As I watch this country splitting itself firmly down the middle over things that it doesn’t know and doesn’t truly understand, I respect the wisdom of Alexander Hamilton even more. He argued successfully against a true democracy, asserting that the public was too easily inflamed to be counted on to effectively legislate their affairs. Today’s paranoia, fear, anger and outright ugliness prove him right.

We have people screaming at other people citing “facts” that don’t exist or that have dubious sources. We have people protesting based on “information” that comes from a blog. We have people listening and relying on the words of pundits who have no accountability for their words or actions. We have people who are so paranoid about the government leadership that they will listen to whatever words are being whispered into their ears and not question the motives of the source. We have people who are so afraid that they might lose a dime that they ignore the dollars that inaction will cost. We have people who are so afraid of any change that they will allow an unsustainable present pattern to continue to avoid it.

Yet, through all this they voice their disgust with how things are and take no responsibility for how they got that way. And even more, they continue to want to tell the world how they need to stop doing what works for their country and to do what we do.

“Patriots” and “defenders of the First Amendment” shout down anyone who feels differently. Parents who voice concern over the future of this nation and their children and grandchildren continue to rape the earth of its finite natural resources in order to have the lifestyle they want today. They want to be left to waste their money, and the money of their creditors, however they want on material goods, but do not think that they have any responsibility to the society or government that safeguards their ability to do it. They want fiscal autonomy, but want to tell those who are different than them how to live their lives, what God they should have, how and when they should pray, what they can do with their bodies, who they can marry.

Is it just me or is something SERIOUSLY wrong here? And that none of this is their fault, but the fault of a man who has only been in the White House for a little over 8 months? I worry about the future of this nation, that such a large segment of the population is so aware, yet so very deaf and blind. I worry about our children- that they are learning that self-indulgence trumps societal responsibility and that shouting someone down is the same as debate. What kind of a society are we handing them? Not one that bodes well for the future success and stability of this nation.

Is any of the current ugliness about anything important, like civil rights, war, or a fundamental change in ideals? No, it’s about money. Our last civil war was about money, industrial economies versus agricultural economies, and unless we can stop squabbling and work together it looks like this one is going to be too.
Redheads have always been accused of having a temper.  This blog is a journey into the mind of a redhead; decide for yourself if we have a temper or are just frustrated by what we see...

THE RED MENACE

Laura Bramble

Contact Laura for all your writing needs, including:
Marketing campaigns...
Grant and job proposals...
Develop marketing plans...

The Write Woman

September, 10, 2009

TODAY'S NEWS * YESTERDAY'S NEWS * POLITICS

Democracy in America

Share this column

Political Simpleton
Home

The Red Menace