Originally Posted by SteveZ

How America is looked at, to me the only opinions that matter are of its citizenry. During the last 100 years I can't think of a single circumstance where any country in the world actually gave a hoot whether we lived or died, as long as the foreign aid money kept coming and we remain willing to expend our resources to their betterment. I'm not a "shining beacon" type - and would rather have the light out and let the rest of the world learn to coexist on its own.

I agree with you that the US is stretched too thin. The economy IS weak. The "why" bothers me - whether it's because we have intellectualized ourselves to think that we can be an "information" society and transition ourselves from agroindustrial and manufacturing to only a data broker, or it is something intentionally occurring within the Department of Commerce? The negative balance-of-payments is brutal, and its much worse on manufactured goods than it is on energy. Who's to blame for that? My first guess is the consumer with a 'buy cheap" philsophy!

I too would like a change, but not only from the last 8 years, but from the last 16. I will not claim that Bill Clilnton was a bad or evil President, but he wasn't the Second Messiah either. His administration had its fair share of scandals, errors, misjudgments and controversy. George Bush's administration is equal to not being the perfect one. The next will also have the fallibility of being "human." Now if we could only flush out the entire Congress at the same time and start anew - ridding us of all the "professional Senators and Congresspersons" who spend decades in office and whose only real concern is getting re-elected ad infinitum!!!

That would be REAL CHANGE!

...And a free-flow of ideas and opinions is not "arguing." It's only an argument when one holds steadfast to a point of view without any openmindness and refuses to meld new information with old. I'm appreciative to all who are willing to share their ideas, opinions and viewpoints - it helps me understand others better and learn more overall. I will never claim to always be "right" as I probably make more mistakes than anyone I know, and actually enjoy when a viewpoint I have is shown to be out of kilter. That's "education" in its truest sense.