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.
As you know, B Hussein Obama is right in the middle of it all.
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Of course, but the blame truly lies with Americans discarding God’s word. Can we blame those that were “ given over” to evil spirits? Right now, I feel “ revival” is coming, but do be aware Revival historically comes only when a nation is brought to their knees.…which is coming. Exciting times.
Very good points.
Obama is as evil as they come and Satan must be proud of him.
He’s a willing tool of the Devil
As goes the American family, so goes America.
Yes, and he loves it. They detest anything good and do what they can to destroy it.
Obama knows exactly what he is doing to this country
Yes, he does and he loves doing it.
I think it is possible that we have no 2024 elections. What do you think?
“I don’t get the fixation on foreigners. The most destructive people in America today are affluent white dingbats.”
Agree 100%!
BTTT
That assumption also requires his continued health and welfare. What is the lifespan of dementia?
If you want to avoid the judgement of God Almighty, you have to trust in Jesus Christ as your lord and savior! He alone is the way, the light and the truth, nobody comes to the Father except through Him!
.........
Amen amen! So worth repeating!
I was pessimistic when I clicked on the article, but I’m more optimistic now. Few of the developed countries are doing that much better.
Most industry in the 20th century was centered in medium and large cities. When the USA FOOLISHLY offshored our factories we pulled the economic rug out from under hundreds of communities across the USA.
We have been in a moral decline since the 60s. The slippery slope has only gotten steeper.
Because a lot of foreigners are her for what they can take from America; free education for their children, free food, free healthcare, free housing and white liberals who will bow and scrape and kiss their asses for the sin of being born white.
Perfectly said! We need a Jesus revolution.
My wife says something similar, which is that America can now only be saved through Divine Intervention because good people allowed things to go way too far.
I'm in complete agreement. It is suicidal to cheer on a war we should be staying out of. It is insane to support a foreign regime that is supported by every anti-West, anti-US entity there is. It is positively nuts to throw hundreds of billions of dollars at a corrupt, gay-dancing puppet who was installed by leftist/globalist scumbags and is cheerleaded by leftists/RINO/Scumocrats/the WEF, the UN, George Soros and nearly every other America-hating, traditional West-hating individual and NGO in the world.
The level of idiotic, pro-Ukrainian propaganda on this forum has reached an insane height. America's barreling towards societal collapse at the moment, and yet we're supposed to be cheering-on and throwing billions at a corrupt, grifting, gay-dancing little prick in Ukraine whose beard was recently bagged in Paris spending $40,000 on Christmas grifts? (Oops, I meant "gifts.")
I think they’ll have NATO in open combat in Europe before the 2024 election.
Hope I’m wrong.
✝️🙏🛐
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