We have met the enemy and he is us. – Walt Kelly, Pogo
I remember growing up in the 50s, when everyone believed that we lived in the greatest country in the history of the world. All around us there were tyrants and maniacs, failed states and rogue states, but the United States of America, the leader of the Free World, was all good. But with every passing day it becomes more and more impossible not to recognize what has become a stark reality ~ the United States is a rogue state. This is not to set it apart from the rest of the states of the world ~ most states in the world are ruthlessly pursuing the Law of the Jungle, dog eat dog, and rat eat rat. But we used to think that the United States was different. We thought that the United States was a benevolent beacon of light, guiding the human race to an evolving and better future. But, alas, such fantasies are the stuff of a child’s dream. In fact, the United States has as poor a record as any of the other states in the world, and considerably worse than many. Our “glorious” past is disfigured by the genocide of the native Americans and the later oppression of the Black population.
But, lest you think that were all behind us, the present is just as horrible as anything to be found in the annals of the history of evil and wickedness. Okay, Hitler’s rampage against the Jews (along with a great many other marginalized people) is in a class by itself, closely followed by the genocide of the Armenians under the Turks, and now the appalling genocide of Palestinians by the rogue state of Israel edges out the Turks for the coveted Number Two spot in the Hall of Infamy. I don’t have the stomach to review the atrocities, but snipers deliberately targeting children, leading to the wounding and deaths of 100 children per day since the resumption of the Israeli war against Palestinians is a more than sufficient item quod erat demonstrandum. And not only is this war fully supported in every way by the United States government, including supplying $12 million per day, along with shipments of 2000 pound bombs, but anyone expressing any dissent to this policy is yanked out of their school and deported, even when they have legal resident status in this country. Can we have a moment of silence for the late and lamented Freedom of Speech ?
Even harder to understand is the complicity of the American people, who seem to go along with all of this carnage and devastation. My Country, Right or Wrong ? Well, this country is wrong, wrong, and wrong, and if there were anywhere else to go, it would no longer be my country.
I saw a billboard the other day saying, The other person might be right. What an excellent concept ! The hallmark of an open mind is the ability and willingness to consider that the other side might represent the truth. Perhaps China is on the right track. They seem to be way ahead in so many ways, leading the world in a transition to a post-fossil fuel future with their solar panels, electric vehicles, wind farms, and more. If only they would adopt policies of personal freedom, such as freedom of speech and freedom of dissent, policies which this benighted country has allowed to lapse, then they might inherit the mantel of leader of the Free World.
By the time the people of the United States recognize their error and folly, it will be too late to turn it around. With a National Debt closing on $37 trillion, Donald Trump wants to extend tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans, instead of imposing a wealth tax. This program is rushing this country into poverty. The rush to poverty is not simply measured in total spending ~ spending on useful projects (Health, Education, Infrastructure, Research, etc.) will advance prosperity, while spending on destructive or negative projects (e.g., war, space rockets, handouts to the wealthy, etc.) will rapidly drag the country down into poverty.
Yes; I know ~ I am getting too old to write anything new. This essay is very similar to the Sinking Ship, which was an excellent article, and very funny.
