American exceptionalism glides complacently into the 21st century on a lie and a prayer. The lie comprises all the flag-waving hyperbole, the exceptionalist claim that "We're Number One," when as measured by far too many key indicators we are actually closer to being #10 (social mobility) or maybe #34 (infant mortality) or dead last -- pun intended -- in the percentage of our population we incarcerate. The prayer is the exceptionalists' hope that no one will notice their swaggering hypocrisy as they set about gutting and privatizing all the magnificent programs on which American greatness depends and downplay default on the national debt like a cynical old bankrupt.
The latest proof of hypocrisy comes from two closely related American flameouts. We just launched the 135th and last manned flight under the Space Shuttle program -- having declared we can no longer afford as a nation to explore the universe in person. And we are about to kill the James Webb telescope, the successor to the famous Hubble Space telescope that opened up the universe to our curiosity and scrutiny and helped animate the manned space program. The last frontier is today a bridge too far and America's journey to space joins the moribund TV series Star Trek. Space exploration is to be privatized, looking out to the edge of the cosmos to be terminated, and if we ever again want to go where no man has gone before, we will have to hitch a ride on Russian or Chinese rockets.
So all those fiscal conservatives and Tea Party complainers who deny the public good and insist government is a wastrel need to make up their minds: do they want the United States to be a third class mini-state with a fourth class public sector? In which case they can go on pretending a great nation's budget is just like a family budget to be trimmed and balanced, but stop pretending we're number one and admit we're actually a drop-out.
Or they can try to give some substance to their boasting and take steps to maintain our global leadership. In which case they need to be revitalizing and growing the public sector they are currently devastating. For it is the public sector with its "res publica" (public goods) that alone can undertake those great American projects like the national parks (remember that Republican giant Teddy Roosevelt?), space exploration and world-class K-12 education and health care systems -- which entails bold leadership and a willingness by Americans to pool some of our resources to make leadership possible (it's called "taxes").
It's not that we don't know how to be number one: in military expenditures we outspend the world, budgeting more for hard power than the next two dozen or so nations on earth including China, France, the U.K., Russia, Japan, Germany, Italy, Brazil, South Korea and Canada and another dozen nations put together. If we can do it here, we can do it in health, science, education and social justice.
What we can't do is have it both ways -- talk number one and behave like number 34. Proclaim our superiority and privatize or close down every meaningful public program. Strut like a wealthy cosmopolitan but tax ourselves like some parochial back-water bankrupt (about to default on our debts!).
Leadership is a competition in big deeds not big talk. Big deeds cost big bucks and demand from a people confidence and a willingness to sacrifice, as well as a firm sense of how the private and the public intersect and reinforce one another. No nation ever maintained a global role by dismantling its government and refusing to pay its bills. We certainly cannot be number one and turn over leadership in physics to Europe (as we did when we dropped out of the super-collider race and punted to CERN in Switzerland), end our manned space program and defund the Webb telescope, and give up on higher education and public health. Launching Predator drones over Pakistan while we stumble into default won't cut it.
In short, we can embrace timidity and go on maiming the public sector, destroying democratic governance and stashing our shrinking wealth (unequally divided) under our mattresses. Or we can walk the bold talk and share our common-wealth (well named!) and resume a global leadership rooted in vision, dynamism, equal sacrifice and hard work.
But please, all you "exceptionalists," all you libertarian and Tea-Party and fiscal conservative hypocrites, stop preening to show off your new clothes when you're dressed in tatters. Stop telling the world how great we are, and yet telling us how impotent we are to pay for, let alone realize, greatness. Stop shouting "WE'RE NUMBER ONE" when it's because of you we're heading for number 35.
Follow Benjamin R. Barber on Twitter: www.twitter.com/BenjaminRBarber
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"USA! USA! USA!"
"We're #1!!!"
"US - Greatest Country in the World!"
"One Nation Under God, With Liberty and Justice For All!"
*********
All part of the Seductive, Orwellian Propaganda Machine they use to suck you in. They convince you that you, too, can "win".
24/7 you're fed the cruel illusion that you and your family matter, that you have a real "equal opportunity" shot at the American Dream if only you "work hard enough" (IF you can find work). All LIES, designed to keep you playing their rigged game.
You DO know it's 100% rigged, right?
After all, the Rules of the Game state that the Obscenely Rich and Powerful require permanent masses of ignorant, manipulated poor.
How do you think they get us to fight all their dirty wars that make them filthy rich?
All they have to mention are "freedom", "democracy", "patriotism", "God", "heroes" and "security" and we're like Pavlov's dogs.
Because if you really knew and understood the hard, brutal truth - if you connected all the ugly, putrid dots - you'd smash that pretty "America, Inc." game board, burn the funny money and righteously take up massive, furious torches and pitchforks tonight.
While We the People have not only been suckered into playing their game, on their terms, always by the "rules" - the Rich and Powerful don't play by any rules at all.
America is nothing but a massive, 24K Ponzi scheme.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-04-28/mcdonald-s-hires-62-000-during-national-event-24-more-than-planned.html
McDonald’s Hires 62,000 in U.S. Event, 24% More Than Planned
"McDonald’s Corp. (MCD), the world’s biggest restaurant chain, said it hired 24 percent more people than planned during an employment event this month.
McDonald’s and its franchisees hired 62,000 people in the U.S. after receiving more than one million applications, the Oak Brook, Illinois-based company said today in an e-mailed statement. Previously, it said it planned to hire 50,000..."
"But please, all you "exceptionalists," all you libertarian and Tea-Party and fiscal conservative hypocrites, stop preening to show off your new clothes when you're dressed in tatters. Stop telling the world how great we are, and yet telling us how impotent we are to pay for, let alone realize, greatness. Stop shouting "WE'RE NUMBER ONE" when it's because of you we're heading for number 35."
The key thing is that THEY are dressed in tatters, meaning they profess to support policies which are against their own interests. How can this be? They will not always be in tatters. The wealthy will reward their loyalty. Guess what TPs and FCs? You'll be under a bridge with the rest of us. Rail against health care--until you lose yours. Then we'll see what tune you sing. What explains this mentality? Somone quoted John Steinbeck: "The poor are temporarily embarassed millionaires."
In the end, they are a symptom of decline. Something like the Tea-Party would not be possible in a culture of values, vision, and character.
Right, gotcha.
"nasa budget contribution gnp"
http://er.jsc.nasa.gov/seh/economics.html
The Economic Impacts of the U.S. Space Program
"...NASA's Influence on the U.S. Economy
Analyses of the macroeconomic effects of the U.S. space program attempt to identify and measure that portion of economic growth attributable to technological progress. A Midwest Research Institute (MRI) study of the relationship between R&D expenditures and technology-induced increases in GNP indicated that each dollar spent on R&D returns an average of slightly over seven dollars in GNP over an eighteen-year period following the expenditure (3). Assuming that NASA's R&D expenditures produce the same economic payoff as the average R&D expenditure, MRI concluded that the $25 billion (1958) spent on civilian space R&D during the 1959-69 period returned $52 billion through 1970 and will continue to stimulate benefits through 1987, for a total gain of $181 billion..."
This information should be on NASA's home page, in sixth-grade level English, along with links to NASA spinoffs, before the politicians close NASA down.
NASA is one example given in the blog, but I think it's a great point for Tea Party ideals. I loved Star Trek as much as anyone ever did, but we got to the moon and rovers got to Mars. Those two things and all the other planets in this solar system are lifeless rocks. No one has ever come up with a viable concept of how to travel to other solar systems light years away. I don't think there are many other productive uses of space travel we have at this time, except for private companies giving wealthy thrill-seekers rides up there.
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/news/facts/nasaspinoff.html
NASA - NASA Spinoffs Fact Sheet
"...NASA Medical-Related Spinoffs
America's space program has helped revolutionize the practice of medicine through improvements in blood pressure monitors, self-adjusting pacemakers, EKGs, exercise equipment and ultrasound images, as well as the items listed below.
Laser Angioplasty: From laser technology for remote sensing of the ozone layer, Advanced Inter-dentinal Systems, Irvine, Calif., developed a cool laser that uses ultraviolet light energy to operate on human tissue.
Digital Cardiac Imaging (DCI) System: Designed by Phillips Medical Systems International, DCI uses image processing technology on a monitor of the heart's regions, following a catheter as it moves. The technology was developed for NASA Earth remote-sensing satellites.
Digital Imaging Breast Biopsy System: Goddard Space Flight Center contracted with Scientific Imaging Technologies, Inc. (SITe) to develop a new advanced charge coupled device that could be manufactured at lower cost. SITe applied the NASA-driven enhancementsto develop a technique called the"sees" a breast structure with x-ray vision.
Artificial Heart: The technology used in space shuttle fuel pumps led to the development of a miniaturized ventricular assist pump by NASA and renowned heart surgeon Dr. Michael DeBakey. The tiny pump -- two inches long, one inch in diameter and weighing less than four ounces -- has been successfully implanted into more than 20 people..."
have lower maternal death rates than the United States.
• The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) report that there has been no
improvement in the maternal death rate in the United States since 1982.
• The CDC estimated in 1998 that the US maternal death rate is actually 1.3
to three times that reported in vital statistics records because of
underreporting of such deaths. (1)
• The CDC reported in 1995 that the “magnitude of the pregnancy-related
mortality problem is grossly understated.” (2)
• The rate of maternal death directly related to pregnancy or birth appears
to be rising in the United States. In 1982, the rate was approximately 7.5
deaths per 100,000 live births. By 2005, the rate was 15.1 deaths.
• The CDC estimates that more than half of the reported maternal deaths
in the United States could have been prevented by early diagnosis and
treatment.
Guttmacher.org Fact Sheet. Fact: Lack of prenatal, post-natal care and lack of insurance IMPACTS maternal morbidity. Universal/Single Payor Now!
1. Unusual; not typical.
2. Unusually good; outstanding.
The term exceptional has two meanings. We are indeed exceptional (Definition one) in history by way of our Constitution and form of government.
Many people believe we are an exceptional society in the (Definition two) sense as well, but as a RESULT of our Constitution ... not exceptional in any other way outside of that context.
The author misunderstands American exceptionalism.
Socialism is what other developed countries have is another myth, no matter the facts about their generally superior, more educated and much more equitable and humane systems.
Any government program, they think reflexively, is toxic. Despite the facts. This especially applies of course to Healthcare. And the Military budget. Ours nearly equals the rest of the world's combined, and what has it wrought and how much much safer has it made us?
Any effort FOR THE COMMON GOOD is suspicious to the uninformed mob. To the delight of corporate interests.
But this is just greed and selfishness most of the time and flies in the face of Western Humanism, which came into being in the 18th century and further promoted by the Founding Fathers, whose insights have been forgotten.
Michelle Bachmann and others like her are particularly dangerous and offensive because of her lack of humane instincts. But much of our country and our "leaders" are like her.
But their businesses can fail, and do, because the margins are tighter. That's when middle class people lose their jobs.
I do really believe in the much-shamed trickle-down theory. I might say that I could be very wealthy myself, if only I had the capital to start with, but that's wrong. I've been (middle-class but) fairly comfortable all my life and I won't work 12 hour days, 6.5 days a week to gain myself a whole lot more wealth. What for? I have a small fishing boat that I never use in the storage shed, so what do I need a yacht for?
For whatever reason, the wealthiest people have a drive to just get more done i their life and a by-product of that is many things that we depend on in our civilization.
In New York the factories that remain have been robotized, no doubt making their owners even wealthier.
Small margins are not what cause these job creators to lay off, export jobs and factories and pursue tax loopholes at all.
It is lack of regulation. a national lack of fairness and humane instincts and greed.
These graphs compare the health care systems of Japan, Britain, Switzerland, and Germany to the U.S.:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/sickaroundtheworld/etc/graphs.html
FRONTLINE: sick around the world: Graphs: U.S. Health Stats Compared to Other Countries | PBS
The U.S. is number 1 in abortions:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/12/AR2010031202287.html
T.R. Reid - Universal health care tends to cut the abortion rate - washingtonpost.com
The U.S. is number 1 in medical bankruptcies
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2005/bankruptcy_study.html
Medical Bills Leading Cause of Bankruptcy, Harvard Study Finds
The U.S. is number 1 in prison populations:
http://www.luimbe.com/blog/2010/07/28/were-1-usas-prison-population/
We're #1: USA's Prison Population ½ luimbe.com
http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_thelookout/20110614/bs_yblog_thelookout/workers-share-of-national-income-plummets-to-record-low
Workers' share of national income plummets to record low - Yahoo! News
"Over the last decade, the share of U.S. national income taken home by workers has plummeted to a record low.
Check out the chart below, compiled by the Labor Department, and posted this week by conservative writer David Frum. It shows that the decline began with the brief recession that followed 9/11 in 2001. But it continued even as the economy picked up again, and got even worse once the Great Recession hit. In the weak recovery since then, workers' share of income just kept on falling..."
http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/A-Yearbook/2007/en/Small-Arms-Survey-2007-Chapter-02-annexe-4-EN.pdf
This could be a "Good Thing" if massive and peaceful demonstrations don't work.
Looks rather pathetic, eh. Listening to the crowds wrapped in American Flags is sickening. They tear it down and break it instead of building the latest and the greatest.
What does it take to be number one?? Logic dictates many steps that are opposite of the chaos we are suffering from now. Chaos rules at this time. Logic is certainly more desirable.
What does it take to return the USA to the highest Quality of life in the world?? Statistical process control and continuous process improvement. The numbers discussed in this article are measures of quality. I cannot believe the reduction of standards and quality in the USA.
What does it take to make the USA into the most ethical country in the world??? You tell me. Make your response academic. Religious ethics are questionable. Humanities and academic ethics are eye opening.
Can we have a new period of reformation and illumination??? It is simple.
Quality vs junk - Ethics vs unethical - Logic vs Illogical
Right now we are living in the junk of of crumbling infrastructure, enduring unethical business and political leadership, and forced to eat illogical situations and watch the numbers slide into oblivion.
BULL!
WE ARE A BETTER PEOPLE THAN THIS.
it's about spending money on the right stuff, not the wrong stuff.
the wrong stuff is subsidies for oil companies, the most profitable organizations ever - we need to slash fossil fuels use ASAP, anyway.
the wrong stuff is supporting a fat, parasitic layer of health insurance companies that suck up a third of our health expenses, instead of a more-efficient national healthcare system.
the wrong stuff is an obese, obscene "defense" military/industrial cancer, which absorbs almost half of our discretionary budget in order to station US troops in over 100 foreign countries. our paranoia and willingness to extort a favorable overseas business environment for mega-corporations is strangling us.
For over 30 years, only the top 20% have seen real growth in income and wealth. They are also the ones who benefit most from each round of tax cuts. As they are the ones who have benefited from these policies, they should be the ones to bear the burden of paying down the debt.