What about the other 99%?

We hear every day about the great job our Armed Forces are doing around the world and how they are protecting the folks at home against terrorism.

And while our brave troops are to be applauded, the fact remains that those so engaged represent about 1% of the population.

What about the other 99%?

What kind of people are our American patriots really protecting?

Well, for the most part, we get clues from all over the place.

And, an observational platform may be a good place to start.

For the most, Americans still fill their gas guzzlers and still parade around as before—but perhaps not as much ….

Most Americans are still not dissuaded from eating out when they can afford it….

Although there is a growing gap between “haves” and “have nots.”

Educationally, intellectually, culturally, well there are clues about that, too.

Most Americans have sacrificed their reading habits for the movies or video games so let’s see if we can form a picture from what we see around us.

Studies show that few children read on a regular basis and that in the average family, TV watching has grown to 5 plus hours per evening.

At one time, children had loads of homework to do and assignments and while some still do, most tend to spend their time playing games and watching TV.

The current movie fare may be a good barometer of where we are as a society.

The other day, in local theatres, the movies that are bringing in the crowds are Iron Man, a cartoon about a Panda, Indiana Jones, The Incredible Hulk, Get Smart, and another superhero film with Will Smith; not an adult film among them!

Look at the video games that kids and adults occupy themselves with. Virtually all involve violence with every kind of weapon imaginable. One wonders whether that has had something to do with the desensitivity among our Armed Services as reported in the media.

Check out the media fare. Nobody watches the news anymore. And there is very little creative writing. Most of the new shows are contests of some kind pitting one person against another or game shows.

Most of them are at the eight year old level.

TV being what it is, a passive, yet controlling medium, does not encourage thinking or motivate activity. Therefore, it is easy to adapt to, doesn’t require much of a response and, many think, deadens the mind in the long run. What we know it does is rob children, and adults, from doing other things…..like sports and out door activities or, dare we say it, reading a book.

But that’s only one aspect of our society.

What are we accomplishing as a people? What do we take pride in?

Let’s see: First off, we as a people have been unable to rebuild one of our premier cities or address the fact that our infrastructure is crumbling with our bridges and highways falling apart.

After seven years, we can’t seem to get our act together enough to have rebuilt the buildings at the World Trade Center.

Our schools are inadequate and we are told that there is no money for improvements; yet, we do not hesitate funding trillions to keep the war in Iraq going, a war that has shown no progress or tangible benefits for either the Iraqis or us.


Our schools graduate students who perform at the bottom of the list of all civilized nations routinely, not a good sign.

Our numbers of patents are down and it seems that we are not motivated enough to change the status quo.

What has happened to America?

Have we lost our pioneering spirit? Have we become an also ran?

With crime up and the number of homes being padlocked for nonpayment of mortgages and jobs exiting faster than they can be created, these are all reasons for concern.

At times, we seem irritated and tired, unable to digest the vast quantity of information that an informed public needs if it is going to change the world for the better.

Clearly, hope has gone out the window.

Yet, as the polls show, virtually half of the population seem to believe that more of Bush is better and support him through his surrogate, George McCain.

It is worrisome. And uncharacteristic for a great country to have fallen so far with so little outrage.

Perhaps, what we need to do is understand that the future belongs with us.

If we take the path of least resistance, if we do not do our homework, if we do not come together for the common good, we will become all the things we dread---a third world nation that only knows how to consume until the money runs out.

If we allow that to happen, woe on us!

It is clear, at least to me, that it is time for our 200 year overhaul.


Les Aaron
The Armchair Curmudgeon.