The Myth Masters

Do great societies live by their mythology? Or their results? Who promotes mythology? That is the topic of today’s essay. Hollywood is big on mythology. As is Stephen King. No one is a bigger supporter of mythology than sycophantic news media. They tout it daily.

Mythology is defined as a collection of stories that present the beliefs and values of a group of people. The stories can be tales or anecdotes, verbal and written. They do, it seems, tend to mystify some and aggrandize others. They can create and define great evil and wondrous virtue. The fortunate mythological characters are miraculous heroes; others are despised villains. When mythology themes intersect with reality, the question seems to focus on whether the myth is the master or a servant. If you must live up to the myth it can be a terrible master. If you rely on it, it can be a horrible servant.

Why does this young country of ours have so much mythology? Let’s list out some American myths. Let’s look at some categories of American mythology starting with the old standbys:
• America has the strongest economy in the world
• America is the beacon of freedom and democracy among all nations
• American is a nation of laws, not men
• America has the greatest education system of developed countries
• America defends liberty and freedom around the globe
• American are the hardest working people in the world
• Americans are the most productive workers in the world
• America has the mightiest military on earth
• John Kennedy brought Camelot, briefly, to the United States. All was swell
• Richard Nixon was a paranoid troubled fool. All was not swell
• America has a government of the people by and for the people
• We are so great that everyone wants to be an American
• Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free…
• American ingenuity will prevail over any obstacle

And then let’s look at some of the current revisions to these old standbys:
• Green energy will free America of carbon fuel dependency
• Money will solve our declining education system performance
• Money will solve our research and development shortcomings
• New technology will drive the jobs of the future
• Education will prepare our youth for the jobs of the future
• America won the cold war
• Iraqi oil will finance our war to liberate the Iraqi’s
• We can spend our way to economic growth
• Consumer spending is good; savings is bad
• Tax policy should promote spending; discourage savings
• Debt is a long term problem; not to worry about it now
• Deficits are needed now to start the economy; time to cut back later
• Greenspan was the maestro when it came to guiding the economy
• Yesterday, first lady; today, US senator; tomorrow secretary of state
• Yesterday state senator; today US senator; tomorrow, president
• Mission accomplished
• The economy is improving

And some new ones that may just now be in formation:
• The Chinese seek economic partnership with the United States
• America's service economy leads the world in global competitiveness
• America will continue to lead the world in technological developments
• America is the worlds superpower
• Therefore, America must be the worlds policeman
• The Chinese will adopt America’s rules of play as they begin to understand them
• Never be uncertain; when in doubt, just do something
• Never question yourself. If we believe it, it is only a matter of time before others will also
• Bernanke is perfect for today with his background in depression studies
• Obama is brilliant; very intelligent; grasps issues quickly
• We will leave Iraq and Afghanistan when the terrorists are defeated
• We must not violate our principles to defeat the terrorist
• Maybe deficits matter but not for a while
• 19 suicidal terrorists changed everything; never again; no matter the cost

Perhaps you can add some of your own?

Here is the perspective that we would like you to take away from this essay. Most, really all, of these myths circulate around government, politicians, bureaucrats and the media folk who are constantly presenting them in one form or another. Do you notice that these myths have little to do with us regular folk and our everyday lives? Do you notice that many of the myths are designed to support governmental activities and gloss over their failures?

American mythology can be summed up in a few words: much ado about nothing. If you get rid of the mythology, you get back to the basics, what we like to call TheFundamentals. Suddenly government gets smaller. As it should. It slips into the background. It no longer consumes all the oxygen in the room. And what moves forward is everyday people doing everyday things as they lead everyday lives.

American mythology does not serve everyday American people. It serves those who parrot it; refer to it; and manipulate it. The mythology machine has grown way too big and way too out of touch with the realities of today’s world. It is time for Americans, the everyday ones, to reject this mythological accumulation. Put all the myths in the trash basket where they belong. Let’s get a few good leaders who live in today’s world. Let's rebuild a competitive America and leave the myths to the discarded politicians and unemployed bureaucrats. Let’s have a mythological revolution.