(Article changed on May 21, 2013 at 00:06)
I've been reading a few articles on the "alternative"
media which really have me thinking. One, by Chris Hedges entitled "Rise Up or
Die" made me think about just how bad things really are nowadays here in the
USA. The other article by Dr. Paul Craig Roberts, "You are The Hope" was also a
particularly dark piece.
It's not that I don't agree with what the two have
said"I do; still, I don't think they quite accurately reflect the growing disconnect between what many Americans and the mainstream media, along with the Powers That
Be would have us believe.
At this moment in time (I reserve the right to
change my mind at a moment's notice), from talking to people I have been
meeting in my travels, there really isn't much support for the President or the
Congress. People don't seem to be buying what they are selling on the corporate
media. I heard today (mostly from the Democrat megaphone on MSNBC) that the President's
approval rating is actually up this week. I'm starting to wonder who exactly
was really polled.
Contrary to what the MSM tells us, most people are
not idiots. I think that most Americans can look at their lives and pretty much
come to this conclusion; they are not living as well as their parents did.
There are many Americans who really don't believe that the new American "normal"
of working two part-time jobs with no health benefits isn't a "be all, end all"
situation. Young people graduating from colleges and universities, saddled with
huge student debt, aren't exactly bowled over with their job prospects.
There are also very real problems that have yet to
make their mark on our much-touted American society. The treatment the
government has given our Veterans is a blemish on our nation. Our government,
fighting this over-hyped "War on Terror", has demanded that not only active
duty soldiers been required to fight multiple combat deployments, but National
Guard and Reserve soldiers too. Suicides, PTSD, broken marriages, sexual trauma
(in the case of rape) and backlogs for disability claims have been the other "new
normal". The phrase "Thank you for your service" doesn't make up for the abysmal treatment
they are getting from the government that has used and abused them. The truth
is"millions of disgruntled veterans have made life difficult, not only in this nation,
but other nations, throughout history.
There is something going on in this country, and it
is not good. Everyone in government, Wall Street and in the corporate
boardrooms think they have a handle on the economy. The truth is, they have
over-looked the most important part of the equation; Once they have raped the
American Middle Class and have lined their pockets with the assets they have
stolen from us, who is going to buy
their products?
Ask yourself some questions: How many people do you
know have lost their once good credit ratings? How many people are paying a
mortgage that is higher than the home is worth? Who do you know that has
recently moved back in with Mom and Dad or vice-versa? When was the last time
anyone you know took a two-week vacation? When was the last time you heard
someone bragging about their "portfolio"? I could go on, but I bet you get my
drift.
The simple truth is that this great nation of ours
can't keep spending over 50% of our discretionary budget on the military, while
spending only 6% on education and another 6% on social programs! The simple
truth is that we get no return on our buck for spending on the military! All we
get in return are more enemies that wish the worst for us. Still, they keep
selling us this "Superpower" rhetoric. What's the good of being a superpower
when 22% of Americans are living under the poverty level?
We have the power to change this country for the
better.
The
first thing Americans need to do is to get off this label kick that the PTB
want us on. It should be apparent to most Americans that there is very little
difference between the two corporately controlled political parties. In reading
this article I would like people to understand one thing; they want us to fight
amongst ourselves. The more we fight with each other, the more divided we are,
the more power they have over us.
This is the game that the Republicans and Democrats
are playing. The more we focus on differences they foster, the less we focus on
how we are being screwed. We all know who controls the GOP, but where were the
Democrats when they cut food stamps? Where were the Democrats when they smashed
Occupy? Where were the Democrats when they passed and signed the NDAA? Where
were the Democrats when they sent whistleblowers to prison? Again, I can go on
and on. The point is, stop supporting these two political parties. As George
Carlin once said; "It's a big club, and you ain't in it. It's the same club
they hit you over the head with."
We need to talk to our friend and relatives'. We
need to sit down and write articles and call in to talk shows. Those that can
need to start their own radio show on the internet or small community radio or
host a show on public access TV. We all need to share articles on Facebook and
Twitter. If we all could just spend one hour of our day doing these things we
could make profound changes.
"Though
[the people] may acquiesce, they cannot approve what they do not
understand." --Thomas Jefferson
It is our duty as citizens to educate those who are
currently ignorant in the present situation. There is no free lunch when it
comes to this. Either we will rise to the occasion or give away our freedom and
prosperity to those who will take it from us. This is the challenge we as
Americans face.