Anyone could have seen moving manufacturing out of the US, with corporate tax breaks for making these moves, would increase unemployment and decrease our domestic gross national product. Anyone could have seen stimulating sales of foreign made goods (purchased on credit cards with insanely high interest rates) would drive many Americans into bankruptcy and further deplete our own economy. Anyone could have seen shoddy bank practices, offering low start up cost perks - followed by escalating rate increases- would result in a foreclosure crisis. Anyone could see that a country. which produces less and less while consuming more and more, would wind up with a devalued currency. At the same time, anyone could see that inflating the cost of an extended MidEast war with a buddy system of grossly profitable 'rebuilding contracts' would escalate its cost to US taxpayers and offer no means in sight to reducing our National debt. Finally, anyone could see that driving up foreign production would drive up international demand for oil and, thus, contribute to escalating gas prices.
All of the above has been unfolding right before our eyes. Irrational economic, energy, banking, credit and international policies have led our nation to the brink of a precipice. The Katrina disaster, the mismanagement of its aftermath and collapse of a major Minnesota bridge have been just a few incidents demonstrate the neglect of our
own infrastructure by those to whom we have given authority to steer our great nation.
Not far beneath the surface of all the above fiascos we find the causes for these travesties. Both our Legislative and Executive branches of government have placed special interests above the interests of the American people at large. Not long ago, it was fashionable to lay all this at the feet of the Republican party. But the myopic inaction of the recent Democratic Congress, followed by the travesty of the party's misconduct of our Presidential primaries, demonstrates irresponsibility on both sides of the aisle. No wonder we have an increasing number of "Independent" voters. Placing political gamesmanship over the needs of the American people has now led our country to a point of near collapse - on many fronts simultaneously.
The MainStreamMedia tells us things aren't that bad. But, remember, this same MSM spin machine also gave US (via Pentagon paid spokespersons) phony reasons to support lavish expenditures on a MidEast war. Worst of all, recently, our Congress took off for vacation, as if these emergency issues can just wait and all will be well. It appears, a united "official" front by the Adminstration, Congress and MSM is acting in collusion to deny the extent and depth of our nation's ills. No one, after all, wants to carry the blame. These 'powers that be' seem to believe you actually can fool all the people all of the time- although Abe Lincoln advised to the contrary.
One singular example of this collusion has been the pattern of Congressional inaction on impeaching GW/Cheney. Obviously, it's not lack of substance that slowed action in this area. Review the record: Democrats took the lead in Congress 2 years ago, and to public astonishment, it only took days for the new Speaker of the House Pelosi to announce "Impeachment is off the table." Some said the motivation for this change of venue was a fear it would be damaging to place attention on the multiplicity of crimes of our Executive Branch. Has anyone seen anything at all get better as a result of this denial?
Next, Kucinich ran a Presidential race espousing Impeachment at the top of his agenda. Not long after, this populist 'hero' emerged from meetings with the Judicial Committee sending his supporters a message of apology: the Judicial Committee said, again, this matter must wait. Until when? This September, of course - two months before the Presidential election. How dumb does Pelosi really think We the People are? The impeachment of GW & co. is no longer a matter of justice, or even a question of lifting the nation up from this cycle of corruption. No, not at all. The issue of Impeachment is merely another political ball - to be tossed, if necessary, at precisely the moment that will do the most damage to the "other side."
Take a moment to imagine the state of our nation if, after ignoring the misdeeds of our Executive branch, our Congress - which has taken no solid non-partisan action to solve any single one of the problems listed above - were to suddenly dedicate its hours on the job, with righteous indignation, to uprooting a lame duck President during his last few months in office. The ensuing chaos and elevation of national insecurity clearly mean far less to Pelosi than exercising her power to manipulate public attention away from the current record high (87%) public displeasure with Congress itself- in time for more of her collusive party favorites to increase their stronghold in the Legislative branch.
So it goes. And has gone on. And on. Only legislation which protects the Wall Street backers and behind-the-scenes corporate money peddlers is moved to Congressional action. Non-partisan solutions? Genuine reform of the dissembling underlying system? Please. Our politicians have more important matters in their attention. Like getting elected. Again and again. With no evidence of interest in salvaging anything more than the profits of their backers and their own shaky reputations. The power drunk arrogance of our elected representatives has been proven over and over: in the unjustifiable support of approving FISA's warrantless wiretaps and protection of corporate powers which act in collusion; in the sponsorship of biofuel subsidies while these measures not only don't solve our energy problems but are contributing to a world-wide food crisis. In avoidance of solution oriented action on immigration, lending practices, offshore drilling and more.
So, we ask: What now America? To say the tail is wagging the dog is a gross understatement. The emergence of PUMA as a growing coalition is an important first step. However, MSM magic continues to marginalize this 'revolt from within' attributing it to shallow causes of resentment and revenge by a small, albeit noisy, fringe group- even though one astute journalist has more clearly observed that PUMA has become a gigantic donkey kicking over the furniture in the living room, while others seem not to notice.
Stalemate on all sides in all directions ultimately will get us nowhere. Praying and pushing the Democratic leadership into action it is reluctant to take may not be our strongest strategy. But there may be another way of looking at this that makes all the difference in the power, We the People, are able to reclaim. If David had tried to take on Goliath head on in the ring, he could not have lasted long. Instead, he aimed a slingshot of concentrated force, at just the right moment, in precisely the right direction to fell the giant with one mighty blow. Morale? One must learn to pick to pick their battles and leverage is everything JSND doesn't have a singular, organized political mechanism. At least not yet. PUMA does not have the endless wealth of George Soros nor the behind-the-scenes network of intimidating fringe groups and large self serving corporate interests. And hopefully never will. But JSND has passion and a desire to restore integrity to the Democratic party and our nation as a whole. Which can be applied with energy-efficient leverage to trip the trigger of a broader mass movement for government and media reform.
How might this best be applied? By first placing Country over Party - a principle lost and gone from the current regime that poses as our Federal government. To demonstrate how this might work to the advantage of the Just Say No Deal coalition and, subsequently, serve the cause of the currently unrepresented American middle class, consider this analogy.
If you went to a party where, gradually, more and more guests were drunk, drugged and carrying on in insane ways, how far would you get by trying to argue this emerging contingent into more sane, respectful behavior? Anyone who has ever tried to reason with a drunk or an addict under the influence knows the answer to this question: you'd be wasting your energy. Things would not only not improve. The crazies would go to further lengths to justify and rationalize their destructive actions. Usually, it doesn't even help to point out they are also being self-destructive. A drunk as 'far-gone' as the current Democratic leadership doesn't want to hear the calamities they are creating. They just want to stay drunk to evade responsibility.
However, there is an alternative and empowering solution. The saner guests at the party could give up their exhaustive attempts at unsuccessful intervention and, instead, make a surprise move. Literally. By just getting up, en masse, and moving the venue of the party! This could even shock some of the 'less intoxicated back into sobreity, to move right along with the clear-minded seeming minority. What might happen next?
Left behind to their own crazy antics, many might keep imbibing for a while. But some others would begin to notice that the size of the party had shrunk considerable. Others would probably just drug out until they passed out. No longer remaining a force to be dealt with. Still others would feel the party was no longer much fun, with no opponents left around to taunt, intimidate and otherwise demean. In sum, there wouldn't be much of a party left and that fact would be apparent to even a casual observer.
So this observer is suggesting that the JSND coalition do just that by shifting focus from justified rants at the unDemocrat party's antics to taking Issue Oriented action that magnetizes and mobilizing middle class America into the next step of American evolution. If we are as near the point of no return for the American dream as some experts say, than somebody had better start calling a spade a spade. Now is the hour to place country over party. Wrestling matches are far less likely to reform our democratic structure than a Move to the Middle - which is exactly where many Americans now sit in waiting. Waiting for a New Deal. Waiting for a cause worth supporting. Waiting for the responsible leadership that is not forthcoming by our two major parties.
Does this mean forming a new political party? Certainly not! At least not now. The last thing the US would appear to need is one more self -interested political organization. Instead, the truth is the majority of Americans still believe in the American dream and want solid, responsible, non-partisan action on core crises Issues. Fact is, most Americans no longer feel represented by either of our two political parties. I read somewhere - or maybe saw on John Adams - even back then there were misgivings about a two-party system. Today, we can almost feel the ground shake - with an distress signal - from young, old, women, men, most religious groups and ethnic groups as well, to get past polarized partisan politics and get busy restoring the American dream.
This is, in fact, why Barack Obama maintains what poll support he does. The fact that he is unqualified, unvetted and has no real cognizance of the American dream doesn't stop the desperate from calling for "Change!" and deluding themselves into believing he has the answers we need. Those who have studied his biography, his record, his policy team, his far-left associations and his vacuous lack of either patriotism or grasp of international affairs realize the changes he would bring could be a crushing blow to our democracy and our whole way of life. And as much as many of us would like to believe he is unelectable, the sorry facts are we have seen too often, of late, what money, influence and media spin can buy.
It may be only JSND who can get this train wreck of an election off its current path of destruction. Not by wearing ourselves out attemper struggle with the current DNC. Not by drowning our sorrows at the state of our party. Not even by energetic abundant calls to action on the level of any specific indignation. But rather by moving the party to where the American people, in the majority, from both sides of the aisle have already moved. To the recognition it is time for a New Deal. By inviting disgruntled voters,-previously loyal to one party or the other-to jump party lines in a Collective Call for a New Deal. By reassembling ourselves as a sort of "Third Thing" PUMA can inspire middle class America to Wake Up and reassess the power, we as voters and grass roots volunteers really hold.
Together, we can say to our Federal government, the incumbents and the first-time candidates for Congress; Here is the New Deal! We want responsible, responsive timely action on core issues of Energy, Economy, Trade and National Security- which represent We the People, not special interests! We want representation that reflects the Will of the People rather than the large, private funding of obscenely costly campaigns. We want to rebuild our infrastructure, stimulate our job market, redevelop our manufacturing and establish environmentally responsible energy independence.
One needn't be an expert in American History to be aware FDR saved our nation by responding to our last major US crisis with similar programs. Yet, he wasn't even expected to win office. with many special interests opposing him. What might have become of our country's future without him? The JSND coalition knows too well who the candidate is that would best measure up to the challenges we, again, as a nation face. Currently, she has seems to be held hostage in a room full of drunks. Like the mother torn between her abusive husband and the kids. But we are not helpless little children. Not only do we own our vote, we hold the power to activate and motivate middle America. in a sweeping reform movement. It's time to get on the ground and Wake Up America. The JSND coalition can initiate a sweeping reform movement the likes of which this country hasn't seen since the Boston Tea Party.
It all starts by saying: Listen up- here's the New Deal. Coming from strength in ideals to strength in numbers, we no longer supplicate nor will we yield.We can steer the country clear of a self destructive take over by a power drunk leadership. We can inform and educate voters of their power to influence the make-up of Congress, by pointing out in these official's own neighborhoods, here's what your Congressman has and hasn't done for you lately. We can mobilize a growing ground movement with results that can no longer be ignored by MSM and complacent officials.
We can come together to accomplish all this by emulating the call of Hillary Clinton in her one of her last primary appearances: "We are all Americans." There's no telling what all we can accomplish by the JSND coalition joining together in a grass roots ground movment to Wake Up America!
1 comment:
This is a great post, so glad I got the time to read it. It speaks the truth for those who care to listen..
Native Americans Against Obama
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