The State of the US

[lustindarkness]

Situation now will pale in comparison when the Zombie Apocalypse hits. BTW, the poll needs a Jaron option.

[Valmy]

Asians have overtaken Hispanics as the largest group of new immigrants. They are usually wealthier, more educated, and outperform whites. Asians will rebuild America and lead it into the 22nd century.

Well I did not think any of our problems was connected to the race of our immigrants...but hey if they do great for them.

[The Minsky Moment]

When you strip away all the noise and fury, the political system works pretty well.
We got ourselves into an all-advised war, but eventually figured out how to muddle through it and get out without a complete disaster.
We over-reacted in a crack down on terrorism but the Supreme Court and the press both stepped in different ways to counteract the most serious abuses.
Of all the OECD countries, our policy response to the financial crisis and recession was probably the most rational.

The game of chicken on the debt limit is the one thing that gives me pause.  But it seems like the lesson has sunk in that it can't ever be allowed to go that far again.  Cross fingers.

The other concern is the failure to come up with a serious policy response to global warming but the US is far from unique in that regard.

[Phillip V]

Asians have overtaken Hispanics as the largest group of new immigrants. They are usually wealthier, more educated, and outperform whites. Asians will rebuild America and lead it into the 22nd century.

Well I did not think any of our problems was connected to the race of our immigrants...but hey if they do great for them.

Agree. Race has not caused any problems in American history.

[Valmy]

Asians have overtaken Hispanics as the largest group of new immigrants. They are usually wealthier, more educated, and outperform whites. Asians will rebuild America and lead it into the 22nd century.

Well I did not think any of our problems was connected to the race of our immigrants...but hey if they do great for them.

Agree. Race has not caused any problems in American history.

I think our problems are over-stretch, dealing with the problems of changes in the 21st century, and our current political quagmire.  I do not think the immigrants have much to do with that at all.  And no race has not been the problem, racism has

But if you are right, hey great.

[Valmy]

When you strip away all the noise and fury, the political system works pretty well.

I guess I feel precisely the opposite.  The noise and fury are just things to distract us from the problems in the political system.  But ultimately the sound and fury mean nothing.

[Maximus]

When you strip away all the noise and fury, the political system works pretty well.

I guess I feel precisely the opposite.  The noise and fury are just things to distract us from the problems in the political system.  But ultimately the sound and fury mean nothing.

Yea pretty much

#2 but replace "will" with "can". It's not assured-- one of our biggest threats is complacency-- but many systems are still fully operational and there is hope that what is broken can be fixed..

[CountDeMoney]

It's all bullshit.

[The Brain]

A profound malaise has gripped America since at least the Bonus Army debacle.

[11B4V]

A profound malaise has gripped America since at least the Bonus Army debacle.

At 4:45 p.m., commanded by Gen. Douglas MacArthur, the 12th Infantry Regiment, Fort Howard, Maryland, and the 3rd Cavalry Regiment, supported by six battle tanks commanded by Maj. George S. Patton, formed in Pennsylvania Avenue while thousands of civil service employees left work to line the street and watch. The Bonus Marchers, believing the troops were marching in their honor, cheered the troops until Patton ordered[citation needed] the cavalry to charge them—an action which prompted the spectators to yell, "Shame! Shame!"

[Ed Anger]

I hope we take everybody down with us.

[The Minsky Moment]

The US political system is designed to work.
It is not designed to look pretty in the process.

[garbon]

I vote 3 but would remove the last sentence of option 1. We haven't really had imperial-like holdings in quite sometime (thinking Philippines and Cuba) nor do I think we're rotting.

[grumbler]

A profound malaise has gripped America since at least the Bonus Army debacle.

At 4:45 p.m., commanded by Gen. Douglas MacArthur, the 12th Infantry Regiment, Fort Howard, Maryland, and the 3rd Cavalry Regiment, supported by six battle tanks commanded by Maj. George S. Patton, formed in Pennsylvania Avenue while thousands of civil service employees left work to line the street and watch. The Bonus Marchers, believing the troops were marching in their honor, cheered the troops until Patton ordered[citation needed] the cavalry to charge them—an action which prompted the spectators to yell, "Shame! Shame!"

Good point; the decline in the US began when people started quoting those shitty Wikipedia articles on the internet like they were credible.

[garbon]

A profound malaise has gripped America since at least the Bonus Army debacle.

At 4:45 p.m., commanded by Gen. Douglas MacArthur, the 12th Infantry Regiment, Fort Howard, Maryland, and the 3rd Cavalry Regiment, supported by six battle tanks commanded by Maj. George S. Patton, formed in Pennsylvania Avenue while thousands of civil service employees left work to line the street and watch. The Bonus Marchers, believing the troops were marching in their honor, cheered the troops until Patton ordered[citation needed] the cavalry to charge them—an action which prompted the spectators to yell, "Shame! Shame!"

Good point; the decline in the US began when people started quoting those shitty Wikipedia articles on the internet like they were credible.

He did keep the citation needed.