And Furthermore

In addition… There are many in America who believe our system of government is a façade. They believe that there is no need to vote because a vote does no good. They believe whoever the powers at be are going to do whatever they want. They believe there is huge bubble in which the American people live, and it is completely disconnected from Washington. Therefore there is no need to read the news, follow politics, or believe in our system of government. Our system of government is after all the mechanism which created the quality of life we are afforded as a people. He is correct in saying our troops do fight for the freedoms we maintain. That is common knowledge. It isn’t some magical scenario where the troops bust out of Toyland and go lay down their lives during war. Everyone that joins the military, as Jay says, does it voluntarily. They know full well going into the military means you are going to be trained as a soldier, and soldiers are men of war. Eventually there will come a time when you are called upon to defend our country. That is the gig. It is not a miracle. It is not a privilege. They sign up for the job, so that is what they get. Yes, we should be supportive of our troops, but the fundamental question is, “Are we looking out for the best interest of them by keeping them engaged in war? Are we looking out for them by sending them out in violence day after day in unsatisfactory equipment? Are we looking our for them by promising them future lives with missing limbs, faces, and dignity?” If we are truly looking out for our troops, then why are their lives less important than the lives of Iraqi citizens? This is what gets me. Why doesn’t President Bush volunteer to be the President of Iraq? It is obvious he does not care about the American people. Upon listening to any of his speeches in recent years, all he can talk about are the people of Iraq. How about the American people? Why does he care so much about Iraqis, using an opportunity to speak to our troops at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina to praise the citizens of another country!? He said nothing to them about the loss of lives of their loved ones, the very men and women standing before him. The military is designed and trained to defend our country. That is its responsibility, so let’s quit using that as an excuse not to be happy with the state of life in the U.S. I follow politics. I believe in our system of government. I believe voting matters. I believe our elected officials can and will effect change in our country. That is what makes America great. When 69% of the people in America are polled as being unhappy, it stands to reason they are unhappy with HOW we are being represented in the world by government, and HOW the country is being led. If, and only if, you are financially independent can you muster the liberty to say, “What the heck? Look around at what we have.” What do we have Jay? We used to have a country that represented integrity. We used to have a country that had a Middle Class. We used to have middle classed jobs to support those people. We used to have an effective public school system that educated our youth. We used to worship things other than the graven automobile. We used to have elected officials that enacted constitutional legislation rather than legislation supporting big business and the rich. If you choose not to read the news, then that means YOU are doing pretty well in America. Most of us are not. Look at the amount of debt we hold as Americans, as a system of loan and banking coerced millions of Americans into dependence upon credit instead of income. The list goes on and on. Yes, we can look out the window at all the fast food restaurants, the gas stations, and the Best Buys. Fast food is bad for you, gas is the most expensive it has ever been, and no one wants to buy movies made in Hollywood. Given gobs of money upon which to live, America probably does seem like a haven. For the rest of us that are yet to make our success in America, believing in our government is the only thing we have. Luckily the media it seems has begun to accept some accountability for the negative/shock reporting that has become commonplace. I agree with Jay, taking Nature vs. Nurture into account, one can find goodness in America. It’s just that much of it is now in the past.