2017 saw highest rate of death due to alcohol, drugs, suicide in US history [pdf]
I hate to say this, but we brought this on ourselves.  It&#x27;s just one aspect of the decline of America.<p>At one time, we could identify with, &quot;Land of the free, home of the brave.&quot;  I remember my Grandpa, saying that to me, and then telling me, &quot;So kid, stay free, and be brave about it.  I did my best, and when you grow up, do yours, right?  You&#x27;re an American.&quot;  Of course, I&#x27;m like 10 and know nothing of the world, but I honest felt like I was part of a greater thing, that I was now going to be following in the footsteps of Grandpa.<p>Then I grow up, and America slowly gives away her freedoms.  Not just personal freedom, but the freedom to excel.  The middle class slowly fades, education becomes prohibitively expensive.  Upward mobility wanes.<p>Then 911 happens and America loses it&#x27;s shit.  We&#x27;re shown to just be a bunch of pansies.  We react by becoming a (worse) global bully, frightened and trying to control the uncontrollable.  And we trade freedom for perceived safety. Ever think the Patriot Act will be allowed to expire?<p>Then of course we get the perfect to represent the coward bully that is now all of us.<p>And oh boy do we like our guns and drugs.  Now that&#x27;s the new America.  That&#x27;s our refuge.  More guns, and more drugs.  We suck down so many drugs that the rest of the world works really hard to keep us supplied.  We work hard to keep us supplied (Afghanistan).<p>And then lastly, we isolate ourselves, unable to make friends, interacting over the internet instead of in person.  We shape our world and ideas with constant confirmation bias.  We work hard to reinforce our prejudices.  Nation of tribal haters.  The charade of Democrat and Republican and Ford vs. Chevy and Cowboys vs Patriots.  Choose a side, get angry, espouse.<p>So what&#x27;s left in an America like that for a man?  Sure, it affects women to, much the same, but as a man I particularly feel it.  This ain&#x27;t my America, the one I read about from our past.  It&#x27;s seriously depressing.<p>This might seem like pining for the old days.  &quot;Things are better than ever now!&quot; you say.  So, really?  Why are people opting out in record numbers then?