>>>>>>This may seem dramatic but I am seriously thinking of leaving the country when Emily leaves for college a year from now. I don't like what the U.S. has turned into. It's an ugly country full of hatred. Our better days are behind us and we are on the downslope of empire. I'm not sure who will replace us as a world power -- things pretty much suck all over -- but we are not what we were. I am thinking of Vancouver, Toronto, New Zealand, and Scandinavia. Can you get by speaking English in Scandinavia or would I have to learn long unpronounceable words? ;-)
>>>>>
>>>>>Better days behind us???
>>>>>
>>>>>Open up a History book and point me to the page of History you're talking about.
>>>>
>>>>If I were to pick the date, I'd say the US peaked November 9, 1989. ;)
>>>
>>>At this date the gap to the second place was about greatest - no doubt -
>>>but I see this date as lready coupled with a downward trend as well
>>>[competition was getting easier before that date, so US did not have to "forge ahead"]
>>>I'd pick July 20, 1969, even many of the reasons were not scientifc, but PR.
>>
>>This was a good date, but the question is "Better days behind us???" that would justify leaving your home country for another...Vietnam War....comes to mind on this one, so it doesn't fall into "Better days".
>
>As long as you were not actually *in* Nam, US citizens at that point in time were getting "better" compared to other countries inhabitants on a [decidedly ideosyncratic] mix of personal freedom, economic growth and chances, stability of law and government.
>In my POV the "downslope of empire" in Roman times could be argued to begin with Octavian - just turned away from the early mix of changing helm through established rules for consular change to Cesaric reign, coupled with arguably the greatest sphere of influence but having decided problems with some unruly barbars with yellow hair<g>.
>

Sorry for any misunderstanding.

I was just trying to steer this part of the thread drift back to "Better days behind us?" And, I was trying to limit it to the U.S. because this is the country that Mike said he wanted to leave.

No, I wasn't "in" Vietnam, but I did serve in the military for 20 years that included this period and I remember the riots, and people leaving the country in order to evade the draft. I also remember that it was recommended that we not wear our uniforms to town.

So, this period, to me, was not a period of better days.

Yes, I've had many good days, years, and many good friends. It was not the government that made these things happen, it was me and my own personal attitude. I chose to have a positive attitude and, in turn, created my own "good old days".