(Via Michael Bane on Facebook)
That’s what one of the commenters said about a piece at Ace of Spades HQ. Don’t pick fights with people who have nothing to lose.
Yes, we’re still mulling the election of Donald Trump, months after. This is a good thing, because Trump’s election may be one of the watershed moments in American history. Reading it, I think Ace makes some valid points, in particular, these:
How far along the decline do you think we are? How close do you think we are to the point of no return?
Consider the implications of those for a moment. They imply that A) The United States, contrary to what many would prefer to believe, is a nation in decline, B) Trump may not be the savior of the country that many think he is and C) There is a point of decline past which the USA as we know it is finished.
Honestly, if any of these is a surprise to you, you haven’t been paying attention, but no matter. You are now, and that’s sufficient. As General Theodore Roosevelt Jr. said on Utah Beach, “We’ll start the war from right here!”
Some of you reading this my be insulted or angry. “The USA is not declining!” Really? Take a look at our schools, at our uncontrolled borders, at our failed foreign policies, at our economy for the last 10+ years, at the kind of “man” that was “elected” for the past two terms as President and tell me that this is the same country that fought and won two world wars and was the engine that drove the global economy for decades. But be sure you look me in the eye and say it with a straight face.
All great nations have a cycle of being, of rise and fall and some repeat the cycle. We can hope we are that latter, but it would be a good idea to prepare in case we aren’t. It’s a good idea even if we are. A degree of self-sufficiency never hurt anyone as far as I can tell.
I’m starting to wonder if there is some larger reason that retirement was forced on me at this point in my life, years before I thought I would be ready for it. Even though I’m looking to end that forced retirement, while I’m retired I’m taking full advantage of the time off. I hope that you’re taking advantage of whatever time we have, whatever time you have, to ready yourself and those around you for whatever the future may hold.