Is America in a state of decline?

[itsme]

Take a drive through any major city and you'll see potholes, garbage all over, homeless, crumbling infrastructure, etc. Wages are down, large swaths of the population are on welfare or don't work. The value of the dollar is declining, the trade deficit is high, debt is high, the budget deficit is high, etc. Perhaps it's because I live near a big city, but things seem generally worse than they did even 20 years ago. It seems Americas golden age has ended, and we are in a downward spiral. Anyone else feel this way? 

[ww_watcher]

19 hours ago, itsme said:

Take a drive through any major city and you'll see potholes, garbage all over, homeless, crumbling infrastructure, etc. Wages are down, large swaths of the population are on welfare or don't work. The value of the dollar is declining, the trade deficit is high, debt is high, the budget deficit is high, etc. Perhaps it's because I live near a big city, but things seem generally worse than they did even 20 years ago. It seems Americas golden age has ended, and we are in a downward spiral. Anyone else feel this way? 

One of the issues I see is the failure of maintaining a robust infrastructure. That is, when a tax base is hindered by to many tax exemption incentives for large companies and subsidized lives of those who unnecessarily live on the dole, then the governing entity has to raise taxes on the rest to compensate. Eventually the cycle forces those who work for a living to leave the city because they can't afford to live there. Only the wealthy can afford to stay. Since they don't pay taxes as we do, the tax base is further stunted and eventually the money, for the repairs, is reduced. At the same time the quality of work goes down so repairs don't last as long...The spiral continues until a city implodes on itself. Austin, Texas, which was among the coolest places to live in the country, is going through this right now (which is why I am leaving by the end of Aug.) Cities like Chicago have made the mistake of re-electing a Mayor, mainly because he was a "bro", who hasn't a clue about governing himself much less a city. Even if he wanted to make things better he doesn't know how, and pride, paycheck, and posse keep him from stepping aside for more competent leadership.

Another issue is those who have entered and work in this country illegally do not pay taxes, and are being given a monthly stipend (dole), health care (mo' money), and education for their children (even mo' money). Where does the monies, paid to them under the table go? Back to the parts of their families still in their country of origin. This worsens the financial plight of the city (or country, if you will) even further. However, those migrant workers don't tend to trash their own environments as thoroughly as the others who are on the dole. I almost got trounced one time when I had the gall to suggest that it costs nothing to keep your home neat. That if those protesting their treatment at the hands of the white folk would take care of their communities and each other instead of always protesting to get what they didn't earn and then trashing the place when they don't get what they want, then their plight probably would not exist; or at least not be nearly as bad.
I'll admit it, I am a firebrand.
I gained an odd perspective of things while I still lived in Houston, many moons ago. It was about the time the Viet Nam war was winding down and the boat people were flooding in. In high school they were known as curve busters because their family structures very much centered on getting good grades. I didn't feel the effects much because I didn't, nor did many of my friends or family, rely on a curve to pass my courses. Anyway, that's neither here nor there. I photographed houses for the Multiple Listing Service (for our out of country friends it was for the real estate companies) and it took me into some areas I considered 3rd world. Before you all make hasty judgements, the boat people lived in some of those areas...with a big difference. They didn't try and ransack your car (or each other) while you weren't looking AND they kept their neighborhoods neat and tidy. They also watched out for each other in a way they could never do in their own country. Instead of trashed-out, overgrown, empty lots, you would see a community garden. No one knew who owned that lot but who cared, it fed their community. Our folks of color never tried to do that as a social organism.

Instead of "looking to the stars" we tweet. We have started to cater to the "less fortunate" when they are not even trying to pull their own weight; rather than requiring they meet us at our level. So, if you want to know why we appear to be going downhill, ask yourself this. Why have we as a society begun to emulate the dregs of society in our speech pattern, our mode of dress, and attitude toward excellence.