Jerome G. Manis America's Downward Spiral

Annotation

Americas Downward Spiral: A Call for Action offers a well-documented explanation and solutions for many contemporary troubles. Some have similar causes and interconnections. The recent collapse of a Minneapolis bridge has links to shortages of American engineers, scientists and teachers. Both are interconnected with serious unfairness in our system of justice. The book examines Americas failure to adapt to a rapidly changing world. Examples are the many disasters that began the twenty-first century and their causes. Among them were the year 2000 stock market crash, the 9/11 planes that destroyed the World Trade Center killing thousands of Americans, the endless Afghanistan and Iraq wars, and many others. The roots of those disasters are traceable to long-outdated institutions and practices. Among them is our federal system that has had scant responsibility for our infrastructure such as that Minnesota bridge. Its other outcomes include forty million people without any health insurance. It also is why our schools keep American children within the lowest test score rankings and highest dropout rates in the modern world. Other serious troubles include our military-industrial complex, about which President Eisenhower warned us, but is far more powerful today than it was over fifty years ago. Another is the failing of our media to inform us of these and other national shortcomings. Nor are we informed about the ongoing massive frauds that are not treated as crimes. In order to overcome our downward spiral, we must choose political leaders who understand what is needed. They must be knowledgeable and especially to be ready to create new polices for avoiding war, protecting the environment, unifying our national system, and promoting a fairer system of justice.