What’s good ABOUT America? I’m so tired of hearing what’s bad. I know what’s bad. What is bad is that the pharmaceutical Companies, the Defense Contractors, the Insurance companies and the behind the scenes bankers’ control our governmental polices which are bleeding the middle class to death. Our government is destruction bound, using every resource they have in their arsenal to kill other human beings. Politicians are just that, politicians that just aren’t listening to the middle class, at least from the liberal/progressive side. I don’t think they are listening to their own base. I’ve heard many a Republican say that we are heeded for disaster, internationally, domestically and economically.
So what’s good? My wife told me this morning that we are a “service economy, that we don’t produce anything and the first sector to go in bad economic times is the service sector”. I beg to differ. Industry is still alive, if not well in this country. We still produce more airplanes, cars, computers and heavy machinery such as earth moving equipment than any other nation in the world. (I shouldn’t have mentioned this, once the bankers read what I’ve said they’ll outsource all of that too).
What’s good about this country is that there are still people that care and want to change it for the better. Whatever we have become, there is always the chance that we can turn the direction that this nation is taking around, otherwise you wouldn’t be reading this. I know that the Democrats and their refusal to stand up to the Administration dismay many. I feel that too. I’m sure many are just as disgusted by the top front runners, backed by corporate money (not Hillary?) wiping out the field by gaining all the “face-time” on the MSM. I have been watching this with interest, watching how people respond to pure crap that Hillary spews. She recently went to Yearly Kos and proclaimed that she is a “Progressive” oh pleeeaze! She’s about as progressive as Dick Cheney.
I listened to John Edwards recently. Let’s face it, unless there is a big upset in the Democratic Primaries, Gravel and Dennis are toast. I hope I’m wrong. Let’s see. I’ll be voting for Dennis if he starts picking up steam, If I’m wasting my vote in the SC Primary, I’ll go for John Edwards. I’m beginning to like what he’s saying. He said that he doesn’t accept corporate money and he recently said that the insurance companies, the big pharmaceutical companies run America and it’s got to stop. OK John, you got me so far, I’m listening…
What’s right about America is the people you love that live here.What’s right is what’s coming in September. This is the start people. This is the second time I’ve done this, like many of you out there. I see the anti-war progressive movement clarifying and melding into a force to be reckoned with. I saw the same in the early 70’s. This General Strike 9/11 is only a “baby-step”. It has to start somewhere. Let’s use this opportunity to make a statement. Let’s use it as practice for bigger and better ways to express our frustration with a Deaf Congress and a sick out-of-control Executive branch.
We can express our contempt for Bush and Cheney in September by attending the rallies and stating rallies in every city for the people that can’t make it to NYC or DC! This is what’s right with America. These rallies aren’t “sponsored” by Boeing, Prudential or PPA (the Pharmaceutical Partnership of America). The people of America sponsor it. It’s a grassroots partnership of Americans that want to be heard. That’s what’s good about our country! This is a movement, don’t doubt it for a minute! Unless something alters the current reality, this movement will grow larger and larger until there are demonstrations in every city, every town. There will be a permanent display of the anti-war movement that the mainstream media can no longer ignore. This movement will be an in-your-face, do or die expression of disgust with this administration and with Congress and their do nothing attitude. If we accomplish nothing, at least we can show the rest of the world and this government that we won’t blindly accept authority when the policies go against everything we believe.
It takes Americans time to get angry. I mean really angry. They are getting angry now. I hear it day in and day out, and remember I live in South Carolina, the belly of the beast. So remember the good things about this country. Don’t dwell on the bad. Believe me, we’ll change that sooner than later.
That’s the way I see it.
http://liberalpro.blogspot.com
Tim was banned from the site for posting private email from the publisher to him on his blog, and then attacking the publisher and the site in emails and articles. OEN has no responsibility to publish articles from people who attack the site.
Tim's accusations that he was banned for his political positions are untrue. Check his articles. He repetitively wrote about and had published exactly the things he claimed he was banned for doing.
Former Chairman of the Liberal Party of America, Tim is a retired Army Sergeant. He currently lives in South Carolina. A regular contributor to OpEdNews, he is the author of Kimchee Kronicles and is currently at work on a new novel.
Being responsible and smart is better than being angry. Being angry will inspire you to protest the current government. But what we need is a new government. In my view, what we are all failing to do is develop strategies, candidates, and infrastructure to replace what is now broken. If you remain angry up to the next election, you will have wasted all that time and energy on anger and have very little to show for it. Taking responsibility means acknowleging how things are, how we are all complicit, and what it will take to set things right. I don't know if we ever had a government that worked. But at least now that we know we don't have one that works. So now we can begin to figure out what it will take to create one. What we have now is a government that works like a mafia. It's going to take more than a few demonstrations to fix that. No point in protesting if you don't have anything to offer once you've gotten everyone's attention.
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Mark A. Goldman (81 articles, 2 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 243 comments)
on Friday, August 31, 2007 at 11:25:42 AM
a government no one blieves in or wants.....why do we (the poor and disappearing middle class) obediently pay our taxes, while a non caring rich elitist government laughs at us and spends "our" money to further enrich themselves and those they decide are worthy (the corporations, the MSM, their friends in high places, other governments, Israel, defence contrators) while they tell us..."no we can't afford to help you and government is not really for you, any way...!" And by the way, we are letting in as many cheap foriegn workers as the corporations need....and they all want the measly jobs that are left in this country....so fight for those jobs , if you want them..take less money, no benefits..and live like the unwashed masses you really are....but don't forget to pay your taxes!!!!
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Susan Nelsen (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 277 comments)
on Friday, August 31, 2007 at 12:14:21 PM
you girls just don't get it. the only way you are gonna' change anything is to go into the white house and arrest the murderous thugs. put'em in handcuffs and take'em to jail and the try'em and keep'em in prison for a very long time. Your gonna' have to go to the senate and house too! there is no need to be angry because being morally right is enough.
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joed (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 49 comments)
on Friday, August 31, 2007 at 6:42:55 PM
I was there in the 70's, maybe you were too, I don't know how old you are. Then, we had a problem The war started then in earnest about 1964. It took about 4 years to get the American people angry enough to start demonstrating and raising hell. Remember The Crosby Stills & Nash song Chicago? I don't believe that came out until the 70's when they had to chain the accussed to chairs in the courtroom. We had over a million people in Washington in the spring of 1971. They had to get the President out of Washington and over a thousand Federal Marshall's had to arrest over 10,000 Demonstrators and on horseback with billy clubs and CS gas. Almost everyone of those arressted sued the Federal Government for screwing with their right of peaceful assembly. Not too much longer, Nixon was toast. Watergate brought him down, but the natrion had already had enough. He brought the troops home before he resigned, he didn't have a choice. Remember this, Nixon was a bastard too, but he was much smarter than the Chimp. You can't advocate what you advocate. You'll never get the support. This is a process my friend. Get involved. Sometimes we want change immediatly, but it rarely happens. I'm not trying to get into a pissing contest. I've done this before. Have You?
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Timothy V. Gatto (348 articles, 177 quicklinks, 38 diaries, 574 comments)
on Friday, August 31, 2007 at 7:51:03 PM
Mr. Gatto, i find your articles worthwhile and insightful. I am 62. The system is broken. The people must act. if storming the whitehouse will not work then perhaps the big general strike comming up on 911 will get some attention. but, if people think the pols are going to change then the people are wrong. it is the people that must change, and a one day strike ain't gonna' matter. the murderous thugs will not give up the power they have amassed. our vote has not counted for the last 7 years(at least) why do peoiple think it will matter next year. no sir, the system is broke bad and we gonna' have to start over. reid/palosi and the rest of'em are part of the bush gang. they don't care about you or me, in fact they are mostly contemptuous. thanks again for the fine articles.
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joed (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 49 comments)
on Friday, August 31, 2007 at 8:56:13 PM
I write from England where I run Arms Against War (www.armsagainstwar.info) and read this article with hope. I recently also found information of the general strike on Facebook and wish the action outstanding success and coverage.
May I ask those that will take action to glance at the campain I run and see if it would work hand in hand with the strike/action to add visibility? No money needed, no group to join, no political or religious affiliations - just individuals empowering themselves.
All that Arms Against War asks is that if an individual/group agrees "I want an end to the war in Iraq"...that they make and wear a plain white fabric armband (instantly available and free to all)- at demonstrations, events, actions or at all times if they choose. This simple symbol unites people across the world in one voice, one image that can work alongside all the other issues to at least have us agreeing on one.
Thanks for your inspiring article Tim, the wisdom and optimism of your words is part of the activism that is needed to make change - positively.
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