Americans aren't sure anything in america works anymore.

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 15:00:29 -0500

I don't understand why Americans would say our best days are behind us. They must not realize what our country has been through the past 17 years. If the good days are behind us, I shudder to think what the future holds for us. Our "Best Days" are not behind us at all. The past three administrations have been through hell, but there are always optimistic leaders out there that think they can do better. Those doubters ought to take a knee and thank God they are Americans. Our country wasn't built on what happened before our time. It was built on what we can all do now to make it better.

A new survey finds rising numbers who say the deck is stacked and our best days are over.

Here's a brief, non-exhaustive list of things that a new poll says Americans don't have much faith in: the government, businesses, the economy, the power of their vote and the future of the United States.

The overall mood of the country is one of "anxiety, nostalgia and mistrust," according to the 2015 American Values Survey, which was released Tuesday by the nonpartisan Public Religion Research Institute.

"Fear is not an emotion that you see often in public opinion polls, but it was clearly there in the fall of 2008 and early 2009" after the economic collapse, said Karlyn Bowman, of the conservative American Enterprise Institute, during a Tuesday panel discussion of the survey. "Americans aren't confident that we've fixed what went wrong."

Many, in fact, see the country as on the decline. The poll found that 53 percent of Americans say the nation's culture and way of life have changed for the worse since the 1950s. Forty-nine percent now say America's best days are behind it, up from 38 percent who said the same in 2012. Democrats remain more bullish, while Republicans and tea party members are the most pessimistic.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/america-future-survey_564bae1de4b045bf3df193bd?ir=Politics%253Fncid%253Dnewsltushpmg00000003

Americans Aren't Sure Anything In America Works Anymore

A new survey finds rising numbers who say the deck is stacked and our best days are over.

Response by SSgt David Tedrow made Nov 18 at 2015 3:20 PM

SSgt David Tedrow — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 15:20:07 -0500

Well if our government does not start doing better VERY soon we are going to be fighting for our lives and freedom on our own soil.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 18 at 2015 3:21 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 15:21:55 -0500

Good question.
Is it legitimately worse now than fifty years ago or just different?
A "simpler time" with "obvious" problems like the Soviets and blatant racism versus our modern "complex world" without a clear enemy to hit and hidden societal ills.
Can it be a case of the "older i get, the better I was?" And as we get further away from that time the more we idealize it and whitewash the problems of the time.
Or is it a lack of faith? Not in God but in our fellow Americans. Because that's what it takes to destroy a country. You can survive bad or incompetent citizens and leaders, but you can't survive not having faith in that they love their country as much as you, albeit in a different way our with a different vision.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Nov 18 at 2015 3:27 PM

CPT Jack Durish — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 15:27:43 -0500

I know what works. I've seen it. I've studied it. Individual liberty.

I know what doesn't work. I've seen it. I've studied it. Centralized control.

We the People have surrendered individual liberties for centralized control. Why? Are we collectively that dumb?

Response by LTC David S. Chang, ChFC®, CLU® made Nov 18 at 2015 3:37 PM

LTC David S. Chang, ChFC®, CLU® — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 15:37:39 -0500

I believe that our best days are always ahead of us. When you look at history, we had some very dark times. The revolutionary war, civil war, big recessions and depressions, attacks on our soil, hot wars, cold wars, economic turmoil, crime, poverty.....the list goes on

But I always see that we are resilient and find ways to be innovative with new processes, technology, values, etc that make our country stronger. I remember when people thought Japan and the Soviet Union was going to take over, but we overcame.

I believe that we will continue to build a stronger future!

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Nov 18 at 2015 3:52 PM

LTC Stephen F. — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 15:52:31 -0500

I believe our best days are ahead of us SGT Private RallyPoint Member. By February 2017 I certainly hope our nation's trajectory is shifted toward a business friendly, significant cleaning up and reduction in regulations, coherent foreign policy, and a government tat works well together instead of a POTUS and administration which is at odds with Congress so often.

Response by SGT Francis Wright made Nov 18 at 2015 4:23 PM

SGT Francis Wright — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 16:23:45 -0500

The past 3? Here is a little known fact for you; did you know that the states turned over refugee processing to the feds during the Carter Administration? So this predicament was started by him and will be be completed by Obama. This is 40 years in the making.

Response by Sgt Nick Marshall made Nov 18 at 2015 4:40 PM

Sgt Nick Marshall — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 16:40:04 -0500

I go to France quite often, my fiancée lives there and here. The attitude in Europe of most Europeans is the US is on the decline. Infrastructure is old and falling apart (if you've been to Western Europe you know what I mean) our discretionary budget is over 1/2 on defense, that is not sustainable. Income inequality is an outrage, the middle class is disappearing quickly. I'm saying this as a 9 yr marine corps vet not as a liberal American hater.

Response by SPC George Rudenko made Nov 18 at 2015 4:51 PM

SPC George Rudenko — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 16:51:18 -0500

Americans don't know anything anymore

Response by SPC Rory J. Mattheisen made Dec 26 at 2015 4:49 PM

SPC Rory J. Mattheisen — Sat, 26 Dec 2015 16:49:12 -0500

Americas best days are surely ahead of her, those who wish to romanticize years they didn't live through should study them. Especially those who are not white, able-bodied men. Our nation has not been kind to minorities, women, or those who do not fit within a very precise parameter; the glory days of our great nation are surely ahead of her.

Response by MSgt Marvin Kinderknecht made Dec 26 at 2015 8:10 PM

MSgt Marvin Kinderknecht — Sat, 26 Dec 2015 20:10:37 -0500

I think it all adds up to which age group you are asking. Us elderly folks say we are going to hell in a heartbeat. Liberalism has taken over. The press prints only half the news. Every shooting is blamed on the gun. My kid can't pray, wear, or say what he wants in most places. Anybody can marry anybody. Hell, I can go on forever. The younger croud call this progress. Yes, I am lost in the 50's and before that. I can remember when the elderly were respected and we said yes mam and yes sir and even opened doors. Our Country maybe strong but our morals are so low it/s hard to believe. When I talk to active military, I can't believe what the young troops get away with. Thanks for letting blow steam. this is still MY country. I fought for her and will die for her and I thanks all served. GOD BLESS AMERICA.