NATION DEVELOPMENT

by David Nuttle

The success of any nation and/or government to create and sustain a viable nation will be dependent on having or achieving most of the following:

a) Viable governmental charter b) Protection of basic freedoms c) Law & order

d) Fair justice for all e) Financial & natural resources f) No corruption

g) Innovation & entrepreneurship h) Quality education i) Jobs for all

j) Total population participation k) Adequate health care l) Total fairness

m) No brain drains n) National security 0) Enough energy

p) Food security q) Affordable safe housing r) Quality services

s) Addiction free population t) Just laws making u) Safety nets

v) Avoidance of political gridlock w) Public service x) Active religion

y) Strong & active families z) Secure borders

Many developing nations have no means to provide or attain most of the above inputs to help create and sustain a strong nation. The U. S. is fortunate to have most of these inputs but has suffered from insecure borders, political gridlock, poor public service performance, and a charter error by not having term limits for members of Congress. In recent years. the U. S. created an insurgency problem by allowing enemy sates to send agents of influence into our nation to promote political systems known to have failed time and again. The U. S. has engaged in nation building attempts by providing developing nations with inputs needed from the above list. All of these efforts failed because there were too many missing inputs to provide. In Afghanistan, the U. S. expended blood, treasure, and 20-years of efforts in an attempt to convert that tribal nation, typically ruled by corrupt regional drug lords, into a well-functioning democracy. Finally, our many failures allowed the Taliban terrorists to take control of that nation. It seems we still need to learn what it takes to make a viable nation. The U. S. has most of what is needed for a very viable nation, but we need to learn from what we have while counting our many blessings.

N. B. Armed conflicts create vulnerabilities for all nations, and the conflicts generally create imbalances in nation capabilities that may endanger national survival.