No. 39: Changes in America
April 21st 2009 19:48
Steering a rocky road
America HAS changed. This is one of the baffling aspects while witnessing the rhetoric during the last election. "Change", "change" and more "change," was ingrained into us in a propagandistic manner. What was the purpose in chanting for more? The U.S., and indeed the world, have been changing so fast that many cannot (or refuse to) keep up with all of it.
There are obvious changes that have taken place, of course, such as the technological ones, examples are in computers and information, telecommunications, better housing, machinery and automobiles, robotics, medicine, etc. Many people, old and young alike, however, refuse to adapt to computing, are seeking advice from nonconventional physicians, and are exasperated overall, as if to wish the new would just go away--"out of sight/out of mind." People already need catch up time to assimilate what has been happening to them, their families and friends.
Perhaps due to all the restlessness, created by ongoing exponential change, many people are questioning even their own purpose, religions and spiritual holdings. For many, this is healthy, but for some the very fabric of their own self worth is in trouble. There is just too much personal stress! This is exemplified by some crazy actions like increasing drug abuse and disrespect for others and their property.
Following the last world war, the U.S. had all their cities and factories in tact and could pump out food, machinery, services, and inventions for which the world was
needing and desired. America got rich from its production. Times were good if you were "white, Protestant and Anglo-Saxon," as the expression went.
I should stop and mention one positive change that is ongoing, but has made great strides, is in the area of tolerance. Although there are many glaring examples that bigotry still exists, over all, I still maintain that most Americans do not judge one another on the basis of race, religion, creed or color. This was not always the case, and it is encouraging to live during these changes.
Now, back to earlier times-- In most cases, the father--as the quintescential head of the household--earned enough from his employment to feed, clothe, shelter, insure, and transport his family without the necessity of his spouse leaving the nest for outside income.
As the decades progressed, some things began rocking the proverbial boat. The federal government did not index the personal income tax deduction to inflation. The result was heavier taxation. In many cases, the wives began leaving the home out of necessity, instead of desire. I have mentioned this one before and would like to spend more on it sometime. Please fill in the blanks as to how you see schools, education and discipline as a result of this problem.
On the current economic front, many people reach for a greed soundbite when describing corporations moving factories outside of the U.S. Although there are documented cases of real, enacted greed, there are other reasons for business relocation too. Union pressures, supply issues, inflation, regulations and the boards of directors' and officers' very human desire to hold onto their jobs come to mind.
Speaking of the latter, picture yourself as an officer of a firm employing thousands. Not only do you have to see to it that products and services are rendered under a cloud of regulatory oversight, but you also have the responsibility of pleasing stockholders with ever-increasing quarterly profits. In America, as in many other parts of the world, stockholder pleasure trumps employee needs and desires. After all, if you do not satisfy the stockholders at the annual meeting, then out you go--"hit the sidewalk, Jack." The result is that the suppliers, creditors, and owners get pleased first, then the unions and employees last. (Obviously, the creditors and suppliers are not always in this order.)
Our economy is in trouble primarily because of misguided advice from so-called "think tanks" and lobbyists. Many of the over-fifty generation well recall newspaper and magazine headlines heralding the dawn of a new economy. Drummed into our heads were phrases like
"We are in a post-industrial age," and "we will be the world's bankers. Meanwhile, our industrial regions were de-industrialized and became rust buckets, with all the pathetic toll this head on familes and communities.
The current Federal Administration is using government regulatory causes to vilify everything capitalistic and free enterprise. These people promise "Change." Okay, if you insist, then change us back to an industrialized land which can actually follow through on its promises, not only to our own citizens, but to the citizens of the rest of the world. Then much stress will be removed because more and more of our people will not be afraid every moment of every day. They are afraid of not being responsible to their family and to their community. Once employment is secure again, and ONLY then, will many feel enough relief to pusue spiritual growth--first by respecting themselves--and then their community more.
This will be best accomplished by our federal government keeping its head out of every where it is not needed, and every where that our Constitution refuses to empower it.
Only then can the will of our sacrificing forefathers and military be given the respect they deserve. while enabling us to move forward with healthy optimism.
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