America has fallen into daunting 'state of union'

Our "State of the Union" is impaired. "Union" implies separate parts working together for some greater good.

Citizens of our original states agreed on what they would give up and what they would gain, and created a government attuned to upholding life, freedom and justice for everyone, since all are "created equal."

The individual was key in our sparsely populated country.

Within 100 years, the union disintegrated and was reconstituted after much tribulation. Things mended, slowly and imperfectly. Other chinks were realized and tackled or ignored. Knowledge expanded. New problems materialized. The world moved on. Things became complicated.

Today most people live so closely together they often impact each other. Self-reliance equals having money, from whatever source. Self-importance requires possessions. Individual initiative is still honored, but automation and off-shoring create roadblocks. Some don't bother to try, and are satisfied with (or reduced to) welfare, drugs or crime.

Materialism reigns. We've begun evaluating human life in terms of cost/benefit rather than existence. Approximately 50,000,000 unborn babies have been condemned to death by unwilling mothers. Gun-rights enthusiasts trivialize shooting victims as collateral damage.

"Unity" has morphed into "me vs. you." Many super-rich "buy" politicians to ensure their special interests outweigh the public's.

Vital needs without concerted pressure usually fail. Politicians subvert voter-approved mandates they dislike. Industry uses our air and water, pollutes in return, and often undermines public health.

Utilities shift investment risk to consumers rather than themselves. Huge wage increases formerly achieved by trade unions for their members inflated everyone's cost of living when companies raised the price of goods to compensate. Nowadays, without union clout, employee pay stagnates -- but rather than prices dropping, top management grabs astronomical remuneration. Big business may lie with impunity. Whistle blowers are persecuted. Discriminations happen.

Shame on us all!

Arlene Flisik

Bradenton

This story was originally published January 23, 2016 at 12:00 AM with the headline "America has fallen into daunting 'state of union' ."