Blockdog: You are missing the point. People who succeeded but never struggled to succeed, or believe themself entitled, don't try again and never really succeeded in the first place. Getting screwed is life, get over it and move on, or do the rest of us a Darwinistic favor and get off the dole by dropping dead.

That jobs are going oversees is our own fault. We elected the clowns who made those laws favorable to going off-shore. Americans refuse to boycott cheap imports. Americans refuse to buy American because it costs a bit more. Americans refuse to be loyal to the US of A because it might be misinterpreted as being parochial, or God forbid, ISOLATIONIST!

I mean, Democrats are calling for UN Inspectors!?!?!?, at all the polls in Florida. LIke the United Nations stands for honesty and integrity. Dumb Asses!

It's our own fault we have a lousy education system that doesn't teach realistic economics(let alone mathmatics effectively) or encourage individuals to enforce economic accountability(boycotts). It's not simply because of human nature that humans are herdish, it's also that Americans are not taught(encouraged) to be think or to participate in politics. Face it, we're a wimpy socialistic leaning feminized society. Get use to it, the worst is yet to come.

I know that sounds cold, but isn't that life? I'm just sick of the whining, and the advertising (buyBUYyoudeserveBUYyouneedthistoBEaGOODamericanBUYyoudeserveBUYbuyBUY!!!!!!).

Ed, I'm shocked: OK, you welfare queens... drop & give me fifty!

(The concept of pulling oneself up their bootstraps is bogus anyhow unless one made a weapon, killed the leather, etc.)

PeterT: Once again the point is being missed: the incentive lies with the individual with minimal outside coercion; the cultural mindset, that does remain and is encouraged in the american arena of sports anyhow, rewards acheivement through personal discipline. I'm all for community, as mentioned above, but not Federally mandated. That was supposed to be part of the beauty of our republican system: the Feds would take care of the borders, currency, wars and the final say in a few other areas and the states were to decide local matters. Now the Feds mandate community standards from afar, doing more to harm community, when they(& their(our) dollars) should stay out of the way in Washington at their ass kissing parties.

Although I would agree with some of your lists Peter(that government has done some good for the nation(at great expense(sic)), an equal amount is self serving unConstitutional crap. I'd happy to go into it in detail as time goes on. Gonna save it should you wanna go knee deep.-)

Herring405: Interestingly enough, our down fall in basketball probably has more to do with the rest of the world playing together for a much longer period of time, and once again the other teams wanting it more(may have something to do with the outcomes as well). It is a team sport, and our guys haven't been a team long. Consider the '77Blazers, not the best talent, but did they have team chemistry?!

At the bottom of it all, for some reason or other, America, with it's minimal % percentage of the worlds population, has been very productive during the last century or two-much to the worlds benefit(&harm). And people from all over the world are still sneaking in(if they must) for the opportunities here.

If we had readily accessible and just courts where the individual could easily defend themself against big business, capitalism might approach a meritocracy. But there are too many 'ifs' and too much money to be made presently. Nonetheless, it has provided more, for more people than any other system I am aware of. And I don't see any of y'all leavin'. Still waiting for Alec to keep his word.

MJG: Good point. Canada's 'rampant' socialism hasn't stamped out the competitiveness in sports. Besides, they're just north of the US of A, we're rubbing off in both directions. BTW, we love the Maritimes & Quebec, wish the border wasn't such a pain. The Yanks actually.   Thanks Dale! It's good to read something other than how the government should fix everything, as is the prevelent belief here it seems.

Be well all!-)