America: A Nation of Exiles, Misfits, and Second Chances. But has it gone too far?

America. There has always been something truly unique about this country. People of all sorts have been coming here almost ever since its discovery, and they keep coming despite all our faults and failures (and there are many).  Nations, far older than us, are constantly comparing themselves to us. We’ve become the world’s yardstick for practically everything, but who are we really?

We don’t tend to think about it much, but most of those who came here to settle were misfits and exiles. They were people who didn’t fit into society any longer. They came to escape the restrictions their native country had placed on them. For many, they were locked into an economic and social caste system irrespective of their intelligence, ability, or motivation.  

Many were just one slippery step from debtor’s prison. Others had already fell victim to the harsh judicial system, often for petty crimes committed in the name of survival. The lucky one’s found themselves “transported”. This was a way to be rid of petty criminals, social deviants, and malcontents while emptying out their overcrowded prisons and relieving a marginal social safety net based largely on charity.  They were typically sent abroad as “indentured servants” to work off their sentences in places which were often difficult and dangerous (Georgia and the swamplands of South Carolina were often a key destinations).

Meanwhile, others simply wanted to chance to start life over again and a chance to show the world (and themselves) what they could do if given the opportunity, and so they came by the tens of thousands.  Many bore  the same title of “indentured servant” as the felons, though under slightly better circumstances in most cases.

These individuals were mostly young, poor, marginally educated, with very limited opportunities. Many were orphaned. They voluntarily leased themselves out for a set period of time. This usually covered their passage (typically in steerage) as well as their labor with the hopes that, in the end, they would get their chance at a new life. It was a difficult and often risky choice, with many never seeing the end of their bondage, but it was better than what awaited them if they had remained.

A surprisingly large segment of immigrants also came to avoid religious persecution. It was commonplace for each country to have an official religion, often headed by a monarch,  to which everyone was expected to participate, if not in person, then financially. It wasn’t uncommon for so-called “dissenters” to find themselves harassed by authorities, fined, imprisoned, or stripped of everything they owned in order to pay the mandatory tithes. This new country demanded none of that. There would be no state mandated religion.  It’s easy to understand why, to believers, this was seen as the “promised land”.

Not much has really changed in all those centuries since the first Europeans set foot on this continent. We still attract the world’s misfits, exiles, and those looking to start over. America is a different sort of country. It is not a nation which evolved organically over time like Europe or Asia. We came about in less than a blink of an eye in terms of history. We were created as an experiment, born out of a sense of justice, fair play, and individual sovereignty.

 In lieu of having a long history to shape our nation, ours was based a heritage of ideas stemming from the Enlightenment, Judeo-Christian morals, and the philosophies of the Near East, Ancient Greece and Rome.  Even our government was modelled on the Roman Republic. All of which is nicely summed up in our traditional national motto---"E pluribus Unum” (“Out of Many, One”) along with our official national motto, “In God We Trust”, which reflects the desire of many to come here to seeking their religious freedom.   

The Statue of Liberty, which graces the entry into New York, reminds us that we are still a nation of second chances. It’s often the first thing arriving immigrants see. The plaque at its base bears the  famous poem by Emma Lazarus entitled “The New Colossus” which speaks of America as the “Mother of Exiles”. It urges the world to “…Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breath free. The wretched refuse of teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift up my lamp beside the golden door!”

Marvelous words expressing the aim of America to welcome all those seeking to be free, but something has changed since those words were pinned in 1883. America was conceived of as a welcoming melting pot, where all would leave behind the worthless hatreds and prejudices from wherever they came. Here they would become a new people---“Americans”--- sharing a common language with a shared set of values, laws, and uniquely American traditions.

Somewhere along the way something changed. We no longer concerned ourselves with those who come here in defiance of our laws. We stopped being proud to be Americans. Today, we have some 13+ million illegals living here with millions using taxpayer based social services they never paid for. They have no interest in adopting our language, laws, traditions or values. Worse, we have politicians, cities and groups which are fine with that. What happened?

According to a U.S. government budget committee report on the costs of illegal immigrants to taxpayers dated January 11, 2024, 69% of illegal immigrants don’t have an education beyond high school (compared to 35% of Americans) which impacts their work skills and employability. Each individual cost taxpayers approximately $68,000 each over their lifetime or about $42 billion.  In addition, the children of illegal immigrates (including children born in the U.S. of parents here illegally) received roughly $68.1 billion dollars (as of 2019) in taxpayers funded services. Taxpayers also picked emergency care and other medical costs to the tune of $7 billion dollars annually.

Some hid behind the 14^th Amendment, which was intended to provide citizenship for recently freed slaves following the Civil War, in order to claim legal status, thanks “anchor babies” as noted above. More recently, others have claimed asylum status when they’re only seeking employment without applying for a work permit (employment isn’t recognized as a legitimate reason for asylum status under international law).  Still others send their children with strangers and then come seeking to be reunited with them.

Even certain religious institutions blatantly choose to ignore immigrations laws, believing that somehow they are exempt from following the law, and going as far as not just encouraging them to migrate, but providing them with shelter, housing, job contacts, and even how to manipulate the system to access taxpayer based services. Of course, these immigrants fill pews and church coffers, as well as improve their political clout.

We became fixated on the “right” of these individuals to enter our country undeterred while other nations, ever anxious to rid themselves of hungry mouths they can’t afford thanks to antiquated societal norms, openly proclaim that we had no legal right to protect and secure our border.

Somehow, our right of national sovereignty had come under attack while their sovereignty remained securely intact. Immigrants now come, not to be Americans, but to transplant their country, language, values, traditions, and all! Some intend to even transplant their religious values despite not being compatible with ours. We’re the ones expected to conform and adopt, not the immigrant. What went wrong?

Our  English language is treated as unimportant. The government now caters to “diversity” instead of promoting emersion. Immigrants view the taxpayer funded social security net as an entitlement just for being here. They regularly send money home to support their families and community, which is perfectly fine. But why do they refuse to apply for work permits and pay their fair share of taxes to the country which makes it all possible?

At about the same time, we started to see more and more people no longer identifying as Americans. They had become hyphenated Americans, be it cultural, racial, ethnic, or whatever. In addition, the very notion of “American” increasingly became as a form of slander. The “ugly American” of the 1960’s had suddenly returned home.

We were increasingly taught to be ashamed of our collective history. Entire chapters of our history have become distorted and rewritten. Critical thinking skills have been replaced, and with it, the quality of education. Discipline is now seen as a form of suppression. In colleges and universities, students aren’t expected to take responsibility for the debts they willingly incurred despite many earning majors where there is no demand in the job market.

Even the Pledge of Allegiance is no longer publicly acceptable. Neither are displays of the American flag (which is now considered a “trigger object”).  Statues and monuments deemed “offensive” by a select few are defaced, vandalized, and removed.  Individuals with criminal histories are portrayed as heroes while law enforcement is viewed with contempt.

While America has always welcomed various religions, how do we deal with a religion which wants to impose its own religious laws on society, going so far as verbal and physically attacking people, blocking sidewalks and traffic while they “pray”? They become incensed at criticism of their faith but encourage attacks on other religions. In Europe, this has proven to be a disaster as the governments continually cave to their demands while punishing the victims.  

This is all part of a new narrative being preached throughout America---the “Gospel of Political Correctness” as proclaimed by so-called “woke” Millennials and Gen Z. To contradict the gospel in any way is regarded as blasphemy or heresy, often resulting in being  “canceled” (sounds like a euphemism used by the Gestapo or KGB). The good news, however, is that you’re freely entitled to their opinion at any time, whether you want it or not.

How does a nation founded on freedom of speech, religion, and association cope with this? How does a nation protect its national security when our borders are ignored?  How do we address the issue of hyphenated loyalties, a declining education system, no common language, or an agreed upon history survive? Historically, nations similar to this  have become ungovernable and ultimately imploded. No nation can be pulled in multiple directions and hold in the long run  (I’m reminded of Yugoslavia, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, as well as the Ancient Roman Republic).

I’m reminded of a quote by Theodore Roosevelt (perhaps our greatest president and certainly my favorite). In speaking before the Knights of Columbus at Carnegie Hall in 1915, the former president addressed many of these same issues when he said, “In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this predicated upon the person’s becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American…There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he’s an American , but something else also, isn’t an American at all. We have room but for one flag…We have room for one language here, and that is the English language…and we have room for but one sole loyalty, and that loyalty is to the American people”.

I couldn’t have said it better Teddy. Well done. The question  which needs to be addressed is whether we are going to heed Roosevelt’s word, spoken some 110 years ago or are we going to go the way of the Yugoslavia past or current Europe? America has always been a country of second chances for those with nowhere else to go. But for us, here and now, there’s no place for us to go. There’s no one coming to our rescue. Republics rarely, if ever, get second chances.

 

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Poems: The New Colossus

“Americanism”  by Theodore Roosevelt (1915)

Theodore Roosevelt: No Room in This Country for Hyphenated Americans

Hyphenate American

House Judicial Subcommittee Report: The Costs of IllegalImmigration to Taxpayers

Indentured Servants  

The Oligarchy That Is America

As everyone knows by now, the US is an Oligarchy. We have a professional class of plutocrats who think they know better than we do about what we want and don't want from government. They've created a system that makes us dependent on them. They have, in fact, created the means by which they can bribe us with our own money. They've created a surveillance state and are awaiting the opportunity---be it real or manufactured---to impose a police state. But first, we'll have to demand it. "Do what" you say? We would never demand that government impose a police state on us. Well, yes we would, and here's how.

Imagine a situation where crime, especially violent crime, has gotten out of hand. No place was safe. Imagine an economy where good paying jobs were hard to come by because there were more workers than openings. Towns and cites were overpopulated. As a result, people were willing to take less and less; worker associations were either too impotent, too politicized, or too afraid do anything, and most were working hand in glove with employers. People became frustrated. They started protesting. Before long these protests turned into riots and looting became rampant. The only relief was public entertainment like sports.

The infrastructure had been deteriorating as a result of decades long neglect to the point of no return. There were more and more external threats to the nation, and those threats were spilling over the borders. Politicians didn't know how to handle the situation. Along with that, increased immigration; most of it illegally, was causing an ever greater stain on the economy along with the diseases they brought with them. Taxes rose as a result, and there seemed to be no end in sight. The government was corrupt and worse, it was simply an accepted fact. Previously, they at least tried to hide it. Not any more. Most don't even bother to try. They were bought and paid for by a handful of very wealthy individuals. Of course, the politicians continued to talk like the public's opinions mattered; like they were a part of the working class, but they weren't. They were to far removed from the same concerns of the ordinary masses to understand what their lived were like.

Pretty soon things became so bad that the people started demanding change; the the government do "something". The people knew the Republic was no longer their own. So, a few stepped forward and provided an end to chaos. They provided law and order and economic stability. Think I'm talking about some fictional scenario? Nope. What I just described was Ancient Rome during its late Republic period; the same Rome which we modeled our political system on. This was Rome just before the arrival of the Caesars. So don't think for a moment it can't happen here or that we're so different.

So, what do we do? Well, we can do nothing and see what happens. Maybe we'll get lucky and something or someone will save us, but don't count on it. If there were, we'd be the first Republic in history to do so. In addition, historically speaking, democracies and Republics are actually pretty rare. If we look back to the end of World War II, there were only around 26 democracies in the world. Today there are approximately 86, which is actually pretty good, but they still fail, even today. Now, I have a trivia question for you. Ready?

The US has been involved in "nation building" since the end of World War II. We've pumped tens if not hundreds of billions of dollars in helping build the majority of democracies around the world. So, how many countries have based their new governments on the US model? The answer is zero. Absolutely none. Surprised? Want to know why? It's because we have a rigged election system; a "winner-take-all" form of government. Only two sides---Democrat and Republican-- are represented, and if you're not a member of one or the other faction, then you're out of luck; your views aren't represented. Talk about taxation without representation!

For the rest of the world's democracies, the preferred form is based on the British Parliamentary system of government which allows for everyone to have a voice in government even if your party doesn't win because it allows for multiple parties to be represented on a percentage basis. Naturally, it has its flaws like any other government, but it is at least more balanced than the American System when it comes to everyone's voice being heard.

I'm not necessarily advocating for a parliamentary form of government. I'm just pointing out the obvious since the majority of Americans are registered as Independent (about 44%), and have been since around 2005. Since both parties control board and commission appointments (which is typically allotted based on the number of seats held), it means that the majority of Americans aren't being represented. If you happen to be a registered Democrat or Republican, and your candidate lost the election, it means that your opinions aren't being considered either.

So, what can and should we do about that? Well, I have a few suggestions. First, we need to impose term limits. The Founding Fathers never intended that we should have career politicians or even political parties. In fact, they'd be appalled that we. They were strong advocates of the "Citizen Legislator"; someone who comes to the state legislature or to Congress with a limited mandate, completes their term, returns back home, and someone else takes their place.

Today we have a professional class of politicians. In fact, they are a professional class of political plutocrats. If you're not a millionaire going into Congress, you'll certainly be one shortly after getting there. We need a constant turnover to ensure fresh ideas are being introduced and to minimize the level of corruption. At best, we should cap terms to 12 years. That's six 2 year terms for House Legislators, two 6 year terms for US Senators, three 4 years terms for the President and federal judges including the Supreme Court. As the late great Speaker of the House, Sam Rayburn (D-TX), once said "to get along you have to go along" which is a polite way of saying you have to turn a blind eye when it comes to graft and corruption.

We need to eliminate lifetime salaries and perks. Once someone leaves office, their salaries end with their departure. No more salaries for life. No more free or taxpayer subsidized insurance or other benefits. Speaking of insurance, elected representatives should expect to buy their coverage on the open market just like everyone else, especially after they leave office. Alternatively, we could go to a single payer form of converge for everyone.

All US Citizens would get a basic insurance package through the federal government and paid for by a small corporate tax. Individuals could then opt to buy a supplemental plan for any special needs. This would cover all government employees, elected officials, and the general public (the only exemption would be military personnel). This would also enable small companies who can't afford to offer insurance to their employees to compete with larger ones who can. There should also be no more "double dipping" of pensions; retiring from one government job and then getting rehired to another just to pad your retirement income. Taxpayers should pick up the tab for personal security for certain individuals and their immediate family the first year after leaving office, but after that they should be on their own.

The vast majority of elected officials, upon leaving office, go to work as a lobbyist or "consultant" where they call on their former colleagues on behalf of corporations who already spend millions buying elections. Anyone who was elected to office should be barred from calling on their former pals for a minimum of ten years. While we're at it, any contact between a legislator and a lobbyist (or "consultant") should be an open book. Total transparency. There should be no sponsored trips on private jets, use of private or corporate owned property, memberships to clubs, etc. If the average citizen can't do the same thing, then neither should an elected official. While we're at it, the citizenry should have final say in any tax or salary increases for elected officials, as well as any increases in rates for public water and utilities.

We also need real campaign finance reform, which means eliminating "Citizens United" which allows corporations a blank check to buy any candidate or election they want. Campaigns should be privately funded by individuals. I would even go as far as to say openly funded without a cap. However, corporations are not people nor do they represent the opinions of their employees. The 1st Amendment was intended for flesh and blood people, not artificial entities.

We should also end the funding of partisan primaries by taxpayers. You read that right. Taxpayers pay the cost of Democrat and Republican primaries, but not so the primaries for third parties. They also ban registered Independents and third party members from voting in primaries, and yet their tax dollars go to funding those primaries.

Another problem we need to address is the restriction of third parties and Independents from running for office. Since Ross Perot's run in 1992, both the Democrats and Republicans have tried to keep anyone other than the status quo out of debates and away from the money. That needs to end. They should have the same access as the two corporate parties. Meanwhile, the media tries to ignore Indies and third party candidates; deny them any media access (pretending that they aren't "legitimate" candidates") or treating them as if they're a sideshow.

Along with stopping this media bias, is ending the unfair advantage Democrat and Republican candidates to the ballot access. Whereas Democrats or Republicans may need two or three signatures to get on the ballot, Indies and third parties candidates typically need hundreds or sometimes even thousands, depending on the office, to get on the ballot. That is clearly illegal and yet it persists. All candidates should have to meet the same requirements, and if it isn't, it needs to be challenged in court!

We also need to end partisan gerrymandering. Gerrymandering, for those who don't know, is where political parties divide up their districts so that the voter registration is favorable to their party. Both parties engage in the "wink and nod" form of electioneering. It basically guarantees reelection. Instead, a non-partisan body such as a university for local and state elections and the Census Bureau for federal elections should use blind data to redraw districts to match population changes. I wouldn't hurt either if the federal government became more decentralized and returned power back to the states.

We already have an Oligarchy at the federal level and its influence is increasingly felt at the state and local levels. Recent studies have shown that the ordinary citizen has near zero effect on legislation at the federal level and that's starting to be the case at the state level as well. Politicians follow the money, and that comes from the coffers of corporations and wealthy special interest groups. Even unions, who've lost their political clout decades ago, can't match corporate dollars (they're typically outspent $5 to $1). Meanwhile you and I have no one looking after our interests. Unless we make deep changes, and very soon, America will continue to drift further and further from being the democratic Republic our Founding Fathers envisioned for us with no way back.