Founded in 1990, The National Anxiety Center, a clearinghouse for information about "scare campaigns" designed to influence public opinion and policy, has periodically issued a list of the top anxieties Americans will experience in the coming year.
"The list," says founder Alan Caruba, "is subjective; based on an analysis of the past year's headlines and anticipated events. It incorporates on-going, often long-term concerns that Americans have expressed."
1. Out of Control Government Spending. It is evident to everyone except the White House and Congress that America cannot spend its way out of the deepest recession since the Great Depression, but both have embraced programs that will increase the level of taxation facing Americans, while engaging in "stimulus" programs that only stimulate more anxiety. The lack of job creation in the private sector will be the major anxiety Americans encounter in 2010.
2. Iran. It is evident to Americans and the world that Iran is intent on acquiring nuclear weapons that can be used in a missile attack on Israel and which can reach Europe and other nations throughout the Middle East. The only option available is an attack on Iran's nuclear facilities and there is considerable anxiety regarding its timing and outcome.
3. Afghanistan War. Eight years after the initial effort to rid Afghanistan of the Taliban, Americans are war weary and increasingly wondering about the benefit of further involvement, its costs, and the possibility that leaving would embolden Islamist enemies there, in Iraq, and worldwide. The Middle East remains a powder keg of instability.
4. The Economy. There is anxiety concerning how long it will take for the American economy to recover from the housing and credit bubble created by Congressional programs such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. No steps have been taken to eliminate these programs and, indeed, other federal programs have been introduced to assist imprudent mortgage holders already in default.
5. Inflation. The raising of the nation's debt limit, the printing of vast amounts of paper currency by the Federal Reserve, and other comparable actions portend an inflation of prices and a possible default. Moody's Investor Service has warned both the U.S. and British governments they are in peril of losing their triple-A ratings.
6. Medicare. Medicare, like Social Security, will be insolvent within a few years and Americans of all ages are worried, not only about solutions to this prospect, but about proposals to vastly expand Medicare at the most inopportune time.
7. Illegal Immigration and Amnesty. The drain on the nation's economy and problems associated with illegal immigration, now estimated to number more than 12 million, as well as yet another recently proposed amnesty program continue to worry Americans.
8. Education. The continued failure of the nation's school systems to meet international standards of scholastic achievement has resulted in the decline in the ability of American's children's to acquire basic skills and the knowledge required to compete in a global economy.
9. Diet and Health. The growing number of overweight and obese Americans is a personal and national concern for the overall health of everyone struggling with weight problems and their potential for diabetes and other diseases.
10. American Culture. The increasing vulgarity found in films, on television, in music, fashion, and other elements of American culture remains a concern for many, particularly as it affects the younger generation.
"The good news is that more Americans are no longer concerned about global warming and carbon dioxide as they become aware that the claims justifying these fears are based on deliberately falsified computer models and the fact that the nation and the planet are now a decade into a natural cooling cycle," says Caruba.
"2010, the end of the first decade of the 21st century, is likely to be seen in retrospect as a tipping point that will determine either a return to traditional standards of fiscal prudence," says Caruba, "or will plunge the nation and the world into a Depression of cataclysmic proportions."
In the spirit of the holiday season; let’s all imagine our Commander-in-Chief addressing each of these ‘challenges’ and how his administration intends to meet them.
1. Out of Control Spending
Silly person: It’s a well known fact that out of control spending can only exist if the programs designated to get the money are the ‘wrong’ programs, like the US military. Therefore; out of control spending can only occur during a republican administration. Next question
2. Iran
We will keep our hand extended until Iran unclenches its fist. My top administration officials ensure me there is only one thing standing in the way between our present position and real negotiations with the Iranians and that is Israel. Once this item has been ‘resolved’, Iran will negotiate
3. Afghanistan War
My advisors anticipate violence in Afghanistan to drop precipitously in the next few months. We expect to bring all American troops home by November 2011. That way they’ll be in place to keep the peace as we stea…Ah…win the 2012 election
4. The Economy
The economy is exactly where we want it to be. As long as entrepreneurs cannot predict the tax rates on their profits, the cost of their business energy needs, or the health care costs of their employees we can keep haranguing them for failing to hire workers. By keeping lending on a short leash by controlling the banks, credit will remain tight. They don’t’ know it yet, but next year I intend to tell the Chinese to “take a ‘flier’” on their Treasuries, and begin the issuance of ObamaBucks to replace greenbacks. The rate of exchange will be inversely proportional to your current wealth.
5. Inflation
Inflation will be whatever WE SAY IT IS! (See note 4)
6. Medicare
In order to ensure the continued solvency of this system we will institute an annual lowering of the qualifying age by 2 years each budget year to constantly include younger people in order to complicate the cost calculation to the point where even we can’t keep track of it.
7. Illegal Immigration and Amnesty
Once we’ve lowered the qualifying age for Medicare to zero (a real conundrum given our stance on abortion: Whatever will we do then?) we’ll begin entering ‘undocumented’ persons into the rolls in the numbers required to ‘control’ (read ‘hide’) the costs of Medicare.
8. Education
This is a red herring as every progressive knows that there is nothing at all wrong with our public education system. The only ‘real’ concern in this area is how to finally ‘criminalize’ home schooling. Public education should be mandatory & compulsory
9. Diet and Health
Control of health care for all citizens obviously gives us reason to control diet and health. Also, energy consumption, career opportunities, residential square footage, physician access, treatment options, and longevity. Trust us; you’ll love it!
10. American Culture
American culture will be whatever WE SAY IT IS! (Refer to #5)