We have just commemorated the 25th anniversary of 9/11. The media was full of testimonies from those most affected by the tragedy as well as commentary about this being last time the country came together as a national family.
To be sure, 9/11/2001 is a watershed moment in American history in perhaps the same way as the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Both assaults on the homeland fundamentally changed the character of the country and the world in which it navigates its purpose.
The 9/11 attack cost 2,977 lives and that of Pearl Harbor 2,403. The Pearl Harbor tragedy opened America’s door to the Second World War where it lost another 420,000.
The United States came out of World War II as a superpower along with the Soviet Union. While both countries projected the strongest of militarizes, the US had a more powerful economy that allowed it to eventually win the Cold War.
Like Pearl Harbor, 9/11 was followed by the United States going to war. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan where 7,000 of our military sacrificed their lives have not been resolved by the traditional measure of winners and losers as terrorism and the political issues surrounding their asymmetrical confrontations cloud the results.
Also, instead of these conflicts reaffirming American’s place in the world, the country began to import the confusion in our global relations and the rules that govern international leadership creating more of an inward focus on our discourse about who we are and what we have become. The differences in our thoughts about our identity as Americans have gradually been radicalized to the extent that there a real discussion at the highest levels as to what citizenship means and what citizens belong and what citizens do not.
In addition to wars, violence and movement of people around the world, the Great Recession (2007-2009) and the COVID 19 Pandemic (2020-2023) served as catalysts for the creation and increase in the political divide in America. The Great Recession brought us to the edge of an economic Depression that caused our government to borrow heavily to maintain the economy going and COVID 19 caused another round of borrowing, both leading to an astronomical rise of our debt.
In 2001, the year of 9/11, the national debt was at 5.8 trillion dollars with an annual budget surplus of 128 billion. The current national debt is at 40.08 trillion dollars, and our annual budget is running a negative 1.7 trillion.
People that have done their arithmetic have found out that each citizen’s current portion of the national debt is $119,630. Since not all citizens pay taxes, the individual taxpayer is really burdened with a $286,256 debt.
Needless to say, since 2001 the US dollar has lost 47 percent of its value due to inflation. It is also slowly losing its role as the reserve currency for other countries in the world.
The main beneficiary of America’s infighting with allies abroad and among our own people at home is China. This Asian Country is projected to overtake the United States economy in 2035-2036.
Militarily, China is our number one adversary and poses the greatest threat to our future. Yet, we continue to dally in the Middle East and do not even have an aircraft carrier in the Pacific.
Pearl Harbor set up the nation to become the greatest economic and military superpower in the history of the world. On the other hand, the decades after 9/11 have seen a confused America becoming a diminished state.
The views expressed by David Conde are not necessarily the views of LaVozColorado. Comments and responses may be directed to News@lavozcolorado.com.
