Know-How and Can-Do: Myths or Neglected Gifts?

Two of my best-loved American traits, Know How and Can Do, are looking pretty busted these days.

It seems that the spunk that other nations find so annoying (as they swill our sodas and swing to our music) has been squandered on a lot of nonsense lately. And when we desperately needed know how and can do right here at home, frankly, we couldn't get it up in time.

Let America lose it's status as world cop and top consumer, but never the Know How and the Can Do. The American century is over and some other nation will be the shit. So be it. I would probably prefer not to live in a super power. Empires come and go. It happened to other peoples. How many times has it happened to the Chinese?

Other nations have already laid claim to taste, thrift, industry, the most delicious desserts, etc. What are we without our ingenuity and the will to use it? We invented amazing musical and motion picture forms and some lovely processed cuisine, but what else speaks to the positive side of our character? There are other multi-ethnic societies with a democratic rule of law, so we can't pretend to stand out there. When I look at what's happening in Japan and Australia, I fear the U.S. won't even be in the running for the people with the most obnoxious popular culture. Being the country with people most likely to claim to attend church doesn't swell my heart with pride.

I want the know how and the can do back in full effect.