We're losing the race, because we are running backward

South Korea's economy is having trouble. In their words. Their public debt has risen. It is 33% of their total GDP. Compare them with us. Our public debt is now a staggaring 81% of our GDP (which is emormous by itself), thanks to the buffoon in the White House and his cronies running [ruining?] every branch of our federal government. How is Korea addressing their economic troubles? 2 ways: They are lowering interest rates, and they are cutting taxes. That's it. No borrowing. No "stimulus." No nationalization of banks, mortgage lenders, car companies, and health care. They are embracing free market principles, while we race to see how fast we can adopt those of the old Soviet Union.

I just visited South Korea for a whirlwind cross-country tour. What I saw at every turn was a country dedicated to progress, growth, and an increase in quality of life. Their infrastructure is renewed, modernized, and grown on a daily basis. Their public availability and use of technology is amazing. Their auto industry is going gangbusters, and they are encroaching on their world competitors by leaps and bounds. They have 4 car companies: the well known Hyundai and Kia, and Daewoo and SSangYong. The latter makes cars in partnership with and based on Mercedes platforms. So well in fact, that Mercedes forbids marketing in Europe of these cars. In 2 weeks, I saw thousands of cars, of which one was American. And that one car was a 5 or 6 year old Mercury Sable.

I had internet everywhere I went - high Speed. I watched people on cell phone conversations using video. I visited restrooms which were numerous, spotless, modern, and sanitary, even in the country side. I stopped at rest stops across the country which had vast play areas, numerous stores and restaurants, entertainment, and information centers. All stocked. All busy. All thriving, and all spotless. I immediately compared that to Virginia's announcement that we are closing a number of our rest stops along I95 because we can't afford them. Literally folks, you can spend a week's vacation at a Korean rest stop.

The food was amazing. The meat was fresh. The produce was just-picked and organic. The cars were, for the most part, fairly new. Every family I visited had 2. The internet was fast. The stores were stocked with goods and packed with people. Everyone was fit and skinny. I think we counted 8 overweight Koreans in 2 weeks. The first thing I noticed when we arrived back in the US was that almost all of the people in the airport were obese, including me. Ugh.

We have two things going for us, as far as I'm concerned, but we are rapidly removing that advantage. We have space, and we have natural resources. But we are fencing off the space, and forbidding the development and use of our resources in the name of, well, they say ecology, but actually, in the name of socialism and behavioral control. We would rather see 10 thousand farmers lose their farms and go on the public dole than risk extinction of a 2-inch nondescript minnow http://westernfarmpress.com/mag/farming_california_reels_savetheminnow/

We would rather see the economy crash and burn than build a few more nuclear plants, burn clean coal, or drill and refine more of our own vast oil resources. We would rather hit the bottom of international education ranking than exchange sex education for math and science. Our current "leadership" seems more willing to communicate and negotiate with communist North Korea than with our ideological and economic partners in the South. It makes me weep.

As I watch us race to ruin, listen to our leaders tell us to "sit down and shut up and take what's good for us", witness the repression of free speech and debate of ideas, I am alarmed to think of where we will end up. In 2002, then president Bush was met with vigorous demonstrations and vitriol at public stops. I don't remember the press having anything to say except for how "American" these protests were. Now that we have poll after poll telling us that a majority of Americans question or oppose the national health care plan, I see the press quietly agreeing with the White House and Democratic leaders in congress that Joe American should just stop with the protests and debates, and let the leaders ru[i]n things.

Well, not me. I like how Korea is doing things. I think we should model them. They shout and push and shove in their legislative sessions! Perhaps it is time we started doing the same. I think I will find myself a couple of nearby town hall meetings, pull on a pair of boxing gloves, and head on over. What's the worst that could happen? I'd get arrested? Well, then maybe that's exactly what needs to happen. There is not enough jail space to hold us all. They might have to start shooting us - like the Soviet Union or Iran. Won't THAT look nice on TV?