The Selling Out of America and the Killing of the American Dream

Politicians from both parties act as if they belong to some elite group above the "Average America." Somehow, they've come to believe that "Average American" is an uneducated fool who is uninformed and cannot think for themselves.

This elite group needs to remember that we're all Americans and in the same country. I am sick of the "Elite" in this country, who act as if they can enact laws without a need to follow them. I am tired of actors, who because they have fame as entertainers, somehow think their opinions and values carry more weight than someone who is not famous.

In their quest for power, they have created a class system to separate us from what really made this country great. They shout "Diversity will make us a better country" while at the same time separating us into race, sexual preference, and gender. Thereby dividing us by our differences and not uniting us by the things that we all share.

What are some of those things? We're all human beings, yes, we come from different cultures and races but we belong to the same species, our cell structures are the same and we all bleed red. Each of us, want to be judge by who we are as person and not by some stereotype. We all want something better for our families. I don't think there's a parent out there, no matter how dysfunctional, who will say, "I want something worse for my child." We all wish for a better world and future.

Once we look at the things we share, our differences are not as important. Moreover, if we agree on some common American values then maybe we can meet half way and make some reasonable changes to make these things happen. This polarization under the auspices of diversity has hurt America more than it's helped.

We've stopped thinking of ourselves as Americans and, as a result, we've allowed greed to take hold. We no longer think of the welfare and the future of our country. We've allowed the attitude of "What's in it for me" take hold.

Our Politicians, Our Entertainers, and the Media have put themselves above the "Average American" as if they have special insight or divine right. They spread fear to control us through manipulations. The media and ill-informed Senators target the banking industry spreading rumors of nationalization and there by hurting any chance of a quick market recovery. They spend money as if it has no value and PORK is not only a meat but also the anthem of a nation.

Wall Street became another elite group, who put their greed before the country. Why? Because they thought, they were above the "Average American." Stock speculators create rumors to sell short and to make profit. Politicians put their need for re-election ahead of the needs of the nation. They created deals that were not financially sound but created quick wealth and in that process they created a financial mess that will be felt for generations. These same people still manipulate the market for their own personal power struggles and gain while the "Average American" lives in the fear of losing their jobs. It's time to stop the power and political games. Start putting America's welfare first. No one profits if this country fails.

They forget the American dream and the reasons past generations came to this country. For a better life and the ability to become anyone you want, even a U.S. Senator. The American Dream drew people from countries that had class and caste systems! They fled their birthplaces to give their children freedom from that oppression!

Today, we tell the poor "You're doomed to poverty." "You have no hope" They do this to separate us and diminish our dreams. Nevertheless, hope is something we must not lose, for as long as you can dream and set goals you can achieve anything!

Fredrick Douglas started life out as a slave and became one of the greatest men of his generation. He was a believer in the equality of all people at a time where men were kept as slaves. As a former slave himself, he became a voice for the oppressed. "Where justice is denied, where poverty is enforced, where ignorance prevails, and where any one class is made to feel that society is an organized conspiracy to oppress, rob and degrade them, neither persons nor property will be safe." Let us heed his warning and reject the current status quo.

We teach our children that if it's hard you don't need to try. We forgot that it's OK to fail as long as you learn from your failures. In the quest to improve everyone's self-esteem, we have lowered our educational standards to the point where our children are no longer competitive in the world.

I don't blame our Teachers for this decline in education, but our Politicians who politicized education for power. If you don't believe me, read a textbook from the early part of the 20^th century and compare it to your child's textbook. I think you will be surprised. I know I was. How can we compete in this global economy if we are not challenging our youth to succeed? Winning isn't everything but not trying to win is failure.

Immigrants (legal & illegal) used to come to this country for a better life and while they kept their traditions, they tried to learn the language of their new home. Now in the name of Diversity, we are expected to speak their language and by doing so we have lost the one thing that helped bring our various cultures together, a common language.

Today, no one mentions that the quality of your speech designates class and limits your achievements. Only the uneducated speak poor English. If you don't believe me watch TV, how many people do you hear speaking with any accent? How are these people portrayed? Look at any Politician. The best speakers are considered the best public servants even if their actions contradict the words they speak.

Still our Media and Politicians cater to the lowest of our expectations. They forget Darwin's Theory and in their short sightedness, they've help stop our evolution. We are no longer on the path to greatness or reaching for the stars. We no longer dare to dream as a nation or as individuals. The next generation of Americans will NOT do better. It is a shame and we, who support the garbage the media presents and the Politicians we elect, are to blame.

We've allowed our society to become mediocre and the only way to change it is to demand that we become Americans once again. Judge me not by the color of my skin, the person I love, or the religion I preach but see me as American. We all need to be Americans first.

United We Stand Divided We Fall" shouldn't be just a slogan but part of our nation's soul. Let's agree to disagree and focus on the things that really need our attention without playing politics or pursuing fame.

We need to set term limits on ALL Politicians throughout government Federal, State, and Local. In addition, we must abolished Ballot Access Laws, which make it difficult for new political parties to have candidates put on Local, State and National Ballots. These laws were designed as a barrier and a financial burden on the candidates of emerging political parties. They short circuit the election process and limit the number of candidates seeking political office by making it hard to participate in elections. I think we can all agree we need more choice when it comes to electing political officials.

I believe we can agree that we need to raise the educational standards on English, Math, and Science for the sake of our country's future. At one time, we dared to dream, invent, and innovate. That's made America great. We need to get the politics out of education.

As Americans, we need to make Teachers and Scientists our heroes and not Actors, Politicians or Athletes. Education needs to be made fashionable again and public service, not a career, but the responsibility of every American.