How do we fix America? It is the question everyone really should be asking. Sadly it isn’t being asked in anywhere near the depth that it should be. Here are some basic proposals.
The first step to building a new, dynamic America that offers opportunities for everyone is to start by admitting supply side economics is a failure. It has not made America a better place, it has only made the richest people richer at the expense of the nation as a whole. The notion that supply side economics is EVER going to lead to a better, more equitable society needs to be buried. The left as totally failed to exploit the facts behind this truth, and cannot expect to regain any real control over the political system as long as supply siders control the debate. It is time to eliminate supply side economics from the daily life of America.
The military industrial complex needs to be brought to an end. They are nothing more than a means to an end, the defense of the US, but they have become an end unto themselves, and we are all paying the price for it. For starters close half the overseas bases, and cut the military budget by at least 25%. make it illegal for former generals and admirals to work in the lobbying industry. Fix the VA, and provide whatever it takes, WHATEVER it takes to heal the soldiers who have been so badly damaged by 10 years of meaningless wars that have done nothing to insure the well being of our nation.
We have to admit that our foreign policy choices, combined with our lack of self sufficiency and long term energy policy has placed the US in a terrible position in the world, and that this system of foreign policy has caused us to spend trillions on unnecessary wars, military spending etc. lack of development of energy efficient transportation is costing us the future of our society. American foreign policy is simply too damn expensive to maintain in its current form. Our meddling in other peoples business has to come to an end. Yes we do have legitimate interests overseas, but cozying up to dictators simply because we can sell the dictators weapons to repress their people is hardly the way to go about building a decent set of international relationships. Our foreign policy should overridingly be guided by the idea that we support real democracies. If someone isn’t running a democracy we have no business supporting them, because even while it may be in our short term interests to do so, it does nothing but hurt our long term interests overseas.
We have to admit that our schooling system is a failure, mainly because of lack of investment many areas. We cannot afford not to have a highly educated population. The failure is in lack of resources, failing to pay decent wages to encourage better people to engage in teaching , and a severe lack of parental reality when it comes to their kids. Children need to be pushed to achieve, and if they don’t they need to be failed. Alternative ways back in to the educational system need to exist so that people who mature and develop have a chance to succeed, but the standards cannot be lowered simply to boost peoples self esteem, prop up their egos, etc. also scientific education can not be asked to take a back seat to religion. We need people who have empirical, Cartesian abilities, not people who can quote bible verses, that isn’t going to solve our problems. Scientists, engineers, people well educated in the liberal arts need to create and manage our textbooks and curriculum. Not religious zealots.
Reform our political system, eliminating special interest money from the funding system. establish a simple rule that no one can donate more than 100$ to a political campaign. Eliminate corporate person-hood, and eliminate corporate funding of politics completely. Eliminate the filibuster, which allows for the tyranny of the minority over the majority of Americans. Better yet go to a senate that proportionally represents the people of the US. The function of the senate is to provide long term continuity to the political process, NOT to allow small, rural states to control the political process.
We need to deal with the issue of religion far more honestly than we have in the past. People should NOT get a free pass in life for believing fairy tales with the pass phrase, 'well its his or her religion, we have to respect that'. Sorry that has to go. If you think the world was created 6000 years ago by god with a magic wand, great. Do not expect to get any kind of scientific or engineering phd, job, or leadership role in industry. Do not expect to be placed in any kind of position of political leadership. Dark ages religious beliefs are not the solution to 21st century problems. Using the bible, the Koran, the torah etc to justify modern social and economic policies is the height of stupidity. America must reject religious superstition in all its forms. It is not the path to a better tomorrow and never will be.
Finally America needs to develop an actual sense of social solidarity. Americans , ALL Americans regardless of color, sex, age, etc are in this together. A free for all, the law of the jungle is NOT the path to some kind of utopia. Rather its the route to total failure as a nation. And we are well on our way to it. When someone starts screaming about how their freedom to do what ever they want is being impinged, we all need to scream back, ask not what you can do for yourself, ask what you can do for your country. What have you contributed to our society and to the world at large. how are you making the country as a whole a better place for the future, not just how big is your house and how much money do you have.
we need to do all of these things. fixing one area will not solve the problem. only by addressing all these issues can america make forward progress.
