One of the biggest issues facing American's today is our economy. Let's face it, the outlook is bad. There are those that are not hearing it though. And even if they are admitting things are in bad shape, they are using mantras of the past to explain it off.
I'm as big of supporter of our free-market system as anyone else, yet to rely on a system created by humans without being willing to change the system with the times could be called free-market fundamentalism.
We have looked to economic indicators such as the GDP to pacify negative speculation and further corrupt political agendas. I call them corrupt political agendas because legislators often use these indicators to tell us that everything is ok, and that a free-market reformation is not needed, knowing good and well that much is lacking when it comes to many of the indicators used. This, I believe, is often used as a way to convince us to leave the system alone.
Personally, there are many things that contribute to the economic health of our country and it's time we all wake up to that fact.
How does resource depletion affect our "true" economic outlook? When a farmer looses his farm, how are we all affected? How are we affected when an innocent bystander is murdered in a drive-by shooting, leaving their children to grow up without a father, a mother, or both?
If we continue to ignore the impact of these things on, not only our economic future, but the very social fabric that holds us together to make us the wealthiest nation on earth.
Some are pushing to introduce the GPI as an indicator of true economic health. I tend to think it's a worth a good look. Whether or not this even begins to answer our economic crisis, I don't know, but if we continue to sit back and remain content with our current system, I am fearful that we will drive ourselves into a ditch.
I'm beginning to see that to hold too tightly to any one political, economic, or theological view is a death sentence. Of course there will always be truths, but we cannot fool ourselves into thinking we have them nailed down 100%. Times change and so should our methods of problem solving. What worked for our economy in the 80's, may not work now. And while we should all have individual views and principles, a total refusal of change will leave us stagnant. Personally, I don't care to tread water in America's current condition. I want to move forward.
