This is a question many Americans are asking themselves daily. Citizens born in the United States during or prior to the 1960’s and maintaining residence have experienced massive changes in social, political and technological areas. Arguably, some of these changes have been of great benefit to the prevailing cultures and America as a country. However, others seem to have had a more corrosive effect.

Most Americans would agree that during this almost 40 year time period, some of the changes that have occurred were sorely needed and were well worth the years of struggle it took to achieve them. However, nearly 4 decades of change have also brought about significant events representing America’s apparent downward trend with downsizing, outsourcing and off-shoring contributing significantly. The downsizing movement of the late 80’s was quickly followed up in the 90’s by outsourcing and off-shoring. Although outsourcing in itself was not necessarily a detriment (as long as the jobs stay in America), off-shoring actions are generally thought of as a slap in the face of American college graduates and veterans of the American job market. Unfortunately, both outsourcing and off-shoring ended up being little more than opportunities for American corporations to acquire less expensive labor outside the United States, thereby putting many Americans out of work.. Much of the blame for this has been placed on agreements such as N.A.F.T.A. and the apparent open boarder policies installed by prior administrations.

America has always been a melting pot of cultures, however, like with many other things too many ingredients can spoil the desired results. Commodities once thought of as purely American are no longer. Strongholds such as Harley Davidson, Hershey and Coca-Cola have now opened production plants and in some cases moved their corporate offices to other countries and now import ingredients or parts for their products to the United States.

If these are signs that America is truly in decline, what will we lose next, Major League Baseball?

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