Misc A quick poll about the future of American Civilization. - Page 7

**Rain Man** · 04-23-2014, 03:04 PM

The Gen Y thread got me wondering.

Where do you think America is in its life cycle? Are we ascending? Are we on the downside? What is our long-term trajectory as a civilization?

Poll to follow unless the Visigoths storm the walls before I can post it.

Fish · 04-24-2014, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bugeater

Do you enjoy paying your income taxes and health insurance premiums?

Enjoyment isn't a way I would describe it.

**Bugeater** · 04-24-2014, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fish

Enjoyment isn't a way I would describe it.

I sure don't when I know that a chunk of each of them are going to fund the people who don't want to make any effort in life. If that means I'm selfish so be it then, I won't apologize for it.

Zebedee DuBois · 04-24-2014, 06:52 PM

I guess I am an optimist. I think we are improving every single decade, every single year, every single day.

I cannot think of a time in history where we have been in a better overall position than we are right now.- for the largest amount of people.

I think a lot of people do not have a concept of how much disparity there was in our past. Sure we had rich people and middle class, but we had vast swaths of abject poverty too.

We have brought the low end of our spectrum up, an I think that is an achievement that benefits us all. More and more segments of our society are now able to join the middle class and that benefits us all.

And I'm an old fat rich white guy.

Katipan · 04-24-2014, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zebedee DuBois

I guess I am an optimist. I think we are improving every single decade, every single year, every single day.

I cannot think of a time in history where we have been in a better overall position than we are right now.- for the largest amount of people.

I think a lot of people do not have a concept of how much disparity there was in our past. Sure we had rich people and middle class, but we had vast swaths of abject poverty too.

We have brought the low end of our spectrum up, an I think that is an achievement that benefits us all. More and more segments of our society are now able to join the middle class and that benefits us all.

And I'm an old fat rich white guy.

That's hot.

Zebedee DuBois · 04-24-2014, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katipan

That's hot.

And we are living in the golden age of craft beer availability.

Some people say they want to "take America back" Back to where and when?

I am not giving up my Espresso Oak Aged Yeti Imperial Stout!!!!

**Rain Man** · 04-24-2014, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katipan

That's hot.

Be honest. It was the "rich" part, wasn't it?

Katipan · 04-24-2014, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man

Be honest. It was the "rich" part, wasn't it?

Rich (like beauty) isn't nearly as attractive as charm.

Did I sound sincere? I typed that a few times in the mirror.

**Rain Man** · 04-24-2014, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katipan

Rich (like beauty) isn't nearly as attractive as charm.

Did I sound sincere? I typed that a few times in the mirror.

If true of all women, this is bad news. I at least have a fighting shot at being labeled rich.

Zebedee DuBois · 04-24-2014, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man

If true of all women, this is bad news. I at least have a fighting shot at being labeled rich.

You're probably rich - most of us are richer than we think. Our perception is a bit warped by the media.

I found this little Rich-o-meter on a Wall Street Journal blog: http://graphicsweb.wsj.com/documents/RICHMETER1107/
you can plug in either a salary or a net worth, and it will rank against the US data. ( I think the data is a few years old)

when I first saw this, I thought it couldn't be accurate- I mean - look at all the doctors everywhere and they should all be richer than I am. I googled it and doctors only make up 0.3% of the population. The 14 Walmart heirs have as much money as the bottom 40 million americans. That really warps the numbers.

Zebedee DuBois · 04-24-2014, 08:09 PM

and Katipan....I appreciate the flirt.

**Rain Man** · 04-24-2014, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zebedee DuBois

You're probably rich - most of us are richer than we think. Our perception is a bit warped by the media.

I found this little Rich-o-meter on a Wall Street Journal blog: http://graphicsweb.wsj.com/documents/RICHMETER1107/
you can plug in either a salary or a net worth, and it will rank against the US data. ( I think the data is a few years old)

when I first saw this, I thought it couldn't be accurate- I mean - look at all the doctors everywhere and they should all be richer than I am. I googled it and doctors only make up 0.3% of the population. The 14 Walmart heirs have as much money as the bottom 40 million americans. That really warps the numbers.

Hmm, so to be a 1%er, I need either a net worth of $8.4 million or an income of $507,000. Let me go count.

**notorious** · 04-24-2014, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man

Hmm, so to be a 1%er, I need either a net worth of $8.4 million or an income of $507,000. Let me go count.

Don't forget to check under the couch cushions.

RJ · 04-24-2014, 08:30 PM

I'd wager that the results of this poll would have looked the same 100 years ago and would still look the same 100 years from now.

Zebedee DuBois · 04-24-2014, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RJ

I'd wager that the results of this poll would have looked the same 100 years ago and would still look the same 100 years from now.

I would not bet against you. (and good to 'see' you. I am wiping out my yearly allotment of 25 posts in this thread tonight)

Hammock Parties · 04-24-2014, 08:39 PM

We haven't fully technologized (a word I just invented) our society yet.

We're getting there. I'd say we're 60-65 percent there. A lot of the old infrastructure needs to be replaced.

When we get to 100 percent, we'll experience a period of great success. Our society will be almost Utopian.

Then the decline will begin. Almost imperceptibly. Gradually. At some point it will all come crashing down. Perhaps because of war. Civil war, even.

It'll be cool.

View Poll Results: What is the trajectory of American Civilization?
We're ascending and I think we're a long way from our peak.	31	16.76%
We're ascending, but we will peak within the next two or three generations?	4	2.16%
We're in a stable state and likely won't decline.	10	5.41%
We're in a stable state but are headed toward decline.	34	18.38%
We peaked in the last two or three generations, and we're descending.	95	51.35%
We've pretty much been descending since Plymouth Rock. Our ruin is imminent.	9	4.86%
I don't really following the grand sweep of history.	2	1.08%
Voters: 185. You may not vote on this poll

04-23-2014, 03:04 PM
Rain Man NFL's #1 Ermines Fan Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: My house Casino cash: $3408491 VARSITY	A quick poll about the future of American Civilization. The Gen Y thread got me wondering. Where do you think America is in its life cycle? Are we ascending? Are we on the downside? What is our long-term trajectory as a civilization? Poll to follow unless the Visigoths storm the walls before I can post it.
Posts: 141,202

04-24-2014, 06:52 PM	#93
Zebedee DuBois Veteran Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: floating in a tin can Casino cash: $1975199	I guess I am an optimist. I think we are improving every single decade, every single year, every single day. I cannot think of a time in history where we have been in a better overall position than we are right now.- for the largest amount of people. I think a lot of people do not have a concept of how much disparity there was in our past. Sure we had rich people and middle class, but we had vast swaths of abject poverty too. We have brought the low end of our spectrum up, an I think that is an achievement that benefits us all. More and more segments of our society are now able to join the middle class and that benefits us all. And I'm an old fat rich white guy. __________________ What am I even doing here?
Posts: 3,746

04-24-2014, 08:09 PM	#100
Zebedee DuBois Veteran Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: floating in a tin can Casino cash: $1975199	and Katipan....I appreciate the flirt. __________________ What am I even doing here?
Posts: 3,746

04-24-2014, 08:30 PM	#103
RJ Supporter Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: In a shotgun shack Casino cash: $9965202	I'd wager that the results of this poll would have looked the same 100 years ago and would still look the same 100 years from now.
Posts: 14,931

04-24-2014, 08:39 PM	#105
Hammock Parties I'll be back. Join Date: Nov 2002 Casino cash: $4800478	We haven't fully technologized (a word I just invented) our society yet. We're getting there. I'd say we're 60-65 percent there. A lot of the old infrastructure needs to be replaced. When we get to 100 percent, we'll experience a period of great success. Our society will be almost Utopian. Then the decline will begin. Almost imperceptibly. Gradually. At some point it will all come crashing down. Perhaps because of war. Civil war, even. It'll be cool.
Posts: 277,465