Am I the only person who cannot keep up a civilization? I go for science and then I get -30 gold per turn. I try to expand my empire and then I find that I can't go any further because others have surrounded me. I say no to one request and I find myself in a war that I didn't want to be in...and tis is on the easiest level too. Any advise so that maybe I could decent?

perhaps let your science fall behind. The extra gold can be used to rush units if your gov't will allow it. I won an entire China campaign in WWII with 0 science per turn. I just bought techs from my neighbors and rushed almost all my units.

If you maintain a good balance, and not just science, you'll do well.