Once again, over the last century, the U.S. defined the emerging requirements of The Global Marketplace:

• Free Cultural Relating,
• Free Enterprise Economics,
• Free Participative Governance.

These are the requirements for entry into the 21st century marketplace. They also define the American Mission. Currently, the same subject-matter experts gave very different ratings in 2007.

Cultural Relating

In 2007, the U.S. is rated at level 2.0 on Cultural Relating, reflecting her growing suspicion and hostility following the 9/11 terrorism attacks and her inability to translate “spy in the sky” intelligence data into meaningful “feet on the ground” information upon which she could base strong and operational security systems. In the absence of operational thinking systems, America writhed in agony and engaged in random and non-responsive and inappropriate initiatives emphasizing cultural competitiveness and the resultant cultural dependency reactions.

Figure 2. Levels of The Freedom Functions (2007)

Economic Enterprise

In 2007, the U.S. is rated at level 2.0 on Free Enterprise (see again Figure 2), reflecting its shift in government sponsorship from a vision of an entrepreneurial-driven free enterprise system to Government-Reinforced Multi-National Corporations which by their very nature conduct “Command-and-Control Economics.” In spite of their origins and support from American Freedom Functions, the Totalitarian Multi-Nationals relate competitively and attempt to reduce their markets to dependency upon “Command-and-Control Strategies.”

Participative Governance

In 2007, the U.S. is rated at level 2.0 on Participative Governance (see again Figure 2), reflecting the increasing totalitarianism of the party in power and the reactive authoritarianism of the opposition: rather than being consulted as the constitutionally-mandated policy-makers, We the People, the citizens, feel imposed upon by the authoritarian inquisition: Either _______ or _______!

“Either you are a patriot or you’re disloyal!”

Summary and Transition

In summary, it is clear that America had indeed taken a “U-Turn on The Freedom Road.” America receives low ratings on Cultural Relating, Free Enterprise, and Participative Governance. The newly-minted Government-Reinforced Industrial-Military Complex or “GRIM Complex” has placed America’s citizenry as well as American destiny at risk.

• Competitive Cultural Relating places Peace at risk—internally within the nation and externally in the Global Village!
• Command-and-Control Economics places Prosperity at risk—internally within the nation and externally in the Global Marketplace!
• Authoritarian and Totalitarian Governance places Participation at risk—internally within the nation and externally in the Global Courts of Law and Justice!

In transition, Peace, Prosperity, Participation are the historically-evolved American visions of American destiny.