Time for a Revolution – A concerned American in Costa Rica speaks out…

The latest Reuters-Zogby poll showed President Bush’s approval rating at a dismal 24%. More disturbing, is the 11% approval rating for the Congress. Nearly 90% of our citizens disapprove of our government and 3 out of 4 people dislike our President.

We chose to move to Costa Rica partly because of the constant fear and insecurity that seems to have consumed America. We have become hated throughout the globe for our actions in Iraq and elsewhere (not because of our freedoms as the current Administration says).

This foreign disdain for America has decreased the goodwill from our allies and increased the anger of our enemies. Teddy Roosevelt said that “We are great because we are good and if we cease to be good, we will cease to be great”. Nobody has all the answers, but I suspect that if we get back to being good, we will once again be great. Costa Rica is not without its problems, but there is not a ‘doomsday’ feeling of fear or pending collapse that currently clouds the U.S.

Numbers like these in any other country would spark a revolution by the people. Instead, we seem to go about our daily business as if we, the people, have no power.

It appears that the government stopped working for the people a long time ago. The current Presidential candidates combined will raise nearly $1 billion dollars to apply for a job that pays $400,000 per year by the people.

The average Congressional candidate now needs tens of millions to run an effective campaign only to win a two year position.

Do you honestly think that these officials are still working for the American people?

Perhaps Americans are too distracted to rise up and take the government back. Are we too busy downloading new ringtones for our IPhones, watching reality TV, working two jobs, or too consumed by our personal lives to care?

Conversely, the citizens who do care may feel that they are powerless and grow cynical with our debunked system. It is no surprise that less than half of us vote for our leaders.

America faces immense challenges in the future and we must address them from a severely weakened position in the world. The U.S. dollar is the weakest it has ever been, our national debt is higher than it’s ever been, the war in Iraq is draining us economically and morally, health care costs are squeezing U.S. employers, the effects of the housing credit crunch are just beginning, globalization has reduced us to a service economy, and our Treasury Bonds are looking more like junk bonds to our financiers like China.

These are just some of the economic challenges that we face as a nation. This says nothing of the challenges we face with Iran, Islamic extremism, climate change, our nation’s energy needs, and a host of other important issues.

A businessman returning from a recent trip to China told me that the U.S. reign as the lone superpower is over. I asked why he thought that, and he said because the Chinese are vehemently focused on the future and we are content with the present. He said “the Chinese are like hungry wolves diligently stalking their prey and Americans are like domestic lapdogs waiting for someone to bring us our next meal”. Ironically, that next meal is likely made in China.

Saying that “American is still the best country in the world” is a lapdog mentality. Incidentally, the United States is only first in the world in very few statistical categories. Besides GDP, military spending, energy consumption, pollution, cost of health care, and the percentage of citizens incarcerated, the U.S. is rarely ranked high in other statistical measurements. These are hardly feats to boast about especially given the strain that global competition is putting on our GDP.

I don’t want the readers to get the impression that I dislike my home country. That is far from the truth. I love what the United States is supposed to stand for; life, liberty, pursuit of happiness, respect of fairness and humanity, and the home of the Brave. Unfortunately, these monumental principles seem to have been left behind by our current leaders.

We are no longer the home of the brave. We have become a citizenry manipulated by fear. Ben Franklin said “Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety”. Both political parties are guilty of using fear to manipulate the voting public as a method to convince rational people to devalue America’s core beliefs to accomplish short-sighted political goals.

America seems to be at a dangerous tipping point on so many critical issues and none of the current Presidential candidates seem to be addressing these issues with a realistic tone. Will U.S. citizens revolt to demand better leaders and a better system? Apparently, a 90% disapproval of our government is not enough to fuel a revolution. When will enough be enough?

Speak Your Mind: If you would like to comment on Jeff’s article, please visit the Discussion Forum here.

[custom_script adID=97]

Andrew Makarik

to@welovecostarica.com

Andrew Makarik is the main editor of WeLoveCostaRica, a fan of this sunny country. He is also a loving husband and a has a lovely daughter. By being a devoted family man and the biggest Costa Rica fan, he wants to make more people feel at home there. WeLoveCostaRica unites people and helps them find new home or a new travel destination. This website is a friendly community where everyone can find not only information, but also new friends and travel pals. Andrew is also passionate about IT and programming, so he himself maintains a friendly atmosphere in this cozy environment of WeLoveCostaRica.com.