From one of our favorite goddesses: Will America ever have a 'Network' moment?

By Mary MacElveen

I have often spoken of various political groups that I take part in and one of them is the DieHardDems Yahoo group. Even though I am affiliated with no party, it is still a good group to discuss political issues.

One question asked lately of the group is this one: So Tell Me, What Would It Take to Piss Americans off Enough? I would say there are many factors to piss us off, but we have yet to reach critical mass. Yes, some may feel there is something simmering just under the surface, but we need several squibs to borrow a term used in controlled demolitions to initiate the blasting caps.


The reason I say some is that a majority of Americans are not tuned in as political junkies and wonks are to the myriad of issues that affect all of us in our day-to-day lives. Many will see these affects, but may not connect the dots for any number of reasons. There are even political junkies like me who are just plain disgusted with politics and have at times thrown our hands up thinking; just what difference can I make to end this madness? Some may even ask what the madness one is referring to and may not agree to the criteria that makes something so maddening. It is all a matter of perspective I guess.


In the movie, ‘Network’ one sees the character, Howard Beale played by Peter Finch opening up the window and shouting out to the world, “I am mad as hell and I am not going to take it anymore” Some may see him as a rational man and others may see him as one of the zaniest men alive. Again, it is one’s perspective coming into play.


Also the same angry statement can be seen in the movie ‘And Justice for All’ in which the character Arthur Kirkland played by Al Pacino says, “YOU'RE out of order! YOU'RE out of order! THE WHOLE TRIAL IS OUT OF ORDER! THEY'RE OUT OF ORDER!” He says this in exasperation since he refuses to play the game within this one particular trial.


One wonders how many of our elected officials revert to the same angry tirades when confronted with the madness thrust upon all of us. One must wonder if newly elected officials feel some form of incompetence when confronted with the lunacy that is the day-to-day life in Washington, D.C. The cards were stacked against them right from the get-go and little did they realize it. Some may have felt they were the ‘Mr. Smith Goes to Washington’ only to be confronted with a brick wall.


But, getting back to what it would take to piss off Americans and I do believe it will only take a confluence of events leading up to either a natural or un-natural disaster or a series of disasters. Everyday concerns are not igniting the fuse. Speaking of perspective, what may piss you off may not piss off your neighbor.


I have often referred to a statement made by, Colonel Lawrence Wilkerson (former Chief of Staff to the former Secretary of State, Colin Powell) who said this on November 20, 2005 as he appeared on CNN's 'Late Edition'. “If something comes along that is truly serious, truly serious. Something like a nuclear weapon going off in a major city or a pandemic, you are going to see the ineptitude of this government in a way that will take you back to the Declaration of Independence.”


Speaking of ineptitude, I do my best thinking on my front porch just after dinner and especially after listening to ‘Lou Dobbs Tonight’ and you will see as an example just how inept this government is. Our government is failing all of us before our very eyes and one wonders just how long it will take for Americans to wake up.


It should not have to take a nuclear weapon going off in a major city or a pandemic spreading across this nation to demand accountability from our esteemed elected officials. While some are good public stewards, others should never have filed papers to run for the office they presently hold. I will not name names since it would drag this piece into the next century as well as giving examples why.


Just tonight, Lou Dobbs reported that a judge ruled against Hazleton, Pennsylvania for enforcing immigration laws citing that they cannot trump federal laws. But, if the federal government is not enforcing these laws; aren’t American’s civil rights being violated? How come taxpayers have to pay for services freely given out to illegal aliens? Oh and do not buy into La Raza’s claim that the defeat of the ‘Grand Compromise’ bill on immigration was based on hate or racism. It was based on the grass roots efforts by many Americans that crossed the great political divide. Many Americans like me saw it as being unfair to the legal citizens of this country as well as those who were following the rules in order to become citizens. Also with an estimated 47 million Americans presently uninsured; would some politician please explain to these uninsured Americans, why illegal aliens get health care when they go without.


Dobbs has also reported on our food not being inspected for safe consumption. Think of that the next time you sit down for dinner. He has also reported that our meat is not being stamped with a country of origin label when there is a law already on the books demanding that it does.


Dobbs even reported on the unfair trade practices put forth not only by the Bush administration, but the Clinton administration, namely NAFTA which has caused an erosion of good American jobs and those jobs being sent overseas. Senator Olympia Snow even stated “Well, we can expect to lose more than three million jobs by 2015.” What about our children’s future? To our esteemed elected officials, it is long past time that NAFTA, CAFTA and other unfair trade deals be ripped to shreds in fairness to the American worker. After all, it was an American that elected you.


In yesterday’s CNN news they even reported where the DOW dropped 400 points. While that may not concern the average American just trying to get by since the trading of stocks is a party many are not invited to, the reasons for this drop should concern all of us. As CNN cited that credit concerns, housing concerns and energy concerns as being the reason for this steep drop. Now that does affect every single American.


As I sat on my front porch thinking how things can change, it means sending a signal to both political parties that they are failing all of us. By the way; aren’t you just sick of these political debates that really are not addressing the needs of the American people? Some will promise the moon, but when this country is mortgaged to the hilt or basically broke; exactly how will these various programs be paid for? If you are tending to back a candidate that wishes to keep our presence in Iraq; again, how will we pay for that? Then again, common sense tells all of us especially with that $592 million dollar American embassy presently being built in Baghdad with the use of slave labor; we shall be there for a long time. Oh and let us not forget those military bases being built there as well. I would go into the blow back affect, but have done so in previous pieces.


The other day, a woman asked Michael Moore a question as he appeared on ‘Hardball’ whether or not he feels a revolt by Americans is coming and his answer was not necessarily, but it can be done by the ballot box. I just wish I had that much faith in the political process as does Moore.


Robert F. Kennedy once said back in June of 1966, “There is a Chinese curse which says, 'May he live in interesting times'. Like it or not, we live in interesting times...” Considering what China has been shipping this country lately, I would change that to dangerous times.


What exactly will it take to piss off Americans? I wish I had the answer to that question. Could our inept government be the reason why so many choose not to vote in the first place especially when they do not see their needs being attended to? I think that the only thing that can save this country is if we forget what party we belong to if any and only see ourselves as Americans first. The same issues as cited above affect us all. The lack of jobs, health care, and safe food does not care which political party you belong to. They are after all equal opportunity issues that this government is failing to adequately address.


One last item to address as we continue to discuss our broken borders is that any number of pandemic diseases and even nuclear materials used in making bombs can make their way across them. Yet two border agents named Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean sit in jail for shooting a drug terrorist in the buttocks. Oh yes and Johnny Sutton gave this drug terrorist immunity and health care to boot. Now, I call that pathetic. Don’t you?

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