What do you think? United States moving in the right or wrong direction?

[CF DolFan]

I saw a poll from an ABC station this morning where over 65% of the people think the country is going in the wrong direction. The funny or odd part to me is of those 65% I wonder how many reasons are the exact opposite of the others who voted the same way. For instance ... I may say "yes we are heading in the wrong direction" because God is being forced out of society and we are losing our morals while someone else may say "yes we are heading in the wrong direction" because of all the conservatives forcing religion and conservatism down our throats.

In general, do you think things in the United States are moving in the right or wrong direction and why?

[Sunstroke]

Not a big fan of "in general" questions when there really isn't an "in general" situation to apply it to. We're moving in the right direction in some things, not so much in others.

If the "in general" answer you're after is specifically for the religious quandary you noted in the second part of that statement, then no, I don't think the country is heading in the right direction, for the same "someone else" reason you noted. Most of the religious conservatives that I meet, I want to backhand on "general" principle.  Keep your fictitious deity out of my laws and out of my world...

[CF DolFan]

Not a big fan of "in general" questions when there really isn't an "in general" situation to apply it to. We're moving in the right direction in some things, not so much in others.

If the "in general" answer you're after is specifically for the religious quandary you noted in the second part of that statement, then no, I don't think the country is heading in the right direction, for the same "someone else" reason you noted. Most of the religious conservatives that I meet, I want to backhand on "general" principle.  Keep your fictitious deity out of my laws and out of my world...

Has nothing to do with religion ... that was just an example. It could just as easily have been I think it's getting better because we have more flavors of ice cream or it's getting worse because more dogs are using my yard as a toilet. That's the point I was saying. Almost 65% think it's getting worse and 25% think it's getting better according tot he poll.  I am curious as to the reasons why people think either. I don't think it's for the same reasons.

[Sunstroke]

^^^ Then my "We're moving in the right direction in some things, not so much in others" response is spot on... Not happy with religious direction, but more than pleased with the number of ice cream flavors. Not so pleased with the media over-hyping everything, but believe that TV production is at an all-time level of awesomeness. Believe that political gridlocking is one of the major banes of our society, but think that technology is moving along just fine.

[Dolphster]

My answer will probably sound disjointed since I'm one of those rare "fiscally conservative, socially liberal, atheist" types.      But I'd say we are moving in the wrong direction fiscally as govt spending continues to grow out of control, the wrong direction with foreign policy as we continue to appease our enemies and crap on the few true allies that we have, and in the wrong direction in regards to the Constitutionally provided individual liberties of our citizens.  But on the positive side, we are moving in the right direction in that the religious nuts are becoming more and more irrelevant in national politics.  And as a devout capitalist, me and my 401K both like the fact that even though the libs in charge pay a lot of lip service about the "evils" of big business, but they aren't really doing anything to stop Wall Street from making me good money.  

[Dave Gray]

^ I don't think you're all that rare -- you're just called libertarians.

I would say that overall, we're going in the right direction.  We're better off overall now than 10 years ago.  And better 10 than 25.  And better 25 than 50.

Maybe if you look at one indicator at any one time, like economic growth or peace or whatever, perhaps we're not.  But all things considered, when looking at a few year cluster, I'd rather be alive now that in before.

I think that part of this question just comes with getting older.  People think that they grew up in the good old days.  But you were probably just naive.  The good old days is a fallacy.

[Dolphster]

Funny that you should say that because I was just telling a buddy the other day that if not for the fact that I'm "hawkish" on foreign policy and still resisting the "legalize drugs" topics, I'd be a full blown Libertarian. 

[Brian Fein]

The poll just says "65% of people are unhappy about something"

Not earth-shattering news, really.

[Spider-Dan]

I think CF was dead on with the nature of the opposition point.  If "60%" of people are opposed to Obamacare, but 30% think it goes too far and 30% think it doesn't go far enough, what are you supposed to do to fix that?

Secondly, while I am generally inclined to agree with Dave's statement that we are better off today than in the past, it's tough for me to honestly say that the nation is better off today than it was in the '90s.  However, a significant part of that is my personal bias; if I were a homosexual, I might not be so quick to say that the country was better off in the '90s, just as a white person might be much more inclined to say the country was better off in the '50s than I would.

[bsmooth]

It is not a simple yes or no question. I think we are doing fine in some areas, and bad in others. If you asked this same question at various times in our history, I am sure you would receive similar or higher numbers.
It is all cyclical.

[pondwater]

The country is most certainly moving in the wrong direction. All empires fall and we have already peaked and are on the downward path on the right side of the graph.

[SCFinfan]

Generally wrong way. Socially, it's checkered. We're still in the throes of our love of the sexual revolution, which will end horribly - but, whatever. We seem to be waking up to the horrors of abortion.

Economically, wrong way. Wall street is back on top, which is fine, as far as it goes; but, the middle class is still struggling, the old jobs aren't coming back, and Lord knows what will happen when Obamacare comes.

When I awaken each day, I think of this:

 Turning and turning in the widening gyre
    The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
    Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
    Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
    The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
    The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
    The best lack all conviction, while the worst
    Are full of passionate intensity.

    Surely some revelation is at hand;
    Surely the Second Coming is at hand.
    The Second Coming! Hardly are those words out
    When a vast image out of Spiritus Mundi
    Troubles my sight: a waste of desert sand;
    A shape with lion body and the head of a man,
    A gaze blank and pitiless as the sun,
    Is moving its slow thighs, while all about it
    Wind shadows of the indignant desert birds.

    The darkness drops again but now I know
    That twenty centuries of stony sleep
    Were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle,
    And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,
    Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?

[Sunstroke]

We're still in the throes of our love of the sexual revolution, which will end horribly

Until you can provide proof of unerring clairvoyance, I'll just assume you actually have no idea how the sexual revolution is going to end. Since you're a card-carrying member of the religious right, I do understand that any sex outside of the missionary position...with your spouse...in the interests of procreation is abhorrent to you. 

Frankly, I think two hours with a couple of experienced escorts and a gallon of industrial lubricant would cure most of your ills.

And thanks for the Yeats action... When I awaken each day, I think of this:

"We Want Some Pussy"
by 2 Live Crew

You see, me and my homies like to play this game
We call it Amtrak but some call it the train
We all would line up in a single-file line
And take our turns at waxing girls' behinds
But every time it came to me, I was shit out of luck
Because I'd stick my dick in, and it would get stuck
The girls would say "Stop!" I'd say "I'm not!
That's enough, I quit, 'cause y'all are bustin' me out!"
I say, girls, don't hide it, just divide it
And please don't knock it until you've tried it
So to all of you bitches and all you hoes
Let's have group sex and do the Rambo!

I'm the Peter Piper of the 1980's
Got a long hard dick for all of the ladies
I don't care if you got three babies
You can work the stick in my Mercedes
If you wanna blow, just let me know
We can go backstage at the end of the show
I'll look at you, and you will look at me
With my dick in my hands as you fall to your knees
You know what to do, 'cause I won't say please
Just nibble on my dick like a rat does cheese!

[bsmooth]

Generally wrong way. Socially, it's checkered. We're still in the throes of our love of the sexual revolution, which will end horribly - but, whatever. We seem to be waking up to the horrors of abortion.

Economically, wrong way. Wall street is back on top, which is fine, as far as it goes; but, the middle class is still struggling, the old jobs aren't coming back, and Lord knows what will happen when Obamacare comes.

When I awaken each day, I think of this:

 Turning and turning in the widening gyre
    The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
    Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
    Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
    The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
    The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
    The best lack all conviction, while the worst
    Are full of passionate intensity.

    Surely some revelation is at hand;
    Surely the Second Coming is at hand.
    The Second Coming! Hardly are those words out
    When a vast image out of Spiritus Mundi
    Troubles my sight: a waste of desert sand;
    A shape with lion body and the head of a man,
    A gaze blank and pitiless as the sun,
    Is moving its slow thighs, while all about it
    Wind shadows of the indignant desert birds.

    The darkness drops again but now I know
    That twenty centuries of stony sleep
    Were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle,
    And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,
    Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?

Wall St is back on top only because of the Fed policy that is hurting everyone else. No one has paid for the fraud and greed that caused the recession, except for the people who lost their asses.

[CF DolFan]

Proof positive we are going in the wrong direction. Reality shows like Keeping Up with the Kardashians, Jersey Shore and Honey boo Boo would never have made it beyond a week if they were on 30 years ago. They are not only train wrecks but people have turned them into idols and aren't ashamed to admit it.