Why is the USA Screwed -- Maybe Forever?

Merry Christmas, and for you all who prefer "Happy Holidays," okay. Holidays or not, we're screwed. Here's the anatomy of the perfect storm that has taken us down...

There is a basic human moral code. Cross-cultural taboos are witness to the fact that the human race has a sense of right and wrong. Religious people codified this in commandments, teachings, laws and regulations; even threats of eternal damnation. Secular people are no less rigid. They just come up with utilitarian reasons for why bad behavior is punished. But here's the fact: like it or not anarchy never catches on. It's a matter of the survival of the tribe. Call it God's way or the truth of what we became in our evolutionary ancestral home; it all comes out the same: we need rules.

- What has led to the massive levels of fraud on Wall Street, as well as the technically illegal kind of actual fraud, wherein one prankster walked off with $130 million and another with $50 billion?

- What has led to America blithely undertaking a wrong war in Iraq, for bogus reasons having elected a bogus president?

- Why are educational values sliding?

- Why are divorce rates amongst even so-called born-again Christians, as high as amongst so-called atheists?

- Why are the majority of African-American children being raised by single parents?

- Why are the mostly white, over-educated white collar jerks who ran our economy into the mud taking bonuses?

- Why are white rural kids killing themselves with methamphetamine addiction?

- Why have governmental environmental officials become so corrupt that they are little more than shills for oil companies, car companies and mining companies? (Easy answer -- they're Republicans!)

- Why in the midst of global warming are there still jerks out there driving Hummers and SUVs because they think they can "afford it"?

- Why did it become "okay" to torture prisoners?

- Why have the banks betrayed us?

- Why are there idiots collecting assault weapons?

- Why are we a nation of overweight porkers, incapable of losing weight who may well have shorter life spans than our parents (declines in smoking aside)?

- Why can't we save money but have run up personal and national debt to the point that our currency is plunging in real value worldwide?

- Why are we putting children on prescription drugs for disciplinary and/or behavioral problems?

- Why can't we keep our credit cards in our wallets and our cocks in our pants?

The answer is: the worst of the progressive movement and the worst of the conservative, and especially evangelical/born-again movement, converged into a weird symbiosis wherein even though they represent polar opposite extremes in our culture they have in fact created a perfect environment for our perfect storm of self-destruction.

Both the left and right have believed their own bullshit and taken their private "religious" theologies as gospel.

The left tried to de-link personal moral sexual and family-related behavior, for instance staying married for the sake of raising stable families, not screwing around, just because you wanted to... from what they considered to be public policy issues. They forgot that when the general atmosphere of a culture slides to license in the personal realm something snaps in the public realm.

On the right, and especially in the evangelical/fundamentalist community, people de-linked the biblical call to love your neighbor as yourself from public responsibility. In other words, government programs that require higher taxation, regulation and benefits packages (we loosely call welfare) were de-linked from private theology wherein the gospel calls for the care of the poor, the earth and the other. Greed was sanctified.

On the left, the mantra -- post-sixties -- became go to bed with anyone, follow your pleasure and don't put up with any hassles when it comes to, for instance, being faithful to your wife or husband and/or sticking a tough marriage out for the sake of your children.

On the right, the mantra -- post-Reagan -- became, the market is supreme, freedom equals consumerism.

On the left, the cry went up, it's my body I'll do what I want!

On the right, the the cry went up, this is my stuff I'll do what I want!

When personal responsibility and private taboos crumble on the one hand, and when public responsibility and taboos crumble on the other hand, the mix becomes toxic. Everyone is into what works for "me" but not what works for "us."

President-elect Obama is going to have to try and reverse this trend by calling out both the progressive and conservative elements of our society to get back to first principles and a willingness to sacrifice. That means that we may be entering an era where taboos both personal and public become fashionable again. I hope so.

We've gone to the last stop on a road paved with the mantra that no one is allowed to judge anyone else's behavior. The result is a culture that drives whatever vehicles suits it and global warming be damned. The result is a culture in which divorce is easy and common and all the definitive studies which prove unequivocally that the children of divorce, abandonment and instability bear lifelong scars, that in turn directly affect their ability to function in society, be damned (not to mention the economic problems of divorced families, particularly women, those who raise the children.)

(Note: How ironic that the right wing of the "Christian" community is taking a "stand" against gay marriage when gay marriage hurts no one and shows a salutary commitment to stability and the future, and when all studies show that the real marriage meltdown, in terms of actual harm to society that is measurable, is our tolerance of "no-fault" heterosexual divorce and its effect on kids and the economy.)

If the Obama presidency is to succeed, it's going to have to go far beyond policy and laws. President-elect Obama is going to have to become an evangelist.

The new president is going to have to call religious people back to a consistent lifestyle based on what they say they believe. No more raping the earth by "evangelicals" and stomping on social justice programs in the name of market oriented "freedom." No more bashing gay people in the name of Jesus. No more hate for immigrants.

And to secular "progressive" America: no more lying to ourselves. Irresponsible men who father children, irresponsible women who walk away from families, cynical moral anarchists hurt the whole of our society. Just ask a teacher (my son teaches high school) if the children of solid two parent-caring families do better than the children of single or divorced parents or single moms.

The real problem is that we've all been lying to ourselves and pretending that the 10,000 years of human history teaches us nothing. We've been pretending that somehow our society is exempt from everything human beings have learned about the need for order, structure and moral taboos.

The criminology idea of the "broken window" (small crimes create a climate for big ones) applies to our lax moral decisions; from winking at vast amounts paid the executive thieves running the hedge fund companies and banks, to winking at the idiots in the entertainment industry and cultural establishment who have sold a generation on the idea that following your cock is always a fine idea, to winking at the fact that people who can't stop eating, won't save money, run up debts and run out on their spouses are earth and culture-destroying menaces. These are not "private" choices. They are what ruin schools, make health care unaffordable , destroy the economy and create kids who barely can function. We all pay. And we're all guilty as hell, if of nothing else, of gross complicity by our silence.

From Wall Street to the listless youths failing in our schools, to the churning insane casino industry, to the tens of thousands of marinas filled with all those useless stupid pleasure craft, to our highways clogged with vehicles with one passenger, to our broken railroads, to every faithless man and woman who hasn't put their children first, we have, taken together, achieved the unthinkable: we've put at risk the most powerful country on earth and perhaps destroyed our future.

I hope that President-elect Obama can call us back to our senses, coerce us into better behavior, preach, cajole, convince and -- if need be -- force us to look at what we've done to ourselves. It's time to admit our wrongs, repent and convert to new ways.

Here is Obama's message shorthand: stop screwing around!

Or he could put it this way...

There is no free lunch be it in the classroom, the bedroom or the boardroom. Grown ups know this. So do grown up civilizations. Grow up!

Frank Schaeffer is the author of Crazy For God: How I Grew Up as One of the Elect, Helped Found the Religious Right, and Lived to Take All (or Almost All) of It Back (Now in Paperback).

Follow Frank Schaeffer on Twitter: www.twitter.com/frank_schaeffer

Comments

[SeriousBlack]

A broad spectrum of commentary. I agree with much of what Mr. Schaeffer says, while I might disagree with a few things. For instance, while I am what would be regarded as a "far left liberal" in most things, I have also always been strongly in favor of personal responsibility in general.

But one thing that all of us should be able to agree on: If the entire human race, not just the United States, is to survive in the long term (yes, hopefully, led by the United States if we can get a handle on some of our particular society's most egregious structural defects such as how we regard/administer health care), we as an entire human race have to recognize, big time, that we inhabit a very small oasis, our planet, within the vastness of space, that is a closed ecological system. One that is more than capable of being overwhelmed by our overpopulation, ravaging of natural resources, and pollution.

We absolutely MUST adopt a fundamental way of living that in all respects is SUSTAINABLE. (As opposed to the current mentality of growth and profit at all costs.)

[Vurz]

While I agree that personal responsibility is a good thing; I do have a problem with your major assumptions.

Before the 1960's a huge percentage of the US population was legally discriminated against in some way in housing, employment, access to services, etc. Women were second class citizens who could be put in jail or mental hospitals on their husbands whim, sexually harassed at work or raped with impunity since "They got what they deserved", denied employment just for being female and so on.

Non-Caucasians were denied housing except in certain areas, jobs except in certain capacities, schooling except in certain schools, and were always "The usual suspects" if there was a crime. "Separate but equal was the order of the day".

Gays could be beaten, murdered, jailed or put in mental hospitals without much fear of reprisal. Gays were jailed and involuntarily committed by the government in many cases. Using the "Homosexual repugnance" defense was an easy way to go free or get a really reduced sentence after a murder.

Fighting against these injustices was not fighting for "it's all about me and what I want". It was about fighting for the Constitution, the country and our fellow citizens.

[propitiousmoment]

Wow. Kinda scary, all that emphasis on staying in a marriage no matter what. I agree that we are a consumer, me-first society, and that there are identifiable causes of that. I would not agree that sending women back into domestic slavery is one the cures. For pete's sake, we have a new president who was raised by a single mom, with the help of her family, and I'd say he turned out to be a spectacular success as a human being. Surely we can come up with something besides the old, tired answers. Evolution did not give us all this creativity for nothing.

[cruzy]

Wow. You are reading into Mr. Schaeffer's comments ideas he never stated nor intended. For example, where do you get that he even suggested one should stay in a marriage "no matter what?" He didn't write that, nor do I think any reasonable person would interpret his comments to suggest that. Also, I don't think there is anything "scary" about personal responsibility or living an integrous life, and if you find such things to be disturbing, then I would say you are a pretty "scary" person yourself. Finally, how you can even begin to imagine that Mr. Schaeffer is suggesting "sending women back into domestic slavery" is really beyond rational comprehension. He's not suggesting that--enough said.

Neither evolution nor "creativity" absolve anyone from responsibility. And, no, responsibility does not mean staying in a marriage where one is mistreated or abused. However, responsibility does mean taking ownership of one's choices, and it does mean keeping ones commitments. I am sorry if you find doing so to be an "old, tired" idea, but that's life. Time to accept it.

[propitiousmoment]

I'm saying we should use this creativity to come up with social structures that deny neither personal choice nor personal responsibility. The whole tone of this piece came across to me as alarmist, and right-wing nostalgia for the good old days when everyone knew their place and morality was seen in dichotomous terms. I'm not trying to absolve anyone, I'm trying to find a better balance between responsibility and freedom. I think the author comes down a little too heavily on one side of the question, that's all.

[leeman79]

When I was a growing up, the message from President Kennedy was to "shoot for the stars and be the best you can be. " Alot of kids wanted to be an astronaut.

Today, its seems like the message is (or was) "appear wealthy." Basically, all show and no substance. Kind of like this hollow economy we have now.

We need to recapture idealism in this country, and recreate an economy that allows people to realize their goals and potential.

[RobinSeattle]

"The left tried to de-link personal moral sexual and family-related behavior, for instance staying married for the sake of raising stable families,...."

Marriage is totally superfluous to raising strong families. A couple can stay together and raise great kids without going through the absurd ablutions of church and the intercession in their relationship of state.

Your larger point is basically, "why can't people be more reasonable and virtuous?"

Because each one of us does what we perceive to be in our own interest, be it what moves our own personal agenda forward or just for the sake of a thrill. That is why we have the form of government in the U.S. we do and not a king or a parliamentary form (look what is happening in Canada over the last few months), to as much as possible set up a procedural framework that would channel as much as possible the passions of man in a productive direction.

Cotton Mather lamented the failings of the younger generation 300 years ago. And it is ever thus. Folks as diverse as Moliere, Voltaire, Zappa and Carlin have won much fame lampooning our hypocrises and peccadilloes.

[kanester]

Not only that, but Frank's argument:
"the children of solid two parent-caring families do better than the children of single or divorced parents or single moms"
could easily lead to an argument for polyamory -- if two "solid" parents are "better" than one, then wouldn't three be better than two? (Of course, one "solid" parent is better than "two" shaky, together ones, but that's a blindspot for right-wingers religulous types.)
Good try, but I agree with jmpurser: You do much better characterizing the right.

[WorkingClass]

Its called materialism Frank and its the same on left and right and in the middle. Americans only care about money and the stuff it buys. For example, we say we value our children, but if thats true why are day care workers making minimum wage? In our system money is loaned into existence. Did you know that Frank. The only thing we care about is having more money and money is loaned into existence. Bankruptcy is the only way it can end. Consumerism is simply not sustainable and it is dying as we speak.

[OliverTwist]

We may be seeing the fruit of the development of western civilization from the time of Constantine to now.

The idea that it is all about us is shared by the right and the left. What could be the focus of our responsibilities if it is all about us? Even God must grant us eternal life if we proclaim our belief in him in the officially approved way! It says so in the Bible, doesn't it?

Both the left and the right believe in the related idea that "Evil" (which is some consider to be nothing more that the things and events that we really don't like - remember, it is all about us, after all) exists in a fundamental way - not just as the absence of good. They believe that it can be destroyed, thank God. Many games incorporate this idea and leaders and millions who follow them believe it and have used it to rationalize their acts of violence against others (evil others, of course).

An argument could be made that we have become a callously indifferent and paradoxically non christian society - in the sense that our behaviors show little regard for others and are frequently discordent with the teachings of Christ.

It would be good to see some change in thinking.

[William999]

You forgot Nancy Grace. America produced Nancy Grace. I watched a full episode of her show once (my in-laws were visiting and they're big fans) and I actually thought to myself, "I hope global warming is worse than they predict and it wipes up all out. We made her".

I live in St Louis, my city just voted down funding public transportation. Yeah, we're screwed.

[Stirner]

"Grow up!" -- has it crossed some minds that perhaps we are indeed "grown up" --even to the point of "going to seed"?. Perhaps the Enlightenment ideas which generated our nation have simply been exhausted. As an example take such founding ideas of our nation as "Freedom" and "Equality". A "free" society is one in which any individual is, at least in the theory of that society, free to do what they will. In reality, the freedom of one is actually limited by the other. So there must be restraint, either internal or external. Now, since we are all, in theory, considered "equal", who will decide whose freedom will be respected? Why should the freedom of another limit mine? Who is to judge? Some policing author which emerges under the rubric of "Law and Order". In practice, simply more laws, more lawyers, more police, more judges, more violence, an expanding prison system -- all this being a clear sign of the contradiction holding between freedom and equality when both are played out (exhausted). All nations and cultures have their period of birth, growth, maturity, and death. We are no exception. What to do? Well, perhaps Nietzsche was right -- "If its falling, push it".

[Parkstepp]

Great article.....we have got to realize that the falsehood of the "American Dream"....has come home to roost....the accumulation of things,to feel a sense of worth,,,,,the "do what we want because we are entitled as Americans "is over......our selfishness is over whelming ...and it starts at the top.......the Words "God Bless America"...make me shiver ,every time I hear them......how about " God Bless the Planet"!.......
We know what to do......we must admit our foolishness......with Humility..realize that we are all together.....the whole planet.....responsible.....people as One.......no one is Special........certainly not Americans.......we have made a fool out of our selves.......as any fool knows...that path to Wisdom....is to admit you've been a fool........see your mistakes.....understand them..then move on...and never repeat them again.......Now is the time for a new way.......and we can do this........we can..........

[cc]

"the children of divorce, abandonment and instability bear lifelong scars"
So do children of loveless "til death do us part" marriage...

To help "grow us up" we could start by rewording the phrase "Jesus is the answer" to "Love is the answer" since obviously the concepts of loving and Jesus are not synonymous in the hearts and minds of today's so-called Christians. This simple rephrasing could mean that instead of "no sex without the financial/religious institution of marriage," the guideline would be "no sex without the spiritual communion of Love" whether contracted and "blessed" or not. Of course there could be no mandates for compliance imposed since it's humanity's privilege to discover the truth for itself. However, the long buried secret that sex is *one of* Love's expressions would finally be out in the open--it's what we all know in the depths of our hearts anyway.

[shaytoonee]

I hope Obama reads your papers all the time. You are a wise man sir.

[shaytoonee]

WOW!!!! Amazing stuff. I am lost for words. You have it 100% correct. Now only if everyone else will understand too. I def. know Obama does.

[butofcourse]

Great column. We really do need a massive revival in this country. I hope that Obama supporters (and non-Obama supporters) realize that "Change we can believe in" comes not just from working to elect one individual, but working as a community to change this country for the better. Starting from within.

[booksnmore4you]

Take home message here:

The USA must have a sweeping REVIVAL to survive.