in 2000 [i could go back further, but whatever], america elevated a guy to the presidency for no better reason than because he was amiably redolent of the guy it had voted out in 1992.
in 2008, america elevated a guy to the presidency for no better reason than because his flashing white teeth promised hope and a change from the last guy america had elevated to the presidency.
in 2010, america allowed its midterm elections to be swayed by a fringe group of conservatives who, sensing something was seriously wrong, screamed for limited government but woulda cut your nuts off had you dared threaten their medicare or social security.
in 2011, sensing even more is wrong than the last guys, this would seem to be the best that our best and brightest can come up with:
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in 1776, any sixteen-year-old american entering college was expected to be conversant in latin and greek, and prepared to develop a thorough mastery of logic and argumentation--what we call "critical thinking" today. furthermore, theology was a mainstay of education back then, providing a foundation of [gasp] ethics.
i keep waiting for some modern incarnation of washington, madison and/or jefferson to rise up and lead america outta the wilderness in which it finds itself today.
needless to say, i keep being disappointed.
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in 2006, a guy i respect advised me to cash-out everything i own, convert it all to gold in a singapore bank, follow him to chile and renounce my american citizenship before the shit hit the fan.
he's laughing at me now, and i can hardly blame him.
2 comments:
Occupy Wall Street is, I believe, successful because there is a feeling among most Americans that we have been sold out for corporate interests that have not benefited us.
We bailed out banks (and, in particular, Goldman Sachs) instead of people. So we have corporate socialism yet unremitting capitalism in all its harshness for the poor and the down on their luck.
What I believe is required is not men of genius (although I would not block their entry into politics). What is required is politicians that will act for the broad good of the country instead of their own narrow interests.
The problem here, though, is that Republicans under the thrall of Grover Norquist refuse to raise anyone's taxes because they believe taxes are evil. Folks have actually drank the Kool-Aid.
As for guttermorality being disappointed, you seem to place the blame on our American educational system.
Yet, only a handful of persons in 1700 went off to college and these wealthy individuals had a generally solid education in the classics. But, then again, there was no Xbox 360 available then as it is today. Go to any dorm room in America today, and you will see plenty of game consoles.
Having candidates of both parties pander to the less intelligent voter doesn't help... Cain is campaigning on the fact that he doesn't know much - his quotes proudly defending his lack of knowledge are amazing. Go ahead and nominate him, Republicans - I think the Dems can beat that craziness.
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