Look around you, It's hard to dispute:

[Rob]

The following are 40 pieces of evidence showing America is in decline….

#1 Back in 1985, 11 million vehicles were sold in America. In 2009, only 5.4 million vehicles were sold in America.

#2 In 1990, the median age of a vehicle in the United States was just 6.5 years. Today, the median age of a vehicle in the United States is approximately 10 years.

#3 The average price of a gallon of gasoline in 2011 has been $3.50. That is a new all-time record. The previous record was $3.24 in 2008.

#4 The average American household will have spent an astounding $4,155 on gasoline by the time the year is over.

#5 The number of children in the United States without a permanent home has increased by 38 percent since 2007.

#6 A decade ago, the United States was ranked number one in average wealth per adult. By 2010, the United States had fallen to seventh.

#7 The U.S. tax code is now more than 50,000 pages longer than it used to be.

#8 American 15-year-olds do not even rank in the top half of all advanced nations when it comes to math or science literacy.

#9 The United States once had the highest proportion of young adults with post-secondary degrees in the world. Today, the U.S. has fallen to 12th.

#10 After adjusting for inflation, U.S. college students are borrowing about twice as much money as they did a decade ago.

#11 The student loan default rate has nearly doubled since 2005.

#12 Our economy is not producing nearly enough jobs for our college graduates. The percentage of mail carriers with a college degree is now 4 times higher than it was back in 1970.

#13 Our infrastructure was once the envy of the world. Today, U.S. infrastructure is ranked 23rd.

#14 Since December 2007, median household income in the United States has declined by a total of 6.8% once you account for inflation.

#15 Since the year 2000, incomes for U.S. households led by someone between the ages of 25 and 34 have fallen by about 12 percent after you adjust for inflation.

#16 According to U.S. Representative Betty Sutton, America has lost an average of 15 manufacturing facilities a day over the last 10 years. During 2010 it got even worse. Last year, an average of 23 manufacturing facilities a day shut down in the United States.

#17 In all, more than 56,000 manufacturing facilities in the United States have shut down since 2001.

#18 The United States has lost a staggering 32 percent of its manufacturing jobs since the year 2000.

#19 Manufacturing employment in the U.S. computer industry was actually lower in 2010 than it was in 1975.

#20 In 1959, manufacturing represented 28 percent of all U.S. economic output. In 2008, it represented only 11.5 percent.

#21 The television manufacturing industry began in the United States. So how many televisions are manufactured in the United States today? According to Princeton University economist Alan S. Blinder, the grand total is zero.

#22 The U.S. trade deficit with China in 2010 was 27 times larger than it was back in 1990.

#23 The Economic Policy Institute says that since 2001 America has lost approximately 2.8 million jobs due to our trade deficit with China alone.

#24 According to one study, between 1969 and 2009 the median wages earned by American men between the ages of 30 and 50 dropped by 27 percent after you account for inflation.

#25 Back in 1980, less than 30% of all jobs in the United States were low income jobs. Today, more than 40% of all jobs in the United States are low income jobs.

#26 The size of the economy in India is projected to surpass the size of the U.S. economy by the year 2050.

#27 One prominent economist believes that the Chinese economy will be three times larger than the U.S. economy by the year 2040.

#28 In 2001, the United States ranked fourth in the world in per capita broadband Internet use. Today it ranks 15th.

#29 Back in the year 2000, 11.3% of all Americans were living in poverty. Today, 15.1% of all Americans are living in poverty.

#30 Last year, 2.6 million more Americans dropped into poverty. That was the largest increase that we have seen since the U.S. government began keeping statistics on this back in 1959.

#31 According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 6.7% of all Americans are living in “extreme poverty”, and that is the highest level that has ever been recorded before.

#32 The percentage of children living in poverty in the United States increased from 16.9 percent in 2006 to nearly 22 percent in 2010. In the UK and in France the child poverty rate is well under 10 percent.

#33 As I wrote about the other day, since 2007 the number of children living in poverty in the state of California has increased by 30 percent.

#34 A staggering 48.5% of all Americans live in a household that receives some form of government benefits. Back in 1983, that number was below 30 percent.

#35 Back in 1965, only one out of every 50 Americans was on Medicaid. Today, one out of every 6 Americans is on Medicaid.

#36 Between 1991 and 2007 the number of Americans between the ages of 65 and 74 that filed for bankruptcy rose by a staggering 178 percent.

#37 Today, the “too big to fail” banks are larger than ever. The total assets of the six largest U.S. banks increased by 39 percent between September 30, 2006 and September 30, 2011.

#38 Since the Federal Reserve was created in 1913, the U.S. dollar has lost over 95 percent of its purchasing power.

#39 During the Obama administration, the U.S. government has accumulated more debt than it did from the time that George Washington took office to the time that Bill Clinton took office.

#40 The U.S. national debt is now nearly 15 times larger than it was just 30 years ago. Sadly, most Americans are not fired up about turning this country around. Way too many of them realize that things are getting worse, but they have “checked out” and are just going through the motions of life.

[tkobes43]

Sad to see, I love this damn country and its sad to see one "dumbass" of a dude turn it to shit.

Tom

[other dog]

#17 In all, more than 56,000 manufacturing facilities in the United States have shut down since 2001.

This used to be U.S. Steel, Homestead works. I've loaded steel there before, in the early '80's. Now you'd never know it was ever there except for the smokestacks they left, and there's a huge gantry crane over by the river, out of the picture.

[jaysm35a2]

We need a guy that doesnt care about anything but fixing our country to the way it was in the early post WW2 era. Its going to take someone from left feild and not someone thats been in politics for the last 20 years to fix it.

[Olivetroad]

If they are half a bubble off plumb, I prefer they come out of a "right" leaning field, but I totally agree that they need to be someone not already bought up by the establishment in D.C.

[fxfymn]

Number 1 and 2 just prove what a crappy job we used to do when we built a car. I love the fact that I can buy a new car and expect it to last ten years without rusting out.

We still lead the world in manufacturing.

If we had been bombed to oblivion 60 years ago we might have had the chance to reinvent our manufacturing and transportation sector. I prefer the alternative.

Funny how the author failed to mention that government deregulation is what led to the banks becoming so large.

#34 Were aging as a country resulting in many more social security recipients. What a shame better medical care and living conditions have allowed this to happen.

And last, but not least; if it’s so great in so many of the countries we are compared to than why are people still coming to the US so they can realize the American dream?

A little less pessimism and a lot more optimism will help keep this country great.

[Joe Ditchkus]

I do not think it is pessism but being realistic about the facts. Joe D.

[leversole]

This is the first time EVER I have jumped into a political discussion...before I get jumped on, my idealogy is near right and far right...but I am also a realist, there are reasons manufacturing jobs are moving overseas and the main ones ARE NOT the fault of the manufacturers OR the politicians!

All you have to do is ask youself WHY it is profitable to move your manuafacturing operation overseas and you will have your answer.

I have my flak jacket on...

[other dog]

This is the first time EVER I have jumped into a political discussion...before I get jumped on, my idealogy is near right and far right...but I am also a realist, there are reasons manufacturing jobs are moving overseas and the main ones ARE NOT the fault of the manufacturers OR the politicians!

All you have to do is ask youself WHY it is profitable to move your manuafacturing operation overseas and you will have your answer.

I have my flak jacket on...

My opinion is that greedy unions had a lot to do with it. But i've loaded at many union steel mills over the years, so I might be a little biased. But the union workers just wanted more, and more, and more benefits and wages for doing less, and less, and less. And not just steel workers, unions put many, many trucking companies right out of business too.

Where can I get one of them flak jackets?

[leversole]

My opinion is that greedy unions had a lot to do with it. But i've loaded at many union steel mills over the years, so I might be a little biased. But the union workers just wanted more, and more, and more benefits and wages for doing less, and less, and less. And not just steel workers, unions put many, many trucking companies right out of business too.

Where can I get one of them flak jackets?

My opinion is that unions are a big part of it...also, we as a society choose a standard of living that includes reasonably clean air, clean water, minimum wage laws, all which adds to manufacturing costs as factories must spend millions complying...a factory in indonesia that dumps raw sewage into the river and spews black sulpher and mercury ridden smoke into the atmosphere and pays workers 25 cents a day has a great advantage over an american factory.

My own company is going to outsource our accounts payable to india, where there are accuracy gaurantees and is 50% less expensive...I do not agree with it but I understand the necessity

I'm not saying it is right or wrong, it is what we choose as a society.

I would be happier if some of my tax dollars went to subsidising American manufacturers that keeps jobs here to make it an even playing field, that is a good solution in my opinion!

[Pawel]

So you, gennulman don't like socialism (unions and stuff), do you? How, then, would you explain countries like China (once very socialist), France (very socialist) and Germany (also too socialist for many of you, friends) beating the USA in many mentioned rankings? Maybe it's about people working together for the common good? I know from experience it doesn't feel good to be forced to do what you don't really want. But since we all have to take it from time to time, maybe it would be better to do it for other people and not for the banks? I hope I don't upset too many of you - I respect you for the hard work you do every day. Have a nice day

Paweł

[other dog]

This is true. The law here -and I guess it's everywhere, I don't know- says that a logging crew working in the woods have to report any leak or spillage of fuel, oil, or hydraulic fluid, no matter how small. I'm sure most don't- I wouldn't. But every time they blow a hydraulic hose and lose ten drops of oil replacing it they're supposed to report it?..how much would the fine be if they got caught not reporting it?..at least in the thousands of dollars probably. I remember when you'd change oil in the equipment in the woods and drain the old oil out right on the ground.

And they can't even cross a creek anymore without a bridge, can't even muddy the water.

I'm not sayin' it's right to drain your oil on the ground, but enough's enough- there's just one rule and regulation after another, each one more strict than the last, just like in trucking, and it never stops.

[other dog]

So you, gennulman don't like socialism (unions and stuff), do you? How, then, would you explain countries like China (once very socialist), France (very socialist) and Germany (also too socialist for many of you, friends) beating the USA in many mentioned rankings? Maybe it's about people working together for the common good? I know from experience it doesn't feel good to be forced to do what you don't really want. But since we all have to take it from time to time, maybe it would be better to do it for other people and not for the banks? I hope I don't upset too many of you - I respect you for the hard work you do every day. Have a nice day

Paweł

Well, that's kind of what i'm saying about unions- they have no work ethic, they don't care about "the common good", they just want all they can get for doing little or nothing, and screw everybody else. The old "that's not my job" mentality. They could not care less if I sit at their facility all evening and half the night waiting to get loaded, but they still expect me to deliver 500 miles away at 7:00 am the next morning- and they will not work throught their break, or 2 minutes late to load a truck, because it's in their contract that they don't have to.

[fxfymn]

I do not think it is pessism but being realistic about the facts. Joe D

The only problem is they are not facts, just distorted statistics designed to make things seem worse than they really are.

Against unions? So you would want to give up the 40 hour week, health care, decent pensions, safer working conditions, and better pay so the owner could put more in his pocket. Take the time to read up on the Triangle Shirtwaist fire. Is that the working conditions you want to work in?

I'm damn proud that my Dad was willing to walk a picket line very three years in order to raise the standard of living for the rest of us. You think it was easy to feed a family without work for a couple of months? He, and the rest of his co-workers, knew what they had to do and they did it.

If you are truly far right, as many here claim to be, then you should be in favor of individual choice including the right to organize. I love these so called conservatives who want government out of regulations, but can't wait for government to tell us what to do in our personal lives by regulating marriage, abortion, religious choice, etc.

[Olivetroad]

If you are truly far right, as many here claim to be, then you should be in favor of individual choice including the right to organize. I love these so called conservatives who want government out of regulations, but can't wait for government to tell us what to do in our personal lives by regulating marriage, abortion, religious choice, etc.

God gave us all freedom - freedom to do what you want. But with that comes the responsibility to be aware of how your freedom affects others own right to freedom. Individual choice does not extend to denying others their own freedom. Abortion is the way people kill other people that are too small to defend their own freedom.

Ronald Reagan said:

I've noticed that everybody that is for abortion has already been born

Mother Teresa said:

If we accept that a mother can kill even her own child, how can we tell other people to not kill each other? Any country that accepts abortion is not teaching its people to love, but to use any violence to get what they want.

For the record - I was not the first one to bring up the A-word

If you are handing out flak jackets, I need a 2XL Tall

[Mack Doctor Jr.]

Well first of all I agree with most things said here.  I'm 32  and have been in the operators union for 10 yrs.  Ya the benefits are good, but I'm quitting cause of the old " I cant see it from my house" attitude is to much for me.  Its hard to work with 8 people who dont care about the job and 2 of u do.  It kinda gets old.

But then again I blame it mostly on the great state of Illinois.  U cant just keep milling off 2" off a road and laying back 2".  All these roads have 50+ years old drainage that need fixed, and that is why all the roads go to crap in a year or less.

Well I do have some retirement built up in the union, but dont know many that can survive on 30,000 for 3 yrs in a row and maybe 60,000 the next then back to 30,000.  U never get caught up.  Rich get richer and poor get poorer.

But then again I think that attitude I see in most people is that computers replace people and there arent many jobs out there.  I think people now days are just plain lazy cause I always find a NONUNION job driving in the winter and dont draw unemployment.  I would rather work than sit at home and collect rocking chair money, thats just the way i was raised.

With all that said I going to put my truck on the road and try to make my own living...

[other dog]

And lest anyone think i'm anti-union, I am not. They were started for a good and necessary reason, to protect the worker. Now I think it's swung way too far to the other side.

Must be a happy median in there somewheres...

[Olivetroad]

And lest anyone think i'm anti-union, I am not. They were started for a good and necessary reason, to protect the worker. Now I think it's swung way too far to the other side.

Must be a happy median in there somewheres...

I totally agree. I was a proud card carrying member of my Teamsters local when I worked for UPS years ago and we needed the union to protect us from unreasonable supervisors. BUT, we worked our asses off to earn the excellent pay and benefits and were glad to have a job. I don't always see that anymore when I pull into a union shop.

This is off subject, but I wish I had some photos of those half retired Diamond T's and other old yard dogs I would still see in the late 80's at some of the depots.

[mack mhe9]

im not a fan of unions like he said i hate being in a steelmill at break or shift change, and breaks really, they have machines that do every thing cause its to heavy or to repetitous. but if there union can suport its benifit package congrats, if not tuff welcome to the real world, im not well educated but i work hard pay my taxes health care retirement and my house is payed for. no help just hard work, manufactureing its not just what they make its everything else they suport locals car dealers, resturants, fab shops, and how many mom and pop truck stops are gone and i dont like big truck stops but its not there fault, if the little guy could aford the tax, local and fed plus the regulation maybe they could just survive, also just my opinon, thanks

[cgallamore]

I feel we live in corporate states of America

They spin the politicians

They lobby the laws

As long as they keep the sheep preoccupied bickering amongst them selfs. They can control the flock

[cgallamore]

Just my opinion