Just in case you missed the announcement of another major chipping away at U.S. world leadership, these excerpts from an AP wire release on the story...

"After 219 years as the citadel of American capitalism, the New York Stock Exchange was near an agreement to be acquired by Deutsche Börse AG...the move is symbolic of the city's fading dominance on the world stage as other countries are drawing investors directly to their markets...New York is going to be important, but it's not the financial center anymore..."

So let's see, America buys more foreign cars than American cars, we make very little steel or aluminum anymore, our major media sources are owned by foreigners, we are totally reliant on the Middle East for oil, our infrastructure of roads, bridges, our electrical grid are all crumbling, our kids test so low in math and science compared to other countries in the world that it's embarrassing, our healthcare is more expensive than any other country by a major multiple, and we are completely reliant on loans from other countries to finance our government.

So what are our political leaders proposing at the moment? A miniscule 8/10% cut in spending, mostly in education and lessened investment in infrastructure projects--just the things that have lead us to where we are. Have they even suggested what we all know is obviously needed--major cuts in defense, Social Security and Medicare? No.

How did the U.S. get here? It didn't happen overnight, and it can't be blamed on any particular political party or politician. Ours is a democracy. "We The People..." elect those who govern us. If anyone is at fault for what has happened to the United States and what almost certainly will continue to happen...it's us!

Now it will be us who will suffer the consequences of our bad decisions and inattention.

perspective. It will not be us so much that will pay the price or endure the results of the direction of the country....but those generations to follow will NOT know the quality of life or the freedoms we all have and will most likely through our life time.

The sad thought is to accept that the quality of life and freedom as we know it is the best it will ever be TODAY than any days going forward.

The change trend requires strong leadership with risk taking and unpopular decisions. Unfortunately.......risk taking......leadership.....unpopular decisions... are none existent characteristics/traits of past and most certainly current politicians. Hence....BUSINESS AS USUAL.....America is FOR SALE!!!

btk