Today's television is awash with examples of American society's fascination with the "new," "improved," "best," "biggest," et cetera, et cetera. Forget about This Old House, we now have "This Old Bod" (plastic surgery makeovers), and Queer Eye for the Straight Guy (clueless hetero/slob redone by super hip gays). Donald Trump's show The Apprentice can be called "Makeover by Greed," and the average Joe cannot possibly be left as is — hence, the obvious fresh tan, styled hair, whitened teeth, and wardrobe tweak.

The CSI/Law and Orders are not content with average run-of-the-mill murders and sex offenses. Each week, they one-up themselves by escalating the gruesome dismembership and perversions. In case the audience doesn't visually "get it," the main characters verbalize it in hideous detail. Then there's American Chopper and Monster Garage with their very own chrome dismemberings. How about Starting Over, Animal Face-Off, and The Restaurant? All engaged in ruthless competition, and for what? It's the bottom line, no surprise there. Why do you think shock jocks, bleeps, and nipple shields are up front? It's the money, honey! Let's hear it for those five second delays; after, we do have young children, lest we conveniently forget that annoying reality.

Our country's ideals have always been based upon, among other good promises, very strong individualism. And collectiveness (what's good for the majority) be damned. Perhaps this ideal has gone a bit far. Globalism is here to stay, whether we like it or not. We need to realize that we can no longer do/say exactly what we want and when we want. Individualism and its accompanying competitiveness has, in the past (and will continue to appropriately do so, God willing), produced extraordinary persons inventing extraordinary things and expounding great ideas that have benefited all of humankind.

It is only when our country (as an individual entity amongst the rest of the whole wide world) feels the compelling need to "makeover" other countries' perceived faults, that we (and that all-seeing reflective television eye of ours), get into trouble, either from the FCC or more widely, from the United Nations.

This is not simply a matter for television's Lone Ranger or the the United States Calvary coming to the aid of the circled wagons/camels.

Et Tu, Georgius?