A Glimpse into Our Future

We have to accept the fact that "our" America is gone. It was outsourced. It was sold out. Gone is our collective "Mayberry". It turned out that Father really didn't know best. In fact, chances are, he isn't even around anymore, and the "Beaver" has long since moved away. Odds are that our America will quickly fade into a distant memory as the Silents and Babyboomers begin to exit the stage of history.

In time, perhaps "our" America will be elevated to the status of a golden age; a myth that we collectively played our parts in.

Perhaps the notion of a Middle Class too will become something of a myth. When the average America had a career for life with good wages, company paid benefits and insurance (thanks in large part to strong activist unions). Everyone had the opportunity for a nice house in the suburbs with a two car garage. A quality education was guaranteed to all, if you were willing to put forth some effort. Schools were for learning and developing informed citizens capable of critical thinking and a love of nation, not floundering institutions where "everyone is a winner" and discipline went out the window a long time ago; where educators became underpaid babysitters and mediocrity became the "good enough" standard by which society lived by. In the future, we can expect education to be further "dumbed down" to its lowest common dominator in order to accommodate the near constant mass influx of refugees now that American no longer enforces its borders. The objective in school is, after all, not developing critical thinking skills or even being able to perform academically at or near grade level, but to develop self esteem and learn how to fit in with the collective. As Henry Ford once said, he wanted workers just smart enough to the job but nothing more. You're welcome Henry.

Sure in the future we'll still have our pockets of "Mayberry" here and there. Maybe someone will come up with a "Leave it to Beaver" theme park version of our America (socially sanitized of course to be entertaining to the tourists while remaining inoffensive and politically correct). They will almost have too since in their world, America has become a faltering second tier economic power with large pockets looking more like third world nations than that of a former superpower. The American President, once the most powerful person in the world is currently ranked number 3, behind Putin of Russia and Merkel of Germany. In the future, he or she may be lucky to make it into the top ten (and that will be because of our military). Blackout and brownouts will be common, with roving segments of the population looking for jobs---any job. Wages will be minimum do the high competition for the few available jobs with everyone being a temporary or contract employee. This too is due to the notion of open borders. For those who do work, taxes will consume most of their paychecks. No one will believe the quality of life Americans once accepted as normal nor the notion that families could afford multiple cars when most don't even have one to live in. Of course, the bright side is that crime and potential criminals and other social deviants are all but non-existent, thanks to the nationalized police and surveillance forces. No doubt non-conformists will be removed to a re-education and re-socialization facility...somewhere.

In the future America itself has divided into various economic and political spheres, which has worked out well given the different cultures, languages, and traditions each group wants to preserve. Under this arrangement, each is free to create its own unique form of government without feeling they have to "conform" with the rest of society. After all, America had been founded on the concept of individuality right? Once this was erroneously referred to as "balkanization" but it truth, it's the application of the concept of conformity in its truest sense. In this case, it's voluntary conformity of the a particular segment of society. So, who is freer? Those who were forced to adopt "foreign" elements in this new land of America in the past or those who congregated around the each other and the familiar to create a new Hispanic or Asian, or Moslem dominate state within America.

Sure, there will still be a national government to oversees certain public services, though it may in appearance be more of quasi military/civilian junta. They will be among the lucky few who have a good paying job. The military will be mostly automated with drones and robots, so few individuals are actually required and for those few jobs which only a person can do, they are contracted out to so-called "gangs" under some non-threatening name like "auxiliary security control and enforcement". These "gangs" have been accepted as a source of employment for the kids who can't find work elsewhere and they protect neighborhoods from others, so they act kind of like a local security force.

They are naturally fearless. They have their own weapons---usually better than the government's. They speak the neighborhood's language, know the traditions and culture. In fact, most grew up in these same neighborhoods. They know everyone, from the adults and seniors down to the children. They know every business and every back alley. Occasionally, they do battle with the nationalized police and surveillance forces, but usually they find ways to work together so long as zone or "turf" control is recognized. Of course, the military will still have need of grunts; the cannon fodder whose blood is always required to grease the wheels of the limos while the rich promote wars and "police actions" under the guise of "national security" as they seek control of some other nation's wealth. I suppose some things never change. Fortunately, with the passage of amnesty for all illegal immigrants and open borders, there has been a glut of individuals facing high employment and low wage jobs, which means there is always a pool of recruits available.

In the future, some may have been taught that we had fresh running water in our day; even hot water on demand! Once in awhile they may see pipes (but never copper or brass ones) sticking out of the ground and underground concrete tunnels, adding credence to this urban myth which the government denies. Many will use makeshift rain barrels now for fresh water, which have to be watch in order to keep from being stolen. For hot water, you have to make a fire. I imagine most all of the abandoned buildings and houses will have been torn down for the wood. Some have used the bricks to build walls around where ever they live. They also make good weapons to keep the social deviants away when they come around looking for jobs or handouts. The best part is that the open lots let you see if anyone if coming. Security will be paramount.

Grocery stores will still exist. Much of the food taste bland, thanks to genetic engineering and pesticides which protects crops from natural and man-made diseases and droughts, which have become commonplace. Most of the time, grocery and other stores will have ample food and other products on hand. The problem will be that they will be so expensive that few people will afford it. Many will get their food or clothing from federal agencies or charities when they have it. Always lots of armed guards around too. The various gangs or local security forces as they'll be called, take turns watching over areas and businesses. If you're lucky, one of your own is on guard at the local grocery store and will look the other way if you grab an extra loaf of bread. In the worse areas, they drive through in armored trucks and either throw the food and stuff out of the back of the truck or simply stop long enough to push it all out into the middle of the road to the waiting crowds and speed off. Can't blame them. Of course, a certain percentage will simply be gleaned right off the top and show up on the burgeoning black market.

There will still be the very rich. Never see them much though. They'll live in high walled gated communities or in tall buildings, both with their own local security. From the perspective of the everyday poor, they will be seen as living in homes large enough for 20 families with all the food and blankets they'll ever need, and they are rarely ever sick; unable to see a doctor. Not like everyone else who have to make do with home cures, if even that. Many in the medical profession quit their practice years ago and joined private "boutique clubs", which provides private medical consultations coupled with private outpatient care facilities, now called "health clubs" which also serves as health aware gyms and spas. Naturally, only the rich will be able to afford these. Another difference between the rich and everyone else is that they will never have to experience blackouts or brownouts. They always seem to have lights, as well as heat during the bitter cold winters and air conditioning during the sweltering summers. They will scurry about in cars with blacked out windows; run in and out of office buildings--always with security around. In a few of the large cities, used cars will be in high demand; not to drive, but as temporary housing. Nothing will be taken for granted in the future.

As for the "Mayberry" towns some of us grew up with, they'll still out there, somewhere, with what seems to be ample food and fresh water. Their air will be clean, or at least cleaner. Most will have their small homes, maybe some tillable land, reliable sanitation and electricity. Their children, home or privately schooled, will be relatively well educated compared to everyone living in the city. They'll able to do math, write and read (perhaps their best and brightest even know cursive and geography). They'll know some history and civics too. Most everyone will still chip in to help each other without expecting something in return. For many, they will seem almost quaint. Something from a bygone era when everyone was looking forward to a future when things would be a little better than before, just like on those old TV shows.

I hope none of this is, in fact, "our" collective future as a nation. Certainly, there are pockets of America that already fits much of this description (Detroit, Philadelphia, Memphis and Tucson comes to mind). We have some 12 million illegal immigrants now living in America (most with low job skills and little education). We have a federal government now importing thousands of Moslems from the Middle East and "seeding" them in America's heartlands with little or no effort to familiarize them with our customs, traditions, or laws.

Companies have exports thousands of job overseas while closing plants here the States. Meanwhile, unions, once the mainstay of the Middle Class, are fading away. Funding for safety net programs have been cut while preferences going to non-citizens. The quality of public education and public health care has been in decline for decades (unless you have the money of course). Personal debt, especially for students, is at an all time high. The quality of American academics, especially public schools, would be a joke if the repercussions weren't so serious. Our political situation is hopelessly broken. We are officially an oligarchy now, with government representing the interests of corporations and the top, roughly five percent. The approval ratings for Congress, the Senate, the Presidency, and the Judicial continue to remain in the commode year after year, regardless of party. The income gap between the wealthy and everyone else is at a historic high and getting worse while the standard of living for most Americans continue to decline.

But despite all of this, there are some hopeful signs. People are waking up to the manipulations of the government as well as the corporate media. There are more registered independents than either Democrats or Republicans. People are focusing on issues, not partisan politics, which means things are getting done one at a time. People are looking past the artificial divides and at what unites us. We are learning how to fight back against companies who export jobs, and against politicians who refuse to secure our borders. We are increasingly refusing to "press 1 for English" and demanding that anyone in our country speak our language and at least respect our customs, laws and traditions. We are developing new job markets, thanks in large part to technology and the Internet. More people are turning to home schooling or supplementing public education with home school tutoring to provide depth and quality to their children's education. Americans are also questioning decisions by corporate controlled politicians about additional foreign interventions. No longer will we buy the line of "national security" when we know it's for private profits.
Americans are also demanding accountability for toxic waste and abandoned sites from not just corporations, but from politicians in whose districts these sites lay. We're looking at not just renewable energy (from wind mills to electric cars), but re-purposed homes for the homeless. Many are starting to grow their own vegetables in either private yards or on community land tracts, as well as buying local whenever possible while insisting on healthier foods free of cancer causing pesticides. We're also demanding that corporations pay their fair share of taxes.

Of course, this is just a start, but at least it is a start. Americans are finally starting to come around. We're waking up to the fact that while our little "Mayberrys" are fading, we don't have to accept second best or third world conditions, and we can still be proud to be Americans. But to do so, we must return our nation to its original intent as outlined in the Constitution and Bill of Rights. We must not merely or meekly ask for accountability from the government, but demand it from all levels. And if corporations are going to run the government, then we must demand it from them too. The thing which scares the global CEOs, the lobbyists, the banksters and the one percenters is that we will put aside what they've placed in front of us to divide us, and dare to look at the "man behind the curtain" and reassert our rights as Americans.

America: Still the Home of the Brave and Land of the Free?

America. Home of the Brave and the Land of the Free. These ideals have been the hallmark of every American's socialization since childhood. Americans see themselves as strong, hardy and innovative; an individualistic "up by your own bootstraps" kind of people. In many ways, the ideals of our pioneer past have never left us: reinforced by our cultural myths and made tangible by countless books, plays, and the magic of Hollywood. There's no doubt that the US military is second to none. Not just in the world but in history. We have the best equipped, the best trained, the best fed, and the best motivated military in the world. Quite simply, American military presence can reach out and touch anyone anywhere in the world at a moment's notice 24/7/365 with the most extreme prejudice. They can also build schools and hospitals. But what about the second half of that statement---Land of the Free. Surely, we as Americans are free...aren't we?

Americans certainly think of themselves as being free, or at least most of us was brought up with that notion. We've always considered the US President to be the "Leader of the Free World". However, it seems that few still do nowadays. Certainly in the world, America doesn't carry the prestige it once did. The image of the "Ugly American", first popularized in the early 1970's as a stereotype of the occasionally rude, often patronizing and arrogant American who thought, rightly or wrongly, that the world should be made over in the American Image---whether they wanted it or not---as part of the belief in our own Exceptionalism. So then, how do we stack up when it comes to freedom?

According to the 2015 Index of Economic Freedom published annually by the Heritage Foundation, the top three most economically free economies belong, in order, to Hong Kong with a 89.6 rating out of 100. Next is Singapore at 89.4 followed by New Zealand with a rating of 82.1 (Australia and Switzerland round out the top five with 81.4 and 80.5 respectively. The United States placed 12th, between Denmark and the United Kingdom with a rating of 76.2. European powerhouse Germany ranked 16th with a 73.8 rating while Japan was 20th with a 73.3.

In terms of fiscal spending, the US ranked a 66.2 out of 100 while tiny Bahrain received a rating of 99.9. Norway had a 52.1 while Mexico's was 77.8. Russia had a rating of 86.1. Things were much improved for the United States when it came to labor freedom despite the decline in organized labor. Here the rating was an impressive 98.5. Saudi Arabia had a rating of 72.7. Russia was 58.9 while China had an unexpected rating of 63.0. The UK's ranking for labor freedom was 75.6. No other country ranked as high as did the US in this category. What about personal freedom?

In terms of property rights, New Zealand ranked first in the world with a score of 95.0. Numerous countries were tied for second with a rating of 90, including The Netherlands, Canada, Iceland and the Scandinavian countries, the UK, Singapore, and Australia. As for America, it came in with a rating of only 80.0. In terms of financial freedom, the highest marks went to Australia and Hong Kong with a rating of 90.0 each. There were numerous countries with ratings in the 80.0 range including the Czech Republic, Estonia, and the United Kingdom. As for the US, it ranked a 70.0 along with second tier nations like Panama, Columbia, El Salvatore, and Hungary as well as some leading countries such as Poland and Germany. For the record, China and Russia received a score of 30.0 while Saudi Arabia rated a 50.0. So, it's quite obvious America is not quite as free as we would like to believe it is. If you're ever looking for the real Leader of the Free World from an economic freedom perspective, you might try Leung Chun-ying. He's the Chief Executive of Hong Kong. Now, what about education?

I've always thought that the single most important investment government can make was in the quality of its education system, which only makes sense. A society which produces a well rounded graduate is going to see a more productive and innovative individual. This in turn grows businesses, which adds jobs and produces more tax revenue to improve the quality of life for the community or nation. The policy of "flunking forward" by passing kids who've underperformed all out of concern over their self-esteem does no one any good. Yes, it gets them through the system but it produces uneducated graduates who then become someone else's problem, usually society's in terms of higher crimes rates, incarceration costs, more public dollars for social services like food stamps, housing, medical care, and generational poverty. At the same, employers are stuck with unqualified workers, lower productivity, higher medical costs, and higher turnover. As a nation, we find ourselves unable to compete effectively which feeds the downward economic spiral. With that in mind, let's take a look at how we stack up with the rest of world.

According to a May 13, 2015 report by the BBC, Asia seems to have lock on world's brightest minds. In terms of math and science (15 year olds), Singapore came in tops followed by Hong Kong and South Korea. Japan and Taiwan were tied at fourth. Vietnam was 12th. The highest European nation was Finland, which ranked 6th. Estonia was 7th with Switzerland and Holland taking eighth and ninth place

Canada came in tenth. Eleventh place with to Poland. The United States was tied with Italy in the 28th spot, coming in just ahead of Portugal.

In the area of reading, top honors went to South Korea. Finland was second with Canada, New Zealand and Japan--just beating Australia--rounding out the top five. The United States came in 14, splitting Iceland and Sweden. Great Britain was 20th and Mexico was dead last in 34th place. With such poor rankings, you would think that we need to spend more money on our failing educational system. Well, you'd be wrong. America already ranks first in dollars spent per student in the world with an average of just over $15,000 spent on each student (K - 12). Nevertheless, the 2013 report released by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), American teachers made about $7000.00 more a year than the other educators ($38,000 vs. $31,000). If academic success is an indicator of a nation's economic success, then clearly the US is in serious trouble.

While I'm sure there are multiple explanations for this, such has overpaid administrators and teacher unions more concerned with maintaining their political clout and protecting teacher seniority rather than improving the methodology of teaching, I think it's essential that educators need to be left to teach rather than being overpaid babysitters. First and foremost discipline must be restored and enforced with a zero tolerance for bad behavior. We must stop excusing wrong behavior and we must stop drugging students. Second, kids need to be taught at an early age the need for critical thinking skills and developing their intellectual creativity. Third, teachers should teach only in the areas they're qualified for. Lastly, teaching is critical and should be rewarded as such, both financially and in terms of respect. They shape the futures of individuals and indirectly, the future of communities and nations. However, I want to qualify that by saying incentives should be based on individual classroom performance. Gifted children should be given every tool possible to excel, even if segregated. To many students graduate from High School with a sixth or eight grade reading level and no problem solving skills. That's completely unacceptable and the school and school system must be held accountable; financially if necessary. While more emphasis must be placed on math, science, and reading comprehension, we can't overlook the arts, history and civics even if the school year needs to be lengthen.

I know life is tough. Most parents work at least one job; many work two. While I don't believe it takes a village, nevertheless, the parent has a responsibly to take an active role in their child's academic performance. Every parent and someone from the school must meet regularly. No exceptions. Personally, I like the German academic system whereby children are tested as to their abilities and interests and encouraged in that direction. And let's be honest---not everyone should or needs to go to college. Not all jobs require an advanced degree when a technical certificate will do. Therefore, I strongly recommend bringing back trade schools. We don't need more lawyers, we need more carpenters and plumbers.

One last topic I'd like to address. Respectability. It's critical for our own individual success. It's also critical for our national success since it attracts not just tourists and students, but foreign investments as well as helps build alliances. I started off discussing "the Ugly American". How do we stand these days? According to a 2015 report from Forbes, the most respected country in the

world is Canada. Norway and Sweden came in second and third. As pointed out by the report, Finland and Scandinavia have consistently ranked in the top ten for the last six years, along with Holland, Australia, and Switzerland. As for the United States, we ranked 22nd, just behind military junta ruled Thailand. Isn't that special? One of the reasons cited by the report for America's dismal showing was the Citizens United ruling by the Supreme Court which added more evidence of our broken political and economic systems. I would add that the 2014 report verifying that America was no longer a functional democratic-republic, but an oligarchy serving the interests of leading corporations and the top 1% was a strong contributor as well.

There you have it. While we are not the freest country in the world by any measure, we're not the worse off either. Most certainly, we're a far cry from what our Founding Fathers intended. Academically, we're in serious trouble when compared to the rest of the world; especially our economic competitors. We've lost our Republic when we became an oligarchy with a rising police state (these, by the way, are not signs of "creeping socialism". Quite the opposite, despite the rhetoric of some Rightwing groups. These are signs of fascism. It's not Italian or German fascism. It's not Franco's Spanish fascism or Peron's Argentine fascism, nor the fascism found elsewhere. Fascism adapts. It draws from the Left and Right based the customs, traditions and history of each country. There are two things they always have in common though. One is to demonized whatever they fear the most and secondly, they advance in increments; two steps forward and one step back. A step to the Left and a step to the Right. Probing. Always testing the resolve of the People. So, what do you think they've found here? Is there resistance or is there complicity from indifference? Is this the free America you expected?



2015 Index of Economic Freedom
http://www.heritage.org/index/explore


Asia tops biggest school rankings
http://www.bbc.com/news/business-32608772

World education rankings: which country does the best in reading, maths, and science?
http://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2010/dec/07/world-education-rankings-maths-science-reading


The World's Most Reputable Countries, 2015
http://www.forbes.com/sites/susanadams/2015/07/15/the-worlds-most-reputable-countries-2015/


How America Became an Oligarchy
http://www.commondreams.org/views/2015/04/06/how-america-became-oligarchy

America: A Paradise Lost?

I admit that I get a lot of emails and articles from individuals and groups from all over the world. Most of it is your ordinary stuff...things they found interesting and forwarded on it me with their comments. Some are suggestions for future articles. Of course, I get a lot from special interests groups---some from the Left and some from the Right---hawking this or that cause and expressing their thanks for my "continued support" for "our victories" (though I may never have heard of them or their cause before), and always asking for money to "continue the fight" lest some dire event transpire.

The ones that get my attention most often, however, are the ones which deal with foreign or economic policy. I've always had an interest in global affairs. I think it's because international politics has always seemed like a cross between a game of chess and a giant puzzle with a few missing pieces (that's where a good foundation in history comes in handy). The America most of us knew---from the "greatest generation", Detroit and big cars, powerful unions and union bosses, and the world we watched nightly on "Leave it to Beaver", "Father Knows Best" or "The Andy Griffith Show" or "The Brady Bunch" have vanished. Superman and fighting for "truth, justice, and the American Way" seem so cliché that an eye roll is almost automatic. We've gone from "I Like Ike" and polls showing that most of us had faith in our institutions---church, school, the military, the media, and the government---to disillusionment following Watergate, Carter, the Contra Cover-up, Clinton's Impeachment and more scandals than I care to count.

Today, there's not much we trust. We automatically assume government is either lying or hiding something. We've become so cynical of the news, most of us watch it just to for the weather...and then look out the window to be sure. We used to hold up sports players like Johnny Unitis, Mickey Mantle, Wilt Chamberlin and the like who played as a team for the love of the sport. Now, all we see are a bunch of self-centered overpaid media driven primadonnas interested only in themselves. Take movies for instance. I still love watching films from the 1930's and '40's, as well as recent ones, but it's mostly the oldies that I enjoy most. Who could not love Randolph Scott or John Wayne in a Western? Who could be any tougher than Edward G Robinson, James Cagney, or my favorite, Humphrey Bogart except, perhaps, Burt Lancaster, Kirk Douglas or Robert Mitchem. Maybe Clint Eastwood if you're lucky...punk. You want sex appeal? You can have your Brad Pitt. I'll take Errol Flynn. George Clooney? Shh...a pale comparison of Cary Grant. Then there's Paul Newman, Clark Gable, Henry Fonda, Gregory Peck, Sean Connery, and way more. You like bad boys? There's few today who could match James Dean, or the aforementioned "In like Flynn" Errol Flynn, the "Rat Pack", but the baddest and savviest of all is still Steve McQueen.

As for the ladies of Hollywood, if you like 'em sassy, how about Katherine Hepburn, May West, Elizabeth Taylor, Betty Davis, Marlene Dietrich, and my favorite, Lauren Bacall? Want classy? How about Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn (a real life WWII spy too), Dorothy Dandridge, Ava Gardner or Claude Colbert? Sexy? The Grande dame was May West, but let's not forget Marilyn Monroe, Clara Bow or Veronica Lake, Bettie Paige (the quintessential "pinup" girl whose style is still imitated today) or even Pam Grier? These were gals who could turn it on with grace, style, and could act, sing and dance like they meant it. Most actresses today, including musical performers, depend on to much skin, blatant sexual innuendos, gimmicks and not much else; certainly not talent. That's not to say all of them lack talent. Several actually are, but still, they depend on to much T&A. I'd put up Billie Holliday, Ella Fitzgerald, Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire, Josephine Baker, Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Ginger Rodgers, Donald O'Connor, or Cyd Charisse against just about anyone performing today. Style trumps shtick any day in my book.

While the politicians of those bygone decades weren't any more honest, they were at least more entertaining and ultimately they had the people's interest at heart, especially if they could still make a buck. Heck, even the criminals were way classier...Al Capone, John Dillinger, Frank Costello and Joe Bonanno. America, as a country, seemed to have dreams too. We believed all things were possible. We still believed we could and would do better; that our children would have a better quality of life than we did as would their children; we had good jobs (thanks in no small part to strong unions); We felt proud of who we were as a nation. We weren't doing "world apology tours". We believed in American values of an honest day's wages for an honest day's work; personal honor; looking out for your neighbors, and fair play. We really felt that God was on our side.

Of course things weren't all ice cream and soda pop. There were real problems. Leaders like Ike, JFK, LBJ, RFK, Chavez, and Martin Luther King weren't perfect, but they tried to do the right thing. Women weren't often treated fairly, at home, academically, or in the workplace (and still aren't in some cases). Racism was a big problem as was poverty, but they tried to find ways to work it out. Sometimes it was peaceful. A lot of times it wasn't, but change is rarely easy. Gays were still in the closet----probably reorganizing it by color and season (sorry, couldn't resist), but that was changing too. We didn't worry about being "politically correct". We had an education system that was top notch, especially our trade schools; even in poorer schools, they were better than the best in many countries. Today, as a nation, America is ranked 24th academically---wedged between second tier countries---on average; in some areas ranked even lower. We were taught respect and there was discipline in school. We honored our winners and those who gave it their all. Nowadays, everyone gets to be a winner. We have no losers because we're afraid it will damage their self-esteem. I always thought it made you try harder the next time and built character.

We had our ideological arch-nemesis, the USSR (cue sinister music). They were the "CHAOS" to our "CONTROL"; they had "SPECTRE" while we had "Our Man Flint". Yet, they drove to excel in technology, in medicine, and in space. We went from catching up to Sputnik to landing on moon so many times it almost became routine in just 15 years. That "bad guy" image turned out to be largely of our own creation just as the "bad guys" today are of our own creation. I guess it's just part of our American psyche that we thrive on competition.

But with all this came a certain hubris too. We thought that our way was the only way. We felt that we knew best and we weren't afraid to impose our will---be it with economic domination to the point of exploitation in places like Cuba or overthrowing governments we didn't like in places like Iran, Vietnam, Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Panama, and others. In almost all these cases, it was done, at least partialy, to benefit certain US corporations, and almost always we installed or helped to install military dictatorships---very brutal and nasty military dictatorships, not to mention numerous political assassinations we engaged in...both overseas and at home. Little wonder we were and still are hated in parts of the world. The phrase at the time, as I recall, was "the Ugly American". Of course, other countries, notably France and England, engaged in their own "regime changes", but not to the extent we did, and this isn't about them. This is about us. Finally, it's worth noting that with all the so-called nation building we engaged in and all the billions of taxpayer dollars that was spent, not a single country chose to emulate ours.

So what happened to us? Where is our drive? Where did the faith in ourselves as Americans go? Why have we allowed (and I do mean "allowed") our democratic republic to be quietly hijacked and replaced by an oligarchy---rule by the elite 1% and underscored by the Supreme Court's "Citizens United" misruling five years ago now. Why have we succumbed to a national debt wherein we've literally sold ourselves, our children, and even our great grandchildren into economic serfdom? With little notice, our nation silently became the second largest economy in the world behind China, the largest single holder of our national debt and current ideological enemy. Why are we no longer the world's top manufacturer of goods---where did the jobs go? Why don't we lead the world any longer in technology? Why do we suffer mediocrity in our schools or in government? There was a time we wouldn't stand for anything less than the best teachers, the best quality education, and despite any ideological disagreements, there would be bipartisan cooperation at the end of day. When did we allow ourselves to become so divided along so many manufactured differences? When did lies become accepted as truths?

Our national transportation system and infrastructure are not only grossly out of date, it's crumbing daily. Once upon a time, we wouldn't have stood for that. We've become so apathetic that nothing seems to bother us anymore. To quote Pink Floyd, "we've become comfortably numb", and yet we wonder why everything seems to be spinning out of control. America, look in the mirror. Washington isn't capable of doing anything. It's up to us, both individually and collectively, to do what's needed. Don't look to government, it's time we accept that we're on our own. We need to start working together to solve the problems around us ourselves. America, in the beginning, was about each other helping each other. It's time to return to that America again.

Elections

Election Day will soon be upon us. I don't know if it's just me or not, but some of the TV and radio commercials (and more than a few of the mailers) seem to keep hitting new lows and I'm getting tired of it . I don't know how they do it but each election cycles they seem to find new ways sling dirt. I heard a radio spot about a friend of mine a few days ago. By the time the ad was over and they were back to my favorite classic rock tunes, I was ready to tar and feather the guy! Of course, I knew none of the comments made by the announcer with the faux Southern sounding voice were true, despite all the "we" and "us" inserted in the commercial to make it sound like he was some work buddy divulging secret insider information. I heard several more similar commercials on the way back to the house. That night I noticed just how many TV commercials had a similar vein. If these individuals were somehow single handedly stifling social security or were secret in cahoots with business to destroy unions or export my job or cut my salary and/or benefits or supporting illegal immigration or making shady financial deals while the economy went down the tubes or some other nefarious scheme, how, I wondered, had they managed to avoid prison time or getting the sweet bejeezus beat out of them each time they stepped out of the house? Heck, I half expected to hear next that they kick puppies or throw rocks at the squirrels the low life bastards!

The truth, of course, is that most of what you see and hear is mostly made up. It's part fact, carefully cherry picked and phrased to sound as bad as it possibly can, combined with some outright fiction as part of the set up. If we're lucky enough to either read about it on a mailer or see it on television, it may include some grainy distorted black and white picture of the intended target taken out of context; all, of course, to create the most negative impression possible. Somewhere, Joseph Goebbels has to be grinning all over himself.

Now before we go off on the individual's opponent, we need to give a pause here. Some of mailers and ads do indeed come from the

opposing camp. However, more and more come from outside groups---mostly based in Washington and support some cause or another that the intended "victim" may or may not even agree with. The fact is that either their party's so-called "leadership" or it principal financial backers oppose it is what matters here. In speaking with several candidates on both sides, most didn't even know about the "hit pieces" being put out against their opponents, which, if you think about it, is a shame.

No one wants to have their name, or that of their family or friends, dragged through the mud. I know of no one who wants to hear their loved ones berated so brutally and so publically, especially when they know it's not true. But when the hit piece isn't coming from the opponent or even someone local, but from a some organization created especially for this election cycle and hundreds or even thousands of mile away with no real knowledge of the candidates involved or the local issues at stakes, it makes you mad. Some will tell you it's the nature of politics today. And I suppose that's true. To hear candidates actually discuss the issues in a factual "adult" manner is almost unheard of, and let's be honest, a civil discourse doesn't generate ratings and that's what the media is all about. If there's isn't something which can be twisted or exploited, then it's likely to generate little or any coverage.

Have you ever tried to watch some of the talking heads on "news" shows, like the kind you see on Fox, CNN, or MSNBC? They actually encourage everyone to talk over the other person as if there's no one else there. Now, I understand TV time is limited and it's tough to get your message out in the 1 or 2 minutes allotted, but if that's the case why not either allot more time for the guest to speak or restrict response times? Ask a question and give each individual so many seconds to respond and cut off their mike---and make sure they know it! If they're setting together, lay down the rules about professionalism and common decorum, and if they won't follow them, ask them to leave on camera and don't invite them back. Nothing like a little public embarrassment to get their attention. You know, I may not agree with your position and as hard as it is to imagine, you may not agree with mine, but I will at least have the courtesy and professionalism to listen to your argument. Who knows, we each might learn something new! Refusing to listen and talking over each other will not solve this nation's problems.

Issues

I can certainly say that while my core values have rarely changed over the years (and it would take some strong evidence to do so), my opinion on issues have. Things change. New facts emerge. We acquire new experiences. We intellectually evolve. I would never dream of voting for someone who tells me they've never changed their stance on issues. That tells me this person is intellectually isolated; they're not growing as a person and I don't want that kind of individual representing me. I want someone who sees things as they are now, not what they once were. I don't think we need someone in office who is determined to hold onto the past. I want someone who understands the past and has the ability to draw lessons from it. Equally important, I want someone with critical thinking skills; someone who understands what's happening now and can make projections about the future. Too often we see politicians who act completely surprised when something we all see to know blows up in their collective faces.

Perhaps it's because they are conditioned to think short term. After all, we've become a instant gratification society---we want whatever it is we want now. We've seem to have lost patience with ourselves or the ability to savor the moment. With politicians, they are always thinking about the next election cycle; always trying to find ways to kick the problems down the road; to deflect the issue so that someone else has to take the responsibility (and the blame). The trouble is that we've done that for so long there are no "easy" problems left.

It's that kind of thinking which has put us in the political and economic situation we're in now. Maybe it's time we starting taking time to demand politicians focus on the core reasons for the problems rather than the quick and dirty band-aid approach. I'll leave you with a quote from Buddha on that point. Once one of his disciples was wanting to do something very important to them, but kept putting it off and putting it off time and again. Finally, one day, they died and the task of such importance for so long was never completed. When asked by his other disciples what they meant, Buddha replied, "The trouble is that you think you have time". Don't let that be us dear readers.


Poll Results are In!

First, I want to thank everyone who took time to answer our three brief questions. The purpose of the questions was ensure that A/O remained on track with providing you all with the type of articles you are most interested in. So, without further ado, here's the results.

On the question as to the length of the articles, no one said they wanted one single long article. 7% of you said you'd like a single short article. 38% said they'd like a couple short articles. However, the big winner with 53% of the vote, said to mix it up.
Regarding topics, taxes was the least most requested subject with 38% of the vote. We had a three way tie for second with global, illegal immigration, and constitutional issues each getting 46% of the vote. We had a tie for first place---national and social commentary, each with 61% (multiple selections were allowed).

Lastly, you were asked to share your political leanings. 1% said they were politically Left while 9% said they leaned Left. 18% considered themselves moderate or centrist. 9% leaned to the Right, while the majority---54%---identified as Right.

Thanks so much everyone for voting. Please sure to go to the polls on Tuesday, November 4th and cast your vote as well! Remember----America and your community are counting on you!

Fissures

I've been writing about this for years. In the beginning, most of the pundits and self-proclaimed "political experts" blew me off; I was seen as one of those "alarmists" or "extremists"; all gloom and doom. However, most of those criticizing me at the time were on the ideological Right (and no doubt were hyper-sensitive because "Dubya" was in office and looking like the world's biggest jackass). Well, times have changed and it turns out that I may have been right all along (and thank you Obama for assuming the jackass mantle).

To briefly recap, several years ago I wrote about how America appeared to be breaking apart. There's an old saying that every revolution contains within it the seeds of its own destruction; something about a revolution can and will be exploited to the point where it becomes almost absurd. For example, we took the phrase "...endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness" from our Declaration of Independence. and reinterpreted the role of government basically staying out of lives and allowing the opportunity to self-pursuit to requiring the government to provide it for us, and to do so as it defines it while removing any reference to a "Creator". We took the concept of each individual having the right to defend themselves; their family; their property and turned them into something approaching the criminal, while we took the criminal and turn them into some that was somehow disadvantaged by society and in doing so, made them victim.

We took the concept of "cruel and unusual", which the Founding Father's conceived of as meaning torture, and redefined it as meaning no death penalty for those guilty of committing violent crimes, which, again, many of our Founding Father's supported. We created a democratic republic which emphasized the sovereignty of the individual, divided into three roles, the legislative, judicial, and executive, with the role of Congress to be the central branch since it was closest to the People (the office of President was actually conceived of being mainly ceremonial), and now we have an oligarchy---rule not by of and for the People, but by and through a small elite class of the super wealthy. We are morphing into a fascist or corporate state with an Imperious federal government supported by a police state mentality. And the list continues.

We took the notion that America was a country where one could, with some hard work, maybe an idea, and perseverance, perhaps achieve something beyond their previously imposed limitations; if not for themselves then maybe for their children. Individuals came to America; learned English, often before leaving the Old World or on the boat over; they seemed to practice their English on anyone and everyone. They wanted to blend in. They left behind many of their customs; petty bigotries; and found ways to blend in. Some even changed their names or even religions. They wanted beyond all else to become American---not hyphenated Americans; not partial Americans, but ordinary Americans, and they tried to install this into their children. Not so now. Now, we've come to celebrate the hyphenated-American. Now we're expected to "press 1 for English". Now we're expected to accept foreign customs and traditions. It's even become common place to see individuals walking around in the native costumes as if they're flaunting their separateness. America is home to every nationality, ethnic group, and religion in the world. But what made us different is that we added this uniqueness to the "American Stew". Not so anymore. Those coming here now revel in their differences; they're encouraged to remain separate.

What happens to a country when this sense of disunity is allowed to grow; to fester? For a time, nothing. However, within these cultures which remain outside the norm of society, the grains of old hatreds remain, be it against different clans, tribal groups, religions, or ethnic populations. And as with all hatred left unchecked, it grows until it can't be contained and those inflected sooner or later lash out. We're already seeing it in the form of centuries old prejudices with the same centuries old form of retributions. Lost is the respect for laws and traditions of their new homeland and in its place is transplanted animosity toward others. Soon, one group or the other, not feeling a bond to its new home, will as first ask---perhaps even humbly---for exceptions based on traditions or laws belonging to another world, and in many cases, another time with incompatible values. Eventually, they will not just insist on these exceptions, but will demand that its laws should be equal with or even supplant existing laws of the host country or threaten not only non-compliance, but bloody and prolonged violence.

So too will others who fail to adapt to the native language of their host nation. They will plead tolerance and patience for the old or for the young to learn, and it's often granted out of a misplaced sense of compassion, but adoption never comes. Instead, it becomes more entrenched, and then they argue that it would be too cumbersome; too costly; or in some way "discriminates" again them by requiring them to learn the language of the nation where they now live, and instead, the native population is forced to adapt. And again, the bond is left broken. As I often said, "a common language is the thread that bind the tapestry of a nation together". A common language provides a sense of community; a bond among the citizens of a nation. It fosters commerce. It helps to establish a sense of common heritage. Without it, we begin to develop separately; one nation merely becomes transplanted onto a different soil, that's all.

At the same time, many of these groups find themselves impoverished. Partly because they weren't prepared either emotionally, educationally, or financially for their transition to a new country (this is, in part, because they've come illegally with the intent of blending into many of these non-integrated communities and, therefore, not having to make any of the necessary adjustments). However, for the others, they are given the opportunity, at taxpayer expense, and the educational and financial resources--such as low or no interest loans, wavier of certain taxes, automatic government assistance with government contracts, etc---and yet, they prepare only for their own ethnic groups. They insist on either themselves or their children to be taught in their native language only. They demand to be taught their country's history or heritage; not that of America's. Unintegrated , they remain often poor, dependent on others, and often find themselves taken advantage of, even within their own group.

Within this, we have the earlier racial or ethnic groups who are now replaced by these incoming groups. They see themselves set aside from taxpayer based aid, previously taken for granted as a self-assigned "entitlement". For those unprepared, they find themselves hopelessly lost. A sense of abandonment set in as the government redirects its limited attention and resources. Within this sense of abandonment comes a new sensation---anger, but not at themselves for depending of the public handouts and thinking it could and would go on forever, but anger at those who replaced them, and at the same time, a lashing out at those who formerly ladled out the gravy from the public trough.

At first, this is expressed in the form of trying to impart "guilt" for some imagined or ancient slight; without or with proof that it ever affected them. They will continue to insist on their privileged priority while claiming the others had in fact acting out a "privilege" because it was not, nor likely has ever been, in the position of having to depend on handouts. Interestingly, for those who had taken advantage of the opportunities previously afforded them and became successful financially (usually through education), they feel little sympathy for those of the group who they now view as "lazy" or "social leeches" and leave the group, though some remain to try to foster internal change while others only manage to serve as leeches themselves rather than as leaders or positive role models.

Nevertheless, ultimately the result is the same. Fissures develop. Soon the fissures become divisions; often, if not always, irreparable divisions. While these can for a brief time be held together through an increasing successions of rights, authority, and autonomy, the end rarely ever varies historically. The country either breaks apart peacefully; perhaps to enter into some form of loose federation (like the former USSR or UK, or it fragmentation is violent, long, and bloody like the Hapsburg Empire or Yugoslavia). Given the tendency toward religious, racial, and ethnic enclaves, and the nature of the cultures involved, I strongly suspect ours will be more like the latter. Can this be avoided? Certainly, and historically, it has. However, to avoid this fragmentation requires both a sense and understanding of the dynamics of history, but also the political will to insist that past loyalties are just that---past. America is about starting anew. It's about adding one's culture to the American melting pot, and it also means speaking a common language. Without it, America's "Exceptionalism" is no more and no better than those whose "Exceptionalism" has turned to dust.

Trending

As anyone who knows me will attest, I love statistics, especially the study of trends. Trends, if you will, are a glimpse at a possible future. I love playing with the numbers and squeezing every iota of information out of them. Of course, the future is always fluid. Every once in a while I like to do an intellectual exercise I call "What if?". It's something akin to Einstein's famous "thought experiments". The exercise takes a specific trend or trends and extrapolates to obtain possible scenarios of the future. Let's take birth rates for instance and current trends given the present political climate.

To sustain a general population, one needs as birth rate of 1:1. That is, 2 parents equals two children; essentially replacement. To grow a population, you need to increase that by at least one, or 2 parents producing two replacement offspring plus a minimum of one extra. Simple enough right? Well, here's where we get to have some fun. While the world average is around 1.17%. In the US, it's about .77%. In the UK, it's .54%. Italy's population growth rate is only .30% while Canada's is .76%. France has a growth rate of about .45%, yet Germany's is -0.18%. Russia is -0.03% and the once crowded Japan is -0.13%. In short, many of the advanced--industrial or technological---countries are in severe decline; beyond even replacement growth, and a few have reached unsustainable rates beyond the point of no return.

Now, couple this with the fact that the majority of third world nations are growing drastically. The South Sudan has a population rate of 4.12%. Zimbabwe is 4.32% while Niger is 3.38%. Pakistan and Saudi Arabia both have growth rates of 1.49%. Ethiopia's is 2.89. In addition, the nations with the highest growth rates are not only dirt poor and even more poorly educated, they also tend to be Moslem and because of the European Union's "Open Door" policy, they are settling in Europe in droves and making themselves quite at home with the rather liberal social system, which in turn, is breaking the economic back of Europe. In short, Europe cannot continue to absorb the increase in immigration, and at the current overall growth rate of -0.2% among non-Moslems compared to 1.2% among Moslems living in Europe; it will in all likelihood cease to exist as the West has known it for the five or so millennia. By year 2050, the majority of European countries are projected to either have a majority or plurality Moslem, especially Sweden and Germany along with much of southeastern Europe. So then, what about the United States? What could our future look at?

Well, one thing is for certain, the days of the WASP (that is, White Anglo-Saxon Protestants) are over; kaput. At 36%, white males are already a statistical minority in America (white females are still about 50.9% of the population. Still, whites make up the largest population demographic at about 69%. However, the Hispanic population, already the second largest ethnic group, will triple over the next few years and will make up about 30% of the population by 2030. Whites, on the other hand, will be a minority with 47% by then. Blacks will remain at 13% while the percentage of Asians will increase from 5% to 9% and may be a plurality in some areas along the West Coast. Overall, the US population will increase by 48% to 432 million and foreign born individuals could out number native born, and while the America will be much grayer, those of working age are more likely than not to be either foreign born or first generation children of the foreign born immigrants, particularly Hispanic.

In terms of religion, America will make a dramatic shift away from mainstream Protestantism which has dominated the US since the English first landed and established Jamestown. The majority of Hispanics---55%---regardless of country of origin, are Roman Catholic. Given the number of Americans of European origin who are already Catholic, America could find itself for the first time a Catholic nation while Protestant denominations will follow the graying of the rest of America. However, some Hispanics have converted to various Protestants denominations while others have moved away from any religious identification altogether. At the same time, as the population of Moslems increases, along with their high birth rates, we could see a substantial increase in the number of Mosques. One projection indicated that 11% of the population will be Moslem within the next 10 years. while another projected the Moslem population in the US to rise from 2.6 million currently to 6.2 million by 2030, and could potentially dominate in some urban areas.

Economically, we all know the story by now. The gap between rich and everyone else is wider than at any time before. The average salaries among CEOs and the employees is about 350% higher. Unions, which have the potential to close some of that gap, are basically on life support. Their only growth being among the public sector; approximately 11% of US workers are unionized. America too is now an oligarchy; that's is, it's government is controlled by the a ruling elite, which in this case is the top 1% and it's corporations. The democratic republic, Benjamin Franklin said, was ours to keep if we could, is gone. We now live in the light of its fading embers. In fact, we are quickly headed for classic fascism, which means government serving as a junior partner to big business with government serving more as a overseer or manager. Nations will be nothing more than resource zones.

In terms of politics, again, nothing too different here. Independents are the largest political "party" at 47% followed by Democrats

with 26% and Republicans at 25%. The GOP, in fact, lags behind pretty much across the board among the youth (Millennials---ages 18 to 33), Hispanics, Asians, blacks, and women. However, white voters in general have turned increasingly to the GOP, perhaps out of support for the overall conservative tone because of their declining numbers rather agreement on specific issues. But those who lean conservative, especially among the Millennials, still aren't as socially conservative as the GOP is currently. With the declining number of Babyboomers who've supported the Republican Party in the past, and factor in the "back-to-basics" Tea Party which has been erroneously projected by the corporate media as a bunch of "wackos", the future doesn't look too bright among the Elephant set. However, things aren't all rosy on the Democrat side either. The groups which make up its core---unions, women, low income, and minorities---see the Democratic Party as simply another just other wing of the corporate elites, which would be largely true, especially along issues of illegal immigration, defense spending, reduction in social services, and the economy. Perhaps that's why most Americans, especially the Millennials, are Independents; they're looking for balance, albeit a slightly more left leaning balance. Interesting, several key states, including New Jersey and Massachusetts, are now predominately Independent.

So, what does America of the future look like? There are countless possible scenarios, and any one of them could be just as accurate. However, I could foresee an America which looks much like Yugoslavia or the Austro-Hungarian Empire did; perhaps even of the old Czarist Russia or early USSR or especially the Roman Empire; a hodgepodge of cultural, racial, lingual, and ethno-religious enclaves interspersed with "native" European derived populations--albeit older. We'll have areas of extreme affluence mixed with other areas comparable with any third world country. The wealthy elite will hide behind the gated and high tech security communities while outside will remain dangerous for the ordinary individual. Neighborhoods will have roving volunteer security patrols of their own while other areas, especially intercities, will come under the control of gangs and criminal cartels with most everyone paying some form of "tax" or protection money. Pollution and decay will be everywhere the rich aren't.

Our nation's infrastructure will continue to decay; there will be little money for repairs, let alone new developments. However, look for some aspiring politician or special interest group to "adopt" this or that project---good publicity at bargain basement prices. What money is available will go to the military, the para-military police departments to fight the nebulous-like terrorists and maintain order; capitalism abhors instability, and what's left to social services, though that too will be greatly curtailed as there will be fewer working age individuals to support the older population segment. The police will serve more as a government militia with the same military mentality, especially along "border" areas where various ethnic or racial or even religious groups occasionally become violent (think West Bank). Speaking of borders, don't expect to see any. National borders will vanish. In their place we'll see Regional States supplanting Nation States.

Academically, America will continue to fall further behind as we continue to dumb our academic criteria; we're already 36th in the world, behind Asian and several second tier countries. Technology will continue to blossom, for those who can afford it. Meanwhile, we become ever more economic serfs owned by debt and credit ratings. Politically, we'll still be given the illusion of choice that we have now, but it may be more openly a mere formality. The Republican Party in its present form is likely to disappear, but some new version will assume it's mantle. Either way, the agenda it's now pursuing will increasingly fail to persuade voters, perhaps to the level of national or even regional irrelevance. Meanwhile, whatever political parties exist will be blatantly "company" men and women. We will see the full force of "friendly fascism" as Dr. Bertram Gross so aptly called it in his book by the same name. This won't be the America of mom, apple pie, and Norman Rockwell paintings. However, there's another possible future based on these trends.

The existing trends do not support the political system as it now exists. Both political parties are seen as corrupt and inept.

Washington is beyond out of touch, and most certainly beyond any hope of reform. Corporations openly own government in this country. They are not seen as "individuals" with any of the rights of a flesh and blood person. We do not see ourselves as an entirely free people anymore. Government is perceived as the "enemy", and increasingly so are corporations, the rich, the police and so forth. One could almost sense that society itself is being interpreted as the problem. People want more control over their personal lives. Yes, there must be certain guidelines, but if those guidelines are based on someone else's personal or religious beliefs, then how can they be imposed on someone else? They don't want someone---anyone---telling them what they can do with their lives. They also point to corporations and certain individuals having way too much power; too much wealth. They would, therefore, like to see that balanced out, but the "how" remains in question. Perhaps by capping income levels, or higher tax rates, or changing the current tax code to either a flat tax or a consumption tax. Perhaps something altogether different.

People seem to want a more decentralized government whereby power and decision making is more localized. They want more emphasis on societal benefits, be it social services or cleaning up the environment. Most are issues driven. Most have no problem with the gay issue. It's a personal matter. Most seem to believe one is rewarded by their own individual efforts, meaning there's a personal drive to risk and reward, while at the same time strongly oppose corporate handouts as much as they do corporate influence in government. The same goes for religion. Secularism is the strongest among the younger segment, while Catholicism is strongest among recent immigrants from Latin America, followed by mainstream Protestantism. However, after a time, that appears to wane. In looking at Europe, religious participation among Christians has steadily declined, even in Catholic countries like France, Spain, Italy, and Poland or in strongly Lutheran Germany. It has, however remained strong among Moslem immigrants, but there's the strong likelihood that over time, that too will begin to decline. Science and technology seems to be filling the void, and it is perhaps because of science, and particularly technology, that birth rates for the more advanced populations have declined since the more opportunities to explore the mind---even if it's in the form of playing games.

There are, of course, many other threads we could examine; variations on a theme. But, the basic point is that not only is America changing, but so is the world. Nations, as functioning sovereign States, are disappearing. In their place are regionalized nations, created and controlled by transnational corporations. Some nations are resisting with varying degree of success. Certain religions and/or ethnic groups are feeling the same threat. Some are creatures of the very same powers which created them in the first place. One wonders whether they continue to fight for the same masters in order to bring about a state of "siege" in order to impose a police state---the best friend of fascism---at the public's insistence. It wouldn't be the first time. Naturally, none of this is in stone. It's merely an extrapolation based on current trends. However, the past is gone, and to a large degree, the present isn't as we imagined it. The question then, is what will our future be? The answer to that question rests with you my dear readers.



Europe's Moslem Future
http://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/features/europes-muslim-future

Pew Research: Religion and Public Life Project
http://www.pewforum.org/2011/01/27/future-of-the-global-muslim-population-regional-europe/

List of Countries by population growth rate
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_population_growth_rate

The Shifting Identity of Latinos in the United States
http://www.pewforum.org/2014/05/07/the-shifting-religious-identity-of-latinos-in-the-united-states/

Disclosed: The Pay Gap between CEOs and Employees
http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-05-02/disclosed-the-pay-gap-between-ceos-and-employees

American union membership declines as public support fluctuates
http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/02/20/for-american-unions-membership-trails-far-behind-public-support/

US high school students slide in Math, Reading, and Science
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/12/03/248329823/u-s-high-school-students-slide-in-math-reading-science

Tyranny and Television

It seems that we're increasing, as Americans, attempting to embrace the past rather than the future or even the present. There was a time when we looked to the future in our home lives (The Jetsons, Star Trek) and in our public lives (NASA, World's Fair, sound barriers, moon landings, etc). Nostalgia television is more popular than when most of these shows aired originally. Now, it seems we're lost. We stuck living our lives vicariously through other people's lives (so-called "reality" TV); various talk shows where we watch "celebrities" babbling out their opinions on various, sometimes trivial or useless issues that are none of our business to begin with (and in doing so, implicitly inferring what we should think too) instead of us coming to our own opinions; or watching complete strangers airing their dirty laundry while we ogle, incite, and judge; idiotic "court" TV like divorce court, small claims court, or whose-the-daddy court, and so on. Basically shows about people who've made some really stupid decisions or asses out of themselves while we set back and amuse ourselves at their expense. Look at Saturday morning lineup for kids. What a bunch of junk. At least we had cartoons and shows which made sense, and where the production quality was pretty decent. We wouldn't have wasted ten minutes on any of these shows today. What happened?

Have we dumbed down not just the quality of our kid's education but network television too? Here's a thought. Grab a schoolbook---math grammar, science, history from, say, 1955, from any ole high school, and compare it to one today. Which one is more difficult? The answer should be obvious, and they didn't have calculators or computers. Yeah, we may have access to more information but that's useful only if we know what we're looking for, and what to do with it once we have it, and that goes back to what kids aren't taught today which are critical thinking skills. Some would call it common sense. Kids graduating today from high school can barely spell. Most are on an eighth grade reading level. Their math skills aren't much better, and forget about history, science, and geography. American students tend to rank near the bottom when compared to other countries.

In a 2013 international academic test, the PISA, US students scored below average in math and science and slightly above average in reading while most of the Asian countries scored at the top (with China coming in on top). Germany ranked 12th while the US was 28th, just behind tiny Denmark and just ahead of Spain. Countries like Estonia, Vietnam, Ireland, Finland scored higher than America. Poland came in 9th place, so I guess they're now sitting around telling jokes about us for a change. And while poor countries and poor students scored poorly as expected, money didn't seem to make much difference. Countries which spent less per student didn't necessarily do worse than countries which spent more per student as the result showed. The key results seem to have been better early preparatory time, better trained teachers, adaptability to the student's ability, and, oh yeah, discipline.

Maybe that's why everyone wants a college degree these days. Not because of the higher education and more developed knowledge and thinking skills, but a BA or BS degree will generally get you something equivalent to a high school degree from the 1950's. And another thing, not every kid needs to go to college. Yeah, it's great for certain individuals, especially those pursuing certain disciplines like economics, English, or engineering, but for others, they would be better off pursuing a career in the trades, and there is nothing wrong with a "blue collar" degree. First off, most of fields in the trades are in high demand. We need carpenters, welders, electricians, plumbers, and the like. Secondly, they pay well. Damn well. In many cases, an experienced plumber or electrician can earn more than a lot of individuals with BA or BS degrees (or in some cases, more than some with a Masters degree) and they can do it in less time and way cheaper (imagine 1/3 of the school debt and same or better earning potential).

Perhaps there's a stigma in this country against those in the trades. Not so in other countries, especially Germany. Germany has a highly developed to track educational system which directs students either into the trades or into university based on ongoing academic and aptitude tests as well as personal interest. Germany also has one the world's best developed apprenticeship programs in the world whereby students spend part of the day working on theory and the rest of the day doing hands on work, often at the sites of potential employers. The result is one the most successful academic system in the world, as well as maintaining the most powerful economic engine in Europe, and third overall in the world. German students, by the way, tend to rank near the top academically, regardless of which track they're on.

Back to television, how many shows are actually intellectually stimulating? Most are nothing more than commonplace formula based writing with names or genders, or (occasionally) the professions differing, but little more. Most of this can barely hold the attention of the average 10 year old (perhaps that's why they spend so much time with the faces buried in their IPods). Most of today's television shows leaves us in a mental stupor. How much real "news" are we really getting and how much is just so much tripe? It's a wonder we all don't walk around with a glazed look in our eyes and drool dripping down our chins. Is this then what we've become? Has our educational system so dumbed us down that today's "opiate", to borrow from Marx, is designed to perpetuate the process?

Of course, the best way to control a population is to keep them occupied and uneducated. Is that not, perhaps, what's actually going on here? Are we intentionally being kept busy with, as the Roman's would say, "bread and circuses"? Most of us are so overworked; so overwhelmed with the day's events; so concerned with just keeping the job we have, that all we want to do is come home and turn on the "boob tube" or "idiot box" as we used to call it, stick some food in our mouth and "tune in and turn off". After all, if we're so exhausted from the day's work; so fearful of our job being off shored or losing our insurance or pension or 401k; and we feel so powerless by what we're seeing or reading in the corporate news, that all we want to do is be mind numbed until we blissfully fall asleep in our recliners or couches, what does government or corporations have to fear from its citizens? And if a government doesn't fear its citizens, then its citizens will soon come to fear their government. Sounds like control to me, albeit a subtle and somewhat indirect form of control, but control nevertheless. What do you think?

I wish I could say that I was the first to think of this, but I'm not. It's been said a thousand different times in a thousand different ways since time immemorial. However, I think the very best expression of this idea was said by one of History's most evil tyrants, France's Maximilien Robespierre. Robespierre was the one of the leaders---perhaps the single greatest leader---of France's Great Revolution. He started off with good intentions as most tyrants do---freedom, liberty, and brotherhood and the end of a bloated and corrupt monarchy. He is remembered as the originator of the "Great Terror" which took thousands of lives (along with the assistance of the crooked grin of "Monsieur Guillotine") and precursor of the rise of Napoleon, whose reign claimed the lives of millions. It's from Robespierre, we are warned that, "(t)he secret of freedom lies in educating people, whereas the secret of tyranny is in keeping them ignorant". With polls showing an 85% disapproval rating of Congress---a near consistent rating for the last several years and lower than head lice and cockroaches I should add with my own smirk---most countries would be sweating bullets (take that anyway you want) if their disapproval rating gets above 15%, I have to ask: what will it be America? What will you chose to do?


US scores stagnant, other nations pass by us in latest international test
http://edsource.org/2013/u-s-scores-stagnant-other-nations-pass-by-in-latest-international-comparison/52052#.VBOlEZtAKzU

Top US students fare poorly in international PISA test scores
http://educationbythenumbers.org/content/top-us-students-fare-poorly-international-pisa-test-scores-shanghai-tops-world-finland-slips_693/

Congress somewhere below cockroaches, traffic jams and Nickelback in America's esteem
http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/main/2013/01/congress-somewhere-below-cockroaches-traffic-jams-and-nickleback-in-americans-esteem.html

Distractions and Illusions

Fast and Furious. The border crisis. Trading hostages for an alleged deserter. The border crisis. Wallstreet bailout. The border crisis. Libya and Syria. The border crisis. Global climate changes. The border crisis. Increasing food and utility prices. The border crisis. Cash for Clunkers. The border crisis. Increased price of home fuel oil, natural gas, oil, and automobile gas. The border crisis. Government shutdown. The border crisis. Iran, Afghanistan, and the Kurds. The border crisis. Isis. The border crisis. The Boston Bombing. The border crisis. Oligarchy America. The border crisis. The widening income gulf. The border crisis. Trayvon Martin and George Zimmerman. The border crisis. Putin and the Crimea. The border crisis. Citizens United and McCutcheons. The border crisis. Obamacare. The border crisis. Benghazi and the failure of the State Department. The border crisis. Snowden and government spying. The border crisis. Are you starting to notice a theme here? Every time the American People try to get Congress and the President focused on the invasion coming across our southern border, "something" arises to divert the public's attention somewhere else. Each time we refocus back on the border, the corporate media tries to redirect our attention elsewhere. It's like that shiny new bobble which fascinates monkeys.

The latest sleight of hand has redirected our attention to Ferguson and the death of Michael Brown, and all the subsequent riots, looting, and copycat protests, and another youth shot and killed by police. Of course, I'm not saying this or the others are insignificant events. Far from it. In fact, their significance may even be underplayed. America had been focused on the 60,000 or so children that are being abandoned on our doorstep, with more supposedly coming, in addition to the 12 million or so here illegally. These children, I should add, came from dirt poor peasants but "somehow" managed to scrap up $7000.00 dollars per child, and sent them not just through the length of their own country, but 1800 miles through Mexico, escorted only by smugglers who work for the drug cartels. Think of the logistics that would have entailed. And we're somehow expected to believe that through some strange alignment of the stars, this "migration" of kids from three different Central American countries just happened on its own. Baloney.
On top of that, these "children" were "escorted" across the US border by elements of the Mexican military just as our border patrol was being redirected elsewhere with renewed instructions not to engage, even defend their selves when those on the other side of the Rio Grande River are shooting at them. What about the fact that some claimed to have relatives living in the States (illegally I wonder?), and they "promise" to check in with immigration authorities when they arrive, but---surprise surprise---never do. And, what about the ones who are sick or infected? Where are they being siphoned off to in the dead of the night? Apparently no one, not even the border patrol seems to know. Then there's that other pesky little problem---the gangs who are crossing with them.

Some of these, like MS13, are as fearless as they are dangerous. These gangs have close links to some of largest and most powerful drug cartels in the world and are responsible for some of the most brutal crimes you can imagine. US prisons do not deter them. Most have already done time south of the border; prisons known to be absolutely brutal. An American prison is almost a vacation by comparison. If there's a pecking order, you can bet they are pretty near the top. They've become so powerful, they even control much of what goes on inside the prisons themselves, and to an extent, even outside the prisons as well. These are the same gangs which have eliminated other gangs, mainly black, wherever they go. And while they're cooling their heels in various immigration holding centers pending processing, they are busy recruiting new members. But what's even more chilling, is that these gangs are now believed to be helping smuggle in terrorists from the Middle East through our southern border while also helping them get established in towns and cities all across America. Meanwhile, Congress bickers and the President goes golfing.

There seems to be no lack of distractions to keep Americans from the border issue. I don't question that some, if not most or even

all, are very important to the security and wellbeing of America and Americans, but instead of jumping from one fire to another, we need to stay focused on issues of prime importance to the American People and getting them resolved immediately. The corporate media is always looking for the next big thing; it drives ratings and ratings drive revenue. But it's not all ratings and revenue. They're also trying to control what we see; for how long; how we should judge it while simultaneously attempting to overwhelm us to the point where we simply tune it out and retreat into our own little worlds. However, what's keeping these corporate executives awake at night is that more and more Americans are waking up. We know what issues are truly important. We know what we want resolved, and how we want it resolved. We're refusing to be led by the nose any longer. That's why we keep returning to issues like illegal immigration. That's why we're willing to do at state and local levels what Washington won't do.

As for illegal immigration, corporations support amnesty, and since they control the levers of power, they mean to have it. Corporations need workers whose loyalty will be to the corporation; who are not conditioned to challenge the system. The increase in potential employees drives down the availability of jobs while the demand for jobs will remain high. Therefore, individuals will be willing to work longer and harder for less, and they will be less likely to make waves. They'll be happy to have a job. As for unions, they've been in a downward spiral since the early '60's, and with their loss of membership, has come their loss of clout. Many have made a "devil's bargain" of sorts with the business owners to keep the employees in line and off the picket line. New members will add more dues in their coffers, but don't expect any change in the current business arrangement. In the end, corporations will become even more powerful than they are now since with fewer jobs to go around, employees will be more apt to keep their heads down, their hands busy, and their mouths shut.

Lastly, all the various crises. I personally believe that some of these "crises" are by design; that is, of the government's making at the behest of their corporate backers. We've already surrendered our democratic republic for an oligarchy. The gap between rich and poor has never been wider or deeper. As we march toward fascism--that is, a nation controlled by corporations--what we do, think, and act become critical components to be managed. That's why practically everything we do to everyplace we go, is monitored in some form or fashion. Of course, the justification is that it's for our own safety. It always is. That means we must forgo certain privileges or natural rights such as privacy in exchange for an alleged collective security. Soon we 're conditioned to accept that we're being watched; recorded; and abstracted in everything we do, no matter how "personal" it is. Even our wants are increasingly being anticipated and provided for. We will, at some point, come to accept being micro-chipped just as we do our pets, and for many of the same reasons. We'll carry our entire medical, financial, and even personal information in some chip embedded in our hand or arm. But it will be even more than just that, our psychological makeup will also be encoded in order to anticipate or predict our behavior, from committing a crime to willingness to try a new flavor of ice cream. Who knows? Perhaps we'll get some electrical shock for minor infractions to self-alerting the police for something major. A police state's dream come true. But not to fret, we will be given ample amusements to keep us entertained, from the latest celebrity gossip to fashion trends to mind numbing TV and video games while we're encouraged to leave governing to the professionals. Education too will continue to be dumbed down in order to obfuscate certain principals, histories, or ideals, not to mention dulling our critical thinking skills. Bread and circuses.

As corny as this might sound, the technology is already here, and there seems to be no shortage of human volunteers. Meanwhile, as events in places like Ferguson have shown, the police are increasing militarized; not just outwardly, but internally as well. They are increasingly conditioned to see us as separate or different; as potential criminals to be watched. Wars, famines, diseases and so forth appear manufactured to increase the wealth of the corporate bloc, while the ever watchful eye of the emerging police state scans for those who would challenge the "New Order". Capitalism, in its present form must consume to live. Failure means decay and eventual death; fated to become a trivia question on "Jeopardy". The independent thinkers and the free spirits will have no place in this unfolding new fascist utopia. But maybe all will be well in the end. Perhaps, when that day eventually comes in the not too distant future and we find ourselves in cages of our own making, comprised of electronic 1's and 0's, we'll console ourselves with the notion that the illusion of freedom is almost as good as actually being free once was. At least, that's what we'll be told.