Anyone who routinely drives the highways and the city streets in this country, or who routinely uses public transportation such as subways or busses comes face to face with the reality that the infrastructure in the United States is in a general state of disrepair. Potholes in some cities are legendary. Trains and buses suffer from delays and breakdowns and are sometimes dirty. There are zero high speed rail systems in this country unless you want to include the Acela in the northeast which by global standards is a slow poke. Why is that? It is a fixable problem so why hasn’t it been addressed? I think in some ways it is symptomatic of what has happened to this country.
The superhighway of American democracy that used to be a model for the rest of the world has become riddled with political potholes. Unlike the physical highways upon which most of us travel (because we don’t have access to limos and private jets ) which are subject to the eroding effects of heavy traffic, weather, accidents, floods, and other types of force majeure, the primary force eroding the American democracy highway is greed. Greed has infected virtually every facet of life in America and has become just as deadly as any virus.
There are real problems facing this country but greed stands as an opposing force to really solve any of these problems. The recent killing of Alex Pretti by federal agents has re-opened the ongoing debate over the Second Amendment and the right to bear arms. Pretti had a concealed weapon and a permit to carry it, which is perfectly consistent with what the NRA and other gun rights organizations have spent millions of dollars lobbying for – the right to carry a concealed weapon virtually anywhere.
The United States has one of the highest per capita rates of deaths by firearms in the world. There are more guns in America than the entire population of over 300 million. Firearms are the leading cause of deaths in children aged 0 to 19. Over 4,000 young people and children are killed by guns every year. That would seem to be a problem politicians would like to tackle. But it won’t happen because well-paid lobbyists in Washington, D.C. will make sure it doesn’t. More guns mean more profits for gun manufacturers and, like in so many industries, profits drive policy.
The US has the highest maternal mortality rate of any of the wealthier, industrialized countries. People neglect going to the doctor or skip taking medicines they need because they can’t afford them. Millions of people in this country don’t have health insurance because they can’t afford it and the situation has just gotten worse due to the skyrocketing premiums after the ACA subsidies were terminated. The air traffic control system in this country is beyond stressed due to aging equipment and a staffing shortage. The education system in America is failing because teachers are grossly underpaid and school districts are often underfunded. There are many people in this country who are working and are just barely able to get by and sometimes have to choose between eating and paying the utility bill.
There are many, many real problems that the administration and politicians could choose to address. But, as long as greed is driving policy in this country through the sanctioned use of black money and corporation donations pouring into politicians’ pockets, no real problems will get solved and the democracy highway will just be riddled with more and more political potholes. The wealthy will send their kids to elite private schools, use chauffeured driven limos and private jets, have access to top notch medical care and financial planning wizards who will ensure their wealth is protected and continues to grow through the use of tax breaks and tax shelters that are not usually available to most people. Why should they be concerned about the problems facing most Americans when it doesn’t affect them?
There is an old adage that says, “A rising tide raises all boats.” However, in America today, the more appropriate saying would be “I have a big yacht and if you drown, it’s your own fault.” Immigrants have become the scapegoats for Trump, the GOP, and the oligarchs, but the real problem is just bald-faced greed.
