This is a difficult question. In the past we've done much good. I won't list them all, although someone else probably will--but short form: Bill of rights, industry, technology, science, aeronautics, movies. But try as I do, I cannot think of much good we are contributing right now.
1. I think the world will take much less notice of us when
we make claims for war in the future. I think our
credibility is shot to hell.
2. We are not being well-educated. I certainly would not
put out a PR billboard touting our educational prowess
(any everybody is to blame here--student, parent, teacher,
local and national government). There is really no
push to improve the quality of education.
3. The cost of medical care and pharmaceuticals and insurance is
skyrocketing. The quality of medical care is diminishing.
Apparently so is the quality of drugs being pushed on us.
4. All the politicians are stressing how Americans are the best
workers---blah, blah, blah and then we outsource.
5. I think we are proving the old adage that the business of
America is business--and only business.
6. When I see politicians calling French fries Freedom fries,
covering up the naked breast of a work of art, or doing
constitutional cartwheels to impeach a President for a blowjob
and the subsequent lie thereof, I cringe.
7. We are providing very little cultural impact. (Although I think
there are some interesting Indie films and independent books),
Hollywood is a rehash of old TV shows, old movies, and old
ideas. There is nothing fresh. There are a handful of
interesting TV shows. Everything else is Reality TV, the only
reality being that the shows are really cheap to produce
and get a good audience. (And now, the integrity of American
Idol is being impeached
) We do not support new
writers, new visions etc. Origininality has priced itself right out
of the market.
8. We do not want to hear any bad news, anything that goes
against our agendas, our reputations, ourbottom lines. We
don't want to do the investigations ahead of time that might
save the lives of our soldiers, our astronauts, our consumers.
We are in a very dangerous mindset. We are resting on our
laurels and don't think we have to do another thing.
Most of us are to blame in not demanding more and showing our determination to get it. We talk, we talk, we talk. But we watch the shows, we pay for the drugs, we support the school sports teams, but not the debating teams or the science clubs. We want our kids to get good grades, not necessarily a good education.
We think we will always be what we once were. I'm guilty of generally opting out of the system. And I have all the respect in the world for the people on this forum and everywhere else who are trying to make a difference. But right now, I think we are getting just about the right worldwide respect we are earning.
I think right now at this time, the world sees us as opportunistic morons with a lot of weaponry and no sense of history or the future.
Sigh, as I talk, talk, talk.
)
