NOBODY ASKED ME, BUT- -

I can't seem to determine who my bff really is, but if it is based on frequency of communication - a real plus normally in a healthy relationship - then it obviously is a toss-up between local Attorney John Morgan and Publisher's Clearing House.
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I recently read that campaign ads do not have to state the truth - one more cog or bullet in the argument that the truth has become realitively unimportant in our lives these days. My friend Harry at http//harry2335.blogspot.com/ has written in his blog often about the lies that politicians tell - largely based on the extensive research he has done to prove his point.

When caught, I love the  response politicians give, such as Nancy Pelosi's reply recently, "I mis-spoke."

There appears to be one heck of a lot of "mis-speaking" going on these days.
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After six months or more of watching so many repetitive ads in which each candidate blasts his opponent in the race for Florida Governor - and the obvious contradictions observed in those ads - do you think you may have a handle on why fewer eligible voters seem to want to go to the polls?
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Finally. As mentioned previously, one of my favorite weekly columns is written by two guys who are longtime friends - Cal Thomas, a conservative and Bob Beckel, a liberal Democratic strategist.

What makes the column appealing to me is that, unlike today's politics, each individual - while holding different political views - discuss current events and their personal  reaction to them- and perhaps most importantly,do so with class, intelligence, and insight.

I was very interested in their latest discussion entitled "Today - what's wrong with America?"Like me, you may have pondered the answer many times as well.

I was surprised to see that one of the writers, Cal, who was apparently having what some might describe as "a bad day" - held views that were rather pessimistic. However, you may disagree.

Here's just one example:"The world no longer respects us, terrorists don't fear us, the border with Mexico has been erased, major cities resemble combat zones, (there is)a failure of Middle East policy, a $17 trillion debt, fewer fathers in the home, overflowing prisons, a sense of entitlement rather than personal responsibility, loss of privacy, threats to the Constitution and a drop in approval of our political institutions. Need I go on?"

Bob replied in a much more positive spin: "The problems you outlined are not new. The civil war in Iraq was predictable. The centuries-old conflict among the Shitites, Sunnis and Kurds was exacerbated by America going to war against a country whose borders were drawn by the British."

They followed the above by discussing with the topic of "empires" and whether or not The United States, qualified as such.

Bob's opinion was the empires that collapse from within (as suggested by Cal of our country) are those who tried to dominate the world, mostly by military agression and that the United States has never sought to be an empire.

It was Cal who then dug into historical/sociological references and quoted Sir John Bagot Glubb, (1897 to1986) a British General and historian, and Glubbs'  book "The Fates of Empires and Search For Survival".

What struck me most was when Cal recalled Sir John noted that during the age of intellect, academia produces skeptical intellectuals who oppose the values and religious beliefs of it's founders.

Cal said, "Add to this what he (Glubb) called the corrosive effects of material success. The modern media glorify promiscous sex and everything else that would have shocked our grandparents, another cause of our decline."

Bob replied:"Generations move on. Each generation develops it's own values and cultural icons. I agree the media are obsessed with the worst parts of cultural landscape. We may see that as a sign of decline, but the majority of Americans embrace it, as do billions worldwide. Where you and I see our materialistic culture as a sign of decline, we are in the minority."

Cal then responded with scholar/preacher J. edwin Orr's "a concert of prayer" concept. He referenced previous revivals in our country (ex. post Civil war) with which this phenonema he associated and in which massive numbers of Americans were converted and decided to live differently. He added: "Revivals break out when an authority higher than government decides to rescue people from their wrong choices and a fear that 'without such a revival' we might be doomed."

Bob's opinions differed. He spoke of polarization - alleged it was a few that were the culprits and finished with: "Until the majority demands common ground, this silly notion of 'America in decline' will continue."

Interesting article: " USA Today - Common Ground -Thursday 7/17/14, p.8A"

Lots to think about.

I guess we all have to decide for ourselves if we are indeed an "America in decline" and what the remedy  might be  - (assuming that is the case).