Written by Lynn Goya,

In the tens of thousands – more likely millions – of words being written, blogged, talked and produced about the 10^th anniversary of 9/11,  the attack and our response seem to get little clarification.  Most Americans have solidified their viewpoints, gotten as close to their particular tree as they can, stuck their noses into the bark, then vociferously announced that they are the only ones smart enough to see or recognize the truth. Maybe the anniversary of the terrorist attack should be a time to step back a bit to  see how the forest is doing.

On September 10, 2001, we were in pretty good shape.  As a country, we had so much money rolling into the treasury that many feared that we would pay off the national debt by 2011, threatening the “starve the beast” plan to limit revenue in order to reduce the size of government.  So, that that summer the Bush Administration gave a good chunk of change back  with the first of two Bush Tax Cuts. 

Then, we were attacked.  As everyone agreed, the world changed irrevocably.  Many active duty military and veterans who fought in Afghanistan and Iraq enlisted out of a sense of patriotism, but as the wars drag on,  many suspect  that it wasn’t the world that changed, but us.  We are neither fat, nor happy, united, nor secure.