the slow down
a mark of strength is an ability to move decisively and effectively on pressing issues. our country is confronted with a number of pressing issues, and it seems as if we only act when we have no other choice. it seems that our country has lost its ability to act swiftly on anything. wether it is disasters like katrina and the bp oil spill, or obviously needed legislative reform like health care and economic regulation, or even something as straight forward as the rebuilding the world trade center site we are painfully slow to act and essentially ineffective in our actions.
the reasons for this near ineptitude seems to be attributed to our desire to make political and popularity gains rather than actually addressing the issues head on. our government officials are more concerned with pinning failures on their opponents then actually solving the problem. artists are more concerned with their career than the poignancy of their work. journalists are more concerned with their future access then publishing a hard hitting story on a high level official.
our government, and our society in general, seems to be losing its edge on innovation and trading it for an edge on marketability and perceived individual longevity.