Ten Commandments For The New American Century

 

First Commandment: THOU SHALT TAKE MONEY OUT OF POLITICS

No money in politics. Zero! First, people should stand up and declare
unequivocally they will not vote for anyone who takes ANY money from
corporations, lobbyists and PACs. Then, down the road, by having
elections 100% financed out of public funds, we can build a democracy
where our legislators might actually have some time to legislate. It is
common knowledge, most federal office holders spend enormous amounts of
time raising funds and worrying about winning the next election, instead
of doing the job we voted them in office to do. Let's end this right
now!

Second Commandment: THOU SHALT HONOR CHOICE AT THE POLLS 

It's time to institute instant run-off voting. This will allow minor party
candidates to run at all levels of government without the understandable
fear that a voter is throwing away her or his vote. Our current system
has, as Ralph Nader has been saying all along, turned into a choice
between Tweedle-dee and Tweedle-dum. Without real choice, meaning a
range that covers the entire spectrum of political opinion, democracy
becomes a sham, and purely an exercise in futility.

Third Commandment:  THOU SHALT RESPECT THE COMMONS 

Right off, we need to re-establish a commons. So much of what constitutes the
foundation for a functioning society has been privatized __ prisons,
education, utilities, mail, roads, bridges. And it hasn’t worked out
well, has it? The nation’s infrastructure is a shambles. There are some
basic things we should all be able to have free and open access to,
facilities and services which should not be at the mercy of the
so-called free market: education, clean air and water, energy, health
care, retirement security, the INTERNET, police, fire and ambulance
services, nutrition and mental health counseling. This is not
socialism.   It’s having a country that works.

Fourth Commandment: THOU SHALT PUT MONEY CREATION AND 
THE CONTROL OF THE NATION’S CURRENCY BACK INTO THE 
PUBLIC DOMAIN 

The control and issuance of currency must be returned to the federal
government. The Federal Reserve is no more "federal" than Federal
Express, and as a result America is now hostage to private banks and we
rapidly becoming their serf-slaves. Either nationalize or abolish the
Federal Reserve and return creation of our fiat currency to the people
of America, regulated by a legitimate, functioning system of
representative government.

Fifth Commandment: THOU SHALT LIVE BY RULE OF LAW 

We have a two-tiered legal system, a gentle one for the privileged, a brutal
one for the rest of us. The oligarchs do what they want unfettered by pesky
laws. Sometimes the same laws are used to restrain and incarcerate the
rest of us. Same thing on an international level. Two tiers. The U.S.
bullies the world, ignoring treaty obligations and international law,
treating other countries as vassal states. But it uses the same legal
instruments as a bludgeon, holding every other nation's feet to the fire
with sanctions, UN resolutions, trade agreements __ whatever__ when it
serves our interests, or more accurately, the interests of the
corporations who are really setting the agenda. This gross hypocrisy is
creating enemies everywhere. We are long overdue to again respect the
law, apply it equally and fairly across the board, both at home and
around the world.

Sixth Commandment: THOU SHALT REIN IN CAPITALISM 

A nice breeze on a clear spring day __ good! . . . A level 5 hurricane that
destroys vast swaths of dwellings and kills countless people __ bad! . . .
Surfer and swimmer-friendly waves lapping up on a sandy beach __
good! . . . A tsunami crushing whole towns with a 100 foot wall of
terrifying force __ bad! . . . Sunlight from hydrogen fusion nurturing
our planet with gentle rays of light and warmth __ good! . . . An
inferno of hydrogen fusion raining down on cities across the world as
mammoth nuclear bombs, destroying the entire human race __ bad! We
mostly tend to agree that capitalism provides a powerful engine to drive
development and progress. But too much of it and societies are crushed,
democracies destroyed, vast numbers of people are relegated to serf
status. Other countries have strict regulation and state control to check
the ravaging effects of unfettered capitalism. Now it’s America’s turn.
Either we rein it in or we can kiss good-bye our once-great country
as it descends into the dustbin of history.

Seventh Commandment: THOU SHALT MAKE CORPORATIONS SERVANTS OF THE GREATER GOOD 

It will be tough but the whole bogus concept of corporate personhood must be
expunged. Totally voided. It was put in place by devious methods and now
must be rooted out. In general, it's way past time to drastically
restrict the charters of corporations, such that the interests of people
are balanced with the pursuit of profit. This is the way it used to be
in the early days of our nation. Back then, corporations were set up for
specific and usually public-spirited projects, assigned a very narrowly
defined charter and a fixed duration. When whatever was supposed to get
done got done, the corporation was dissolved. Maybe we don't have to
return to such a limited implementation in our modern world, but we do
have to require that corporations serve the common good. It is
entirely legal to dictate that corporations act responsibly and take
into account the needs of the community they serve, especially the
communities where they reside. We have to elect individuals who are not
in the pockets of the corporations and have them re-write the laws for
doing the business of America. If the multinational bohemoths don't like
it, let them set up in China, Vietnam or Bangladesh. That's where they
already have their factories anyway. Ultimately this will not harm the
economy, it will create a society which is healthy and prosperous for everyone.

Eight Commandment: THOU SHALT PROMOTE PEACE AND BE LOVED AGAIN 

America must be taken off of a war footing. The high-alert status both at
home and around the world is nothing more than highly destructive
fear-mongering. It is used to promote a belligerent self-sabotaging
approach to international relations. It's the product of a grossly
delusional neocon imperialistic agenda which Americans don't support __
"exceptionalist" chest-beating which fills the coffers of the defense
contractors but bankrupts the rest of us both financially and
spiritually. We’ve meddled and bombed enough. It has accomplished
nothing and created more problems and more enemies than we had before we
decided that military force was the only way to deal with disagreements
and crises in the world. It has also subjected the American people to
unprecedented and unconstitutional levels of surveillance and a gross
abrogation of our rights as citizens. Time to try peace and cooperation
instead of threats and bullying.

Ninth Commandment: THOU SHALT RESPECT MOTHER EARTH 

Enough silly arguing and tiptoeing around climate change. It’s happening,
it could destroy the human race. It will without a doubt reduce
civilization to a shell of its former glory and sophistication. Let’s
get to work. Global warming and resource depletion represent the
greatest threats to mankind in recorded history. Responsible use of
resources and creation of sustainable sources of energy are not only
necessary, but could be the greatest unifying force ever! Brainstorming
and planning will create a monumental paradigm shift and the subsequent
implementation of our collective ingenuity will create jobs and bring
together behind a common purpose, a world which is torn by divisiveness,
fear, suspicion, anger. Though time is quickly running out, the
challenge of a planet in crisis doesn't have to end in total disaster.
On the contrary, this could be a historic opportunity for a massive
global initiative __ one of renewal and fellowship.

Tenth Commandment: THOU SHALT LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD 

The rich and powerful have had a good run. The party is over. The wealthy 
should start paying back the country which gave birth to their monumental
success. Inherited wealth does not give back to the community, the
social and political environment that supported the accumulation of all
that money. Tax it at 95% above $5 million. The heirs of the Koch
brothers will just have to squeak by on their $5.2 billion. Capital
gains? Capital gains is income. Tax it at the same rate as
personal income. Speaking of which __ time to return to the progressive
tax rates of the 60s and 70s. You know them. The ones which resulted in a
thriving economy! Massive tax reform across the board is in order,
closing of all loopholes, penalizing off-shoring of profits, and the
complete elimination of corporate welfare. Do I hear screaming of
'SOCIALISM!' out there? Get a life! Yes, this is redistribution of wealth. 
It's been going on for thousands of years. It's what makes a functioning 
society possible.

I confess, I’m not up to speed on my Bible studies. But I remember hearing at
some point, there were originally twenty commandments. I guess our good guy,
Moses, lost a tablet or two on his way down from the mountain.

I take this as meaning there’s room on my list for even more. So let’s come up
with some ideas for Commandments 11 - 20. All reasonable and constructive 
ideas are welcome.

I’ll bet there’s a little Moses in everyone just hankering to bust out.

Come on. Go for it!

Let's make America great again.


[ This originated at the author's personal web site . . . http://jdrachel.com ]

America Has Become Anti-American

 

Because I live in Japan and post articles which are critical of America, I am
often accused of being anti-American. The truth is both
counter-intuitive and extremely disturbing.

I haven't changed ... America certainly has.

America has become anti-American!

The Constitution guarantees freedom of the press. Yet reporters are now being intimidated and threatened with arrest and incarceration. Whistleblowers who try to expose fraud, corruption, and waste in government by making available in public news media forums information of value to American citizens, are likewise harassed and prosecuted.

The Constitution requires the government to promote the general welfare. Yet the benefits of our economic wealth are accruing to a tiny elite while poverty is still pervasive and the majority of the population scrambles to make ends meet. Among the 34 highly developed nations in the world, America ranks 17th
in terms of life satisfaction __ happiness __ the key factors for its
low ranking being massive income inequality and excessively long hours
spent on average in the work place. In terms of health care and life expectancy, for the richest country in the world, America ranks abysmally low.

The Constitution guarantees equal representation of its citizens. Yet, the electoral system has become corrupted by unverifiable e-voting, grotesque gerrymandering of districts, and torrents of money in politics, which only guarantees the voices of average voters will be drown out and their participation in our democracy marginalized.

The Constitution guarantees the freedom from unwarranted search and seizure,
and right of trial by jury before peers, yet starting in 2001 by using
the endless War on Terror as an excuse, patently unconstitutional legislation has been effected __ Patriot Acts I and II, FISA, and the NDAA which Obama signed into law on New Years Eve 2011
while America was preoccupied with celebrating the holidays __ now
placing every citizen at risk for arbitrary arrest and indefinite
detention with no access to legal counsel.

The Constitution guarantees equality before the law. Yet rich elite white
collar criminals wreak havoc on our economy breaking countless laws and go free, while petty crimes by regular citizens __ especially people of color __ result in harsh and disproportionate prosecution and punishment.

The Constitution specifies that the power to make war is exclusively the responsibility of Congress. Yet the president as Commander-in-Chief often ignores the constitutional limits as well as the War Powers Act, using the military purely at his own discretion. This abuse of power results in unnecessary deaths of our citizens in uniform, while at the same time counter-productively foments enormous animosity and mistrust throughout the world.


Our legal framework via the Posse Comitatus Act has long barred the use of the military for law enforcement but vast and sophisticated surveillance by federal security agencies, the militarization of local police forces, and their handshake agreements with federal agencies, puts us all under the iron fist of enforcement agencies like the NSA and operatives of the Pentagon itself.

I could go on. But that might offend some people.

Sometimes the truth can be so anti-American.


[ This originated at the author's personal web site . . . http://jdrachel.com ]



 

Bullies Can’t Be Domesticated

 

We all love our cats, dogs, birds, gerbils.

However, regardless of how cuddly other members the animal kingdom might seem, some just can't be domesticated.

We can go into all sorts of reasons for why this is. It's instinct. It's part of their wiring. They had a bad time in school (I guess that would only apply to fish).

We can find countless stories which confirm this. Here is one extremely gruesome one about a wolf hybrid which killed a 5-year-old in Cincinnati.

There's a lesson in this for all of us. If something bites your head off, then proceeds to eat you, best not make a cozy place for it in front of the fireplace.

There are certain animals in our society who have made it very clear they aren't hanging around to be cute and fill our lives with canoodles and love. They have bitten off the head of our government by destroying democracy, and are now proceeding to eat the decaying corpse by strip mining our nation and its citizens of all of the wealth.

These predators are leaving a trail of carcasses. Towns like Detroit, Camden, New Orleans, Scranton, Buffalo, Youngstown, Cleveland, Flint, and St. Louis have been gutted of their capacity to survive and offer any kind of life for their residents.

These sociopathic bullies are literally ripping America to shreds and sending the choice morsels off someplace else __ the money to offshore tax havens and our jobs to miserable impoverished countries so they can treat their workers like animals.

These are vicious, self-serving, rapacious individuals who by sneering at our appeals to their humanity make it clear they don't have any humanity.

What to do? Should we try to sit down and have a nice talk with them about what kind of country America is suppose to be and how we all need to do our part? How about some new slap-on-the-wrist tax code regulations which create the illusion that we're requiring them to contribute to rebuilding a strong and just America? How about some new laws which guarantee equal opportunities for everyone, protections of the vulnerable against the predations of the powerful?

Naw! Waste of time. We've tried that. Doesn't work.

How about if we drop them off in some jungle where they can fight for survival with their own kind __ other undomesticable beasts with no conscience, no morals, no noble values, nothing driving them but kill or be killed?

Ah yes . . . the law of the jungle . . . or the free market system as it's sometimes called.

The problem is we're the ones in the jungle. They're in their plush mansions, exclusive club houses, gated communities, yachts and resort spas. We're the ones, who ill-equipped and at enormous disadvantage, are forced to try to survive undomesticable beasts with no conscience, no morals, no noble values, nothing driving them but kill or be killed.

THEM!

There's only one way to defeat a bully.

Isolation.

Ignore, avoid, shun, ostracize, exile, quarantine the thug.

Starve the beast!

There's no secret to any of this. It's no mystery.

We actually know what we have to do to stop the rampage on America. We know exactly who is behind the systematic destruction. We know that even though they like to portray themselves as all cuddly and concerned about the rest of us, they can't be trusted. We know they are insatiable and will attack and devour everything and everyone they can get their claws on. We know that there's been a class war going on in this nation and the rich bullies, who now own our government and the vast majority of America's wealth, will not slow down until every last shred and morsel of our once great country has been carted off.

Some people say, "Live and let live." Or, "Turn the other cheek." Noble sentiments which have a lovely ring to them, for sure.

I prefer, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." Coming from a family of pretty decent people who taught me that I am my brother's keeper, I'm more than happy to share the wealth with everyone. There's plenty to go around. Plenty!!

For those rich elite who feel no responsibility for their fellow citizens, who regard hunger, poverty, educational opportunity, a livable wage, justice, peace, fairness in the work place and the voting booth, equality, good affordable health care for everyone, personal privacy and freedom, as someone else's problems, for those bullies who use America's resources, its government, its people, its military, its institutions, only for their own enrichment and aggrandizement, I used to feel pity.

Now I only feel contempt and loathing.

It's just not America to be so selfish.

It's not America to be so insatiably greedy.

It's not America to game the system.

It's not America to buy the politicians, bully the public.

At least it's not the America I grew up believing in.

It's not the America you and I know is possible.

We didn't start this class war. These folks are extremely dangerous.

We can't just let them wander around the house.

Bullies can't be domesticated.


[ This originated at the author's personal website . . . http://jdrachel.com ]

The ‘P’ Word

 

P ... as in popular? This is the most popular video on YouTube as of this writing, with 1,676,424,490 views. That's billion, folks!

P ... as in poetry? Hmm. You mean like Eminem? No! You know. Like poetry slams. Cage fighting culture. I slam, therefore I am. Sounds familiar. Isn't that Dr. Seuss?

P ... as in pornography? Apparently, porn __ at least porn on the web __ is becoming less pervasive. Maybe that's because there's so damn much pornography everywhere you look nowadays. Isn't drone assassination porn? How about whole communities going bankrupt from fraud by the major banks. Rape porn. Read all about it here! Or watch it on everyone's favorite porn channel, Fox News.

P ... as in polygamy? We had our chance to put a polygamist in the White House. Well, not a polygamist per se. But one belonging to a religion which institutionally peddles polygamy. It could have been an interesting chapter in the whole DOMA thing, eh?

P ... as in pedophile? Probably we have more on our hands than we realize, some in very high places. But what can we expect? We have runway models who are thirteen, beauty contests for pre-schoolers, more hypocrisy about sex and sexuality than the Catholic Church __ speaking of pedophilia! __ a population pumped up on steamy ads, hot bods, prurient celebrity gossip, and a panoply of pharmaceuticals which despite their pervasive abuse can't keep all this libidinous heavy-breathing in check. Lovely. Simply lovely.

P ... as in patriarchy? A strong contender. We men have made a complete mess of the world, not satisfied with occasional penile penetration, we have to launch our phallic analogs in every shape and size of projectile, missile, bullet and bomb into every nookie and cranny of the world __ so much soft succulent flesh, so little time __  jumping up and down with ecstatic glee at the ultimate ejaculation, the nuclear bomb. What can I say? Everyone knows this. It's an old story with the latest trimmings.

P ... as in patriotism? A noble, if much abused concept. But don't get all patriotic as in standing up for the Constitution. Edward Snowden will tell you how that works out.

P ... as in power? Hmm. We're getting close. That's one musical chair that stays in the game, especially unchecked by any moral restraint or sense of public duty. As we say: Power corrupts? Absolute power corrupts absolutely. Absolutely!

P ... as in politics? A dirty business to be sure. Not that it has to be that way. What is it? The kind of people it attracts? Or the people they become?

P ... as in politicians. Somewhere it's written that these guys are supposed to serve us, the people who elected them. But they've become a bunch of traitorous lapdogs to corporate elites who openly thumb their noses at you and I. It sucks, eh?

P ... as in plutocracy. Getting very warm. These are the scoundrels who don't even bother to give lip service anymore to the idea of egalitarianism. They view the rest of us as pigs. Nothing new. Hitler. Stalin. King Henry VIII. Blah blah blah. It's exhausting. Let's all sing Hail To The Chief. Of course, he won't have time to listen. He's poring over today's kill list.

P ... P ... P ...

I think I'm going to go with . . .

P ... as in plunder.

America is both plunderer and plundered. You would think it would be enough for the self-proclaimed entitlement class to use America's economic and military power to strip mine the rest of the world. But no. Now the ruling elite has its eyes on the ultimate prize. America itself! How much is enough? They don't even understand the question.

So we watch in wonder and awe as our resources, natural and human, are sucked dry to bolster a bottom line that is the top priority __ the only priority __ in a system that assigns no value to anything but what can be monitized, i. e. price-tagged.

Is this really the only way we can measure progress?

I think not. And probably many agree with this. But it's so hard. We don't ever see ads for sunsets or generational respect or love between parent and child. Sure, we see those thing in ads. But to sell more cars, cosmetics, wonder drugs, smart phones, digital sausage makers, stuff we don't need and soon won't be able to afford.

Ever look around the room when the TV's on? 



What do you see? People completely ignoring one another. People who will die as others regret those lost moments of sharing, companionship, communication, just basic human contact. At least they'll regret them until their favorite sitcom, reality show or the E! Channel comes on. Whew . . .

What a depressing thought.

Am I being too pessimistic? I don't think so.

Actually, I'm still optimistic.

Marginally optimistic anyway.

There are other 'P' words.

How about P ... as in people? There is the potential for greatness in everyone. There is the promise of better-than-yesterday. There are propositions we embrace: All men are created equal. Love thy neighbor. Do unto others. Principles we hold dear: Government by the people, of the people, for the people. All are equal before the law. Let no man be judged by the color of his skin.

When we are not driven by greed, frenzied by fear, blinded by hate, crippled by despair, possessed by prejudice, misled and misinformed, most people are good to one another. Humans are social animals, curious and able to adapt. When we are not artificially divided, we remain naturally united. This is almost impossible to see now, much less celebrate, in a world whose political engines are powered by disunity and discontent.

How about P ... as in praise? How about giving praise where it's due? Not Pavlovian praise. But praise based on the values we hold dearest and nearest to the center of our souls. Not iconic fan worship. Praise offered for ennobling acts of courage and generosity.

How about P ... as in pray?

I'm not a religious person. But praying in some form or another is universal. I've seen it on every continent, in countries rich and poor. What is praying but visualizing something positive for those around you and the community you live in? Or the whole planet? Or the entire family of man?

How about P ... as in participate? Even the most rugged individualists overcome pride, prejudice, and apathy to work in consort with others. Alone things can be difficult. But joined together in group action, individual but equal, the impossible becomes possible.

Finally, there's P ... as in perfection? We've sure got a ways to get there. But we reach for the stars, because even if we fall far short, we only risk ending up on the highest peaks here on Earth. Maybe we'll find room at the top for everyone this time.

I have to confess, though. There was a time when I truly believed in the perfectibility of humankind. That was when I was young and naive.
Now I believe in the improvability of humankind.

Maybe now I'm just old and naive . . . I sure hope not.

Okay . . . enough with the 'P' words.

My lips are tired from all the puckering.

And I've blown out my candle.

 

This originated at the author's personal web site . . . http://jdrachel.com

[ If you are really a masochist, be sure and stay tuned my upcoming "Dachau World" blog posting. It's certain to cause a stir. ]

National Values 101

We need to decide.

And to decide we need to have a talk.

What's the latest fashionable euphemism? Aaaaah! . . .

We need to have an adult conversation.

The question is: What are the basic conditions, perks, priorities, entitlements, services __ it doesn't really matter what you call them __ that the set of institutions and organizations collectively known as government, is responsible for providing the citizens of this country?

What's the bottom line? As an American, what can I expect?

How we answer this question pretty much defines where each of us falls on the political spectrum that stretches from "conservative" to "liberal".

Which is irrelevant!

So forget about it. Forget conservative, liberal, progressive, libertarian, anarchist, and most certainly forget Republican, Democrat, Green, Socialist, Communist, and all of the rest of the political parties.

Let's just answer the question.

And while you're thinking about it, here's what I have to say:

Air. I don't mean just air. I mean clean air that doesn't choke us, make our eyes water or create the conditions for cancer. Seems fundamental. Amazing how it's brushed aside.

Water. Again we are talking about clean water. Not Evian or Poland Springs. But water that we can drink, bathe in, cook with, irrigate our gardens with. The human body is over 75% water. Without a constant supply of healthful water, we become dust.

Food. Sustaining life is pretty basic. Famished or dead people don't do well. And I don't think this should be frivolously interpreted. Yes, we can eat dog chow. But I am proposing good nutritious food that supports healthy development and healthful sustenance. This is not too much to ask.

Education. Maybe first and foremost, we need to know, understand, think, and learn how to go about knowing, understanding and thinking. Lacking education a person cannot properly function as a social, economic or political being __ an ignoramus cannot begin to participate in society or fully contribute as a citizen.

Health and Basic Health Care. Why is this so contentious? Being sick is a drag. It's personally a drag, it's a drag on those closest to us, it's a drag on the economy. There are no winners when people are sick. To have a fruitful, functioning society, we must be at our best __ physically, emotionally, spiritually, financially, socially, politically, intellectually. When we are physically sick, everything else is compromised.

Safety and Security. This is a big one. Excluding items under other categories, like non-toxic air to breathe and food that doesn't poison us, there are many areas which through our government we safeguard ourselves as citizens. A person should be able to walk down the street, or sit in a park or their back yard, without fear of being attacked, molested, robbed, raped, murdered. We should be able to be in our homes or work places knowing that a poorly maintained commercial airliner or a missile launched from North Korea won't crash into our roof and incinerate us. We should be able to use a microwave oven without it exploding in our faces. We should be able to drive across a bridge without it collapsing underneath us. Related to that, we should be confident that everyone on the road knows how to operate their motor vehicles. If our house catches on fire, we should be able to count on firemen coming to put it out. The list goes on and on. You get the idea.

Equality Before The Law. The law is the law. It shouldn't play favorites. No one is more or less important before the law. Violate the law, there will be penalties. Violate another human being, that person will have remedies in a court of law. It doesn't matter if you're Angelina Jolie or Donald Trump or Barack Obama. "Justice" is portrayed as holding a scale and blindfolded. And so it should be.

Opportunity. Opportunity comes in many flavors and is not unlimited. Everyone cannot be President of the United States. Not at the same time for sure. And impediments always are being erected to our realizing our individual potential. All too often they're internal __  defeatism, low self-esteem. So the last thing we need are more barriers from without. When a society erects barriers based on class status, wealth, ethnic identity, religious belief, sexual orientation, and so on, it becomes fragmented and loses its vitality. It can become hostile and end up at war with itself. We have on the books right now legislation and constitutional amendments to discourage this. It's time we lived up to the language and spirit of these laws.

Democracy. Who gets to run the country? I was under the impression it was each and every one of us, participating on an equal footing. One person = one vote. It's not that way anymore. Now it's who's got the cash. So are we going to have a democratic republic or an oligarchic tyranny? Democracy seems like a good idea to me.

Freedom. Freedom has its limits. But it should constantly expand until it reaches those limits. What kind of freedom? To dress, speak, sing, dance, live, love, worship, socialize, assemble, organize as we see fit, respecting the rights of others to do the same. It's in the Constitution. This should not be rocket science. And it should be on everyone's mind and part of every discussion about our nation. Freedom requires constant vigilance. It requires an ongoing adult conversation, no holds barred, no nonsense. The alternative is division, racism, conflict, disintegration, civil war, or totalitarianism.

Why am I bringing all of this up? These "American values" seem so obvious.

You would think so.

But all hear in the media is . . .

"So-and-so declares all government bad."

"We need to cut spending, then cut it even more."

"Get government out of the way so we can get something done."

"We can't afford it! America is going bankrupt!"

"Fiscal cliff! Debt ceiling! Apocalypse!"

Often these are the same blowhards who are saying America is the greatest thing since mastodon burgers and pterodactyl nuggets. So why do they find it so easy to denigrate it? Why do they want to destroy it if it's so great?

The point is, I don't see anyone talking about the essentials for making America, not just an okay place to live, minimally tolerable. But making America a place where we citizens can thrive, realize our individual potential, be the bad ass exceptionalists we claim we are.

Are any of the "values" I described above so controversial, so offensive, so ideologically obtuse or extreme, that they don't deserve that adult conversation I mentioned at the beginning of this article?

I sure don't see it in the media. I don't hear any discussion of this being prompted by our so-called "leaders" __ please refer here to "Take me to your leader!".

Yet, it is at the heart of everything about our country.

What we hold to be true and dear is the beating heart of America.

We can't sit around waiting for Obama or Biden, Boehner or Reid, Pelosi or McConnell, Cantor or Chief Justice Roberts to get around to it.

They won't.

We the people of the United States need to discuss and decide who we are and what we want America to be __ meaning what kind of nation and society we will pass down to our children. Then we need to keep those priorities first and foremost in mind when we the people of the United States decide what to do.

No excuses. No equivocation. No distractions.

No "we can't afford it" or "that's socialism" or "that's Tea Party".

Let's stop the name-calling, end the soap opera and the games.

Let's cut with the nonsense and get to work.

We can do this. We're the greatest nation in history, right?

We're the baddest, the best . . . we're #1.

Let's prove it.

I say, when politicians go into their usual patronizing him-haw blather, let's keep a roll of duct tape handy to shut them up. We go back to our list of values and say . . .

"Either this makes America the country we want or it doesn't. That's the issue."

What do you say?

Are you in?


[ This originated at the author's personal web site . . . http://jdrachel.com ]