Community Perspective
Challenge tomorrow’s ‘messiahs’
Published Friday, March 28, 2008
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Stumble It!Today, the U.S. exhibits many features similar to those of Judea under the Roman occupation 2,000 years ago.
In the perception of majority of Jews at that time, the society was in dire need of change and expected it to be accomplished by the means of a new leader — a messiah.
As it happened, quite a few of them emerged on the scene ... the rest is history.
After almost eight years of Bush and his lieutenants, the majority of the nation perceives an overall decline of all things American at home and abroad.
This very mood is reflected in our mass media, which inflames disillusioned masses of young and old electorate to stand behind present-day messiahs who promise change and a brighter future. At the moment, there are three of them left. With hundreds of millions of dollars being thrown around, they behave like drunken sailors enjoying every moment of their self-perceived glory.
The nation as a whole can see an ever-deepening crisis indicated by the rapidly declining value of the dollar, an alarming loss of jobs and family houses, dropping educational standards and increasing bankruptcies; all making us less and less competitive on the international stage.
What are our new messiahs promising to do?
It is surprising that all of their glowing speeches are similar in that they all stress change from without, essentially a rearrangement of the proverbial chairs and tables, names, people and budgets.
We have become too used to dancing to these tunes.
There is a counterpart to this, something our messiahs are not knowledgeable of — change from within. That is, a change of mind, heart and attitude. This is difficult to accomplish. However, it is the only realistic way to bring about effective and lasting change.
If this idea were seriously presented to the present-day electorate, it would have to contain the following points:
1. Boldly depart from our contemporary ideology of consumerism.
2. Reintroduce ourselves to the principle of saving, thus liberating ourselves from Chinese, Japanese and Arab debt.
3. Commit to teaching our people the concept of responsibility — including fiscal responsibility — and the ability to balance our checkbooks, thus avoiding ruinous credit card debts. (Of course, if the average American were to handle personal finances as irresponsibly as our government does, he or she would end up in prison.)
4. Radically change our country’s educational disparity between the mental and physical disciplines. Our schools need to be able to produce the best educated young people as it was the case during the second half of the 19th century. We need a return to that period’s basic but solid educational system, which emphasized the “three Rs,” mathematics, science and an ethics of self-responsibility. Sure, the world will probably never compete with us in the World Series and the Super Bowl. In the classroom, they do compete very successfully, oftentimes triumphantly. Our schools should redirect their attention to the mental disciplines and prepare our young people to become the educated world leaders of the future.
I would like to close with a challenge to our political messiahs — change must occur from within.
They must understand that in the long run, their misguided emphasis on change from without cannot work. What can succeed, on the other hand, is a long and enduring commitment to promoting change from within.
Rudy Krejci is a Fairbanks resident.
Community Discussion
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The current state is just the inevitable result of the increase of government size for the last half-century (if not longer). The American people were once noted for their abilities to get things done without the government lifting a finger (see De Tocqueville). Now our first instinct when trying to fix the problem is to ask the government to do it. In this state, it is no wonder that we are looking for a messiah in take the Presidential reins (or reigns).
Only a return to limited government with personal and societal responsibility replacing it will stop this trend.
Unusually people love messiahs. I see little love towards any of the three current presidential candidates and Sen. McCain seems to be stressing individual responsibility in financial matters, not a government bail-out.
As for education, Milton Friedman proposed the solution about fifty years ago. It’s called vouchers. As the teacher unions have demonized the word voucher so much, perhaps they should be called Pell Grants for K-12 education. Also, physical education is more important than even in America. We may have a few good athletes but the vast majority of citizens are couch potatoes. The focus of education just needs to be shifted from sports to health and fitness.
thought provoking editorial
Your 4 points are fine. Couldn't disagree with that course.
But to look for a messiah in politics is pointless, and even dangerous. It's pointless because politicians are human, fallible, and often just downright sleazy. It's dangerous because that's how thieves like the Kingfish come along, and that's how dictators like Fidel come along.
Think I'll just vote for the least of 3 evils, and hope somebody better comes along next time.
Ps. You insult drunken sailors. At least they are spending their own money.
Huh. I had no idea. You have determined the demographic and, initiated yourself as it's spokesperson, and profess to espouse it's political agenda... Wow. So machiavellian!
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