American morality in decline, if so why and how?

actually-i really have to disagree-it is not capitalism-it is the greedism-if you will- that has corrupted America

The need to have everything you want-when you want-and how you want it is to the point of being sickening.

People do not pay for consequences to the decisions they make, and there is always a group who trys to get others to agree by mental or even physical force.

It is the greed with no consequence that has caused the moral decline.

Without a Absolute Law you have no way of saying what is right/wrong or what is good/evil. So who is too say that the love of money or sex is wrong? Leading to the ultimate conclusion that nothing is wrong/evil. That means we would have no backbone in government. Leading to the collapse of it. That is why we need the Constitution and other documents to uphold our Nation.

Glad you brought this up, because I was wondering how the Liberals and Democrats are dealing with the problem of Radical Islam.
http://www.obsessionthemovie.com/ Please check this out and see the truth that we need to stand up against this religion before it is too late. They want to replace our Constitution with the KORAN! They want to conquer the world just like Nazi Germany, Hitler wanted. They are waging a war through Jihad across the world.

As to Evolution being a problem I won't even try.
I don't need to, because it has been done perfectly on this site which has answered every question and said why evolution leads to moral decline:
www.answersingenesis.org and icr.org
My dad touches on this subject and others: www.soulcare.org
I leave you to find the evidence for yourself. To the rest of Gather check out the evidence and decide for yourself.

NWJ Keep up the good work and God bless (+=-)

i sort of agree, disagree. i think a lot of people are valuing the short-term above the long-term. we want ant-profits at grasshopper-speed. consumerism.

Steven.. It is interesting how it is seen as immoral to accept things with lots of proof over things that have little to no proof.

Morality comes from accepting responsibility for ones actions. Most groups are proud to claim it is following a set of rules that serve a given groups' interest.

I've heard that the greatest decline started with the pardoning of Nixon, that because faith the pinnacle of responsibility in this country -- the Presidency -- was undermined, those who looked to the White House for leadership felt less inclined to toe the line.

Viet Nam didn't help either in our credibility department!

Look at our present leadership, do you trust them? The Bush Administration has been caught lying and committing human rights violations, so what IDEALS do we have? I wonder who they believe they serve.

The greatest decline started in November 1963 in Dealy Plaza Dallas TX.

I dont think morality is such a problem that it deserves the level of consideration asked of. In other words, people put too much emphasis on morality.
Alot of times, I think people like to control anothers behaviour. The subject of morality is a vessel by which to do this. I conclude this because things like gay marriage and stem cell research have been cast as the second-coming of satan. Such ideations are irrational, just as controlling anothers behaviour.
If people end up marrying others of the same sex, or if human beings are cloned, there will be more predictions of hell on earth by the moral police. Just my take on it.

Ron-
It was JFK's murder that completely changed my perception of my alledgedly moral government. I was only 14 years old, but when I saw the look on Oswald's face as he was gut-shot by his former buddy Jack Ruby, I just intuitively KNEW something really creepy was going on.
Gary-
I pretty much agree with you entirely. The unbridled pursuit of profit has helped to destroy our once great nation.
Beam me up Scotty.

I was shocked when Lee Harvey Oswald was shot on television for all to see. I believe that was the first time something like that happened on TV. It was tragic to be sure.

The Nixon pardon was the first time the government failed the people. He was a crook. Of course, some people felt that the government failed the people when Roe V. Wade happened. The fact is that morals have a standard but aren't black and white. They are muddled somewhere in that grey area that few people want to address.

Ron's point about stem cell research is right on. This country is going to be left behind in this important medical research if these so-called moral police have their way.

I think that things have never changed. In the 1200 (or something like that)in england, men started shaving their beards to be rebellious. At the turn of the century, the robber-barrons grew rich as the poor lived in disease-filled tinderbox slums. In the 1920s, people rebelled by drinking and listening to jazz, which was verry controversal. In the 1960s, people started doing halucinigens to expand their minds from the oppressiveness of modern society. Nothing has really changed, it's just that older people never seem to be able to adapt to changes in society, no matter what generation.

This phenominon is even seen in the mafia. One generation grows up and becomes violent, much more than the previous generation. As this generation becomes more established, the groups become less violent. When the next generation of mobsters comes around, the cycle begins again, and the previous generation have difficulty accepting the changes. This is a microcosim of the generational wars.

I completely agree that capitalism and the endless push for profit fuels immorality. Capitalism gets a free pass despite enormously destructive effects. some of the comments on this post reflect the attitude held by so many that capitalism aught not to be considered as a suspect - though no logical arguments really seem to exist to back this up.

" actually-i really have to disagree-it is not capitalism-it is the greedism-if you will- that has corrupted America"

this is like saying "it was not communism, it was greedism..."

and we don't say that. we say "it was communism." "it is communism." "it is capitalism."

This one of those "big picture" issues that tends to draw in everything but the kitchen sink. It's easy to point at one aspect or another and call it the reason we are where we are now. Capitalism and consumerism, pretty much, sums up the US. I suggest, before you start cutting them down, you scrutinize your part in the process and ask yourself, am I guilty of capitalizing and am I totally free of greed? Do you own one thing you really don't need? Have you ever turned a profit from a yard sale, selling a used car, or paying someone to do something that's not worth your time? Most of us know the answer to these questions will place us squarely in the middle of the controversy.

Personal morality should drive personal behavior. Capitalism and consumerism only provide a platform to exercise your own moral choices. Sex, opulence, and violence sell because there is a huge market for it. Whose fault is that?

Our reality, good, bad, or so so, is that co-created by the totality of each and all. As each of us think and act, that results in our own contribution. To the degree that we do, or do not, ask the hard questions and expect honest answers, will be the action (or non-action) that is returned to us as a re-action. It is all about cause and effect.

If we are going to seek a leader to follow, we should be as sure as possible that our pick is up to the standard that we would prefer ... our leadership models are sorely lacking in those things that would make them care for the entirety of the good of the people as a whole it seems, they would rather stuff their own pockets and feather their own nests.

Yes, greed and corruption are a great part of it all. But Fear is also a big motivator, fear of a future where there is not enough of something to go around, where by increasing your own stockpile of some valuable something, even money, you will have what it takes to carry you through any rough times. To corner a market gives one leverage and control opportunities ... when you have it really 'good', you will do most anything to insure your continuation of that condition. Business as usual, survival of the fittest, dog eat dog. Money seems to speak to so many that will sell their own soul for what it represents.

Yet it is our own religions that have promoted this in their Duality thinking of good VS evil, of only one extreme choice as opposed and fighting the other. Thus everything is seen as a fight to separate into oppositions where there are only winners and losers. This promotes the competitive excess that has led to our condition.

We do not need the standard definition of perfection around some extreme end of a linear scale ... we need it to represent a true God given balance of the positives and negatives that we all contain. Stop the fight, join the peace of diverse acceptance of opposites ... opposite but equals, each and all a part of the natural creation of God based upon His Trinity of (+=-).

Preaching ? ... no, even though it is Sunday and maybe it should be so ... but just reminding all that normal and common orthodoxy has got us the problems that we now face ... maybe it is now time for some fundamental changes in the way we think ... let us attempt to transcend Duality with Trinity where perfection is natural truth as in (+=-) ... My Contribution is this.

Jerry: Ying/Yang - Ping/Pong. E=MC2.

Let me suggest the loss of the value of human life. Wholesale Abortion to remove an inconvience. 40 MILLION lives not known. The next step...adresss Suffering. Death with Dignity. Pull the plug, when? Next step... When is a person more of a burden than a productive unit? How long should they be carried?

Embryonic Research is a straw man in the moral deline. First, the only real progress offered by ER is tumors. (NYT article) Peole have walked with the administation of Adult Stem Cells. Bush provided funding for Adult and placental Stem Cell research, and a limited number of embryonic cells. It is a real possibility that a woman's egg could be a commedity. (Why can't I sell an eye, arm. or kidney to someone)?

Live is devalued today. We are almost desensitized to violence and suffering.

Capitalism is what provided every invention we enjoy today. Every convience. Technology could not develope if left to Government agencies. Profits create research funds. Greed is inherent, but, that is the indivuals or the realm of the Board of Directors, not the gov't or some individuals. Do you attack Ted Turner for giving a Billion to the UN and not the US? Buffet or Gates not donanation their breadbasket to us instead of Africa? Or is just good they gave up some of their obscene wealth?

EVERY great civilization had a marked moral collapse before it's demise or conquest. Nothing worth rallying around or fighting for. Self-absorbtion and every faction's needs met. No limits. No consequences, as long as it's not hurting someone else. I just believe when self becomes the voice of authority and gov't and culture and God, it is about over.

"(Why can't I sell an eye, arm. or kidney to someone)?
You CAN! go to www.sellyourbodyparts.org for a complete price list LMAO
"I just believe when self becomes the voice of authority and gov't and culture and God, it is about over." Can't really argue with that, pal.

Grateful, the symbolizations you stated are probably dualities (+/-) in your understanding ... as is your concept of self:

I just believe when self becomes the voice of authority and gov't and culture and God, it is about over.

What I promote an understanding of is the Trinity as (+=-). In the fullness of that, your self (ego) becomes wedded to, and relates and listens to the higher Self which is the Spirit of God that has the overall interest of the entirety of ALL CREATION at heart and in mind. This is a far cry from the ego self of the Dualist that has no concept of the 'other' that I mention. Sadly, as long as the ego holds sway, the idea of the Trinity will not be appreciated.