An unmistakable identity crisis plagues America. Who are we? What are we? Popular media both instigates concern for our country's eventual fiscal erosion and also allays our fear of national economic insolvency. Morality and ethics become a discussion of convenience... the responsibility to provide for those in need or speak against injustice rests in the hands of the government... our personal accountability substituted for a collective one. Children of the same home and upbringing grow to adopt dynamically different perspectives on American citizenship and personal responsibility. A never-before-seen expectation for privileged entitlements polarizes its recipients from its donors. Political bandstands such as "change" and "hope" now sing like sirens... hypnotizing ships to fatally veer off course.
Forget trite political cliches and grand legislative promises... let's be frank. What type of people are we? What does it mean to be American anymore? What would you fight for?
America in reality is very different from historical (or perceptual) America. Perceptually, America remains the last bastion of economic and social freedom... a refuge for the socially, religiously, or economically persecuted... an icon of financial mobility, preeminent industrialism, and epic innovation... a dominant but benevolent world leader capable of promoting safety at sea, the safeguarding of foreign trade, and the munificent supply of humanitarian assistance to countries in need. In theory America embodies every fairytale description of an omnipotent yet altruistic global benefactor.
In reality, this once-appropriate description fades at an exponential rate. Domestic America, besieged by pretentious elitists and politically motivated intellectuals, struggles to dignify a national identity. Greedy politicians collect the spoils of special interest groups and weighty lifetime pensions, while insulating themselves from the legislation affecting their constituents. Pundits and Professors of higher learning institutions construct outspoken soapboxes conveying ideologies radically contrary to the liberties they've reaped in America. Spineless popular media networks willingly forego independent journalism while advocating tacit state-ownership (a critical tenant of communism). Individuals divorce their families and neighbors while conceding these personal responsibilities to the government.
Simply put... America won't get its act together! Internally, socially, intellectually, and economically imploding. Whether you're a Republican, Democrat, or Independent, you have to be concerned about some alarming numbers... numbers that make us look like global buffoons:
Forget trite political cliches and grand legislative promises... let's be frank. What type of people are we? What does it mean to be American anymore? What would you fight for?
America in reality is very different from historical (or perceptual) America. Perceptually, America remains the last bastion of economic and social freedom... a refuge for the socially, religiously, or economically persecuted... an icon of financial mobility, preeminent industrialism, and epic innovation... a dominant but benevolent world leader capable of promoting safety at sea, the safeguarding of foreign trade, and the munificent supply of humanitarian assistance to countries in need. In theory America embodies every fairytale description of an omnipotent yet altruistic global benefactor.
In reality, this once-appropriate description fades at an exponential rate. Domestic America, besieged by pretentious elitists and politically motivated intellectuals, struggles to dignify a national identity. Greedy politicians collect the spoils of special interest groups and weighty lifetime pensions, while insulating themselves from the legislation affecting their constituents. Pundits and Professors of higher learning institutions construct outspoken soapboxes conveying ideologies radically contrary to the liberties they've reaped in America. Spineless popular media networks willingly forego independent journalism while advocating tacit state-ownership (a critical tenant of communism). Individuals divorce their families and neighbors while conceding these personal responsibilities to the government.
Simply put... America won't get its act together! Internally, socially, intellectually, and economically imploding. Whether you're a Republican, Democrat, or Independent, you have to be concerned about some alarming numbers... numbers that make us look like global buffoons:
$16.4 trillions dollars of national debt
National debt to GDP ratio exceeding 100%
Annual deficit growing (adding more to the national debt)
Unemployment/Underemployment numbers growing
Job market decreasing
These simple numbers hardly confront other disconcerting national issues: legislative unconstitutionality, endemic governmental corruption, and over-leveraged foreign policy. Yet, they appear on our individual "American" identities like a tramp-stamp tattoo after a hangover... Embarrassing and immature.
Honestly, "Real America" offers little to fight for or fight over as much of our personal finance and individual liberty will be usurped by the federal government in the years to come. Only an intelligent and willing people, devoted to governmental decentralization, personal responsibility, and virtuous rule, will save this country from the manipulative, political machinations of power-hungry people. The naive citizens of this country may dwell in the bliss of ignorant entitlement, but for most of us, this isn't the America we're proud of. A quiet but unmistakable revolution brews... America's ultimate identity weighs in the balance... when will we determine an America worth fighting for?
I can't applaud and type at the same time....
ReplyDeleteThis one was very good.
GW