An Imaginary Tale

I've always been an avid comic-book reader and when I was a kid there were these fantastic "imaginary tales". They appeared largely in the Superman "family" of books and told stories outside the usual "real" continuity. They were generally far-out stories that fans always wanted to see but could never really happen. Stories like "What if Lois Lane KNEW Clark Kent was Superman?" would appear to quench the thirst of the die-hard Superman fans clamoring for it.

These stories were fun, imaginative, and exhilarating. You could tell from reading them that even the creative teams behind the stories relished doing them. It gave them the chance to scratch their creative itches and really stretch their storylines from the norm. But of course, by the time the next issue rolled around, you were returned to your regularly scheduled tale of do-gooding where Lois hasn't a clue. (glasses on / glasses off... she NEVER figured THAT out!?!?!?)

In later years the "imaginary tale" vehicle returned in a regular series call "What If..." that was popular for many years. The blog you are reading is about to become an imaginary tale. But one without the fun. It's a "what if" to a large degree, that unfortunately is a little too real. At least that's the view from here...

It's a good thing our tax dollars were working for us on that 11th day of September 2001. Tax money wisely spent with our intelligence services... foiling an attack on our homeland that could have brutally killed thousands. But what if that savage attack was successful... thank God it wasn't, but can you imagine our varied and swift responses?

I know we would have chased the terrorists responsible all around the globe for as long as it took. I know we'd pursue the so-called "Bush Doctrine" that basically states you're either with us or against us. You best not harbor terrorists, you best not finance their evil aims... or you too will be hunted by the forces of freedom.

We would never stoop to the terrorists level, but we would utilize so called "enhanced interrogation" methods to protect our people and the American Way. And this will NEVER be debated because once attacked, Americans are unified and will NEVER FORGET.

Our governments main aim and objective would be the prevention of further attacks.

Americans are a strong lot tied together by a collective consciousness. There is no "as long as it doesn't happen to me" mentality here. We all suffer together... we all feel the enduring pain.

We would have tightened up our borders, and the border patrols. Our federal government would help fund local municipalities in everything from disaster preparedness, building shelters, storing rations... heck even dispensing gas masks and handing out "emergency evacuation plans" to all citizens.

On foreign policy our government would be sure to stick to the game plan. Our foreign aid to friends would be just as generous as it has always been. Our overseas humanitarian aid programs would be available to all in need. But we would totally cut off from all aid the countries that harbor or aid terrorists intent on killing Americans or any other innocent human beings.

It is with that savings that we would fund all the initiatives and programs detailed above. There would be no deficit spending or tax increases. It would all be done with the savings.

But again, thankfully we don't have to worry about all that. If the attack was successful it would have meant we got complacent and let our guard down. That didn't happen... and never will.

Also I'm thankful that freedom and capitalism works. Our system of government and the free market we as citizens have embraced and are dedicated to has afforded us much as a people and a nation.

In our system of checks and balances you have the freedom to succeed or fail. You have the right and opportunity to try. The "American Way" gives us all many advantages. Our government provides small business loans to fledgling entrepreneurs. Our free and independently owned banks throughout the country also lend money to deserving business's or extends lines of credit to expanding business models.

But our government does something else just as important. It has various programs to soften the blow to those who may be unemployed, or who have failed to become the next great tycoon. In good times and bad... we're all in this together. No one has a problem with their tax dollars giving a helping hand every once in a while to someone who needs a boost.

But ultimately as citizens of this great nation we understand that there is an important relationship between freedom and failure. One doesn't truly exist without the other.

For example the "Old West" is practically cluttered with what's become known as "American Ghost Towns". These towns were once "Boom Towns". There was once some sort of thriving business found there. In some cases it was mining... in some it was oil. In many more of these towns it was some sort of manufacturing base.

The "boom" of whatever business it was brought people to the towns and with the people sprang up all sorts of supporting businesses ranging from everything from grocery stores to liquor stores.

But when the mines went empty... the wells dry... the demand for the products manufactured there ended... people left. They moved. They went where the jobs were.

In a perfect world one could argue that the government might have stepped in and propped up the towns. But imagine the monetary commitment that would have taken. Money that could have funded so many other worthy business developments, let alone money for scientific research that would have changed the world, would have both been diverted from their rightful destinations.

But capitalism and free enterprise is NOT perfect. It's painful sometimes. One has to remember that the "Boom Towns" were left to be "Ghost Towns" for the greater good. As stated earlier, we're all in this together... it's the American Way.

Today we have our troubled industries as well. But thank God our federal government DIDN'T bail out our troubled automotive industry. Thank goodness our tax dollars didn't rescue corrupted insurance firms. Heck I once heard a talking head on a television news show present nationalizing our leading banks as a viable road to economic recovery! How absurd is THAT!?!?

The cost attributed to the current administration would be so many trillions of dollars to accomplish all of that, it would run up more deficit spending than all other administrations combined before it! And even if there was some short term stability garnered from such a ridiculous program, the inflationary period to follow would dwarf all others. That's just basic economics... the more dollars are printed, the less each one is worth.

Lets not even mention the insane amount of debt we'd be putting on the shoulders of our children. That's just NOT the American Way.

Again, thank goodness we stick to our time tested methods. Like in the example of the "ghost towns", if we sunk all that money into failing companies... can you imagine what we wouldn't have money for?

No money, or we'd have to borrow money to respond to a terror attack or other national security crisis. No money for humanitarian aid. No ability to lend money to deserving businesses or entrepreneurs. No money to fund alternative energy research. Or even worse... no money, or the need to borrow money to develop vaccines in the event of some unforeseen flu pandemic.

Gosh, aren't you glad we didn't bail them all out?

I sure am.

And once again... that's the view from here.