What are the Leading Weaknesses of American Society Today?

For all the talk I've heard about the "economic weakness" and "national security vulnerability" of the United States these days, I've been dismayed by the lack of nationwide dialogue about the many shocking cultural weaknesses found within American society of today. Acknowledgment of those weaknesses, it seems to me, is essential for this entire nation if we seek to be a fully vital, fully creative, and fully strong country:

They include:

---THE ABSENCE OF CONGRESSIONALLY-APPROVED BIPARTISAN SECULAR GOALS FOR OUR ENTIRE NATION, GOALS THAT LEND A SENSE OF SHARED VALUES AND SHARED ASPIRATIONS FOR ALL OF AMERICAN SOCIETY.

---THE DEPLORABLE ABSENCE OF ANY OFFICIAL U.S. GOVERNMENT WEBSITE THAT EXCLUSIVELY IS DEVOTED TO PROMULGATING EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THE MAJOR SHORT-TERM AND MAJOR LONG-TERM OFFICIAL CURRENT GOALS FOR THE UNITED STATES THAT HAVE EACH BEEN OFFICIALLY APPROVED BY THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT.

--THE DEPLORABLE ABSENCE OF ANY OFFICIAL BIPARTISAN U.S. GOVERNMENT WEBSITE THAT EXCLUSIVELY CITES AND EXPLAINS WITH FACTUAL INFORMATION EACH OF THE SPECIFIC HUMAN RIGHTS (FOR EXAMPLE, THE HUMAN RIGHT TO ENJOY OPTIMAL HEARING CAPACITY AND FREEDOM FROM INJURIOUS NOISE POLLUTION THROUGHOUT ONE'S ENTIRE LIFE, INCLUDING THE HUMAN RIGHT FOR ALL AMERICAN CITIZENS TO NEVER THEMSELVES 'GO DEAF' MERELY FROM RESIDING IN A CITY IN THE UNITED STATES, SUCH AS MIGHT OCCUR IF ONE WERE SUBJECTED INSIDE THAT AMERICAN CITY OF RESIDENCE TO CONTINUOUS YEAR-ROUND NOISE POLLUTION THAT ONE DID NOT PERSONALLY AUTHORIZE OR GENERATE OR REQUEST) THAT THE U.S. GOVERNMENT HAS OFFICIALLY APPROVED FOR ALL U.S. CITIZENS.
ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF A SPECIFIC HUMAN RIGHT THAT THE URGENTLY-NEEDED OFFICIAL U.S. GOVERNMENT HUMAN RIGHTS-THEME WEBSITE MIGHT CITE IS THE HUMAN RIGHT TO ENJOY FREEDOM FROM INJURIOUS AIR POLLUTION INSIDE ONE'S CITY OF RESIDENCE, REGARDLESS OF THE U.S. CITY WHERE ONE MIGHT CHOOSE TO RESIDE.

---THE ABSENCE OF A CONSENSUS IN AMERICAN SOCIETY ON BEHALF OF THE IMMEDIATE DISMISSAL FROM OFFICE OF ANY GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL WHO MAKES A PUBLIC STATEMENT THAT IS LATER FOUND TO HAVE BEEN A DELIBERATE AND NOTEWORTHY LIE ON THE PART OF THAT GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL.

---THE ABSENCE OF A CONSENSUS BY THE AMERICAN PEOPLE THAT PREVARICATION AND PATHOLOGICAL MENDACITY AND FRAUDULENT COMMUNICATIONS IN THIS COUNTRY SHOULD NOT BE TOLERATED. THE ABSENCE OF A NATIONWIDE NETWORK OF PREVARICATION-TREATMENT PROGRAMS FOR THE MILLIONS OF AMERICANS WHO CURRENTLY ARE EITHER PATHOLOGICAL LIARS OR HABITUAL LIARS, AND WHO EACH AT SOME FUTURE DATE CHOOSE TO ENROLL IN A TREATMENT PROGRAM OF THAT TYPE.

---THE ABSENCE OF A COMPREHENSIVE AND FULLY SUCCESSFUL NATIONWIDE NETWORK OF DRUG-TREATMENT AND ALCOHOL-TREATMENT PROGRAMS.

---THE VERY FACT THAT VIRTUALLY NONE OF OUR FEDERAL OFFICIALS EVER ONCE PUBLICLY STATES THE ESTIMATED PERCENTAGE OF ALL AMERICANS OF TODAY WHO ARE ADDICTED TO MARIJUANA OR SOME OTHER ILLICIT DRUG.

---THE VERY FACT THAT VIRTUALLY NONE OF OUR FEDERAL OFFICIALS EVER ONCE PUBLICLY STATES THE ESTIMATED PERCENTAGE OF ALL AMERICANS OF TODAY WHO ARE ADDICTED TO DRINKING ALCOHOL.

--- THE FAILURE OF THE U.S. GOVERNMENT TO COMPILE OFFICIAL STATISTICS ESTIMATING THE CURRENT PERCENTAGE OF ALL ADULT AMERICANS OF TODAY WHO ARE ADDICTED TO HAVING THEIR OWN BODY TATTOOED. AT PRESENT, ADDICTION BY INDIVIDUAL AMERICAN CITIZENS TO HAVING TATTOOS EMBLAZONED AT NUMEROUS LOCATIONS ON THEIR OWN BODY IS ONE OF THE LEADING CULTURAL MALAISES IN AMERICAN SOCIETY OF TODAY.


---THE VERY FACT THAT THE U.S. GOVERNMENT HAS PERMITTED THE HIGHLY ADDICTIVE AND NON-CREATIVE AS WELL AS DESTRUCTIVE ACTIVITY OF GAMBLING TO BECOME ONE OF THE LEADING "INDUSTRIES" IN THE UNITED STATES OF TODAY, WHEN IT IS CLEAR THAT THE GAMBLING INDUSTRY CONTRIBUTES VERY LITTLE TO THE OVERALL VITALITY OF OUR NATION, AND IS PERVASIVELY INJURIOUS TO THE EMOTIONAL AND MEDICAL HEALTH AND FINANCIAL HEALTH OF INDIVIDUAL AMERICANS.

----THE VERY FACT THAT OUR U.S. GOVERNMENT HAS MADE NO ATTEMPT, DURING THIS PERIOD OF ECONOMIC DEPRESSION IN THE UNITED STATES, TO INSIST ON A URGENTLY-NEEDED REALIGNMENT OF OUR ENTIRE NATION'S ECONOMY THAT WILL FOSTER NEW AND CREATIVELY SALUTARY INDUSTRIES WHILE SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCING OR ELIMINATING THE ROLE CURRENTLY HELD IN OUR NATION'S ECONOMY BY THE ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, ILLICIT DRUG, TATTOO PARLOR, SEXUAL PROSTITUTION, AND GAMBLING INDUSTRIES.

---THE ABSENCE OF AN EFFECTIVE NATIONWIDE PROGRAM, APPROVED BY THE U.S. CONGRESS, ON BEHALF OF HELPING TO SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE THE CRIMINAL RECIDIVISM RATE AMONG AMERICANS WHO WERE PREVIOUSLY CONVICTED OF A FELONY CRIME.

---THE ABSENCE OF A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT THAT STATES VERY CLEARLY THAT THE UNCONSCIONABLE CRIME OF EITHER HOMICIDE OR ATTEMPTED HOMICIDE CAN BE LAWFULLY AND LEGALLY PUNISHED IN THE UNITED STATES THROUGH COURT-ORDERED CAPITAL PUNISHMENT OF THE INDIVIDUAL FOUND GUILTY IN A COURT OF LAW OF THAT BARBAROUS AND VERY SINISTER AND UNFORGIVABLE CRIME.

---THE FAILURE OF THE U.S. CONGRESS TO PROPOSE A NEW AMENDMENT TO THE U.S. CONSTITUTION THAT BANS AND PROHIBITS ANY AND ALL FORMS OF THOUGHT-CONTROL PROJECTS INFLICTED AT ANY TIME, INCLUDING AT PRESENT, ON ANY AMERICAN CITIZEN ANYWHERE IN THIS COUNTRY, THOUGHT-CONTROL PROJECTS ALSO BEING PROHIBITED IMPLICITLY BY THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND FREEDOM OF RELIGION AND PRIVACY RIGHTS AND FREEDOM OF STRICTLY-MUTUAL-CONSENT ASSOCIATION CLAUSES OF THE U.S. CONSTITUTION.

---THE ABSENCE OF A COMPREHENSIVE AND NATIONWIDE RECYCLING PROGRAM THAT MAKES IT POSSIBLE, AND VERY EASY, FOR ANYONE RESIDING IN THE UNITED STATES OR WORKING IN THE UNITED STATES (REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THAT INDIVIDUAL LIVES OR WORKS IN A SMALL TOWN OR RURAL AREA) TO PARTICIPATE FULLY AND ON A YEAR-ROUND BASIS IN RECYCLING OF ALL OF THE MANY RECYCLABLE ITEMS THAT HE OR SHE CONSUMES AND CHOOSES TO DISCARD.

---THE ABSENCE OF AN OFFICIAL COMMITMENT BY THE U.S. GOVERNMENT TO OFFICIALLY SPONSOR RESEARCH AIMED AT HELPING TO SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE THE LEVEL OF ENERGY-EFFICIENCY OF ALL CURRENT AND NEW RECYCLING PROGRAMS IN THE UNITED STATES.

---THE ABSENCE OF AN OFFICIAL U.S. GOVERNMENT GOAL OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA BECOMING THE LEADING NATION IN THE ENTIRE WORLD FOR PER-CAPITA PRODUCTION OF RENEWABLE ENERGY.

---THE ABSENCE OF ANY OFFICIAL FEDERAL HOLIDAY EACH YEAR THAT IS EXCLUSIVELY DEVOTED TO PROMOTING AND HONORING RENEWABLE ENERGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT IN THE UNITED STATES, INCLUDING MANY OF THE ADMIRABLE PIONEERS IN THAT FIELD.

---THE SHOCKING FAILURE OF THE U.S. GOVERNMENT TO SPONSOR A NATIONWIDE CONTEST INVITING ANY AND ALL AMERICAN CITIZENS TO SUBMIT A SUGGESTED NEW SYMBOL FOR ANY AND ALL FORMS OF RENEWABLE ENERGY. THE RENEWABLE-ENERGY SYMBOL COULD LATER BE APPROVED BY AN ENLIGHTENED U.S. CONGRESS AND THEN USED IN MANY THOUSANDS OF EDUCATIONAL AND PUBLICITY CAMPAIGNS THROUGHOUT THE U.S. THAT EACH PROMOTE RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND CONSUMPTION OF RENEWABLE ENERGY IN THIS COUNTRY.

---THE DISMAYING FAILURE OF THE U.S. GOVERNMENT TO ESTABLISH NUMEROUS "FEDERAL IDEAS-PERSONS" POSITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT IN THE U.S. GOVERNMENT. THE PROPOSED NEW "FEDERAL IDEAS-PERSONS" WOULD BE EXPECTED TO HELP OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN WASHINGTON, D.C., SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE THE LEVEL OF CREATIVITY AND IMAGINATION OF FEDERAL PUBLIC-POLICY-MAKING AND RELATED EDUCATIONAL AND PUBLICITY PROGRAMS ON BEHALF OF THE U.S. GOVERNMENT.

---THE FAILURE OF THE U.S. GOVERNMENT TO ADEQUATELY PUBLICIZE THE "RIGHT TO SET YOUR OWN PRIORITIES" AS ONE OF THE GREATEST HUMAN RIGHTS ENJOYED BY ANY AND ALL CURRENT CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES. THAT HUMAN RIGHT IS FULLY PROTECTED BY THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND FREEDOM OF RELIGION AND PRIVACY-RIGHTS-RELATED AND FREEDOM OF STRICTLY-MUTUAL-CONSENT ASSOCIATION CLAUSES OF THE U.S. CONSTITUTION.

---THE COMPLETE ABSENCE OF A NATIONWIDE URBAN-SPRAWL CONTAINMENT PROGRAM THAT WILL EACH YEAR SAVE MILLIONS OF ACRES OF FARMLAND, RANCHLAND, WILDERNESS LAND, AND PARKLAND FROM COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT.


---THE ABSENCE OF A NATIONWIDE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION IN WHICH GEOGRAPHICALLY COMPACT, PEDESTRIAN-FRIENDLY CITIES CAN QUALIFY FOR MEMBERSHIP----AN ORGANIZATION THAT HELPS TO PUBLICLY PROMOTE NUMEROUS INNOVATIVE AND WISE CITIES AND TOWNS IN THE U.S. THAT HAVE EACH LIMITED THE TOTAL GEOGRAPHICAL AREA IN WHICH REAL-ESTATE DEVELOPMENT IN THOSE CITIES OR TOWNS OCCURS.

---THE FAILURE OF OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO INSIST ON A FEDERALLY IMPOSED MULTI-STORY CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENT FOR VIRTUALLY ALL CATEGORIES OF NEW REAL-ESTATE DEVELOPMENT, AND, WHEN APPLICABLE, A MULTI-STORY CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENT FOR RENOVATIONS AND EXPANSIONS OF EXISTING BUILDINGS. THIS MULTI-STORY CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENT WILL HELP TO PREVENT URBAN SPRAWL WHILE SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCING ENCROACHMENT ON EXISTING WILDERNESS LAND AND AGRICULTURAL FARMLAND AND RANCH LAND THROUGHOUT OUR NATION.

---THE FAILURE OF AMERICAN SOCIETY TO ADEQUATELY HONOR AND GENEROUSLY REWARD OUTSTANDING, LAND-CONSERVING, ENERGY-EFFICIENT, URBAN DESIGN PROJECTS AND URBAN PLANNING PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THIS ENTIRE NATION.

---THE ABSENCE OF A FEDERALLY APPROVED NATIONWIDE AGRICULTURAL CROPLAND AND RANCHLAND REVITALIZATION PROGRAM THAT HELPS TO SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE THE TOTAL NUMBER OF ACRES EACH YEAR IN WHICH AGRICULTURAL AND RANCHING ENDEAVORS IN THIS NATION CAN BE PROFITABLY PURSUED. IN RECENT YEARS, AMERICAN SOCIETY HAS RELIED EXCESSIVELY ON AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE FROM FOREIGN NATIONS WHERE THE SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS ARE LESS STRINGENT THAN IN THE U.S.

---THE COMPLETE ABSENCE OF A NATIONWIDE CONSENSUS ON THE DESIRABILITY OF AMERICAN SOCIETY IN A LAW-ABIDING AND HONORABLE MANNER ACHIEVING ZERO POPULATION GROWTH AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

---INADEQUATE NATIONWIDE SUPPORT FOR THE NOBLE SERVICES PROVIDED BY VASECTOMY SURGEONS, WHO CAN HELP TO PREVENT UNWANTED PREGNANCIES IN THIS COUNTRY.

---THE FAILURE OF AMERICAN SOCIETY TO ADEQUATELY FINANCE AND GENEROUSLY REWARD AND PUBLICLY PROMOTE RESEARCH IN VASECTOMY SURGERY TECHNOLOGY, AND IMPROVEMENTS IN VASECTOMY SURGERY INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAMS, THAT HELPS TO INCREASE THE LEVEL OF SAFETY AND ENHANCE THE SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM MEDICAL HEALTH FOR THOSE ADULT MEN WHO DO AGREE TO UNDERGO VASECTOMY SURGERY IN THE UNITED STATES.

---THE COMPLETE ABSENCE OF A CLEARLY DELINEATED NATIONWIDE POLICY AIMED AT HELPING TO SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE THE PER-CAPITA INCIDENCE OF UNWANTED PREGNANCIES, AND PARTICULARLY AMONG AMERICANS UNDER AGE 25.

---THE CONTEMPT FOR PLATONIC (NON-SEXUAL) PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS THAT AMERICAN SOCIETY HAS ALL TOO OFTEN SPAWNED, INCLUDING CONTEMPT FOR NON-SEXUAL PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN AND BETWEEN MALE YOUTHS AND FEMALE YOUTHS.


---THE COMPLETE ABSENCE OF AN ADEQUATE APPROVED NATIONWIDE POLICY BY THE U.S. CONGRESS ON BEHALF OF PROTECTION OF THE OZONE LAYER AND PREVENTION OF FURTHER GLOBAL WARMING.

---THE FAILURE OF THE U.S. GOVERNMENT TO INSIST ON SPEEDY AND NATIONWIDE AND COMPREHENSIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE METRIC SYSTEM, INCLUDING FOR ROADSIGNS ON HIGHWAYS THAT INDICATE THE PHYSICAL DISTANCE BETWEEN CITIES.

---THE ABSENCE OF A NATIONWIDE HIGH-SPEED AND VERY SAFE RAIL TRANSIT PASSENGER-TRAIN SYSTEM THROUGHOUT THIS ENTIRE NATION.

---THE ABSENCE OF A COMPREHENSIVE NATIONWIDE SIDEWALK, BICYCLE-PATHWAY, AND HIKING PATH CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM THAT IS DESIGNED TO ENSURE THAT AMERICANS THROUGHOUT OUR ENTIRE NATION, REGARDLESS OF THE TOWN OR CITY OR RURAL AREA IN WHICH THEY RESIDE OR VISIT, HAVE FULL ACCESS TO PEDESTRIAN-FRIENDLY, JOGGING-FRIENDLY, BICYCLING-FRIENDLY, AND ROLLER-SKATING-FRIENDLY PATHWAYS AND TRAILS IN THAT MUNICIPALITY OR RURAL AREA.

---THE ABSENCE OF AN OFFICIAL AMERICAN LIFE-LONG SPORTS PROMOTION POLICY THAT HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE U.S. CONGRESS.

----THE APPARENT ABSENCE OF A COMPREHENSIVE NATIONWIDE PREVENTIVE MEDICINE POLICY DELINEATING CLEAR GOALS ONLINE, SUCH AS AT A SPECIAL WEBSITE DEVOTED TO THE SUBJECT THAT ALSO PROVIDES HELPFUL ADVICE TO ALL AMERICANS ON LIFESTYLE CONDUCT THEY CAN PURSUE (YEAR-ROUND CONSUMPTION OF PROBIOTIC BEVERAGES AND FOODS, FOR INSTANCE) THAT WILL PROTECT OR STRENGTHEN THEIR OWN MEDICAL AND EMOTIONAL HEALTH.

---THE APPARENT ABSENCE OF A FULLY-DELINEATED AND OFFICIAL U.S. GOVERNMENT-SPONSORED NATIONAL ACCIDENT-PREVENTION PROGRAM, ACCOMPANIED BY PROMULGATION OF ANNUAL AND SEMIANNUAL OFFICIAL ESTIMATES BY THE U.S. GOVERNMENT ON THE TOTAL NUMBER AND PERCENTAGE OF ALL HANDICAPPED AMERICANS RESIDING IN THE U.S. AT THAT TIME WHO INCURRED THAT MEDICAL DISABILITY FROM AN ACCIDENT THAT THEY EACH SUSTAINED.

---THE APPARENT ABSENCE OF A CLEARLY-DELINEATED AND OFFICIAL U.S. GOVERNMENT-SPONSORED SUICIDE-PREVENTION PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES SUICIDE-PREVENTION SERVICES, INCLUDING EDUCATIONAL SERVICES AIMED AT HELPING TO PREVENT SUICIDE, ON A NATIONWIDE BASIS.

---THE APPARENT ABSENCE AT PRESENT OF A NATIONAL PARKS POLICY STATING THE PROPOSED POSSIBLE GOAL FOR OUR ENTIRE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA OF AT LEAST ONE STATE PARK PROVIDING CAMPGROUND FACILITIES ---- OR ONE NATIONAL PARK CONTAINING CAMPGROUND FACILITIES, FOR THAT MATTER--- BEING SITUATED WITHIN 50 OR 100 MILES OF EACH AMERICAN METRO AREA OR AMERICAN CITY WITH AT LEAST 100,000 RESIDENTS.