9 Signs of America in Decline

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The authors real point came out in the last sentences, " But a brand-name leader can't just strong-arm his nation back to greatness. He needs a lot of help from educated, healthy, and employed citizens determined to spread the wealth." All we have to do to get back into the the top of the list is to help Obama spread the wealth and accept his health insurance reform. If the author would check his facts he would find that Americans in general give more to charities than any other country ever has. But maybe he means that the government should take more than any other country and that would solve all our problems. America didn't grow to become the country it is by oppressive taxes and over burdening regulations. Obama's or more accurately, the congressional democrats, health insurance reform misses the mark of reducing health care costs. They didn't touch tort reform or address the fact that medicare and medicad have been increasingly shorting doctors and hospitals for 30 years. This is the real reason private health insurance has been going up. Republicans are either stupid or fools for not correcting these problems when they had the majorities. In the end Americans will all have insurance forced on them and very little health care to be had. Those who really need care will have to wait in line.
If we continue to follow the authors "brand-name leader" we will have fewer jobs, less economic growth, more poverty, lower education standard, less competiveness, less prosperity, poorer health, much worse well-being and less happiness.

Bill of OH 10:54AM May 14, 2010

Read through a couple of the comments left here. It's no wonder America is in decline; you'd think some of these comments were left by people whose second language is English...

Taylor of MS 5:00PM May 11, 2010

I lived in America for many years but I realise American dream don't exist and
I need to wake up to reality of America nightmare. Capitalism greed played huge role for harding working citizens never feeds the family. Usury is ruining the American banking system for centuries and all that credit card business is handle by the devils own hand.All the polticians are brainwashing citizens about bailing out the banks and big corperations. I wish they just bail out average citizens whom are struggling to pay off devils usary debts. If your graduate student good luck finding good paying jobs. Poverty rate is getting higher because capitalism proof that greed exist in the system. By the way equality is delusion especially on race and religion. I have experience discrimination as I lived in the Jim Crow era. This is not a free country for me when they can't protect me from terrorist attacks or extremist on American soil.

Mandela of NY 5:04AM May 06, 2010

More importantly, the teachers should have the degrees in Math and Science to teach these subjects as were my teachers back in India. It is not enough to have a MA or MS in education. I retired as a professor of ECE. When I do the math with head and write the answer on the board, the students in my classes always wonder how the hell I got the answer. They need a calculator and follow through several key punches to get the answer. It is not a bad idea to use technology but technology does not necessarily improve one's ability to think logically (i.e. math).

S. Natarajan of TN 11:11PM April 26, 2010

Many people always think about the end of the world but never consider america could come to an end long before the world does. The world and commerce in other nations could roll on long after america is dead and gone. Have you ever wondered why you dont see america in the bibles prediction of the end of the world. Maybe it is because america does not exsist at the end of the world

Dave of MI 8:56AM April 26, 2010

First of all, let me start by saying I am a teacher with a Master's in Special Education and a Bachelor's in Interdisciplinary Studies (Elementary Education 1-8).
The major reason that our students are not fairing as well on math and science is that many of our teachers are still teaching as if it is the 1980's and 1990's. Many veteran teachers are not comfortable with technology and students loose interest in the "old-fashioned" presentation of instruction. Students today want more hands-on, technology-based instruction.
We teachers must bring the instruction to the students in a way that they can relate to. The old memorize and regurgitate facts is just not going to cut it. We need to facilitate learning experiences that teach children to think critically and come up with their own analysis, or viewpoint, on things.
While the nations are progressing in technology, some teachers are still pulling out VHS tapes and a VCR in a sad attempt to make learning experiences authentic.
We are preparing children for jobs that do not even exist yet, so we have to provide the educational experiences that will prepare them for these jobs of tomorrow.

Shawna of TX 8:52PM April 08, 2010

Like many Americans, when I first heard about the disaster
in Haiti, I reached for my check book. Later in the afternoon,
on the local news, I heard that "Meal on Wheels" was unable to
provide food for some local seniors. I decided to help my neigh-
bors instead. It's a decision I hope others make too-- take care
of our own first!

Suzanne W of NC 11:26AM March 28, 2010

We need to take care of our own. We send money in a minute to help with disasters but when we have disasters, we don't see any help hardly coming from other nations. I know it looks good when we help but now we are in trouble in everything and we need to take care of our own. A big number one is do something about the credit card companies that are charging up to 30% interest and then ask why you can't pay your card back. They are not caring for our own, they are caring for me, me, me!! Obama puts this health care plan through with the many ifs in it. Passing something that no ones knows what is in it. Obama just wanted his name on passing the health care bill, a president that made this happen. Again, me, me, and me!! Our wages are not going up so we can spend more money. Again, they (meaning whomever owns the business) is caring about me, me, me!!!! When the middle class is complaining that they can't make it you know we are in trouble. When you can't make it on two adults working, you know you are in trouble. Lets get us all working again, working makes money so you can spend money so the country survives this. Obama should number one work on job creation which he hasn't shown me anything. He's worried about this health bill. That should have been last. This makes the businesses worry that they will be bombarded with this bill - even penalized monetarily for not having it. They are not hiring if this happens. We do not need a socialized country which is exactly the way the country is heading. All of us depending on the government for everything. Hey there, we live in America!!!! Let's act like it.

rhonda of KS 1:11PM March 26, 2010

We're seeing the nasty effects of 30 years of neocon economics policies of borrow and spend, massive corporate welfare handouts, and tipping the economic scales towards the upper 1% and heavily against the middle class. It's cause and effect...the government was intentionally gutted of critical regulatory oversights and tax codes that kept vulture capitalism in check, and rampant abuses are what was expected and predicted by some, but ignored by most. Welcome to the inevitable.

Ffej of MN 2:03PM March 25, 2010

Here's what we need to do ASAP:
1. Reform immigration and end the anchor babies law, remove illegal immigrants
2. Tax the hell out of companies that ship jobs overseas and provide tax cuts to foreign companies willing to invest in US
3. Reform the tax system and end earned income credit
4. Reform health care and require all citizens to get health insurance and implement the public option
5. End the war in Iraq and nation building efforts and send our money and soldier back home
6. Implement a statewide transit system to take away the monopoly of airline companies and to help with the environment and gas cost
7. Implement the four day school week but with longer school days
Congress, however, lacks the courage to do these things because every choice will set off anger among another voting bloc. We are declining because our leaders lack courage to make any real changes. I just hope they don't wait until we are facing utter disaster before they attempt to do anything.

Sharon of TX 8:00PM March 19, 2010