A Message to the President

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-brenner/obamas-tribulation-home-a_b_450926.html

I loved this article, although I think it may bear re-reading and reinterpreting in somewhat simpler prose.

This is the crux of the matter. What we do domestically is morphed with that abroad. I'm grateful to Michael Brenner for explaining it so ably...even though it needs to be repeatedly, and even more simply, explained.

And Haiti's earthquake was a fault line in America's dealing with itself and the world. Given our immense historical involvement with Haiti, and our wealth and proximity, our response was top heavy, mindless and lumbering in the extreme. This, despite the amazing generosity of our people -- a case of American duality, I guess.

The need to re-think Haiti parallels the need to do likewise for America. Political gridlock and polarization, coupled with a failing economy--among the list of ills Michael Brenner describes--have rendered our nation on the brink of catastrophe. Where health care is concerned, for example, we have become a third world nation.

Haiti needs to be tent-city for a while as it transitions, first, into semi-permanent and then permanent living mode. America needs a public option health plan that is administered in tents and mobile units. We need to get down to reality, putting aside false pride and ostentation. Great schools can exist in tents or old school busses or just about anything that is weather appropriate.

When we get down to reality here, we'll have the money to keep our people healthy, and by the same token, able to lay the groundwork for a global shoring up, creating the broad, sketchy outlines for a re-thought planet. Tent cities, basic food and medical supplies are widely needed worldwide. Social and physical infrastructure to offset the increasing damage of global warming must be put in place. Once the "sketch" is made, we need to get the rich countries (very much including China) to help us fill in the details.

The key is to use cheap, "appropriate" means based on sophisticated systems (global) thinking--proper thinking is the main priority--to deal with America and the world. We must deal with America well in order to deal appropriately with the world. We must deal with the world well in order to deal appropriately with America.

I concede that President Obama doesn't get it, can hardly be expected to, given the tiger he's riding. We, the people, need a coherent alternative to the Tea Party to see that he gets this message. The Tea Party folks are organized. Where are the rest of us?