|
|
|
Previously: Democracy and the Constitution Conservatives and Christianity My Generation CS Hall of Fame |
The sad reality of the recent elections is that there are now more of "them" than there are of "us". This election was not about the war in Iraq, not about homeland security, not about the economy, not about lost jobs, not about health care and education, not about the environment. This election was about greed, about hatred, about intolerance, about selfishness, about lack of compassion. That's what makes "them" so different from "us". You can organize and campaign and donate all the time and money you have, and it just won't matter. You can enlighten people, you can educate them, but you can't change their basic values. And that's where the problem lies. "They" just don't see the world the way we do. "They" just don't give a damn about anybody but themselves. And don't fool yourself -- it's going to get ugly, very ugly, over the next four years. These arrogant bastards now have total control of all the branches of government with what they consider a mandate to do as they please. All the traditional "checks and balances" are gone. The war in the Middle East will be expanded, many more American troops will die needlessly, we'll see more inequitable tax cuts for the wealthy, more corporate welfare, more assaults on our civil liberties, more environmental devastation. The previous four years will pale in comparison to the havoc they will reap on this country and democracy in the next four years. As an aging hippie from the 60's, I find the current situation quite ironic. Back then it was the Viet Nam quagmire, today it's the Iraq quagmire. Back then it was the "military-industrial complex", today it's Big Oil. Back then it was the civil rights movement, today it's equal rights for other minority groups. Back then, we all thought we could and would change the world. But look at what my generation gave the world instead -- the most selfish, greedy, intolerant administration in the history of the country. I couldn't be more ashamed of my generation. We sold out, just like we said we wouldn't. Future generations are going to look back at this point in history, and wonder how we could have been so stupid, so short-sighted, so full of ourselves. For those of you who will inherit the mess we have left, I sincerely apologize.
|
