Crises Looms; Will We Get Solutions?

UPDATE (7/31/11): A brilliant Farker posted this link to an episode of West Wing which explains the debt crisis perfectly. Notice as well, that this weekend it was announced that the Democrats and the Republicans are nearing a deal, two days before the country is due to default. We are watching a completely manufactured crisis that distracts voters from much more important issues, allowing Congresspersons to appear to do something while in fact doing little more than pushing off solutions for years and years. These deals always fail to address root causes, while making the players appear to win at a game of panning for Fool's Gold. All show, no substance, while the rest of us are left to deal with increasingly difficult conditions.

Latest news: Senate Kills Latest House Debt Measure

I'm not normally a prognosticator, but it occurs to me that there are really two paths in front of the U.S. now. Either we get our collective heads out of our rears and take a more European path towards social welfare and economic, political, and financial peace and security, or we continue upon this path of greed-driven, narcissistic, myopic, excessive consumption, in which the money all ends up in the hands of an elite few and the rest of the population is left to struggle under increasingly difficult living conditions.

Oh wait, we're already there.

Sound familiar? How about Russia and Germany in the early 1900s? In our drive to avoid communism and fascism, we've failed to realize that socialism can be promoted within a democratic context.

Personally, I don't agree with either the Democratic or Republican positions. Both fail to address root causes of the current economic situation, and simply delay accountability and action until the next election. Meanwhile, if people attempt to improve their situation by going to school more than 6 hours a week, they are disqualified for food stamps. Where does it make sense to anyone that a person would have to choose between starving and educating themselves? This is not the United States I want to live in.

I want to live in a country where help is there if needed, even in long-term contexts. I want to live in a country where the disabled, elderly, and disadvantaged are given jobs in the public sector, helping out others like them or providing valuable community services. For instance, in China, many older citizens are given jobs as town helpers if someone needs directions, a ride to the store, or various other possible jobs.

I want to live in a country where two cents of every dollar earned goes towards ending global poverty. I want to live in a country where the rich are discouraged from spending frivolously, where the poor are encouraged to seek education and employment, instead of having to choose between books or food.

I want to live in a country where corporations are rewarded for social activism, discouraged from cutting workers in order to increase profits, and where taxes are simple and fair.

These things are easily within reach. We just have take a minute to look at other countries and see what they are doing right. I don't believe there is anything any other country is doing that we can't do better. The only thing to lose is rich people's money, and they are the ones that can most afford it.