The Harvesting of America

The business definition of harvesting is to break up a company for its component parts and sell them off one by one. The theory being that the parts are more valuable than the total entity. It was all the rage back in the seventies with Wall Street raiders and hedge fund mavens garnering daily headlines with their latest acquisitions and industry dismemberments.

Now unfortunately that same thing seems to be happening in America. This new metamorphosis of thinking hides under the guise of a pervasive old way of thought called nationalism. These are selfish goals among diverse groups bonded by their individual interests instead of focusing on the common good for all. Uncommon goals among nationalities and generations are neither a surprise nor unexpected. But it’s the unwillingness of these groups to understand and respect the views of others that constitutes the main problem. We no longer seem to be able to ‘listen’ to one another or be willing to give ‘them’ the benefit of the doubt. Sadly, to a degree, congress and our representatives often lead this chorus of righteous self-interest and a lack of concern for the common good.

Evidence is all around us. For example, there is greater disparity between the rich and the poor. It’s an income gap that continues to grow each year. From 2000 to 2014 the share of adults living in middle-income households fell in 203 of the 229 U.S. metropolitan areas examined in a new PEW Research Center analysis of government data. This decrease in the middle-class share was often substantial, measuring six percentage points or more in 53 metropolitan areas, compared with a 4-point drop nationally.*

This shrinking middle class only serves to widen that disparity between the haves and the have-nots. The economic engine that fueled a growing middle class is fast disappearing and its replacement is still struggling to find footing in a new economic model. Yet most economists will tell you that when the middle class grows, the rich and the poor both benefit; abet in different ways.

Unfortunately into that muddle of income disparity and thinly disguised class differences has fallen or deliberately been thrown all kinds of manufactured distractions. Events and distractions created solely to feed an audience with mindless thought processes like empty calories to feed the soul. Ratings rule even if common sense takes a step back in our rational thinking.

There is an almost irreverent attitude toward the news. The ‘Evening News’ on television is almost always bad news because that’s what attracts eyeballs. It’s a grab bag of breathless, exaggerated and over-caffeinated sound bites. Web reporting fares little better. There are simplistic bullet points, clickbait ads, provocative photos but little in the way of balanced reporting. Many sites have become slick mindless muddled pap for the masses.

Reporting directly from the coliseum are heightened headlines from professional sports. Football coverage now encompasses twelve months of mindless stats and exaggerated predictions for next weekend’s game. The goal here is to create tension and questions where vacuums used to suffice. National championships are hyped on the level of the second coming and/or the apocalypse. Media coverage of the entertainment world is even more inane. We worship J-lo and wonder if Jo-Jo will ever find true love.

The ‘silly season’ is back in full swing. It’s become a circus act of divisive politics which focuses only on self-interests and not the common good. It’s become a national embarrassment that few are willing to admit within and outside of our borders. This political season seems to be worse than many others in recent history.

Some religious groups are moving in the right direction seeking unity in Christian values. But too many are still exclusive, instead of being inclusive. These religious zealots claim God on their side as long as he (not she or in-between) is white, Christian and god-fearing…and not on welfare.  Everyone else need not apply.

Yet this isn’t our heritage. This isn’t the American way. We’ve certainly been sidetracked and distracted and gone off on tangents in the past but we’ve always come back to our common goals and aspirations.

My mother with her parents

This country has a long history of immigration, religious tolerance and inclusiveness. It’s not been without its distractors or hiccups along the way. It’s never been without its flaws, major and minor, but it still works even after two hundred plus years.

We need to find common ground for issues to agree upon or at least learn to disagree with one another in a respectful manner. We need to use common sense and not be afraid to compromise. But most importantly we need a shared vision for what this country stands for and what those who came before us worked for, died for and wanted for future generations.

I want better for my kids and grandkids. I’ve always said that I want them to be citizens of the world. I want them to be accepting, tolerant and grateful for their many blessings. I expect them to be willing to help the needy and less fortunate. I would not…I will not… accept anything less of them.

That’s not how they were raised.

·         Pewsocialtrends.org