This says it all. No doubts.
America, the home of the 'ideal' democracy, the ideal form of politics, and the more-recent home of 'freedom for the over-seas-oppressed' (AKA: Iraq).
It's frustrating to hear our president, not so recently but in the past, state that our main objective is to bring peace and democracy to a once oppressed country; Iraq. Yet, it seems we cannot do it here ourselves.
Abrahmoff is the most recent account of the government, at least in my eyes, faltering to the wayside, when it is called to be something better. America was a beacon of light, a sign of freedom, and the source of democracy prior to and during WWII and the Cold War. People looked to America because of our democratic ideals. Has it gone to our head?
I saw last night a History Channel expose on Siberia, Russia. The story profiled three middle-aged adults who at one time or another were so interested in freeing themselves from Communist Russia in order to live the 'American dream,' to the point where two of the three left Russia (a dangerous task) during the Cold War to study in the U.S.A. The third: an American entrepeneur.
The first man is an engineer who studied and returned to Siberia to start a now upandcoming corporation. The second man escaped and came to America. He worked a number of odd jobs (cooking, cleaning, painting, etc.), taught himself English, and decided he wanted an American education. He earned a master's in computer engineering/programming. The third man is an American who saught opportunity in America and carried his business to Siberia. All three work in Siberia as Russian Citizens. They left America.
The point is to say that maybe we're not as strong as we think we are. Sure, we have a decent economy (but everyone forgets that $1+ billion defecit). Sure, we have a very good army (but we're still losing soldiers daily [no matter what Bill O'Reilly says]). Sure, we have (at times) a good education system, good health-care, and good social security (but that's failing). All of this is true. All of it. But, we still don't seem to get the basic understanding that we're all equals, we're all part of this wonderful experiment called America, and we're all part of the planet earth.
Aren't our politicians supposed to be the ones who understand this better than all of us? Especially those, like me, who are not in the political trenches faced with daily facts and statistics regarding the 'average' American? I mean, in my mind, the politicians that we elect are supposed to be the ones to solve the defecit problem, not keep spending money. They're supposed to be the ones to protect our citizens from harm; particularly, those who, yes, volunteer for our armed forces. Are our politicians supposed to also ensure that we each receive a good education, decent health-care, and a way to survive after retiring (and paying taxes to the government)? I think so. Instead, we have tax benefits that help out less than 10% of the nation's population and continue to place citizens in harms way.
Now, my friends on the 'right' will say that we do protect the citizens, provide for our elderly/unemployed/poverty-stricken/etc. and support our teachers and educational systems. Sure. But, what about protecting our inherent rights as citizens as well? Have we done so by allowing for the President to have unprecidented super-powers that violate the rights of the individuals through sly spy tactics? Hasn't he violated the rights of individuals by superceding the need for public warrants and skipping so-called 'secret courts?' I think so.
But 'W.' is not the only one to blame. We have other players in this game. Republicans. Democrats. Independents. The government's corrupt. At least though, we still - for the meantime - have freedom of speech in outlets such as this.
One last word. Bill O'Reilly, David Letterman kicked your @$$ the other night on his show. I agree, about 60% of what you say, is probably crap.
~M
