Is America Salvageable From Ourselves?
Good Morning Middle America, your King of Simple News is on the air.
This is one of those mornings that even the news isn’t interesting. Obama and McCain continue to trade grade school level insults regarding subjects that don’t matter in the least, while at the same time our country falls further into recession.
I suppose that really is the news, regardless of which of these illustrious gentlemen are elected, we will get more of the same ineffective governance that we have become so fond and accustomed to.
Or perhaps the most important news, and that having the greatest impact and the least reporting, is that the American people are separating at what appears to be a record rate.
How did our country ever become so divided to begin with? Why isn’t there someone who could run for president, that as whole, we actually liked?
The answer to that question is that it isn’t possible. The division that runs between the proclaimed “Liberals” and “Conservatives” is so deep that there may be no hope of bringing us back together.
The differences in our likes, dislikes, and ideals from one part of the country to another are staggering. How can there be predominant red states and predominant blue states in the same country, without there being massive eventual consequences?
Having differences to the degree that exists between our two major parties creates constant conflict, a sort of civil unrest that never goes away, and that is highly elevated around election time, which is pretty much all of the time.
The Democrats literally hate the Republicans and visa versa. You know, George Bush did this and that or Bill Clinton did this and that in a never ending political war between neighbors.
As the economy continues to run downhill with no sign of any braking, the tensions will become further elevated. Blame will be placed primarily on Junior Bush for all that is wrong with America. King of Simple News readers know that we started on our immanent collision course with reality long before Junior was born; but most folks aren’t much on history.
Is it possible that our political leanings will become so totally polarized that our nation will begin to separate into like minded enclaves? I know personally that there are areas of this country where I could not and would not live. Let’s just say that there are areas that don’t suit my clothes.
We have had vast differences in the core beliefs of our populace a couple of other times in our short history which resulted in the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. Is this time different?
As the pain of our crumbling economy continues to worsen, tempers will flair and irrational blame will be placed, further elevating our differences. Is America capable of pulling it back together, or will we live in our current divisive environment until such time that the lid blows off?
I’d like to hear your thoughts on that subject.
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Hey Mike,
I’m back after a total computer failure.
I believe that back when politicians actually worked for the people , there were real philisophical differences among them. It seems to me that while the people still have politically opposing views, it has become nothing more than talking points for politicians. The same reason they don’t really want to solve a problem because they would lose it as an issue. As long as those of us who think we can run our own lives [ without government assistance ] are in the minority I don’t see things changing much. Like you have said many times, most people don’t want to hear the truth so it’s unlikely that we will ever elect the right person. I’m writing in Ron Paul!!!!
On a brighter note, GREAT NEWS. I saw an ebay ad saying you can now run your car on water. Looks like clear sailing from here on. WIND MILLS AND WATER!!!
Not sure about the political differences.. I see almost no difference between Democrats, and GOP.. Liberal, and Conservative have no real meaning for me.. They seem to trade back and forth.. I would love to have some real choices for my vote.. I have been voting for D. Duck for most of my adult life.. Ron Paul is a good choice, but a wasted vote in a two party system where both parties cater to the same money…
WmA..
Larry and Willy,
In my opinion, there are deep, deep differences between the current parties. If you don’t believe it, have a conversation with your opposition.
I could live (and have) with extremely limited government, while others desire complete government control. As Willy knows, back in old Talkeetna, AK, we had no government and no police present and did marvelously well.
I believe that we are struggling with our identity and don’t really understand what America is about, even though it is clearly written in our Constitution.
I’m voting for Ron Paul on a write in, wasted vote or not. I’ve voted for lesser of two evils for the last time.
There will not be substantive change in the next four years at the federal level unless the system completely breaks down. I recommend doing what you can at the local level and voting for those who best represent your personal views.
Our saving grace could be rebuilding from the bottom up, rather than the top down.
Helping keep my friends and family informed is also keeping me tuned up with the reality of our nations problems.
This process is fairly entertaining as long as one does it with the idea that the end result most likely will not change.
So, like you say Mike; simplify your life the best you can. Prepare for the years ahead with the information we discover in the process of educating ourselves. Adjust as new discoveries are made. And don’t sweat the coming crash. Have fun with our friends and family and enjoy the quality of life we have today. -bb
Oh, with all that said; I too am going to write in Ron Paul for president in November. -bb
Billy B said, “simplify your life the best you can. Prepare for the years ahead with the information we discover in the process of educating ourselves. Adjust as new discoveries are made. And don’t sweat the coming crash. Have fun with our friends and family and enjoy the quality of life we have today.”
I couldn’t have said it better myself.
Conservatives and liberals are different; however, Democrats and Republicans aren’t. Never mind what politicians say, judge them by their actions. It is rare that either party has enough of a majority to run rough shod over the other. Screwing the average American is a bi-partisan pastime. Both parties willingly pursue the agenda of their constituents - corporations and the wealthy. When you take campaign funds from them, you must pay them back. In today’s politics you don’t build a viable campaign war chest a dollar at a time, it is the big contributors that fill your coffers. Remember, it is almost always the candidate that has the largest campaign fund that wins.
Since there is little actual difference between the parties, there is no meaningful choice. As a result, the middle and lower economic classes continue to vote for those who consistently “nickel and dime them to death.” Provided they don’t do it in too large of increments, no one notices.
Every election the outcomes are the same; the players sometimes change, but the outcomes don’t. Corporations and the wealthy become wealthier and the middle and lower economic classes loose ground. The old definition of insanity applies here….doing the same thing over and over and expecting to get different results each time.
Voters aren’t changing anything, they are enablers who confer legitimacy on a sham and help to perpetuate it. The masses in America still have it too good. Until they experience another Great Depression and have nothing left to loose, the charade will continue. By the time the typical voter wakes up, there won’t be anything left to salvage.
In my opinion, Greg, you are dead on. That is why I posted the comments above; to identify the fact that we the minority will not change the masses in time to prevent the coming crash. We could work ourselves to insanity (a short trip for me) , to no avail. Problem with this crash is our resources will be strained to the limits and the rebuild will not resemble what we have today. Therefore, ” don’t sweat the coming crash. Have fun with our friends and family and enjoy the quality of life we have today.” And that is really what it has been about all along, but I for one forgot that somewhere along the way. Feels good to be drifting back to that lifestyle. -bb
Greg,
Yep, that about sums it up. As my last paragraph says, “there will be no substantive change in the next four year unless the whole shebang comes unglued.”
We are dancing on the edge of the volcano and I think I just heard a rumbling sound.
I think we are all singing from the same page.. Nothing is going to change because we vote this way, or that.. In order for real change, something bigger is going to have to happen.. And it will probably be too late when it does..
Bottom line, is that we are screwed.. Might as well prepare the best we can, and enjoy what little time we have left.. Tnx for the comments.. WmA….
The two parties will continue their failed policies and the downward spiral will continue until the economy no longer meets the basic needs of people, such as food. Riots will ensue, resulting in an authoritarian crackdown. More than half of our countrymen are likely to die in the societal calamity that follows.
Bobcat,
We know that there is no plan for running out of a critical resource such as oil. But oil is only the first of our resources to begin playing out.
As you said, at some point the economy will no longer meet our basic needs.
And what are our leaders doing? Rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.
We have to plan for ourselves and our families and friends, we sure can’t depend on government.