- Truth Serum Today: Be a Partner in our Free Speech Zone - Click
- All You Wanted to Know About the Truth Serum Blog - Click
As I sit back, examine and assess our American culture, I see a real need for this nation to get a dose of Ritalin.
I remember being a young Army Captain stationed at Ft. Riley, Kansas, and seeing a new show featuring a family of little yellow cartoon characters. I was entertained by “The Simpsons,” but never thought they would still be around all these years after debuting in December 1989 – the same month and year I got married.
The reality TV show “Survivor” debuted in May 2000; who would have ever thought it would still be around. Consider all the various iterations of Real Housewives and other reality shows and adult cartoons that dominate the television scene.
The result has been a degradation of the ability of the American public to be deep, insightful thinkers. We have become a nation that embraces the soundbite; and has very little lasting attention for critical matters and issues.
With the advent of the 24/7 news cycle and the same for sports programs, we are constantly bombarded, running from item to item. We possess communications devices that keep us in a constant respond-and-react mode when it comes to information. As well, we have now figured out how to shorten our language into a new code system.
Why is this detrimental to our American way of life and society? Our lives are dominated by slogans and poll-tested schemes and messages.
What if you hit the streets and asked people what was the GDP growth percentage for the last fiscal quarter? Hint, it was less than 1%.
Or what if we were to ask Americans about the relationship between the unemployment rate and the workforce participation rate? What would happen if you asked Americans the difference between a progressive, flat, and consumption-based tax system/policy?
Don’t get me wrong; I am not looking for a nation of policy wonks who can articulate the problems with quantitative easing. However, the danger of what is happening in America is that through the media and other cultural sources we are constantly racing from one thing to another.
We do not stop and take the time to comprehend and understand pressing issues – or perhaps we just do not want to? If the latter is the case, it is a very precarious place for us to be as a nation. We open ourselves up to being led like sheep to the slaughter.
As I look at what is happening in Venezuela, I must ask the question: how can someone openly declaring to be a socialist achieve electoral success and have a patronage?
After all, it does appear that the message of . . .
Click here to read the full story by Colonel Allen B. West
We are compelled to pay for this Free Speech Zone - - We would be pleased if you became one of our Free Speech Partners - - Just click the DONATE link below or contact the editor-in-chief [at] truthserumeditor@gmail.com
