Thread: Welcome to our Post-Constitutional America.

I have high hopes for Paul Ryan just because he hands out copies of Atlas Shrugged as presents.

I thin including a third party candidate into debates is a must. Republicans and Democrats have become essentially identical on most issues that are important to me. I don't even require it to be my Libertarian Party... hell... throw some Constitution Party guy or gal up there. I disagree with a lot of what they say but it is at least going to challenge the media and voters to rethink the R and D parties.

What worries me is the new generation. I don't like kids so I don't have much interaction with them... but I am assuming a lot do not know or grasp the importance of historical events like WWI, WWII (this one in particular), Korean War, etc and how that is important today. We are on the brink with North Korea and I can bet that 99.9% of those in the US under 25 have no idea that it has everything to do with decisions made after WWII.

I base these assumption on the fact that the History Channel has gone to shit. Mike Rowe used to wear a stupid suit and narrate great older and new historical documentaries when I was younger. I really sat down and absorbed that stuff. Now people are watching that Ancient Aliens crap or one of the 100 different shows that are essentially Antique Roadshow (I will confess I do like Pawn Stars... at least they try to put a little history into it).

Originally Posted by BrockSamson

I have high hopes for Paul Ryan just because he hands out copies of Atlas Shrugged as presents.

I thin including a third party candidate into debates is a must. Republicans and Democrats have become essentially identical on most issues that are important to me. I don't even require it to be my Libertarian Party... hell... throw some Constitution Party guy or gal up there. I disagree with a lot of what they say but it is at least going to challenge the media and voters to rethink the R and D parties.

What worries me is the new generation. I don't like kids so I don't have much interaction with them... but I am assuming a lot do not know or grasp the importance of historical events like WWI, WWII (this one in particular), Korean War, etc and how that is important today. We are on the brink with North Korea and I can bet that 99.9% of those in the US under 25 have no idea that it has everything to do with decisions made after WWII.

I base these assumption on the fact that the History Channel has gone to shit. Mike Rowe used to wear a stupid suit and narrate great older and new historical documentaries when I was younger. I really sat down and absorbed that stuff. Now people are watching that Ancient Aliens crap or one of the 100 different shows that are essentially Antique Roadshow (I will confess I do like Pawn Stars... at least they try to put a little history into it).

I completely agree with you. All through growing up I found myself at a loss as to why people my age were becoming so.... Well there isn't any other word for it but ignorant. Most have no idea where the hell North Korea is let alone why we are at odds with their government. They just didn't care and when I was growing up when I would asked why and nobody new a straight forward real answer. I figured it out years later. I know now that it is not the intention of our school system to actually teach but to standardize. Standardized math, standardized English, and standardized social studies. This added pressure from standardized tests does not allow time for a teacher to teach anything else but the standardized tests each year. That comes directly from a teacher who I knew in high school by the way. I was very lucky I think to have had such independent and free thinking individuals when I was in high school as my teachers but most aren't able to provide the same attention and ability to teach like my teachers were afforded.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Note 2.

The plebeians have always been ignorant. It's nothing new. The only difference now is that you notice their ignorance more thanks to technology.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

Originally Posted by BrockSamson

What worries me is the new generation. I don't like kids so I don't have much interaction with them... but I am assuming a lot do not know or grasp the importance of historical events like WWI, WWII (this one in particular), Korean War, etc and how that is important today. We are on the brink with North Korea and I can bet that 99.9% of those in the US under 25 have no idea that it has everything to do with decisions made after WWII.

While that all may be true, there is another side. Whatever this generation lacks (and there is quite a bit they are lacking fo sho), they make up for in bravery and sense of duty. The fact that today's kids are still signing up for the military knowing full-well that they will be headed into combat shows that many are engaged with what is going on. Today's 18yo recruit was ~6yo when 9/11 happened. We have been at war ever since, and today's kids still line up to sign up. So......there is some hope.

A drone operator speaks out:



More here: Former drone operator says he's haunted by his part in more than 1,600 deaths - Investigations

The thought that there are drones with these capabilities operational in the U.S. right now just doesn't sit well with me. And of course guys like this one will be the drone operators. They learn that detachment from the deaths of those they attack through hundreds or thousands of missions abroad, and now they will be flying in the U.S. Does that scare anyone else here a bit?

Originally Posted by dex71

While that all may be true, there is another side. Whatever this generation lacks (and there is quite a bit they are lacking fo sho), they make up for in bravery and sense of duty. The fact that today's kids are still signing up for the military knowing full-well that they will be headed into combat shows that many are engaged with what is going on. Today's 18yo recruit was ~6yo when 9/11 happened. We have been at war ever since, and today's kids still line up to sign up. So......there is some hope.

I would bet a dollar that a lot of this has to do with how bad the job market was.

That and stop loss.

Originally Posted by triggerhappy2005

I would bet a dollar that a lot of this has to do with how bad the job market was.

That and stop loss.

Maybe some, but the market hadn't gone to shit until a few years after 9/11. Also, a bad job market doesn't shoot live rounds at them.....war does, and many are still opting for it.

Originally Posted by dex71

While that all may be true, there is another side. Whatever this generation lacks (and there is quite a bit they are lacking fo sho), they make up for in bravery and sense of duty. The fact that today's kids are still signing up for the military knowing full-well that they will be headed into combat shows that many are engaged with what is going on. Today's 18yo recruit was ~6yo when 9/11 happened. We have been at war ever since, and today's kids still line up to sign up. So......there is some hope.

Yeah, Hooray poverty is still so pervasive that people need to put their lives on the line to earn a buck, Woooo! Yeah Three cheers for that! Not that we'll actually pay them or take care of them.