Conventional wisdom all too often turns out to be popular foolishness, once it's exposed to a modicum of rational analysis. Unfortunately, we seem to have evolved into a world where unbridled hype and crass superficiality have distorted and camouflaged all truth. Seems we can't tell the difference between a lion and a lamb anymore, and the foxes are guarding the hen houses.

        Whoever made up the old saying about not being able to see the forest for the trees, however, was one of the truly wise. Of course, that was long ago, and maybe there really was some wisdom back then. Anyway, I decided it might be wise to get a better look at the forest.

        I figured that being crazy would help, so I resigned from society a couple of years ago. I took a long walk, mentally speaking, as far away from the trees as I could get. Then, I turned around and peered back to see what the forest really looks like. What a shock! But, for what its worth, I feel obliged to try to describe this unobstructed forest view, to you.

        At first glance, I wasn't sure I was looking at the same forest! There are over a hundred wars in progress on Planet Earth, despite the United Nations. In case the nightly news missed the point, Russia's having a war with itself, from the edges inward toward Moscow. They're hungry now, and are selling nuclear stuff to anyone with money. You figure out what that'll lead to.

        Remember the Land of the Free and Home of the Brave? Well, it's about to be in the same shape. The I.R.S. forces people to work half the year just to pay their taxes, and Bill Clinton is president. So much for freedom and bravery. No, I'm really not trying to be funny!

        For thirty years, the politicians have been buying votes by taxing the middle class and giving the money to the poor, in the name of the rich. Makes 'em feel good, and the rich pay for most of their campaign advertising. Of course they have to make sure the tax laws are very confusing, and the working people actually pay all of the taxes. Not much seems to change, huh?

        Not so! This time, the government of the good ole U.S.A.'s also borrowed and spent over twenty trillion, yes trillion (a two, a zero, then twelve zeros before the decimal!) dollars. They plan to leave the tab for all this extravagance behind, for their posterity to try to figure out some way to pay it. All of them are hoping to die before the kids find out what they've done, but It doesn't look like most of them are going to make it. Some are already trying to run away.

        The baby-boomers, my generation, aren't going to make it either, I'm afraid. The politicians took lots of our money, and said they put it in a trust for our Social Security. Trouble is, they squandered all the money in that trust, and its broke, too. With all the factories leaving the country (remember G.A.T.T. and N.A.F.T.A., you know, cheap labor), our kids ain't gonna earn enough to eat, feed us, and pay their doctor bills and ours ... much less that debt! (Big sigh.)

        I'd go back to forest Earth if I thought I could help, but I doubt that even God's going to get mankind out of this one (remember the flood, the ark and all that). I'm going to stay crazy, out here in the loony bin, and watch. If you're smart, you'll get the heck away from those trees and join me. If I don't see you, please be sure to say your prayers, and ... good luck!

This page was created October 14, 1997 Copyright © 1997 D'Amor

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