We have become a nation of quizzical listeners failing to think in depth about what we see and hear.

Television has totally taken over OUR minds and I'm certain there are studies hidden away that prove it!

Think!  - how much of your life is dictated by your television set? How often do you act without thinking based on what your TV tells you to do?

I have created a series of (symbolic) layers based on how I perceive Americans set their priorities; based on television.

Take the first layer I call the "core needs" - notice that shelter housing and clothing are considered the same.

• Food (nutrition)
• Drink (water)
• Housing & clothing (protection from the elements)

No surprise here ....... food and drink are essential life sustaining needs yet often morph into indulgences as well.

What have I left out that is important to each of us? -  health care which could be in the "core needs" as well. 

Then look at the next layer which I call "optional skins" - superficial yet ranging from functional to totally useless.

• Transportation (functional to self indulgent)
• Cosmetics (functional to self indulgent)
• Excessive, compulsive consumption leading to waste and poor health

It is possible to live in some tropical areas without shelter or clothing and remain healthy due to climate.

FREE

• Nature including air, water, trees, grass and other forms of life.
• Happiness. Satisfaction with simple things. NO needs or wants.
• Spirituality. How we feel about life and living.
• OUR humanity - the ability to communicate and think

Education is another item that we are seeing more ads about and that deserves ALL of OUR attention.

Wrapped around everything advertised in America are layers of sex and self-indulgence which are subliminally embedded as invisible persuaders.

Citizens from another country would judge from commercials that erectile dysfunction is our top National priority and not the economy!

During election cycles we are hammered with a whole bunch of meaningless soundbites from talking heads we hardly know.

All of this adds up to "mind bending"

OUR TV sets are like flame throwers melting our minds and reshaping our thoughts. We crave alcohol, sex, expensive cars and superficial beauty. While our souls become uglier and uglier and our inner spirit is dying.

The GOP has pioneered the use of media propaganda ... but all politicians have been forced by one another to substitute money for values  ... in order to get elected. Slowly over time public service has become a job and personal sacrifice has been replaced by excellent salaries and benefits plus the added benefits of campaign contributions and promises of future employment from lobbyists.

Those we elect to represent us  - are not!

I am bemused by those who say OUR President has failed because he did not achieve all his/our goals. It's as though the great recession never happened. It's as though the republican party didn't exist ... or that health care reform wasn't a historical achievement that has alluded  implementation for over 50 years!

How can regulations be an issue in the wake of 2008 and with an escalating stock market prepped to once again sink the world into an even worse recession?! As it stands the regulations have been stalled by the Republicans. In fact many aspects of Governance have been stalled by the Republicans in congress.

Nothing will change until we rid ourselves of the obstructionists.

Education is the key.