Who will save us this time

Jobs are disappearing, schools are struggling and millions of homes are being foreclosed upon by lenders. These are just a few of the struggles that are affecting our current society and our popular culture in general. The effects of these changes will have a long lasting effect that we will outlive and so too may our children.

The unemployment rate recently his 9.5%, and there shows little if any sign of slowing. Employers continue to have to shed jobs as consumers purchase less and less of their goods. The increased unemployment rate is variable across the country but the results can be felt globally.

One of the primary driving forces in American business is the investments from investors outside of the United States. The U.S. has always been viewed as a stable economy with a strong workforce. That is not true of today’s economics in America. Foreign investors are contracting at an alarming rate. This has a twofold effect. There is less money fueling our economy to grow and there are less goods being produced for consumption. This decline in production and consumption again results in higher unemployment rates.

With the erosion of the labor market, there is little speculation to what is driving the elevated foreclosure rates. Homes have lost value. Many homeowners now owe more on their homes than they are worth. This fact is unraveling the threads of our historical cultural envisionment that family and home ownership is the core of our society and a great investment for our future. Who will save us?

This constant belief of a superhero, savior if you will, is a core belief in our society. Historic culture has taught us that when we are in time of need someone will save us all. A savior will come in on a white horse and rescue us from the bad guy. So who will rescue us this time? In comes the President Candidate, Obama. Promises of change in politics of the past that have brought us to the current economical crisis we are witnessing. Promises of changes to the financial institutions that have preyed on the weak, changes to the health care industry that has eroded our families and their financial stability.

Since the presidents inauguration, I am left to ask, is there really a different in the politics of the past or are we just willing to be manipulated in a different direction. Our deficit has skyrocketed, our unemployment has increased and the stimulus package that was to be the golden lining of our economic cloud is mostly stuck in beaurocratic red tape. Now all we are hearing is the need to raise taxes and overhaul the health care industry. I must ask, is what we are witnessing really a difference in the politics of the past or did the superhero of the day just utilize the desires and beliefs of the current culture to perpetuate himself into the presidential white house. We will all endure this economic rollercoaster without the savior of our historical superheroes and without the silver lining of our fleece. The end will be what it will be and our culture will never be the same. May we never forget to dream about the heroes and never forget that we are all accountable for our own actions and will answer for our own deeds. According to Walter Cronkite, “And that’s the way it is.”






Bibliography
Mullens, L. (2009, July 20). Yahoo Real Estate. Retrieved July 20, 2009, from Why Do Home Foreclosures Keep Rising? 6 Things You Need To Know: http://realestate.yahoo.com/promo/why-do-home-foreclosures-keep-rising-6-things-you-need-to-know.html;_ylc=X3oDMTFyMXEzdnBmBF9TAzI3MTYxNDkEX3MDOTc2MjA0NjUEc2VjA2ZwLXRvZGF5BHNsawNmb3JlY2xvc3VyZXMtcmlzaW5n
Walter Cronkite. (n.d.). Retrieved July 20, 2009, from Famous Texans: http://www.famoustexans.com/waltercronkite.htm