July 4

Happy Independence Day!

Yes, I get to start July 4 before you do.  There won't be any fire works  displays or parades here.  The day has led to a reflective mood, so here's what I've been thinking:

Every July 4, there is a group that takes the Declaration of Independence and the Preamble of the US Constitution to shopping malls in petition form.  They see if they can get anyone to sign the "petitions." Sadly, few people recognize the source of the documents any more. Many people, especially in "red" states, get offended at the radical "crap." How sad.

Many times I feel we have lost our way as a people and therefore, as a nation. Seeing how we live and do business against the backdrop of another culture gives a different perspective to things we take for granted as Americans. For one thing, our cars and excellent system of streets and highways gives us a mobility and independence that is not found in Asian countries. Shopping is so much easier! If you want to go visit Auntie Em, it isn't that hard to get to Kansas if you have a car and the gas money. Here, we are talking about many transfers, and all day to get from one side of town to the other. Admittedly, Manila is a town of 18 million, but if there was a US infrastructure, it would only take a couple of hours. Don't take that infrastructure for granted. It is aging and has not been properly maintained. If it collapses, the US could easily become just another third world country.

I know you loyal followers did not join to hear philosophy, but I hope you will excuse my musings today. I sometimes feel like I am from another America, when July 4 was almost a national holy day. My boomer generation had a lot to do with changing that, and I'm sad to say, it was not an improvement from my current perspective.

One final thought: With the exception of WWII, a US war economy is not good for the majority of the people. If we don't stop throwing money away in Iraq and Afghanistan, we could easily see our country go broke just like the USSR did. Thinking America is the richest and most powerful nation in the world is hazardous to our health!

Peace