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OpEdNews Op Eds    H2'ed 2/11/14

Superpower Status Supersedes Domestic Tranquility

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Elected politicians from the two sole political parties are enamored with America's superpower status and keeping the moniker of sole superpower at any and all costs is the name of their game. It is their pride and their power and self-esteem, but it is built on the backs of others, the increasing poor, dwindling lower middle class and the one percent whose wealth has increased substantially since the bailout of 2008 costing the U.S. economy $22 trillion dollars.

Our superpower prestige rests on the backs of 90% of American households that earn $30,000 annually .  When 90% of the citizens' earnings are meager supporting a national security state that cripples or harms or impedes the economy by pouring the resources of the nation into war and war preparedness/national security at the expense of jobs, the nation withers away benefiting a chosen few.

Many Americans with the highest incomes with the most opportunities embrace this moniker without challenge while the majority of Americans do not have full time jobs in an economy managed by the two sole political parties which have been unable and unwilling to create a level playing field in legislation in which all Americans can participate effectively.

Large campaign donors have influenced the two sole political parties to enact and pass legislation that benefits them creating a system of crony capitalism making favoritism in legislation a hallmark of the United States Congress.

The quid pro quo in American two party politics is often delayed compensation in lobbying jobs or lucrative speech-making for retired elected and appointed officials.  Former presidents and their high ranking cabinet members go on speaking tours amassing millions of dollars when not one word that they utter is worth much, for they often lacked effectiveness or wisdom doing their jobs.

Some have called our system a kleptocracy , "a government where officials are politically corrupt and financially self-interested" defined by the American Heritage Dictionary.   Washington, D.C. is a paradise for lobbyists.  Why, there are over 12,000 lobbyists in Washington, D.C. spending $3.2 billion dollars annually .

The largest expenditure in the U.S. federal budget is neither Social Security nor Medicare, but the entire panoply of the national defense and security apparatus including pensions, salaries and hardware/software for national security.   The U.S. Congress has approved military expenditures for 900 bases around the world in 130 countries.  

The relentless push for military and national security supremacy has allowed trillions of dollars to be expended without proof that it has been essential, necessary and proper. Instead, it has allowed the nation to engage in many unnecessary wars because the mantle of overall military supremacy emboldens political and military leaders to do so in one disaster after another: Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan ultimately costing tens of trillions of dollars.   There is no evidence that this has benefited the nation in any way.

Although elected leaders have repeatedly said that war is the last option their actions show that war is the first and only option that they will entertain.  The national irony rarely, if ever, mentioned in the mainstream press or television news is that our most recent three war-maker presidents scrupulously avoided active military service.

When the primacy of the status quo is the objective of national political leadership it means change becomes the enemy when change is essential for the benefit of all Americans. 

Prerogatives of power are often abused unless there are effective checks and balances and transparency in government.   

The most momentous Congressional decisions like the Wall Street bailout and voting for war were implemented with rashness without deliberation.  Matters regarding the health and welfare of the citizenry are often condemned by representatives as too expensive or mangled badly by legislation written by the industry it affects, yet rarely, if ever, are expenditures of a massive military/security state questioned. 

When national polls show for 20 years with successive governments of Democrats and Republicans are on the wrong track it means effective change for the citizenry has been abandoned, neglected and discarded.

The ultimate irony rarely reported by the mainstream press, especially television news, is the obvious failure of the immense and costly national security state on 9/11.  Eighteen amateurs with box cutters and visas from the U.S. government allowing them to study how to fly commercial aircraft inflicted tremendous damage in lives and buildings.  What was the outcome of this government failure?   Pouring enormous public funds into security without proof it is it necessary or effective.   Were the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan convenient collusions and diversions from the failure of two political parties to protect the nation on 9/11?       

First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution says:   Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.   Has the mainstream press acted like a watchdog in the interest of the American people, especially television news, for an informed citizenry to check government malfeasance?

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Henry Pelifian has written many columns and articles on government and current events. He has published a play THOREAU based on the life, works and words of Henry David Thoreau, a war novella and short stories based on his years overseas called (more...)
 

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