Rant

I haven't posted in awhile. Frankly, I have been wallowing in reading some pretty depressing material. Torture, cronyism, imperialism, war, death, civil war, terrorism, the selling of American politics, etc, etc....

It is depressing. We as a nation have endured way too much bad news over the past 5 years. We have become numb to it. This administration has tossed aside longstanding treaties with Russia, ignored our allies, launched a pre-emptive war - well 2, actually - made bad political appointments, bad legislation, bad choices for the courts. It has taken more power than any president ever - and that includes Nixon. It has ignored international law and allowed torture - encouraged it, actually. It has ignored the constitution and allowed the imprisonment of citizens and non-citizens without charge and without representation.

It has botched operations in hurricane regions, in wars, in rebuilding after wars and hurricanes. It has given billions of dollars to "contractors" who can't account for the money. We have "outsourced" everything, from help desks to fighting real wars. Jobs are lost and pensions are sacrificed and factories are closed and Walmarts are built.

In both houses of congress, the legislation is sold to the highest bidder. We no longer are a nation of the people by the people or for the people. We are a nation of the PAC, buy the legislator, and forgo any helpful legislation. We cut benefits to the poorest while giving money back to the rich. We have created a society where welfare goes to the Walton's of Walmart instead of Walton's of Walton Mountain.

Our legislature has sold us out for trips to Bermuda.

Where, America, is our outrage? Where is our demand for investigations? Why aren't we demanding that someone look into the sweet deals? Why do we not take the President to task for his manipulation of intelligence for a war? Why don't we care that prisoners are tortured? Why don't we care about prisoners who sit for years in Guantanamo without charge - sometimes without any actual wrongdoing? Does anyone remember that these prisoners came from Afghanistan? Does anyone remember Afghanistan?

Do we not realize that we have essentially caused a civil war in Iraq? Do we not realize that lives in Iraq were actually better under Hussein? Can't we see that democracy is failing there? And that if it does fail there, all credibility for the alleged push for democracy throughout the Arab world is lost?

Can't we see what we are doing to our image among the Islam world? We support Israel wholeheartedly even while they are taking more territory and subverting life for the Palestinians. We push the Palestinians for a free election and then cut off funding when they elect someone we don't like. Who the Hell do we think we are? I can see what the Arab world thinks we are. Is it any wonder they want to destroy us? Add to that a war against an Arab country (um, see how easy it is to forget Afghanistan - make that 2 Arab countries). And a suppression of democracy in the Gaza Strip. And attacks on Pakistan. And threats to Iran (hey, those people actually LIKE us).

And then there are the cartoons. We cry real tears over free press. Do we not have protests every time some offensive Jesus art or cartoon is published? Do we not march on theaters when they show something offensive to Christians? Do we not bomb abortion clinics? And howl about the "gay agenda"? OK, so the Islam nations threw stuff. Have we not thrown stuff? They set off bombs because that's the only thing they have. And then we throw a neo-nazi in jail for saying what he thought. Why is he in jail and the cartoonist isn't. Freedom of press should work both ways. Offensive to you. Offensive to me. If I ban one, I ban the other.

So, my message to America is THINK! INVESTIGATE! CHALLENGE! We have a constitution for a reason. There is separation of powers for a reason. We have treaties in the world for a reason. There is terrorism for a reason.

Our country is at stake here. Our "high moral ground" in the world. Our character. An election is coming up and we can actually do something about this. I'm not saying the Democrats are better than Republicans (altho I admit to agreeing with them more). I'm saying we NEED to have another party in congress to challenge what is happening in the white house. We NEED an independent court to compare what is being done in the congress and executive branches to our constitution. We need these protections not only to protect us from the abuse of power at the top, but also from the abuse of power of the people.

So, America, get out there and look beyond the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, CNN, Fox News, ABC/NBC/CBS. Get beyond press releases. Look it up. Find out what's really happening. DEMAND that someone do something to right wrongs.

Are we a country that can stand up with our heads held high, or are we a country who has no shame.