Where Are We Going?
I haven’t made an entry into this
blog for quite some time, but I can remain silent no longer. I am sick and
tired of this political campaign and the multiplicity of lies, misinformation,
and downright B… S… proffered to the public on a daily basis. Let me begin this
with some facts that, hopefully, will help to put some current conditions in
perspective.
First, our country, The United
States of America, is the greatest, most powerful, and most prosperous country
in the history of civilization. There is none and never has been any greater—even
the Roman Empire; and, for the time being, there are, arguably, none on the
horizon—so much for “Let’s make America great again”. Throw away that hat,
Donald.
Second, the United States of
America constitutes approximately five percent of the world’s population, and
consumes twenty-five percent of the world’s production. Our economy and
standard of living is the highest in the world. That’s a fact. Current issues
notwithstanding, our nation is blessed. Even our poor are more prosperous than
most of the poor elsewhere in the world. Therefore, as we open our economy to
the rest of the world through “globalization”, their standard of living will increase
and ours will decrease. There is just not enough to go around otherwise. An economy
is like water, and water always seeks its own level. We can increase
productivity in the short run; but, ultimately, our natural resources will be
depleted that much sooner. We can picture this in our minds by envisaging our
economy as a glass of water set on a table connected to another glass of water
by a control valve. The one glass (our economy) contains a higher level of
water than the second (the rest of the world); but, when the valve is opened even
slightly, the level in the first glass will lower as that in the second glass rises.
Third, no further back than
recent history, it took weeks just to cross the ocean(s), they can now be
crossed in hours; and, whereas it took a month or more, depending, to send a
message or a letter, it can now be done in seconds. We do it every day. But so
what, you ask? The “so what” of it is the rest of the world is catching up to
us; and they want to share in our prosperity, power, prestige—our standard of
living, i.e. our piece of the pie; and they are going to insist upon it.
In conclusion, we must at some
point in time help the other nations of the world increase their standard of
living and share with us in the prosperity of the world. It is only right; but
this must be accomplished slowly and planned so as not to disrupt our economy
in the process as is being done presently or giving up our democracy as in the
case of the TPP. What is presently happening to the American people is
unconscionable. I cannot believe the audacity of the corporatists and power
elite as they steadfastly rape and seduce the common people in our country in
their pursuit of excess profits, power, and prestige right in front of our eyes
with no care for anyone other than themselves. Their avarice is exceeded only
by their corruption. The free market theory behind which they hide no longer
exists, having long since been reduced to the chalk board of a college
classroom. Change in our great nation, in the world for that matter, is too
much, too fast. I’ll admit such change is inevitable, but our leaders need to control
it—to plan, to prepare, to minimize the pain of our people through improved education, training, and safety nets, cradle to grave.
In the mean time, this is Ronald Miller, www.sageobserver.blogspot.com signing off. Email me at mtss86@comcast.net
