The most obvious of these three aspects is the economic meltdown that we see happening right before our very eyes.  It should come as no surprise to those who understand that the American monetary system, just like many other nations around the world, has a bankrupted basis to begin with.  Any system based on debt is based on failure.  Supporters of debt-based economies would argue that they are in fact not debt based, but asset based.  If that were true, then we would not be having this problem or discussion.  The reality is, indeed, it’s an economy that is debt based with some fractional amount of assets to back it.  (Search for fractional reserve system for clarification.)  But even beyond the obvious house of cards that is our economic model, the insidious truth is it’s foundation of greed.  No surprise there.  While there is plenty more to say on economics, lets us consider the other two arenas of Our national fabric, social and political.  After all, these three bedfellows are inextricably tied together.

Politically, we find ourselves in what is often on its own merits a tumultuous time because of the run for the U.S. presidency.  Having added the persons who are candidates, the current economic state, the many unresolved issues in foreign affairs, just to name a few, we have seen an unprecedented election season fraught with intrigue and caveat.  More specifically, the Economic Bailout/Rescue/Fleecing or whatever you want to call it, has encouraged a multitude of citizens to engage their congressman like we may have never seen in the past.  That’s a good thing.  But shame on Us for not being more engaged in times gone by.  For we have seen the fruit of our contentment for letting the political establishment have its way unchecked.  Election year fervor by those supporting their political candidate and political agenda is no substitute for a vigilant, educated and engaged electorate.  Unfortunately, this has not been the case, at least not for those of Us who would claim to have an ounce of common sense and a conviction as to what is right and wrong.  As evidenced by the insanity of the members of the Senate and the House from both parties, the pleas of the American citizen for common sense and conviction, fell on deaf ears.  Oh, but wait, lets add $150,000,000,000.00 to, an already rejected, $700,000,000,000.00 for a total of $850,000,000,000.00.  So here we have on the scales of reason - “Common Sense and Conviction” v. $700 Billion + $150 Billion.  As we know, $$$’s won, a sad commentary in and of itself.

The social policy of our government for decades has been running counter intuitive to what our nation was founded upon.  As much as We would like to blame the fat cats in Washington and Wall Street, We must look in the mirror.  Yes, at ourselves.  There is no doubt there has been an underlying agenda for many years to subvert the American citizen through fear and social pressure to upend the soundness of truth and collective faith in order to nurture an attitude and expectation for the government to solve our problems.  This conjured image of Mother Sam, as opposed to Uncle Sam, has taken on the identity We have desired, a maternal government that coddles and hovers over her progeny just so they don’t get hurt.  Unfortunately, I am becoming increasingly cynical about it all.  It would appear that years of indoctrination and fear have paid off.  Americans are too afraid to make it on their own and feel like they need the government to take care of them.  Maybe We all aren’t on the welfare rolls, but that for anything bad that may happen, We will go running back to Our mommy, the government. 

Where is Uncle Sam these days?  Generally an Uncle doesn’t feed and clothe us, but he is there to support and encourage.  He’s also that influence that many a person has looked to for inspiration.  That person who is slightly detached from the nuclear family, who has no say in the decisions of mom and dad, and yet likely agrees with them.  He’s there to give appropriate encouragement to his nephews and nieces to reach beyond the sphere they developed in and stretch their wings on their own.  Guess what, you may fall and get hurt, but faith and encouragement will heal the wounds and help teach the lessons that we don’t make the same mistakes again.  We are missing the days when most believed and had faith in God and higher ideals, like freedom and liberty, so there was no fear or at least not enough to deter people from making stands and trying to make it on their own.  Now, most either don’t believe in God or, those that do believe, don’t fully trust Him.  Our faith has been substituted by government.  Perhaps there is some irony in the fact that the thing on Our minds has been the economy and money and the corruption that extends to Our government and many of the minds of Our citizenry.  Perhaps the time has come for Us to change the inscription on Our currency from ‘In God We Trust’ to ‘In Government We Trust’.