Is this as bad as it gets or what?

[joemurphy]

1. Iraq is a mess and not getting any better. We have no plan for victory and none for withdrawal. It has cost us $315,000,000,000. To "finish the job" some generals are saying it will take another 10 years. Civil war is underway and the country threatens to split apart. In August, there were 1,500 Iraqi deaths in Baghdad alone.

2. Afghanistan is receding into chaos. The Taliban effectively controls a large swathe in the south and southwest. Opium production is at an all time high. Our ambassador has expressed fears it may become a "narco-state" with opium production being coupled with heroin production. "Free and fair" elections have been postponed twice due to increased violence. Warlords control most areas that the Taliban doesn't. There is increased popular dissatisfaction with the Karzai government.

3. The national debt stands at $8.5 Trillion. Each American now would have to pay $28,000 to retire it. Much is owed to Communist China.

4. New Orleans still isn't rebuilt. The levees couldn't take another strong hurricane. FEMA is in turmoil and its problems remain uncorrected. Underfunding of public health agencies puts the nation at grave risk.

5. Our President now seeks to reinterpret the Geneva Conventions in a manner that would countenance what most human rights groups regard as torture. He also seeks to inaugurate military tribunals which could conduct trials without permitting the accused access to the evidence used against them.
He continues to violate laws against warrantless wiretaps.

6. The voting process is still flawed and lack of paper trails which would enable valid recounts make the process unreliable. Public confidence in the integrity of the process is at an all time low.

7. There is still no national energy policy and dependence on foreign oil continues to plague our economy. "Peak oil" approaches and gasoline prices have been at all time highs.

8. No solutions to the proliferation of nuclear weapons are in sight. North Korea and Iran continue to go forward with production. Diplomatic efforts to eliminate the problem have been stymied by the Bush Administration's refusal to conduct direct dialogues with either Iran or North Korea.

9. The Bush Administration has no Mid-East peace policy. It encouraged the Israeli attack on Lebanon that resulted in a strengthened Hezbollah, destroyed Lebanon's infrastructure, and undercut Shia support of our efforts in Iraq.

10. Global warming threatens the planet and the Bush Administration ignores or denies the problem.

Personally, I can't stand listening to the news any more. I find myself depressed whenever I do. Maybe it was like this under Hoover, but I wasn't around then. For me, this is the nadir. The Vietnam years weren't as bad as this.

[gkdmaths]

1. Sure, but the election gets closer

every day.

So, it's getting a little better, no?

[joemurphy]

3. I just hope that the American people don't disappoint

us again. One would think that there'll be a big turnout and the Democrats will be swept into power. But one never knows...

[gkdmaths]

13. shuuuuush!

but really, you can't be afraid of it - because fear is the only card they play.

:thumbsup:

I just wish we could find a unified, singular motivation rather than forming the same old collection of splinter parties that win elections for the right.

[Freedom_from_Chains]

2. No, it can get worse and most likely will.

The coming election is going to be the lynch pin.

[MannyGoldstein]

4. Have No Fear! The Brave Congressional Democrats Are Here!

They'll use every tool at their disposal to ensure that Americans retain their basic civil liberties, and that America will live up to its obligations of providing basic human rights to combatants.

[Bucky]

22. Manny, you're the last of the true bastards! Thanks for sharing. (o:

Honestly, I was starting to forget that the two words "human" and "rights" were ever put together in a single phrase.

[knowbody0]

I have a hopeful feeling that we will crash soon

and collectively band together as AmeriKans to rebuild what they broke. It was our own apathy that led us to this despair. We must acknowledge that, and commit to following the greater good from a global mind set.

[napi21]

5. Things can ALWAYS GET WORSE!

I don't think you really want me to tell you how much worse!

[blue cat]

6. I expect things to get much, much worse.

sorry.

[1620rock]

9. If the elections are stolen again, or they stage another 9/11, or...

...if they elect to use nukes in Iran..... Yes, things could get much much worse.

[Deja Q]

7. With all that offshoring American companies give to China,

I'd say the amount we owe is nullified and forgiven. :shrug: But what do I know?

[habitual]

8. k&r

[ProgressiveEconomist]

10. 1. It's already cost 1,000 times more than $315 million, and odds are

the minimum total cost until our forces get below a few thousand is likely to be over a trillion dollars.

[joemurphy]

12. You're right. I left off 3 zeros. I fixed it. Very depressing.

You could put 15,000 Americans through 4 years of college for that amount. Or 40,000 kids through a year of Head-Start.

[patrice]

11. 10. Global Warming presents a threat to National Security that

is being ignored while our dependence on imported oil grows.

[joemurphy]

14. Yup. And 11. 40% of our population has no health insurance

as the costs of medical care and drugs grows increasingly out of control. The Bush Administration has done nothing about either problem.

[patrice]

24. 12. U.S. Education produces students who can't compete in World economy.

http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/living/education/15505115.htm

[janx]

15. One small correction:

Civil war does not loom in Iraq; it is in full force and has been (according to some experts who testified a few days ago before some members of Congress) for over a year.

[joemurphy]

17. You're right. I've amended it. "Civl War is underway in Iraq"

[donco6]

16. You forgot incompetence in disaster planning.

Future disasters, I mean. Nothing's really changed at FEMA or HSA. Avian flu anyone? Even if that one is bogus, there's bound to be something else coming along, and Bushco has completely devestated public health agencies.

[blue cat]

18. Things will get much worse

for instance, I know many people who still just don't get it, and worship Bush. My boss for one. She can't even stand for anyone to say anything neg about the repugs. From listening to her talk, everyone that lives around her in some kind of golf country club community feel the same.

[mnhtnbb]

19. No, Nebraska could beat USC in football!

Sarcasm, folks. (But given the score, it's unlikely.)

I know. I've started telling my husband I don't want to hear him report any negative news from the papers in the a.m. The cumulative effect of
all that's wrong with this country, with no end in sight, unless the Repubs don't succeed in stealing more elections, is totally depressing.

The only thing that keeps me going is the knowledge that we are putting our escape hatch to Panama in place.

You have to do something positive to counteract all the negative stuff.

[eggbeater]

20. Yes but,

I just saved a bundle on my car insurance.

[joemurphy]

21. LOL

[leftofthedial]

23. I've been a plitical junkie since 1970

This is the worst I've ever seen

[NRaleighLiberal]

25. Regrettably, I think you've only scatched the surface....

it is even deeper and sadder than what you've listed....you've left out the decline of the arts (so many trash, horrid movies), the destructive group think clan mentality of organized religion (which to us takes people as far from the true meaning as you can get), the non stop commercialism and advertising, the widespread corporate greed and cheating...I can't list any more, I am depressing myself way too much!

Yes, in my 50 years it is as bad as I've seen it.

[AspenRose]

26. 13. We have a lapdog press that fails to do their job.

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