JFKennedy (1917 – 1963) – may he rest in peace, please

TheFundamentals routinely does research and analysis of fiscal and financial matters for our essays.  In this process, we are dismayed at the gap between information, facts, figures and tangible results and the common belief.  We call the latter, this concept of “common belief” – mythology.  Sometimes, when we can specifically trace it to one or two individuals, we call it – propaganda.

Here is an article written about Mr. Kennedy by an accomplished writer with some standing in the media world:   http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/robert-j-samuelson-the-jfk-fascination/2013/11/10/15ed8d30-48a3-11e3-a196-3544a03c2351_story.html?hpid=z2

Mr. Samuelson entitled his article – The JFK fascination.

Fifty years of fascination is long enough.  In America, as children, many of us retain a brief belief in various forms of fantasy offered by our parents, relatives and friends, as a form for them to keep alive the innocence and wonderment of childhood.  We know these beliefs as – Santa Claus, the Easter bunny, the tooth fairy and, up until a few years ago, Walt Disney productions.  Now it’s rap music characters, electronic games, an unattractive 20 year old girl and the fantasy twins – Obama and Bernanke.

Most of us grow out of this fantasy world; we have to.  We have to in order to survive.  The world does not pay us for teeth – keep them or lose them; there is no Santa unless you mean the vote buyers: Bernanke and Obama; there are no Tinkerbelle’s; no talking mice, ducks and goofy dogs.

Neither should there be nonsense about a young man brutally murdered by a miscreant with a gun the sights of which he was demonically able to line up with the young man’s head 50 years ago.

The mythology is not an accident and it is not the result of well wishing parents, relatives and friends seeking to bring joy and wonderment to youngsters as well as themselves.  It is a careful plan – well executed by a willing group of family members – who care more for their image than their country.  Once the mythology seed was planted by the circumstances, the manipulation took over.  The images were created and set by horrible actors and circumstances but the 50 year fascination is nothing more than propaganda promoted by politicians, media moguls and others who follow the simple logic of, “What’s in it for me?”

Sure we need heroes but we also need to survive.  “He was not a great president. He was somewhere between middling and mediocre.” – RJSamuelson.  Almost makes one cringe doesn’t it?  To speak such sacrilege at this time of remembrance of all that could have been.  Blasphemy.  Desecrating the mythology of this heroic figure.

Well, Mr. Samuelson got it right.  The most significant consequence of Mr. Kennedy’s horrible death was five years of bad leadership, promiscuous governance and a very costly war all directed by his successor.  The LBJ legacy burdens America to this day.

We should mourn the tragic loss of the man but we should also, with definition and conviction, shun those who profit in any way from promoting it.  America is lost in the manipulation and malfeasance of those who profit from the book of America mythology.  The JFK fascination is but this week’s/months chapter in this growing volume of unreality replacing values; fundamentals; hard work; discipline.