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It’s funny seeing people talk about the decline of America. I can remember the same conversations in the 1970’s, late 2000’s as well.

by refurb 1y ago

harimau777 1y ago
Back then we didn't have a fascist for president or a court full of people who will make up anything to get the results that they want.
api 1y ago
If we ever hit a point where nobody is talking about America being in decline, that will mean we are entering decline. I do think we’ve been in a down period when it comes to politics for a while but I am mid to long term optimistic about things getting better. This is not the first time we’ve had crazy massively divisive politics or populist crackpottery. Overall I do not think we are in any kind of terminal decline. What is happening is that other countries are rising. I think that’s good for us. When America was the only superpower it made us lazy and foolish. Look at how it works out in the corporate world. Take Intel for instance. They had a near monopoly for about a decade on top performing CPUs and it destroyed the company. Google carved out a monopoly on search and they are complete trash now. Pride cometh before a fall because pride causes the fall.
- zelphirkalt 1y ago
  My optimism for the US is quite limited, because they have kinda knowingly dismantled their own democracy, and are in the process of dismantling it even more, while the president tries as hard as possible to become a Putin-like dictator, and important decisions are made by tech giant owning oligarchs. A while longer and the US might enter a civil war or will simply lose all good will it had directed towards it in the world and will then stand alone, while other countries enable the US' competitors. If Americans do not change something about their trajectory soon, it will not end well for them, and probably not end well for many other countries either.
  - api 1y ago
    The US has a history of hitting rock bottom every so often. First constitutional crisis leading to the replacement of the articles of confederation, civil war, Great Depression and the new deal, the Vietnam era, and now the collapse of the post Cold War order. I am not sure fascism will take here. Americans might think they want it until the fascists start telling them what to do. We are kinda starting to see that. We will see more. Wait until some stand your ground red blooded American homeowner guns down a bunch of ICE goons doing a warrantless raid on the wrong house. I’m surprised it hasn’t happened yet. I’ve been checking the news for it daily. Then Trump tries to confiscate guns. I’ve been predicting for years that it’s MAGA who will try to “come for the guns.” That will be a hoot as they say a few hours South of where I am. Of course they still have the culture war card. For some reason trans derangement syndrome (TDS) still has a hold on people. I don’t understand why that particular thing works so well, even on some people you would not expect.
    - rightbyte 1y ago
      > For some reason trans derangement syndrome (TDS) still has a hold on people. I don’t understand why that particular thing works so well, even on some people you would not expect. I think it work as good as it does since there are no trans people around most people at all. It is a TV thing. Outside of big cities I have never seen anyone. Prevalence measures varies but in my 30k pop county there should be like from 3 to <1.
      - zoklet-enjoyer 1y ago
        I live in Fargo, ND. Conservative, small city. I work with 3 people who are trans and know another 3 outside of work and regularly see others around town. It does seem like a trend and I doubt most of them have dysphoria, but they're around and visible even in conservative areas.
        rightbyte 1y ago
        Fargo is the main population centre in North Dakota though, right? But ye the line between bisexual and transsexual have been blurried lately. Or maybe better put, I am not keeping track of the trends since I am no longer a student.
- refurb 1y ago
  What other countries are rising? I mean China is an obvious one but seems to be struggling. Europe is in decline. India continues to struggle. If anything, the US has pulled even further ahead since 1990. Back then the USSR was a near-power to the US, but has fallen significantly since then. Since all power is relative, you’d need to see the US falling relative to another country. And right now, I don’t really see a country on that trajectory.
  - watwut 1y ago
    China is gaining power as we speak. And USA is abdicating that power. Also, Russia seems to be a big winner currently, America will help them keep parts Ukraine and prepare for another invasion.
    - barbazoo 1y ago
      It’s certainly an amusing thread to read, the US has more power, no it has less, China is pulling ahead, actually it’s struggling, so is India, or not. If only there were numbers we could compare.
      - watwut 1y ago
        China is not without problems and had some problems in economy. This situation allows them to get ahead, internally plausiy blame Trump even for issues that existed even before, get new aliances and power. America is not gaining power, that part is pure wishful thinking.
- FirmwareBurner 1y ago
  >Google carved out a monopoly on search and they are complete trash now. Google search is only trash to the tech savvy user base, but the normies have no issues with it.
  - theodric 1y ago
    Aren't the normies using ChatGPT to generate something closely resembling plausible answers now, exactly because Google's quality has dipped? Jeez, the normies I know sure are, to a man...
kashunstva 1y ago
> I can remember the same conversations… Do you remember a president from those eras who when asked whether he believed that he was duty bound to uphold the Constitution answered “I don’t know.”? > It’s funny seeing people talk about the decline of America. Funny? I’d rather say it’s pretty sad.
- derektank 1y ago
  Nixon said many things that were nearly as offensive to the rule of law and separation of powers as outlined in the constitution, even if they weren't as ignorant as anything Trump has said
- parineum 1y ago
  He said the quiet part out loud but that doesn't change the fact that presidents have been ignoring the constitution for decades. It's a trivial example but Biden trying to unilaterally declare the ERA law was absurd and his student loan forgiveness was obviously going to be found unconditional and he did it anyway. Those aren't the actions of someone who takes the constitution seriously. Nevermind the patriot act...
  - dessimus 1y ago
    > Nevermind the patriot act... Whether you agree with it or not, at least the Patriot Act was passed by Congress and not simply Executive Orders because it's too inconvenient to work with Congress on legislation.
    - WrongAssumption 1y ago
      I don’t know that the majority of congress choosing to violate the constitution really makes your point.
      - dessimus 1y ago
        It was passed in 2001, surely there has been adequate time for parties to get a case to the Supreme Court and get it ruled as such. Especially with how quickly some of the Trump EOs have been turned down.

It’s funny seeing people talk about the decline of America. I can remember the same conversations in the 1970’s, late 2000’s as well.

by refurb 1y ago

It’s funny seeing people talk about the decline of America. I can remember the same conversations in the 1970’s, late 2000’s as well.

harimau777 1y ago

Back then we didn't have a fascist for president or a court full of people who will make up anything to get the results that they want.

api 1y ago

If we ever hit a point where nobody is talking about America being in decline, that will mean we are entering decline. I do think we’ve been in a down period when it comes to politics for a while but I am mid to long term optimistic about things getting better. This is not the first time we’ve had crazy massively divisive politics or populist crackpottery. Overall I do not think we are in any kind of terminal decline. What is happening is that other countries are rising. I think that’s good for us. When America was the only superpower it made us lazy and foolish. Look at how it works out in the corporate world. Take Intel for instance. They had a near monopoly for about a decade on top performing CPUs and it destroyed the company. Google carved out a monopoly on search and they are complete trash now. Pride cometh before a fall because pride causes the fall.

zelphirkalt 1y ago
My optimism for the US is quite limited, because they have kinda knowingly dismantled their own democracy, and are in the process of dismantling it even more, while the president tries as hard as possible to become a Putin-like dictator, and important decisions are made by tech giant owning oligarchs. A while longer and the US might enter a civil war or will simply lose all good will it had directed towards it in the world and will then stand alone, while other countries enable the US' competitors. If Americans do not change something about their trajectory soon, it will not end well for them, and probably not end well for many other countries either.
- api 1y ago
  The US has a history of hitting rock bottom every so often. First constitutional crisis leading to the replacement of the articles of confederation, civil war, Great Depression and the new deal, the Vietnam era, and now the collapse of the post Cold War order. I am not sure fascism will take here. Americans might think they want it until the fascists start telling them what to do. We are kinda starting to see that. We will see more. Wait until some stand your ground red blooded American homeowner guns down a bunch of ICE goons doing a warrantless raid on the wrong house. I’m surprised it hasn’t happened yet. I’ve been checking the news for it daily. Then Trump tries to confiscate guns. I’ve been predicting for years that it’s MAGA who will try to “come for the guns.” That will be a hoot as they say a few hours South of where I am. Of course they still have the culture war card. For some reason trans derangement syndrome (TDS) still has a hold on people. I don’t understand why that particular thing works so well, even on some people you would not expect.
  - rightbyte 1y ago
    > For some reason trans derangement syndrome (TDS) still has a hold on people. I don’t understand why that particular thing works so well, even on some people you would not expect. I think it work as good as it does since there are no trans people around most people at all. It is a TV thing. Outside of big cities I have never seen anyone. Prevalence measures varies but in my 30k pop county there should be like from 3 to <1.
    - zoklet-enjoyer 1y ago
      I live in Fargo, ND. Conservative, small city. I work with 3 people who are trans and know another 3 outside of work and regularly see others around town. It does seem like a trend and I doubt most of them have dysphoria, but they're around and visible even in conservative areas.
      - rightbyte 1y ago
        Fargo is the main population centre in North Dakota though, right? But ye the line between bisexual and transsexual have been blurried lately. Or maybe better put, I am not keeping track of the trends since I am no longer a student.
refurb 1y ago
What other countries are rising? I mean China is an obvious one but seems to be struggling. Europe is in decline. India continues to struggle. If anything, the US has pulled even further ahead since 1990. Back then the USSR was a near-power to the US, but has fallen significantly since then. Since all power is relative, you’d need to see the US falling relative to another country. And right now, I don’t really see a country on that trajectory.
- watwut 1y ago
  China is gaining power as we speak. And USA is abdicating that power. Also, Russia seems to be a big winner currently, America will help them keep parts Ukraine and prepare for another invasion.
  - barbazoo 1y ago
    It’s certainly an amusing thread to read, the US has more power, no it has less, China is pulling ahead, actually it’s struggling, so is India, or not. If only there were numbers we could compare.
    - watwut 1y ago
      China is not without problems and had some problems in economy. This situation allows them to get ahead, internally plausiy blame Trump even for issues that existed even before, get new aliances and power. America is not gaining power, that part is pure wishful thinking.
FirmwareBurner 1y ago
>Google carved out a monopoly on search and they are complete trash now. Google search is only trash to the tech savvy user base, but the normies have no issues with it.
- theodric 1y ago
  Aren't the normies using ChatGPT to generate something closely resembling plausible answers now, exactly because Google's quality has dipped? Jeez, the normies I know sure are, to a man...

kashunstva 1y ago

> I can remember the same conversations… Do you remember a president from those eras who when asked whether he believed that he was duty bound to uphold the Constitution answered “I don’t know.”? > It’s funny seeing people talk about the decline of America. Funny? I’d rather say it’s pretty sad.

derektank 1y ago
Nixon said many things that were nearly as offensive to the rule of law and separation of powers as outlined in the constitution, even if they weren't as ignorant as anything Trump has said
parineum 1y ago
He said the quiet part out loud but that doesn't change the fact that presidents have been ignoring the constitution for decades. It's a trivial example but Biden trying to unilaterally declare the ERA law was absurd and his student loan forgiveness was obviously going to be found unconditional and he did it anyway. Those aren't the actions of someone who takes the constitution seriously. Nevermind the patriot act...
- dessimus 1y ago
  > Nevermind the patriot act... Whether you agree with it or not, at least the Patriot Act was passed by Congress and not simply Executive Orders because it's too inconvenient to work with Congress on legislation.
  - WrongAssumption 1y ago
    I don’t know that the majority of congress choosing to violate the constitution really makes your point.
    - dessimus 1y ago
      It was passed in 2001, surely there has been adequate time for parties to get a case to the Supreme Court and get it ruled as such. Especially with how quickly some of the Trump EOs have been turned down.