Dark Ages America

I went to a rather depressing book reading yesterday by Morris Berman, author of "Dark Ages America: The Final Phase of Empire." In a nutshell, Berman believes America, the Overstretched Empire that no longer values intellectual debate, is on the brink of self- destruction. Our obsession with material goods, radical individualism (I made it, you're on your own) and gated communities with freshly watered lawns in the desert has completely destroyed our sense of community and desire to improve the overall public good.

When asked about the environment, poverty and other problems we're currently facing, Berman said, "Leave it to other countries. They'll figure it out." He's right. Forty percent of the nation's wealth is owned by just one percent of the population, 75 percent of Americans believe the Bible teaches that God helps those who help themselves, 11 percent of young Americans can't find the United States on a map, Republicans and Democrats alike seem to be comfortable with our flawed empire and our social structure is drastically unraveling. Unlike many who still say, "We have the power to make change!," Berman says there's no hope. Hey, at least he's being honest.