Gods of Wealth and violence

For the USA to get on track it is going to take a heart change; we need to stop believing in radical individualism; where the country is better off with each individual seeking their own self-interest; and start to believe in a country where everyone can thrive. Freedom and democracy are about empowering the people, all the people. 

Radical individualism is about individual power and that power is obtained through individual wealth and violence. Violence and personal wealth are our gods; they are what we put our faith in. We believe that each person seeking their own personal wealth will create the best economy; we believe in peace through violence. That has got to change for us to be a great nation.

Our economy since the late 1970s is one that works for the few. The idea that if the government got out of the way, the rich would create a bounty that everyone would benefit. That has not happened and continues to head in the wrong direction. The rich keep as much as they can, hold wages low while driving up prices. It is not only squeezing the lower and middle classes but also squeezing small business in favor of large corporations. This inequality causes inequality in our quality of life and even our very rights. We are the only advanced country that does not provide health care causing hundreds of thousands each year to file bankruptcy. It caused inequality in education opportunities and even our legal representation. Worst of all, we have allowed the rich to buy politicians and now the rich can “tip” government officials which encourages them to rule in their favor.

We have also bought into a faith that violence can create peace. Compared to other advanced countries we have the highest gun ownership, highest incarceration rate, highest murder rate, highest rate of police killing citizens, one of few that still have the death penalty. We clearly put faith that individual violence against our enemies is somehow the way to peace and it is failing.

This leads to increased violence because when violence is the method, it just validates more violence.

For us to believe in freedom and democracy, we need to believe that everyone is of equal value and has equal right to protection, equal voice in government, equal access to education, equal legal representation and equal access to healthcare. Our military cannot provide freedom of democracy, they can provide independence, it then takes citizens standing up for the rights of “the least of these.” We need to stop thinking about how to make us safe individually but how to best keep everyone safe. We need to stop thinking about what is best financially for the rich and look at an economy that works for everyone, including rural and urban. The rich and powerful will oppress the vulnerable unless we the people demand democracy and freedom. We are not free unless all of us are free.