Democracy?

Just wondering where we are going as a country when the SEC regulators are cashing in at $225K per year to watch porn while Goldman Sachs perpetrates arguably one of the largest frauds on investors. Is it just me or is our country suffering from a serious lack of morals and ethics? We are rapidly becoming third world – teach your kids to speak Mandarin because it is the new Spanish. When America is funded and backed by China, or any other country, well, “Houston, we have a problem.”

We have always benefited from fiscal relationships with other countries. We need to be diplomatic players in the world, more importantly than being the world cop. However, when we lack the moral spine to perform as a democracy, then we forfeit the right to advocate democracy. What is, and has been, happening in Washington is a travesty. And lest ye dems rise up in arms, I extend my reprobation to the administrations of both W and H, and by association of era, Bill. We forfeit our right to advocate democracy when we no longer participate in one.

Arguably, financial interests run this country. This means big business and big labor. We are corrupt, from the Mayor, or county Supervisor, all the way up to the White House. We fail to provide the minimum necessities to our constituents and hide behind the easy red herring of immigration or filibuster. The fabulously wealthy continue to enrich themselves while the middle continue to bleed sweat, tears and money into the economy. The only outlet for the middle is to climb to the top, at the expense of others. This leads to a lack of morals and ethics. Witness the many Ponzi schemes and frauds that litter the media lately. Trust me, for every one you read about, there are ten that never surface.

So, I guess the lesson is, nice guys finish last. Is this the message we want to export as democracy. Is this what we want to teach Iraq and other emerging “democracies?” No. We are morally bankrupt.

How do we fix this? Get involved, get active. Run for office, run for your school board, and then stay true to your morals. Have a compass to guide you and live a square life.