Is America doomed

[impulse]

For a 45 year old take on the subject, listen to The Blues Brothers' "Green Onions".

 

I recently rediscovered the song (and album) and it seemed more relevant today than in 1979.

 

 

 

[Ralf001]

13 hours ago, Nomoneynohoney said:

Is America doomed

 

Nope.

[Stocky]

12 hours ago, Maxbkkcm said:

Most humans, wants an iphone, a pair of nike, a tesla ect Wants to eat shakeshak or MCd. NY and california representing something ect 

I don't think so

[Walker88]

Is America doomed?

 

Ha-sip, ha-sip.

 

But there is always humor in absurdity.

 

Bill Maher killed it last night. His mid-panel discussion skit noted the VPs cold reception in Greenland, with signs saying things like "Yankee Go Home". His joke sign was:

 

"We Know When You're Going to Invade Because You Included Us in a Group Chat"

 

In New Rules he joked, now we know how Hegseth's wives found out he was cheating, as he had them on chat when he messaged his paramours.

 

Where he really hit home was his main New Rules part where he accurately pointed out there is no difference between MAGA Republicans and the sycophancy shown to DPRK Leader Kim Jong-un. Trained seals who would relish sniffing his farts and claim it beats jasmine, lavender, and vanilla.

 

MAGA elected officials have introduced all of these Bills: rename Dulles Airport after POTUS, add him to Mt Rushmore, put him on a postage stamp, make his birthday a National Holiday, repeal the 22nd Amendment so he can run again in 2028. That's some DPRK sucking up.

 

Maher noted how POTUS' sycophants applaud his every move the same way DPRK Generals clap wildly for Kim, how they show up wearing blue suits with long red ties at the courthouse, how they've adopted his two hand jack-off dance, how they accept every lie and every mistake (like "transgender mice" vs "transgenic mice"), how talking heads like Fox' Jesse Watters are now so mad at Canada he favors an invasion, how Steve Bannon showed SC Justice Barrett at the recent full Congress speech over and over, criticizing her facial appearance because "it didn't show admiration" for POTUS. That's all pure North Korea, and a REAL syndrome, not the projected one the cult tosses at rational people. Buying threads from his Georgia booking suit? Please.

 

Maher said so-called tough guy Repubs have no problem "eating the POTUS' a$$". He also noted a truly bizarre press statement from WH spokesman Steven Chung, who justified POTUS naming himself Chair of the Kennedy Center that went:

 

POTUS…."is a virtuoso and his musical choices represent a brilliant palette of vibrant colors when others often paint in pale pastels” Would that be the Village People's YMCA he plays at rallies? If only Beethoven had been as creative!

 

When even Kim Jong-un is jealous of unctuous sycophancy, America may well be doomed.

[jas007]

13 hours ago, Maxbkkcm said:

America leads the desire in the world by their products and lifestyle. The only ones who can design high value and quality products too. Plus with the strongest branding ever. Those are the only thing that matter for modern humans. If you name one country that can do the same then America is doomed. 

 

Most humans, wants an iphone, a pair of nike, a tesla ect Wants to eat shakeshak or MCd. NY and california representing something ect 

 

They will be doomed IF there were competitors....

At this point, what is America?  Mostly an idea and a dream, I think.  It's there and will always be there, but the so-called American Dream may be largely fantasy.  Much of the rest of the world doesn't realize that, though.  Maybe that's why it works so well. 

 

 

[Flyguy330]

Decades ago, when I was on a visit to NYC, I turned on the TV in my hotel room to catch the news (always local crap only, cat stuck up a tree etc, while rest of world on fire).

 

The news was interrupted by yet another bloody ad break. 

But this one had me riveted. I never forgot it.

 

It starts with a guy sitting in his armchair at home, watching TV. I think the TV made a comment about US manufacturing going overseas. He casually picks up and reads the label under his ashtray - "Made In Mexico".  He chucks it out the open window in anger.

Then he gets up and goes around the room looking at the label on every item; The table lamp - "Made in China", out the window. The armchair - "Made in Canada", out the window. He's getting more and more angry. The TV itself- "Made in Japan" out the window.

Finally the room is empty of every item of furniture.

 

There's one last thing. On the wall over the fireplace. A RIFLE.

 

He takes it off the wall and reads the label - "Smith & Wesson, "Made in the USA".

 

The camera focuses on his smiling face as the fondles the weapon.

"Buy American" says the voiceover, as the screen goes dark.

 

I know Yanks are famous for not 'getting' irony - but you'd think that the ad men at Smith & Wesson should have an ounce of self awareness.

The only thing the US manufactures is weapons of war. Even the commercial aviation industry is built on military sales. Gotta keep the demand going!

 

PS. If anybody can locate that original advert I'd really love to see it again.

[scorecard]

16 hours ago, Maxbkkcm said:

America leads the desire in the world by their products and lifestyle. The only ones who can design high value and quality products too. Plus with the strongest branding ever. Those are the only thing that matter for modern humans. If you name one country that can do the same then America is doomed. 

 

Most humans, wants an iphone, a pair of nike, a tesla ect Wants to eat shakeshak or MCd. NY and california representing something ect 

 

They will be doomed IF there were competitors....

 

 What a big load of rubbish.

[Lacessit]

19 hours ago, Maxbkkcm said:

America leads the desire in the world by their products and lifestyle. The only ones who can design high value and quality products too. Plus with the strongest branding ever. Those are the only thing that matter for modern humans. If you name one country that can do the same then America is doomed. 

 

Most humans, wants an iphone, a pair of nike, a tesla ect Wants to eat shakeshak or MCd. NY and california representing something ect 

 

They will be doomed IF there were competitors....

You do not seem to realize most of the products you mention are not made in America. iPhone final assembly is primarily in China, India and Vietnam. Ditto Nike.

 

BYD is surpassing Tesla as the most preferred brand of EV. Musk's politics have caused sales to plummet.

 

Most sensible humans don't eat McDonald's or KFC. They know the food there is a recipe for obesity, diabetes and heart attacks.

 

You have just under a million homeless people. 40% of Americans are obese. You have the world's highest prison population. Thanks to the Second Amendment, mass shootings have become routine.

 

Why on earth would anyone covet your lifestyle?

 

 

 

 

[emptypockets]

I can't be bothered discussing the myths of roundup

[still kicking]

Video | Facebook

[NoMoonLogistics]

17 hours ago, BritManToo said:

All your bread is made with US wheat, I don't think the EU is gonna give up on bread.

Another boasting, self deluded American lying to himself that the world revolves all around USA's <deleted>..

 

Fact. Eu is a net grain exporter.

 

I have never encountered such ignorant garbage as what is posted on this forum. First prize goes to you guys.

[Lacessit]

5 hours ago, NoMoonLogistics said:

Another boasting, self deluded American lying to himself that the world revolves all around USA's <deleted>..

 

Fact. Eu is a net grain exporter.

 

I have never encountered such ignorant garbage as what is posted on this forum. First prize goes to you guys.

He's British.

 

The USA is only one of half a dozen major grain exporters. Russia, Australia, Canada, France, and Ukraine.

[stupidfarang]

On 3/29/2025 at 12:55 AM, Maxbkkcm said:

America leads the desire in the world by their products and lifestyle. The only ones who can design high value and quality products too. Plus with the strongest branding ever. Those are the only thing that matter for modern humans. If you name one country that can do the same then America is doomed. 

 

Most humans, wants an iphone, a pair of nike, a tesla ect Wants to eat shakeshak or MCd. NY and california representing something ect 

 

They will be doomed IF there were competitors....

iphone made in China, Nike made in Vietnam, Tesla made in China, burgers can be found everywhere so do not need shake shak, Mcdonald, burger King. (There are better burgers out there made by independant business). As for US leading the desire in the world for their products, what about the many European designers, Prada, Chanel, YSL, Also americans love Japanese cars, among the top sellers in the USA. 

[spidermike007]

Well I'm not sure if doomed is the correct word for it, but America has been on the decline for at least 30 years, it's a much lesser version of itself than it used to be, the quality of life is diminishing by the day, prices are skyrocketing, and unless you own a home free and clear you are completely screwed in America. 

 

America has the highest number of homeless and houseless nomads in the entire world. What does that say about the nation? 

 

And now with the goombah and his ridiculous policies, things are only going to get worse, he is never going to make America great again, he is going to continue to diminish America, and he is going to precipitate that decline dramatically.

 

Donald Trump is making America less relevant each and every day. 

 

 

[1FinickyOne]

On 3/29/2025 at 9:37 AM, Andrew Dwyer said:

 

I won’t even mention the great US tv programmes !

 

Take The Simpsons for example ……. d’oh !

I have not watched US TV in many decades... even as a kid in the USA I didn't watch that much. I liked Mighty Mouse and Million Dollar Movie...

 

Never watched the Simpsons but if I take them, what would I do with them? 

[1FinickyOne]

42 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

unless you own a home free and clear you are completely screwed in America. 

I always owned my own home fully paid off but it was never free and clear - it barely felt like ownership as the taxes could be raised out of sight at any time... as well as energy costs.

[1FinickyOne]

6 hours ago, NoMoonLogistics said:

Another boasting, self deluded American

Yo dude - he goes by the name of Brit Man - I don't think he is American - and then you would have to find out which country in America - Canada? Not yet the 51st state - just playing hard to get I assume.. 

[thaibeachlovers]

7 hours ago, NoMoonLogistics said:

Another boasting, self deluded American lying to himself that the world revolves all around USA's <deleted>..

 

Fact. Eu is a net grain exporter.

 

I have never encountered such ignorant garbage as what is posted on this forum. First prize goes to you guys.

I gave you a laugh emoji because he isn't an American.

[thaibeachlovers]

21 hours ago, jas007 said:

At this point, what is America?  Mostly an idea and a dream, I think.  It's there and will always be there, but the so-called American Dream may be largely fantasy.  Much of the rest of the world doesn't realize that, though.  Maybe that's why it works so well. 

 

 

While made anywhere now, an iconic US product is jeans, a rather poor design of pants that somehow became a symbol of the sheeple. I will never understand the sheeple thought process.

[thaibeachlovers]

On 3/29/2025 at 6:55 AM, Maxbkkcm said:

Most humans, wants an iphone, a pair of nike, a tesla ect Wants to eat shakeshak or MCd. NY and california representing something ect 

I hope that is sarcasm.

[jas007]

33 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

While made anywhere now, an iconic US product is jeans, a rather poor design of pants that somehow became a symbol of the sheeple. I will never understand the sheeple thought process.

I never thought of jeans as having a "poor design," but I have had my favorite pairs over the years. Once they get broken in they can be great to wear just about everywhere. When I lived in NYC, though, it seemed like people were a little more dressed up there, but the last time I was back, that didn't seem to be the case at all, with a few exceptions.  Maybe there are still restaurants that require a dinner jacket? I've run across that before in that city.

 

Of course, California always did seem to be more casual, so jeans and a polo short would work just about anywhere.  The middle of the country?  Wear whatever. 

[scorecard]

15 hours ago, Lacessit said:

You do not seem to realize most of the products you mention are not made in America. iPhone final assembly is primarily in China, India and Vietnam. Ditto Nike.

 

BYD is surpassing Tesla as the most preferred brand of EV. Musk's politics have caused sales to plummet.

 

Most sensible humans don't eat McDonald's or KFC. They know the food there is a recipe for obesity, diabetes and heart attacks.

 

You have just under a million homeless people. 40% of Americans are obese. You have the world's highest prison population. Thanks to the Second Amendment, mass shootings have become routine.

 

Why on earth would anyone covet your lifestyle?

 

 

 

 

Good salient point, well said indeed.

[thaibeachlovers]

1 minute ago, jas007 said:

I never thought of jeans as having a "poor design," but I have had my favorite pairs over the years. Once they get broken in they can be great to wear just about everywhere. When I lived in NTC, though, it seemed like people were a little more dressed up there, but the last time I was back, that didn't seem to be the case at all, with a few exceptions.  Maybe there are still restaurants that require a dinner jacket? I've run across that before in that city.

 

Of course, California always did seem to be more casual, so jeans and a polo short would work just about anywhere.  The middle of the country?  Wear whatever. 

My beef with jeans is the lack of proper pockets. The ones they have don't hold much and all those people walking around with their phones poking out of their back pockets are just begging to lose them.

 

They were invented as hard wearing farm clothing, and somehow became an icon of the youth movement, and the most stupid fashion statement of all times is the ripped jeans look, where perfectly good clothing is destroyed.

[Dan747]

I'm going to wait for the "FAT LADY TO SING!"

[jas007]

4 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

My beef with jeans is the lack of proper pockets. The ones they have don't hold much and all those people walking around with their phones poking out of their back pockets are just begging to lose them.

 

They were invented as hard wearing farm clothing, and somehow became an icon of the youth movement, and the most stupid fashion statement of all times is the ripped jeans look, where perfectly good clothing is destroyed.

I've had jeans with holes in the knee areas, but they didn't come that way.  I actually wore them out myself.  That takes some doing.  It was a sad day when I finally had to throw them out.  Levis 501, button up fly. 

[thaibeachlovers]

Just now, jas007 said:

I've had jeans with holes in the knee areas, but they didn't come that way.  I actually wore them out myself.  That takes some doing.  It was a sad day when I finally had to throw them out.  Levis 501, button up fly. 

I have owned jeans when I cared about what other people thought of me- fitting in with the sheeple. When I wore holes in the legs I cut the legs off and used them as shorts. Eventually they had more mends than not so they were consigned to landfill.

Haven't had jeans since the 80s. Been wearing bog standard shorts I bought for 100 baht each in Thailand since the 90s. They have proper pockets. They'll see me out, I'm sure.

[frank83628]

On 3/29/2025 at 8:05 AM, Gsxrnz said:

The entire western world is doomed, not just America. Caucasians sealed the deal a decade ago by failing to procreate at the rate of 2.1 or greater.

 

Imagine a world where every new-born baby is front page news. That's what 2050 will look like. 

 

 

I don't think many AN members will be here in 2050

[scorecard]

On 3/28/2025 at 11:22 PM, Nomoneynohoney said:

Good for Trump with all his tariffs but all over Europe we see boycotting of American produce.this ain’t going to go away quickly,on the contrary,Europeans will get used to buy and replace American products and will not go back too buy American.On the other hand Trump

tarrifs on cars will raise the price of car repairs and second hand sales and car salesmen of European cars will go out of business.I won’t even mention other businesses who will loose custumors,ie MC Donald,americas great export😂 is one example.bye bye America

 

And the US still not commenting on  / contributing to the recovery in the serious Myanmar / Thailand earth tremors. 

[KannikaP]

On 3/29/2025 at 12:08 PM, impulse said:

For a 45 year old take on the subject, listen to The Blues Brothers' "Green Onions".

 

I recently rediscovered the song (and album) and it seemed more relevant today than in 1979.

 

 

 

The track Green Onions was by Booker T and the MGs. It is an instrumental featuring Hammond organ and a great guitar solo.

What has that got to do with the OP please?

[scorecard]

On 3/29/2025 at 12:55 AM, Maxbkkcm said:

America leads the desire in the world by their products and lifestyle. The only ones who can design high value and quality products too. Plus with the strongest branding ever. Those are the only thing that matter for modern humans. If you name one country that can do the same then America is doomed. 

 

Most humans, wants an iphone, a pair of nike, a tesla ect Wants to eat shakeshak or MCd. NY and california representing something ect 

 

They will be doomed IF there were competitors....

 

...and there's plenty of very capable designers / manufacturers of quality innovative smart phones in China / Korea.