The Greatest Moral Failure of the United States of America

[Sandpiper]

We have the richest and most economically prosperous nation on earth. And if we so chose, we could use this wealth to build the greatest society in the world. Our greatest moral failure as a nation is that we choose not to.


We could have the world's greatest public schools - but we choose not to

We could have the world's greatest healthcare system - but we choose not to

We could lead the world in paying living wages - but we choose not to

We could have the world's greatest worker benefits - but we choose not to

We could have the world's greatest social welfare/social safety net programs - but we choose not to


What instead do we choose to do with our national treasure?

Build the world's greatest warships, tanks, fighter aircraft, bombs, missiles, guns, etc.


God forgive America.

[NamVetsWeeLass]

1. well, this goes right along with what you said...

We could have the Greatest Man for the Job Of President of the United States-- Still 59 million Chose not to.... (well, 59 Million Diebold, and Uncle Carl Rove that is.)

[DownNotOut]

2. If the thug leaders would just

step asside as most of America wants them to, our great American morality would be ALLOWED to show. We are being silently chocked by poor leadership and desparatley need our friends in other nations to recognize this and come to our aid.


DownNotOut

[NamVetsWeeLass]

4. Hi DownNotOut

Welcome to DU!!!!!! :hi:

[dpibel]

14. Yes Indeedy

Oh, welcome, welcome.

Odd thing though: Over in that other thread, your spelling was impeccable. What happened? Looking for a different effect here?

And who, specifically do you think should "step asside"?

In your opinion, how did "most of America" vote in the recent election? What do you consider to be some of the characteristics of "great American morality"?

I of course would never question your bona fides. Just trying to get to know a new DUer.

[K-W]

3. It is a terrible shame.

We can only hope that one day people start to wake up and realize that we have the technology to make our society about a million times better if we would just get over a massive national mental block.

[LisaLynne]

5. It's disgusting when you think about it.

We should be better than this. I think a lot of us are, but we're plowed under by those in power.

[American Tragedy]

6. WE choose not to?

I sympathize with your point, and consider the situation to be the potential downfall of the nation. However, contrary to the endless platitudes we've endure that extole the virtues of republican government, I think you overestimate OUR control on policy.

If I get a magic wand, I promise you I would change everything. Till then, my influence is pretty much limited to voting, bitching to Congressmen, and writing my theses and articles about the military-industrial complex. Sorry.

[K-W]

11. Well this is a complicated issue, we do and dont choose.

If the people ever got organized enough to exercise it, the vote would provide the ability for us to have a very democratic government.

But it isnt like we chose to be decieved and limited by our complex social structure and fundemental inability as humans to innately act rationally.

[American Tragedy]

19. For whom are you speaking?

"But it isnt like we chose to be decieved and limited by our complex social structure and fundemental inability as humans to innately act rationally."

I want you to be specific. In what way were WE deceived? In what way did WE act irrationally?

And who are the people? Are they the ones who voted for Bush of their free will?

[IrateCitizen]

7. Ahh... it's an old story.

The United States is simply following the same path as every other major empire in history. It is being done in by its military overreach, looming economic bankruptcy, erosion of basic moral ideals (I'm not talking about abortion or gay marriage, I'm talking about basic human rights) -- all the while ignoring this reality in proclaiming that it has never been stronger.

The myth of American exceptionalism that was fostered for the past several decades is simply reaping its fruits. America has already started on its downward slide. I believe that its eventual decline to the status of just one regional power among many world powers has become inevitable, primarily because neither the nation's leaders nor the majority of the populace are at all willing to face the uncomfortable truth.

[Goathead]

15. What do you think about the shelf life of American imperialism?

Is it so short(when compared to other empires, who were around for centuries) because of advances in technologies? Because the world is moving at a faster pace?

[IrateCitizen]

16. The long view -- 20 years. Over/under at a decade.

Seriously -- the only thing keeping us afloat right now is foreign creditors. The reason that they put up with our arrogant behavior is that they are still at the point where their prospects are worse without dealing with us than they are in maintaining current relations.

However, the time at which that attitude will change is rapidly approaching, I believe. I think that within the Bush administration we're going to see the rest of the industrialized world become increasingly fed up with our irrational behavior, and we'll see the US begin to assume status as a global pariah. Of course, this will result in short-term pain for the rest of the industrialized world as well as us, but I believe that the rest of the world will come to the conclusion that the long-term costs of continuing along the current path are just too costly.

As soon as that economic rug is pulled out from under us, our overstretched military machine will begin to collapse under its own weight. We are already funding the occupation of Iraq completely on debt. Why on earth would the rest of the world want to finance further military excursions? I actually think that the displays of military strength we're seeing from the Bush administration is proof positive of how weak we really are. All shows of strength are against foes that are far, far weaker than we are -- not exactly a symbol of true national strength.

If you haven't read them yet, I'd highly recommend the following books along this vein:
After the Empire by Emmanuel Todd
The Sorrows of Empire by Chalmers Johnson
Wealth and Democracy by Kevin Phillips

[Goathead]

17. Thanks for the books

Here is my book recommendation: World on Fire by Amy Chua

[IrateCitizen]

18. Yeah, I've heard of it.

Surprisingly, I haven't read it yet, since it deals with globalization and that's an interest of mine.

[Alisa]

8. napalm by another name, depleted uranium missiles

killing Iraq and Iraq's future. I am so disgusted with the US. I used to ask myself, what if I had lived in Germany/Europe in the 30's/40's, what would I have done then. Now I have to ask what I can do now. I have a better understanding of those people dealing with Nazism, more compassion (and I'm a Jew). But still, I must DO something! BUT WHAT!

[newyawker99]

10. Hi Alisa!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Alisa]

21. you're right newyawker99 - thanks and hi back!

[HereSince1628]

9. Put on the "right" glasses!

Once you realize that capitalism is in ascendence of democracy American choices make perfect sense.

Let me make this perfectly clear...If you are part of the ownership society, then you don't give a damn where the dividends are coming from.

Exploiting 75 year olds to put vegetables onto grocery shelves "is just the market place speaking."

Right. And I do mean WAY to the right!

[tom_paine]

12. The United States of America exists only in history books now.

We live in the Amerikan Empire, an immoral nation by definition, who's chief traits are:

1) Consumption.

2) TV Watching.

3) Ignorance. Apathy. Gullibility.

4) Beating up on the weak.

[Goathead]

13. "Society"? We don't live in a society we live in a "free" market

and I love it when people say we are actually living in a free market. When it is the populace that is paying for the infrastructure of that market. "Free" my ass!

[lawladyprof]

20. Just this past year I began thinking that only way for America

to escape the inevitable wheel of history was to act contrary to ways in which the great civilizations/empires of the past acted. That is, to put the well-being of the many above the greed and lust for power of a few. In short, to act contrary to human nature. Sadly, I am thinking "not this time," which grieves me because I see the founders really did construct a framework, albeit an imperfect one, that had the potential to lead to that result. I think we saw that potential in civil rights and women's movement and in the expansion of rights for people with disabilities. I mourn for what my country might have been (could be yet but the signs aren't very promising).