Groundhog

The Shallowest Generation

Mr. Quinn obviously had to let off a lot of steam. Unlike most of his fellow irates, he has the statistics to keep his kettle on boil. However, I disagree with the popular assumption that my parents generation was the "greatest" generation.

The financial failure of the 30s, environmental degradation as witnessed in the dust bowl of "The Grapes of Wrath," the rise of facism in Europe, their acquiesence to Hitler before WWII and the subsequent dominance of the "military industrial complex" after WWII, then the Korean War and the Vietnam War...all of this was rendered unto their children. They made big mistakes, and their children made big mistakes. The sins of the fathers shall be visited upon their sons.

The point being, since The Great Depression, the United States of America has been unable to find its purpose in the world. Herbert Hoover was much maligned for his saying that "the business of America is business." Business is a sustainable enterprise that sufficiently satisfies current economic needs while creating a surplus of capital for building sustainable growth and prosperity. This concept of business does very well under the influence of a democratic government because everybody has the same basic economic needs. So to paraphrase Mr. Hoover, 'the business of America is on-going.'

Yes, this is a frightening time we are living in because most of us "Baby Boomers" have never experienced real want in our lives. We should reflect on the much more frightening world very many other people who are not US citizens are living in at this very moment. Some of that fear, in fact, is our own doing simply because we have never found our true purpose as a nation.

I agree with Herbert Hoover. America should get back to business. We've had a financial hurricane that has swept through corporate and household America like an act of God. Yes, we are suffering for our sins, but our failings are nothing new under the sun, and a failure can become a success when rescued by honest hard work and commitment to others who are working in earnest.

Remember, capitalism doesn't kill people, capitalists do. ...the Groundhog