When you say we are a laughing stock to the rest of the world (implying you care what they think)it's pretty clear it's not about our countries "future". So you DO care, and that is fine. I personally just don't care what others think of me. I live how I want to, and it does not really affect me if I bother, offend, upset, or insult anyone. Just like I could care less if anyone treated me in a shitty way... oh well, just blow it off and relax.
But speaking of our countries future, all the more the reason NOT to care what other countries think. They want to laugh at our citizens, fine. There is alot to laugh at. But they are pretty fucked over their too. When a massive amounts of people will sit for hours and hours and watch while a ball is kicked around ... and they call us dull ... sure.
And besides, it's our foreign policy that bothers people, and I personally LOVE our foreign policy as of the last 10 years or so. As you said, it is about our countries future. Our current policy is to PROTECT the future.
And the "our country used to be great" comment... dude, get some friends or something. Turn of the Blink 182 and step outside. Life is not over.
Everything will be ok.