[BITList] Fwd: BBC News - Is the US in denial over its $14tn debt?

[John Feltham]

An answer from a Harvard trained lawyer born in Kenya, now living in Boston, 


Begin forwarded message:

> From: Anil Madan <bwana at madans.com>
> Date: 5 July 2011 9:46:30 AM AWST
> To: John Feltham <wantok at me.com>
> Cc: Jaggi Singh <karibu at cogeco.ca>, CK Sharma <seekayess at mac.com>
> Subject: Re: BBC News - Is the US in denial over its $14tn debt?
> 
> my unfinished opus for the day
> 
> 
> Curiously, I was mulling writing a piece for the 4th of July, now 235 years post-independence and the thought that was going through my head was:
> 
> America today faces big problems magnified in their scope by years of neglect and inattention.  If we fail to solve some of these problems, our social and economic future will face a measurable decline, but we will live with that as all societies live with gradual decline that does not affect the entire populace.  But there are some problems which, if not solved, will lead to catastrophic consequences, including for those in the upper tiers now enjoyed unprecedented wealth, prosperity and privilege.
> 
> On this fourth of July as with every fourth of July, we will hear, more so than on most other days, that America is "the greatest nation on earth" or that America is "the leader of the free world."  This stuff is partly based on true belief and partly jingoistic bluster.  If you ask the Chinese, Arabs, Indians, Australians, Brits, Europeans, Mexicans, Venezuelans, Canadians, ... indeed anyone other than an American, you will not get agreement here.  Of course, there are some Americans who disagree with these declarations but to most of us, they are misguided.
> 
> It is good to believe that your country is "the greatest nation on earth" or that it is "the leader of the free world."  After all, there is good reason to believe.  But life is not a sporting event where you cheer on your team and if it, perchance loses, you wait for the next game, or worse, for next year.
> 
> These jingoistic declarations by politicians are becoming an excuse for non-action, for a refusal to address our problems.  When President Obama took office, we had about 47 million Americans without health insurance.  No matter how you look at it, this is disgraceful.  And wrong.  Yes, there is room for the argument that we should not be a nanny state, but the tax system which should be used to benefit all Americans, is used disproportionately to confer the benefit of cheaper, or free insurance coverage to those in the employment pool at the expense of all others.  But there is no room for inaction based on declarations such as "America has the best health care system and the best doctors in the world."  No, we don't.  We do have the capacity to deliver the best care in any given case and we do have fantastic hospitals and technology.  But, best health care system in the world?  Best doctors in the world?  Not hardly ... there are better health care systems and being a good doctor is an individual thing - there are many, many excellent doctors all over the world.
> 
> Just as this attitude about health care prevented us from addressing the problem head-on, similar declarations prevent us from addressing more serious problems.  We have the best military in the world, so we should not try to make the defense budget efficient.  We have the best economic system in the world, free enterprise and capitalism, so we should not enact necessary regulations.  We have the best free market and securities markets, so we should not be more aggressive about enforcing rules requiring openness, disclosure and honesty.
> 
> The laments go on.
> 
> It is time to stop.  Maybe we should be saying: "America can become the greatest nation on earth," and "America must lead the free world, not fall behind."
> 
> ..... &c.  Conclusion to follow ... or observed.
> 
> Bwana
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