America has long been very competitive. It is in our culture and our DNA. But, in the 21st Century, does it serve us well? Maybe in such a large and rich country such as the USA it serves mostly the wealthy class at the expense of the poor and middle classes. Why do we continue to be controlled by the large international corporations? Is it mainly due to tradition and prestige? No, it is now largely due to the excessive wealth in the hands of the few, the lobbyists.
THE HARM of EXCESSIVE AMERICAN COMPETITION: It furthers the myth of superiority and of a great society. Do not be duped. We have work to do to balance the scales and restore a healthy middle class.
Resources go disproportionately to the brightest students who excel in math, science, and engineering at the highest levels. The few who excel are favored. The masses are then neglected, left to struggle, and get only the dregs!
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The Masses are sent to the battle fields and thanked with tokens and ribbons.
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Lawyers and Bankers are favored beneficiaries.
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Politicians and Business managers are favored.
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Largest corporations are favored.
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The top 5% become privileged.
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Star athletes get rich; … Winners take all, and the losers struggle on.
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The masses are left to struggle harder as they steadily lose ground.
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They feel like losers; They struggle harder; They end up hopeless losers.
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The masses may lose all hope; They often fall into despair.
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Climate change effects the poor while the wealthy escape unharmed.
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Harder work is not rewarded as it once was.
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The good and gentle folk are cast aside into the shadows.
How ‘competitiveness’ became one of the great unquestioned virtues of contemporary culture
by Will Davies
“Competitiveness is an interesting concept, and an interesting principle on which to base social and economic institutions. When we view situations as ‘competitions’, we are assuming that participants have some vaguely equal opportunity at the outset. But we are also assuming that they are striving for maximum inequality at the conclusion. To demand ‘competitiveness’ is to demand that people prove themselves relative to one other.”
The foregoing was part of a scholarly essay by Will Davies on 2016 July 24. For the full article, please go to the site below.
http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandpolicy/the-cult-of-competitiveness/
COMPETITION may be more appropriate in POOR COUNTRIES:
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Technical advances of the West are helpful to the emerging countries.
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They need to compete to improve living standards.
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They need to import many things from the developed countries.
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They thus need to export in order to generate the funds.
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Their harder work can lift them out of more primitive status.
The rich and powerful America has made its preeminent place in the world. It is all-powerful. It still worships war heroes and fosters more wars of dominance. But it has now started to decline as these old values come under question. Soon we may slowly evolve and be able to create a more equal and harmonious environment for its people to live in. An America of the people, by the people, and for the people is achievable. A place of freedom and justice for all. Yes, that is indeed a lofty goal, but it can be done. We only have to do our part and be patient.
Can we again inspire Real Patriots to seek public office?
… America can be beautiful again …
But, … We Must Vote Together. ...
Prepare for a long slog.
