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An interesting title. I have also been thinking lately about whether a secular, affluent nation can survive. America was made strong by a tradition of freedom, sacrifice, religion, and ingenuity...a big subject, difficult to know where to start on exactly what's wrong and why, without writing a book, or two, or three, like Stein's - seems to me the ideals of sacrifice and ingenuity are gone (Stein mentions in his talk the herd mentality and need to conform that seems to infect even, or maybe especially, our "creative" types in Hollywood) and freedom and religion seem to be slipping away fast.

I'm especially bothered by the lack of thought most people seem to put into much of what they do anymore. Maybe things have just become so "easy" and routine that there's not much challenge in getting through life in many ways and people have become intellectually lazy. Maybe a cliche, but it does seem a real problem. Latest information is that the Prudential Building in Newark is a prime terrorist target, yet latest polls show Kerry leading Bush in NJ by 12 points - could minorities and union members really believe that Kerry would be better at protacting their interests than Bush, or have they not even learned from 911 what could befall them?

On the other hand, in his talk Stein says that he's been seeing a lot of people in Hollywood switching to the Republican party, and "the trend is growing like a weed" - maybe there's some hope after all.....

***On the other hand, in his talk Stein says that he's been seeing a lot of people in Hollywood switching to the Republican party****

Those pampered brats will want to bring all their garbage-laden baggage with them!

We're better off without them.

People can switch parties but they can't grow character overnight.

"I'm especially bothered by the lack of thought most people seem to put into much of what they do anymore. Maybe things have just become so "easy" and routine that there's not much challenge in getting through life"

This is exactly how i feel. I think the biggest difference between election 1984 and election 2004, is that we've had it too good for too long. People no longer appreciate a strong recovery... people have come to EXPECT a never-ending BOOM.
Another thing that worries me is how coarse our society has become(our entertainment is a huge part of this). It seems like the more media forms there are, and the longer theyve been with us, the more coarse and cynical we get as a nation. Hence "bad" has become good, and "good" has become "boring".
As we become more affluent religion and family seem to be playing far less a role in society. I personally am bucking that trend, but I still see it going on in most of society.
This is a very interesting topic to me so please give me some of your thoughts.