Readers will find that this book is written by a citizen such as themselves and reflects the concerns that each of us share in one way or another. Although some may agree with what the author say's and some may not, but all will agree that the topics that I comment on are primary problems within American society. It is a unique perspective from an ordinary citizen and not from an analyst from a big think tank. This work reflects common attitudes for not so common problems that we face as a nation with an insight which seems to be uncommon to our leaders. It is a work of reflection, critique and sharp truths about several different aspects of American society and how we project that image to others.
A View of The Republic
Contemporary Observations About American SocietyBy John DesantisAuthorHouse
Copyright © 2010 John Desantis
All right reserved.ISBN: 978-1-4520-7324-8Contents
Dedication............................................................viiAcknowledgments.......................................................ixIntroduction..........................................................xiiiChapter 1 The American People.........................................1Chapter 2 The Government, the lesser of two evils.....................11Chapter 3 The Media...................................................27Chapter 4 Our Courts, Law Enforcement.................................39Chapter 5 Education...................................................47Chapter 6 Our Economy.................................................57Chapter 7 Families....................................................73Chapter 8 Hollywood...................................................81Bibliography..........................................................91
Chapter One
The American People What have we become?
"The hottest places in hell are reserved for those, who in time of great moral crisis, maintain their neutrality" Dante Alighieri
Individualism is fine, to a degree. It defines each of us in ways that are truly unique. Although some characteristics of that trait are common amongst many, it is the negative attributes of such individuality that have changed the landscape of the American persona and its portrait. Most social democrats stress individualism with a fervor, but this is what I call "negative individuality". This can be seen on a daily basis in our lives just by turning on the news, (i.e.: corporate greed, government corruption, police abuse of power, racism, economic enslavement, political enslavement), just to name a few. To a lesser degree, "competing with the Joneses", people having a total lack of consideration for one another, shallow and oblivious to what is important, not what we strive to obtain. Just go to your local mall or supermarket, a phony, transparent facade that is as obvious to a blind man as most women noticing that they need another manicure. Everyone is so wrapped up in themselves.
All this stems from the belief that people feel as if they are better than others. Their focus is not just blurred, but they are using the wrong speed film as well. I'll probably get hell for saying this, but my description definitely fits many of the people I have observed in my neck of the woods. I am sure this is true about other communities around the nation as well. As you read my words, ask yourself if this is true or not in your community, and if so, why? I believe that in some people's minds they have achieved some level of success in their lives, live in a nice community and unexplainably develop this feeling of superiority over others. The lack of consideration and respect is shocking. The phony air of asking "how are you" is merely a tiresome formality, if they even do ask at all, and is not genuine.
This arrogance, this superiority complex, is in my opinion what has turned our country into an image to be despised. I am in no way saying that all Americans are like this, but from what I have seen, this is what is focused on. This is the image we portray. America did not exhibit this image in the first half of the twentieth century; that was usually reserved for the upper crust. Is this the price of national economic success? For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. I believe that rule not only applies to physics but sociology as well.
Over the course of fifty years this trend has been dramatic. Why have the values of our grandparents disappeared? Why is a ten year old child today so much different than a ten year old in 1940? Is one possibility that we have way too many choices? Is it the openness of our society? It seems that everything we do, from the ridiculous and expanding concept of being "politically correct" to the many fortunes we share as a nation, that the "me attitude" is an unappealing image. I am sure that this is nothing new but has worsened since the 1960's.
These images are further cemented merely by watching reality television. At first I really didn't think that reality TV was realistic, but after watching and listening to people, I have concluded that it is, unfortunately, very realistic. From wife swapping to spoiled children to see who has the stomach to eat insects, to the types of discussions on contemporary talk shows, it is embarrassing as a nation to televise how sadly pathetic we have become. And then we want to know why the government treats us like children and why other nations view us as they do.
There is no critical thought anymore, just thought which is critical with no foundation. It is a shame that our only form of critical thought now comes from comedians of the likes of the late George Carlin and Lewis Black. Although not to impugn their names, my point is that the average citizen has not or cannot ask such intriguing questions. Our elected officials certainly cannot or will not. The art of prolific, intellectual debate is a gift that only a few posses and we all need.
We seem to neglect fairness, and more importantly, it seems that the needs of the few outweigh the needs of the many. Although I do feel that many of these problems lie within us, as a people, many of them also lie in the hands of our government. But aren't we the government? A topic to be discussed in the following chapter.
I find it astonishing as to what people believe to be important and unimportant, (i.e.: what sales are in department stores as compared to the detrimental effects of unrestrained federal judicial activism). This ignorance or apathy, (or both, depending on one's view), may very well be an escape, and I am the one who is a fool for concerning myself with things one person cannot change. Or can they? In my opinion such an escape, for either reason, is a dangerous habit that can, and has, led to constitutional remodeling.
Such re-modeling is already at hand because of the neglect, which has been caused by ignorance or apathetic tendencies. This is apparent in the federal judiciary where they are seizing authority from the congress, where none is given in the constitution, and deciding on rulings that are clearly unconstitutional. This neglect on our part, coupled with such self absorption, is one reason this nation has been shaped into its present form as compared to the original intent of our constitutional document. We the people are partly to blame for such trampling on our sacred constitution and the changing of our traditionally valued mores. This is the reason why I feel that such self absorbed individualism puts our nation at risk for self destruction and hatred of us abroad.
I feel that international animosity towards us is not jealousy based on what we have, but rather the arrogance and elitism we portray as a people, (which leads to our positions on certain foreign policy issues). The self absorption we illustrate can and has been used against us in the form of governmental tyranny and a tool for hostile foreign governments to sway political action from the right course. In other words, we are nave, uninterested, apathetic, and arrogant, all attributes which lead to an erosion of who we are as a nation and the development and enticement of political tyranny of elected officials. This is...
