America and its inequalities

Dear Editor,

I LOVE America. But people say America is doomed. It is losing out to China because of its debt burden. It quarrels with mignons like Canada because it finds it difficult to compete with cheaper goods produced by that country. America is getting poorer. It is less literate, less healthy, less safe and above all less friendly to a large number of its own people, who are poor.

Well, it is not me who is saying that. My responsibility in such a statement is limited to quoting parts of an article randomly for the benefit of your esteemed readers. Which article? Well, it is an article that your well-read newspaper published recently under the title "America can't afford such inequality".

America and inequality does seem to co-exist quite happily for a long, long time. Some people say, that is what kept America going. Er, going where? The answer is where it is now. And where is it now? Well, in a kind of doldrums which it has hardly seen for a long, long time. Now here begins my random quotes:

Quote 1: last month Americans learned they have the highest poverty rate since the World War II (one in six Americans living below the poverty line)

Quote 2: the US still maintains one of the highest income inequality rates among all wealthy countries.

Quote 3: It shows that with income inequality comes with a host of health and social problems. The higher a country's income inequality, the higher its infant mortality rates, obesity rates, homicide rates, illiteracy rates, mental illness rates, teenage births, incarceration rates, drug addiction rates, social immobility and lower life expectancy. In other words, the bigger the gap between a nation's rich and poor populations, the greater dysfunction in that nation's society.

Quote 4: It was developed largely in the last 30 years, exacerbated by tax policies that benefited the rich at the expense of the poor. It became increasingly difficult for Americans to get ahead, get insured, get educated and get a job, all of which helps with getting respect.

Quote 5: We also have the highest rates of homicide, infant mortality, teenage births, drug addiction, mental illness, incarceration, social immobility and illiteracy. Name the social ill and we excel at it.

Before I stop, let me say a few more things.

America is getting poorer and is in serious debt. But it still manages to play the role of the self-appointed global police man, largely to its detriment.

America still wants to care for other people's security. Come what may, it must ensure Israel's security.

America still lectures others about problems that are generated by poverty and people trafficking, for example.

As America is becoming poorer, is it going to appreciate better the problems that are associated with poverty around the world? Does not seem to be so. It has no problem blocking the aid to poor Palestinians to punish them for wanting a state.

America is a free country, but is finding it difficult to remain free of poverty. America is unique. It loves free market economy which is free to squeeze resources out of the less rich and give tax break to the more rich.

It loves freedom for itself, but does not like when Palestinians want to be free in their own land.

America is a great leveller, even a black American could become a President for the first time in its history. And then it makes him forget his speech in Cairo in June 2009, his boisterous noises in favour of the Palestinians last year in the UN General Assembly and utter all that goes against his grain in his speech this year in the UN General Assembly.

America is the most progressive nation on earth, because it changes with time lock, stock and barrel even the basic tenets of its famous constitution.

Yet, America is not doomed, because it still wins more Nobel prizes than any other country. America still has brands like Apple and the world loves its i-phones, i-pods and i-pads, with or without visionaries like Steve Jobs.

Avid America lover