(no subject)

[some_stars]

wow. i go from reading some incredibly depressing metafilter posts about total unemployment (which i would have avoided if i'd graduated on time instead of being a failure) and health care "reform", to a lecture in US history class about the great depression and the delights wrought by trickle-down and keeping the government out of the economy(except to ~stimulate~ business of course). this is really not helping my tendency towards assuming the united states is a failed state that will soon die and that all human history is an endless cycle of failure and futility where nobody changes or learns anything, ever.

Comments

[ellen_fremedon]

I'm pretty much in full agreement about the failed state part, but I wouldn't say all human history is failure and futility. Plenty of other countries and cultures seem to be capable of learning from their mistakes!

[lilacsigil]

I do worry about the US being a failed state; to be honest, I was greatly relieved when my country's economy did not go down the tubes along with the US, the UK and Iceland, and other places to a lesser extent. Not just for our economy now, but for the future.

All of human history, though? I have to disagree.

[vass]

You too, huh? The optimistic side of me says that we always rise from the ashes, even if we later fall into decay again. The not optimistic side of me is deathly afraid that humanity's going to end soon from climate change.

[phosfate]

"...nobody changes or learns anything, ever."

She said, typing on the magic electro-box that connects her with the entire world instantly.

[some_stars]

Well, I'm not really talking about scientific progress, so.

[phosfate]

I would argue that there is social progress inherent in a medium that connects us, on a daily basis, with people we would never be able to speak with in the real world.