I know why our country is in shambles?

[ej510]

It is because most Americans are oblivious to what is happening to them. My friends and family alone, have no clue what the hell is going on, because most people find politics to be boring, I tell people to pay attention, because it affects their income. It doesn't matter which is why our country is ignorant on most subjects. It may be a reason why network news predominately tabloid news now. I know the corporate media spews propaganda, but the American people love reality TV, Tabloid magazines, and tabloid news. TMZ, Entertainment Tonite, and others exist, because most Americans enjoy brain dead TV.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

1. That is why I keep saying that Americans are stupid. In Europe, people take an interest...

in politics. When I lived there, even construction workers, taxi drivers, etc. knew more about our country and theirs, and current events, history, geography, etc. than ordinary folks do here.

Here, the only 'knowledge' ordinary people (THINK THEY) have, comes from their right wing Christian churches, and the right wing brain-dead media.

[nadinbrzezinski]

7. Ah how much we have changed

Read Dmeocracy in America by Toqueville... he was amazed at how much mere hands knew of European affairs.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

14. Things did change, huh? Well, you don't have to go that far back....

I have a friend whose grandparents and parents were from Italy, very poor farmers in Italy, came as immigrants, etc. They moved to NY. These folks were always listening to the news on the radio, and were VERY informed on what was going on, but more importantly, discussed these issues with others, so they became even more educated, and educated one another, plus shared opinions.

Nowadays, you travel throughout America, and find nothing but ignorance. No one knows a thing even tho we're inundated with information. Sure, you have to sort through it cautiously, but for chrissakes, I can't understand why they wouldn't even bother. Instead, they're watching bullshit, like reality shows. Maybe the pain of this existence is too much to bear and they need to 'medicate' themselves watching garbage that removes them from reality.

[onethatcares]

15. Sarah, that was due to

those grandparents being put through the wringer in earlier times. They knew what the speeches and drumbeats sounded like all their lives and didn't want their adopted country to become more of the same they emmigrated from.

Nowadays, it seems we retreat to the a/c or heat or we're too damn tired to sit around and share a beer at the local watering hole and discuss what's going on. Alot changed with the selection of * and the beginnning of the teaparty.

Keep talking to those blind folks.

Peace to ya.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

16. There are too many blind, deaf and dumb people for us to reach them all. nt

[Raven]

2. ej, I've had the same thoughts. I have very good friends, wonderful,

loving, caring people who take pride in not following what's going on in the world. They kid me about being so interested in such boring and mundane things as politics. I think they will be in for a very rude awakening very soon.

[ej510]

3. I post important stories on Facebook all of the time, and they are ignored.

If I post bullshit, I got a lot of responses. It's sad.

[LanternWaste]

10. I imagine the venue may help or hinder the message...

I imagine the venue may help or hinder the message... :shrug:

I don't look for cartoons on CNN, I don't watch movies on the back of cereal boxes, and I apply that to religion and politics on Facebook.

As an aside, I often brush off self-defined prophets when I'm in cartoon mode, as I often brush off cartoons when I'm in a political mood; and recognize that my particular moods may not coincide with that of my friends, my family and my acquaintances.

[CrispyQ]

4. A few years ago when Atlanta was having that terrible drought,

my sister & her husband were planning a trip there during that time. I mentioned the drought & asked him if he thought it would affect their plans. "What drought?" he asked. But he could tell you every college team that was playing that weekend.

Several years back, a co-worker stood in front of me & vehemently declared that "Bill Maloney did not violate any laws & does not deserve to be indicted." I thought, "Maloney? Who the hell is he talking about & how did I miss a story this big?" Turns out he was talking about Tom Delay. :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

Of all of my friends, family & acquaintances, I only know of two others that take any interest in politics.

[Booster]

5. Everytime I try to explain what is going on to my friends, they

either say "yea, yea" or they this glazed look in their eyes and say "oh, look, a squirrel". It's frustrating to say the least.

[ej510]

6. This is why sometimes I feel like this country cannot be saved.

In reality things are going to have to get much worse. That is the only way people will wake up. How much worse? I do not know.

[ChicagoRonin]

8. We've been too comfortable . . .

In some ways, I think we've reached an inevitable point. The U.S. has been so successful and so powerful for so long, the entire country has lost touch with the fundamentals of life. Yes, there's still real poverty and desperation in many parts of the country, but on a large scale unfound in most other parts of the world, there's an assumption of prosperity, stability and opportunity among the general populace. Hence, because there aren't wars or overt injustice happening on every street corner, people don't really understand what it means. In many other countries, there might be a shanty town next door to your middle class home, not just a handful of annoying panhandlers. Because we have so much (comparable) material comfort, it's easy for everyone to turn their attention to the trivial and mundane. Gossip, rumor and entertainment have replaced knowledge, trivia has replaced understanding. Until everyone in this country is faced with desperation up front and center, nothing will change. And that moment might be coming. Not looking forward to it.

[ej510]

9. Most Americans do not care what is happening around the world.

[CrispyQ]

13. We've also become arrogant in our comfort.

So arrogant, in fact, that many American's don't see our decline, even as many of them are experiencing it in their personal lives. I fear you are right that it will have to get much worse for many more people, before they start paying attention to things that matter.

[LeftinOH]

11. The whole country feels like it's stuck in High School: Many decent people

are silenced or ignored, but cruel loudmouth idiots get all the attention.

[ej510]

12. Teabaggers, many who are illiterate receive all of the attention.

[Octafish]

17. TV has shaped American minds into good, little, unquestioning consumer units.

The owners of the TV stations can do without them getting the interested, aware and active citizen parts.

[RegieRocker]

18. Americans in the past were much worse. They hung many a folk

in lynch mobs without a trial If anything Americans are better programmed now then they have ever been.

[JoePhilly]

19. Let's keep telling them that Obama is evil, and that Ds and Rs are all the same.

They'll watch Fox News, and most of the "liberal media", and hear the same thing.

That ... "Obama is bad", and that "Ds and Rs are all the same".

And they'll stay home. They won't vote at all. Why should they vote?

And then, the far right wing crazies will elect more Tea Party whack jobs to run a government that they hate, a government that they would love to destroy.

We better figure out who the real enemy is and get focused.