Cartoon 758: Across the great divide

What is the prime characteristic of a third world country? The answer is an exaggerated economic disparity. Some people have all the wealth, and its byproduct, all the power. The vast majority are left wanting. This wanting is at a subsistence level.

The proposed cuts in the American way of life will never return. It is the little everyday things that matter the most. Trash pickup, road repair, police patrols and fire departments. It is the little things that add up that made this more of an egalitarian rich nation. These are the things that are being lost.

American is still a very rich nation, but the wealth resides with the richest 1%. Their greed knows no bounds. The Economist magazine pointed out that they no longer even need this nation. They move their money and residences around the world at will and can acquire the workers to generate their wealth anywhere.

Our political leaders are the Hessians of the rich. Texas is ranked 47^th in education in America. But the Governor is bent on laying off teachers, closing schools and community colleges, enlarging classes, while increasing give-a-ways to business. Laura Bush has even spoken out against it. She said funding education should be sacrosanct. 

There are two things that you need to appreciate about American culture. First, it is a culture focused on “me”. Second, it is a culture that has no national connectiveness. No national identity. It is an amalgamation of special interest groups that are mutually exclusive. This is the world of the lower 48^th parallel in the Northern Hemisphere.

Contrast that to the nation to North. It has national connectiveness. They still, at least for now, believe capitalism must be tightly managed because of its natural inclination toward excesses. It is a society that concerns itself with the quality of life. Education is venerated. The pursuit of wealth is not an end in itself. The word “social” is not profane. Enterprises of a “social” nature are not of the anti-Christ. This society is progressive, has hope and mobility.