Cervone letter : Western Civilization is going to hell

 I  just read John Cervone 's despairing letter: " Halfwits create an American nightmare " ( September 10 ).  To be blunt, he observes that too many Americans are fat and stupid. But " a failed education system " is far from a comprehensive explanation.  Almost every day on the bus I can see in plain view the American obesity epidemic. And the general chatter reminds me of George Orwell's " proles " in his nightmare novel " 1984 ". A society guided by blind market place impulses and values is bound to become a total mess. Does any of that daily advertising show any respect for our brains ?  What role does fast-food advertising play in the obesity epidemic  ? The " hidden persuaders "  also pimp brainless living: drugs, alcohol, junk food, junk entertainment, gambling ,  cigarettes, jackass sports events. Are the common people -in general-any more ridiculous than hundreds of celebrities ?

            An irrational social order needs hordes of mindless people just to continue to exist.  Does political campaign advertising appeal to our more rational selves ?  The public schools fail because the capitalist ruling class needs only trained zombies. And, of course, Western Civilization - which I have always respected - is going to hell .  And without the help of Islamic fundamentalism. Global capitalism did it !