Is it still possible? Behind all of the rhetoric, discussions and plans for the future is the reality of the state of our country. A 6.1 % unemployment rate (expected to reach 9% by mid 2009) and this figure only includes workers collecting unemployment benefits. A national debt of 10.2 trillion and counting. A trillion dollar bailout for banks, insurance companies and rich CEOs, while millions of Americans are losing their homes and their jobs. A stock market on the brink of collapse, taking with it our retirement. A nation that has spent the last 8 years in gridlock. Divided between left and right terrorist and patriot, pro-life pro-choice and gay rights. Our civil rights being stripped away one Patriot Act at a time. An average of 3.5 million homeless each year (39% are children and 33% are veterans ). An extremely high poverty rate 12.5% of the population .2 deadly wars, although we have yet to issue declaration of war, resulting in the death of thousands of American soldiers and civilians (which we are somehow "winning" even though we can't define victory.) 100's of thousands of physically and mentally wounded veterans, from many wars with insufficient benefits. A broken health care system run by HMOs and drug companies leaving over 50 million uninsured (again many of these are children). A education system only concerned with test performance not shaping minds for the future. An astronomical dropout rate ( 1 in 3 )! And an Energy independence problem (Drill baby Drill?) With so many problems ingrained in our system its hard to see how we will ever navigate a path out.
And we won't! So don't bother looking for a solution, be happy with what you got. Here's the reason why. The owners of this country don't want that. That's right! And by owners I mean the big wealthy business interests who really make the decisions for this country. Politicians are just puppets put here to make us feel like we have a voice. We don't! And it's quite obvious what these "owners" want. More for themselves and less for everyone else. You know what these people want ? ( I think the late George Carlin said it best)
"Obedient workers! People who are just smart enough to do the paperwork and run the machines and passively accept the increasingly shittier jobs, for less pay, vanishing benefits and disappearing pensions....But here's what they don't want, a population of well educated people capable of critical thinking."
Unfortunately, no one seems to notice or care. Americans remain (as always) "willfully ignorant". We continue to elect these rich, self serving, corrupted politicians who don't care about us. This is what the owners of this country know and have come to count on. When will this country WAKE UP and realize the TRUTH ?
"It's called the American Dream because you have to be asleep to believe it!"
(RIP- George Carlin)
Monday, October 27, 2008
Friday, October 10, 2008
Ideas Have Consequences
In her blog "The Obama Witch Project: RAAAAAAAACISM!" Michelle Malkin defends the racially charged attacks on Sen. Barack Obama by the McCain/Palin Camp. Malkin, occasional co-host of the O'Reilly Factor and the author of "In Defense of Internment: The Case for 'Racial Profiling' in WWII and the War on Terror" and other right wing books, tries to make the case that the McCain/Palin Camp isn't being racist, they are just painting Obama as the "outsider" he really is. And the democrats are "a parade of... witch hunters " who see racism where really there is nothing more than a logical argument and/or question. Malkin's argument is especially troubling because none of her information can be challenged factually, but her refusal to acknowledge the serious violent consequences of mentioning Hussein (Obama's middle name) and "terrorist" in the same sentence, has no doubt contributed to the fervored pitch of hatred directed towards Obama. Not to mention countless other statements made by or on behalf of McCain campaign with racial undertones.
Instead of empathizing with certain feelings critical of this approach and maybe even making an effort to understand them, Malkin explains why John McCain should be able to address Sen. Obama as "that one." She even cracked a joke saying "[n]ext time just call [Obama] 'the one'." I must say in John McCain's defense he is really old, he probably just forgot that slavery was abolished and all human beings (yes John including a black man who is beating you in the race for the presidency) deserve respect. This of course is a joke but it should never be acceptable in the political arena to address your opponents as "that one." Even if it wasn't his intent to make a racially charged comment, as a senator of 26 years, he should understand how this could be perceived by others. McCain is already under scrutiny for his many votes against making MLK day a national holiday, therefore one would think he would be cautious about how he adresses an African American man.
Malkin also mentioned that members of the liberal media hinted that Sara Palin was eerily reminiscent of a klansman in her all white suit during a speech. Now, although I have found no proof that this statement was made I don't know who Malkin considers the liberal media. It might be some blogger like you or me. There are plenty of radicals on the left who might compare Sara Palin, a gun toting, moose hunting, tongues speaking, anti-abortion supporting woman dressed in all white to a klansman.
My main problem with Malkin's argument which is obviously aimed at the conservative base of the Republican Party is this: I believe that it is the oppressed (not the oppressors) who get to name the oppression. What I mean is this. Yes, maybe the McCain/Palin tactics aren't intended to be racially charged but the refusal to acknowledge how others, especially those who have been oppressed and singled out in the past, will respond to these types of attacks is not only irresponsible but it can have far reaching effects (hopefully the losing of the election for them). The fact that John McCain is now defending Barack Obama against attacks from his own (McCain's) supporters invalidates Malkin's entire argument and shows that ideas
(especially bad ones) have consequences.
Instead of empathizing with certain feelings critical of this approach and maybe even making an effort to understand them, Malkin explains why John McCain should be able to address Sen. Obama as "that one." She even cracked a joke saying "[n]ext time just call [Obama] 'the one'." I must say in John McCain's defense he is really old, he probably just forgot that slavery was abolished and all human beings (yes John including a black man who is beating you in the race for the presidency) deserve respect. This of course is a joke but it should never be acceptable in the political arena to address your opponents as "that one." Even if it wasn't his intent to make a racially charged comment, as a senator of 26 years, he should understand how this could be perceived by others. McCain is already under scrutiny for his many votes against making MLK day a national holiday, therefore one would think he would be cautious about how he adresses an African American man.
Malkin also mentioned that members of the liberal media hinted that Sara Palin was eerily reminiscent of a klansman in her all white suit during a speech. Now, although I have found no proof that this statement was made I don't know who Malkin considers the liberal media. It might be some blogger like you or me. There are plenty of radicals on the left who might compare Sara Palin, a gun toting, moose hunting, tongues speaking, anti-abortion supporting woman dressed in all white to a klansman.
My main problem with Malkin's argument which is obviously aimed at the conservative base of the Republican Party is this: I believe that it is the oppressed (not the oppressors) who get to name the oppression. What I mean is this. Yes, maybe the McCain/Palin tactics aren't intended to be racially charged but the refusal to acknowledge how others, especially those who have been oppressed and singled out in the past, will respond to these types of attacks is not only irresponsible but it can have far reaching effects (hopefully the losing of the election for them). The fact that John McCain is now defending Barack Obama against attacks from his own (McCain's) supporters invalidates Malkin's entire argument and shows that ideas
(especially bad ones) have consequences.
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