The American Nightmare

In this, the age of progress, many things that we used to hold dear have become obsolete. Home cooked meals have been replaced by prepackaged, flavorless convenience food that is made in the microwave. Dinner time has all but disappeared because the modern family has been overwhelmed by conflicting schedules. Everything is built on convenience and speed. Parents are so stressed out by debt and trying to pay off that debt, that teaching their children respect and appreciation has been put on the back burner. Parents can't even discipline their children anymore without fear of them being taken away by government agencies that answer to no one. Those retirement funds that our grandfathers depended on for their golden years have been drained by corrupt CEO's. With the amount of debt that the average family incurs, stay-at-home mom's have been forced to join the work force and allow their children to be raised by strangers, just so the family can scrape by. Medical expenses, loss of pay and the fear of losing employment forces many to put off medical treatment until it is too late.

What has happened to us? We were always told that if we worked hard and got an education, we would do well. We didn't find out until later that hard work and education is not always enough. Many college graduates found out after graduation that a degree does not guarantee you a lucrative career. Computer programmers, web designers and engineers that spent years in expensive schools getting their degrees, are having a hard time finding jobs that pay more than $10 an hour. Those that do manage to find a decent job, often lose them to mergers, takeovers, reorganizing and downsizing. Even our most valuable citizens, EMT's, police and firemen, are often living paycheck to paycheck. So, what is left? Many young people turn to the military in hopes of securing a stable future, provided they are not killed or injured during their term of service.

Our society is locked into a downward spiral that threatens to destroy everything that have worked so hard for. If drastic changes are not made very soon, we will find ourselves living in the richest third-world country on the planet. Family values and work ethic have been replaced by desperation and fear. We fear losing our jobs. We fear not being able to afford medical care for our children. Most disturbingly, we fear retaliation from our government if we try to do anything that might effect change. Stepping out of line in an effort to exercise our rights as free Americans, sends up a bright red flare to the powers that be. The only thing our leaders want to do, is squash any potential troublemakers before anyone else catches on and they are forced to face a revolution.

There was a time when every American voter turned out on election day because it was seen as a right, a privilege, earned by the blood of our forefathers. Now, the sense among most is, "Why bother?" Our country is gripped by the fist of hopelessness. Hopeless people do not vote because they think that nothing they do will ever make a difference. Our once proud people are now hated by the world because of the decisions of crooked politicians, and our children are raised without any expectations for anything better. How far we have fallen.

If we really want to make a better life for our children, we must do something now! Try to imagine how bad things will be in 50 years, if we don't try to fix things. Children would be taken from their parents at birth so that the government can raise them as they see fit. Your career would be decided for you. You would be forced to live where you were told you belong. You would have to apply for marriage to someone that fits into your social class. Manditory sterilization would be required for anyone not meeting the physical and intellectual standards set forth by the government. You may think that all sounds ridiculous, but think about this. What would a 1950's family have said if someone told them about how things are now? That person would be ignored and considered insane.

We are at a crossroads people. We do have a choice. We can continue to sit by and hope that things change on their own... or... We can make the changes happen. Be active. Do something, anything that might make a difference in the lives of those around you. Revolution is contagious. Once it starts, it is impossible to stop. Clean up your neighborhood. Be active in your child's life. Make sure that your family knows the meaning of respect and appreciates everything around them. Vote. Make the government fear us. We can do this! All it takes is a little courage and determination. We can make things better.