Life in the Rear-view Mirror

Last Words

In this book, I have shared with you my views of how I saw the world unfolding during the past seven decades. I have also mused about the future, and frankly, it doesn't look as bright as it should, or could.

I grew up with the notion that Government always worked in the interest of the country and its people, a concept that was drummed into us since grade school. But somewhere along the road it became clear that my faith in government was misplaced. It took many years of observation and questioning to confirm my suspicions, but now I'm sure. Governments have betrayed the trust that citizens placed in them.

Someone born now enters a world vastly different than the one I entered nearly seventy years ago. Yet, that person will be taught to place the same trust in a government and political system that no longer serves the common interests, nor upholds the democratic principles that all congress people and parliamentarians pledge to defend when they are sworn into office. The swearing-in ceremony has become a farce!

A baby entering the world now is already burdened with a huge financial debt. Governments at all levels have placed an excessive debt load on his/her shoulders before they can even say ma or pa. Yet, they will be taught, as we were, that governments are there to protect and defend their interests: security, freedom of speech, right to work, and a level playing field to achieve one's goals, however ambitious they may be. In short, they will be taught, as we were, that governments are there to ensure they can live the American dream. However, reality is that a much smaller fraction of the people entering the world now can achieve the American dream compared to those who entered it seventy years ago!

They will be taught, as we were, that all people have equal opportunities and are equal under the law. Again, reality is quite different than what is being taught in school! Those in charge of setting the curriculum have a vested interest in selling illusions. Of course, for the privileged few, they are not illusions, but for the vast majority they are! That's the new reality!

What can be said of a nation that deliberately educates its youth – its future – to believe in myth rather than reality? What can be said about the future of such a country? If we want a country with a bright future, then we have to practice what we preach; if we can't do that, then we have to change what we preach.

It's time for schools to start telling students that democracy no longer works, due to whole-scale corruption of the political system, and to discuss alternatives that would restore democracy – rule by the people, not by the wealthy.

It's time for all of us to speak out against political corruption because it's immoral, unjust, and unfair to those who pay the price, which is most of us.

It's time for us to engage in meaningful public discourse about society's ills, rather than pretending that they don't exist. And, as you discovered through my rambling, there are many issues that are of critical importance to the country's and world's future well-being.

My rambling has taken you on a journey pointing out how the world has changed. Just like a museum guide must be selective about the pieces to highlight to visitors, I too have been selective by necessity. However, I tried to balance the good with the bad, as not all changes were for the better.

The rate of change has been mesmerizing! For example, in the 16th century, it took years to circumnavigate the world; now the international space station does it in hours. But, it's really only during the postwar period, the last seven decades, that most of the technological progress, and damage, has taken place.

The changes in every aspect of life have been astounding, but the trajectory we are on is unsustainable and that should cause all of us to be concerned. A course correction is needed imminently, and we should act sooner rather than later.