Ask the Lorax

[MorningGlory]

Gentlemen, Myco and Lorax, you have stated some good points here. Evolution and Creation are, indeed, not mutually exclusive. Excuse me while I do a happy dance to celebrate this occasion.....

Glory, may I join you?

The more the merrier!

[MorningGlory]

About nature stuff. Or anything really. I'll try my best to help you find the answer.

Okay, Lorax, here goes. I say the biggest problems facing the U.S. today are 1. Runaway illegal immigration, 2. Dependance on foreign energy sources, 3. The trade deficit, and 4. Terrorism, in that order. Pick the one YOU believe to be the most important and explain why.

[The Lorax]

Okay, Lorax, here goes. I say the biggest problems facing the U.S. today are 1. Runaway illegal immigration, 2. Dependance on foreign energy sources, 3. The trade deficit, and 4. Terrorism, in that order. Pick the one YOU believe to be the most important and explain why.

Cool.

If I could rearrange the problems I would go: (1) Dependence on foreign energy sources, (2) Trade deficit, (3) Immigration, (4) Terrorism.

Let me explain:

(4) Terrorism. I've made these rankings based on the harm each problem exerts on the average American. Considering an American is more likely to be struck my lightning than by a terrorist act, the physical threat posed by terrorism is relatively* low at present. (* - Relative as compared to the worst of America's problems, like heart disease, car accidents, and shootings.) But the point of terrorism is not just to end lives; it's to induce panic and fear--terror--in the living. Terrorists are very good at this, and they've received ample help from American politicians and media moguls. America today is a prisoner to politics of fear and a press of fear, which cooperate in aggravating and disseminating the very thing the terrorists want: fear, in the U.S. public. This has less obvious but more damaging effects than the terrible acts themselves. Terrorism scares would-be tourists and travelers and it brings cold feet to investors, thus causing economic recession like the that sent us reeling after 9-11. And it's effect go even deeper. As with all crises, there is often a need to trade some freedoms for security. But when we begin trading our most fundamental rights (like those in Habeas Corpus) for dubious reasons, there is something seriously wrong. So all in all, terrorism is a big problem. Duh. But most of its damage could be overcome with a drop of courage in a teaspoon of common sense. Apparently we've all forgotten FDR's important words, "The only thing we have to fear...

(3) Illegal Immigration. This has a large and direct effect on American workers and taxpayers. But I am for amnesty, because I'd like immigrants to pay taxes. I am also against the xenophobic, un-Christian rhetoric that is often brought into this debate, and by Christians. America is about immigraiton. Even the "true" Americans are immigrants, having crossed Beringia 10,000 years ago, very recent in human history. Any country that unapologetically celebrates Christopher Columbus (explorer, exploiter, murderer, rapist, savage--follow up on this if you doubt me) can have little moral high ground in any immigration issue. For the most part, the immigration debate is a distraction from a much bigger and virtually unattended issue: outsourcing. Why are we worried about Mexico coming in, when India and China are sucking jobs out, and at a much greater rate. This is another issue which politicians are aiding and abetting--this time in the name of "free trade."

This is taking longer than I'd like, and my eyes hurt, so I'll get to part 2 later. Thanks for you patience.

[MorningGlory]

Okay, Lorax, here goes. I say the biggest problems facing the U.S. today are 1. Runaway illegal immigration, 2. Dependance on foreign energy sources, 3. The trade deficit, and 4. Terrorism, in that order. Pick the one YOU believe to be the most important and explain why.

Cool.

If I could rearrange the problems I would go: (1) Dependence on foreign energy sources, (2) Trade deficit, (3) Immigration, (4) Terrorism.

Let me explain:

(4) Terrorism. I've made these rankings based on the harm each problem exerts on the average American. Considering an American is more likely to be struck my lightning than by a terrorist act, the physical threat posed by terrorism is relatively* low at present. (* - Relative as compared to the worst of America's problems, like heart disease, car accidents, and shootings.) But the point of terrorism is not just to end lives; it's to induce panic and fear--terror--in the living. Terrorists are very good at this, and they've received ample help from American politicians and media moguls. America today is a prisoner to politics of fear and a press of fear, which cooperate in aggravating and disseminating the very thing the terrorists want: fear, in the U.S. public. This has less obvious but more damaging effects than the terrible acts themselves. Terrorism scares would-be tourists and travelers and it brings cold feet to investors, thus causing economic recession like the that sent us reeling after 9-11. And it's effect go even deeper. As with all crises, there is often a need to trade some freedoms for security. But when we begin trading our most fundamental rights (like those in Habeas Corpus) for dubious reasons, there is something seriously wrong. So all in all, terrorism is a big problem. Duh. But most of its damage could be overcome with a drop of courage in a teaspoon of common sense. Apparently we've all forgotten FDR's important words, "The only thing we have to fear...

(3) Illegal Immigration. This has a large and direct effect on American workers and taxpayers. But I am for amnesty, because I'd like immigrants to pay taxes. I am also against the xenophobic, un-Christian rhetoric that is often brought into this debate, and by Christians. America is about immigraiton. Even the "true" Americans are immigrants, having crossed Beringia 10,000 years ago, very recent in human history. Any country that unapologetically celebrates Christopher Columbus (explorer, exploiter, murderer, rapist, savage--follow up on this if you doubt me) can have little moral high ground in any immigration issue. For the most part, the immigration debate is a distraction from a much bigger and virtually unattended issue: outsourcing. Why are we worried about Mexico coming in, when India and China are sucking jobs out, and at a much greater rate. This is another issue which politicians are aiding and abetting--this time in the name of "free trade."

This is taking longer than I'd like, and my eyes hurt, so I'll get to part 2 later. Thanks for you patience.

What's up, Lorax? You knocked it out of the park in this post. Where's part 2?