What's Wrong with America (Introduction)

In the 1960s the US went through an awakening of sorts, when Americans recognized the damage caused by the successful industrial economy that had developed the country. The result was landmark Federal legislation that cleaned up the air and water pollution that had dirtied the skies and waterways across the landscape and undoubtedly saved or extended millions of lives.

Today we are experiencing interesting times; the recent elections galvanized electorates that previously had become stagnant and apathetic. This new presidential administration has proclaimed that it will be the cleanest in history and will make the hard choices that are required to "right" America. Whether or not Mr. Obama is able to successfully implement such change, he has opened the door to the public to take him to task should he not. America should take note. An active and informed electorate is required in a democracy. One of the main fears of the Founding Fathers was that giving the masses the right to vote would be foolish, as they were not educated. If modern Americans consider themselves educated, then they ought to take their vote seriously. Most do not.

Most major changes are ushered in by catastrophy or near-catastrophy; the stock market crash and the Depression, World War II and the 1973 OPEC oil embargo all had lasting effects felt from coast to coast and in Federal policies and legislation. The last nine months have seen swings in North American and world markets that have brought the words depression and regulation back into economic language

In doing much personal research and analysis I have come to conclusions on a variety of problems that have stricken the US in recent times. Most of these problems are ones of our own doing and thus, quite solvable; some through innovation while others by relatively simple but perhaps difficult changes to lifestyle and/or expectations.

Over the next few weeks, this blog will be visiting these problems and offering some solutions. The viewpoint offered is be intended to inform. If, after digesting the words therein, the reader believes that no action be required or the solutions naive, so be it. However, there is a difference between choosing inaction because of convenience and one out of belief. Years of experience in debates with friends, family and colleagues has exposed me to the truth that all of us, in one way or another, develop prejudices against viewpoints that we perceive to threaten us or our lifestyle. These prejudices allow us to conveniently close our eyes to things we might otherwise accept to be true given our intelligence and education level but absent our emotions. These viewpoints should not be considered to be connected to current political parties, though such parties may profess them in some form or another.

Change is often painful; it is particularly painful when it is forced or is beyond the control of those affected. This is why legislation and executive policies are often instituted over a period of time rather than immediately. Making positive changes before they become painful is both rational and prudent. Given the changes brought in the last year, Americans know the effects when they are sudden. Democracy is only real when citizens inform themselves and take an active part.

Weather Report One

It is overcast here, and a tad wet as the marine air continues to take over our mornings, often burning off in the afternoon. Soon, it won't matter and the subtropical air masses that dominated our summer will be gone, replaced by cool ocean air and the moisture it carries. Then the rain will come. Hours and days and weeks of gray and rain, with glimpses of the sun as clouds break only to cover us over minutes later. Those who work by windows will stop what they are doing and bask in the radiance while they can, returning to their duties when the stratonimbi block out old Sol once again. No umbrella carriers we, and life goes on as normal, biking, driving, walking through the drizzel, thankful for the life giving rain while cursing it just the same. That which was brown will become green again, and the grass and forests will strike a pose against the mist of the sky. Come May, we'll emerge to frolick and stare at the view before us but until then, we'll prepare to pack up our scenery, put it in the summer chest and haul it up to the attic.

Should we stay or should we go?

The war in Iraq has not turned out to be an easy one. It was poorly planned, the aftermath has been executed haphazardly, and our leaders have failed to understand its true nature. The coalition forces are in a difficult position, and their political leaders are at a crossroads of decisions. Whether to fight on or leave further counter insurgent operations to the Iraqi government is a matter the US Congress is currently facing. It is a decision that will shape the region for generations to come.

The growing numbers in opposition of the war would like to see the US pull out of Iraq regardless of the ability for Iraqi government forces to take over security of their country.

This is a dangerous time. Past wars that were unpopular in the United States (Vietnam) saw domestic dissatisfaction result in the pullout of US military personnel and the fall of the government. This was expected by military experts who feared the South Vietnamese forces were not ready to take over. It resulted in a unified (though Communist) Vietnam that represented a nationalist majority in the new country.

Iraq has similar parallels militarily but not politically. The government may not be ready to take over security and it may not represent the population well. Unlike Vietnam however, there is not an organized opposition prepared to win and provide a stable replacement upon victory. Losing in Iraq now would result in a similar situation as Afghanistan in 1989, when the Soviet Union pulled out and left the various factions of the mujahadeen to fight upon removing the puppet regime. The fighting continued throughout the 1990s and resulted in the Taliban controlling most (though not all) of the country while war raged throughout its regions.

Various politicians are supporting the removal of American troops from Iraq in the very near future. This may sound like the right thing to do; no one wants to fight a war that doesn’t make sense or seems to have no end. It would be hard to overemphasize the instability this would cause.

Much of the opposition to the war did not support the war from the beginning. There has been a great deal of frustration among many Americans that the Bush Administration has not been accountable for their failures in this and other regards. Supporting an end to the war as soon as troops can be removed would be black mark on their record that many believe would be well deserved. This author would agree that accountability is paramount in any democracy and that enough has not pained this administration as might be called for. However, instability in Mesopotamia will be rampant as a result, and the damage done to US interests will be long term and deep.

After funding the mujahadeen in their fight against Soviets in Afghanistan, the US pulled out its support for the rebels as soon as the latter withdrew. The resulting power vacuum brought much bloodshed while the various factions fought for power. When the Taliban took over, they brought a hitherto unheard of extremism to the country that allowed al-Qaeda to find a home. Helping Afghanistan stabilize politically would have been far cheaper in both economic and human cost. Voters should take note.

Electorates are incredibly irrational, knowingly voting for candidates that tell them what they want to hear and avoiding ones who tell them what they need to hear. Irrational policies result; with hindsight they are analyzed and dissected by the historians who mercilessly point out the errors while explaining the reasoning of the decision makers. The understanding of these errors is also available at the time they are made, but the voters are usually not interested. They prefer decisions to be black and white, leaving the gray area for future generations to tangle with. There is an opportunity now to avoid a major foreign policy mistake, but due to its own hedonism, the Bush Administration’s cult of personality has run out with its constituency. If the US pulls out prematurely, the Middle East will suffer, affecting those regions that have interests there; a scary prospect indeed.

Voters beware: pay attention to who you listen to as we approach this next election. The war in Iraq is a mess, and your president is to blame. Unfortunately, pulling out now would not just punish him, but the rather the whole region therein. It is likely to make matters worse, not better. Some politicians (e.g. John McCain) are telling you what you need to hear. You can listen now, or in a few years time, listen to another politician tell you about his plan to fix the Middle East. Of course, by then you’ll know that the time to do that was in 2007, but public support prevented our leaders from getting the job done. If you wonder why history repeats itself, take long look; the stage is being set for another such event in the debate over Iraq.

Real Help for the Global Poverty

The poverty of the developing world is rarely on the mind of most Americans for but an instant following a news story or a commercial for an aid agency on television. Less time still is spent trying to understand the root causes of this pressing problem; it is indeed a complex web with many strands. Solving it has proven elusive. But many have tried.

Like most complex problems, there is no panacea. Like most complex problems, politicians develop programs to alleviate the symptoms, but not to end the suffering for good. Most typically throw money at a problem or support direct investment, trying to improve economies from the top down. These actions result in little change for those at lowest end of the income scale. But all is not lost.

Of course, there are people who do understand world poverty, and they know the solution is complex. Working against great odds, their organizations impact the daily lives of millions of destitute citizens worldwide. The best of these teach people how to make a living and support themselves; all that anyone would ever ask in such a situation. One of the best is the Rural Development Institute (RDI). This organization works to secure land rights for the poorest people on the Earth. By using the law to enact change, generations of people benefit.

The majority of the world’s poor live in rural areas, where agriculture is predominant way of life. In most cases, the people who work the fields do not own the land, and see little out of its return. Improving land tenure laws and expanding opportunity for rural peasants to own land has many benefits to individuals and the economy as a whole. Individually family incomes rise and lead to savings accumulation; nutrition is also improved. Communally, overall crop production increases, infant mortality decreases, and environmental concerns improve. Further, the increased ownership of land by rural workers helps stabilize the economy against shocks and provides a stable basis for growth. As the rural masses invest in their future via land ownership, their social standing improves and the potential for social unrest is dramatically reduced.

In the first step, RDI works with governments, NGOs and aid agencies to develop land tenure rights. Part of that process is an intricate study of the different political, cultural, and agricultural landscapes must be done before solutions can be developed. After policies are completed, RDI often implements a pilot program to help the government facilitate their new solution. Then they act as consultants to the country, moving their main efforts to the next country and another challenge. After all, the beneficiaries can now move forward on their own. For the most part, that’s all they wanted in the first place.

This top-down approach has an immediate and lasting effect on the lives of rural citizens in the developing world, helping to overcome conditions that resulted from traditional land tenure or the legacy of colonial rule. I can think of few better causes to support. If you agree, look into the Rural Development Institute at www.rdiland.org. Your dollar we go a long way to solving global poverty, not just helping this year.

Guns, Guns, Guns

Guns don't kill people, people kill people. At least that's what the gun lobby tells me. I do think that it would be disingenuous to state that guns don't make killing exponentially easier, especially for multiple murders in one sitting.. They are less personal and quicker than any hand-to-hand method. To kill by firearm is cowardly, all one need do is point the barrel and squeeze the trigger. One need not soil their shirt with blood by thrusting a weapon into their victim.

No other legal weapon is as effective when committing mass murder. How many people in a crowd could be killed with a knife before the killer was overtaken by his potential victims? With two guns in hand, the shear fear injected into the masses would be enough to keep the crowds at bay. The ease of killing any who approached or tried to escape defines a scale of power projection unmatched by any other personal weapon. The number of mass murderers who committed their crimes in one sitting using hand to hand weapons attests to this fact: zero.

You may believe the NRA is right. You may believe in the Second Amendment. But beware: to allow firearms to be unrestricted in the U.S. will lead to continued disaster on scales of Columbine, Austin, and now Blacksburg. It's just naive to believe that situations can be easily controlled when a mentally unstable person gets ahold of firearms. Guns don't kill people, people kill people. But people with guns can kill lots of people. Unfortunately, they can kill lots of people pretty quickly.

Audio Tourist

Sometimes a song hits you. It may be one you know, or a new tune that hooks your ears and leads you to new pastures. The pull is often strongest when it is a familiar one heard unexpectedly in a place or time you hadn't experienced before.

I have just heard one. It jolts me awake and changes the evening's paradigm through its slow melody and haunting progression. Listening to it at home would not have been the same. The context of the background voices and conversations, the kitchen noises and footfalls create a reality that stands apart from my abode; livelier, surrounding, isolating.

The song invades my psyche and slowly lowers the tone of the action. It separates itself from chatter of the those around and visually emerges as a shiny monolith in my head. It remains there throughout its play and I ride the wavelength through. As it begins to fade, the sounds of the patrons and staff rise again like the tide washing away a sand castle. It sinks my heart briefly as it dies, but brings a smile to my face, knowing that I am but an IPod button away from reliving the moment at another place and time of my choosing.

Sub-Five

I stood tall, waiting at the line, waiting for the starter. I was always nervous at beginning, tense for those first few moments before the sound of the gun set us all in motion. My racing spikes dug in, my arms set back as they made contact with the adjacent racers on either side. We were packed along the line that was curved to even the playing field a little by allowing those of us on the outside of the curve to start a little farther ahead. It was common in all track races; the fastest runners started on the inside lanes.

I had always been a capable runner, faster than most other kids and able to keep running too. In middle school gym class, I was able to run long distances faster than most anyone else. My gym teacher suggested that I try running distance when I entered high school.

Bang! The starter’s gun fired its blank shell, and the nervous system of each runner jolted in response. A mass of thinly clad athletes set off, stampeding in organized fashion as one entity like a flood of river water released from a dam. We started on a curve of the limestone gravel track and the battle for pole position began immediately. I was not one of the fastest in the race. I was only a freshman, and we had a number of juniors and seniors on the team who were positioned ahead of me, along with our competition. I would have to weave and pass my way through the light nylon uniforms, avoiding the half-inch spikes on the front of their track shoes. It was rare for another runner to step on your feet but spikes grazing calves were common injuries, especially at the beginning of a race.

We had an excellent coaches at Poland HS; Don Smaltz headed up the distance runners and Dave DiRenzo the sprinters and field athletes. Coach Smaltz taught us how to train in the off-season, how to pace ourselves, and how much energy to save for the final sprint to the end. He taught us through running but also through mental exercise, particularly how to fight through those tough moments of a race when we feel alone on the track, when our bodies are fatigued and our mind is telling us to give in to the pain. He taught us how to win that personal battle, how each of us must think of the team during that pain, and that our performance counted for more than just our own goals.

The first lap is an easy one, as my energy is good and my mind is occupied by finding my position among all of the racers around me. It seems like a blip in time and it’s over. I pass our assistant coach who is providing splits for us and he reads off the times as we pass; “65, 66, 67.” There is a change in the second lap as the adrenaline rush tapers off and my pace becomes established. I am gliding now, and it feels good though my fear begins to build. I pass a few runners along the way but as I make it down the stretch, I am dreading the third lap. This is the hardest stage. This is where racers may hit the wall; the place where running is no longer easy and their legs get heavy and their tanks empty. I need to fight through this one, to keep my pace, to hang around enough to give myself a chance. This is where the voice will visit.

The hardest part about running distance is the time spent alone on the track or course. Each runner must occupy his mind while maintaining his racing pace. There are no teammates to help you out, and your coaches can only yell as you pass them by. You become your own cheerleader; some runners talk to themselves, others allow their thoughts to do their cheering. Friends or teammates that stand along other parts of the track to cheer and encourage can provide powerful lifts to the spirit, but it is all too often an unknown or forgotten part of high school track. You are left with the repetition of each stride, the sweat pouring down your face, and the pain that builds in your quadriceps, your hamstrings, and your gut. It’s the last one that is the hardest; it tears away at your strength and stamina, but it strikes right at your soul. All you need to do to end it is to slow down or stop and admit defeat.

As I turn into the first curve of the final 440-yard oval, the cheers of the crowd, my coaches, parents, and friends dissipate and I am left to tackle the far straightaway on my own. The runners are fairly spread out now, though there are a few ahead of me, in range of my stride. I gear myself up for passing them on the front straightaway, avoiding the turn. We had been taught not to make any moves on the curves; passing on them requires that you run a longer distance to get around someone when using those outside lanes. I’ll wait for the crowd’s cheers to lift me up, to refill my spiritual tanks for the final stage. No voice visits, no wall emerges, no stopping me now. The weather is a perfect Ohio spring day, warm and sunny. The smell of blooming flowers from the lowlands of Yellow Creek that runs just below the outside fence surrounding the track filled the air. I had been trying all season to do it, to break the barrier that kept eluding me. There were no meets left for me after this one. Summer would be here soon, and the track season would end. But not yet. Not for about another 67 seconds.

I quicken my pace, just a little, and pass an opponent or two before entering the turn again. I am feeling good; I’ve made it. Now I just need to pick it up, catch a couple more runners. As I enter the back stretch I realize that this is the day, this is when it will happen. My stride lengthens, and I can feel my spirit rise with each footfall. As I go into the final turn, I pass a senior who squeezes out encouragement for me with all the breath he has left in him. I don’t care about overtaking him on the turn, I have energy left. A few more steps and the afterburners will be lit.

About half way around the turn, I let loose. My legs are churning now, moving as fast I can lift them. This is a tricky maneuver to perform sprinting the last 100 yards or so. Bodies are tired, and extremities are flailing. Distance runners lack the great form that sprinters employ, so there is always the danger of a collision or fall during this stage.. As I approach the finish line, my ears perk up for the sound of my time. I cross the white strip, and hear the magic words from the time caller. I had done it – 4:56, a sub-five minute mile.