Why Is America So Content With Mediocrity?

I had intended to write this entire piece and then go back and remove the 'g' from every word that ended in one.

But then I thought that would make me a churlish, smart-arsed, lefty stereotype and alienate the very people I want to try to hear me. (Although I imagine there ain't gonna be many of them readin' the huffpost, huh?! Wait for the audience to realize they should clap and/or boo, nod, smile even more, carry on.) Sorry, I couldn't resist.

Ok, this is basically it: Over the last few weeks I have watched with mounting bemusement as John McCain and Sarah Palin have constantly referred to the American work force as the best in the world, how America is a force for good in the world, how America is the best at (fill in the blank here depending on who you're talkin' to, wait for applause, wink, smile, and on).

You know what? I'm sorry to be blunt, and I wish it were not true, but America isn't any of the above. Its poor downtrodden, unhealthy, under-educated and depressed workforce cannot surely believe it towers above all others in some sort of World Worker Idol type way? If so, why are its bosses firing so many of them and giving the jobs to people in other countries?

And although the notion of America being a force for good is noble and beautiful, the reality of how the world sees America is very different: America is an imperialist power that invades oil and mineral rich countries on little or flimsy evidence, and at the same time turns a blind eye to blatant genocide taking place in other parts of the globe. Perhaps if Ms Palin had a passport before 2007 and had a little less xenophobic viewpoint, she would have experienced, as I have, the terrible sight of American friends of mine being afraid to open their mouths when abroad for fear of reprisal for their nation's 'force of good.' (And I'm not talkin' about scary, rearin' their head places like Russia or Iran. I'm talkin' about in like cool places like London.)

This country is a mess. It is entering a depression. It is waging two wars. It has an administration so blatantly corrupt that the world is baulking at its arrogance. It lets its poor die.

And on top of all this, one of the presidential options available to its voters - although having cynically plagiarized its opponent's keyword of 'change', and positively wearing its flaws and shortcomings as a badge of honor - is actually endorsing the past eight years and playing down the gargantuan problems!

Now I understand that election stump speeches are partly about trying to make people feel better/confident/happy/deluded but I am really shocked that a political party in a country that so trumpets its democracy and freedom is offering its voters such a shoddy product, and WORSE, they are still buying it!! (I thank you, my fellow Americans!)

So why? Is loyalty the value that Republicans vaunt above all others? Above common sense? Are the right of America all colluding in a giant version of the Emperor's New Clothes?

When I encountered a Republican TV pundit at a party in New York last week I reeled off my litany of reasons about why I feel the appointment of Sarah Palin is a disgrace and a terrible blight on America's history, and I was met with a thin smile, a nodding head, maybe even a nascent wink and the line: 'She's learning.'

She's learning? (Gosh yes, she's only been doin' this for, what, five weeks? Smile, shout out to class 3, ignore question, on.)

I actually have so much sympathy right now for the hundreds of Republicans out there somewhere - well intentioned, well-informed, prepared, lucid for goodness' sake - who must be utterly furious that they were overlooked for the VP post. Imagine being a doctor and thinking you're about to be made a partner in the practice and then the receptionist who's a big fan of Grey's Anatomy gets it over you and we're beginning to understand how those poor people must be feeling.

But back to the Republican pundit: I then moved on to say why I thought the policies - the policies, remember those? - of the Obama-Biden ticket were better for America. Again the smile, a little attempt at an argument in that she wasn't sure that all those great ideas could be achieved, to which I responded that yes, in the light of the economic holocaust caused by the greed and corruption that her vote had validated, perhaps these plans might take a little longer to implement now, but didn't she agree with the thrust of them? That crazy, trying to help people who weren't doing so well thing?

She looked at me, a little hurt.

'You're not going to say you're a fiscal conservative, are you?' I asked.

'Actually I was going to say I'm an economic Republican,' she smiled. Checkmate, I could see her thinking. But I wasn't done.

'You know what I think a fiscal conservative or an economic Republican means?' I asked. 'I think it means you are clever enough to agree with the notions of what Obama stands for, you'd love everyone to have access to healthcare and good education and to be treated equally...'

She was nodding slightly now.

'But when it comes down to it, when you're in that polling booth, you actually think 'Screw them' and you vote with your pocket. And I think you use that phrase as an excuse to not care!'

She looked a little taken aback. I thought I might have gone a little too far. But no.

'I love your passion', she said and turned to her colleague. 'We should have him on the show.'

You see, I think that when it comes down to it, American politics is split into people who think it's their duty to care about other people, and those who think it's every man for themselves. That's it. That's why I think the system is systematically flawed and is in dire need of a third party to shake things up a little.

But I digress. I truly think that Americans, some Americans, are comforted by mediocrity. Even those who have been battered the most by the last eight years can be reticent to the idea of change, because they are told to fear it and to leave things as they are, sit down and open a six-pack and forget their troubles. And so, all the more reason to take our hats off to Barack Obama and the Democratic party for making that scary word the touchstone of this election campaign.

I have lived in the United States for ten years. When Obama began his presidential campaign I was so inspired that I decided to start the process to become a naturalized citizen of this country. I am, at present, a resident alien (or green card holder), which basically means I do everything here -including pay taxes - except vote.

I wanted to become a citizen in time to vote on November 4th, but the immigration system of America is a little slower than it was when I first came here and I will not be sworn in properly in time. However, the point is that I want to be a part of America's future, of its potential, because I am fed up with mediocrity.

Obama has a combination that is rare in a modern politician. He has the rhetoric and the charisma to inspire whole swathes of the hitherto dispossessed to engage in the political system. And he has the real-life experience of prejudice and poverty to both understand and make people trust that he understands their needs and his desire to help them. But he also has the intelligence and the sophistication to deal both in big ideas and incredibly detailed plans. His election campaign has been a model of harnessing a generation's desperate desire to be heard and making them integral to the future of our society.

I hear him and he makes me excited about the prospect of being an American, an American that looks out for other Americans, in an America that is indeed a force of good in the world.

(Smile. Wink. Thumbs up. Wave.)

Comments

[jmeredith]

Regarding the following from your article...

"You see, I think that when it comes down to it, American politics is split into people who think it's their duty to care about other people, and those who think it's every man for themselves. That's it. That's why I think the system is systematically flawed and is in dire need of a third party to shake things up a little."

the group of folks who think it's their duty to help others can be split into two groups: those who think that it is the government's job to express this altruism, and those who think it is the job of private organizations.

For me, give me lower taxes, smaller government, and I will increase my donations to charity. Public charities and private foundations are simply more efficient than government because it is easier for the people to police these institutions for a number of reasons.

Bottom line: It's not that I don't care about people, it's that I don't want the government to be the vanguard of this function.

I almost forgot: I'm a big fan of "everyone for themselves", at least when it comes to government.

[ErnestineBass]

Just curious. What do you think of government-funded "faith-based initiatives'?

[jmeredith]

Not a fan. I think it's probably unconstitutional.

[walk0nwalls]

I love you

Everything about this post is win. Thank you for writing it

[debwk]

You are so right about the "mediocrity" of many Americans today! Having lived in more liberal parts of US, I'm now living in a conservative "battleground" state filled with rabid,"foa­ming-at-th­e-mouth" conservative Republicans", whose only desire in life does seem to be nothing more than watching the boob-tube in their comfortable McMansions, (bought on easy credit, of course!) going to church, and shopping at the mall. To be fair, however, we really shouldn't forget how we arrived here in the the first place. For readers old enough to remember - the radical and tumultuous sixties and seventies were pretty darn scary times for average, middle-class Americans. (excluding disco, perhaps) During those times, the country swung so far to the extreme left, in a relatively short period of time, that no wonder the "grandfatherly"" figure of Ronald Reagan easily won the election in 1980! For the the last 28 years, we've swung in the opposite direction - ruled by the politics of an ultra-right-wing, conservative America. And while many of us may disagree with the right-wing politics that spawned a "me-first", hyper-capitalist US, it probably was the necessary historical "salve" to "restore" the "order" that many middle-class Americans believed was "lost" during the chaotic sixties and seventies. But now all of that is thankfully coming to a crashing end. This is the social and political equilibrium that we have needed for so long in this country - about to be realized in three weeks!

[jmeredith]

What's wrong with being content with watching TV and going to church? It's a free country isn't it? I personally like mediocrity: it's less stressful.

[Isis N]

Alan, this is an awesome post. HOPEfully, we will as a country at some point in the future be the shining America that is now myth to my generation (the college kids). That day can only come through change. If those of us who currently can vote do, I HOPE that we will see a respected America within the next president's governance.

[BadChristian]

Fantastic post.
One place we are exceptional is advertising. Here are a couple of good pieces on that topic, which tie into "The culture wars."

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/cool/
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/persuaders/view/

We Americans are valuable, 'cause, in general, we'll buy anything, if it's sold right. If it makes us feel like we're good, or, at least, good enough.
Mostly, we have been sold on a few people who believe that changing minds is a waste of effort... Appeal to what is already there, make them feel good about themselves (you're doing better than you think). Critical thought is "negative," and we need to be "positive." Critical is Anti-(blank)... So, don't try to change, try to be more optimistic about (blank). Nobody likes a "negative Nelly."
This is the ticket to ride on the stagnation express.
Also, I hope you keep looking for the answer to your question. Take a job managing a warehouse, see how nepotism works inside the place, watch the difference between people who work there for a living, and the ones who are working there 'cause "Dad said I needed to get a job". Look at the differences between urban, suburban and rural, and see if you can find a rising aristocracy, which doesn't think it is one.
It's a great question. I hope you find an answer and share it with us.

[Wilbur]

"Mediocre does as mediocre is..."

Forrest Gump

[melpomene1]

Alan, why are you so content with medocrity? Why didn't you get naturalized after the 2000 election or after we went to Iraq or after the 2004 election -- or in time to vote in this one?

I'm glad you're excited about Obama now and about the possibility that America will regain respectability, but don't pretend that much of the rest of the world hasn't sat back and accepted the same mediocrity -- atrocity, really -- that many Americans have. Wasn't the UK our closest ally going into Iraq? Those xenophobic Londoners that you mention in your blog should take a good look at themselves. London ain't as cool as you think..

I'm not sure if people who making sweeping generalizations about Americans do it because they expect more from us (as they should) or because they're jealous of our wealth -- or because they're xenophobes. Probably a combination of all of the above. But as I said, I'm glad you've decided to join us, and I'm especially glad you want to see the country live up to the dream.

So, as I said to my husband when he was naturalized in July (in time to vote this November), welcome to the experiment.

[LatteLibertine]

"If so, why are its bosses firing so many of them and giving the jobs to people in other countries? "

That's an easy one. Payroll is one of the highest costs to corporations. They are employing people in some nations for roughly 20% of what they would pay a US worker and with no benefits. How would you have a US worker compete with a fellow that can live on 20% of what he would earn a month? Could you live on less than 100usd a month?

[Gidster]

Greedy companies looked for the highest profit matgins at any cost.
Look at the US automakers for example. Almost bankrupt now because a few years ago they shipped the all manufacturing jobs away, increased their profit, now fewer people can buy their product. and importing their goods back into the USA to sell is costing them billions!

It is a vicious circle. However if you invest in your workers, they become more productive, they make better product and you will find that your bottom line and your payroll exist in equilibrium.

[sandrarita]

As long as corporations pay their CEO's multi million dollar salaries, golden parachutes, and consider the bottom line how much they can return to the shareholders, then the problem will exist. If the greedy corporation wants to ship jobs overseas so that they don't have to pay American workers a living wage, then let them move their facilities overseas and make room for new enterprising companies who are willing to take less of a profit, less disparity in CEO to worker salaries, and less profit to shareholders. There are many U.S. companies that operate with those very fair principles and do fine. As of this date, we will no longer play by the same rules. If a corporation does not like it, let them leave.

[Assassin]

Amen. I should have read this before submitting my post, which is very redundant. Argh.

[1smartcanerican]

As a person with dual citizenship, I am excited to vote in my first presidential election. I was also inspired to apply for American citizenship so that I could vote for Obama - and I personally know of four more people who also became American citizens in time to vote for Obama.

It is wonderful to see a person with an excellent education who takes the time to think through the issues prior to providing solutions; who shows respect for his wife and children; and who understands that it will take ALL Americans to fix the country's standing in the world. Thanks for the great article!

[jmwtex]

Alan, you are correct, it is one big game of the Emporer's New Clothes. I do not believe that they, the Repbulicans, really believe that Sarah Palin is qualified for the job. I do not believe that they believe that their economic policies will eventually "trickle down." They know that it won't. But, they do know that many Americans will "buy" the idea of it while they get rich. And they were right.

Many middle-class people are responsible for this mess because they bought this economic theory for the last thirty years. Finally, I hope the middle-class realizes the trickle down theory does not work and the middle-class has been screwed.

[Decipherer]

Whew! After all that, I truly wonder why you'd bother becoming a U.S. citizen. I suppose you might have concluded, to paraphrase Winston Churchill, the U.S. is the worst country in the world, except for all the others!

Decent movie industry, reasonable taxes, relative freedoms, great restaurants, moderate climate. What's not to like?

But seriously, you make a strong case about the nature of our country and political system which after eight years are nearly bankrupt. That didn't have to happen, but it did. The U.S. went temporarily insane, if I may say so. That happens to countries from time-to-time. It happened in your home country, it happened in Germany (1932 - 45), etc. Many of my fellow native-born Americans and others who are proud citizens hope this election can turn this thing around.

There is no country on earth capable of turning itself around and doing better by its people. The candidacy of Barack Obama is a case in point. Only 45 years or so after African Americans were actually guaranteed voting rights, and this only 100 years after they were freed as slaves, an African American is likely to be elected president.

The things you pointed out are the same things a majority of Americans are fed up with and are determined to change. You will be pleasantly surprised with the result in three weeks. I wish you could join us by voting in this election, but we're counting on you in 2010!

[Dorina]

Thank you Alan for an insightful, articulate post.

I'd be interested to know if your plan to become a citizen will change if Obama is not elected.

[sneetches]

Thank you Mr. Cumming for holding up the mirror. Unfortumately those who are in most need to see themselves will not read your post.
I've traveled abroad and have friends to whom I can only apologize to for the imbecility of my country.
I applaud your decision to join us as an American- and wouldn't be great if for every new citizen of your caliber - we could banish at least ten of the idiots? Can we send them out on a new Mayflower, perhaps to space as human guinea pigs?
One more thought- the only issue you left out was religion. The Republicans + religion= Ignorance, Intolerance, Biggotry, Homophobia, and a growing nationalistic fervor that smacks of fascism.
And what's even sadder is that after these buffoons have raped our country and raided it's coffers, the very people who put this administation in charge are going right back to the polling booths to vote for McSame. They can't understand that is not about Obama. It's about a movement, an idea whose time has come. Either we turn the page and look to the future, or we perish.

[Imago]

Thank you for raising questions about the glorification of mediocrity. Like the lovely man in your avatar, Alan, I too, have been scratching my head in confusion.

Part of it, as others have written, is about the fairly dismal status of our public educational system that was initially designed to make people good workers in an industrial society. And part of it is the great sucker of the mind, the "idiot box" as my mother unwaveringly referred to it during my childhood, the TV and its bread and circus, lowest common denominator offerings.

But I think the problem is deeper than that. I think the US has been buying its own press since the end of the second world war as the great hope, the great deliverer, the greatest. And we've been sliding from that status, on many levels, since.

I think in part this affection with mediocrity stems from a fear that maybe we're not quite so cool as we think we are. We boom our own praises in our own echo chamber because that's far more comfortable than looking up and looking around and realizing that we're not nearly as spiffy and important as we'd hoped to be. And, unfortunately, we're big enough for our voices to drown out the rest of the world.

Part of the gift of our current economic woes is that it will, in all likelihood, force us out of our echo chamber. I sure hope so.

[odoreida]

Do all of the posts to this thread have to include profuse slurpy kisses thanking Mr. Cumming for writing it? I think Mr. Cumming should continue shopping for a new country to adopt until he finds one where the people are less mediocre than Americans. I mean, why make himself unhappy by tying himself to a place where so much of the culture is clearly beneath him and his needs?

Or he could go back to Blighty, where everybody is so clever and refined and well-spoken (those hot accents -- wow!!) that they never ever lose their jobs.

I sometimes wonder who the heck these mummers think they are, and why we're supposed to read and admire their political insight.

[Mickey7]

What does the fuzz look like in that thar navel you're gazing at? Just a tad put out to discover the rest of the world isn't as enamored with us as we are with ourselves? Maybe you need to get out more.

[odoreida]

Do you actually know people who sit around admiring themselves because they are Americans, Mickey?

And isn't it a tad hypocritical when people from the UK -- with their bad economy, second rate colleges and tenth-rate newspapers -- come here, get rich, excoriate this country as not being as good as other countries -- and then become citizens. It makes some of us feel as though we're somehow being used.

It's such a cliche for Brits to go on about American mediocrity. As if every other country -- and Britain in particular -- were somehow underpopulated with fools. It's too bad Obama supporters have been told that they're smarter than other people. There's nothing more ridiculous than a m oro n preening itself.