Do Americans in general

[mmonk]

seem more dark and less tolerant and are bold about it, or is it just my imagination? If so, is our goose cooked unless catrastophe befalls the average American and they snap out of it. I've never felt this uncomfortable about this country. How can the dems make headway when we are so villified constantly by the right on a daily basis?

[Mountainman]

1. I think catastrophe has to befall us

Some people are getting so arrogant that the only next step is to fall.

Pride cometh before the fall. I really expect some terrorist to nuke an American city before too long.

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. The minority that has alwasy been among us

if far more vocal, no it is not your imagination

It will take a disaster for the rest to break out of it... and it is coming

No not necessarily a terror attack... that would help the Emperor to further consolidate his power... but an economic dislocation not seen since oh.... 1929

[kuozzman]

3. Absolutely! This is BS and more people are finally catching on...

People in general are pissed! I've noticed just on the radio and especially! on CSPAN, on call ins or during Q&As, just about every person talks about having financial trouble, no health care, realizing that the f'n Medicare bill Bush passed sucks and only helped pharmys. I'd say at least 50% of America really has some serious rage building up inside. Then add to that Vioxx probably getting off the hook for knowingly selling meds that increase heart attack chances, Fannie Mae ripped off billions from America and helped cause the housing bubble, the Cheney investigations seem to be going well, the 529 college savings plans Bush has been touting don't end up saving shit, b/c gov accepts deals w/tons of fees. S.S. doesn't need to be privatized at all! Bush just wants to put hundreds of billions in the hands of the banks that were his biggest doners. Not to mention that Social Security is just a hidden tax on the American people to begin with.
First of all, just the title itself is a contradiction of reality. As the unelected head of America’s monetary system recently confirmed, those at or near retirement need not worry about receiving their benefits, but people who about ten years or so to go, don’t count on it. The fact that this is happening is a perfect example of how corrupt and greedy our government is. In 1950, there were 16 workers for every Social Security beneficiary. In 1996, there were 3.3.
According to a 1998 Boston University study, an 18 year old earning average income over their lifetime would contribute $723,591 in Social Security taxes. They would only receive $140,000 in benefits!!!
So there should be a lot of extra money in there for when the baby-boomers start to retire, right? Nope, unfortunately the government either stole it and used it for general expenditures, used it to offset debts, or took the money and left some IOUs that it can’t pay. In the last five years, the federal government has taken $94.5 billion in fiscal 2000, $98.7 billion in 2001, $89 billion in 2002, $82 billion in fiscal 2003, and approximately $71 billion in fiscal 2004 that just ended September 30th for a grand five year total of $435 billion. The Social Security trust funds (Federal Old Age & Survivors Insurance and Federal Disability Insurance that we normally think of as one trust fund) balance now stands at $1.6 trillion and change, 22.2 percent of the national debt. That’s right; the S.S. surplus is actually a debt. Anyone receiving benefits now is basically receiving them directly from the paychecks of those currently working.
And now he want to privatize it????? scrrrrreeeeaaaaaammmmmmm!

[AndyTiedye]

4. Catastrophe Only Makes It Worse