OFFLINE

if you got in a time machine and went back to as recently as the early 1990s - when the iron curtain fell - and you explained to people the world we inhabit today, and gave them a timeline of the history that's taken place in the time sense; they would either think you were crazy, or they would think you were reading from some near-future dystopian novel.

and if you explained to those people the sheer complacency of the populace through all these events and the mass denial or under-appreciation of the seriousness of our plight, they would surely believe you were an imaginative author. just think of what you would have to tell them.

our national debt has gone from just over $2.5 trillion, to nearly $15 trillion in 20 years.

you would have to explain that the "world economy" collapsed, and in order to try and fix it, we spent over a trillion dollars, that we don't have, because we're already $13 trillion in debt.

you would have to explain the government takeover of healthcare - another trillion dollars.

you would have to explain the government takeovers of banks and automakers.

that virtually all of our manufacturing had been shipped over to china, who buys up our debt simply to keep us buying their goods.

you would have to tell them that even though the margins are slim between world oil consumption and world oil production, and that even though gas is now quadruple what it was in 1991, that we're not only neglecting to expand our own energy production, but we're also sending billions of dollars to other countries to drill for their oil, so that we can turn around and buy it right back.

you would have to explain 9/11 and all the invasions of privacy and security measures americans now face on a daily basis.

you would have to explain to them that communist and socialist ideals were openly discussed as a legitimate ideology.

you would have to explain to them the inflation in food costs and every other product we buy.

you would have to explain to them the lingering unemployment and joblessness.

you would have to explain to them all the things taking place internationally, and they would be curious what kind of horrible ending this story contains; as unbelievable as it may be.

but most importantly, you would have to explain to them why the people didn't stand up to put a stop to all this. you would have to explain how the media and politicians have rocked large portions of society to sleep. how many were confused as to what was actually happening, and how those that saw the writing on the wall were treated as chicken littles.

you would have to explain that there are now really two americas. that even though we "won" the cold war, we didn't win the fight for american ideals.

OFFLINE

All true.  Wonder what they'd have said if you told em we have a black president now that (some) think is a muslim?  A president that bowed to the Saudi Prince, said we werent a Christian nation and snubbed both the Queen of England AND the Israelis?  What would they say about the 9-11 truthers?  What would they say to us being so deep in debt and yet funneling over $3 billion per year to a country that hates us and stabs us in the back when given the opportunity?  What would they say about Katrina?  What would they say about a president slow to react to Katrina and another one shut down oil drilling, allowed Brazil to lease our oil rigs and then promised to buy their oil???