Author Tony Harnden puts forward an interesting proposition: The United States is gloomier this year than it was in1980. In the argument, pollster and ever-growing Frank Luntz and his hair were used as source code for numbers.. Thanks UK TELEGRAPH, 235 years later you’re rubbing in the fact we declared independence, and using Frank Luntz for some help.

The story of the STAR SPANGLED BANNER

The first video I promised for today.. This is on the Fourth of July in a little suburban town. It’s the finale of the Wonders Years, the final 5 minutes namely..

Things have been a little rushed this year with some family ailments, a new son, and just life whizzing by.. Thanks for a friend who posted this video on my Facebook page yesterday, I realized how every Fourth of July I take a few minutes to watch this and .. sure, cry now and then too. It was a great show and it ended with a great proposition: The American dream, in a suburban American town, with fireworks blazing and life just going on.. Amazing.

I offer this up to you now.. hope you’ll take as much “Americana” as you can from it like I do ..

America seemingly is living in the wonder years.. confusing times of arguments, war, violence.. But since 9/11 things have been different. People are on edge.. People are watching over their shoulders for suspicious anythings..

I’d love to go back to a time when the American soul wasn’t perverted by color coded terror alerts and instead just wanted a grilled burger with a cold beer. I want to go back to a time when the United States wasn’t a bastion of political rhetoric—all of which means nothing in the end—and instead just work together for the betterment of all..

In some small measure, this show ending grounds me in a way. And I wish I can explain better why but I tried by best here.

And I knew they’d never have Winnie and Kevin get together..

26% OF AMERICANS DON’T KNOW THAT THE UNITED STATES DECLARED INDEPENDENCE FROM GREAT BRITAIN!