This Is Very Sad

[ness]

National debt. Healthcare costs. Bankrupt pensions. Consumer debt. Unemployment. Deficit spending. And nothing being done about it.

[Wayne SW/MO]

Which decade are you talking about Ness?

[ness]

Well, let's see. There was Germany in the 1920s; Russia in the 1910s; France 1840s. Western Roman Empire in the 400s. How far back you want me to go?

[Bird Watcher]

So, this is the question I always pose to my father as he foams at the mouth about all of this during the middle of one of our fishing trips.

What can we do about it? Vote? Ok, how is that going to change anything? I vote every chance I get. I'm sure most on this discussion do as well. Do you honestly feel like your vote has significantly impacted the course of this country in the last 16 years?

No, I mean tell me how I can personally make a difference and impact change on the national situation and I'm all for it. If you can't give me something other than "go vote", don't bother with a suggestion.

Tell me how I can make a difference and I'll devote energy to it. Otherwise, it's just a source of stress and frankly, we all have too much of that as is.

I'm going to go fishing, love my family and friends, and live my life. I feel that as an individual it's already out of my hands so I'm not going to worry about it.

I always hear the first verse of the serenity prayer in my head when I think about things like this.

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

I believe this country will go through a hard reset in the future. I don't know when, but I think it's inevitable. Maybe it's like OP says, maybe it's a civil war, but I doubt it. More like a real depression. Not this last little deal we started in 08'

[Smalliebigs]

What's that thing she has in the first picture? I saw one just like it in Paul Dallas' canoe. He said it was for filtering stream water.

OMG Ness....thank you sir.....I just did a spit take with my coffee.....that was funny as shiot.....bravo my friend!!

[lee G.]

I have traced it back to the water gate operators in 3000 B.C. in the Sumerian civilization, but it probably goes farther into history than that Ness.

PM me if you have ran it farther back than that, Thanks

[ness]

I have studied a bit on the Neanderthals, Lee.

It seems a small faction in the east was taking the rocks from the people who had collected them. Then a big rock fight broke out. There were no survivors.

[lee G.]

History is always the same It seems, someone always want the best rocks without working for them.

[Feathers and Fins]

Chris , voting is always the answer it hear from people and truth is I don’t see voting as an answer as its just removing one corrupt person for another anymore.

I listened to so many people when Barry was running for office the first time then elected stating they will stand behind the president and respect the office if nothing else and now those people are far more outspoken against him then any others.

Americans should NEVER respect any politician the opposite is the truth though! The politicians should respect the people whom they took a oath to serve.

I believe sooner or later there will either be a Major Natural Disaster, Attack on the US from terrorist or maybe some small minor local event like just happened in Mo that will be a catalyst for a Civil war of some sorts in this nation. History says it will happen sooner or later. How it will look or shape up I can’t tell you that either but if I had to guess politicians will be seen hanging from trees as will many others that people deem as the problem.

I do not even know if it will happen in my lifetime but it will happen sooner or later. I’m a fan of history and knowing this country’s history I believe we will see it happen and out of it come a new government based on the same constitution, why not ever read the Confederate Constitution it was almost the same as the Republics.

I do see additional amendments to it however severely limiting the government or more precisely spelling out the powers even more clearly than is in our current one that shouldn’t need clarifying. I see those amendments more clearly designed so lawyers and judges cannot alter the founder’s wishes.

If the States took preemptive measures by way of adding those amendments before that time of civil war it could be avoided but I doubt most people under 30 probably even know the states have the power to do so. We the People could by that way actually put a stop to Federal Government intrusion in our lives and correct many problems and that might be the solution needed. But it would take people banding together to make it happen.

[lee G.]

Couple of good points there, F&F