Could the "Great American Experiment" fail?

[annabanana]

This Country is so young. The concept of "government of, by & for The People" is such a new concept in the History of Nations.

We are at the testing point and the crucible is hot indeed. We are only a few generations out from an Absolute Monarchy. It is not such a long way to fall as all that, after all.

Will the History of the United States be recorded as an aberration.. as a bright, blinding light, burning out as quickly as it ignited?

(feeling gloomy at this year's end)

[alfredo]

1. It isn't failing, it is being killed. It isn't incompetence, or fatal flaws in

the experiment, it is a hand full of greedy men and women who want democracy to die.

[rodeodance]

2. yes, GREED TAKES OVER AND IT WILL FAIL.

[Jim__]

3. Of course it can. It's up to "we, the people" to see that it doesn't - n/t

[napi21]

6. Similar GREED took over the Country before...

"The Great Depression"! Certainly it was before any of us were born, but I remember reading & being told about only a hand full of VERY wealthy people; how workers were abused, forced to work 18-20 hrs a day for horrible wages, & not permitted even to use a bathroom. They FINALLY got really ppissed off and formed unions to fight back! I happen to believe it's going to take circumstances similarly traumatic now to force enough people to FIGHT BACK! I do believe it will happen, but I probably won't be around to see it.

[LynnTheDem]

4. Iceland is the world’s oldest democracy.

Maybe it's time America gave it a try.

[Toots]

5. Do you truly believe it was ever intended to be for we the people?

Why the electoral college? Why does every state have two Senators? Why were women not allowed a vote when our Constitution was first written? Were they not considered "people"? Even when Lincoln gave his famous Gettysburg Address woman nor Blacks had the right to vote....So we never began as a country that was ruled "Of the people, by the people, for the people." but as a white "mans" country with a counter to the unwashed unlearned masses through the US Senate..

[annabanana]

7. I never expected

The United States to spring, full-blown, into the 21st Century out of the heads of 18th Century Men.

[TahitiNut]

9. The legacy of colonialism is exaggerated PROPERTY entitlements -

... and minimization of human rights and civil liberties. This is seen in EVERY former colony from the monarchical era. It's one thing to break the shackles from the wrists and ankles and yet another to free the minds from old, corrupt paradigms.

Never mind though ... some day our Prince will come. :eyes:

[melody]

12. By some of the founders, it was

John Adams and Ben Franklin were people who shared a better vision for it. We can't define the founders by
the more negative elements alone.

[brazos121200]

8. Ten years ago I would have said "No way". Today I have to say

it's possible. My son wanted to go to visit Washington DC since he's never been. I thought about and decided I really don't want to visit there or the White House as long as the current resident is there. My dad took me to Washington when I was 10 many years ago and then I had only respect for the country and our presidents. Now my admiration and faith in the integrity of this country and our democracy has been shaken if not shattered. If we will elect anti-science morons and war criminals to the highest office in the land what does that say about our citizens?

[leftofthedial]

10. it was hijacked in the aftermath of WWII

and the coup of 2000 completed its death

[The2ndWheel]

11. How could it not?

Of, by, and for the people goes out the window as soon as physical reality no longer matters. As soon as we need representatives representing increasing numbers of people, so that we can do our separate jobs, and the politicians can do their distant jobs, things become of, by, and for the process which allows such a system to exist. It becomes of, by, and for the state. It becomes of, by, and for the corporation. Which is why that experiment never really existed, and if it did, it was eradicated when the centers of power needed to grow.

[melody]

13. We're the Great American Experiment ... we'll survive no matter what

Who knows, maybe something far better will come out of the current crucible.

[Didereaux]

14. The Roman Empire lasted only slightly longer than we have already lasted...scary huh?