Has the Whole World Gone "CRAZY"?
By bigal3
@bigal3 (1231)
Thailand
April 10, 2011 4:08am CST
Is it just me or has the whole world "lost its collective mind"? It seems to me there is no place in this planet at this point in time that is not going through some kind of conflict.
Today I see on the news (can't mention the network here), that had a person speaking to the world economy among other subjects and mentioned the recent proposed action to be taken if the U.S. government shut down. I nearly lost it the other day when I heard what had been proposed in congress.
By way of background I served two tours in Viet Nam in combat and I know how much the military sacrifices for the country. When I heard the proposal included not "PAYING" the military until the government was in operation again I have to say I really got "ANGRY"! When I think how much the military of all branches have given to the country and are still giving it tears me up.
I must say I have had to "eat some crow" on this one. I completely supported the president even when I wasn't exactly sure what he was up to. I gave him the benefit of the doubt but when I saw today what was proposed world wide economically as it relates to the U.S. I lost it. Not paying the military would in my opinion be the same as a "crime" especially when banks, car dealears and an assortment of other elite establishments are being "FINANCIALLY BAILED OUT" at the expense of the American people. WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Two questions: "has the whole world gone crazy and how do "we" responsible people on this planet stop it an repair the damage?
1 person likes this
10 responses
@yoyo1198 (3641)
• United States
10 Apr 11
I think the global economic problems, the unrest in the N.African countries, the catastrophe in Japan and general moral decline has had tremendous effects on everyone. Whether that is called 'crazy' is up to interpretation. I think it can more readily be called fear. Fear makes peoples do strange things.
In the U.S., I think we all need to take a long look at our disfunctional congressional antics. We expect them to act like adults and govern the country with a few ounces of common sense and now we've seen that they have no more than a gang of kids in a school yard. I think that we as citizens have the option to tell them what we think with our next vote. I will be voting to remove all incumbents that I can. I write to my congresspeople regularly with my opinions but they do not appear to be listening to 'we the people'. I think the corporations and banks are running the country and the train has already left the station.
2 people like this
@flowerchilde (12529)
• United States
11 Apr 11
Federal government was never meant to become huge and usurp the states.. Gov and programs under state jurisdiction keeps things sane because of competition. Do a lousy job, lose people and business/jobs, which makes a state have to improve. There is no check on federal government and the framers of our gov and constitution knew that. So what in the world happened to that knowledge?
1 person likes this
@yoyo1198 (3641)
• United States
13 Apr 11
Money in leaders' pockets is trumping the wishes and knowledge that the government framers brought to the country. They are mainly concentrating upon being re-elected with their fund raisers and kowtowing to the lobbyists. I think that they think that we do not see the reality of their actions. It's time to let them know that we're not as uninformed and clueless as they believe. But it's going to take all of us getting out and going to vote. If people stay home on election day, then they have no right to complain when the country goes down the drain. And note that I said 'when' and not 'if'.
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@bigal3 (1231)
• Thailand
13 Apr 11
Hi you two,
You both have made some intersting points and I thank you both for your responses.
"yoyo...", you really hit the nail on the head when you said, "expect them to act like aduts". The "school yard" analogy was right on!
"flowerchilde",
The "two house" system of government was suppose to be designed so no one person or party could monoplize the people with the job of the president being to lead and to mediate disputes between both houses of congress.
His main power though is the power of the "veto" when congress tries to enact a law that ultimately the president thinks would not be in the best interest of the nation.
The answer to your question may be lots of $$$$$$$'s in someone's pocket in my opinion.
Thank you both for your very intuitive responses.

@TTCCWW (579)
• United States
10 Apr 11
bigal,
I have to say that I have been going nuts for years. We went into two wars in the middle east, one of them for made up reasons, and in the exact same congress, almost in the same breath, cut spending for the veterans. What kind of country ask it's people to sacrifice and then turns their back on them when they come back.
The reason I am not in charge, every elected official that voted on that bill should have gone to jail including the president.
In a government shutdown the president nor the congress can change, at that moment, who gets paid and who does not. The military not getting paid during a shutdown has been discussed since the 1994 shutdown and still has not been fixed.
If this shutdown had happened it would have been because they had not passed the military spending part of the bill. They were holding that hostage as well. Something they could have done for over a year.
The president sent this buget to the congress over a year ago and the took all this time to have a fight over it. He has already sent them next years budget and they have not even started on that one.
I think the middle east is wonderful, we have spent billions trying to encourage democracy in those country's for the last fifty years. Who knew all we needed was a twitter account and facebook.
If you really want to fix our government you have to start by breaking up the news media and make it free market again and then you have to vote in Public Campaign Finance so that these elected officials do not have to spend two thirds pof their time raising money to get elected or stay in office.
2 people like this
@bigal3 (1231)
• Thailand
13 Apr 11



@flowerchilde (12529)
• United States
11 Apr 11
Here in the U.S. we have to bring just about all things back to the power of the states, including aLL the social programs, for the states not doing so well, would lose people and businesses/jobs, and would have to straighten up! As is now, we've created a too powerful over government which could soon be unstoppable. Government is no more trustworthy than it's ever been. The strong checks upon power is the only key, but we get convinced otherwise. The only hope for any country is small government.
1 person likes this
@bigal3 (1231)
• Thailand
16 Apr 11



@sierras236 (2739)
• United States
11 Apr 11
There has been no time in human history that man was not in conflict. Even if you don't believe in parts of the Bible, it is still a history book with lots and lots of conflict. I use the Bible as an example because it is one of the oldest known books around not because of its religious views.
The World now is actually a lot saner now than it has been in history.
As far as politicians go, if you really look back, they aren't any different than when this country first started. That is you can find the non-worship type of books.
The proposal for not paying the Military is definitely an anger-provoking thought. It should have never been threatened on President Obama's watch. I hope the Military remembers this bit of insanity come election time.
1 person likes this
@bigal3 (1231)
• Thailand
15 Apr 11
Hi "sierras...",
So you are a student of history? Me too and it does predict the future in some cases. These problems have been in the world for eons. In fact probably when mankind's population became three people. (just joking
) At that time there were three different opinions on how to do things and hence here we are today; "HUMANS", destroying our own world and for what?
As for the proposal to not pay the military is concerned that is the same as a community not paying police officers who risk their lives in pretty much the same way in today's world don't you think? I can assure you banks and "big business" would not let that fly so why do it to the military? So far no one has really been held responsible for the crazy economic situation with the banks,stock markets and jobs being lost. All I see is the same old political games that have always been played in the U.S. The only difference is now the world can see what is going instantly. However it has made not much difference. I thought President Obama was going to be different and in alot of ways he is. However I feel he needs to take a firmer approach with the congress. I think he needs to take a page out of JFK's book when it comes to dealing with congress. "BE FIRM AND DECISIVE"! If the various factions want some of their pet projects to get the president's signature they need to quit bad mouthing him and help him not their special friends in "BIG BUSINESS" with all of their "shady deals" don't you think?



@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
10 Apr 11




@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
13 Apr 11
Regan was always for everything military. my son said he did a lot for military. that was his biggest cause. 

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@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
13 Apr 11

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@bigal3 (1231)
• Thailand
13 Apr 11




@zralte (4176)
• India
12 Apr 11



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@bigal3 (1231)
• Thailand
13 Apr 11
Hi "zralte",
I couldn't agree with you more my friend! When I watch the news all I see is about either money or someone is trying wipe out someone else.
It's "STUPID" and the world governments are now getting a serious "WAKE-UP CALL" I think. Thank you for your reponse and keep your chin up and prayers positive for mankind's sake.



@Netsbridge (3253)
• United States
10 Apr 11
I think it is a good thing: To much injustice gone for too long!
1 person likes this
@bigal3 (1231)
• Thailand
14 Apr 11



@Pose123 (21635)
• Canada
10 Apr 11
Hi bigal, I won't get involved in American issues as I live in Canada but to answer your question, it does seem that the whole world has gone mad. We are in the midst of a federal election here and some of the things being suggested are scary. With all the unrest in the middle east as well, it makes me wonder what's going to happen next. Blessings.
1 person likes this
@bigal3 (1231)
• Thailand
13 Apr 11



@eileenleyva (27560)
• Philippines
10 Apr 11
The answer to your first question is ... politically, yes, the world has gone crazy. As to the second question... well, we all have to be vigilant, right the wrong whenever we can, and stay being responsible citizens all the time.
And I learned a long time ago that anger will not get me anywhere.

@bigal3 (1231)
• Thailand
12 Apr 11
Hi "eileenleyva",
Thank you for responding.
You are correct but even with the vigilance it seems things are totally out of control.
I too have given up on geting angry about world affairs and more to the point the affairs of my country. Anger really did not help; it only made me feel worse due to the frustration of not being able to do anything about it in reality. At my age I am just happy when I open my eyes every morning and I am still breathing. However it does still affect me to some degree in a sad depressing way when it all is so very basic: "LIVE AND LET LIVE"! Once again thank you for your response.



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@megamatt (14291)
• United States
10 Apr 11
Well I think that the world has been crazy since the very beginning. However, I get what you are saying. This is a new level of crazy and there are a lot of things that are wrong with the entire world, in many ways. We most certainly do live in some interesting times. However, it is not the good kind of interesting but rather the type of interesting that you can't pull yourself away from, no matter how much you want to. I mean its to the point where I'm so appalled and horrified, that I want to look away, but a small part of me almost wants to see if this can get any worse. You don't really need to look far for many of the problems. Just turn on the news or log onto any news website or open a newspaper and you'll get all sorts of things that boggle the mind.
As for what we can do to fix it. Who really knows to say the very least. I mean, I think we can just lead the best possible life we live as individuals and I think that there is a small chance that people are going to be inspired by our examples. Then those people are going to get inspired by them. Then there are a lot of times where it is really just a ripple downward. Then again, the same works the other way and that is really why the world is in the mess that you described in the topic in the first place.
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