America could very well be a third-world country. It certainly makes sense to me.

Politicians are kissing my ass and making false promises to get my vote, and most of the time, go about their business and fill out their own agenda. But I don't for one second buy into any sort of "sincerity" they might throw at the general population. I must say that some politicians do seem to care about the citizens they represent, but most are led by dreams of power and money.

And I don't quite understand your logic for that "either you control the gov't or it controls you" analogy. If by "control", you mean placing a single vote for some Suit ultimately representing a meaningless party full of the same unfulfilled promises, then yes, call it 'you being in control'. Yet you used cars, fast food, and money in the same sentence, but it's nowhere near the same thing. If it were that easy, I'd drive on down to Wendy's and order a double George Washington and a frosty. THAT'S control. We only control the names on the desks and the color of the state, and nothing more. In the end, it's all the same. It's not like we can go from pawns to Kings in this so-called game you speak of.

That's just my opinion of things though. I'm definitely not looking to change any minds here, nor do I think mine can be changed. But hey, that's politics, and this is just my :twocents:

As for my great escape from society, I also agree that I can't escape it, but at least out in the woods, I won't be constantly reminded of a world gone to hell. All I'll have is the solitude of the forest, and my own mind to keep me company. ~