- The U.S. of A. is fighting in two devastating wars (Afghinistan and Iraq);
War is generally good for the economy. It creates jobs, expansion, etc. It certainly hasn't left us in "ruins". Quite the opposite.
It generally is good for the economy. It's shit all right now. It's definitely not good for us in general with lives lost and billions pissed away.
- The U.S. of A. has a huge dificit in it's states budget (due to those wars and other economic factors);
We have been in the hole since the 1940's. Nothing new there.
It's getting bigger....much bigger.
- The U.S. of A. is struggling with a huge banking crysis;
- The U.S. of A. is in an economic recession;
Largely due to the housing market.
In short, this mess was created by the same groups who've created the recent spike in oil prices over here as well.
Parts of New England and southern California saw explosive growth in real estate, and that bubble eventually popped. The same cast of characters that created the housing mess, Bank of America, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Bear Stearns, etc. are involved in this new oil bubble. When the housing market went south, they scrambled for a way to recover. They did so by investing in oil futures; only this time they are using federal bailout money to inflate the price of oil.
The way traders manipulate prices is surprisingly simple and goes beyond basic supply and demand. Demand isn't just made up of only real consumer demand but also demand created in the futures market. Hundreds of billions of dollars from hedge funds, pension funds, and other investments have been pouring into the futures market and this money has been creating an artificial demand which in turn is driving prices up. More specifically, they buy in European futures markets, which don't have the various limitations that U.S. markets do. That drives up U.S. prices where they may already have positions set by supply and demand. It’s market manipulation, pure and simple.
But remember, it's all linked to the housing market, and that is why banks are going belly up. As you see the housing market again taking a decline, you see oil prices dropping in unison.
When the housing market recovers, so shall the rest of our economy.
The housing market was over-inflated anyway. Oil prices dropped because the stock market dropped. This is related to the housing market but housing market does not = oil market.
- The U.S. of A. has a social system that is failing;
How so? If there is anything that is thriving over here, it is our social systems. 
- Consumer confidence is at an all-time low;
With relation to what? 
Read up on what the consumer confidence index is.
It is at an all time low.
- Unemployment is skyhigh;
Current estimates are at 4.8%. Up, but a long shot from "sky high".
Unemployment is at 6.5%
- 85% of it's inhabitants are under the impression it isn't going good at all with their nation;
I agree that our nation isn't where it should be as well. Who isn't? Anyone who is satisfied with the economic market right now is completely uninformed. But on the uphand, it isn't going to be our end-all. It's a recession. This isn't the first and it won't be the last. We'll get through it just like we always do.
- You're international relationships have been seriously deteriorating during the past 8 years.
The only deterioration we may have had in the past eight years is with countries that don't wish to have a working relationship with the US or it's allies in the first place. Many of our staunch allies have been fighting these battles right along side of us. What staunch ally of ours has reversed their stance with the US?
Originally Posted by handyrandy
Of course there is racism in the United States. But the ridiculous racists are of every color. Equalism is whats needed. I am glad that barack won, hes extremely intelligent, and his integrity is beyond contestation. I think he brings hope to the United States and i truly hope that he makes good on most of his campain promises. Impossible to appease everyone mind you, but anything is better than George W. or a decrepit old man (who probably wouldnt have lived through his presidency anyways) leaving the nuclear codes in a womans hands that thinks dinosaurs roamed the earth only 4000 years ago and her claim to foreign policy is i live 90 miles from russia. the fact she got as close as she had to that being an actual reality is kind of terrifying. Though most of Americans were more than unhappy with george w. 4 years ago and had black voters even showed a moderate turn out at the voting booths we would have started healing the economy back then. Barack deserved to win but not based on color, but on character and the issues that he plans to address. I think it is sad that alot of black voters , more than likely, turned out in such large numbers based purely on his color and not his great potential that he does possess.
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