The Pyrrhic State of America: Make America Great

By Ronald Barnes

Dr. Ronald Barnes and Attorney Amanda Gray have collaborated to give a substantial review on the current state of American society. The Pyrrhic State of America addresses the state of the economic, educational, social, psychological, and legal perspectives, as well of how these perspectives were affected by the coronavirus pandemic in terms of the political climate. An analysis of the GNP, GDP, international trade issues, the US debt situation, income inequality, political, and employment statistics gives insight into the fragile nature of America's economy. The views of American citizens and the political leadership, in a discriminative America combined with coronavirus will, hopefully, cause America to reevaluate its priorities and policies

Dr. Barnes and Attorney Gray present arguments that the best interest of American citizens are ignored in favor of the politicians serving the minority population of wealthy and rich Americans. Evaluating legal issues of limiting freedoms and assessing the ramifications of government officials intentionally misleading the public are explored. Past policies and laws that have favored the wealthy and upper class have a pyrrhic impact on American culture and society. America's ability or inability to deal with crisis under the Trump administration presents evidence that the American economy is fragile, based on the benefit of the few at the expense of the many.

Analyzing the issues, presents us with insights for improvement. Ironically, the "best country on earth" reputation of America has paradoxically produced the unhappiest generations of individuals, millennials, generations X, Y, and Z. How does a great country have unhappy citizens? It is the improvement of our American society and implementation of policies and laws, better serving the American citizens, that should be the legacy focus of this book.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Jul 27, 2022
• ISBN: 9781638447160

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The Pyrrhic State of America

Make America Great

Ronald Barnes

ISBN 978-1-63844-715-3 (paperback)

ISBN 978-1-68570-397-4 (hardcover)

ISBN 978-1-63844-716-0 (digital)

Copyright © 2022 by Ronald Barnes and Amanda Gray

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Dedication

The Authors' Statement of Purpose

Abstract

Perspective

Introduction

What Does It Mean to Be Great?

White Americans and the Indians

White America and Slavery

Overview of the Book Contents

Chapter 1

The Coronavirus Pandemic

The Effect of COVID-19 on America: It's Impact and Containment Management

Government Authority to Restrict Movement and Enforce Social Distancing Regulations

Chapter 2

America's Political Climate

Trump Controversies

Politics vs. Public Interest

Ratings from Advocacy Organizations

Republicans, Democrats, the Economy, and the Stock Market

The Low Point in American Politics

America's International Image

Political Division is Destructive to America

Chapter 3

An Overview of the American Economy under Republicans (2016–2020)

GDP/GNP

Income Inequality

Defining income tiers

Destruction of America's Manufacturing Base

Products Made Outside the United States Imported into the US

Balance of Payments/Trade Deficit

Trade Deficit Benefit 1: Massive Foreign Investment in US-Based Factories

Trade Deficit Benefit 2: Preventing per Household Tax Hike

Trade Deficit Benefit 3: Boosting Americans' Retirement Funds

Increasing Cost and Inflation outrun Income and Wages

The National Debt

A Creative Solution

Chapter 4

American Education

American Education Compared to Other Countries

Economic Support for Education

Equal/Unequal Educational Opportunity in America

Schools, Race, and Money

Discipline and Learning Problems

School Violence

The American Education System: A National Perspective

School Programs That Facilitate Learning

An American Education, International Inbound, and Outbound Perspectives

Black Families Carry More Student Loan Debt Than White Families

What America Needs to Do

Chapter 5

The American Law Enforcement, Legal and Judicial System, Law Enforcement and Racial Disparity

The Bail System

Criminal Justice Is Expensive

Money Buying Justice: The Right to Counsel

Chapter 6

Social Justice/Incarceration

United States Incarceration Population

Rate of Imprisonment by Race and Ethnicity per 100,000 in America

Private Prisons

Chapter 7

American Prejudice, Discrimination, and Racism

Greed and Racism

Defining income tiers

Summary: Discrimination and Racism in America

Chapter 8

Is American Evangelical Religion, Religious?

Chapter 9

Happiness in America: How Happy Are Americans with Their Lives?

Chapter 10

The Silver Lining: Recommendation for a Great America

Appendix

Table A. Incarceration Rates Per 100,000 by Race, by Black (male and female) Incarceration Rate

Table B. State Imprisonment 2014, by Percent Black in Prison

Table C. State Imprisonment 2014, by Percent Hispanic in Prison

References

About the Author

Dedication

I dedicate this book to my parents. Coming from a large family where I have eight other siblings, both of my parents worked hard and diligently till their retirement. In fact, I think I remember my dad calling off work only twice in my life. We weren't wealthy, but we always had food on the table and new clothes for school. We were read to, listened to, paid attention to, valued, and…we were billionaires in terms of the love and caring my parents fostered in us and taught us to extend to others.

My parents showed us love and attention to each such that none of us felt deprived, and we were overflowing in love, support, and empathy for all people and all creation. My parents raised us with an example of love that bonded each of us together in the same manner. It is because of my parents that I have become the person I am. My parents represent the best people that America has to offer. They are full of love and respect for all people regardless of race, creed, color, sexual orientation. They raised all nine of us the same way, and my siblings and I have endeavored to foster such values and virtues in others around us. And I have come to realize and treasure, especially in these recent times, what an immense blessing I've been given in them.

Amanda Gray, JD

It is with a great honor to also dedicate this book to the person and to the memory of Heather Heyer. Thinking about her chokes me up with empathy, sympathy, and a sincere and genuine love for her as a person. Heather was killed in Charlottesville, Virginia, when a car driven by a White nationalist supremacist purposely plowed into a crowd of counterdemonstrators who were counterprotesting a neo-Nazi, Ku Klux Klan rally mixed with White supremacist, White racist, and White nationalist, the most deplorable people in America. The car claimed the life of Heather. Heather was obviously a young woman who realized the value of a world where all people got along with each other, respected each other and a world void of racism, discrimination, and prejudice. What is special about Heather is that she viewed all people as human beings before she saw them as Black, White, Spanish, Polish, Italian, German, Irish, male or female. That is truly a special place for White people in America to find, considering that America has a long history of racism and prejudice. Considering that racism and prejudice is socialized into White culture, Heather was not blemished. Racism and prejudice are prevalent throughout America, and it is wrong and deplorable. Heather was one of the special people who transcended the racism and prejudice that make White culture sick. In her short life, she made a significant impact. This book is dedicated to you, Heather. This book is also dedicated to Heather's mother, Susan. The fact that Susan raised a daughter like Heather speaks volumes for the person she is.

America can never be great unless more people like Heather show themselves.

God bless you both, Heather and Susan.

Dr. Ronald Barnes

The Authors' Statement of Purpose

As professionals in the fields of psychology and law, our purpose is to apply our education, experience, and skills to benefit society and improve people's lives. We are writing this book based on that purpose, for the people of the United States of America and our nation's leadership, including the president, members of Congress and all government officials and employees in our nation. But most of all, for the people of the United States of America… Together, we can make America great.

Abstract

Any rational, decent, honest, and intelligent person that applies simple logic must wonder why our American leadership and state of society is so dysfunctional. What is the problem with people that over the millennium of years humans have existed, their interpersonal relationships are abundantly conflictive? Humans are more focused on self-centered interactions that cause constant conflict than to construct psychology and behavior patterns that manifest compatible mutually beneficial lived experiences for all members of respective societies. What makes America great? According to the contemporary models of human behavior, the greatness of America is based on the concept that for someone to win, someone must lose. More accurately, for the few to win, the many must lose. Is this what makes America great?

America is a melting pot of people of different races, cultures, and religious orientations. American culture is not constructed to deal with the reality of its situation. America has been this way since White settlers came here from Europe. Honestly, the problem with America is White culture's inability to get along with people who are not White. That is a dysfunctional defect in White culture. The problem is so severe that poor, uneducated White people are being used as pawns and fooled into thinking that because they are White, even though they, themselves are poor and starving, that their salvation is in being White. The Pyrrhic State of America: Make America Great addresses this and other American phenomena then provides solutions. American leadership is not mediocre; it's substandard. Politicians in congress can't compromise. American leadership is a problem. The American people suffer. America will never be great until all Americans learn to understand that we are all human beings created equal, instead of spreading the absurd falsity that some people are better that others. That thinking is what keeps America from being great. When America and Americans learn to judge people not by the color of their skin but by the content of their character, then America will be on the path to greatness.

Perspective

There are subjects that many people have difficulty dealing with in interactive communication. Among them are race, religion, and money, all of which have a significant presence in American society. Avoiding constructive and honest communication on these issues only makes the problems they encase more difficult to resolve. This book addresses these issues directly, for the purpose of opening the doors to reconciling the problems encircling them. Avoiding important issues will not lead to resolution. Confronting them in a negative hostile manner may also inhibit resolution. Hopefully, honest factual confrontation of problematic issues with sincere purpose to bring about resolution will appeal to the decent intelligent minded individuals who truly want to see America become a great country. Race is a major issue in America that has not been reconciled in a positive and respectful manner in the last four hundred years since 1619, when the first slaves appeared on the shores of Jamestown, Virginia. Greed and income inequality are a problem destructive to the fabric of America. All White people are not deplorable racist. The religious foundation in America that was once a cornerstone, bonding ethics and moral behavior, American to American, now has become a platform for zealotry that drives Americans to reject the traditions of religion and engage conflict in violation of religious freedoms, guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States of America.

Unfortunately, racism exists among and between all races. This book addresses many of the unfortunate issues regarding racism between white and black Americans. The majority of White Americans are decent, respectful, honest, law-abiding Americans who want to see America be a country that is fair to all its American citizens. However, there are a significant number of racist Americans who stain the image and pride of what America stands for. The only disappointment with decent White Americans is that they act with a benign neglect that allows deplorable racist to have a voice that divides and damages the relationship between American's citizens. The authors do not apologize or pretend to show any respect or deference to racist, White Supremist, Nazis, Ku Klux Klan or any other terrorist group, referenced in this book, who espouse deplorable rhetoric and engage sick behavior that does not align with basic decency and the tenants and principles of America, as set forth by the founding fathers. There should be no tolerance for hatred, racism, discrimination, or prejudice against law abiding American citizens. These attitudes and position are reflected in this book. Likewise, minorities have their share of deplorable individuals, as do all races of people. Organizations like Black Lives Matter and others focused on the purpose of bringing justice to all Americans are not among those considered problematic.

The primary goal of this book is to synergize the many issues, events, and experiences occurring in American politics, law, justice, healthcare, economics, and interpersonal relationships and social phenomena, at this point in time. Issues that mark this era of unprecedented events magnify the many shortcomings of American society. This book reviews and analyzes these issues in a way that gives insight into the phenomena of an America that wants to be great, the gaps that keep America from being great, and clarity about what American should do to be great. This book is important as a historical reference to a unique and unprecedented time in America that represents a crossroads between America becoming a truly great country or an America maintaining its perceived status as a racist, greedy country that has little care for its citizens, unless they are rich and wealthy. The economic and military bully tactics of the rich, the politicians and the police will not work in this twenty-first century nor in the future.

Introduction

The term pyrrhic is normally used in reference to war. A pyrrhic victory is won at such a great cost and sacrifice to the victor that it is questionable whether the war should have been fought in the first place. The victor suffers such a devastating loss that it is tantamount to defeat. The cost of a pyrrhic victory takes such a heavy toll that any true sense of victory is negated. This book is based on research from reputable sources. It is not based on biased opinion. There are analogies that can be drawn about the current state of America that represents a pyrrhic condition. The political system in America is polluted with politicians who are elected by American citizens, but their primary interest is to serve the needs of special interest. America's international relationships with foreign countries and our allies is at an all-time low. The inequalities in education and the high cost of education makes many students wonder if it's worth the cost to go to college. Social inequities, racism, job discrimination, prejudice—what are the benefits of having large numbers of unemployed people? None. Does unemployment cause an increase in crime? Probably? What impact does hate and hate crimes have on a society? Conflict and division. The economic state of America has restructured over the years. Has moving manufacturing offshore been good for America or only for the benefit of the already wealthy? Transferring America's manufacturing base offshore destroys the job security and independence of American citizens and society. Is the justice system fair? There are more people in American jails than the population of some countries. America leads the world in incarcerations per 100,000 people at 655 per 1,000. ¹ These examples represent pyrrhic conditions that diminish the greatness of the United States of America. Racial inequality represents another. What is the benefit of racism in American society? The popular answer is, none. The 2017 tax cut with an imbalance of benefits in favor of the rich is another example of a pyrrhic America. The struggles between Americans during a time of pandemic is yet another. Diminished international standing and the dismantling of President Obama's policies, mostly those in the best interest of America have taken place under Trump. The pyrrhic impact of these phenomena is discussed in this book.

America is basically a two-party political system, Democrats and Republicans. Each party has different ideologies, opinions, and beliefs on how America should be governed, which policies and laws should influence American citizens and each party has a different approach regarding how the lived experiences of American citizens should be constructed. Freedoms of American citizens only exist within the framework and boundaries set by the governing party. A telling dilemma that alludes to the fickle nature of American citizens is that, practically, they have no real allegiance to either party, in general. Government leadership has shifted back and forth from Democrat to Republican and from Republican to Democrat consistently over the past one hundred years. While American citizens register their party affiliations. Election results consistently vary. Regardless of the party, the lives of Americans, especially minorities show little progress. The income gap between rich and poor has widened regardless of the governing party.

Understanding the evolution of America and the issues it has faced today and, in the past, makes one wonder if America has ever been great for all its citizens or is it just a subset of American citizens, the White and the wealthy, who benefit? Taking a closer look at what it means to be great will give the reader a broader reference to understand and evaluate, for themselves, the greatness of America, in the past and in the present. If America is to be great, then what needs to take place in the present and maintained into the future?

Donald Trump was elected president of the United States of America in 2016. During his presidency, we have seen a rise in hate crimes, increased presence of White nationalist, Ku Klux Klan, neo-Nazis, and racist behavior. It was our belief the Nazis regime was destroyed in World War II and the Nazi war regime and criminals were dismantled, jailed, or killed. That Nazis were deemed to be a negative entity to the world, why would those who sympathize with their discriminative policies and actions be allowed to have a presence and influence in America or in the modern world? The same logic applies to southern confederates. The south lost the civil war. Their support of the inhumane system of slavery is repulsive to any decent human being. Why then should reminders of southern racism be allowed as reminders of the deplorable sickness of slavery? Why should the confederate flag be displayed in a free America? Why should statues and monument to traitors of a united America be displayed. These are only remnants and reminders of a deplorable era in American history that allows racism to linger instead of being eradicated. It can be argued that these symbols of a lingering culture of racism have a contributory impact to racism in America.

Donald Trump's initial response at a press conference to the Charlottesville, Virginia, peaceful protest that turned violent was that you also had people that were very fine people, on both sides.² This was the event at which Heather Heyer was killed by a White supremist, while she was peacefully protesting against racism and discrimination in the United States. A White racist drove his car into the crowd, killing Heather. Donald Trump was initially reluctant to condemn this act of violence. Some believe because he himself is a racist. How can a racist be considered a good person? A racist is an appalling entity in a society. A society that supports racists and discrimination is not great. Nazi Germany and Hitler are examples of the fate of a racist society. America in theory was not built on racist doctrine. In practice, America can often be a racist country. White America needs to align their behavior and mind-set with the philosophy of American doctrines (the Constitution of the United States of America, the Declaration of Independence, the Emancipation proclamation, and the Holy Bible); otherwise, a great America is only a figment in imagination. What benefit is racism to a civilized society? None. One can easily argue it is detrimental. White hate groups, White supremist, White nationalist, neo-Nazis, the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) have a similar impact on our American society and segments of the American population as does Isis, A Qaeda and other terrorist groups, have to the White population of America. These terrorist groups for the most part target White Americans and White American corporations and institutions, White hate groups target African Americans, Jews, Hispanics, Muslims, and those considered non-White American citizens. Why is one hate terrorist group allowed to exist while the other hate terrorist groups are aggressively hunted down with intent to destroy them? Many people believe that much of Trump's support is from right wing White Evangelicals, self-proclaimed neo-Nazis, and White racists and White nationalists. The benign action and catering to hate groups by the Trump administration is considered by some to be a statement of administration support for hate groups and hate crimes. In just four days, over 1 million people signed a petition for the KKK to be declared a terrorist organization.³ Within two weeks later, the support for declaring the KKK a terrorist organization accumulated over 3 million petition signatures.⁴ Black Americans have suffered the most under these White terror group. Terrorism is the use of violence and intimidation in pursuit of political aims, the movement/petition to change the status of the KKK to a terrorist organization reads: We ask if ISIS or ISIL is labeled a terrorist group for their acts, then surely the KKK fit the clear description of a terrorist.⁵ If ISIS, Boko Haram and Al Qaeda are listed as terrorist organizations as they are international groups that threaten the security of the United States,⁶ so should the KKK, neo-Nazis, White Supremacist, and the like, according to over one million people who have signed petitions to that effect.⁷

A journey of one thousand miles begins with a first step. At a Black Lives Matter (BLM) protest rally in Nevada, men in KKK Hoods carrying Trump posters interrupt the peaceful protest. A BLM participant approached the KKK counterdemonstrators to discuss their views. The parties approached each other and mutually stated they come in peace. The BLM demonstrator said, if you come in peace, then give me a hug. The civilized encounter and the hug resulted in the BLM demonstrator and the KKK counterdemonstrators having a civilized conversation, educating each other.⁸ This one incident does represent a glimmer of hope that Black individuals and racist White people have potential to reconcile their differences. An incident such as this can plant the seeds of America becoming great.

What Does It Mean to Be Great?

A great country fundamentally depends on the people who determine the laws and policies that govern the country. More so, the quality of the interaction and the relationship of the citizens in a country is a determinate factor of greatness. The degree to which a country constructs and frames an environment in which people trust their leadership and are happy and satisfied with their lived experiences are other determinate factor of greatness. Understanding greatness is an ambiguous concept that is often defined in terms of military accomplishment (i.e., Alexander the Great, Douglas MacArthur, George Patton, Julius Caesar, Genghis Kahn, Napoleon Bonaparte, Attila the Hun). Another concept of greatness can be characteristic of the following people: Jesus Christ, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Muhammed Ali, John F. Kennedy, Queen Elizabeth, Mother Teresa, Oprah Winfrey, or Beyonce.

Greatness is more that the image we perceive and have of individuals. Greatness is manifested in a culture, a society. Greatness in a country or a society transcends the personalities of individuals. A great society is determined by a multitude of blended characteristics, permeated throughout the culture and society and valued by the citizens. Because individuals carry the mantle of great, does not mean the society or country in which they live is great. Much of what we think we know about greatness has a depth that goes beneath the surface. People often mistake superficial materialism for greatness and disregard the quality in substance.

There are two theories that address how the history of a society is shaped. The first theory is called the deterministic theory. It advances that history is a result of a sequence of causes and effects, a continuous occurrence of stimulus and responses, indicating that individuals don't shape history, events, or the nature of a society. Individuals have no control over outcomes. Situations that occur create conditions for individuals to respond, to rise to the challenges that are presented. Individuals are presented with situations that require them to respond. People being at the right place at the right time respond to situations over which they have no control.⁹

The second theory regarding how history and society is shaped is referred to as the free will theory. This theory suggests that if it weren't for individuals such as, Jesus, Alexander the Great or Charles Darwin and their determination, with or without the supporting conditions, the world would be different.¹⁰ The difference between these two theories is the degree to which the society is shaped, and how its greatness is determined by human individuals. One theory indicates individuals respond to phenomena that occurs. The other theory indicates individuals determine the phenomena that occurs based on their actions. Most often history is focused on the acts, behavior, and feats of individuals. When discussing the Revolutionary War, reference is made to George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, Patrick Henry, and others. To what degree and to what consequence do individuals change the course of history or contribute to the course of history? Proponents of the free will theory adhere to the human individual greatness and the significance of their influence. The perceptions of free will proponents are an extension of the cultural definition that stems from values. Greatness is action. Greatness is visibility. Greatness is more. Greatness is legacy. Can a society or a country be considered great under either theory when the inherent response to phenomena or the contribution of individuals reflects values based on greed, inequity, or racism? Can a country that criticizes the inequities of other countries yet practices those very