The contests begin almost as soon as we can take a few steps or maybe just crawl. Anyone who has had children is well aware of how competitive siblings can become. In some cases the competition is non productive, but we also witness how this competitive spirit often drives a younger child to get the best of an older brother or sister in some significant way. When both play a particular sport, the intense determination and desire of the younger child to outdo the older one will often result in the younger child becoming the more successful of the two at that sport. Young children are constantly competing for the attention of their parents. One will cling to a parent hoping to shut out the other. When playing games, they desperately want to win. When drawing pictures, they request that their art be proclaimed the best. It’s always amazed me how a young child of no more than two or three can carry out such a high degree of scheming and maneuvering.
The constant striving to become “King of the Hill” continues during the school years among those that have the capability to compete at a high level. They want to rise to the top of their class or, at least, as high up the ladder of academic or athletic success that they can achieve. This desire does not end with the school years, as most of us well know. Competition in the work place and the business world is intense as we strive to become Top Salesman, Department Head, Chief of Surgery, General of the Army, Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player, Golf’s Number One or any one of a number of other titles that mean the same thing “King of the Hill”.
As adults, there is usually increasing compensation or earnings as one climbs higher and higher on the ladder of success. Those who reach the higher levels of the ladder typically become very wealthy and they often, but not always, symbolize their success via material possessions such as elegant homes, expensive cars or following a glamorous life style of the “rich and famous”.
Now, let’s get serious. Not many of us will ever approach that level of success and we tend to have ambivalent feelings about the people who do get to the top. While we may admire and respect them, various negative thoughts often creep into our consciousness as they remind us of our own personal limitations.
This same “King of the Hill” mentality which exerts a driving force on us as individuals also is evident in the competition of all sorts of organizations and groups. Businesses, sports teams, musical groups, school systems, political parties, etc., etc. all strive to be best in class. Likewise, cities and towns do their best to be number one in the state or nation. States work to gain a championship reputation, for example, the number 1 state for raising beef cattle or the state with the most millionaires. Likewise, nations are constantly struggling to get to the top of the heap in various categories such as standard of living, per capita income, education of its citizens, etc, etc. In all of these cases, ambivalent attitudes are the norm.
A recurring theme throughout the history of the world is the rise and fall of nations. Many nations have become “King of the Hill” at various times in history, The Roman Empire, The British Empire, Greece, The Ottoman Empire and France are a few. During the last century, the United States has climbed to that lofty perch and today, we’re well aware of the extent of ambivalence that we face as the contenders for the next “King of the Hill” lick their chops.
Earlier in this century, the U.S. successfully met various hostile military challenges. Today, we continue to deal with a different form of violence, terrorism, which has ironically emerged from the sphere of religion. Although the general concept of religion is to spread love and compassion for one’s fellow man, radical Islam is a vivid reminder that religions are not created by God but rather by man in the name of God. As such, their expression is subject to the full range of human weaknesses. The history of religion in the world clearly reveals this. Early religions have offered human sacrifices to the Gods. Christians have persecuted people like Galileo for scientific discoveries, have burned others for suspected witchcraft and clerics have molested their parishioners. Muslims deny women equality to men, brutally put people to death by stoning and, in the case of radical Islam, send their women and children off to die as suicide bombers. Certainly, it can be claimed that such examples represent only the miniscule undesirable fringe of “religious” activity and that, for the most part, religious expression has done far more good for mankind. Nevertheless, the events of 9/11/2001 have triggered a series of events in the Middle East that might be considered the greatest challenge our country has ever faced and one that we continue to deal with today.
However, on the horizon, is a challenge that many fear is one that could finally topple the U.S. from our position of “King of the Hill”. Unlike the external challenges that we have been able to deal with, this challenge comes from within. We are slowly but surely committing economic suicide. Everyone knows what would happen to a family that spends more money than they could ever repay. Eventually their creditors demand payment and their only choice is bankruptcy. Our entire national economy is dangerously close to this and the main creditor, licking their chops, is China. China holds a large share of our debt owed to foreign investors and, no doubt, would call it due if they could put us into national bankruptcy and take possession of much of our country. Many will scoff at this actually happening but let’s take a look at how close we are to this.
Go to the web site U.S. National Debt clock. It should be the scariest thing you’ve seen in a long time. The numbers change so fast, it’s difficult to even grasp what is happening. I just took a look (9:25 AM, 8/20/10). At that point in time, our national debt was $13,353,241,480,527 or $43,069 per U.S. citizen. I can’t imagine everyone in the U.S. being able to pay his or her share, even if the debt were called at this instant. Even more disturbing is the rate at which our government continues to spend beyond our means, currently to the tune of $1.4 + trillion per year. Most people have no concept of how much a trillion dollars is but they should understand that each person’s share of the debt is $43,000 and growing.
The irresponsibility of the current bunch in Washington is almost beyond belief. It seems that politicians will do anything to get votes. The sad truth of the matter is that if China or other foreign investors take us over, those votes will evaporate and another country, perhaps China, will be the new “King of the Hill”.
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