Is Jeff Daniels right? Is America the greatest country in the world?

Is America Great???  Jeff Daniels said it best in that famous four minutes during his "America isn't the greatest anymore" rant. 

Here is the end of the rant:  "...so when you ask what makes us the greatest country in the world, I don't know what the fuck you are talking about?!  Yosemite?  

We sure used to be.  We stood up for what was right!  We fought for moral reasons; we passed and struck down laws for moral reasons.  We waged wars on poverty, not poor people. We sacrificed, we cared about our neighbors, we put our money where our mouths were, and we never beat our chest. We built great big things, made ungodly technological advances, explored the universe, cured diseases, and cultivated the world's greatest artists and the world's greatest economy. We reached for the stars, and we acted like men. We aspired to intelligence; we didn't belittle it; it didn't make us feel inferior. We didn't identify ourselves by who we voted for in the last election, and we didn't scare so easy. And we were able to be all these things and do all these things because we were informed.  By great men, men who were revered.  The first step in solving any problem is recognizing there is one—America is not the greatest country in the world anymore."

Daniels' character is right, but I would add that we shouldn't aspire to be the "greatest" - that's just a term that can't be quantified in any way and it used as some kind of marketing tool by talking heads which I find disgraceful.  We need to do the right things and not beat our chest about it.  Good Lord, it seems like even if we cook a hot dog right, we all want that pat on the back.  Our ego is so big yet so fragile.  Arrogance, greed, avarice, ignorance, and want - this is but some of the things that concern me.  This reminds me of a quote from another favorite movie of mine, A Christmas Carol when the Ghost of Christmas Present opened his robe and showed two children – one boy one girl.  He says (referring to the kids) this to Scrooge:

 "They are man's...and they cling to me, appealing from their fathers.  This boy is ignorance.  This girl is want.  Beware them both, and all of their degree, but most of all beware this boy, for on his brow I see that written which is DOOM, unless the writing be erased." 

I've sat back and just listened, and what I'm hearing is complete dissatisfaction with the status quo.  You want to erase the word DOOM?  OK, so what are you going to do about it?  I personally don't think it's too late - get your ass out there and vote.  To those who feel "disenfranchised", vote by mail in advance and have your voice heard, that way you don't have to stand in those lines that get closed off.   But when you vote, think about things.  If you're a Republiturd or Democrap, ask how your life has been made better by all this non-sense spewing out.

Pay attention to this:  Do you know why Jesse Ventura in Minnesota, Arnold Scharwarzenegger, and Donald Trump won elections?  BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE TIRED OF POLITICIANS AND THE BUSINESS AS USUAL SHIT!!!  And now we have Kanye West running.  Yeah, yeah everybody is laughing at it calling it some publicity stunt.  But what if he sticks around?  How does he affect the election?

Conclusion.  So on the title I asked if Jeff Daniels was right.  The answer is YES!!!  Now before you go off half-cocked, hear me out.  Look at where we are:  Education is questionable and college is a rip off and oh all that lotter money and we can't get better education?  Crime out is out control and many will never go to jail for their crimes, particularly in that swamp known as DC and New York.  The media and entertainment industry sucks, and infrastructure is bad despite the constant taxes that are supposed to go to improve it.  

My final thought.  Is there anybody who is satsified with things right now?  No?  OK, so now the tough question - what are WE going to do about it?  This is a unique, once in a lifetime chance for everybody to rediscover or redefine themselves and what they are about.  Don't waste it.

Think about it:  TV is garbage, sports is a shell of what it was, so drop them, or at least place less emphasis on them.  Get out of the house - Hang with neighbors - have an old fashioned block party.  Develop friendships.  Go fishing or bowling.  ROAD TRIP!!!  Develop your artistic/creative side by painting, singing, playing a musical instrument, sculpture, or hell, even writing.  Read a book.  Hit the gym or at the very least go for a walk every day.  If you're technologically inclined, work towards a goal of developing something that helps the human race.  

Help a Teacher.  If  you have such a great concern about cops - do a ride along, or better yet, join the cops so you can create change from within.

Support small business when you can.  Give to a worthwhile charity or better yet be a part of that charity with your time and your talent.  Get out and see what America is REALLY about - you know the America that isn't defined by a TV set with talking heads yapping.   

Look, we all agree that WE need change.  So here's an open challenge - Stop fighting.  Have an open mind.  Aspire to be more than what we are.  Everybody has good ideas, just work to see how they can develop and help.

I guess what I'm trying to say here is cliche, but it's important to me and yes its from Jerry Springer, but "Take care of yourselves...and each other."