THE UNITED STATES OF ... WHAT?

By Toney Atkins

I knew from all the years I spent in Daytona Beach who read newspapers and watched TV news. You could sit in a barroom and argue the issues of the day, and at least a few of those present knew what you were talking about. You could ride the Votran bus service and see those who were glued to cell phones or iPods and those who were reading the newspaper or talking about current events, and you had a good idea who knew at least a little of what was going on in our ever more turbulent world.

I'm not opposed to all of these amazing electronic devices that envelop us in our own private world of music or the small DVD players that put a recent smash box office hit into our laptops. Our cell phones keep us from communicating with our neighbor on the bus or train because we can chatter away with some invisible person that we'll see in person within minutes anyway.

All of these marvels are wonderful, but they've managed to consume the lives of many who have no idea what's going on in the world beyond their sphere of existence. They'll say they don't watch the news because it's "boring" or "depressing." They have their own problems -- romantic, financial, etc. Why be concerned about politics and what's going on in the world?

They laugh when you say that China is close -- if not already there -- to being more powerful than the United States. That communist nation sells far more goods to the U.S. than we do to them. We're in debt to China, as a matter of fact -- not just a few dollars, but billions. While we haven't been paying attention, China, India and even Iran, a member of the so-called "Axis of Evil," have representatives in this country, buying properties and making business investments. While we fear a nuclear threat from Iran, what can we really do about it, because China has business dealings there -- particularly with its increasing demand for oil? China's military is strengthening, so the U.S. now must very carefully consider whether or not to go after one of its friends, lest we start World War III.

All of a sudden, illegal immigration across the U.S.-Mexico border is getting attention. Why didn't someone in Homeland Security think of that after Sept. 11, 2001? If refugees, drug smugglers and such have gotten across in large numbers without being caught, who's to say that a potential terrorist or two hasn't gained entry into the U.S. in the same way? Border security presently is a joke that's not funny, but we Americans are "suddenly" shocked into the realization that Mexicans believe they have the right to come into the U.S. illegally, get health and educational benefits that some citizens can't get, fly their flags and tell us what we should do.

U.S. senators and representatives are getting a bit nervous because this is an election year and many people are putting down their iPods, cell phones and DVD players and asking hard questions about what they're doing for the good of the legitimate citizens of the U.S. of A. There will be a lot of double-talk and evasive answers between now and the congressional elections, but we need to wake up and demand positive change in our government. After all, those eyes from around the world who would like to see us knocked from our perch are watching.

Postscript: One of my best sources of legitimate news impacting the middle class of America is "Lou Dobbs Tonight," which can be seen on CNN at 6 p.m. and repeated at 4 a.m. for night owls or early birds. Be informed, if only for an hour.

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