Brian Pomicter

A little more than two generations ago, on January 20, 1961, in his only inaugural address, United States President John F. Kennedy called on his audience to support him in advancing the ideals of freedom and common prosperity. A little more than 50 years later, how have the U.S. and other Western nations fared in achieving President Kennedy’s goal?

Americans and Europeans tend to work long years with the expectation and hope of providing enough resources for a pleasant retirement. The usual desire is to have leisure time with ample prosperity for its enjoyment.

The recent oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico has the attention of the public as few events in recent history. Many are concerned about the current and long-term effects of the oil spill.

Environmental fears may be justified in the ensuing weeks, ranging from the destruction of coastal wetlands and beaches to contamination of the amazing variety of their wildlife inhabitants. Fuel prices will inevitably rise, with the narrowing of offshore drilling for oil, further weakening the tenuous western economy.

A few short years ago a film, The Day After Tomorrow, provided viewers a glance into what would happen if global warming were to result in the migration of immense polar ice packs southward, creating another tremendous ice age.

No doubt you've heard the hype surrounding the recent movie, 2012, and perhaps have seen its graphic trailers. An underlying theme was that soon-to-occur great cataclysmic disasters on a global scale were long ago prophesied by the ancient Mayans of Central America.

Recently, in the major media, it had been reported that the Congressional Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations had been sifting through e-mails and other documents obtained in an 18-month investigation of one of the world's largest investment banks.

Amidst the scrutiny of recent legislative hearings, the CEO of that investment bank issued a prepared statement, saying that "If our clients believe we don't deserve their trust, we cannot survive," (BBC News, Monday, 26 April 2010).