This is my first ever Blog. I’m naming it, “My Name is America and I’m an Alcoholic.” Given the widespread Economic, Political and Social Unknowns in the United States of America (and in the rest of the world), I will be utilizing the phrase, “These Epic and Historic COVID-19 Times” throughout it as well.*
*Blogger’s Note: I first began writing this blog on Inauguration Day, January 20, 2021. I have been working on it since then. It goes through numerous revisions. Though The COVID-19 Pandemic is over, I have decided to continue using this phrase because of its unknown aftermaths.
One central aim here is to provide Thought-Provoking Metaphors about Certain Dynamics existing in the United States. For example, America is what the Substance Abuse Treatment Industry label as being a ‘Functional Alcoholic‘ per se. Our Country was once looked upon as ‘Successful.’ America has been dubbed the ‘Land of Opportunity.’ We seem to be employed with countless jobs. We wear the right cloths. Our Well-Crafted Facades, both individually and collectively, shinned brightly for years. Other countries used to envy her. As such, many brave souls from economically-torn countries, such as Venezuela, trek hundreds of miles through dangerous routes, like the Darien Gap, for their chance to start a new life here.
Though America has been ‘driving drunk’ for quite some time-it’s never been ‘Arrested’ nor had its ‘License Revoked.’ America has gone on a number of ‘Widespread Binges,’ such as printing trillions of US Dollars and amassing huge debt (31.4 Trillion as of July 4, 2023) without having any significant consequences. The U.S. Dollar and the Comfort it provides us is our True ‘Substance of Choice.’ As a Nation, we have become addicted to it. And what makes this even more challenging for Americans to embark on a path of recovery is that money is required to survive.
As any addiction progresses, its ugliness becomes more visible. For this one Common Citizen who once believed in True American Democracy-a System of Checks and Balances, a Separation of Powers and Untainted Justice- it’s hard to see. America has begun displaying her True Underbelly. Our Day of Reckoning when the ‘Four Deadly Horseman:’ (Terror, Bewilderment, Frustration and Despair) seem to be lurking around the corner. An American ‘Alcoholic Bottom’ of some sort feels close at hand.
America may no longer hide from the Realities She’s built within it. If America’s ‘Alcoholism’ ever reveals its ‘True Ugly Head’-hitting Economic, Political or Social Bottoms-could we embark on a Courageous Path of National Spiritual Recovery? However, is a ‘American Revival’ even possible in such entrenched times? Are we even capable of engaging in personal and collective transformation replacing certain ‘Character Defects’ of Spitefulness, Self-Importance and Falsehoods with Kindness, Humility and Genuineness (See, #thegreatamericanrevival2025 Blog Entry)?
America’s Day of Reckoning could transpire in a number of ways. What if it initiates from an Economic Bottom when our ‘Steroid Like Infused’ Financial Markets reveal their True Colors? What would happen if the US Dollar loses its highly coveted status as the World’s Reserve Currency? Further, Americans have been assured by both President Joe Biden and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen that our cash deposits remain fully accessible and safe. However, what if more American Banks began to collapse again and additional ‘Government Backstops’ are not put into place to save them?
What would happen if Americans cannot freely access our money or make anonymous purchases in a manner that we are accustomed to? What would this do to our Nation’s Psyche? What if our beloved American Dollar loses even more purchasing power? When our Federal Reserve System introduces FEDNow (Central Bank Digital Currency), sometime in Summer 2023 how is this going to play out? How would the Average American, many of us living pay check to pay check without having any savings for a raining day react to these additional financial uncertainties?
Can these Epic and Historic COVID-19 Times become more Surreal from a Political Bottom sparked from our Governmental Leaders and those aligned with them who continue undercutting American Democracy and the Rule of Law? Or could it transpire sometime in America’s next National Election Year, 2024? Due to an onset of more intense, widespread factors, could our two political parties truly be held accountable by ‘We The People.’ For example, what if a New Third Party appeared on the political scene during next year’s Election Cycle? Could this place Higher Expectations on both Republicans and Democrats to change? And if they weren’t capable of making such Political Transformations, could it lead to losing their highly coveted, highly held power status in American Politics. See, #anynewthirdpartyplease2024 Blog Entry
Or could this all initiate from a Social Bottom consisting of more intense and widespread Civil Unrest as compared to what was seen in Summer 2020? If such hypotheticals escalate throughout American Cities, would our Police Departments be able to enforce law against unprecedented violence without adequate Military Assistance? If Rioting and other Violent Crimes erupted in America (similar to what is happening in France), how many dedicated Police Officers would abandon their Posts to protect their own families?
Further-has the Democratic Left ‘Woke’ Culture taken against our Police Departments negatively effected them to Uphold The Law? Marginalizing this Vital Public Institution in its entirety because of those police officers whom have clearly abused their authority has produced dire consequences. As many Police Officers can attest to, a Direct Cause and Effect has been the Mass Exodus of Outstanding Men and Women working in this profession.
To this one American Citizen, there is Just So Much Transpiring Right in Front of our Eyes. We just have to have Courage to Open Them Up and ‘Look What’s Happening on The Streets‘ (Jefferson Airplane, Volunteers) throughout the United States of America. Instead of shying away from one another, maybe we can try to engage each other in mutually respectful dialogue about these troubling times. How did we arrive in such a place? Is there a way to change what we’ve become? And having these discussions, we’ll have to do this a way where we do not offend another person. And Lord Knows-throughout the last several years- we are getting way too easily offended by what others say and do around us. Instead of ‘Cancelling Out’ an opinion different than our own-maybe we could possibly adjust our own.
America has become Dangerously Polarized. This seemed to begin in that infamous Election Year 2016. And it certainly escalated in 2020. We have become Way too Wrapped Up in our Own Belief Systems. Many Americans are desperately grasping onto what they think belongs to them. And we live in constant Fear that Someone or Something is soon going to take it away from us. Whether it be our Financial Security, our Self-Perceived Social Status, our Professional Careers that we’ve been led to believe define us. Or what if our Constitutional Rights are circumvented? Regardless, America has become too jammed up in its own Selfish, Arrogant Idealism.
Even before March of 2020, I often wondered if an American Chapter of Historic Proportion would soon unfold. It was just a feeling at first. However, when The COVID-19 Pandemic Arrived, this could unfold in a significant, uncertain capacity. The stockpiling of Toilet Paper. Empty Shelves in Grocery Stores. A mad dash to Sporting Goods Stores for First Time Gun Buyers, with no formal weapons training, to purchase something they thought they never would have to (And let’s not forget about the the ammo shortages that soon followed). People rushing to banks for cash. Checkout Counters that no longer accepted our beloved Paper Money. American Citizens possibly not being able to temporarily access their Bank Accounts.
"Hello-My Name is America and I'm an Alcoholic" (A Metaphor) 