1984

[Leuthesius]

Tonight marked the end of a week long festival on the river, called the "Wichita River Festival", which happens once a year in the middle of May. There's fair rides, giant turkey legs, free admittance to local museums and other public services like botanical gardens and shows and things of the like.

One thing that flat out disturbed me though, was that it wasn't just Police playing security. Military Police were assisting with security. MP's have no civic training, and are ill equipped to take care of things outside of a terrorlst attack or a true military exercise.

Another thing that disturbed me was that you had to trade cash for "food tickets", in order to get concessions. This was possibly the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard of. Last I checked, if a place refused legal tender, they had to give you the product free. Seems that they broke several "small" laws to make things "easier" for people, or provide "security".

We're becoming a Nation of absolute sloths and fools. Hardly anyone on the river (and you could see roughly 25,000 people) stood for the National Anthem. Specifically, it was mostly younger people. People my age or younger (24 years) that were not standing.

What is wrong with us? I fear our country is falling apart at the seams, and because its just loose threads, everybody is just mentally trimming them and going about everything while the threads continue to loosen.

This is just frightening.

[themadscientist]

I have a substantially more grim view of our future than you do. America is on the track to extinction, at least the ideals the country was founded upon. Average Americans make me sick. Like good lab rats lining up for a food pellet they fall into line and do exactly what they are told. As long as they get a steady stream of Starbucks coffee and endless hours of the thought sedative known as "popular culture" they will scuff along in their exercise wheel while their freedoms are auctioned off. It's too late, the die is cast. it is no longer a question of if but ratehr when the world you reference to becomes reality. Watch V for vendetta and see if you can draw parallels in modern America.My only comfort is the unshakable belief that freedom is the natural human condition and after the dark times people will again yearn for and fight for real freedom. 31 flavors of ice cream and getting a burger made to order is not real freedom. America will crumble but hopefully like so many great civilisations something positive, fresh and idealistic will rise from it's ashes.

[Leuthesius]

This brings tears to my eyes. My family was there in the Revolutionary War. We were there at Jamestown even before the war--as in we've been in this country since before the 1600's before it was a country.

We're going to likely have a Jericho-like catastrophe happen. Thank you politicians and power hungry maniacs.

[rn79870]

Capitalism will find a way to survive any circumstance that comes out way. It will also work against our enemies as once they have tasted life with a few luxuries, they will be hard pressed to want to upset their world.

People not standing for the National Anthem isn't worth worrying about. It is a far cry from sponsoring terrorism. (not that you meant that).

This country survived Vietnam, Rock and Roll, Hippies and John Bircher's. We're going to make it just fine.

[smockers83]

Trading cash for tickets to use for concessions isn't against the law. Events have done that for years. What about the fair or Disney World. You trade in cash for tickets at the fair to go on rides, or bracelets at Disney World. Its the same thing as trading cash for chips at a casino. Trust me, its not against the law. In fact, having tickets in that type of situation reduces transaction costs in the form of time.