When Tomorrow Never Comes

An age of uncertainty where in a blink of an eye many of us could be thrust into situations that we really have no control over has taken over societies the world over. Where entrenched rulers defy logic and pursue agendas far removed from the sanctity of life have for years thrust mankind onto the brink of destruction. In the United States civilized society has become fragmented to the point of almost no return. Many are continually being handed that all too familiar Pink Slip sending so many down that spiral of financial desperation. When too many are caught in an economic limbo where earnings haven’t equated to the cost of living sending all of them into shock waves of anxiety and despair. And, when too many more have lost all hope of fulfilling their dreams have eroded the conscious thoughts of upward mobility being possible into an all to familiar realization of poverty, decay and depression. These are the realities of the 21st century America.

A frustration that has been brewing for some time where the anguish that life has eclipsed all are chances of ever climbing up that ladder of upward mobility has cast a foreboding shadow.  When we look back in history where civilizations have risen and fallen it wasn’t too long ago that circumstances very much similar to today ignited the French Revolution. The masses rose up in solidarity and overthrew a government of elitists. Today, we actually do have a government and political system pretty much made up by the elite. The rest of us are left to rot with rotten TV, stale beer, and of course a prescription for what ever drug is advertised on our rotten TV’s. 

When Benjamin Carson said “What you’re saying is that I, the superior elite will take care of you. Why? Because, you see that superior elite group needs to feel superior and elite. And, they can’t be superior and elite unless you have a whole lot of people down there groveling around. So you keep them down there by feeding them.” Some would say that sounds like our government and the 1% today. They pretty much have hit the nail on the head.

 When many have long thought that civilization would crumble and fall they are not too far off. Soon if nothing is not done to stem the rising tide of anger and frustration, just as though the people of France during the late 1700′s did the United States will soon be center stage for open revolt against a system programmed to benefit and perpetuate the super elite.

We have a government that cannot implement good healthcare, military veterans are getting shafted for far too long, a government that has sold out the public at large, a government that grows the economy only for the 1% by all those billion dollar bailouts, and a government that caters to Wall Street more than Main Street. This, while rest of us, the 99%s we ordinary citizens of misfortune continue to wallow in what ever governmental handouts they most benevolently bestow. Yet we the hapless multitudes continue to not understand that we could become a tidal wave of rebellion against the status quo. An American revolt could happen in the space of a heartbeat. Of course though, the government and the 1% know this and they fear it. They continue to have their confident rampart leaders and overconfident generals the likes of which are very reminiscent of George Armstrong Custer.

Last-minute rescues figure prominently in American folklore. Like Dudley DoRight and the cavalry riding to the rescue to save the day and restore the status quo. Hollywood movies have all gotten rich over the portrayal of the White Knight coming to save the damsel in distress.  It very well could be that so many Americans embrace the rescue myth so tightly because it provides comfort in it’s escapism if even for just a few hours. Like in the 1930′s where movies provided the most serene atmosphere to escape the harsh realities outside the theaters. For over 150 years, Americans have been led to believe while so few have been able to count on Washington to ride to the rescue with men and money when ever tragedy struck. Remember in the aftermath of disaster when Hurricane Katrina or Sandy hit our own government didn’t come galloping down to save the day for the masses. Too many were left isolated facing repercussions so devastating they have never fully recovered.

Just consider the history of what our most benevolent government has done in just the past four decades. It appeared certain that Chrysler and Lockheed were finished. Then the Federal government rode in, delivering millions of dollars in taxpayer guarantees. In 1982, it happened with big Federal government guarantees and banks termed “too big to fail.” This was followed by the 1989 bailout of the savings and loans associations when they faced a financial massacre. And who can forget the latest rescue, the 2008 Troubled Asset Relief Program, which President George W. Bush ramrodded through Congress in October 2008 and which cost in excess of $400 billion? These were not ma-and-pa banks. These were giant investment house banks that were saved; and within a year, they were able to reward themselves with billions of dollars in bonuses. It was criminal and unconstitutional.

My father used to say you don’t learn from your mistakes unless you pay a price. And so it is with the wizards (or lizards) of Wall Street; they’re betting most of the house’s money on every crap shoot, roll of the wheel and hand of blackjack. And why shouldn’t they? The house has the odds stacked; and even if there really is a bad streak of luck, the government will set you back up again. Oh yes, some concessions will have to made, a fine or two and a juicy scapegoat; but the fat rats have grown so big and grotesque that they have eaten even the cats and rolled toward the slop trough while the rest of America drinks a six-pack and watches “America’s Got Talent.” The real talent is the con men in Congress who, with the help of the networks, divert our attention away from the fact that for the past 40 years America’s standard of living has been in decline. If you don’t believe me, drive through Detroit.

For Wall Street and Congress, moral hazard no longer even exists. They can do almost anything with impunity; and it’s the ordinary citizen who gets hurt, gets poor and gets forgotten. To the rich elites, we are second-class citizens used, owned and discarded. Yet they are more entitled than ever. Such elites existed in Custer’s day, out of reach because the U.S. Army was on hand to protect them. But there were times that the cavalry could not even protect themselves. Such was the case in June 1876. The Indians would not accept the government’s offer for the Black Hills, and the remnants of the Union’s Civil War Army were thrust into a new conflict. For Custer, it was a last chance at glory. A puritan war hero with political ambitions, Custer was eager to grab tight the reins of battle.

In the spring of 1876, under the command of Gen. Alfred Terry, Custer’s 7th Cavalry Regiment along with Col. John Gibbon’s infantry were to march up the Big Horn River and force the Indians into accepting government terms. Custer commanded about 800 men and controlled another 600. The army fully expected that the Indians would run, rather than fight. It was further believed that if any conflict arose, the Sioux would be able to field no more than 800 braves. And finally, in the event of real trouble, it was expected that Custer and Gibbon could combine forces with Gen. George Crook and his expedition of 1,300 men. Custer refused to take Gatling guns for fear that they would slow his march, and he left 200 men out of his regiment behind to bring up supplies via pack mule. Custer also begged his superior for permission to act alone if a situation presented itself.

In the early afternoon of June 25, 1876, a situation was presented to Custer in spades. From a ridge to the west, Custer gazed down on one of the largest gatherings of Indians in recorded history. More than 10,000 Indians Lakota Sioux, Northern Cheyenne and Arapaho — lay encamped beneath him along the plain beside the Little Big Horn River. Despite the fact that Custer had on hand only 600 men and had no idea as to the whereabouts of Crook’s army or Gibbon’s infantry, he decided to launch a preemptive strike, mostly out of fear the Indians would see his cavalry and run. That was his first mistake. His second mistake was to split the forces he had in three. And without consideration for timing, he ordered Maj. Marcus Reno’s men to attack from the south with some 200 troops, while Capt. Frederick Benteen was ordered to proceed with a scouting mission to a far off flank. Custer and his remaining company of some 215 soldiers charged upon the main body of the village from the east. Reno’s attack occurred first, and it was quashed and repealed within minutes. Then Reno retreated and settled into a defensive hilltop position to save what was left of his company. Custer was attacked by the main body of the Sioux. Light cavalry was never designed to hold a defensive position over overwhelming opposition. Within 20 minutes of first fire, Custer and his men were dead and mutilated.

This was one of the few times when the powerful elite did not conquer. Native Americans rose up and cut them down. If the ruling elite continue their abuse of power and their thirst for greed, other Americans may do what the Native Americans did.