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.....???