The Preachy Part

Traveling in Guatemala is not all about fun and games. Hopefully some of you did a little research about some of the recent history here, I am no expert and wont claim to be one, but if anything I want to comment about is the complicit role the United States of America played here, sometimes sponsoring coups, sometimes cutting off aid.

From my understanding, the US lent $$$, arms, and planes in order to help quel Guerrilla insurgency that at times took on a Socialist ring. Sound familiar? It should, the US did it for years in what were then considered third world countries, countries that by definition had yet to allign themselves with Western Capital or Communist Ideals. The civil war that took place in this country was brutal and very divisive and its effects are still felt today.

No, Guatemala is not the only country to receive US dollars they could never repay for a underlying US gain...it´s just one of many. I recently finished reading Confessions of an Economc Hitman, now a few years old, but still VERY relevant. I highly encourage those who haven´t read it to read it. Once again, it details in great detail the measures businesses and our government went to to secure oil, capitalism, and unpayable debts from the developing world.

Why do I mention this? Well, I think that Americans from the United States don´t have a clue for the most part, and well, that´s the way it´s designed. Mainstream news channels and textbooks don´t give us underlying stories and currents of what is really going down. So it´s not your fault, but I think it´s time you start doing some research. Part of informing yourself is by travelling, by exposing yourself to different lifestyles, different cultures, different ideas. I´ve found that we truly live in a big bubble of US idealism, closemindedness, and ignorance. It´s sad, truly sad. It´s a VERY big world out there...open your eyes.

Yet, even if we begin to lift the blindfold and inform ourselves, what then? The grip on power, money, and influence and such is soooo insidious that I don´t envision many changes. Democrat and Republican make little difference honestly. Is anybody better than Bush? Really? To some degree yes, but Obama-Clinton aren´t the be all fix all solution either. They will succumb to similar pressures if and when they are elected.

Being in Guatemala and talking with Antonio illustrates that despite our relative comfort and weatlh in the USA, we have a world of problems internally and abroad. Those that know me well know that I wanted to take on healthcare...but I think I´m losing the spirit for that fight. So long as our country views healthcare as a profit commodity rather than a civic service, I don´t see a point in getting involved, I think I´ll burn out. At least San Francisco has the right idea. That´s why I live there.

Chew on this...the US government does indeed spend a freakin´boat load of money on public healthcare...Medicare and Medicaid. But what do Medicare premiums really get you? Free care for elderly? No freakin´way. In fact, in order to reap the most from Medicare eldery people are encouraged to ¨spend down¨. What does that mean? That means you spend away your money freely (no doubt fattening the pockets of the wealthy even more) until your poor enough to get cheaper medical care. This makes a ton of sense for the baby boom population....not. IMagine you work hard all your life, save away, contribute to social security,but then have to pay a crap load of money for pills and copays. Great system America. Glad to know we spend a crap load of money on a flawed and inherently contradictory program. That´s not nearly as bad as spending a crap load of money to bring democracy to Iraq.

Yet, I am an American. That´s where I´m from, its what culture I relate to most, so I don´t see myself moving. It´s just part of life I suppose. Nothing is perfect, countless things are far from ideal, and what choice do I really have.

The solutions are these...live a simple and healthy life. Be good to your friends, better to your lovers, and kind to the people that annoy you. Smile, smile, smile. It works wonders.

I´m stepping off of my pulpit now. This is my last preaching post I promise.