What if anything Can Americans Do?
As we approach the 4 year anniversary of the war against America tomorrow, 9/11, it seemed to be a time to have my own reflections on our 'state of the union address.' America, considered one of the most wealthy, prosperous and compassionate of all the nations, upon reflection, has some significant issues to tackle today, as a country. Perception of America as a great country is loosing footing both among our own citizens and from the perspective of the world at large.
Four years after our country was attacked, we have an administration having badly bungled a war and a major disaster, a budget that is unmanageable, and gas prices completely out of control. Our President is loosing the popularity contest, and his numbers are plummeting each and every day, but in the end, does it really make any difference? Faced with an unpopular President, and a rich country who presently is in terrible state, what, if anything can be done anyway?
Our political system, although containing safeguards for outsting a President, given the current state of the composition of the Senate and the House, with a Republican majority, is rather safe so that this administration can sail through without much accountability for its actions. Besides, when one looks at the divisions along party lines, and the lack of unity in this country at the present time, most Republicans, as a matter of fact, back Bush no matter what he does. Party loyalty seems to have replaced blood in the public spectrum, and is in fact thicker than water as the old saying goes. Can it truly be said that whether we like what is happening or not, we must accept it and face the music no matter where it takes us on any given day?
Here is the question of the day: Do you believe that as an American your voice can be heard today and that you can still make a difference? Do you think that anything can really be done with Bush and his administration given the current state of politics? What remedies do you think we have as Americans today? Are we any safer today than we were 4 years ago? Are we any better off as a country?
Thank you for your minds.
Four years after our country was attacked, we have an administration having badly bungled a war and a major disaster, a budget that is unmanageable, and gas prices completely out of control. Our President is loosing the popularity contest, and his numbers are plummeting each and every day, but in the end, does it really make any difference? Faced with an unpopular President, and a rich country who presently is in terrible state, what, if anything can be done anyway?
Our political system, although containing safeguards for outsting a President, given the current state of the composition of the Senate and the House, with a Republican majority, is rather safe so that this administration can sail through without much accountability for its actions. Besides, when one looks at the divisions along party lines, and the lack of unity in this country at the present time, most Republicans, as a matter of fact, back Bush no matter what he does. Party loyalty seems to have replaced blood in the public spectrum, and is in fact thicker than water as the old saying goes. Can it truly be said that whether we like what is happening or not, we must accept it and face the music no matter where it takes us on any given day?
Here is the question of the day: Do you believe that as an American your voice can be heard today and that you can still make a difference? Do you think that anything can really be done with Bush and his administration given the current state of politics? What remedies do you think we have as Americans today? Are we any safer today than we were 4 years ago? Are we any better off as a country?
Thank you for your minds.
26 Comments:
Hell no. Nothing will happen to Bush. This disaser just goes to prove that.
A lot of blame is going to Louisiana, while little or none is going to Mississippi. Even if the offical death toll is currently higher in Mississippi. Why? Because white republican men run Mississippi.
Louisiana is headed by a woman democrat governor.
The division of America is working in Bush's favor. Anyone who says anything critical is instantly labeled a "smelly liberal" and their view is dismissed as so much political whining.
Bush does not even know why his good friend "Brownie" has been relieved of his duty. Neither does Brownie.
So where is Bush's support comming from? From the citizens of the United States Of Jesusland. All they care about is ending abortion, not allowing stem cells to be used, and not allowing gay weddings. Thats it. Nothing else matters. So as long as Bush does not reverse his position on these pretty much unimportant issues, he will keep his base support.
I don't like being a pessimist, but I believe our system of campaign financing, thanks to Buckley v. Valeo, has turned us into an oligarchy - rule by the wealthy. You have to be a multimillionaire to be in Congress. You have to be supported by giant corporations to get elected.
I don't know where this is headed, but when the rift between the wealthy and the poor here gets big enough, when the middle class starts shrinking, when the government abdicates more and more responsibility for the most basic needs of its citizens, leaving it all to capitalism and "trickle down" economics of one kind or another... If it keeps going in this direction, it's an unstable situation, imo.
It seems dangerous ground for someone to think their one voice cannot make a difference. The climate in this country, of me versus you, has cheated everyone of any kind of union. Why hasn't this same climate of indifference made all of us mad? Why haven't more joined in rally to support their cause, no matter what side of the fence you walk? My voice is getting stronger, and I am feeling my old activist self coming back.
I vote. I support actions to let the government know I am displeased with what is going on. I stood on a bridge with many others to show support of Cindy Sheehan.
The world's largest beach is made up of individual grains of sand. I want to stand one among many.
I think we just need to hold on for dear life and hope the next election will work out better. Heck, MAKE the next election come out better!
Oy, not even worth it. I'll just get yelled for being brain washed or something. Never let facts get in the way of a good liberal tirade. Forget it...
-OC
I believe, first and foremost, that American Democracy is by far the most advanced, and most progressive political systems in the world. When you ask a "smelly liberal" who's never travelled farther than Mexico or Canada they will tell you the state of afairs here is terrible, that's it's all thanks to Bush and his cronies, that getting a Democrat in office will solve all the problems.
I consider myself an independent voter. Because I believe both Republicans and Democrats are capable-depending on who they are-of doing a good job of leading America, I vote for the best candidate no matter what party he/she represents.
I've also travelled a lot within the span of the 23 innitial years of my life. I've lived under a Communist regime and believe me, iguana, gays there seldom come out of the closet, are denied most jobs and are persecuted throughout. Besides Russia, I've lived/been to in Austria, Italy, Israel, and Canada. Although I'm a Zionist and consider my country to be Israel, I realize that Americans have a lot more rights than do Israelis.
So when putting down America-a very simple and irresponsible action-think twice. Ask yourselves: am I sufficiently knowledgable to make judgements? How well am I versed on history and politics? Do I have the capability of imagining myself in another's shoes?
God bless America!!!
Olah, I read your remark, and realized how right you are. Let these extraordinary intellectual individuals fight their fight against the Bush oppression. But fellas...he's our elected president and you can't do anything about that...hehehe
Dear Barbara and Fellow Americans, Look to the Utopic writings that layed the foundation of our country.(I am talking more Thomas Payne than the Bible OK) The ideals of humanist thought that line the cup we drink from, yes America is still an Experiment in progress. We forge ahead no matter who is helm, as I do not believe in Divine Right, in regards to our 'kings'. For me, the problem lays with our own ignorance. Americans are very lost when it comes to our own heritage, most think that America is just for 'their kind' F the rest, we can move to France. When i was young I was taught that I should fight for the right of those who DO NOT BELIEVE as I do, to exist here as Americans. I don't see that anymore, it is all about ME and MY PEOPLE. Not a Union of Various faiths, beliefs and customs, today it seems that everyone is out for their 'guy', the rest be damned. I think that we need to return to the belief that you may be on the opposite side of the spectrum of politics,religion, or whatever. But that I would fight to protect YOUR FREEDOM to live the way you choose. We have to return to the idea that AMERICA is a Pluralistic Society!!! That is what made us great, not, your group tops my group mentality. We sadly have lost this, and I wish more would realize it. I find it funny how Republicans can say,, 'Stand behind your president, no matter, he is the cheif,, but when the shoe is on the other foot they scream obsenities and refuse to even stand near one of a different persuasion. Clinton/Bush are the opposite poles here. I walk a fine line, I definitely do not agree with Bush, but think that some level of ''support'' must be there because he is President. Guess it would have been easier if he had became president the normal way instead of being APPOINTED by Supreme Court Judges,, then getting a 2nd term by stealth. This is what scares me, the resemblance of America to Germany of the 1930's. Fascist leaders still exist and I am afraid America has been taken over and the Puppet we have in place is just as lost to the truth as the rest of America. And i don't believe a Democrat will save us just on the merit of being democrat,, unless they are out of the Corporate loop that really OWNS Amerika!! To me TransNational corporations are the real problem. So, I do not support them,, I try my best to stay away from anything that has Giant Mega Trans National Corporation stamped on it. These are the Beasts that the Good of America has created. So everyone needs to pull their heads out of the sand and realize, the Industrial-Military Complex of Corporations runs the show, don't fool yourself into thinking differently.,, Yep! So I agree, God bless America and Goddamn the Scum who have turned it into AmeriKa!!
I'm not an American. I'm a Statesian. Don't confuse the two.
I think my current post says it all. I don't believe my voice is being heard, and I don't believe my government is looking out for my best interests, or even the best interests of the country. Blame and accountability are important, but some of us will never recover from the devestating blow to our psychies. I have been let down by my government one two many times, and I don't believe that the majority of the people in this country care enough to make a change. Less than 50% turned out for the last election, so I think that either indicates that people have give up or people don't care.
Gosh, maybe someone should let all the people in Jesusland know that they aren't supposed to be concerned about anything except for abortion and gays. Right now they are so busy assisting many of the displaced people from the Hurricane region with clothing, shelter, supplies and basic needs that they have probably completely forgotten their 'core values' of being 'against everything.'
Sorry -- I read comments like that about 'people in Jesusland,' and it makes my skin crawl. And it also makes me sad that you know nothing at all about true Christians who would give the shirt off their back to a person in need regardless of their decisions on abortion or homosexuality. You know nothing about me, and yet you sweep me up in your scathing generalization about ALL Christians. I hope that you meet a Christian one day who will radically change the way you view people of faith.
I choose to see the positive character of this great county -- and yes, there are many things that can be changed or improved. Just remember, you will always find what you focus on. If you want to focus on the negative, that is all you will ever see.
Iguana,
United States of Jesusland, how right you are. I would like to amend it, however. The United States of Jesusland, Inc.* seems more correct.
*Void where prohibited by law. Certain restrictions apply. Not available in all areas.
Being gone the whole day (with our daughter), I have come back to these interesting posts.
Let me comment, a bit, please. I agree with Whit that not all Christians can be put into the same boat, and there are many, who actually abor Bush and what he stands for in today's America.
Of course, we want to believe that every grain of sand counts, and that we can make a difference, hence, the concept of hope that so many of us despirately hang on to, including myself. In today's climate, with human rights being chisiled away at and government becoming more and more a part of our everyday lives, it seems rather unlikely that, at least in the political area, that we can make an individual difference anymore. This of course does not mean that we should lay down and die, and stop fighting passionately for causes that we believe it. I just do not think the outcome will be that different, that is all.
Paul, you make an excellent point about the Buckley case, and how it does limit those even more so in politics today.
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Scott: although I disagree with you on some points-for instance, you make a comparison between America today and Nazi Germany which is very, very far-fetched, I totally I agree with you on others.
You make some excellent points that are not to be overlooked. America IS a Country for all where our basic freedoms: the freedoms of expression, press, and religion should be held above all other concerns.
I commend you for stating: "When I was young I was taught that I should fight for the right of those who DO NOT BELIEVE as I do, to exist here as Americans." Yes, Scott we absolutely MUST support the rights of those with whom with disagree to voice their opinions.
But Scott, if you hate President Bush so much that you actually believe he was elected by Supreme Court judges the first time and by "stealth" the second, you're undermining your argument that "I would fight to protect YOUR FREEDOM to live the way you choose."
Don't you folks get it? Bush went into Iraq not because of the oil or because of any personal interest or because he wanted to redeem his father. No! I firmly believe it was in order to pre-empt any future warmongering by the Iraqi dictator, prevent Iraq from distabalizing the region and, most of all, free the Iraqi people. Call me whatever you like; I say all this not because I'm a conservative or because I live in Israel where every time something happened in Iraq I'd run to the central bus station for gas masks for myself and my wife. I say this because of what you, Scott, hold so dear: the inherent freedom of any people-not just Americans-to certain "innaliable rights" and these are the rights President Bush has made his business to protect!
Whit: I completely agree with you! Christianity is a compassionate religion no matter what has been done in its name throughout the centuries. It's unfair and innacurate to blame Christianity for undermining the fabric of this country!
Dear Barbara,
I'd like to hear what you think with regards to my last comment-especially the part concerning the American war effort in Iraq. I know you'll disagree. Please tell me why my argument is faulty whereas yours makes sense. Thank you!
Eitan.
Guilty until proven innocent
That is becoming more and more common in the united states. Countless cases lately that public opinion immediately jumped on a guilty verdict even before trial has begun.
anyway
lately a few bloggers have pointed their fingers on me for hacking and or using other peoples screen names. I'm going to write a few things in my defense, convincing evidence that clears me from these despicable acts;
1)
Barbara from California wrote on her blog and i quote "As you have probably seen from the activity yesterday, the undercover troll is back. He emerged after sundown on Saturday, which makes me, and others who have sent me emails believe that he is in fact a frum Jew. As a side note, this person did begin to post here at 7:48 EST. The person who I have suspected went and posted at that time as well on his own blog."
Now my defense as everyone knows that shabbos ended around 9 pm EST as you know I'm an observant Jew and would not open my computer to post before shabbos ends.
2) as seen from posts on my own blog someone hijacked my screen name too ill post the posts for you
y.y. said...
.1234
3:39 PM
y.y. said...
i just posted as y.y. but I'm not the owner of boroPark blog
3:40 PM
you can see them on my blog the last 2 posts of my first commentary click my name on those posts you will see blogger directs you to someone elses blog page
well if I'm the hacker and or hijacker of screen names why would i disrupt my own blog its just absurd
3)here is an interesting post that was posted on my blog
Hoezentragerin said...
I will never email you, you lowly piece of vermin.
i was only wondering how you knew I was a guy and a hacker if we never even spoke or met.
Huuu?????
2:29 PM
seems like this screen name admited to all of this
and as we know that this alias belongs to JBF
With big Brother breathing down more of our neck, and jackboot tactics taking place under the guise of National Security. With the Patriot act, and other laws put into place that down play civil rights to ensure my safety?? Fascist tactics are those of a Corporate world, Fascism is a Corporate state,, maybe I should have said Fascist instead of Socialist Nazi Germany, but most might not remember Mussolini as well as Hitler. I do stand by my comment that Bush is just a puppet of the industrial military complex,, our last 'Good' President Eisenhower warned us,, he knew then the Robber Barons where knocking at the door of our government looking to control more of the pie.....
... Tis done,, baked America.
My solution, Massive Simplicity, everyone cut themselves off of the Federal tit and Corporate Consumer mentality. Simple life can be just as good. Pretend you are in the 1930's depression, it might prepare you for what possibly is coming. Still it is unfortunate that my own government scares me,, used not to be that way. I had hope,, but damn they are smashing Pandoras box.
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Don't you think democrats are the same way? ...their backing of Clinton could be considered disgraceful...
and in response to the Jesusland comments, I personally don't believe in any deity, but maybe any god is better than the lawless losers with no morals running around our country today...
We wanna oust the president, but we want to coddle criminals, drug addicts, whores spreading disease, terrorists and countless other "poor misunderstood victims"...
Isn't anybody else sick of constantly having to put a hand out to someone who won't stand up for themselves? or worse, grab your hand, slit your throat and steal your wallet...
Maybe we should "oust" some of these elements from out society... I have no qualms about erasing these negatives from my life...
I feel that the Democrats are just as much to blame as the Republicans. The Dems are pansy-assed, ball/titless centrists who are too afraid of insulting anyone. And they allow this fear to make them completely incompentant and unable to make any real change. I won't mention that many Dems have pockets lined by corportations also, 'cuz we all know that.
The US needs to change its voting practices from First Past the Post to Portional Representation so more than two parties can exist, thus more voices are present.
Ahh... looking at these posts, I see that I was right in not writing anything. So very sad. And, it's not even worth it to argue against some of these horrific lies anymore. It'd be like playing a broken record or talking to a brick wall. Some of you just don't get it, and I pray that you absolutely NEVER have to.
-OC
OC..With all due respect, I think everyone has a right to his/her own opinions on the issues, even if they are not in agreement with one's own. To conclude it is like talking to a brick wall, is in someway not accepting others for their rights to think and write as they wish, leaving one with a feeling that perhaps inflexibility on all sides, is really the true crime in our modern society. Just my own humble opinion, and an observation, and meant as a comment.
Rege23
It seems to me there is a difference between voicing ones opinion, which we all do, yourself included, and feeling a sense of helplessness, and complacency with what is going on in the world around us. Sometimes our voices are all we have to say what we feel. I happen to disagree with what you think, but nevertheless, will respect it, and not put you down because of it. See my post above on how I feel about inflexibility.
Thanks for coming to comment here.
Barb, your comment is very true, and that is exactly how I feel. It is a true sadness of modern society that there seems to be no such thing as honest debate anymore; just rhetoric and flame throwing. I believe it started with the protests over Vietnam, but it may just be b/c they were more publicized than ever before. That is also what I'm seeing a lot here. A lot of rhetoric instead of facts, and a lot of media sound bites. In the face of that, there really isn't anything that I can say that will be accepted and not derided. I'm the enemy here, it seems.
-OC
I have a voice and my voice is heard. There is nothing special about me other than I vote and I work to make things happen.
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