Posted on 04/01/2023 11:32:54 AM PDT by george76
Historian Arnold Toynbee observed "an autopsy of history would show that all great nations commit suicide."
It's hard not to think about this reading the results of the latest Wall Street Journal-NORC poll, appearing under the headline "America Pulls Back From Values That Once Defined It."
Only 38% of Americans now say patriotism is "very important," compared to 70% in 1998. Thirty-nine percent say religion is "very important," compared to 62% in 1998. And 30% say having children is "very important" compared to 59% in 1998.
The results that follow from these attitudes are not surprising.
Marriage rates are way down. Birthrates are way down.
In 1990, 67% of American adults between the ages of 25-54 were married. This was down to 51% in 2021.
In 2020, there were 56 births in the U.S. for every 1,000 women ages 15-44. In 1990, there were 70.9.
And, among the births we do have, in 2021, 40% of our babies were born to unmarried mothers.
Not surprisingly, our population is hardly growing. In 2022, the U.S. population increased 0.4%, a modest increase from the 0.1% increase in 2021, the lowest annual population growth since the founding of the nation.
Looking at the same polling data results among the youngest sector of our population, the picture looks even more dismal.
Among those under 30, just 23% say patriotism is "very important" to them, 31% say religion is "very important," and 23% say having children is "very important."
What is important to Americans today?
Although 70% say marriage is either "very important" or "somewhat important," 65% say belief in God is "very important" or "somewhat important," 73% say patriotism is "very important" or "somewhat important," 91% say self-fulfillment is "very important" or "somewhat important," and 90% say money is "very important" or "somewhat important."
...
The devaluing of marriage, children and patriotism, and the focus on "self-fulfillment" and money are, of course, signs of a culture sunk into egotism and materialism, with a loss of a sense of being part of something larger than oneself.
It is not an encouraging picture for a country that hopes to have a future.
Our health care and retirement systems depend on a growing population. Stagnant population growth means more and more retirees per each individual in the workforce. It's why our Social Security system is bankrupt.
Zero population growth means an aging population and increasing health care costs. In 2019, 56% of all health care costs were in age groups 55 and above. The overall burden of health care costs will continue to increase as the percentage of the population over 55 increases.
There are also implications on national security of attitudes that devalue patriotism and national service.
We now have a volunteer military. This can't work with a population of young people who feel no sense of identity and obligation to their nation.
Again, the results are predictable. In 2022, the Army fell 15,000 short of its recruiting goal.
National defense spending is 3% of GDP, very low by historical standards.
The Wall Street Journal reports our Navy's fleet of ships will shrink to 291 by 2028 from 297 today. And the number of aircrafts in the Air Force is diminishing.
Only 21% of those surveyed say that our country "stands above all countries in the world."
But our country is only the product of its citizenry. A free nation under God becomes less free, and less great, as the Creator is traded in for materialism and egotism.
We have elections coming in 2024. President Joe Biden, assuming he runs, will run on more of what is destroying our nation. It is up to Republicans to run on principles and ideals, in hope that we can mend our rapidly sinking ship of state.
Very, very, well said!
We know the list of why is long but I will add that sometime this year, terrorist cells originating south of our border/from around the world, will start raising havoc on a huge scale.
The Perfect Storm is upon us, I regret to say.
Divine Intervention is our only hope but that won’t be done without repentance and revival.
Thank you.
Obama embraced transgenderism, hat marriage, full Marxism while pretending to be moderate.
You are absolutely right. Well said.
Fine article, but the title and additional focus should include “Assisted Suicide”
That is the correct definition of the decline and fall of America...
It has been assisted mainly by the plan the communists have followed here in the U.S. since WWII... The Fabian Marxists developed the plan in the late 1800s as the only way to destroy America as a free and capitalist society...
The Fabian’s plan declared that only through the complete control of the American education system, allowing a thorough indoctrination of multiple generations, could America be destroyed and replaced by the dark Marxist-Communist tyranny that we now exist under...
I don’t get the fixation on foreigners. The most destructive people in America today are affluent white dingbats.
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“I get it” and have been studying the propaganda techniques of the American Establishment through old newspapers.(Newspapers.com)
When big economic issues and changes are on the horizon, the media increases their propaganda effort. This propaganda is usually directed in an divisive direction against other ethnic, religious, or classes of people.
In my state the most dangerous political elements are white college educated liberals of both sexes.
I’m sad to see it
I’m sad to say it
Sadly I believe you are right. It is going down hill towards the crash at record speed.
Sorry. I’m not. Just was talking about their side of it.
I know a lot of wimpy guys are afraid “commitment” and being in an adult relationship that doesn’t entail only their selfish concerns. As well as being liars and small time con artists.
The late SF writer A.E. van Vogt said “Unlike women, men are simple creatures. They live by stimulus and response and want to satisfy desires and gain and hold territory.”
Bravo! You are dead nuts on the money. The most destructive scum in America today are White, upper middle class and wealthy leftists. They're the ones who school foreigners in why they must reject traditional American values and American culture.They're the ones who concoct perverse worldviews and agendas and push them into the broad culture.
In spite of that bombardment of dysfunction and degeneracy, so many immigrants to the US, especially those from Mexico and Central America, maintain very traditional social values. Most are God-worshiping, practicing Catholics. In my book, Mexicans in particular are overwhelmingly decent, hardworking folks.
My ancestors on both sides immigrated to the US in the early 1900s. In spite of strong, anti-Italian sentiments in some of the places they settled they flourished through hard work and living their Christian values. They didn't get all tatted up, revel in pornography, use terms like "mother8cker," they didn't act like they were the highest power in the universe, they didn't stuff themselves with crap food and grow into fat, obnoxious swine, they didn't dress like slobs, hookers or degenerate clowns, they didn't murder their babies, mutilate or sexualize their children and the women didn't roll around getting porked and splooged on by anything that moved. They would have rather died than collect welfare. They got married, stayed married, maintained two parent families and took care of their children. Mexicans remind me of the sensibilities my Italian and Sammarinese ancestors had.
I'm sick of America's problems being blamed on immigrants, either legal or illegal. America's collapse is a direct result of its abandonment of its Judeo-Christian values and the supplanting of them with gutter culture, a cult of self worship, an across-the-board affinity for filth, weirdness and perversity and an abandonment of decency, dignity and common sense.
We know the list of why is long but I will add that sometime this year, terrorist cells originating south of our border/from around the world, will start raising havoc on a huge scale.
The Perfect Storm is upon us, I regret to say.
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When I worked as an “ Army advisor” to Colombia a few years back, we caught droves of Islamists WITH Venezuelan passports. They walked easily into Colombia, from Colombia taking the land route up through Mexico or trying to fly in from Santa Marta or other cities. They had airline TICKETS!
Any wonder why we have virtually no diplomatic ties with Venezuela? State sponsored terrorists, my later days there showed the FARC and other terror groups using IED’s against Colombian Police and Army, presumably trained by the Islamists.
Knowing what I know, I can say the “ last days” of America are upon us, especially with senile Joe accelerating our demise. Can that change? No idea.
Folks- listen up! Anything and everything senile Joe supports or mandates is meant to destroy us, either intentionally or by stupidity.
My warnings against senile Joe’s Ukie war are not being heard, war cheerleaders you have no idea what you are supporting. You are contributing to our eventual destruction.
Carry on war cheerleaders, you will reap what you have sown….
It’s over, barring divine intervention, which is likely undeserved.
Things are worse now for America than in 1980, 1968 or 1941. God help us.
The speed of the decline is breathtaking.
Luke 21:34-36
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Not surprising to those of us blessed with “ discernment “. That said, I take much comfort in knowing true believers will get through this historic fall just fine.
I can attest to that, where I have been and what I have witnessed is unbelievable to most, only my Faith and God’s favor gets credit. Folks- get on your knees and give Praise….before you are brought to your knees. Amen.
I wish He would, but why should He? So many have embraced Satan as their lord.
Thanks for your very good insight. The puzzle pieces are almost all in place.
As you know, B Hussein Obama is right in the middle of it all.
Me, too. It’s beyond sad and disgusting and so much more.
Excellent post!
(Not surprising to those of us blessed with “ discernmen)
Yeah like birth pangs
Amen!
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