“Fat, Dumb or Dishonest”

Americans are going to have to work extra-hard in the future to pay down that massive deficit we have already incurred to get us out of economic dire straits we got ourselves into by over-borrowing. We need new value-added skills and abilities. With a crumbling dollar (18% fall against the Euro, 40% against the Australian dollar, etc. over the past year) and the crumbling public primary and secondary school system (we are 19^th in recent testing of countries with modern schooling), it’s really hard to see exactly how we are going to accomplish this feat.

And the United States Army – the purveyor of the “Army strong” slogan – seems to agree. To them, the youth of America present basically a nation of slobs. According to the November 4^th Sphere.com, “The latest Army statistics show a stunning 70 percent of military-age youth are ineligible to join the military because they are overweight, can't pass entrance exams, have dropped out of high school or had run-ins with the law.”

A nation of porky idiots? Not a good place from which to build a future. “So many young people between the prime recruiting ages of 17 and 24 cannot meet minimum standards that a group of retired military leaders is calling for more investment in early childhood education to combat the insidious effects of junk food and inadequate education…

“[Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General John] Shalikashvili is among dozens of retired generals, admirals and civilian Pentagon officials who have banded together as Mission Readiness: Military Leaders for Kids. The group, which includes former NATO commander and presidential candidate Wesley Clark, will appear with Secretary of Education Arne Duncan at the National Press Club on Thursday to urge immediate action to reduce dropout rates and improve the physical and moral fitness of the nation's youth.” Sphere.

Until the recent soaring unemployment rates which have had a beneficial impact on recruiting, the military has had to more than double the number of “conduct waivers” (for criminal records!) over the preceding four years just to get enough soldiers. Wow, that’s unpleasant. I’m picturing gang members getting sniper training and expertise in explosives, because they are more qualified for military service than the average American youth! I’m not feeling good about this.

So if our enemy is reading this, what can they do to defeat our soldiers? Banana cream pie fake-outs? Soda machines with infinitely free sugar-laden soft drinks? Soft fluffy couches with lots of videogame options? Blaring “Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader” questions over loudspeakers to demoralize the troops?

For those of us who like studying history, the parallels to the years that preceded the fall of Rome in 476 A.D. or the life of the average Chinese citizens before the Mongol conquest of China in the 12^th and 13^th centuries are scary. I guess if you cherish your country and believe in America , it takes a bit of effort to make “ America ” continue to work. Taking our life in this great nation for granted is no longer viable.

I’m Peter Dekom, and I approve this message.