More Than Nostalgia: The Avengers & "America"

I want to see The Avengers. I want to see The Avengers not because everyone is telling me I must see it. I want to see The Avengers not because it is American apple-pie, rip-roaring superhero entertainment with a stylish, nerd-like comic culture. I want to see The Avengers because a little bird told me there was witty dialogue that carries the weight of a message of togetherness (of a small group of remarkable people) and courage.

Most interestingly, the superheroes start as a group that doesn't get along to ones that know how to work together. Dang, everyone in Congress should see this movie. With no real jobs bill or any important bill coming to fruition, the center (democrats) and right (republicans) continue to not-do as time marches on and families suffer. As the arrogance and stupidity of our leaders continue to stymie progress towards a more equal society, I ask: Where my heroes at, America?

In Chrystia Freeland’s latest article in Reuters, she contends that America used to be Sweden. Like, an equal, communal Sweden? Yes. According to new research, the America of the Founding Fathers was ‘‘more egalitarian than anywhere else in the measurable world.’’ That’s a super important finding, and one that will surprise most of the US public today. Both inequality and American exceptionalism are two important topics on the minds of most individuals. Historical research by economists Peter H. Lindert and Jeffrey G. Williamson shows that when it comes to inequality, “American exceptionalism is an inversion of the conditions that prevailed at the time of American Revolution.” http://blogs.reuters.com/chrystia-freeland/2012/05/03/colonial-america-how-swede-it-was/

Well, what the hell happened? A number of events and factors contributed to the decline in US power and prestige. Wall Street bamboozled customers. Oil speculators turned grotesque gambling pastimes into daily habit. Glass-Steagall sank. The Media Fairness Act vanished. Private became the new public. Corporate became the new standard. The tax rate for the richest folks continued to dwindle down to practically nothing. Citizens United decided money was free speech. America got the blues-bad.

‘‘There has been an absolute reversal,’’ Lindert states. ‘‘Compared to any other country from which we have data, America in that era was more equal. Today, the Americans are the outliers in the other direction.’’

Now, of course we are talking about the colonial era where only white males were free, so lets not get it twisted. But not factoring in the social progress made, looking at this from a purely economic perspective, we were pretty damn egalitarian!

Perhaps there's a chance to attain an even more progressive egalitarian future if we educate and gain some political will. Maybe, as Margaret Mead once suggested, a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens (superheros?) will change the state of our nation. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. 

France sent out a stern message today as President-elect Hollande stated, “My true adversary… has no name, no face; he belongs to no party; he will never declare his candidacy. He will not be elected, yet he governs. My enemy is the world of finance.” Uh-oh fat cats. Sounds like a populist hero may be taking over France. Will French citizens follow Hollande's lead, become heroes and avenge the crooks and liars?  Could we follow the French's lead? We could try...

Nick Fury: [narrating] And there came a day… a day unlike any other… when Earth’s mightiest heroes found themselves united against a common threat… to fight the foes no single superhero could withstand… on that day, The Avengers were born.