The Cultural War for the Future

[Ultima22689]

Well as many may or may not know, the USA is in the midst of a culture war. A massive change is coming. Whether it's going to be a progressive, secular leaning better place or remain in the 20th century and hold onto the views and ideas expressed from people like Bill O'Reilly. Things are changing as the older generations get old and die out. The baby boomers are dying off and this is marked by a trend of Americans beginning to favor more progressive views. Marijuana is becoming more and more popular and mainstream every week and the movement to legalize has had more progress in the past year and a half than they have had in three decades. While the Gay community is still severely discriminated against they are beginning to make strides as well. Red State/ Blue State is declining as numbers show the ratio of blue to red is beginning to lean towards the blue. In Texas the rise of the Latino population is actually making the state lean in the direction of blue. Atheism while still a minuscule minority in America it has been steadily increasing every year as well as theism in general is on the decline. Another Healthcare reform was attempted but it seems like it isn't going to make it. People recognize this slow but sure social shift and have become more vocal as they fear the change the future is bringing. I don't think I need to name any specifics but the conservative population has become incredibly vocal and controversial in the past 2 years and they are getting more extreme and vocal every month as the republican party seems to sink further into a fringe party. Now that doesn't apply to all conservatives, there are plenty of progressive conservatives out there and some of may know some but it seems as if they are small in number or shrinking as the voices that are or like to call themselves the voice of the republican party continue to promote the fringe among the base and alienating their moderates.

Unfortunately however it seems the Obama administration has yet to show their zeal in fighting back against the constant assault they've received.  This may change as Obama does seem to be a very intelligent man and hopefully will try to carry out his plans without Republican support while he still can.

Now what I wish would really happen is for our European brothers and sister out there who recognize what's going on in America to be more vocal. Now that health care has been on the table the fringe has even begun attacking European society. They've been doing in that general really because that's what America seems to be heading in the direction of anyway. What do you guys think? Do you think it's possible that Europe may eventually become vocal enough to chime in their views on whats going on in the US? Do you guys think what I said was off or on? Opinions people!

[curiosityandthecat]

The US is a crippled giant. China, despite all its faults, and India are leading the way through the 21st century. Americans are going to have to get used to not being the big boys on the block anymore. Europe, once this happens, will become more and more vocal about its dislike of American policy (and Americans, for that matter), and become more and more blatant in its disassociation with the United States.

And this is why I'm moving to Asia.

[Ultima22689]

I'm considering moving to the Netherlands after I get my degree, i'm not sure but as time passes I see myself getting tired of American Politics and society, it's as if the majority are disconnected from reality and it's bothersome we hold onto 300 century ideas that were written for that time. You say America is a crippled giant, I wouldn't say crippled but definitely critically injured. America could possibly recover from it's current predicament, it won't be what it used to be for a long time if ever again but odds are they will remain a player in the future. If America really does continue to spiral downward I wonder how the world will respond to it's military presence. Financially stable   or not America is arguably the most powerful country in terms of physical might with how much money we waste on weapons and other military technology.

[Heretical Rants]

And this is why I'm moving to Asia.

I might also do this.  Shinto+Buddhism-belief.

[Arctonyx]

I'm considering moving to the Netherlands after I get my degree, i'm not sure but as time passes I see myself getting tired of American Politics and society, it's as if the majority are disconnected from reality and it's bothersome we hold onto 300 century ideas that were written for that time. You say America is a crippled giant, I wouldn't say crippled but definitely critically injured. America could possibly recover from it's current predicament, it won't be what it used to be for a long time if ever again but odds are they will remain a player in the future. If America really does continue to spiral downward I wonder how the world will respond to it's military presence. Financially stable   or not America is arguably the most powerful country in terms of physical might with how much money we waste on weapons and other military technology.

It could recover, but I highly doubt it will. It will almost certainly continue to be a world power, but only because of its legacy, not because of its contributions.

And if I could I'd most likely make the move to Sweden, Netherlands or Denmark. Although I'd have to brush up on my language skills.

[Ultima22689]

I'm considering moving to the Netherlands after I get my degree, i'm not sure but as time passes I see myself getting tired of American Politics and society, it's as if the majority are disconnected from reality and it's bothersome we hold onto 300 century ideas that were written for that time. You say America is a crippled giant, I wouldn't say crippled but definitely critically injured. America could possibly recover from it's current predicament, it won't be what it used to be for a long time if ever again but odds are they will remain a player in the future. If America really does continue to spiral downward I wonder how the world will respond to it's military presence. Financially stable   or not America is arguably the most powerful country in terms of physical might with how much money we waste on weapons and other military technology.

It could recover, but I highly doubt it will. It will almost certainly continue to be a world power, but only because of its legacy, not because of its contributions.

And if I could I'd most likely make the move to Sweden, Netherlands or Denmark. Although I'd have to brush up on my language skills.

Yeah, this is what I'm thinking. At worst America will in a sense cease to have that "superman" aura it has permeated throughout the 20th century. I'm thinking the Netherlands and picking up the language, funny thing is when I hear European languages like German, Dutch, french not so much I can get the gist of some of the words, their structure seems similar to English.

[Arctonyx]

Yeah, this is what I'm thinking. At worst America will in a sense cease to have that "superman" aura it has permeated throughout the 20th century. I'm thinking the Netherlands and picking up the language, funny thing is when I hear European languages like German, Dutch, french not so much I can get the gist of some of the words, their structure seems similar to English.

German and French aren't so bad, I know a little basic French. Swedish (at least for me) seems very different, and is pretty difficult to learn. Dutch is quite similar to German, so not too bad. But generally Scandinavian languages are pretty difficult, although not as difficult as learning something such as Korean.

[Ninteen45]

I'm thinking the Netherlands and picking up the language, funny thing is when I hear European languages like German, Dutch, french not so much I can get the gist of some of the words, their structure seems similar to English.

That's because they all have latin rots, and english is a kind of "Patched" language. Lots of French and Spanish, but so does The others.

In other words, Most european Vocabs may be smaller alone, but since they borrow from each other thay are larger.

[karadan]

I'm generally not pessimistic but I find it very hard to be optimistic for the future of the US. There just seems to be too many polar opposites for one country to handle. It is really very saddening because I've always admired America for many reasons. There are some very influential, charismatic and intelligent people in the US. The problem is, for every one of these, there seems to be a rabid lunatic hell bent on destroying any progress which is made. I may be wrong, but from my perspective, the levels of hostility, anti governmental sentiment and general apathy is worse than it's ever been (or do the current detractors simply have a louder voice?). I'm starting to fear the worst, though.

Do you guys think there is any future possibility of a civil war in the US? Before Bush I would have laughed at the prospect but now, I'm not so sure. Please tell me I'm being unduly alarmist.

[Ultima22689]

I'm generally not pessimistic but I find it very hard to be optimistic for the future of the US. There just seems to be too many polar opposites for one country to handle. It is really very saddening because I've always admired America for many reasons. There are some very influential, charismatic and intelligent people in the US. The problem is, for every one of these, there seems to be a rabid lunatic hell bent on destroying any progress which is made. I may be wrong, but from my perspective, the levels of hostility, anti governmental sentiment and general apathy is worse than it's ever been (or do the current detractors simply have a louder voice?). I'm starting to fear the worst, though.

Do you guys think there is any future possibility of a civil war in the US? Before Bush I would have laughed at the prospect but now, I'm not so sure. Please tell me I'm being unduly alarmist.

Yeah, I think it might become possible. I don't know the outcome however. Either way I'll be on a plane on Amsterdam by then.

[Reginus]

Yeah, I think it might become possible. I don't know the outcome however. Either way I'll be on a plane on Amsterdam by then.

I'll meet you there  

On second thought, it might be nice to move somewhere like Honduras. Warm, foresty, and somewhat developed, but poor enough that I could get some serious humanitarian stuff done if I wanted to. Quite a few of the moderatly poor Central American countries rank in the top 10 list of "happiest countries".

[i_am_i]

What do you guys think? Do you think it's possible that Europe may eventually become vocal enough to chime in their views on whats going on in the US?

I lived in Europe for four years and the people there really don't give all that much of a damn about what's going on in the U.S., no more than America gives much of a damn about what's going on in Europe. Believe it or not, the Europeans have their own fish to fry, and they're very vocal about it.  
This "cultural war" has been going on since forever. Old ideas getting kicked in the ass by new ones. Nothing new there.
The people who have the most to lose in this "war" are the people who hold the most stock in outdated notions, and they're the ones who are doing all the crying and screaming about it. It's always been that way.
As far as where I'm going to move to get away from it all is concerned, I'm moving to New York City next year. Look, folks, it's the same wherever you go. Might as well live in the most cool and happening place in the world!

[Will]

There is no culture war, there's only cultural evolution. It's the slow progression of societal rules over time, where new ideas are created all the time and the best of them, or most fit of them, tend to survive. Atheism isn't anything new, but it fell out of favor because the idea of religion was incredibly adaptive and influential. And the religious people would occasionally go on killing rampages. Because it's become more and more difficult to kill or intimidate atheists, it's probably going to grow the way it once did in Europe.

The real question is if this change will survive a substantial depression and the subsequent societal changes.