I’m excited, are you?  Why am I so revved up?  It’s because the  presidential election cycle is starting early, folks are buzzing about the candidates and the issues and that is a good thing….unless. 

Why are many Americans more worried about dead bodies in the Bahamas than illegal living ones flowing across the borders?  How has ‘The View’ come to mean a bunch of cackling feminist liberals (save for Elisabeth Hasselbeck) rather  than an informed opinion on American foreign policy or the state of our economy.  Given the show’s popularity, along with so many get rich quick, and  so-called  “reality” shows (what a misnomer), I wonder if this ‘fluff mania’ is a symptom or cause of America’s  intellectual malaise.  I conclude it is both.  This bodes ill for the political process and productivity of our formerly resourceful economy.  You see, the more time we spend worrying about who is the Idol du jour, or which slimeball is taking advantage of which promiscuous diva, the less resources are devoted to invention, enterprise and in general, productive output.  This explains culture addiction as a cause of the increasing national neuronal deficit.

As a symptom,  it’s undeniable that many have a futile, almost nihilistic view of their country and personal future.  You’ve heard it….from the hip hoppers listening to what they have to know is a self destructive drumbeat of hypersexuality, violence and disrespect, to seniors who fight like badgers to preserve a poorly engineered and politically abuse Social Security system.  Hard to believe, when their progeny are at risk of economic collapse as a result.  It’s pervasive, this  “I want mine now because tomorrow may never come” mentality.  To make matters worse, defeatism is nurtured by the enabling and bloated entitlement system.   And the only explanation I can find is that two fundamental and almost sacred American contracts have been rewritten.

First is the contract between self and self.  This rests on the notion that individual struggle is essential to and always improves the struggler. Need proof?  Did you learn algebra by solving the quadratic equation on the first try?  Of course not.  Self esteem, and productivity as a huge byproduct, is earned, not given.  Twentieth century America has promised a bountiful  world without end, and without sacrifice.  Socialism at its best, I’d say.

Then there’s the covenant between citizen and government.  A vibrant republic demands informed input and selfless commitment to the collective good.  Here I’m talking about the realities of neighborliness and community…true small government as the most responsive and accountable denomination.  Nowadays, we the people are further  from our decision makers than ever.  Politicians are not citizen servants, especially at higher levels.  They are not us, they are set apart with celebrity.  Theirs is the pursuit of political immortality, not to serve and return to the fold.  The new contract reads:  “ Vote for me and I’ll make sure government takes good care of you.”  Remember our proud history of a primitive American banner flapping proudly, proclaiming “Don’t tread on me”? I for one feel like a doormat.  And April 15^th isn’t here yet!  We’ve forgotten our roots, folks.  And you know what happens to a tree, especially a top-heavy older one, when its roots are damaged…..