"...Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security."
--The Declaration Of Independence
Here we are. We find ourselves in the middle of the summer of our discontent, and the frustrations of an irate citizenry are boiling over. This should not shock anyone.
Forced down our throats within months of each other last year, were the 'mother of all bailouts' known as "TARP", and the auto industry bailout. Both gigantic spending sprees ticked off Americans across the country, and a seething angst started to fester within, like a political tick about to pop.
But, born from those two examples of political idiocy, came the "Tea Party" movement, the "Going Galt" movement, and the 10th amendment state's rights movement. All three movements making up one giant collective "pressure valve" with a mandate for a tired and angry lot, made up of Republicans, Libertarians, Independents and Democrats. They began to mobilize and organize...Neighbors, families and friends, all very aware of what is happening to their country, their lives and their futures...Coming together to exercise their constitutional freedoms, and engage their elected officials in relentless sessions of civil discourse. Tired of being ignored, they began making their voices heard, in earnest, in February of this year, during the first round of "Tea Party" protests.
These events received a fair amount of mainstream news coverage, but were 'spun' into something more akin to a KKK rally. Although not shocking, these insinuations were an insult to all those who were doing exactly what the left did for 8 years during President George W Bush's administration. But alas,...Everyone seems to forget that the only supposedly acceptable dissent, is leftist dissent. All others need not apply. (*yawn)
Still, in the 8 months so far this year, we've seen even more examples of spending run amok, rumors of taxes going sky high, the loss of our freedom to buy any light bulb we wish, and the real fear that our Grandparents may one day be forced to do without the health-care they so desperately need, or they'll die. And so, that "pressure valve" has been letting off steam since the August recess began a few weeks ago. In that time, those who dare question obama, his policies, his "lap dogs" in congress, and his thuggish organizing for America/ACORN/union beat-down squads, have been maligned, demeaned, demonized, degraded and just generally insulted to the point of violence.
The president has suggested that those who are questioning him and his policies, should "get out of the way".
The speaker of the house, and senate majority leader have declared all who are against the president and his policies are "un-American". And endless numbers of pundits and loud-mouths have concluded that those same families, friends and neighbors who have come together on their own to protest their misgivings about the state of our federal government, are exhibiting an anger that is "manufactured". They do not believe that regular ol' citizens are capable of comprehending the so-called "reality" of the numerous spending bills, of which most recently is the health care bill. They believe "Jim" and "Jane" Citizen are too stupid to have genuine individual concern in their hearts for the country they dearly love. They simply dismiss the fact that a majority of the American people find themselves at the end of a very long, shredded and worn rope and they're tired of hanging on for dear life. A frustrated people are asking their elected officials to start abiding by their Constitutional duties, and make their votes according to what is in the best interest of their constituents. Not too much to ask really. Yet those pundits...Those loud-mouths....And even those elected officials....They keep on insulting, and keep on dismissing.
Do you hear that? That's the sound of that "pressure valve", building more steam.
Our elected officials can dismiss and insult all they want to...But they should consider themselves warned as of now...They do so, at their own political peril.
Let's get a few things clear...This anger and frustration didn't start with one man named barack obama. His policies have added to the "fire", yes. But this anger and frustration has been festering, for quite a long time throughout a few different Presidents, and multi-trillions of OUR dollars.
There is a sacred trust that is supposed to exist between a constituent and their elected official. That trust is given in the hopes that the politician will abide by their Constitutional responsibilities and represent their constituents and their state, accordingly. But we find ourselves in this mess because the chain of accountability has been broken. On one end of that chain, we have the voters...Folks who for too long have simply pulled the lever for someone who "sorta sounds good" and then disengage from the political process as quickly as they pull the curtain and leave the voting booth. And on the other end of that chain, we have the politician...Ok ok, who in their right mind would trust a politician, right? Well...At the core of the issue is this: We SHOULD be able to trust them. We SHOULD be able to get on with our busy lives, and trust that our elected officials will properly represent us each time they vote. And in the end, if those elected don't have our best interests at heart, it is our job to hold them accountable.
Our system of government was designed for a people that remain involved in the goings-on of government...At every level. Accountability is a citizen's most powerful political weapon. Remember that "pressure valve" I mentioned a while back? THAT is what happens when that disengaged populous finally "wakes up", and starts to fulfill their end of the Constitutional agreement between individual and government.
The time for accountability is now...Before it's too late.
And much to the chagrin of pundits, loud-mouths and elected officials alike,....If that accountability takes the form of loud voices and well-informed rants, it is the job of our elected officials to listen and then make their votes according to what they are hearing. They work for us...Not the other way around.
One more time: Our anger isn't "manufactured". It hasn't been "organized" by anyone other than individuals who've come together, of their own accord. We're tired of the spending by both parties. We're tired of being ignored by our elected officials. We're tired of being dismissed with a generic email or boilerplate letter. We're tired of our money being thought of as "their" money. We're tired of being forced to pay for the willfully irresponsible. We're tired of being told that we'll be ok, and that those in Washington "know better". We're tired of being more informed than our politicians who look us in the face and either lie, or reveal that they are incredibly stupid.
Got that? WE....ARE....TIRED.
We are angry.
We have had it.
And we vote.
And if our votes get us no where....Well....Our forefathers weren't stupid either.
Reread the top paragraph of this piece again, and do the math.
