http://www.huffingtonpost.com/peter-daou/w...il_b_20812.html



I am coming to understand that there is nothing sacred in this country. No freedom or right that cannot be suddenly taken away. We all become complacent and make the assumption that, even though they did that they cannot do this, only to find out later that they have already been doing this all along, and when its exposed, guess what? No outrage. No demand that it stop. Nobody really cares. Apathy. Let the government do whatever it wants. Do not get involved. Watch American Idol or talk about Sports or the weather.

This has been proven time and time again with government-sanctioned torture and abuse in American military prisons, purposeful rendention of prisoners to countries where they can be tortured, spying on foreign phone calls, and the latest is that they are spying on the domestic calls of most Americans. And nobody cares, and its even supported by a significant number of American people.

Every fundamental right and freedom that you assume you will always have and take for granted can be taken away. They are doing things now that have not yet come to light, but even if they did, it would get the same reaction as this latest news in USA Today. A token, weak outcry, denial by the Administration that they are doing anything illegal, and then the people forget about it and the behavior continues.

I am starting to conclude that there is no wrong this administration could do that they could not get away with. And it does not matter what Bush's poll numbers are if nobody seriously challenges his policies, and nobody is. His poll could get down to 10% or lower and it still would be meaningless as long as he can plow full-speed ahead and actually get support for his fucked-up policies instead of resistance.

What's Next? You name it, and I can tell you what the response to it will be in the end: Nothing. Despite every fucked-up thing Bush has done and despite his low approval rating, he's getting away with it all and will keep getting away with it all, until his term as President ends.

This is America in 2006. Do you like what you see? As for myself, I think I'm gonna puke on an American flag. I want Wiseguy to hold it open for me as I do.

People like you and I who do care must realize there is only so much we can do.
We try to educate people about the issue, we try to blow the whistle on those who work against us,
however, the very values that we fight to preserve, are also the same values that work against us.
That being, the majority rules. And no matter how much we might know better, right or wrong,
Americans get what they ask for.


Those people who would work to take our rights away from us, are very much bad people!
They are bad people, and not stupid! They know very well how to manipulate,
witness the past 20 years and the steady rise of the Conservative party!
Their presence requires a constant vigil by those of us who know what is happening!

Those who are subject to apathy. They will all learn, eventually.
Unfortunately, it may well be too late by then!
Sometimes pain is the best, most effective teacher, and by this fact, unavoidable!

I understand what you're saying. In fact, I can bet that every one of us on this forum actually feel similar to what you're expressing to some degree.

I too am disgusted at how America is in the beginnings of the 21st Century.

I see a flag and I don't wretch and gag. Instead I lament.

That flag with it's field of blue and stars of state, the founding colonies and Bill of Rights is the dream, lost. It's kinda like the good old Farra Faucit poster. You know the one. The red one-piece suit shot in sub-zero weather. Loved the poster, hated the fashions of the time.

And like today, I loath the fashions of hatred and bigotry, of oppression and repression. Ugly, ugly fashion.
But I like the flag and the Constitution and the freedoms it all brings.

What we're dealing with is an extreme perversion of American idealism.
You know, "American Power!"

While I disagree that America is the greatest example of liberty in history, I can sympathize for ya AFW.