Calling Out America

Originally Written 05/14/2013

This isn’t about being treasonous. This is about honesty. Let’s face it America needs someone to sit it down, tell it what it’s done wrong, and then put it into time out. The list of wrongs isn’t all that excessive. However, they have become interwoven into our psyche as individuals and its going to take a stern spanking to get them out. As citizens OUR transgressions are bold, in so far as they have become unconsciously routine.

This didn’t happen when we were standing together at the helm of the country, guiding it to a better tomorrow. This happened because we were doing something else entirely. We were in line getting our grande caramel mocha. This happened because we were busy keeping up with the Kardashians. We were distracted by the lights of the city…the depthlessness of the internet…the lure of self-gratification.

           

The first is a slap in the face of the strength this country was founded upon, for America has lost its will. At one time we were a nation of hardened people willing to traverse an unforgiving frontier in covered wagons. This was done without any guarantee of prosperity or profit. No one complained. When men went overseas to fight during World War II, women took up the mantles of the dingy and dangerous jobs they left behind. No one complained. Democrat and Republican alike held each other in mourning when John Kennedy was murdered. No one paused.

            Now we refuse to stand together on whether or not homosexuals can marry. The country complains about shit jobs being done by immigrants, which they themselves wouldn’t perform for 10 times the minimum wage. Today, our grease slathered rotund faces can’t find the energy to go to the gym for twenty minutes a day. We’ve lost our will. Our hunger to produce by need has been replaced with gluttony to consume by greed.

            Some would point the finger at religion for all of this. Claiming that belief in varying Gods, or no belief in God at all, has led us to this point. In a certain light that’s true, but not in the way that spending Sunday morning in a church pew is going to cure. Money is God and credit is His savior son. Therefore the truth is a growing number of people (survey says: all of them) worship every day, all day. But make no mistake; their focus isn’t a typical deity. No, America hasn’t lost its belief, merely shifted it. Once upon a time we believed in ourselves, now we believe in self.

            Americans serve themselves. We delude ourselves into satisfying our every whim. It’s just too damn easy. For several generations, we haven’t had to work hard, and those that do invest their time and money into the greatest commodity; themselves.

Finally, in a time where every side has an agenda, one can’t even tell who the bad guy is anymore. Worst of all is no one is even trying. Arguments made up of inaction of political rants fill our space; everyone that once cared or has the power and means to take action has lost interest.

For the past fifty years, America has claimed the Easy Street of the Earth as its residence. We do so as the rest of the world- a world that hasn’t had much of a view (let alone access) to the high and rolling hills on Easy Street- work harder and more efficiently with less.

            But don’t worry we’re Americans - someone else will pick up the slack.

           

It's Not About the Money...

…It’s about sending a message.

Words uttered by the Joker in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight just before setting fire to a monumental pile of cash. A powerful scene that gives the viewer insight into the character’s true motivation. But chaos and mayhem aside, is it realistic? How dependent am I on the comfort of money? And maybe more importantly, do I even have a message to send?

Before answering that question, I suppose it’s important to frame it with the proper history.

From humble beginnings, I am the guy that grew up on baloney sandwiches laced with government cheese, and somehow ended up wearing hand-me-downs even though I was the oldest sibling. Many a school year I was the child that hadn’t gotten new clothes and was wearing last year’s fall fashion to homeroom on day one of class. The only thing I knew about Nike was that I didn’t have any (Alas a swoosh-less upbringing, woe is me), and it seemed everyone else did. My parents, God bless them both, somehow fed and clothed a family of four on a mere $17,000 a year. That being said, I wasn’t aware I was poor until I got around kids in school that weren’t. Trust me, I believe the ignorance of my youth was a good thing, and of course a credit to my parents.

Through my teens, even after I started working, the lure of upgrading my lifestyle with brand names eluded me, or perhaps I eluded it. 

In my twenties, things took a turn as I began earning more dough. I drank Budweiser and Jaeger, and thought them to be the height of alcoholic beverages. My mall trips consisted of safaris wherein I would attempt to find the World’s most classless and ugly shirts. Remember those button-ups that were imitation silk, the bright ones with the swirling dragons and flames that were lapping up from the shirt tails? Ya, I kept those things in market for several years. And I apologize.

Fast forward some ten or so years, and all my running shoes have passed the swoosh test. I no longer eat government cheese, but instead opt for dropping about a hundred dollars a week on restaurant grub. My clothing choices now include a selection of about 100 printed t-shirts, and for more formal events a few vests and slacks (though most of these are recycled work clothes that no longer get worn). Guinness and Gentleman Jack can be found taking up space in the bar these days. Needless to say I’ve gotten quite a bit more comfortable embracing America’s new favorite pastime; consumerism.

Though sometimes I wonder, why did things change? Supposing it’s normal to alter one’s spending habits as you earn more income, my theory is as follows: I can be a fairly persuasive person, particularly I can talk myself into anything. Had a bad day? Resolve it with a spending spree. Stress on the job? Relieve it with a nice drink. While you’re at it, don’t waste your cash on your regular fare, upgrade! Why, because you deserve it pal!

Naturally, because of the path I’ve followed in this regard I find myself asking as of late, could I go back to the way things used to be?

My answer is a simple one: I think I’ve lost my taste for government cheese.

Kidding aside, I think I could, but only if I had to. If by some uncontrollable event, I no longer had the means to enjoy my current standard of living. Please don’t misunderstand me either. I’m not writing this to brag about where I’m at vs. where I came from. Everyone that has the ability to read these words is without a doubt better off than a majority of the rest of the world (Fact is as of 2012, even the bottom 10% of U.S. income falls in the top 30% of global income distribution).  Additionally, we all have our own vices. Some of you might even be reading this on the latest IPhone. I’m not even going to call out the fact you’ve probably wasted hundreds of dollars running out to the Apple store to buy the newest model, even though your previous phone was probably without defect. I believe nearly every American is guilty of this type of behavior to some degree.

At the end of all this contemplation I suppose I’m not so bad overall. At least I’m to the point where I’m thinking about what my hard earned cash goes towards, and that’s a step in the right direction if nothing else.

So I suppose we’re to the point where I have to get to mine. Getting back to what I referenced about having a message… Simply put I believe mine is as follows; it’s worth taking a look at what demands your dollars attention. Just because you’re spending within your means, doesn’t mean what you spend has meaning.