POLITICS OF DIVISION

There are those among us who would divide us: black against white, young against old, Christian against Muslim, straight against gay, red state against blue state Republican against Democrat. National security, unemployment, poverty, injustice, energy independence, environmental issues and economic solvency are but a few of the problems we face in the 21st century. As long as we fight against each other, we waste valuable time and energy that should be applied to working on solutions that would benefit us all. Never before has the old saying “United we stand, divided we fall” be more applicable.

When we are united in a cause we can prevail, be it a revolution, a world war, a space race or a civil rights movement. Together we can do anything. Let’s all stop and take a step back from our entrenched positions to consider the other guy. It’s not always a case of one side being right and the other side being wrong. Politics is the art of compromise. Screaming at each other is not communicating. In the words of Bob Dylan “Everyone’s talking but nobody’s listening”. Let’s all talk a little less and listen a little more. It starts with you and me and how we treat our neighbors. Wage peace.

SUPPORT THE TROOPS

I have a bumper sticker on my car that says "I support meaningless jingoistic cliches". It's my answer to all those "I support the troops" stickers and magnets I see on other vehicles. Have you ever seen one that says "I don't support the troops"? Of course not, because everyone supports them. What the support stickers are really saying is "I support the war". Well, I don't, but I do support the troops. In fact, I supported them to the extent that I was against sending them to Iraq in the first place. How much more supportive can you get?

I have an idea: let's send everyone with a "support the troops" sticker over to actually support the troops. Not necessarily combat (although it's not a bad idea), but in support jobs, like feeding them, doing their laundry, etc. This would save a lot of money that is now going to Halliburton, who is overcharging outrageous fees for this kind of work and give all those "supporters" something to actually do instead of putting those stupid signs on their cars. They could live in the same conditions that the troops do and get a good feeling for the situations that we are putting these young people in. It's oh so easy to say you support them - how about actually doing it?

The line forms on the right.....

WHAT THE.....???

I give up! It seems the more crap comes down the less anyone cares. I have nothing new to rant about - it's just more of the same. They used to call Reagan the Teflon President because nothing seeemed to stick to him. Even though I did not agree with his politics, he at least was somewhat charming and intelligent, unlike the slug now occupying the white house. What do these people have to do in order to get their asses handed to them? If Clinton had pulled half the stupid stunts Bush has he would have been lynched. Where is the outrage? Is the entire country on Prozac?

I may be more upset with the Democrats than with the GOP. It's the Dems job as the opposition party to call attention to this crap and to put forth some alternative ideas and stimulate some discussion. Where are they? Are they waiting for the GOP to self-destruct so they can just waltz in and take over? I don't think it works that way. Even some Republicans are openly disagreeing with the president due to his poll numbers being somewhat lower than bin Laden's. I can't name one Democrat that I would vote for in 2008 - can you?

In the meantime, the country continues to slide toward third-world status behind India and China. We are mired in the mess we have created in Iraq with no end in sight. The NSA and FBI are spying on us and our ports are not secure. The so-called "war on terror" is a disaster and we have abandoned the people of the Gulf Coast who desperately need our help. Yet the president and his lackeys assure us that everything is wonderful and we just need to "stay the course". I believe that was the order from the captain of the Titanic just before it hit the iceburg.

I keep thinking that maybe I'm overreacting, that maybe things are not so bad as they seem. Maybe I'm just a cranky old man who thinks the world is going to hell, like my grandfather was back when I was a kid. ( There may be some of that). Maybe it's always been this way and I just wasn't aware of it. Maybe it's because I was a young adult in the 60's when we thought we could change the world. Maybe I'm supposed to feel this way at this stage of life (It will make dying easier). Maybe I'm out of touch with reality. Maybe this too shall pass.

What the.....???

THE AWFUL TRUTH

I recently purchased the boxed set of “The Awful Truth” – the Michael Moore TV series from the Bravo cable network. Produced in 1999 and 2000, the 24 episodes are an example of what television can be in the hands of someone with creativity and originality. The fact that this series actually made it to anyone’s TV screen is miraculous, since he actually discusses serious political and social problems and gives his views on how that can be addressed. (Incidentally, all the issues covered in the series are still with us and more serious than ever). Moore infuses serious subjects with humor in order to make them more accessible, but make no mistake – this man is serious!

Among the subjects covered in this amazing series is homelessness, civil liberties, Iraq (before the invasion), racism, politics (of course), outsourcing, immigration, school shootings, NAFTA, agribusiness, corporate crime, health care (or lack thereof) and gay rights. Among my favorite episodes is Moore’s running a ficus plant for congress, the “voice box choir”, Crackers the Corporate Crime-Fighting Chicken invades Disneyland, Moore gets ejected from corporate offices and the “Sodomobile” episode is worth the price of the set alone.

In my personal opinion, Michael Moore is in the company of Will Rogers and Mark Twain as a humorist who focuses our attention on the hypocrisy and corruption of our time. There are some who say Moore hates this country. I consider him a patriot of the first order. This is a great country, but we could be so much greater if we addressed the serious social problems we face. Moore points the way with humor.

Thanks, Mike!

HERE WE GO AGAIN

It has started - the rush to disassociate with Jack Abramoff, the super-lobbyist. Suddenly, everyone in Washington, D.C. is getting a case of instant ethics. They will try to paint Abramoff as a rogue and a scoundrel and will swear they never met the man. They will talk about how the system needs reform and will introduce bills in both houses to "clean up the mess". And then after the smoke clears and the headlines go on to the next big thing, it will be business as usual.

This happens every 20 or 30 years when the corruption erupts from under the table to the streets of our capital. It will go on as long as power corrupts and money talks. Money IS power and you can't get one without the other. Want to get a message to your congressman or senator? Hire a lobbyist. Never mind that he or she is supposed to be representing us. Forget all that "For the people....." stuff. That's just for high school civics class. We know how it works, don't we?

So settle down in front of your TV and watch the circus. See politicians scramble to explain that golf trip to Bermuda or that new car. See them all on the Sunday talk shows playing the blame game and pointing fingers at each other. It would be funny if it were not so tragic.

Am I cynical? You bet. I've heard and seen it all before. If I live long enough I'll see it again. Excuse me - I think Im going to be sick........

IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN

I've started out the new year by joining the Green Party. This is not to reject my Democrat friends who are earnestly trying to reform their party. I wish them well. I just cannot see my way through all the bullshit that has accumulated over the decades of corruption and infighting. I have lost heart for the eternal struggle that is the Democratic Party.

Why Green? A simple answer, really. They do not take corporate money. Period. That alone is enough to support them, but there are many other reasons. I'll not bore you with the details, but if you are interested, see their web page at www.gp.org.

I have no illusions about the Greens becoming a force in national politics anytime soon. They are still working at the grassroots local level, which is where you have to start. I know some people blame them for taking votes away from Democrats in recent elections, but you must ask yourself why so many people have lost trust with the two major parties. Until we divorce big corporate money from elections, we'll have only rich people or whores as candidates and we deserve so much more than that.

However you decide to do it, join the fight to save our country from the Grinches of the world. It's a country worth saving. Your grandchildren will thank you for it.

Happy New Year