USA: Land of the Free

Is the United States a threat to our world? We eat through the world's supply of resources faster than any country, increasing the debt to our planet. In fact if everyone lived as the US does we'd need 5.3 planets to sustain our population. Fortunately for us not everyone does. Note the 'for us'. Is it fair that while we live in luxury others are left to suffer? Is it fair that we terroize and plunder other countries, snatching up their precious resources? Just think about it.

We are able to live in these conditions because they are facing destitution. We depend on their suffering to live comfortably. Not only do we take their resources, we also pollute their planet. Our planet.

Our sins affect others lives. We squeeze the earth dry and then create toxic chemicals and release them into the atmosphere. In 2009 the US CO2 emission was 20.2% of the world's emission's. All of this just to create a simple plastic toy or a radio which will go to waste after a few years, polluting our planet further. This pollution breaks down the o-zone layer causing global warming. This phenomen changes people's lives greatly. But not the people who are to blame. Global warming affects those who did nothing to cause it most. It is us, the MEDC's who contribute the most to global warming, the US being one of the largest contributors.

So why don't we stop? Because we cannot. Everything about our governments and economies are based on this unecessary squandering. We put a system in place when we gained independence in 1786. This system cannot be so easily demolished. It is the foundation of our entire society and without it our way of life would go crasing down.

It demonstrates how the world is interconnected. Our economy depends on the excessive usage of resources. Products are created using these resources. The creation of these products causes pollution. Living conditions in LEDC's beome worse as global warming increases. The poor we abuse are most affected by global warming.

We are one of the top powers in the world. A great accomplishement. We started out small and eventually became the 2nd biggest country in the world. But we are abusing our power now. We use our influence and this power to steal other country's natural resources. We enter a country loking for a fight. We've made a bad name for ourselves. We may be percieved as strong but also cruel and injust, A mighty country, which in its greed, desires more than required. A nation which wants more than can be provided will never be satisfied. We are this type of nation and the farther we go down this road the harder it is to go back. The U.S. has power. We must end this crisis. Put the two together. What do you come up with?