hollysmom]

2. I think people are too trusting

the big lie works so well with them, repeat a lie over and over and it becomes the truth (see FOX gnus)
It works in politics in that opponents are demonized so people can't vote for them. I keep thinking of the guy in Tennessee (?) who killed himself because the party head lied and pretended he thought the guy was Jewish. gasp! Yes, in some places, Jewish can cost you an election. and yes the party head screwed this guy because he was not the chosen one and yes, there was no proof this was true (it wasn't ) But just the rumor was enough.

[Ron Green]

3. I think there are a couple of big points people aren't getting:

Our national religion, Capitalism (the Free Enterprise System), is going to do what it does as long as it's the only game; and the even bigger point: Until we can figure out how to decouple human happiness from economic growth, we're gonna go down.

[Fairgo]

12. Yes!

Exactly so...

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

4. “In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations, and epochs it is the rule.”

“In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations, and epochs it is the rule.” ― Friedrich Nietzsche

[Recursion]

5. Depends on your perspective. Compared to India? No.

Hell, compared to the UK right now? No.

Compared to Canada? Yes.

[Binkie The Clown]

6. We are following the typical pattern of an empire in delcine.

Nothing new going here that hasn't happened to every great empire that's past its prime.

[bemildred]

7. We are well on our way to re-fighting the Civil War, or something worse, yes.

(Yeah, Syria, right now, is worse, and lots of people have reason to help it happen here too, should the opportunity present itself.)

And given the popularity of nukes, that should scare the shit out of anyone.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

8. Part of it is the media shoving a microphone in the craziest faces.

[Enthusiast]

9. The chaos and craziness is serving a purpose.

In the past it was used as a smoke screen to distract us while they passed NAFTA, deregulated Wall Street, did away with Glass Steagal and passed the Telecommunications Act.

If we cannot see by now that this Operation started with the false election of Dubya in 2,000 we lack imagination. We thought it culminated with tax payers bailing out criminal fraudster banks to the tune of trillions of dollars. It didn't stop. It continues today with the TPP and TTIP.

[Skittles]

10. America is for sale to the highest bidders

unless it's our jobs, then it's the lowest bidders

[byronius]

11. One might optimistically suggest that it is their last chance.

They're clawing holes as they're dragged kicking and screaming into the future. Demographically they are doomed to be swept away, and when the tide really turns all the cheating and criminality implicit in all things they control will simply vanish. They will fall ten steps, not two.

The kids are all right. Maybe not in certain school districts, but I think in most. They're all pretty angry about the suicidal tendency of the teabillies, that 'burn it all down' apocalyptic urge they all have. They may not vote steady, yet, but if they thought they could really overthrow the game, remake things --

It could happen overnight, and probably will, as a result of some clear, hopefully less-than-catastrophic event of which we know absolutely nothing as of yet.

(Or one might not suggest anything like that at all.)

[Bluenorthwest]

13. I claim 'middle age' and I've never seen our politics any better or the bigots any less active.

A society that creates Fred Phelps and lets him attack uncontested for years is a fucked up society, kid. Straight America has always been one hair better than Phelps. This morning on DU folks are cheering for the Pope, an anti gay bigot who says he is at war with gay rights, God's war he calls it, also says abortion is murder, DU LOVES him.
This is how it has always been. Hate in the streets against anyone who dares to be different.