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Dysfunctional and Divided

Not since 1860 (over 150 years ago) has America been more polarized than it is now, not even during the Vietnam War has there been such opposing views among our elected officials as well as the electorate, evidenced by this 2012 Presidential Election.

Democrats received 303 electoral votes and 59, 574,491 popular votes – 50%

Republicans received 206 electoral votes and 56, 950,714 popular votes – 48%

Senate has a Democratic majority of 51 seats to 45 Republican seats

House of Representatives has a Republican majority of 232 seats to 191 Democratic seats

Congress has made no substantial changes in the power struggle since 2008 when the Republicans spent 4 years simply trying to defeat the Democrats rather than doing what was “right” for America. 

So, it is highly probabilistic that they will continue to do the same. 

WHY?

Because, when one looks at the numbers neither party has been given a mandate by the voting public.  It is this same public who stated that Romney would be better at fixing the economy yet re-elected Obama as President. 

How dysfunctional is that?

• Obama ran on a platform of raising taxes and got re-elected.
• Obama ran at a time when unemployment was high and got re-elected.
• Obama received a majority of the female vote.
• Obama received a majority of the Hispanic vote.

Billions of dollars were spent in negative campaign advertising which really made no difference because 80% of the voters made the claim that they had made up their minds long before the hatefulness started.

So, what will change?

• Will Republicans put aside their disdain of the President to do what’s right for America?
• Will Obama cast aside his emotions regarding all the hateful comments that were made about him?
• Will those who have become or continue to be dependent upon the government ever realize that their entitlements are too costly?

The answer is NO…

WHY?

Because people do not change until the pain of not changing is greater than the pain of changing, and we simply are not there yet.

The really sad “thing” about all of this is a quote made by my Mother that I still remember, which was, “Nero fiddled while Rome burned.”

So, how does that relate?

Nero is represented by the general public as well as by our elected officials and Rome burning represents the declining US economy.

The tragedy here is that the rest of the world is not waiting for us to “get our shit together,” but methodically and systematically mounting a campaign that will take away our “lifestyle.”

Let’s take the 22 year old, 2012 college graduate who will be in the middle of his/her career 20 years down-the-road in 2032 and at the end of his/her career 20 after that in 2052.

In 2032, 60% of the largest cities in the world will be located in and around China which means the global economy will have shifted from the US to the Far East.  It is important to realize that around the year 2015 just 3 years past graduation, China’s economy will exceed that of the United States.

In 2052, American Caucasians will be in a minority with Hispanic or Asian being number 1 and 2 or 2 and 1 and right behind Blacks.  With that understanding, most of our elected officials are likely to be non-Caucasian which will definitely change American culture. And, since more and more women are graduating from college while male college graduates are steadily declining, the management structure and power will definitely be in the hands of the females.

Guess what?

It would appear that Nero is going to continue to fiddle for many more years.