Sadly, I do think that America is finished. Alexander Tytler summed it up quite succinctly:

A democracy is always temporary in nature; it simply cannot exist as a permanent form of government. A democracy will continue to exist up until the time that voters discover that they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates who promise the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that every democracy will finally collapse due to loose fiscal policy, which is always followed by a dictatorship.
The average age of the world's greatest civilisations from the beginning of history has been about 200 years. During those 200 years, these nations always progressed through the following sequence: From bondage to spiritual faith; From spiritual faith to great courage; From courage to liberty; From liberty to abundance; From abundance to selfishness; From selfishness to complacency; From complacency to apathy; From apathy to dependence; From dependence back into bondage.

The American ideal of capitalism has kept the nation surviving and prospering for almost two centuries. The decline started politically at the beginning of the 20th century but was offset by the tremendous advances in manufacturing and technology. As the century came to a close, the decline increased rapidly until today, it is in a power dive to total transformation. Can it be saved? Doubtful, but that should not deter from the attempt.

By the way, I'm probably of your grandparent's generation. Any time you need a living testimony, just summon me up.

It is like the homeless man's inscription after 10-289 in AS2: America Born: 7/4/1776 Died: Yesterday.

I think the Republic is doomed. We are in the final death throws. How long it will actually take is anyones guess. I also think the next 20 months until the looter in chief is gone will be increasingly dangerous. He is bent on destroying the remains of the Constitution and Bill of Rights, consequenses be damned.

America, as we think of it is finished. It was finished as soon as the Federalist, John Adams became the President and appointed Alexander Hamilton as Secretary of the Treasury. The killing blows were delivered by Wilson and Roosevelt. We're just in our death rattles today. Pretty soon, we'll start decomposition with bad smells.

America is almost finished and the final nail in America's coffin will be driven when the next liberal supreme court justice is sworn in. That is why a conservative president must be elected. Electing the next president is more important than republican, libertarian, Baptist, Jew, Catholic, it must be about what kind of lawyer will be nominated to the supreme court. If a liberal is nominated to replace a conservative justice, the constitution will cease to exist. Forget your ideas that divide us. Remove liberal democrats and republicans from office by uniting behind one conservative candidate. Don't stay home if your brand of conservative is not the nominee. Don't elect a liberal because you are too pigheaded to go vote. Don't do that to your country. Fight hard in the primaries, but if you love America, unite in the general election.

" I want to move to..." NO Country offers the opportunities and Liberty of America - none. " I think America is over..." Wrong. What I`m reading in most of the comments is "We can`t win, so we won`t fight" If that`s your conclusion I urge you to go. Australia, England - really? Try some South American country- but you may want to check their history first, most of them were military dictatorships in the past and let`s not forget that history tends to repeat itself. That will suck when you`ve sold everything and the cabana is ringed with federales and you can`t come back. Want my advice? No? too bad, here it is- grow a pair! Move the hell out of the cities where it WILL get bad quick, teach your children respect, honor and how to feed themselves, the respect and honor will compel them to feed the others that will show up and are willing to learn to contribute. Teach them compassion and marksmanship, the first will determine the need for the second. Demand your elected officials follow their oath - and hold them accountable, not on voting day, EVERY day. This Republic stands in the condition it is in today because WE allow it, Let`s just not allow it anymore, it won`t be quick, but it IS that simple. We are unique, we are an exceptional Nation because of our founding on the principles of Liberty and natural rights - we go and the planet follows. If you`re good with that, then by all means, move to Belize - you were`nt meant to be here anyway. I feel better now.

Sad to say, yes, America is finished.
I say this without the slightest hint of Schadenfreude, as I was once immensely proud of America.
America was once the "sweet land of liberty" that Russian immigrant Ayn Rand dreamed and wrote about.
Now, alas, it is a modern day version of Rome under Caligula and Nero, a degenerate empire to foreigners, and oppressive police state to its domestic population.
I never thought I would live to see the day when America came to this sad state.

I agree with bbuckeye, RonC, and Herb. I do not think the Republic is per se finished. There is still a chance to delay its decline or turn it around altogether.

Abaco has the right of it as far as history is concerned, so we have to take into consideration that we are fighting against an innate human tendency as well as against the immediate situation. Nonetheless, we have extended human life span and I see no reason that we cannot extend the lifespan of the USA.

What steps do we take? One, which we have been discussing on other threads, is to lead with media: Aglialoro, the hallings, and others on this site are doing this personally. We need to cheer them on and support their attempts to promote Heroism, individuality, and Capitalism.

The next big step is for individual states to stand forth against the socialist trend - Texas and Alaska come to mind (Arizona was heading that way but seems to have foundered; New Hampshire maybe is in the game). These big states need to politely decline government funds on the basis of their own profitable economies and, within their boundaries, strike out for as much personal freedom as they can.

I think that if these things happen (and we are presently watching the attempts) we will have the foundation to elect a series of presidents and congressmen who can perform simple math, only take discrete bribes, and who can keep their dorks in their pants for a whole 8 years at a time.

This is not as spectacular as a red-running-in-the-street revolution, but it is a better path. We still have a chance to take it.

Jan

We are in decline because over the years since the 60's we have made the political decisions to be in decline. By tax policy, energy policy, foreign policy, regulatory environment we have created an environment of mediocrity. In a sea of worldwide competition we have one hand tied behind our back and concrete shoes.

It is the progressive , Robin Hood, approach to redistribution and regulation that has stifled growth. It is the anti fossil fuel movement that has curtailed energy independence. It is the political quagmire that fights war to a draw (at best) rather than a victory.

Somehow, it has become politically popular to embrace "getting by" rather than excellence. If you live in excellence, you either don't deserve it because others have less than you, or you really didn't achieve that yourself because the gov't provides the infrastructure for you. (this is untrue, because gov't doesn't show up until after the business has achieved...check out the history of Scranton PA.)

If a leader and a serious band of rebellious representatives restored economic and political freedom, USA could recover fairly quickly. If we continue to have American leaders that look to gauge the World's opinion of themselves, then American interests will continue to take a back seat to political correctness and courting favor abroad.

There is a lot of wealth that had been built up since the country started, partly because of the taking over of so much land when the country was started, and the manipulating of other countries over the years.. Also, the free market bent of our culture helped greatly to expand our opportunities. Since I got out of college in 1966, I have seen a big and continuous decline in opportunities here, to the point that I think if I were younger I would go live in China where there seem to be more opportunities now. Between the fear of lawyers and liability on the one side, and regulation and taxes on the other, the fun of living here and starting new businesses has been radically reduced. It will take awhile longer for the statists to steal all the pent up wealth and collapse the economy, but with all the printing of money going on, it HAS to happen at this point. People, including our esteemed president, have become arrogant, demanding, and entitled.

I think that the looters government of America is running out of cliff, like the road runner cartoon where the coyote takes a while to realise that he is standing in mid-air.

The ideals that led to the united States will continue while the values get taught to future generations.
I have some hope because the consequences are making themselves obvious and some pro-capitalist individuals are adapting the leftist tactic of getting into universities to challenge/inform young minds.

I like the sayings: 'the night is darkest just before the dawn'.
'I will not go quietly into the gentle night'.

I think Lucky is right about the 'global disease' - all these international bodies(UN, IMF, etc even the bildeberg meetings) where the self-styled elites coordinate themselves are vectors of infection when they delude themselves into thinking that anything great can be built by Men(plural, species specific not gender) who are easily ruled.

An article V Convention of States might start to turn things around. To me, the central tactical issue is welfare which, by my reading of Federalist 41, the government has no business granting. But how does a government stop its own largesse without riots in the streets?

The larger, strategic issue is overcoming 45 years of indoctrination in public schools and universities that we are our brothers' keepers, that we are responsible to the state and our individual liberties are of little consequence.

I used to say TGIF or Happy Friday. Now I just say POETS or happy POETS day, which means P On Everything Tomorrow's Saturday.

Yes, I believe that the America that exists today is indeed finished. And while I realize there are some that want to repair it, I say you can't make a silk purse out of a sows ear. The progressive left's version of America is a goner, and good riddance. It has become a cesspool no amount of smell good is going to refresh, so flush it and start with a new bowl.

But, like Noah, I believe there is of course a future after the turds are all drowned. And I believe there are others out there building their own arks, some here in CONUS, others in various countries (and btw, if I was going to expat, a good place to do it would be Argentina). But I decided to Galt in Texas. More on why later.

I came to my personal realization that the course this country was on could not be corrected without a flood, revolution, zombie reincarnation, etc, shortly after 911. I saw a govt that had become too powerful because "we the people" as a majority had become by and large pussies that allowed themselves to become wards of the state. Entitled, lazy, and short sighted, they were easy pickins. And when Zero got elected, that was my signal. I put my company on the market, started doing what the Kalling's did and sold most of my unnecessary flotsom, and started looking at night time satellite pics. I settled on a part of Texas that had the fewest lights. And Texas because, if you stay away from Austin, are plumb eat up with folks made of the same "rugged individualism" that made the America of old great.

I bought as much land as I could afford next to these "rugged individuals", and then worked on making me and my family as self sufficient as possible. Energy in the way of solar and wind, cattle, 5 working wells on alternative energy, large gardens, dairy goats, chickens, guns and ammo as well as befriending possible trigger pullers in case we have to repel the gangbangers when their gravy train is gone, etc. And, I built my "headquarters' smack dab in the middle of my 700 acres with only one unimproved road in, cut through a heavily wooded area. And speaking of gangbangers, I realized I would also have to cope with those that did not prepare. Starving people are desperate people, and you have to realize that you cannot care for them all.
That is the toughest part. I am hoping to avoid most of that by making myself a much harder target than unprepared Joe Blow down the road. Kind of like being in bear filled woods with somebody you can outrun.

And I came up with a business model that I can do myself, without having to have employees. Not that I dislike employees, its the govt baggage that come attached to them I cannot stomach. The only USD for most part I keep in banks is the amount I will need to pay rent ransom every year to the govt in the way of property taxes. The rest of my USD went into farm equipment, barns, diesel storage tanks, etc. Hard assets, ie. The rest of my monetary assets I keep in either physical gold and silver, or Norwegian Kronas that I can convert if necessary.

The rest of my efforts goes to time spent keeping as low a govt profile as I possibly can. I intend to be around, or at least provide an ark after I am gone, to those who can rebuild this country, or planet for that matter, after this hideous tick the NWO implodes on itself.

With no sign of North Korea turning into an Objectivist paradise as the people recognize that their government has failed them I am dubious that descending into ever more socialism will eventually wake people up. Perhaps in a very long time.

One of my favorite mottos is: "Maybe the horse will learn to sing". While there is still life in the country and in the constitution, attempt the impossible.

There are two places that would make a major difference, both of which have growing movements in their favor:

1. Legalize drugs. Abolish the war on drugs. This effort has justified ever more police militarization and denial of liberty. No knock raids, asset forfeiture, laws on cash deposits, and many many more were all justified by the War on Drugs. Stop it. There is a growing movement to do this, it even has support among some liberals. Take this step.

2. Increase school vouchers. Having the government pay for school is less than ideal but breaking the virtual monopoly of the educational system in instructing each generation in the benefits of socialism is vital. With more private schools, some of them at least can introduce the concepts of capitalism.

These are both efforts that are underway and if increased would help increase liberty and decrease the indoctrination of each generation.

I, of course, have a whole lot of other things that should be done, but those two are the ones that seem most achievable.

America is finished...now. There is no relation between the America in which I was raised and the America I live in now. What people consider to be freedom now, I consider to be suffocating.

Cameras everywhere, political correctness, people unashamed to take government handouts, lawsuits and government regulations strangle businesses, kids can't do math in their heads, parents don't question laws that usurp their authority, smart TVs that listen to conversations, GPS in cars that can also listen to you, creepy targeted advertising, creepy facebook, doctors who follow one size fits all medical algorithms and are now afraid of their own shadows....I could go on and on about the Alice in Wonderland qualities of the New America.

But I won't.

I just find it odd that so many of the people I know consider this to be "progress." But I guess that's part of the Lewis Carroll story-like charm.

Unfortunately, it looks like it will require a complete collapse (followed by a global collapse, because everyone is playing from the same script) before things can turn around. There's no guarantee that they will turn around, but a complete collapse will be necessary, because people are still drinking the kool-aid, and seem completely reluctant to give it up. So, they will have to have the black-out moment before they will wake up (if they wake up).

America is not finished, but we must change our path. My confidence level of us doing that is small because, in the long run, the voters will not elect people who do not give them "stuff".

I believe everyones comments are correct. It seems that the Pres will leave the nation in a ruin for the next elecrted Pres to fix. Also, there is an Oligarch running amock to destroy the 2nd Amendment state by state. His groups are going state by state bribing legislators in one form or another for not only registering citizens guns but in the fuzzy laws that were passed in those states that the guns are not really owned by the citizens but the state. But to will them to your next of kin is illegal. Soon we will see that groups of people will no longer tolerate such intrusion in there lives that a Civil War could erupt. That's how I see the disintergration of this country.

Some historians set the start of the decline of the Roman Empire at around the time of Julius Caesar and Augustus.  The Roman and US constitutions have a number of likenesses and similar evolution from their beginning until they became essentially a political tool used, interpreted or ignored.  The US constitution seems to be at the same “evolutionary” place that the Roman constitution was just before Julius Caesar installed himself as emperor.   If this is true and we can use Rome as a template, maybe we can expect the US to drift into a long decline for the next 250 years until Washington D.C. is sacked.   
   The above scenario would probably fit into a picture of people sitting around in a futuristic fantasy world with embedded electronic devices.  Inflation will get out of control while higher and higher taxes are required to fund ever expanding entitlements.  The decline will be exacerbated by poverty, cultural decay, loss of borders and language degeneration.   
Magic Dog

It maybe too late for many however I believe if you are a true objectionist you have a good chance if you can begin now or as I already have begun. One must become self sufficient in all aspects in life ie be able to feed yourself and your family and to protect all you have. Building your own Gulch is very rewarding so why worry if you have covered everything the best you can. In stead of looking at doom and gloom invest in your own survival in both ways for if a collapse and for no collapse. We are the true thinkers(or I'd like to think so).

http://www.newyorker.com/news/john-cassi...

I seem to remember reading of something like that happening in some novel from the 1950s... ;)

Not finished just yet, but it's inevitable before much longer.

The Land will remain of course, but this GOVERNment will self-destruct. It's fiat money will become worthless, no more dole will be paid out, and no more payments can or will be paid to anyone, as there will be nobody employed even to write hot checks.

The Great Collapse will be Global. I say good riddance.
Only the responsible and the prepared might survive. May they never again opt to be Ruled!

I think America is doing better than ever in terms of economics and safety but not basic liberties. My biggest concerns for the US:
- Gov't will increasing use all the laws/regulations plus the spying ability of technology in corrupt ways.
- Automation is completely up-ending the labor market, and people will be tempted to try to "fix" this with bad policies.
- Reliance on gov't to manage personal matters increases, and this undermines liberty.
I can't predict the future, but my guess is one or more of these problems will cause the US to become more ordinary, similar to how the UK went from being a vast empire to what it is today. It's still a fine place, but it's not global titan that it once was.