Try this piece out for an interesting classification of what we do well and what's in big trouble in the US (according to the author anyway).
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-schell7-2010jan07,0,1000455,full.story
Notice that government -- federal and state/local -- is in the broken column. Hardly a surprise. But I'd also broaden that to include the American understanding of government, which is in turn a major reason why government is broken. It then becomes a self-perpetuating cycle: Americans detest an ineffective, incompetent government and will not tolerate any proposal to expand the authority of such a dysfunctional monster to address problems like financial reform, job creation, school improvement or health care reform because they "know" already government is synonymous with silly bickering by self-important pols who pretend to worry about the problems of real people while focusing the real energies on campaign cash from corporate donors who they dare not offend by reigning in their excesses.
I'm interested in what the rest of you would add to our subtract from the three columns.
DT
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I would add to the 2nd list Health Care, which delivers great care to some(but too few).
ReplyDeleteThe first list struck me by its focus on fulfilling the needs for "me", even civil service and philanthropy, which satisfies an inner-emotional need for the gifted and/or wealthy, just as much as service to the under-priviledged and in-need.
The last list is sobering. Elementary education, which is the best place to begin the quest for The American Dream, is in major disarray. Worse, it is disarray for those who need it most and who could potentially give the greatest boost to our economy and society if they are able to succeed beyond school.
The need for financial reform is overtly apparent. The saying that all wealth is a result of labor is so far from the modern truth that is difficult to imagine a world where that could be taken seriously. The modern American prosperity is a result of creating and profiting from financial derivatives, and on speculation that during good economic times that success will continue without interruption.
Our public officials have failed to give a compelling vision of success that does not do-away with our self-destructive patterns. The media has lost its way, and the death of newspapers is the strongest evidence in support.
The problems the US is facing are summed up in Schell's list as the only part of government listed as an aspect of this country still vigorous and filled with potential is the military.
ReplyDeleteConcepts that the US should be leading the world in such fields as education, enviornmental and energy policies along with infrastructure take a back seat to the war machine we have in the US.
I do feel safe living in the US and I am thankful that I can wake up in the morning and do not have to worry about the dangers of a foreign attack, but as Campos stated, there has to be a point when we as Americans stand up and say enough with security and more with service.
Our government can provide more to its people than any other country in the world, but because its priorities are misalgined because of the influence of the military, many important social concerns that can help advance not only the US, but the world, will continue to be on and added to the list "aspects in need of drastic intervention."