Crisis

Polls Reduced to the Lowest Common Denominator

A recent poll showing 62% of the public mistrusts the media doesn’t reveal anything other than the naiveté of poll takers who fail to elaborate on their surveys. For instance, had a series of questions been utilized such as:

What is your primary source of information — newspapers, TV, radio, magazines, internet?

If newspapers, what ones? Do you gather information from objective news reporting of events? Are the reports slanted? Do you extend your interests to columnists, editorials and letters? If so do you generally agree or disagree with analysis and opinions? Name your favorite columnist.

If TV what is your favorite news channel for pure information on events? Do you nonetheless feel even the straight reporting is slanted? What “talking head” program do you usually watch — is this choice motivated by your personal politics? Do you ever watch C-span or PBS?

Do you listen to radio for news or opinions? If opinions, whose?

If magazines are they primarily news or political analyses? Name your favorite magazine and why?

If the Internet, what is your favorite website for news? Do you also read political websites? If so whose?

A poll resulting in 74% of young Americans trusting the military in the aftermath of Iraq is says very little. First off, most youth is satisfied because it is a volunteer army, saving most from a draft, along with the “kick ass” syndrome glamorized by youth culture that conveniently suits the heralded “the world’s only superpower.” Secondly, does it also apply to the Pentagon, and Commander-in-chief, or simply G.I. Joe and Jane? Another problem not addressed is since we are in a state of war on terrorism and most have concerns about security and with the exception of routing Afghanistan, what does Iraq have to do with it? Perhaps a better question is whether or not we are domestically safer because Saddam is gone.

Prevailing Sophistry

There is a definite crisis in the nation because of technology that has brought forth paradoxically so much ignorance and irresponsibility. Children don’t learn as they are supposed to because so much of their time is taken up by entertainment and frivolous use of the Internet. Even among the brightest so much is contaminated by parental prestige driving their children to succeed in the world without regard to developing sensitive humans. Too many of the working class are poorly educated and as a result are vulnerable to the kind of authoritarianism that is flourishing today. They no longer believe in unions because they are told and blindly believe that these are self-serving and administered by, if not the Mafia, ruthless opportunists while being blasé about national rape of the commonwealth by business leaders . They allow their religious beliefs to control their rationale of what a democracy is. They kiss the golden arch as savior taking up the growing lack of decent living wages that have disappeared from the land of opportunity. All too many watch pseudo-politics on TV — Matthews, Scarborough, O’ Reilly, Crossfire — and are satisfied they have fulfilled their duty as well-informed citizens. They do not tune in on the Sunday morning talk shows because they lack preparation to assess intelligently the points of discussion, much less tuning into the Lehrer News Hour, and C-span.

Notwithstanding the enormous problems in education, what with the influx of immigrants with language barriers, and the competition with entertainment overload, America is still unwilling to finance public schools seriously and shows growing interest in private education to the detriment of poor children. This shameless disinterest will only lead to further authoritarianism as the populace becomes more atrophied in the dynamic of fighting for comfortable living standards and pervasive scholarship. Peripheral tommyrot such as testing and methods are still bandied about in education and political circles even though classroom teachers for almost a century have been thoroughly versed in reaching students who are culturally, mentally and emotionally equipped. The problem in education is not education per se but rather adverse political propaganda and society’s misconceptions on state and national priorities.

Ever since the Vietnam War put an end to generous federal support of education and the war on poverty, the general public has been weaned off the idea that it “takes a village” of understanding to unravel the complexities of a nation. Robert Kennedy would have turned the country around toward this understanding had it not been for the tragedy. Instead, citizens have been misled right into the new millennium. At first it was Nixon and Kissinger who claimed that “sensitive negotiations” were in progress to end the war while at the same time senseless bombing intensified. Ford, plagued by the pardon and gripped by the oil crisis and accelerated inflation, told near bankrupt New York to “drop dead.” Shell-shocked by continuing inflation and unbelievable interest rates, let alone Iran, he was accused of spreading “malaise” through out the nation because he wore a sweater to symbolize the need for energy conservation and independence. Then Reagan with the great assistance of stabilization from OPEC, and the fortunate death of Brezhnev, “happy times” returned by sending millions of manufacturing jobs overseas while at the same time creating 17 million new low-paying jobs, and nearly bankrupting the treasury with outrageous tax reductions — so called “tax reform.” Because Bush I’s lips said one thing and the Reagan catastrophe said another while continuing the Reagan policy of let the masses eat cake, he lost his job for seeing the wisdom of raising taxes, however modest. Although Clinton exemplified some feeling for the people and tried in a moderate sense to reach back to some of the tricks of the trade that flourished during the New and Fair Deals, the nation — thoroughly drenched by individualism and government be damned — by that time had amnesia and lost the feel for a government that cared. Gore won the popular vote but was crushed by the southern mentality that spread to all the “red” states that could not care less about lock boxes, and because of their own delusion of rugged individualism did not buy taking down the “powerful.” The “compassionate conservative” led the nation in a justifiable war against terrorism, then blind sided the public in his war against Iraq, thereby pulling the shroud over a dying economy owing to unjust tax cuts so that the nation once again is blest with “trickle down” subterfuge.

How can all this deception prevail decade after decade? For one thing there is no longer a conscripted military; as long as there are sufficient volunteers to carry out perpetual limited wars the government can create mini-crises at will even in face of protests. However bad the economy, the credit card keeps it going without disastrous effects of the Great Depression. As long as there are sufficient liberal voices to defend the safety nets of social security, welfare and unemployment insurance the nation avoids collapse — the irony here is that New Deal leftovers also sustains mass illusion. The populace, so overloaded with right wing propaganda, it can no longer think straight — brain-washed. Both parties continue to spout the wherewithal of tax cuts as stimulus when in reality all it does is increase the burden on state and local governments to either cut services and education or raise taxes. Along with even the pork, government spending is closely targeted by need. Poorer states get most of the revenue sharing to create jobs for infrastructure and to enhance education — had this not been the case over the decades, rural areas would still be reading farm catalogues by kerosene lamps. With greater spending on health care — also a consumer stimulus — the general health and welfare of a nation is better off. The cry that universal health care would cost too much is absurd — it is good for the economy to have fully healthy working citizens, and the costs would be offset by the millions more working in the health industry and thus more revenue fed back to the government. The cry that the nation can no longer afford social security is also an absurdity because every check — even the truly wealthy, at least invest the proceeds — stimulates the economy. The same applies to welfare and food stamps, keeping the local merchants viable. Given that appropriations for education to poor districts whose buildings and facilities are in disrepair is a waste unless massive reconstruction is also appropriated to set an environment for learning, targeted construction generates jobs and funds to education sustains one of the largest payrolls in a small local area. Funds for national defense is also a massive spending project that keep tens of millions employed, including members of the armed services. The incessant bail-out of airlines is indicative of the lunacy that somehow the higher lifestyles of business travel and high-middle class passengers are necessary whereas Amtrak and other alternative transportation for low-lifers requires management to go hat in hand begging for funds each year as though it were the postal service expected to be self-sufficient without regard to the implicit need for energy conservation and alleviation of highway congestion. Though no one questions the need for the multibillion dollar industry of school buses, somehow mass transportation for the handicapped, senior citizens, and people who can afford jalopies but not the insurance to get to work or to stores are abandoned.

Though a full third of the nation is poorly educated are they without common sense, too? — hardly. Common sense, however, is constantly bombarded with the amoral static and sophistry of the right wing, such as:

■Every one should be free to pursue the American dream of wealth — without stating the odds are equivalent to winning the lottery — let alone the ultimate dream of good health, happiness and helping the less fortunate.

■Fifty percent of Americans own stock therefore commoners will benefit from eliminating tax on dividends — without mentioning that practically all of them are sheltered and very modest.

■Why shouldn’t there be tax cuts for the wealthy? — after all, they pay more taxes.[While FDR rolls in his grave.]

■Tax revenue belongs to the people, not the government, and should be allowed to spend this money as they wish. [Does this mean that it will cost $25 each time one dials 911, or have cash up front for an emergency visit to the hospital for those 40 million uninsured? Does it mean if your street is pocked with pot-holes that residents go to Home-Depot and load up with bags of asphalt? Should we go back to the 19^th century and let the charity organizations set up poorhouses? Should the police be sent into retirement and replaced by vigilantes? Will Airforce I & II be relegated to the junk yard and let the President take a bus?]

■[Feeding off the militia mentality and states’ rights] Big government is oppressive and bad for the nation because it imposes its will on the sovereignty of the fifty states. [Does this mean we should emaciate the three branches of government, tear down the White House and move the Commander-in-chief to the Pentagon?]

■Left to itself, the free market and deregulation will bring prosperity to the people.

■Teachers’ unions are the blame for the weakened condition of the public schools, therefore all parents have the right to choose the right school with the aid of vouchers.

■A woman does not have the right to her body once pregnant because from conception she is two people.

■The public pays more taxes now than ever before. [Tell that to the taxpayers before Reagan. Of course, it is never said that for the wealthy and corporations taxes are less than ever before.]

Widespread Fear Preempts Rational Domestic & Foreign Policy

Fear in itself leads to a monolithic mind-set. The war on terrorism has been so exploited by sinister motives that the people fail to take into account that the greatest security is good health and bread on the table while exercising sensible caution with a nation under threatening conditions. Yet polls indicate that even the majority of women Democrats are so rattled by terrorism that they forgo common sense. American males, so predominantly afflicted with “kick ass” machismo, see the US as justified in bullying the world. If by the end of this year the favorable polls on Bush as Commander-in-chief rather than as an enlightened president do not drastically drop it will mean that the nation has surrendered to fear and has lost all sense of proportion in a complex world and will go down in history as the worst generation ever.

Of course, there is nothing wrong in bullying bullies; but we should start bullying wretched CEOs, drug dealers, and criminals in the streets of our cities. There should be an active domestic intelligence — not unlike the old G-men — on stalkers and perverts that prey on women and children, drug linkage to Colombia and Mexico, insurance and investment fraud, vigilance of violent ex-cons and self-styled militia. Police and auxiliaries should be on the streets, not in their cars. Many of the unemployed should be conscripted into Neighborhood Watch and after school programs — all of which should be funded by Homeland Defense.

Internationally, bullies should be bullied, too, but by a UN with teeth. The US must agree to relent proportionate sovereignty of its military to join a UN police force to track down terrorists and strike fear in the hearts of oppressive regimes. Diplomatically, the US should insist on a deadline — say, five years — for UN members to clean up their act concerning human rights or lose membership and unadulterated isolation from the rest of the world. Closer to home, Castro must immediately initiate democracy — not necessarily capitalism — under the guidance of the UN or face — except for humanitarian aid officiated by the UN — an absolute coalition naval embargo. The UN should set in motion humanitarian and infrastructure aid to poor democracies with enlightened governments. Dictatorships may lobby for the same provided they have themselves substantiate rapid progress in human rights.

Israel-Palestine conflict should be declared by the UN as a war of terrorism and should insist on a truce to be accomplished by UN forces. The first UN mandate would be to declare Jerusalem contiguous, administered by interfaith council and under international control, together with all other disputed religious cities. The Gaza strip should be expanded inland short of Beersheba, and Israeli settlers displaced with adequate compensation in order to make room for a Palestinian state tentatively under the jurisdiction of the UN. In return Palestine gives up all rights to the West Bank, though existing Palestinian settlements are granted immigrant status or Israeli citizenship. If terrorism again flares up on either side the UN will immediately activate martial law against the offending nation.

Genocide in any nation will immediately warrant expulsion from the UN and cause for preemptive strikes against the nation’s seat of power. Cruel and unjust imprisonment violating political and religious rights will be cause for the nation’s expulsion from the UN and prohibited from international trade. Any nation currently governed by military or religious leaders must terminate their offices in favor of open elections within two years or face expulsion from the UN.

Only with a strong committed UN can unilateral paranoia be effaced from the face of the earth. Just as this nation must be committed to internal terrorism and crime against citizens, the UN must show it cares about all citizens of the world.

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