# Will the U.S.A. pull its head out of its ass, or is it too late? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 18, 2025, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-u-s-a-pull-its-head-out-of-its-ass-or-is-it-too-late/1023139 "2025-09-18T00:58:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2025, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-u-s-a-pull-its-head-out-of-its-ass-or-is-it-too-late/1023139/1 "2025-09-18T00:58:15Z")
A simple poll…and my vote is no. I don’t give a shit what you hope will happen, btw. What do you think _will_ happen. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2025, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-u-s-a-pull-its-head-out-of-its-ass-or-is-it-too-late/1023139/2 "2025-09-18T00:58:48Z")
Much too late. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2025, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-u-s-a-pull-its-head-out-of-its-ass-or-is-it-too-late/1023139/3 "2025-09-18T01:01:51Z")
No. This is a train running us over at 5 mph, and it was visible from a mile away, and even now is still hundreds of yards away. But we insist on sitting on the tracks. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2025, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-u-s-a-pull-its-head-out-of-its-ass-or-is-it-too-late/1023139/4 "2025-09-18T01:04:36Z")
Something I’ve been musing about, in a meta sense. Here’s an answer I’m toying with: The question is so open to interpretation as to be almost meaningless. Besides which, what would any answer any average person could give tell anyone about how to live their lives? Nothing. So what’s the point? Unless you’re turning your life upside down in response, it’s just wallowing. What good does that do anyone? (Not saying that I don’t understand it, of course, just that it may do more harm than good.) ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2025, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-u-s-a-pull-its-head-out-of-its-ass-or-is-it-too-late/1023139/5 "2025-09-18T01:05:34Z")
Nope. America is a dystopian shithole. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2025, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-u-s-a-pull-its-head-out-of-its-ass-or-is-it-too-late/1023139/6 "2025-09-18T01:11:22Z")
I think it’s too late. I hope I’m wrong. ---
**Author:** ![XOldiesJock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/ec9cab/32.png) [@XOldiesJock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XOldiesJock)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2025, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-u-s-a-pull-its-head-out-of-its-ass-or-is-it-too-late/1023139/7 "2025-09-18T01:13:48Z")
No. The date of the point of no return was Tuesday, November 5, 2024. On Monday I unfriended two Facebook friends. The first came out supporting the arrest, detention and incarceration of anyone who does not support the Trump regime. And the second wholeheartedly agreed. It was straight out of the fascist playbook. I have known these people for decades. The first was Best Man at our wedding. I knew they were both Trump supporters, but to read such venomous rhetoric from either of them shook me to the core. I would never have imagined either of them were harboring such hateful beliefs. If we’ve lost people like this to the dark side, we are lost as a country. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2025, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-u-s-a-pull-its-head-out-of-its-ass-or-is-it-too-late/1023139/8 "2025-09-18T01:17:27Z")
I’m not you, but I’ve had similar events where people I knew to be decent humans 20-30 years ago are not venom filled animals. The USA is doomed, as was Germany and Iran, to a century of hate and death. With luck something more benign will rise from the ashes. I can’t possibly live long enough to see it. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2025, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-u-s-a-pull-its-head-out-of-its-ass-or-is-it-too-late/1023139/9 "2025-09-18T01:18:40Z")
The key question to me is and has always been, what does the answer this question _mean_? Have the other respondents in this thread given up on their future? Are they just trudging along and passing time until the day they get shot or starve to death? Do they see any joy or hope in their lives? In their children’s lives? Do they see any point in any form of resistance? If I put my life completely in their hands and say, do whatever it takes to ensure my survival, what would they do? I’m not trying to call anyone else out, invalidate their feelings, or prod anyone into answering my specific questions. But this is a question I’ve been pondering for years now, and I’ve addressed it here before, but not this directly. The mood I’ve seen here and elsewhere genuinely makes me wonder. ---
**Author:** ![Ellecram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellecram/32/18948_2.png) [@Ellecram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellecram)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2025, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-u-s-a-pull-its-head-out-of-its-ass-or-is-it-too-late/1023139/10 "2025-09-18T01:23:33Z")
I am almost 68 and don’t have much of a future. Nowhere to escape so I’m settled in for the long haul. I am living my life, surviving, finding joy where I can but I understand that things can get very ugly. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2025, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-u-s-a-pull-its-head-out-of-its-ass-or-is-it-too-late/1023139/11 "2025-09-18T01:28:09Z")
What does asking this question mean? It means you have guts enough to answer it, instead of stalling because an honest answer might reveal just a bit too much. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2025, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-u-s-a-pull-its-head-out-of-its-ass-or-is-it-too-late/1023139/12 "2025-09-18T01:33:29Z")
Okay, fine. I must have even a little hope of being able to live a “normal” life, because I have not made any decisions compatible with doing otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2025, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-u-s-a-pull-its-head-out-of-its-ass-or-is-it-too-late/1023139/13 "2025-09-18T01:34:02Z")
Did the Jews lose in Germany because of their defeatism and poor attitude? ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2025, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-u-s-a-pull-its-head-out-of-its-ass-or-is-it-too-late/1023139/14 "2025-09-18T01:35:56Z")
Fine, tell me what to think. Tell me what to do. I don’t want you to think of me as stupid, so what do I need to do and say to get it right in your eyes? ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2025, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-u-s-a-pull-its-head-out-of-its-ass-or-is-it-too-late/1023139/15 "2025-09-18T01:36:53Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > Okay, fine. I must have even a little hope of being able to live a “normal” life, because I have not made any decisions compatible with doing otherwise. This is pretty much my brother’s answer. He always says some version of “we’ll be okay.” He’s straight, white and he’ll just keep his head down and pretend he doesn’t see what’s happening. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2025, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-u-s-a-pull-its-head-out-of-its-ass-or-is-it-too-late/1023139/16 "2025-09-18T01:37:01Z")
Does your normal life include living with the oppression, suppression and persecution of those around you? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2025, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-u-s-a-pull-its-head-out-of-its-ass-or-is-it-too-late/1023139/17 "2025-09-18T01:39:26Z")
If you think that you will not be affected, then either you are refusing to see what is right before your eyes, or you actually approve of it. Pick one. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2025, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-u-s-a-pull-its-head-out-of-its-ass-or-is-it-too-late/1023139/18 "2025-09-18T01:39:55Z")
I reluctantly think it might be too late. Back in April I joked “well, we only have 3 years and 8 months to go!” Now I think to myself, “we still have 3 years and 3 months to go…” and worry about how much worse will get. Contrary to what Tina Turner once sang, we DO need another hero, and I can only hope s/he shows up before too long. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2025, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-u-s-a-pull-its-head-out-of-its-ass-or-is-it-too-late/1023139/19 "2025-09-18T01:40:49Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > This is pretty much my brother’s answer. He always says some version of “we’ll be okay.” He’s straight, white and he’ll just keep his head down and pretend he doesn’t see what’s happening. So you think less of him for this? What would be the better thing to do? Genuine question. > [@Czarcasm](#): > > Does your normal life include living with the oppression, suppression and persecution of those around you? Considering what the police are doing to black people on the regular as we type, we’re already doing that. Whether that’s wrong and what we should be doing is an excellent discussion to have. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2025, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-u-s-a-pull-its-head-out-of-its-ass-or-is-it-too-late/1023139/20 "2025-09-18T01:42:18Z")
Pull that “Look! Over there!” bullshit somewhere else. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-u-s-a-pull-its-head-out-of-its-ass-or-is-it-too-late/1023139.md?page=2)