Not Our Finest Achievement...Losing Spirituality in America

The greatest crisis facing this country doesn't have anything to do with money. It doesn't have anything to do with the national debt, immigration, crumbling infrastructure, wars or any of those other tangible problems that you can think of. You see, those problems are just symptoms of the same underlying illness that I'd like to talk about today.

America is spiritually sick. Our leaders are sick and our people are sick. We are a nation of unconscious, fearful, self indulgent, and apathetic people. We are quick to anger, for ever wanting things, greedy, and anonymous. We worship money and wealth. We covet the robber barons of our day. Some of the zombie unconscious find nothing wrong with greed and indifference. They think it's acceptable behavior. All they care about is themselves and getting more than their share. Almost exclusively. I believe that.

I'd like you to take a minute and read this link. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_transplant_coverage_death

This is the kind of nation we have become. It has now become acceptable behavior to let people die in America. Money is more important than life. Our leaders say it is so. They have no alternative but to let people die for want of money. Don't ask who it is- we can't possibly tell you that. Bullshit.

I'd love to know that person's name. I'd love to write a story about them. I'd put a photo up next to that story. A photo that showed them dying. I'd love to write about the good things this person did, maybe even some of the bad things- perhaps we could learn something. Find out what their life was like. Perhaps we could talk to their loved ones. Ask them how it was to watch their father, mother, brother, daughter die needlessly and painfully. Maybe it was a homeless person. In a bed, dying somewhere anonymously. Perhaps scared and all alone. Maybe some heartless soul reading this- won't care.

You know what I think? I think Governor Brewer should visit every one who is about to die an unnecessary death due to a lack of funds. Look them in the eye. Talk to them personally Governor Brewer, tell them you can't do anything for them. Tell them that money is more important than their lives. Tell their families too.

In the America I grew up in, we had respect for the sanctity of human life. We believed all human life had value. Valuing human life above all else is just and right. Letting people die and saying well gosh, we just don't have the money- makes me sick to my stomach. When did we accept that fucking rule? We go about our unconscious and self centered lives- making sure we get what we want- enough money, a few cars, a bigger house. We get angry at anyone that dares point out how greedy and self indulgent we have become. We get defensive. We don't care about anonymous people who are dying just so long as we have our own health insurance. Our lives are the only lives that matter. We are insensitive and indifferent. We just don't give a shit about anyone else. That wasn't how it was when I was young. And that's too bad because...

That's the America I live in now. 

The problem in America isn't people who are going to die needlessly. That is just a symptom. The real problem in America is a culture that thinks money is more important than human life and that letting other people die unnecessary and anonymous deaths is acceptable. Well...until it's their turn.