Years ago, comics character Pogo opined, “We have met the enemy and he is us.” Pogo’s opinion seems appropriate for America today. We are our own worst enemy. We are a worse threat than terrorists or foreign powers. We seem intent on proving former Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev’s prediction that America will collapse from within. Our paralyzing and divisive extremes imperil our democracy.
With dysfunctional government, we mostly neglect or ignore a majority of struggling children, our crumbling infrastructure, our monstrous national debt, fiscally sound tax reform, real health-care reform, declining voter participation, just immigration reform research and development, and other vital interests. Perhaps the most alarming problem is that many 5-year-olds cannot pass a kindergarten readiness test, but it is doubtful many high officials could pass the kindergarten test. To solve our problems, cooperation could be a powerful model.
America is best and respected when assisting struggling people. Despite some policy blunders, our great country has generally been a stabilizing and healing power for our troubled world, but we are ceding world leadership. Forrest Gump’s mama said, “Stupid is as stupid does.” There are an awful lot of stupid happenings in Washington, D.C.
