We are in trouble

We are in trouble. Just when the world could benefit by our being an example of a mature functioning democracy, we are reaching the nadir of a three decade decline during which our national debt has increased steadily, our income and wealth disparity has grown to proportions not seen since the Great Depression, our schools have declined in comparison to other developed nations, our infrastructure is in disrepair, we have engaged one percent of us in three wars, among other problems.

Now our politicians are continuing the kabuki dance and risking a catastrophic financial collapse while playing political games that feed the 24/7 news’ machine providing a distraction from doing the hard work needed to build a better future for our children and grandchildren.

The government functioned reasonably well during the four decades preceding the seventies and eighties. We recovered from the Great Depression, defeated our enemies in World War II, adjusted from a war time to a peace time economy reemploying and educating the returning veterans, reduced the deficit from 100 percent of GDP to about 35 percent, reduced the income disparity between the top ten percent and bottom ninety percent from 50 percent to about 33%, improved our schools and much more.

Then in the eighties we decided that the government was the problem and have made it so. I think it was President Obama who wrote that our politics are too small for the problems we face. I would disagree. Our politics have become too large and factional to be effective.

We no longer respect or listen to those with differing political views. Compromise, the process by which our democracy was formed, has become a dirty word.

So as millions in the world are taking to the streets to try and secure freedom and hopefully develop new democracies, we are becoming a target of befuddlement and ridicule.

We have met the enemy and it is us. 

 

Comments

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George, I couldn’t agree with you more on your assessment of our nation. I’ve been saying for over 10 years now that our nation will experience a “lower standard of living” as the “Global Economy” bears down on our nation. Our children are no longer competing with their neighbors and friends, but rather competing with other nations willing to work for 1 tenth our wages. As such, we have experienced wage deflation as high paying jobs have been exported for over a decade now. I’ve posted some interesting information about our nation regarding the “Corporatocracy” that has taken control. You can view this material at: http://usa.danesnet.com .