Despair Blamed On Social System

Stella Block

1990

Published in:

The Northwest Technocrat, 3rd quarter 1990, No. 320

The Letter to Ann Landers from a 23-year-old college graduate which appeared in the Thursday edition of the Times-Gazette was the most scathing indictment of our politico-economic system that has appeared anywhere.

The statement, "We just don't know where to start," reveals the frustration and despair that is felt by the youth of today. Our present social system does not give youth a sense of direction that the exuberance and enthusiasm of youth demands. The young man cited numerous world-wide problems that are growing and he knows that his generation will have these problems dumped in their lap. That is the political way -- postpone any solutions until it becomes somebody else's problem. Unfortunately, we are fast approaching the time when postponements will not do any more.

His letter should be read by every officeholder in the country -- starting with the president on down to the lowliest "dogcatcher."

One statement he makes, "There are enough weapons to blow up the world we live in 40 times!" should be underlined in red! Still we build more and more armaments and help arm other countries who are in conflict with their neighbors.

What kind of world is this for our youth to look forward to? If they are not drafted to fight in the Army, then their livelihood is curtailed by the need to pay for all this useless armament.

Not only that, but the destruction and waste of irreplaceable resources that are thrown away on the arms buildup will impoverish their children if they live long enough to have any.

There are other signs and symptoms of youth's frustration and their lack of direction and that is the growing unrest in the large cities: gangs; gang warfare; and racial unrest. All elements of a very serious explosion are just waiting to happen.

Unless a complete restructuring of our social system, as outlined in Technocracy Inc., is forthcoming soon, our youth will be sacrificed needlessly on the altar of greed and complacency of an obsolete social system.