America is facing the most dangerous economic crisis in our history, and our response to the dilemma is insane.

Out of ignorance, indifference and the perversity of human nature, we have blundered into a situation in which a majority of the world’s leading economists seem unable to offer trustworthy solutions. We should expect our people to unite and engage in cooperative, civil discussion so we could understand our options and seek an acceptable course of action. Instead, we are allowing TV personalities and other unqualified political partisans, such as Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck and others to frame the issues and polarize the world.

As we allow our attention to be diverted by simplistic, unresolvable controversies such as guns, gays, abortion and debates about socialism and taxes, millions of people are without jobs, homes, health care or hope. The rest of us may not be far behind.

When you consider the pressures of an unpopular, endless war; crime; a dysfunctional religious system; social and racial conflict; an unengaged public; an ungovernable, greed-driven business world; an entitlement-driven population; is it any wonder that our culture feels like it is falling apart?

People, all this anger, hate and divisive drive for power are not getting us anywhere. We have made a multitude of disastrous mistakes for which we are going to pay a dreadful price. The world as we knew it is passing into history, and is not likely to return in our lifetime. Denial only gets us deeper in the hole, and a defeatist attitude won’t help, so let’s get our act together.

There isn’t room to adequately explain the situation, much less outline a course of action. Certainly, though, among the first steps should be a determined effort to treat each other with respect and consideration and discourage those who don’t.

Confrontation doesn’t work. Since TV apparently isn’t going to educate us, we would do well to show concern for one another, study and talk together in brotherhood and try to understand these confusing times. America was built on a spirit of determination, cooperation and an open mind. That would be a good place to start.

Fred Gibson

Tahlequah