Is America Still Great?

[stars1010]

Is America Still Great? This commercial really connected with me. It seems to me, and it may be because I’m only 28, but from my recent memory I feel our country is at one of its greatest cross roads in its history. I’m not talking about the upcoming election. That’s another discussion that we can’t have here, but as usual we are getting a choice between a turd sandwich and a douche. No I’m talking about the overall direction of our country and where we stand in the world. Are we headed in the right direction, what’s next? I’ve been in Asia for the past two weeks and I’ve really seen what a power house of potential the countries over here have if they could just get their sh*t together. And I think they will in time. China really seems to be throwing their weight around over here and it has a lot of the countries worried. But I’m also amazed at the sheer volume of people in Indonesia and India that could be put to work. The potential for cheap, QUALITY manufacturing has only barley been tapped. I don’t even know if we have enough American willing to go to work to compete with India, China, Indonesia, Korea and even Vietnam. America still one of the main topics of conversation over here, it seems mainly negative. Reading the option pages in the local news papers are really interesting. Ron Paul supporters would be popular over here. Some governments like the Philippines want the US military to counter balance China’s aggressive stance, but it seems the majority of common people don’t want the US military anywhere near their countries. Everyone has been pretty nice to me when I tell them I’m a Texan, but there also seems to be this underlining resentment of America. I was listening to a group of Aussies talk about how American’s have this dumb optimism. I really keyed into their discussion while I waited for my driver. One guy who apparently lived over here went on to say that our culture is not just some “fluffy talk”, but that we truly believe we can do anything. But he said it in a sense that we are dreamers that don’t “walk the walk”, just talk big. I wanted to turn around and say “Oh yeah, how many Aussies have walk on the moon!”. But then I decided, probably better to just keep my mouth shut That convo really got me thinking though; we aren’t respected globally, except for our military. But its hated because it’s in everyone else back yard. Economically we are not the power we once were. We don’t have a manufacturing back bone and I don’t think we have what it takes to stand up to the up and coming countries. There is a lot of good in the USA, but are we still a shining city on the hill? Discuss

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[Gripenfelter]

Originally Posted by stars1010

Is America Still Great?There is a lot of good in the USA, but are we still a shining city on the hill?

Discuss

No it isn't.

Sudbury, Ontario is.

[67speeda]

thanks for posting the commercial. Never saw that one...

Honestly, a lot needs to change so we can come back. However, i can see it happening.

[HelloMrAnderson]

Originally Posted by stars1010

Korea

I'm gonna guess you haven't been to Korea

[Drive XR7]

Somebody give the marketers at Chrysler a bonus. Second year in a row they have hit a home run for their Imported From Detroit ads.

[Steve0]

American is still great, the thing is other countries are becoming "great" too. Nobody remains on top forever. The OP talked about our military being the only thing respected, but we still the "and of oppurtunity," with hands down the best university system in the world. There is a global idea per se... that America is a place where you can live and make something of youself.

Heres a good talk on the development of Asia:
Hans Rosling: Asia's rise -- how and when | Video on TED.com

[wrd1972]

The spot was heart touching except for one area.

The line at 1:06"...thats what we do, we will find a way through tough times and if we cant find a way, we make one..." really bugs me. The "way" was done through the tax payer provided govt bailouts. I take this line as we can always rely on govt. for the solutions.

The line itself would be much more applicable to how Ford got through the mess by not accepting bailout money. They hunkered down and did it on their own. This is what makes America great.

[97QuasarBlue3.8]

Originally Posted by Drive XR7

Somebody give the marketers at Chrysler a bonus. Second year in a row they have hit a home run for their Imported From Detroit ads.

This. I remember watching the first of those "Imported from Detroit" ads last year and was like OMG --Chrysler is back!!!! --and they've been kicking ass.

In terms of America, I'm not sure we're hungry enough yet. We've got a chance to be great again, but I don't know if we're willing to compete with people who can still make a home out of meager wages, or who will give their lives to their work. That's why so much of our manufacturing and labor operations have been moved offshore, because someone is willing to accept $28/day to work in a crappy factory, feed their entire family, and make a home with the rest. $28/day doesn't even cover the interest on my mortgage....

As I get older, I see how so much of our future hinges on our youth. I'm watching my sister's kids start growing into rational beings, and one of them will be 10 soon. When I hear about them and their friends, and the things they do-- I honestly can't tell if they're going to turn out to be rocket scientists or just the darwin award winners, strapping themselves to rockets. Time will tell...one thing's for sure, they're going to have to come up with a different plan than we all did because it's almost impossible to make a living out of spending 12 years in school, going broke to pay for the next 4+ years, and then begging at the corporate coffers...

[TemplarKnight]

What I took from the ad was that Clint Eastwood predicted the downfall of America in 2248.

[stars1010]

Originally Posted by HelloMrAnderson

I'm gonna guess you haven't been to Korea

No, but a huge percentage of vessels / oil rig hulls the world over are built there now. They have some of the biggest ship yards in the world and its very hard to compete with the cheap man power they can throw at a project.

There are a lot of sh*t holes out there that can compete.

[soul strife]

This is truley a good converstion. Part of me feels like we could do anything we put our minds to. But, I know plenty of people, especially my generation, whom of which, many would take the European way out. Sometimes I feel we have become to lazy. Then I see stats that show that we are the most productive people on the planet. We also work more hours than any other industrialized nation.

I guess I just feel that we have two types of people here. Those who are workers and would sacriface for betterment those that feel they deserve given everything. (Not speaking Politics here, as I know plenty of people both sides that are hard workers)

I guess in 100 years it the world will level itself out with wages. I just hope there is a middle class to balance everything.

[HelloMrAnderson]

Originally Posted by stars1010

No, but a huge percentage of vessels / oil rig hulls the world over are built there now. They have some of the biggest ship yards in the world and its very hard to compete with the cheap man power they can throw at a project.

There are a lot of sh*t holes out there that can compete.

No, the point is the Korea isn't a ****hole and it doesn't have alot of cheap man power they can throw at a project

[stars1010]

Originally Posted by soul strife

I guess in 100 years it the world will level itself out with wages. I just hope there is a middle class to balance everything.

Maybe, I sat at the bar here in Mumbai last night with just the bartender and talked specifically about this.

His take on this subject in India is quite negative. He said the rich are just becoming super rich and the poor are getting poorer.

I asked about the middle class and he said they are the people that are just barley putting food on the table for their family every night. I thought many people would probably say the same thing right now.

He kept complaining that the government doesn't do enough about this for the poor people and that the government needs to make things more equal. I tried to explain that the government should be viewed as the answer and that people can pull themselves up, but then after the blank stare he gave me I realized who my audience was. They don't get freedom over here like we view it.

[stars1010]

Originally Posted by HelloMrAnderson

No, the point is the Korea isn't a ****hole and it doesn't have alot of cheap man power they can throw at a project

Fair enough, but I know they are out competing our ship yards from personal experience.

Look at this facility. It looks like a city, but that is a ship yard.

[King Moose SS]

Chrysler is still a ****ty car company and Detroit is still a ****ty city. This ad does nothing for me.