As you already know if you follow this blog, I’m not a fan of politics. I don’t even like to write about it. But sometimes everything in your world moves to the point that you just have to make a statement. Something based on your own personal views. Like now, because ideology has taken root and is causing irreparable harm to the entire world.
Somewhere along the way, our message was horribly mangled. It’s the message of what our country stands for. What we learned in the past was that we were the land of opportunity. But unfortunately, the sheen has tarnished on that message. In fact, many are pondering if this is even our message any longer. Actually no, I’m wrong, because each person who lives here believes in their own personal take of the message. This is appropriate as we’re a democratic (?) society. Now the question that resonates is: Is opportunity something tangible (like individual wealth) or something more long-reaching and all-encompassing (like USA as a land of the free)?
The message got corrupted in my mind, because we no longer look at the word “opportunity” in the same light as we used to. We once were a land of innovation that was freely supported by all because it moved the entire nation forward. Now it’s become many fragmented entrepreneurs fighting to make opportunity in smaller doses for those who are willing to accept just a few small innovations. But the most unfortunate circumstance is that the largest portion of opportunity lies with those who can buy the most because they have the most. When did it all change? Sure, capitalism has driven our nation for centuries. And in some ways, it has helped to create a wondrous world when it’s driven under the power of altruism. But then along came those who believed that altruism was socialism which only creates lazy people, which to them was bad. We wanted a nation of hard workers. The thing they forgot was that we already were a nation of hard workers. Now we’ve become a nation of hard workers with little opportunity for all. Here’s a commentary from a 19-year old on that post:
It seems like we’re using the wrong role models for the next generation to follow, as it’s fostered a mentality that altruism is simply a liberal word. Well, not everyone has Kyle’s benefits or luck (not negating his hard work). I can only guess as I don’t know him, but maybe he didn’t see the sacrifices made by others to get him to where he is. We all believe as he does, and worked just as hard if not harder. He wasn’t the first, no matter what he thinks. Sometimes hard work pays off, sometimes not so much – just look at the London riots as an example of systematic failure, and it’s not a lone event. But this isn’t about hard work, because everyone’s doing just that if they want something bad enough.
What I worry about are those who don’t see altruism as anything but a barrier for their own wants. The sentiment is honest: I worked and I deserve. But there really is no such thing as I deserve. We share one land and we all have to share all that it offers equally so no one suffers. Owning is a figment of our imagination that capitalism instructed us to believe. This is not a land of profit mongers, but a land of profit sharers. If you believe otherwise, then you’re in the wrong country. No one does anything alone. It takes a community to build what one innovator starts. And it takes people helping one another to build a united nation that stands for something so good that many have sacrificed themselves for it. That’s what’s underneath the message of who we are in the USA.
Here’s another American who speaks quite eloquently for many of us, Stowe Boyd, and I’m sure he’s worked just as hard as Kyle. For a lot longer.
And here’s a passionate talk (well, rant) from one who is a political and economic observer, Dylan Ratigan. Though I’m sure that those like Kyle will find a way to disagree. And that’s why the message continues to get warped.
