America Lost (PBS, 2019)

Our leaders sold us out. We went from being producers to consumers, and that was our downfall. Once the steel mills left, coal mines closed, and factories went down south, then over seas, it was a done deal. Now you can't even get a customer service job, because they're over seas, too. Now here comes AI. It's over with.

9:14 'Poverty exists not because we cannot feed the poor, but because we cannot satisfy the rich.'

Im almost 50 years old. Born and raised in Philadelphia. Still live and work in this city. Its become nothing but drugs, murder, carjacking, so sad.

"They call it the American dream because you have to be asleep to believe it." ---George Carlin

My mother's family landed in Youngtown from Finland. My mom was born there.They worked the mills. So did my grandfather when he was 16 years old. I visited in the 70s. I remember going to see the mills and remember the smoke and trains and machinery. It was such a fascinating sight. I have it on 8millimeter black and white film that my dad took as homemade movies at the time. So sad our leaders allowed this to happen all over the USA. This is a clear example how government separates themself from people and how they the government dont really know how to live with people. They just lie and ruin families. People really have pride when their country had their back. ✌️

Classic example of why so many men feel worthless. Without good jobs the family crumbles and life can become hopeless.

I grew up in the 90's in the American Northeast. It was one of the fondest times in my life. My family were immigrants from Greece who had worked hard to become business owners and entrepreneurs. My grandfather was one of them. He saw what was happening to the country that he had come to for a better life. I remember in his last years, he would tell me that the country that had adopted us and the dream we crossed the world for was slowly dying. He told me I would see it all come to completion in my lifetime. That was ten years ago. I live back in Greece now, and seeing his words come true is heartbreaking.

My dad bought Steel for the State of Louisiana; the last 10 years; he lived in Japan and Korea; because that's where America bought her Steel; The America we knew is Gone forever; I am a Vietnam Vet; I was in the last Generation that remembered when America was great.

I didn't grow up rich but I did have both parents, my Dad wasn't home much and they argued a lot and he could have left and I almost wanted him to because of all the arguing. Many years later i did ask why he didn't leave... he said because it would have lead to us kids growing up poor, divorce or single parent homes equals poor real estate equals poor schools equals poor education equals poor chance at a degree equals poor chance at a good job. Poor real estate equals poor neighborhood and getting into trouble and hanging around the wrong element. He passed away last year but I was sure to let him know how much I appreciated everything he did for us. My sister married well and has a happy family and solid financial footing and I have a very good paying job in a law firm. My Dad had only a highschool education but alot of willpower. Dad's are important.

34:00 — "If you're poor, then you're poor. And if you're rich...chances are you have more than you ever need." This describes America perfectly.

I moved out of America in 2010 and moved to Portugal without money. Now 10 years later I'm in paradise. 🎉

What a documentary! It is painful to see so much hopelessness and dejection. The breakdown of the community and the family unit is such a terrible thing. To everyone who is going through something similar, I say keep the hope, keep on being positive, keep the faith. You got this

the worst part of this is much of the decline of the American middle class was engineered by global banking concerns.

Grew up in Florida. Not a care in the world - for most of it... Had a good job, had friends and a life basically. Then COVID hit and I lost everything. Then I understood that I really didn’t have friends… I relocated in 2021. I’m slowly rebuilding my life now. But now I understand that to be peaceful, you must love yourself. You don’t need anyone else but you.

One of the best documentaries on YouTube. No censorship. No bias. No agenda. Just the reality of what's going on, and the voices of those experiencing it. This is true journalism.

Kudos to PBS for this documentary. Sad, powerful, enraging, touching. I knew it was bad for families in the US, but this really opened my eyes. I'm an Aussie in a marginally better situation. Big love to all.

This documentary should have 10 million views.

This is not just "happening", it's being "done"

If the "Experts" are still trying to figure out "What happened?", they're not experts.

Great video man! I'm 43 and I'm 90% certain that our glory days are FAR behind us - shit is only gonna get worse...only question is how fast. I honestly don't know why people want to bring children into this world.