As we move into the new millennium, Americans seem to be angrier

[jhrobbins]

than ever before. We are mad at the world and each other and there doesn't seem to be an end in sight. Am I naive to believe that western Europe is a more peaceful place to be? I have been there, but not long enough to really know the cultural sentiment, so I am wondering if it is reasonable to consider a move in order to find a more peaceful surrounding?

[ck4829]

1. Good. We as a nation have been asleep for the past couple of decades.

It's been way past due for a wake-up call.

[grilled onions]

2. Many See Little Future

They see no future in their jobs. They see global warming as the threat it is. They see our "leaders" representing themselves but not the rest of the people. They see the vote as little more then tokenism for so many forget us after they are in, that is when the vote isn't screwed over by a shady voting machine or vote counters who tend to count in their own favor. Years ago most everyone had plans and dreams and thought at least some of it would come true. Ask the young today and you will find a lot of cynical comments. No social security for them. Little chance of job advancement because of outsourcing or losing their jobs to someone who will take the job for less. They don't see owning a home in their future. They see natural resources being gobbled up faster then they can be created. It truly is a scarey world today.

[EST]

3. Although it may blacken the outlook of some members of

a generation or two, this anger could well be a good thing.

Quite justified apathy surrounding all things political has allowed the thieves to seize an ever increasing control of everything that is of importance. Perhaps the apparent anger presages a new awakening to the dangers of political rats, gnawing away at the infrastructure that allowed the previous mindless coasting through life.

If anger can motivate a stronger interest and activism in how and whether we demonstrate our humanism, hand me some rocks.

[blues90]

4. We need more anger

We have been asleep for far to long .

I often feel that if people in this country thought ahead and backed off a bit we would not be here in this mess .

Not only has bush screwed everything up but people do have some responsibility too .

People have become TV fools as products offer more crap and shows become an easy watch , you don;t have to think now if you watch tv and I don't .

People also feel the need to bring more children into this world while knowing well before just how difficult their future will be . Pardon me but I just don't understand this . I know having children makes a family but just what promise of a future is there for the children now ?

Part of me tells me this is selfish in nature thinking only what a child can bring to you but not what you can bring to the child .

[spanone]

5. Most of it fomented in the last SIX YEARS. Hope only floats for so long.

[kenny blankenship]

6. You may want to take a long look at

ongoing friction between communities of Islamic immigrants and the ruling/native majorities of those peaceful Western European countries. If things continue to get worse in the Mideast things will continue to get worse in W. Europe. Knowing their own exposure to discontent in the Islamic world is one of the reasons W. Europe has been so reluctant to follow Bush's "crusading" lead in Iraq and the M.E. It's a very rational outlook. Unfortunately the policy deliberations of President Jesus, and American politics as a whole, generally operate in a kind of magical realm where somebody's idea of Right always trumps reason(eg: democracy can be imposed because it's always Right, or we should get this Mideast oil no matter the legal or military impediments that may stand in our way, because wanting it and being addicted to it gives us the Right to seize it). If the M.E. goes up in flames, Europe's ass will get badly singed.

[Ganja Ninja]

7. To think the outlook was pretty Rosy back in 2000.

Then along came the MBA President and his neo-con pals. Now America is screwed.

[chaska]

8. It's a natural outcome of unchecked capitalism....

All things in moderation. What we have now is anything but moderate.

I believe it was Krugman that recently wrote about the source of this anger in the US being the result of class, the poor getting screwed and the rich getting defensive.

[Nay]

9. Canada is a nicer place to be. I assume there are nasty Canadians,

but I haven't met one yet. The minute Mr. Nay and I cross the border, we relax in a way I can't really describe. It's like leaving the crab bucket -- you know, where all the crabs are climbing on top of each other to get ahead -- and going to a sane place where that sort of behavior is considered boorish.