The Decline Of America
Part Two: The Solutions
A. All politicians are crooks, elections are rigged.
It is abundantly clear that spending a lot of money, especially on negative advertising, works. Voters don't spend enough time investigating their choices, and, after months of being bombarded with negative ads, some stay home thinking all politicians are the same, so why vote. Or, believing the negative ads which confirm their beliefs, they vote without researching where the candidates stand on the issues.
Clearly, it is up to the electorate to send the message that, not only do negative ads not work, but that only candidates who represent the voters will be successful. This will only happen when voters lose their complacency about our democracy, and begin casting educated votes.
It would be best if we enacted substantial campaign reform which would include all or some of these rules.
Candidates may not spend their own money.
Candidates may not accept money from sources outside their particular area, whether it be state or legislative district.
All candidates are allocated the same amount of money, from public funding, not private funding, which would put all candidates on equal footing when it comes to resources.
As for the multiple times proven false theory that the 2020 election was rigged, or stolen, it is paramount that the electorate demand that all candidates pledge to accept future elections, local, state or federal, as a condition of being on the ballot. And not with the caveat "If the election is free and fair" which is basically code for "if we lose, we won't accept results".
Those who do not should become pariahs when voters cast their ballots, and those who claim allegiance to election results but then claim their loss was "rigged", must be viewed as someone who cannot be trusted about anything they say, and be rejected and prevented from running again.
B. The Corporation and the Citizens United decision
Should the solutions espoused in the part A paragraphs above be applied, some of the undue influence currently being leveraged by individuals and corporations will be eliminated. But until the Supreme Court reverses its decision in the Citizens United case, there will always be challenges to any law enacted by Congress to address funding elections.
Unfortunately, with the current makeup of SCOTUS, and the lifetime tenor the associates are granted, it will be quite a while before enough SCOTUS judges believe that the foundation of American democracy requires election campaign reform which limits the influence of the rich, while emphasizing that one person, one vote cannot exist when some people are able to apply their resources to gain access to the public servants we elect.
In the meantime, the electorate must demand that less money is injected into our elections, perhaps by consistently voting for the candidate with the least resources, or whose tax returns show them to be more like everyday Americans.
C. Grievance politics by the privileged, and religious freedom defined as the freedom to discriminate
While it may be hard to fathom a time when grievance politics may not play a role in our elections, we can counter some of these claims with actual facts. For instance, the belief that somehow white men are now being discriminated against can easily be refuted by the actual economic statistics that demonstrate that being born a white male is the first birth lottery win, followed by all the various societal biases that are factors in wealth attainment, employment opportunity, access to resources, etc, that have existed in America since our inception.
Unfortunately, acknowledging one's own advantages requires the white male demographic to lose some of the very selfishness that is driving these bogus claims of discrimination.
Of course, we could look to the golden rule, treat others as you would want to be treated, as an answer to reducing the lack of empathy for those not born into privilege, or not born with above average strength, coordination, intelligence or determination.
As for religious freedom to discriminate, I am hard pressed to separate the lust for power by those who use religion to justify blaming, hating, or vilifying people who live, love and worship differently from the natural inclination to want to be surrounded by people like oneself.
Sadly, the ultimate yardstick for people like oneself could be the term Earthlings. At least then we would only be assholes to beings from another planet, as opposed to emphasizing the minute differences among us in an attempt to narrow our definition of family.
Actually believing and acting according to the spirit of the meaning of The Family of Man, would certainly provide a start to eliminating grievance politics.
D. Lack of compromise and cooperation
This leftover irrationality from our tendency to be xenophobic is a real killer for democracy, and America.
What's ironic is that as I type these words, the second of two hurricanes which have ravaged the southern states, especially Florida, is just moving offshore.
It is our very real and admirable concern for our fellow citizens that will help those effected recover. Cooperation at the time of disaster, these two recent natural disasters, others that have happened, and those yet to occur, spur innumerable stories of neighbors helping neighbors, federal officials helping state administrations helping local communities, etc.
Notwithstanding the horrendous and anti-American rhetoric being displayed by some politicians who prefer to win an election rather than to help Americans, for the most part, we can be at our best when faced with crisis.
In a time when cooperation and compromise with the "other" side is viewed as a betrayal to one's party or ideology, it is during these times of weather emergencies that we should stop for a second, acknowledge the advantages of cooperation, then apply those lessons to future negotiations with those with a different political viewpoint.
In sports it is often quite dramatic. Teams with less talent, win the final prize because they work together, put aside their differences for a bigger goal, find common ground.
Or, to put in succinctly, all or nothing perspectives more times than not, end in nothing.
E. The demonization of immigrants
Obviously, this particular method of political rhetoric is rampant, but sadly, effective. It is far easier to blame someone else than look in the mirror and acknowledge one's own faults or responsibility.
The sad truth is that our country's history is replete with examples of the demonization of immigrants. Anyone who has watched "It's a Wonderful Life" sees it firsthand through the Mr. Potter character, who bemoans the rabble who should have to wait until they've saved enough cash to buy a decent house (all the while paying high rents to his coffers), or the garlic eaters, as he refers to some of those newly arrived immigrants.
My grandparents were similarly insulted, being from Italy. My grandfather struggled to learn English, so would have been one of those negative examples of someone who comes to America but doesn't learn the language. Yet my first generation father and uncle took over the business he started, and successfully raised their families.
My grandfather might also be used as an example of someone who waited until three of his four children were born before applying for citizenship, or having a few "anchor" babies as is the derogatory term used today. I don't know what was in his mind all those years as he grew his business, started his family, became more comfortable with his new life in his adopted country.
Perhaps he thought he might return to his home land some day, after his children were grown. Perhaps he thought it just didn't matter when compared to the better life he had found, for himself and his family.
But whatever the thinking, like so many other Italians, Irish, Polish, German, etc, he had successfully blended his roots with his understanding of America. And, so while there were certainly "native" Americans who thought those like him were changing the landscape of America forever, bringing new foods, new cultures, new traditions, America was all the better for it.
America was built on the backs and dreams and sweat and toil of the immigrants who took a chance in a strange land during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
What irritates me the most about today's "natives" who cling to the same old tropes of bigotry, who use phrases like "poisoning the blood" of our country, or who just blatantly lie about their character, is that so many of them are only first and second generation American themselves (or who have married two women born offshore). They are doing to today's immigrants exactly as was done to their own ancestors.
Talk about forgetting the golden rule!
I have made a habit of blaming the boomer generation, of which I am one, for our current partisanship and vitriol. We were given all the keys for success by people who often were born, or were the direct descendants of those born, in a foreign country, and have fallen victim to the words of those who inspire hatred while giving them permission to be hateful.
To be clear, our immigration system is broken. Far too many people cross our border without permission, putting a strain on man local communities to help provide some opportunity, schooling for their children, health services, etc.
And, while the lie of our current "open" border is believed by far too many Americans, we do need to provide incentive for those seeking a better life (like my grandparents) to do so within certain rules. In other words, we need to reward those who come to America with permission by providing a path to citizenship (as was provided to my grandparents).
We can start with the children brought here illegally (DACA kids as they are known), by providing them instant citizenship dependent upon no criminal behavior. Perhaps even tie some type of community service or military service, to this pathway.
We can also establish a program for those who have been in America for a while, five years perhaps, which allows them to apply for citizenship but with a surcharge. Currently it costs over $700 to apply for US citizenship. Assuming again, no criminal record, we need to provide a path for those who have proven that they are here for the opportunity and freedom that they couldn't find in their birth country, again, just like my grandparents.
That being said however, it must be made clear that in the future, those who enter outside of the legal ports of entry, will not be granted such pathways, will forever remain undocumented.
Of course, none of this can happen when one of our two main political parties is driven by painting today's immigrants as rapists, criminals, terrorists.
F. Suicide by guns and drugs
As referenced above, the demonization of immigrants is so profound that many people even blame America's high suicide rate on them, especially those dying from fentanyl. Certainly, the source of much of our fentanyl (China) as it moves into our country from Mexico is related to crime, and some is being brought here by illegal immigrants.
But let's not pretend why synthetic opioids like fentanyl are a money making illegal trade. It was our own pharmaceutical industry (can you say Purdue) that created fentanyl in the first place, then colluded with the medical industry to mainstream the use of fentanyl for pain relief. The fact that it was up to 50 times more potent than morphine, and far more addictive, didn't matter to those looking to make a killing, both profit wise, and literally.
Once the demand was created, it didn't take long for bad actors to get into the game. Fentanyl kills many people via prescription abuse and the greedy doctors who prescribe it, but far more due to its illegal use. A more callous person might say that someone who buys illegal drugs then dies from an overdose deserves the result. I prefer to feel sorry for such people, and especially the family that survives their deaths, but blaming illegal immigrants for fentanyl is just another cop out for personal responsibility, or rampant selfishness.
As for gun suicides, I often think of the fact that dozens of veterans die each day when I hear people comment about putting veterans before student loan relief or helping the homeless. Talk is cheap, is usually my reaction to those kind of statements because the reality is we are not willing to take on the problem of veteran suicides because then we would have to face veteran homelessness, veteran drug addiction, even veteran's with student debt, not to mention the proliferation of guns in our country.
These apparent blind spots are more proof that we are in decline. They demonstrate what we are willing to give up (in this case, caring for our veterans) rather than facing our problems as a community looking for common ground and solutions. I posted the following along those lines last year.
https://wurdsfromtheburbs.blogspot.com/2023/09/what-we-seem-willing-to-give-up.html
Is there are an actual solution for our country's high suicide and drug addiction rates? It is a complex problem which means it needs to be addressed on multiple fronts, homelessness, lack of opportunity, a better mental health system, less peer pressure (especially among our young people) that isolates those who seems outside the mainstream, even the fact that income inequality continues to be exacerbated.
Perhaps however, all these factors can be initially addressed by my reference in a previous section, treating each other as we would wish to be treated. Once we perceive any and all of our fellow Earthlings as part of our family, solutions to the causes listed above may seem more clear.
G. Environment
I recently had a discussion with a few co-workers in the break room concerning my assertion that 5% (I know that number is debatable) of people are just, well, assholes. Everyone knows someone who falls into this category. While I resisted the temptation to ask those who agreed with me, that those kind of people are the ones who make life difficult for the rest of us, why they were still considering voting for the ex-president, I did emphasize my belief that so many of our laws and rules would not be necessary if not for that small group of people.
In fact, I might even debate that the percentage of those labelled as such might be reduced, or even become insignificant, except that some of those who are the worst examples, are successful, even powerful, and certainly listened to, if not worshiped.
Their example provides encouragement for people who would not normally act that way, to descend to their level of humanity, or lack thereof. Just think about the whole "America First" philosophy, which basically means me first (on a national basis) to hell with everyone else.
As far as I can tell, my study of the various religions which claim the most adherents, reveal no religion that doesn't have as one of its basic tenets to treat others as one wishes to be treated. The exact opposite of me first.
Not to mention that the person for which so many Americans claim an affinity to as Christians sacrificed his life for others. Obviously, a me first attitude would have kept him off the cross.
Regardless of whether you believe Jesus to be divine or just a spiritually advanced person, calling oneself Christian while actively advocating for deporting millions of undocumented people, or denying trans people their basic American freedoms, or siding with the leader of a country which invaded another, is the height of hypocrisy.
But even worse, we, on an almost daily basis treat our planet like a waste dump. During that conversation I mentioned above, I commented that the fact that we need laws against littering, or dumping waste into a local river, or spewing pollution into the air, is an indication of the extent to how the behavior of the assholes among us have crated a litany of laws that should not be required.
For decades, the fossil fuel industry actively promoted disinformation and outright lies about the effect that burning fossil fuels would have on our environment. Have they paid any price for these fabrications, or are the biggest oil companies in the world also some of the most profitable?
Our environment is all we have, clean water, clean air, an abundance of animals and plants for food, a place to go for solace and solitude and inspiration.
The next time you are driving in a neighborhood that is not well kept, trash on empty lots, houses in disrepair, very little open space, or trees, or parks, imagine how our planet might appear to a space traveler who flies by and sees huge plastic and trash islands floating in our oceans, or smoke laden skies above cities with unsafe air, or huge swaths of forests that have been clear cut, or glaciers that are 50% smaller than they were just a century before, and tell me if they might speed by as fast as possible, just as we do when we find ourselves in that neighborhood that has been neglected.
Again, no easy solution, but if we were to begin treating each other as part of our family, then perhaps that might lead to us treating our planet as a home owner and not just a renter.
H. Infatuation with a "strong" leader followed by a decline in trust in our political and judicial institutions
While this is not limited to America, the resurgence of the attraction for a "strong" leader, is threatening our democracy on multiple fronts.
I certainly understand why the American electorate is frustrated with those in Washington, although as I say often, we elect them, so we are at least as responsible for whatever we don't like as they are, perhaps more so.
But what is more insidious is our apparent willingness to sacrifice the institutions of our country to put a "strong man" in the White House. Someone who will use the judicial system to imprison those who disagree with his policies, use the military to attack those citizens who might protest his decisions, use the power of the executive branch to emasculate the legislative branch, and suspend the Constitution when its suits him in his attempts to make America Great Again, or at least what he considers great, anyone else's opinion be damned.
We seek stability in a world where fairness seems lacking, and those with more have more and more influence, yet believe that giving all the power to one person will somehow make everything better. As if all those unchallenged decisions will always be good for "us" and bad for "them".
Until them becomes us and it is too late to go back to our messy, often two steps forward, one step backward democracy. Or representative government if you choose to be specific.
Our founders, for all their intelligence and progressive thinking, did not trust the populace to govern. Voting rights were not accorded to groups they deemed unworthy or incapable of deciding something as important as who to elect and how to govern our fledgling nation, demographics like women, slaves, peasants. You know, everyone not an elite as defined in those days.
But even more so, they did not want to be ruled by a king. So for them, while regular people weren't qualified to participate in their grand democratic scheme, at least there would be more participants that just someone claiming divine rights. They would have some say, even if "they" was defined as a small subset of all those who lived in the colonies at the time.
It is easy to say that education is part of the solution to convincing everyday Americans that electing someone who only praises world leaders who are dictators and autocrats, someone who claims those leaders are his "friends" who he gets along with very well, is not in the best interests of America.
Unfortunately, there are many powerful influences in our country who are on board with such a leader because they think they will be safe, or in charge, or one of the privileged in such a regime.
In one way, the answer might be as simple as encouraging those who understand the danger, to converse in a positive way with those who do not since we tend to trust those in our lives, our work places, our neighborhoods, more than those who make laws in our state capitols or in DC.
Sadly, I must admit that I am as guilty of not doing enough along these lines as anyone. I do not discuss politics with my family members who support the ex-president, avoid engaging in political debate with workmates, even have less discussions with casual acquaintances when I know there is disagreement.
It pains me to think of people I love, work with, have known for years who support a philosophy and person who represents the exact opposite of what I believe. I too often fall into a sort of morass that equates to, we get the government we deserve, so if we are willing to elect a king, then we will suffer consequences, as we deserve.
Of course, I do express my opinions in these posts, but also know that my reach is very, very limited. I was once accused of foisting my political opinions on a sibling, not realizing that he was hurt by my causally stated opinions of his positions, as if he didn't know anything about his life and what he thought.
Condescending is the word, and he is not the only person in my life to comment on my tendency to be so.
In the very beginning of this two part effort, I commented that the first step in addressing our national decline is acknowledging there is a problem. The second step, however, which is far more critical, is agreeing on a path forward.
Being condescending towards those who seem confused by the ramifications of America First, will never change a mind. Just as true however, is that selfishness on the world stage, or in state to state relationships, or within one's own community will not solve any problems, will not bring solutions to any issues.
I. Selfishness
Which brings me to the last section, Selfishness.
I wrote a story early last year called The Hole which purported to explain the prevalence of behavior that I labelled selfishness at the time. Here is a link to that post.
https://wurdsfromtheburbs.blogspot.com/2023/02/the-hole.html
I have certainly made it clear that I believe that selfishness, individual as well as national, is at the root of our troubles.
Perhaps it was predictable that after a more than a decade of the horrendous want that marked the 1930's and early 40's, followed by the success of America's contribution to end the rise of Hitler, followed by America's meteoric rise to a world power, we might then experience our own decades of social upheaval as was evident in the sexual revolution and empowerment of women as well as the civil disobedience and riots and rancor by the African American community, tired of the promise of equality without its actuality.
One could categorize such a time as the beginning of selfishness, although attaining equality, respect, opportunity than had been previously suppressed, may not normally be recognized as selfishness. Still, far more individuals found themselves able to pursue happiness as they defined it, as opposed to how it had been previously foisted upon them by the dominant demographic, the white male.
Just as obvious then, perhaps a backlash should have been expected as we see now in the stark difference between two campaigns, one which appeals to those demographics that still crave true equality, and one which focuses on the offended males who are either unable or unwilling to share the benefits of America with everyone not white or male.
Now, I know that sounds like, and is, a simplified version of what is happening today. There are exceptions on both sides. But be clear, when the status quo is challenged, in this case a history of while male dominance in business and especially politics, those being supplanted will not go quietly. Add into the mix that the super wealthy have unprecedented access to our politicians, unprecedented ability to influence the direction of our economy and government policies, and we have a situation where looking out for oneself becomes a main driver of their actions.
Throw in the always divisive nature of race relations, and it is quite easy to mask the selfishness by attacking diversity, inclusion and equity, concepts that most Americans, historically, would have been honored to support, but are now uttered with derision.
So, Joe, what to do about it?
For me, everyday brings proof that America could do it all, accomplish anything, solve any problem, if we worked together.
Lack of money?, hogwash. If we can pay athletes and actors and CEOs, tens of millions of dollars a year, salaries that each would enable a thousand families to live comfortably, if we can spend a billion dollars on a presidential election, and tens of millions of dollars on innumerable other political races, if we can provide monetary support for corporations which already earn billions of dollars in profit, then we can make sure all children have food in their bellies and a school with the proper supplies.
If we can have the best medical system in the world in terms of technology and performance, then we can make sure that all citizens have access to that system.
If we can support our global friends as they struggle against the worlds's bad actors who believe that having a bigger army allows them to invade their neighbors, then we can identify the forces within our own country that employ the same bullying tactics, the same might makes right philosophy, and reject them at the ballot box.
It is, pure and simple, a lack of will. But also, a reluctance to reevaluate some of the very things that some people believe made America great.
The embrace of Capitalism is considered a main driver in the success of our country, yet when it is used by those with the most to accumulate large stores of wealth, when the 1% possess as much as 30% of that wealth, when billionaires pay a similar percentage of taxes on their incomes as teachers, truck drivers, firefighters, while accumulating tax free money from offshore accounts, or legal tax avoidance strategies, capitalism begins to resemble an economic system that vilifies those with less while squeezing the buying power of the middle class, the class that is the backbone of any successful economy.
Elon Musk recently made news concerning his giving away $1 million a day to those who signed his petition about defending the first and second amendments.
I applaud this scheme, not because I support his blatant attempt to buy votes for his preferred candidate, but because any plan that puts more money in the hands of everyday Americans should be endorsed.
In fact, I would encourage every billionaire in America to copy his plan, and start giving away 1 million dollars to randomly selected registered voters. Perhaps we an have a national lottery, with a morning and evening drawing, that identifies one registered voter from each state, rotating through the 50 states and DC, funded entirely by billionaires. And tax free, by the way.
Perhaps more people will register to vote which should result in more people voting, something we need to improve considering we haven't hit a 70% turnout in a presidential election, ever.
I know, bribing people to vote seems pretty lame, not to mention borderline illegal, but hey, billionaires giving away money to increase voter turnout potentially addresses two issues, income inequality, and lack of participation by over 30% of potential voters in our democracy.
As I stated in the beginning of part one, I do believe that while our decline is evident, there is still time to stop its progress and turn the page.
Am I hopeful? Sadly, no, but I truly hope that the American electorate proves me wrong, begins to require accountability of their elected officials, requires fact based campaigns and political ads, demands that election results are honored, and most of all stops blaming those we elect for our problems when, at least for now, they are in power because of our choices.
Here is a link to part one of The Decline of America.
https://wurdsfromtheburbs.blogspot.com/2024/09/the-decline-of-america-part-one.html
