Again you need to do a little more research, After World War II much of Europe was destroyed. Armies from both sides had bombed roads, bridges, supplies, and communication facilities throughout Europe. Europe needed to rebuild. This was not easy however. Many governments were in debt or out of money because they had used all their resources in fighting the war. On top of this, their economies were devastated making it difficult to collect taxes in order to rebuild. Many people did not have enough food to eat let alone money to pay taxes.
Fortunately, the land of the United States had been free of war and devastation. The US economy was doing well, making the United States the richest country in the world. We wanted to help Europe and their allies recover from the War. Although the US had already been helping Europe to recover, the Marshall Plan made it official in 1948. Over the next four years the US gave $13 billion in assistance to Western European countries. The US also offered assistance to Russia and its allies, however, they turned it down.
Without us Europe would not exist or at the least would look way different, it was a good move on our part. This was second time we stopped communism from spreading. The third time was under Reagan leadership, by out spending them. In all those times it was because our finances allowed for it..
Today none of that would be possible, because our FINANCES would not allow it. So for you to say we use to be a great country but not anymore. I assume you mean financially, because the people haven't changed. Which proves my point to anyone with a little common sense.
I will get to the rest latter.
No, I do not mean financially!
But first, I was born and raised directly after the war (I was born in 1950) in BELGIUM, so I believe I know FIRST HAND the consequences of the war. . .do not assume that, because people disagree with you, they know nothing!
And, my heart crying for America is NOT about finance, but about what made America great. . .and it is NOT the greed of it's top 1%! What made America great is its people, the DIVERSITY of its people, the diversity of the geographical and cultural heritage. It is its pristine, preserved National Park system, its (past) infrastructure, its innovation, its openness to the rest of the world, its acceptance of new trend in feminism, in HUMAN RIGHTS, including its most recent stand on gay rights.
Today, with 45 in the White House, much of that is being seriously attacked and destroyed. The rebuilding of the infrastructure is being placed far second, at the profit of building a wall that is a barrier to openness. . .and yet, one of the great accomplishment of the 20th century - for which America can take a significant part of credit - was the DESTRUCTION of the Berlin wall! How far down we have come!
The climate of White Supremacy that is pervading America today and being, if not supported, at least accepted by this administration, is endangering our DIVERSITY. The ORIGINAL America, the indigenous people, are being disrespected and their territories invaded and soiled by the greed of American Oil companies. . .With 45 as one of the big investors (DAPL).
Our National park system is being seriously threatened, with a secretary selected, not for his support of our natural heritage, but for his disregard of it! There are even serious talks about "privatising" the system. . .which obviously means, sell the land to the biggest offer and invade the pristine parks with commercial ventures (how many more golf courses and "Trump towers?")
Our environment (water, air, soil) were somewhat (not enough though) by EPA. But today, the selected secretary for EPA is a well known opponent of . . .EPA! He has stated that he thought EPA should be terminated. . .and it looks like he is planning on being the LAST secretary of this necessary department. How many more of our water system will be poisoned? How many more of our cities will begin to resemble China with toxic fog?
With this "presidency," we have given up on all that is noble and beautiful. 45's goal, his UNIQUE focus, is on "economy," but short term economic growth, with complete disregard for the future of our children, for complete disregard about preservation of our treasures. . .if those treasures can bring fast money or if preserving them costs money!
The only other interest 45 seems to have is ARROGANCE. . .showing to the world "who is the boss!" And it seems that he will stop at nothing to show off his "power," including cutting assistance to AMERICANS (including Veterans), to use that money to "build more arms and bombs!"
His cabinet is, for the most part, a mess of totally unfitted selection. Look at Devos, the secretary of education. She is willing to destroy the whole education system because she knows NOTHING about it! She believes that the BIBLE should be taught INSTEAD of science! Amazing. . .the GOP prides itself in being "pro-life," but seems interested only in the life of the unborn. Once the child is born, it can die of lack of healthcare, lack of food, lack of shelter, it can grow without a decent education, it can be sent to war and die on a foreign soil for OIL, or it can die on our street from one of the many firearms that have invaded this country (thanks to NRA and its lobbyists to the GOP). EVEN severely mentally ill people will soon be able to purchase a firearm! How many more children will die at the hands of those "responsible gun owners?"
The little I have learned about you in the last few days of being back here, seems to indicate that you are a man of principle, a Marine (so is my son), a Christian. And yet you seem to have no problem with all this agenda! You may be a Christian, maybe even a Catholic, but you seem to choose to totally ignore the evils that are KNOWN about 45. . .his disrespect (to say the least) of women, of minority, of disability, of other races, or all that is beautiful (except for women. . .of course!). And yet, even Pope Francis has warned us against this. Even Pope Francis has stated that this is NOT the attributes of a CHRISTIAN.
I am sorry, I believe I can respect you, because I believe that you are truly trying to live your religion and you are a honorable man. But I cannot understand the disconnect between your principle, your beliefs, and your seemingly complete acceptance of what this man (45) and his choice of cabinet represent. I cannot understand how you can validate the current GOP stand and keep from being stressed by the cognitive dissonance that exists between your inner belief system and your political stand.