Independence Day
A couple of quick thoughts, because at the moment I don’t have the time for or inclination toward pondering, but I cannot allow the Fourth of July to pass without one or two political comments.
First, from the outset I have resisted swallowing the Barack Obama Kool-Aid, not because I doubt his ability to govern the nation, but because I never have bought into the whole “I’m going to bring change in Washington” line. I’ve had the suspicion Mr. Obama, like most of his elected two-party system cronies, wants the appearance of and not the substance of change. He talks a good game, but I have yet to see him play anything more than the political expediency card.
On FISA, at least, he failed the public. Mr. Obama approved the Senate “compromise” bill that in essence gives George W. Bush everything he wants — and grants immunity to the telcom corporations that broke the law in providing private information to investigators. Apparently Mr. Obama believes the interests of wealthy telecommunications companies outweigh those of private citizens who may have had their civil rights compromised under the guise of “national security.” By invoking the “dangerous world” bogeyman, the Illinois senator follows in the footsteps of the neocon tyrants who went before him: Let’s scare the public into accepting the status quo without question. There is no hint of “change” in his voting record, only in his pattern of speech. I’ll be forced to vote for him, since the current two-party system allows me no viable alternatives, but I’ll do it reluctantly, realizing he talks a good line, but does not walk it.
As far as I am concerned, with the tremendous challenges facing the next president, it simply isn’t good enough.
I am increasingly convinced we missed a great president in Hillary Clinton. I wonder whether there’s any chance we can convince her to overturn her deal and go to the mat at the Democratic National Convention.
Second, while people throughout the media, mainsteam and alternative, are spewing the standard patriotic line (rah-rah USA, we’re the best thing going in red, white and blue), I am reminded that this nation was established not by treaty or by concensus, but by revolution.
It might be a good time to reread and ponder the Declaration of Independence and ask oneself whether any of the concerns expressed by Thomas Jefferson are valid today.
Not that I advocate revolution — except in the voting booth — but it bears pondering.
Something I may do when I have more time and inclination.
