Capitalism, Socialism, Facism…Communism. It is crucial to the understanding of these varied systems to acknowledge their two differing arms. The first is the level and mechanisms of governmental representation. The second is the economic system which simultaneously feeds into and grows from that government.
The time has come to officially put the lid on the introductory phase of American history. Beginning in earnest circa 1775, the USA moved like a mogul skier; from one cresting mound of fresh uncertainty to another, capitalizing (pun intended) on each conflict, period of uncertainty or cultural reshaping to develop new technologies, industries and opportunities from which the creative and earnest could derive a better standard of living if they desired.
Each geographic boom time has served our country well. We moved from the Atlantic coast to the Ohio Valley to the Great Plains and Deep South, across the Continental Divide and the West Coast in huge chunks. Though the pieces were acquired in large parcels, the settling took much longer. Technology has made the miles as inches, and the country has no tangible frontier remaining over the horizon. The Alaskan/Hawaiian expansions are now well over 50 years on. What you see of America is pretty much what you’re going to get.
Each technological boom time has served equally well. From the age of the cotton gin (and it’s onerous resulting slave need) to the railroads, industrial revolution, public works projects, post-war health care and transportation explosions, and suburban sprawl – each huge wave brought a galaxy of opportunity for innovation and exploration into areas that cost much, benefited much, and kept the wheel turning.
We spent 225 years in a marvelous back-and-forth of mostly proportional growth and prosperity out of which our grand experiment grew into the most wonderful standard of living known since the Renaissance…only on a much larger scale.
Then, things became a little dicey. As my father (the great Jedi Master Barry Herman – almost a Nobel level economist) would say, “we got a little too cute”.
Like the old “towns” in a low-budget Western movie, we began pouring inordinately large chunks of our gross domestic economy into “industries” that had façades, but nothing behind them. They benefited virtually no one, yet the puppeteers maintained the conviction that their continued expansion of wealth would eventually benefit all. The number of people who still believe this is rather small. This is not an indictment of wealth on any level; rather a question of how such wealth is obtained. To say that each deserves the fruit of his labors is a wonderful axiom – except when used by a thief, con-man or crook (regardless of whether they use a six shooter or smart phone). Bernie Madoff is not the disease. He is an unapologetic symptom.
In generations gone by, this disparity was mostly balanced (i.e. the age of Morgan, Carnegie, Rockefeller, Ford, etc.) by the collateral industries they spawned. For every House of Morgan bond issue, there was a smaller company being financed and jobs being generated. For every million in Carnegie steel fortune, there were hundreds of miles of trains and tracks to be built, along with the more modest “fortunes” of those who made those other firms prosper. While Henry Ford built a magnificent empire on the back of the Model T, countless others built their own bedrock on the parts and labor of those assembly lines’ output.
The entertainment of years past reflected our dreams and achievements. They stood as a diversion from the hard work at hand. These days, the work has become the diversion.
As the 40 hour work week of one wage earner in a single family fades to yore, we trace its erosion and ponder its possible rebirth.
Our heroes were always the leaders of rather uniform origin; politics, military service, sports, legend, scientific exploration and industry – to name a few. Sadly (in some ways), the advent of 24/7/365 information has made it possible to dethrone, deconstruct, discredit and destroy any hero. Would Abraham Lincoln or FDR even get through the primaries today? I doubt it. Would US Grant or George Patton rise past the level of Colonel in the face of their shortcomings? No, they would not. Would Babe Ruth survive one 24 hour ESPN cycle? Hardly. Would Paul Bunyan or Johnny Appleseed or Casey Jones be welcomed as warm reminders of pioneer values today as 100 years ago? Ask a 10 year old and you’ll get your answer. Ask that same 10 year old who Alan Shepherd or Neil Armstrong were. Brace yourself for the response. Eli Whitney, George Washington Carver, Marie Curie, Florence Nightingale…good luck with that.
Today we have Steve Jobs. Nice guy. Cool toys. So what.
Today we have Richard Branson. Flies Big Balloons. Who does this help? Oh, yeah. Him.
Today we have Donald Trump. And his contribution to humanity is what, again?
Since Truman, we have not had one President that is generally looked upon as a statesman, rather than a politician. Regardless of party, they fall short of that title by the grandest of canyons.
For all this – we THE PEOPLE – lose on an almost universal basis.
If the rising tide does not lift all boats in some way, they ocean will not be worth ruling, even for Poseidon, Neptune and their pals.
Accordingto the US government, the Gross World Product (GWP) is about 62.27 Trillion Dollars. The debt of the United States is about 14 Trillion Dollars, or almost ¼ of the GWP – that’s the ENTIRE PLANET.
Make no mistake...to dig from a hole this large requires a paradigm shift (remember when that phrase was vogue?) in personality, persistence and production not seen since 1942.
It is virtually inarguable that our current economic system of production and consumption curves cannot be sustained for very long. If you were an economist and claimed as much, you would scarcely pass a freshman exam, much less be admired by your peers.
Examples:
1) Fuel - As the price of fuel eats more of our individual worth on a regular basis, our freedom to move about, explore opportunities and expand our economic reach is crippled. Our food and basic need become more scarce to acquire, and our standard of living wanes.
2) Jobs – As we continue recycling the same old positions in the same old stagnating industries, our workforce (and population) continue growing. The resulting increase in work load on those who do choose to work (rather than collecting from the welfare state - as some do) renders the work-to-pay equation more stressful. A lack of new frontiers in industry and employment makes the job circulation about as healthy as the air that re-circulates in airline cabins.
3) Safety – As companies look to cut corners wherever possible, they begin to blur the lines regarding what is acceptable in terms of safety and quality. More auto recalls, safety violations at factories, power plant safety shortcuts, and understaffed air traffic towers are only a few examples. How many mines must cave in to realize this?
4) Public Services – Just as in #3, governments (especially local ones) seek to save where they perceive the chance(s) to do so. Sanitation, public safety, road repair and education become sitting ducks in the shooting gallery of budget mania. Sadly, once these services have been funded below a certain level, we become unclean, unsafe, and unintelligent.
5) Health – As the choices for what to consume and what to do with our time become more dependent on what is possible in the face of declining revenue and leisure opportunity, we make choices as a population and culture that reflect expediency rather than wisdom. The population gets unhealthier, putting tremendous strain on the already overrun health care system. The boiling points of stress flare up in places like Columbine, Oklahoma City, Nickel Mines or Tucson. We attribute them to lone nuts. Could it be the thankfully (relatively) infrequent rage of lunatics…or is it weakened souls pushed over the edge in a society which is seemingly overrun with gloom?
6) Media – The media is supposed to serve the public trust and the public good by responsible, constructive and forthright reporting on matters or relative importance – not fan the flames of paranoia for the sake of sensationalism and higher as revenue.
A demoralized and downtrodden citizenry does not long for, nor will they be very likely to inspire and produce the leaders of tomorrow.
The special interests that have co-opted our governments have done so with our accord and blessing to the point where the only difference between our system and that of a banana republic is the size of our military and docility of our people. Ezra Klein recently stated our government has become nothing more than “an insurance company with an army”. If he is right, it is sad. If he is wrong…how wrong is he?
The future in our country lies in what Morpheus (in the movie “The Matrix”) refers to as “the real”. We need REAL innovations, inspiring REAL work, producing REAL leaders and REAL results.
Examples:
1) Transportation – We need REAL commitment to mass transit. Our population is growing too fast (MUCH too fast) to ignore this HUGE priority for one year longer.
2) Locality – We need REAL local industry. There is no reason our country should be importing so much of its produce and production from far away, causing harm to the environment AND the economy.
3) Communication – Sensationalism should be cast aside, NOT rewarded.
4) Creativity – What we need is more than 12 new ways to store our MP3 files. 4D TV does not enhance our standard of living in ways meaningful enough to sustain. We need new forests planted, new water filtration systems created, and new green energy…not another new brand of Blue Ray player.
5) Drugs – We need to stop throwing drugs at every tiny ailment, mood swing and panic that comes our way. The drug resistant super viruses that will result from overuse of antibiotics may end this whole game sooner or later. How sad that would be for our species.
6) War – It used to be a last resort. Now, it’s an opening in the negotiation process. Mao Ze Dong said “Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun”. Not many people remember Mao as a role model. Why, then are we following his advice so pointedly? Reliance on military might to resolve disputes is endorsement of simmering genocide.
7) Education – of these seven…easily the most important. We need to LEAD the world with REAL masters of the sciences and humanities. We need more mathematicians, cellists, poets, painters and environmental engineers. We do not need to lead the world in 14 year olds who can master the latest “kill everything in sight” game on their mega box video system.
Thomas Paine wrote “that government governs best which governs least”. I think he meant that the imbecility and inattentive laziness that leads a group of people to cast their entire fortune with the government will ultimately cause their destruction (especially if those people refuse to keep an eye on their representatives). It is up to each citizen to embody their own vision of creativity and contribution to the public good and the general welfare. One such person can become a movement. One thousand such people can transform a city. One million such people can transform a country. …and then the world.
This is the crossroads. As a leader, I embrace the opportunity to do my part.
I have not inherited a finished PRODUCT called humanity. I am simply adding my contributions to the PROJECT that is the human race.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
-Dylan Thomas
O Me! O Life! – By Walt Whitman
O ME! O life!... of the questions of these recurring;
Of the endless trains of the faithless—of cities fill’d with the foolish; Of myself forever reproaching myself, (for who more foolish than I, and who more faithless?) Of eyes that vainly crave the light—of the objects mean—of the struggle ever renew’d; Of the poor results of all—of the plodding and sordid crowds I see around me; Of the empty and useless years of the rest—with the rest me intertwined;
The question, O me! so sad, recurring—
What good amid these, O me, O life? Answer.
That you are here—that life exists, and identity; That the powerful play goes on, and you will contribute a verse.
"Right now is not the fault of the Japanese" - Van Halen
"Everything counts in large amounts" - Depeche Mode
Peas,
J
