When did the US become the "CAN'T DO" country? And why?

Many people have asked this question, including myself, and from what I have noticed, it seems to stem from corporate involvement in EVERYTHING. Since big business is essentially IN business for money, anything that could potentially bite into a corporation's bottom line becomes a bad risk. As a result of this, America has essentially become a "Can't do" country because we've allowed corporate sponsorship of nearly everything that touches our daily lives. Since the media is essentially a collection of corporations, it's in their best interests to essentially shepherd people into not only a dependence on their products, but also a way of thinking that insures that business says in business.

Hollywood shows this in glaring detail. There is a whole slew of remakes out there. It's harder to make "new" movies unless you go independent, and according to "focus groups" it's something that the American people want. The bottom line, however, is it's bad for business to make something "new." The old has already been proven to work and so rehashing the old will insure that SOMEBODY (lots of somebodies, actually) will buy into whatever it is that the corporations in question are pushing...whether it's movies...shoes...or just an attitude.

The definition of a free society isn't that anyone can do anything they please. Quite the contrary. The true sign of a free society is that community's ability to provide an environment that allows its citizens to do as they ought to do. In that the sense, the things that the United States has prohibited its citizens from doing in the past few decades has in many way made it more of a can do culture of freedom.

Examples:

1. You are prohibited from drinking and driving.

RESULTING FREEDOM : More people are free to drive on the streets without the threat of death from avoidable accidents.

2. Many states in the United States have made it illegal to smoke in public areas, with the exception of bars.

RESULTING FREEDOM: Less people are exposed to second hand smoke and are therefore free to live without the risk of cancer.

3. Businesses in the past four decades cannot discriminate on the basis of sex, color, religion or disability.

RESULTING FREEDOM: More people are free to choose the occupation that they desire, without the encumbrance of discriminatory practices.

Its almost paradoxical how it works, but sometimes the institution of rules results in greater freedom, by barring those who opt to exercise their freedom at the expense of others.

The US stopped immigration from Europe and began facilitating immigration from other places. The "snivel rights revolution" was also part of this dysfunctional metamorphesis.

Once upon a time, Americans were competitive and intolerant of excuses. Nowadays, whining and excuses are all you hear...and they get results! "I can't do it!" will actually take you further today than "Can do" will.

Now that the racial lacklusters are here, there's just no going back to the energetic, striving America of yesteryear. Our country is addicted to debt and its inhabitants to failure. Things will keep on going this way until the country dies.

The country can't be saved. Plan to save the race.

This has happened slowly over years. Our legal code is enormous compared to some countries that don't feel the need to legislate every aspect of life. Become a conservative and fight large government.

Amen, its call the concervative agenda. They basically want to tell you when you can take a crap, how, and why.... they are all about control. Completely anti democratic, they make laws for everything. They are trying to tax and censure the internet. They are killing our "land of the free" and replacing it with their totalitarian republic.

You are mistaken. It is still a "can do" culture. What is your specific reference here? Weed? Crystal Meth? What?

there are still those of us who think we CAN...it's the HOW EXACTLY that is eluding me....by the way, i tried to e-mail you and it said oops! message not sent because recipient's email address has not been confirmed

i don't have the answer, just wanted to say i agree with everyone above. our government sux

I am afraid I CAN'T say it..

Are you and ameri-can, or ameri-can't?