Czar,
I think there is a significant amount of truth in your assessment of the media and system in general which accounts for much of the USAs woes these days (ie maybe we’re not as great and perfect as we were taught to think as kids partly due to the dumbing down forces at play everyday) but remember that not everyone has been totally brainwashed yet so the good fights go on everyday in earnest as well as they pretty much have always at least as far back as I remember. The most important conflicts are often not fought with guns and bombs. the good news is at least we have a system that supports freedom in many ways. Nothings perfect.
I think there is a significant amount of truth in your assessment of the media and system in general which accounts for much of the USAs woes these days (ie maybe we’re not as great and perfect as we were taught to think as kids partly due to the dumbing down forces at play everyday) but remember that not everyone has been totally brainwashed yet so the good fights go on everyday in earnest as well as they pretty much have always at least as far back as I remember. The most important conflicts are often not fought with guns and bombs. the good news is at least we have a system that supports freedom in many ways. Nothings perfect.