Our Black Eye

 

 

"I know I don't look very good, but I don't feel very good either..."

It was not that many years ago, people from all over the world wanted to visit America. This was the land of wonder and opportunity. We took Russian leaders to Detroit as that city at one time set the standard on how manufacturing was suppose to work. People wanted to visit Disneyland, Disneyworld, New York City, Hollywood, and of course, Washington, D.C.

Americans were proud of their country, and had every right to be. We were the "City on the hill", the beacon of liberty, the land where dreams could come true. We had livable cities, vast areas of farmland, growing suburbs and miles and miles of roads. Many would go back home after visiting to our country and wonder - wonder what it would be like if all places on Earth were like America.

How do we look today? Not very good, I am afraid. Here are some examples our national black eye:

• Cities - We have cities where you literally take your life in your hands if you find yourself in the wrong part of town. We have gangs, hoods, panhandlers, and con artists in just about every major city. Detroit is now bankrupt and is home less than half the people it had in its hay day. Chicago had over 500 murders last year and this year is almost as bad. Our cities are dangerous, dysfunctional and a disgrace.
• Transportation - Our national transportation system is a joke. In Europe for example, the cities were set up around rail transportation. It works for them. In our country, our transportation was set up around hi-ways, by-ways and interstates. Rather than improve and expand our hi-way system to handle the growing number of cars and trucks, we are cutting back and pouring money into trains that few people want or use. The resulting gridlock on our roads gets worse every year.
• Money - We have become very good and wagging our finger and giving lectures about financial responsibility. However, our own house is a fiscal mess. So much of a mess, that this week we have the possibility of lighting the match which could set the world's financial markets on fire. All because we forgot how to balance our own checkbook.
• Government - This is where the darkest part of the black eye lives. Our government has devolved into something far more dysfunctional than functional. We have the deepest divide since the Civil War. Acrimony has replaced civility in how we deal with each other. During this government shutdown, the fact our national monuments and parks are shuttered to all who visit is a shame beyond description. We can talk about American Exceptionalism, but what we are demonstrating is anything but.

As we go forward into this week, we need to remember one thing - the world is watching. We have become caught up in our own selfish interests. We have been drinking our own bathwater for so long, we believe we are doing fine. We are not. If we could bring some people forward in time from 1960 America, I doubt they would believe their eyes. The country that saved the west in World War II, the country which gave the world so many inventions, the country that continues to feed most of the world, simply does work that well nor look that good anymore.

We do have a national black eye. Black eyes never look good on anyone, however, black eyes which is self inflicted are the most painful and unsightly.