Have we disappointed our forefathers, America?

I don't see why any of them would be ashamed of you. We proclaim these men as visionaries and heroes to their victories and triumphs, but nobody can triumph at every point in their life. My guess is, at least somewhere in everybody's blood line, there's been a murderer, a rapist, a molester, or something of the sort.

Society changes over time, and we give the American forefather's credit to their ideals and upkeeping them, but those ideals also included numerous wars, slavery, and the degradation of women's rights for hundreds of years just to name a few. You can blame it on the times, you can blame current problems on the "times", but the ideals have changed to more basic instincts rather than the glorious ideals of the few rich or prospective people that make up certain facets of society or pieces of stories.

And if you think about "giving everything up to the government makes a socialist or fascist government" idea, it's simply not true. Canada seems to function as a sprawling capitalist culture even though most of our functions are "controlled" by government. I believe there is a major problem in letting the government in on everything that's profitable, because it normally makes it less efficient, cost more, or worse quality. Healthcare, tobacco, gambling, lotteries, sewer, water, the list goes on and on. But what I do believe is that government SHOULD have a say in what is essential to it's populus, such as it's health, it's crime, it's overall system of law and order and so on.

"The problem is not that there are problems. The problem is expecting otherwise and thinking that having problems is a problem." - Theodore Rubin.

hmm...
rather enlightening opinion, ill surely give you that.