America’s Hidden Cancer: A Nation in Need of Treatment

When cancer develops in the human body, it often goes undetected for an extended period of time. Symptoms are not noticed until daily routines are disrupted — and only then are the steps of diagnosis and treatment typically begun. Treatment can be successful, but a period of intense discomfort is most often experienced, particularly when chemotherapy or radiation therapy is involved.

For many years, America has been infected with a cancer of a different kind. It is only within the last decade or two that symptoms have become difficult to ignore.

The Roots of a Cultural Decline

Growing up some sixty years ago, it seemed to most observers that a shared sense of moral decency existed among the general public — even among those who were not overtly religious. That decency was rooted in the Judeo-Christian foundation upon which western civilization was built. As that foundation has been moved away from, a rapid deterioration in public morality has been witnessed.

When accountability to a greater divine authority is removed from a society, a predictable pattern follows. Moral standards are abandoned. Each person is increasingly treated as his or her own ultimate authority. This, it is believed by many, is the root of the cancer that has eaten away at the foundation of western civilization — not in America alone, but across the broader western world.

As a result, it becomes increasingly difficult for society to function in a healthy manner. Crime rates rise. Corruption spreads through institutions. People no longer feel safe in their homes and communities. These are recognized as symptoms of a growing cultural cancer — one that, if left untreated, could ultimately destroy the nation.

Signs That Treatment May Have Begun

On the positive side, encouraging signs have been observed more recently. It is possible that the cancer treatment has already begun.

The current federal administration has come under significant criticism for several bold initiatives. Fraudulent government spending is being identified and eradicated. The federal workforce is being downsized. Efforts are being made to prevent other nations from exploiting American trade relationships. These actions are being taken despite considerable political resistance.

Additionally, for the first time in half a century, serious steps have been taken by an American president to address the very real threat of an Iranian nuclear attack. Military action has been carried out against Iran, and as a result, fuel prices have risen — driving up the cost of nearly everything that requires transportation.

Uncomfortable Signs of Progress

Elsewhere, more fraud, waste, and corruption are being exposed at high levels of local and state government. Individuals who are present in the country illegally are being deported — a measure that remains controversial, but is being carried out nonetheless. Repeated attempts have even been made to assassinate the president.

Could these all be signs that the chemotherapy is working? Resistance, discomfort, and controversy are commonly experienced when deep-rooted problems are being addressed.

Recovery Requires Patience and Resolve

Yes, paying $5 a gallon for gas is painful. Cutting back on familiar comforts in order to afford essentials makes life harder. These sacrifices are real, and they are being felt by working families across the country.

However, national recovery will never be achieved unless the underlying cancer is removed. Treatment is rarely comfortable. But it is necessary if national health is to be restored.

(Credit to Glenn Beck for the idea of the nation having cancer. That’s where I heard it first.)