An American Tale

An American Tale

Here in the United States, we try to differentiate ourselves from the rest of the world. A society based on laws but at the same time equal freedoms. This is a place where everybody is welcome to come and start a new life; “Bring me your weak, your poor, your tired, and your huddle masses”. This is the America that I support an America where people come to truly find their talents where they would otherwise be suppressed.

Currently living in the “Great State of South Carolina”, I have been no stranger to racism. It’s a thought that sickens me every day. This is not just happening in South Carolina though. It’s not just white against everybody else. I’m seeing race on race and religion on religion hatred all around the country. Why are we so hateful to each other?

I hate the fact that we have to have immigration laws in the United States, but they are just that, I honestly believe that you must obey the laws in order to make things fair for everybody else. Back in the late 19th century to early 20th century people were not denied passage to this country, they were actually encouraged to come. Ellis Island in New York and Angel Island in California were the golden gates for those less fortunate. America became a great power in the industrialized world and these people assimilated into the population. There are horror stories of the gangs in north east between the Protestants and the Catholics. For the most part this was worked out as the Catholics (emigrating Irish) assimilated into the population.

Today, we are facing a new set of problems. We are having problems with illegal immigration coming across the southern border of the United States. This could be partly because the United States has exploited labor, resources, and people in the Latin American countries. It’s a sad and real truth when you do the physical research. Regardless we are having an invasion of Hispanic workers looking for work and a place to make their lives better; “The American Dream”. Only this time there are 3 major factors that keep these people from being welcomed with open arms by the majority of the population: 1.) They do not speak the language 2.) They cross the border illegally and 3.) They take American jobs (not paying taxes, but taking benefits that not even most tax-paying American citizens get).
It’s easy to hate these people because all we see are the one sided images of them. Most of these people coming across the border are from Third World Countries. Something most Americans have no clue about, because the majority of us have our houses (whether rented or owned), we have our television, we have our automobiles, and we have one of the most stable governments if not the most stable government in the world, (something most Latin American’s are not use to).
I really do feel bad for these people and I honestly do believe that immigration laws should be easier to come to this country and help add to our population (I’m perfectly fine with letting anybody that wants to come here have instant citizenship, just as long as it is documented so they can pay their fair share in taxes and get the minimum wage just like any other American.).

Now, I want to head away from racism and immigration. I would like to get more into the “American Dream”. The American Dream is what everybody is taught since they were youths to adulthood. The American Dream is a concept that you must work hard to get what you want out of this country/civilization. This is a concept that I fully agree upon. Nothing should be handed to you.
If you have a dream, then by all means do all you can ethically to accomplish that dream. America is the land of opportunity or the land of complete failure. Either could last a life time or one could go between either or more than once in their life. Conquering the American Dream is never a guarantee for anybody. It is a privilege to live in a place where you can move between Castes. Most other countries in the world this is an unthinkable challenge. So feel blessed that you live in a place that is as amazing as the United States.

Last on my agenda is this whole concept of Socialism in the United States. This is a situation that makes me sick to my stomach every time I hear the word. I honestly believe that nothing should ever be free; you should work for everything you want.
In this country the word Socialism is a word people use to scare the masses of “Communist Russia”. Whether you like it or not, the United States already has a lot of social programs that people do not realize they are taking advantage of. Highway systems, public parks, public schools, Medicare, Medicaid, social security, FDICA, Osha, federal grants, most student loans, most scholarships, fire departments, police departments, military and numerous other things I could state.
The thing is, people want to pick and choose what they consider Socialist and what is ok. Everything that was stated in the previous paragraph are things that affect a majority American’s everyday whether they realize it or not. Quite honestly, my personal opinion, these things have made America function great. I do not believe in a bailout of the industries like the government has done, but maybe we have learned from our previous mistakes and things will improve, but there is no guarantee either way.

America had the great collapse in the late 19th century, most did not notice because banks were not yet a standard for most American’s, “J.P. Morgan himself ended up lending money to the government to bail out the country”. Then in the early 20th century we had the Great Stock Market Crash which in turn caused the Great Depression, by this time most American’s did have money in banks and they lost everything they worked so hard for.

In the modern day recession or depression which ever you want to call it, “even though as much as I did not agree with it” do believe it was a necessary evil to keep a lot of people from losing their jobs. If the banks would have failed, tons of small businesses and large corporations would have gone under. So let’s put it in a scenario easier to understand. This would have been an all out depression. It would not just be something you saw on television about people losing their jobs…you would have been standing in the bread line next to them.

When the economy fails everything fails. You think the government is bad now for printing up money “which by the way is being repaid on time with interest”. Just imagine if nothing would have been done. Money would not have been flowing, people losing their jobs starving to death, no homes, no cars, no heat, no air, nothing. Government would have shrunk 60% which is the largest employer in the United States. The 40% that was left working would be receiving pay checks that were printed up, the people in the bread and cheese line would be receiving food that was paid for by printed money, the schools would be operating off of printed money, fire departments, police stations, government officials and anything else you could possibly think of would be paid off of “printed money”. So the money would not have been paid back with interest. The American dollar would have just failed miserably.
Guess what got the dollar stronger in the Great Depression in the 1920’s…Give up yet? It was the government social welfare programs. The government put people to work and paid them off printed money. The money in turn went back into the economy. This was not the only thing that got America out of the depression either. It’s a sad truth but war got us out of it. The factories opened up to produce military equipment and supplies. Guess who paid the workers to make and build all of this stuff? Yes, it was the government. So now I laugh because I do know my history on this stuff when somebody too young or who has never studied history says “the good o’l days when the government did not interfere or become involved in the private sector”, but they really did, even from the beginning of the United States.

Refer to the Constitution please, there is nothing in there that says “The government does not have the right to regulate or create programs that could help with the betterment of society”. There is only a check and balance system (between the legislative, executive, and judicial), and some amendments that keep them as well as anybody else from infringing on anybody’s rights. The system does work. The best way to keep things from happening that you do not want to see happen is to write your local congressman/representative, protest, talk your beliefs with others in a calm and persuading manor. Unfortunately, sometimes your beliefs will not go with the majority of America. The great thing about America though is you can protest without being arrested as long as it is peaceful. A great system we have.

Ok, so I have discussed more than I thought I would. I am not going to persuade any minds into thinking like I do, but I’m not trying to. This is my right to write about what I want. This is how I feel and if you do not agree with me that is your right, write your own blog. I thank you for taking the time to read my blogs and I do like feedback on how you feel. Thank you and God Bless