The Tough Lessons of 2011
By the end of this week, three quarters of the year 2011 will behind us, leaving only a few months left until year end. So far, 2011 hasn’t really given Americans too much to cheer about, and certainly hasn’t lived up to the expectations for a decent economic recovery. I suppose the best thing that can be said about 2011 is that the things didn’t get a whole lot worse. In fact, the year 2011 has taught Americans the following valuable lessons:
1. The “Recession of 2008” has now lasted four years, and will probably continue on indefinitely. Even the world’s fastest growing economies, such as China and India, have significantly slowed production, which will drive down world demand for goods and services to even lower levels. Since the American economy is almost totally dependent on global demand, it is unlikely that the country will achieve a growth rate of better than one or two percent. A significant reduction in the unemployment rate can not, and will not, be achieved under these conditions. High unemployment is here to stay.
2. The anemic growth rate in the American economy, combined with high unemployment and much greater demand for government services by aging baby-boomers will create a larger and larger budget deficit. We all know there are only two solutions to this problem: raise taxes or cut spending. Unfortunately 2011 will probably be remembered as the year that a new “Civil War” began in the United States, not a war between individual states but a war between the different classes of Americans. The middle class has learned that those Americans with economic power and wealth will go to almost any length to retain their status, even if it means dismantling Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.
3. The political system that was carefully designed by the founding fathers and much cherished by generations of Americans has been totally corrupted by monied special interests, and it no longer works well for the good of the people. The will of the majority can be thwarted by a small group of dissident senators using the power of the filibuster to advance political agendas, rather than to advance the peoples’ business. Sadly, we have learned that a state of gridlock in Washington may be a new reality for the foreseeable future. Not only is the American economy simply treading water and getting nowhere, but the Congress is doing the same.
4. The hundreds of billions of dollars that could have been used to re-build America’s aging infrastructure have been wasted on futile foreign wars designed to fight terrorism. The year 2011 has taught us that it is almost impossible to extricate America from military engagements once the fighting begins. Neither the President nor the Congress have the backbone to stand up to the proverbial military industrial complex. When it comes to investing in guns or butter, the government will almost always choose guns.
Although there are many lessons to be learned from the not-so-stellar year of 2011, the most important (and perhaps the most unfortunate) lesson of all is that America has little hope of regaining its former glory days until the political infighting can be put aside, and until elected officials can work together in a bi-partisan manner for the good of all citizens.
Rich
1. Depressing but true.
2. ditto
3. The political system that has served this country well for so long has been exploited by a select few. It’s kind of like in professional sports when rules work until they don’t and then they have to tweak the rules. We need some tweaking of the rules of government.
4. The best way to win a war is to not start one in the first place. War should never be a choice. The idea that a proper response to terrorism is war is for the vindictive, simple-minded and blood thirsty. Terrorism is an intelligence and law enforcement issue that may involve miltary forces, but not full on war. But hey, I was part of the problem right after 9/11, as were most of us. But we have learned. Others have not.
[Translate]
War is a big business, just like international banking, and the stock market. And it is just as screwed up!
[Translate]
David,
Thanks for your thoughts! For some reason many people believe that the Constitution is etched in stone, like the ten commandments; when in reality it’s been amended many, many times as circumstances change. As a “Federalist”, I am opposed to those (like Perry and Paul) who want to strip the national government of most of its modern powers, such as Social Security, Education, Environmental issues, etc. We are one country, not fifty!
I, for one, was strongly against George Bush’s ill-conceived war against Iraq and Afghanistan. Terrorism cannot be stopped by standing armies; a valuable lesson that the Soviets learned about 30 years ago.
[Translate]
Judie,
Amen! I wonder how much former Vice President Dick Cheney, with his ties to Halliburton, benefited financially from the war in Iraq?
[Translate]
Halliburton is the best example of cronyism (sp?) that I can think of! I am sure there are many more that we have not heard about, however! I do remember that some comopany charged the government $900 for an ashtray! No wonder the government is in such bad shape!!!
[Translate]
Leave your response!
Join Us!
Subscribe to this site's RSS feed.
Categories
Worth Watching
And you said…
Blogroll
Close preview
Close preview
Close preview
Close preview
Close preview
Tweet Some
Tag Cloud
Extreme Reading!
Our Archives
Who's Online
Most Commented
Subscribe to Our RSS feed.