Let me first say that this is NOT about Sarah Palin's book Going Rogue (not entirely). While we as a nation continually hunger for all of the tidbits that is Ms. Palin from her introduction to the national stage to the Katie Couric interview to her issues with the McCain campaign; there are things that are more important and should matter more that the time that we (and I) have wasted and will continue to waste on all that is Sarah Palin.
My fellow citizens we have a problem much worse than the book Going Rogue, we as a nation have gone postal! You know what going postal is, someone who gets uncontrollably angry, becomes violent, and either harm, shoots, or kills people. People who think little about those that they are harming and the long term effects that they will leave behind. These people, at least most of them have now kill themselves, robbing the rest of us the reasons why or the ability to look them face to face. The sad thing is that the news is getting worse and each horrible crime is somehow worse than the story that became before it.
Just this weekend, in Berkeley, CA, the same city where I attended college, a man (allegedly) killed his girlfriend and possibly her eighteen month old son. This same man was convicted and served time for killing the son of a girlfriend over 15 years ago. A doctor in Oklahoma is accused of killing his nine year-old son. A woman in North Carolina is accused of not only killing her five year old daughter but there is the possibility that she was abused.
Add to this the killings at Fort Hood, the man who went to his former job in Florida that killed one and injured five others, and the countless other crimes, rapes, assaults and the national conversation that we are having today is the force-feeding of a woman that the majority of the country would not elect Vice-President, no less President. Along with the circus of loons she brought with her including Levi Johnston, we have been distracted from the things that should matter most. This is the same woman that contributed to health care by talking about death panels and who quit as the Governor of Alaska near the third year of her first term in office.
Anyway, these are the signs of where our priorities lie. We are occupied with Palin, Prejean (and her sex tape), a boy on a ballon whose parents succeeded in gaining the fame that they desperately wanted, and 2012, the movie that made $225 million worldwide this past weekend. A movie that fuels the obsession of the (rumored and unproven) end of the world by terrible and disastrous means.
There need not be floods, fires, earthquakes, and other specials effects that masquerade as national disasters, we are killing ourselves without these things. We are treating each other worse by the day (hour). I don't know if it is the water or if it is global warming, but "going postal" is becoming the new normal. That makes me terribly sad and it should make you sad too!
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Can We Resurrect Common Sense? (Fall Edition)
One of my favorite postings so far has been about my suggestions of the rebirth of common sense. I know that this is a hard lesson to learn so I thought that I would give it another shot. There are so many ways that we let go of our analytical thoughts and go to the ideas of free, sex, stupidity, nudity, and scandal. In my continuing effort to revive common sense, here are some new suggestions:
The Outraged Citizen's Rules of Common Sense: Fall 2009 Edition
- Walk before you leap and think out your actions fully. (Thanks President Obama for throughly thinking about sending more of our troops in harm's way and even more for wanting a plan to get them out.)
- Be careful before making a sex tape. (If Carrie Prejean won the Miss USA pageant, it would have taken all but five minutes when her "sex tape" became public.) That goes double for anyone who is employed or has aspirations for political office or just want to be seen as a professional in the workplace. Also, don't go on a talk show if you don't want to talk and answer questions.
- Political victory in 2009 in two states, (if that) does not mean a political resurgence in your national party. Just Say No all you have done this was was that said no to a lot of the stuff that the President has pushed forward. All you have done was give birth to a sore loser tea party attitude.
- Just as important, a political victory in 2008 will not last forever. The Yes We Can crowd needs to take action. Mr. President, you need to deliver on the items that you campaigned on if you want 2012 to be like 2008 at the polls.
- Speaking of being careful, be careful before posting your photos to social networking sites. (Just this morning I saw a story of a school teacher that was fired for posting photos on her "private" Facebook profile of her drinking on vacation.) She wasn't drunk but had photos with her holding a beer and another holding a glass of wine. She is now suing the school district and good luck to her.
- (Updated) Which brings me to this truth: Nothing on the Internet is private. A Google search now ruins careers, relationships, and just about everything else that you believe is private. Just pretend that privacy is dead. Wait a minute, it is.
- Think out your publicity stunt and get your story straight with your family before going forward with it. Today the parents of the ballon boy Richard and Mayumi Heene will plead guilty for their falsified claims that their son was on a ballon that travelled miles and gave the American public and world alike unnecessary concern. Also just became your son's name is Falcon doesn't mean that he is destined to fly.
- For the holidays, find out who made that fruitcake before you eat it. Matter of fact, in the age of food allergies and nutrition in general, find out what is in what you are eating. In California, restaurants are now beginning to post the nutritional contents of their dishes. My sister was devastated to discover how loaded in calories her favorite cheesecake was.
- And finally if you happen to see a crime or something that is just wrong, call 911 and report it. I am not asking that you put your life in danger or anything or to play hero but a discrete call can make a world of difference.
I have a feeling that my work here is far from done and I will be planning the Winter/Spring 2010 edition. I am open to ideas for new rules so leave a comment. I know that I can't do this job alone.
Monday, November 9, 2009
C'Mon Man: An Open Letter to the Republican Party
Dear Mr. Steele Limbaugh,
This letter is addressed to your whole party minus one (Rep. Joseph Chao of Louisiana) and I know that you must sign off before your party gets behind it. The first step of many to bring the reality of health care to more Americans happened this past Saturday (November 7). The members of your party couldn't get to a microphone or to a television camera quick enough to discuss their (or maybe your) disgust with the passage of health care reform in the House of Representatives this past Saturday. Your members complained its large price tag, naming it Pelosi-care, and said that it will be the downfall of our economy and our country.
Wait a minute, you guys and ladies don't have any problems writing large checks for the things that you want like that unnecessary war in Iraq, yeah that one. The one that we are still in, the one where the WMD's were supposed to be, the one where our Secretary of State went before the UN with "evidence" and claims that they were there. You used the fear card then too, just like you are doing now. You are injecting fear that we will go to death panels and people's care may be taken away. You tell them that there will be someone else in the room with them and their doctor. Hello, there is already someone else is the room who is running the conversation, the HMO's. You know those guys because they have spent millions a day to stop health care reform, yeah the ones paying YOU!
Every time everyone else wants to talk about health care you want to count how many illegal immigrants are in the country. I wonder why, but I know you know. You want to talk about the malpractice suits and how those in their twenties don't want health care. You induce fear in seniors that Medicare will not be there them. I don't mean to recite talking points from one of your tea parties or anything but you guys are talking about the problems, fabricated problems. The last time I checked you were elected to propose and create solutions and not the $61 billion health care bill you proposed last Saturday night to appear that you tried instead of just saying no completely.
I remember that you worked for ESPN for about two months and I could go into the reasons for your firing but one there is no time and two I need not deviate from my point. ESPN has this segment on their football coverage called c'mon man. This is the segment that highlights the unusual, the stupid, and the boneheaded plays of the week in the National Football League. I know you can guess what is coming and yes, for the 176 Republicans and the "going rogue" 39 Democrats that you influence, I say C'mon Man! This is only the first step to the process and I know (and I hope those who are reading know) that this thing is not done by a long shot. This will not be the final say of how health care will happen. There will be further debate in the Senate and eventually in a committee to get Health Care Reform truly done.
So c'mon man and get with the program. Stop confusing of the American people with your cool-aid and stand up for something right good. Misinformation should be above you, because I would hope that you would want the President to succeed. I forgot, you want the President to fail and I know I am asking for a lot from you and I have no check to give you (or your party), but it worked for the President, he listened. Wait a minute, they (the Just Say No folks) only listen to you. Well I tried and I hope that you don't use this as toilet paper.
Regards,
The Outraged Citizen
This letter is addressed to your whole party minus one (Rep. Joseph Chao of Louisiana) and I know that you must sign off before your party gets behind it. The first step of many to bring the reality of health care to more Americans happened this past Saturday (November 7). The members of your party couldn't get to a microphone or to a television camera quick enough to discuss their (or maybe your) disgust with the passage of health care reform in the House of Representatives this past Saturday. Your members complained its large price tag, naming it Pelosi-care, and said that it will be the downfall of our economy and our country.
Wait a minute, you guys and ladies don't have any problems writing large checks for the things that you want like that unnecessary war in Iraq, yeah that one. The one that we are still in, the one where the WMD's were supposed to be, the one where our Secretary of State went before the UN with "evidence" and claims that they were there. You used the fear card then too, just like you are doing now. You are injecting fear that we will go to death panels and people's care may be taken away. You tell them that there will be someone else in the room with them and their doctor. Hello, there is already someone else is the room who is running the conversation, the HMO's. You know those guys because they have spent millions a day to stop health care reform, yeah the ones paying YOU!
Every time everyone else wants to talk about health care you want to count how many illegal immigrants are in the country. I wonder why, but I know you know. You want to talk about the malpractice suits and how those in their twenties don't want health care. You induce fear in seniors that Medicare will not be there them. I don't mean to recite talking points from one of your tea parties or anything but you guys are talking about the problems, fabricated problems. The last time I checked you were elected to propose and create solutions and not the $61 billion health care bill you proposed last Saturday night to appear that you tried instead of just saying no completely.
I remember that you worked for ESPN for about two months and I could go into the reasons for your firing but one there is no time and two I need not deviate from my point. ESPN has this segment on their football coverage called c'mon man. This is the segment that highlights the unusual, the stupid, and the boneheaded plays of the week in the National Football League. I know you can guess what is coming and yes, for the 176 Republicans and the "going rogue" 39 Democrats that you influence, I say C'mon Man! This is only the first step to the process and I know (and I hope those who are reading know) that this thing is not done by a long shot. This will not be the final say of how health care will happen. There will be further debate in the Senate and eventually in a committee to get Health Care Reform truly done.
So c'mon man and get with the program. Stop confusing of the American people with your cool-aid and stand up for something right good. Misinformation should be above you, because I would hope that you would want the President to succeed. I forgot, you want the President to fail and I know I am asking for a lot from you and I have no check to give you (or your party), but it worked for the President, he listened. Wait a minute, they (the Just Say No folks) only listen to you. Well I tried and I hope that you don't use this as toilet paper.
Regards,
The Outraged Citizen
Friday, November 6, 2009
Hysteria: The Problem with Reporting on Breaking News
Hysteria is defined as a psychological disorder whose symptoms include conversion of psychological stress into physical symptoms, selective amnesia, shallow volatile emotions, and overdramatic or attention-seeking behavior. After reading this and thinking it over, this sounds a lot like the breaking news reports of cable news networks.
As I am typing now we have the next tragic news story. Let me first say that the events in Fort Hood, Texas are terrible and shocking but further investigation is needed. There will be some conclusions that will be rushed for the sake of breaking news. There will and have been experts that will use words to shock and sensationalize. There have already been questions on motive based on the suspect's last name and religion. There are some who are already bringing up the possible motive of this being a "terrorist attack." No one has asked if this was a workplace violence case or someone who snapped because he was being sent to a war that he either agrees or disagrees with.
It is a huge coincidence that I am writing about this on this morning because this was going to be about the jump to judgement of past news stories. We have had the false alarm with military boats firing shots near the Pentagon on 9/11 of this year near President Obama (see a previous post on that subject). The nation was riveted about a boy on a balloon which was later proven to be a "show" produced by the boy's family to gather attention and sole purpose to gain celebrity. I admit that these are two completely different subjects but the latter expresses the problem more than the former because the parents knew that the story they created would give them the exact attention that they were seeking.
There have been some worthy and important news stories that needed to be told but there have been many others that creates and multiplies this hysteria. Let's admit that we are a nation on eggshells. Each breaking news story shock and galvanize more that ones reported before. There is the search for why this has happened and what will happen next. The blame game is next asked and the question of whether we should be more afraid for today and tomorrow than we were yesterday. I will just say that danger is everywhere, for we do not know everything that is going on with everyone. True fear is the unknown and just as how much we know or don't know the motive of the most recent tragedy, let's not rush to judgement and create more unnecessary fear.
An Outraged Note:
I would just ask that the cable news networks and the news media in general to check their sources before making their breaking news reports and their exclusives. I know that I speak for many that say don't get the story quickly, just get the story right because there are consequences for getting it wrong. Breaking news is usually first page or first segment news, however retractions and corrections are placed elsewhere where many will never know.
It is a huge coincidence that I am writing about this on this morning because this was going to be about the jump to judgement of past news stories. We have had the false alarm with military boats firing shots near the Pentagon on 9/11 of this year near President Obama (see a previous post on that subject). The nation was riveted about a boy on a balloon which was later proven to be a "show" produced by the boy's family to gather attention and sole purpose to gain celebrity. I admit that these are two completely different subjects but the latter expresses the problem more than the former because the parents knew that the story they created would give them the exact attention that they were seeking.
There have been some worthy and important news stories that needed to be told but there have been many others that creates and multiplies this hysteria. Let's admit that we are a nation on eggshells. Each breaking news story shock and galvanize more that ones reported before. There is the search for why this has happened and what will happen next. The blame game is next asked and the question of whether we should be more afraid for today and tomorrow than we were yesterday. I will just say that danger is everywhere, for we do not know everything that is going on with everyone. True fear is the unknown and just as how much we know or don't know the motive of the most recent tragedy, let's not rush to judgement and create more unnecessary fear.
An Outraged Note:
I would just ask that the cable news networks and the news media in general to check their sources before making their breaking news reports and their exclusives. I know that I speak for many that say don't get the story quickly, just get the story right because there are consequences for getting it wrong. Breaking news is usually first page or first segment news, however retractions and corrections are placed elsewhere where many will never know.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
All In: An Open Letter to President Obama
Dear Mr. President:
I first confess that I know very little about poker, but what I do know is that the poker stare you have had is getting old and you need to go all in with your agenda to bring hope and recovery to our nation. Yesterday, you (your party) were given some bad hands and now the Just Say No party has a bit of momentum. The pundits will link you to the failures of those defeated in New Jersey and Virginia. There will be lots of approval surveys that will relayed by your aides. There will still be questions of what to do next in Afghanistan and fears that the unemployment will reach 10%. Your leaders in Congress fear that Health Care with a public option will not be passed this year. There will still be others that fear is rising again and that the spirit of hope that you brought is beginning to fade.
Today you wake up the same man that you were on yesterday, the President of the United States and short of some unwanted election results and a lot on your plate you still embody the hope of a nation. Health care is closer than it has ever been and there are signs that the worst is over for our economy. What I am asking from you now is the boldness to carry on, fight the Just Say No crowd and just remember that last year that you won, and you won big. I want to see some fight in you and not for you to be in the timid I want to please everyone crowd. The Just Say No (Republicans for those who are new to the blog) crew will not like your initiatives because they playing to the audience and have future aspirations and a few may want to unseat you as President in a few years.
I am reminded of a Latin proverb, "Fortes fortuna adiuvat" which you may be familiar with. The translation is "Fortune Favors the Bold." It is time that you remind those who cry "liar" in the Capital and all of the others who want to marginalize you and your Presidency to stand and declare that last November that we the people elected you as President and that your responsibility that you lead us with a commanding voice and vision.
Finally, don't confuse craziness and ignorance with outrage. Those tea parties and birthers are not outraged, they are just angry that you won and were not on your side to start with. The give disrespect to the very word of outrage just as they disrespect your Presidency. Keep in mind that your approval rating today mirrors your election results last year. You will not please everyone and there will be those against you just because. There are many who want to see you fail and I know that there are many multitudes that want and need you to succeed because for most of us you are not just the embodiment of hope you are possibly our last hope.
Thanks for what you have already done and thanks for what you are going to do.
Regards,
The Outraged Citizen
I first confess that I know very little about poker, but what I do know is that the poker stare you have had is getting old and you need to go all in with your agenda to bring hope and recovery to our nation. Yesterday, you (your party) were given some bad hands and now the Just Say No party has a bit of momentum. The pundits will link you to the failures of those defeated in New Jersey and Virginia. There will be lots of approval surveys that will relayed by your aides. There will still be questions of what to do next in Afghanistan and fears that the unemployment will reach 10%. Your leaders in Congress fear that Health Care with a public option will not be passed this year. There will still be others that fear is rising again and that the spirit of hope that you brought is beginning to fade.
Today you wake up the same man that you were on yesterday, the President of the United States and short of some unwanted election results and a lot on your plate you still embody the hope of a nation. Health care is closer than it has ever been and there are signs that the worst is over for our economy. What I am asking from you now is the boldness to carry on, fight the Just Say No crowd and just remember that last year that you won, and you won big. I want to see some fight in you and not for you to be in the timid I want to please everyone crowd. The Just Say No (Republicans for those who are new to the blog) crew will not like your initiatives because they playing to the audience and have future aspirations and a few may want to unseat you as President in a few years.
I am reminded of a Latin proverb, "Fortes fortuna adiuvat" which you may be familiar with. The translation is "Fortune Favors the Bold." It is time that you remind those who cry "liar" in the Capital and all of the others who want to marginalize you and your Presidency to stand and declare that last November that we the people elected you as President and that your responsibility that you lead us with a commanding voice and vision.
Finally, don't confuse craziness and ignorance with outrage. Those tea parties and birthers are not outraged, they are just angry that you won and were not on your side to start with. The give disrespect to the very word of outrage just as they disrespect your Presidency. Keep in mind that your approval rating today mirrors your election results last year. You will not please everyone and there will be those against you just because. There are many who want to see you fail and I know that there are many multitudes that want and need you to succeed because for most of us you are not just the embodiment of hope you are possibly our last hope.
Thanks for what you have already done and thanks for what you are going to do.
Regards,
The Outraged Citizen
Monday, November 2, 2009
When People Do Nothing
It has been a long time since my last post and it is time to stop talking about the ill things that are happening in Washington DC. It's time to look other things, things closer to home. The most recent news item of note on my outrage meter is the vicious gang rape, robbery, and beating of a 15 year old girl in Richmond, CA during a homecoming dance at Richmond High School. The story links here.
Richmond is less than 15 miles from my hometown of Oakland, CA and the tragic story has reached national headlines because of the fact that there were up to 10 alleged perpetuators and many more witnesses that stood there and did nothing. No one called 911, no one broke up this terrible attack that lasted over two hours, and in those moments no one appeared to care or at least didn't care enough to help this young girl who seemingly was targeted by predators.
Over a week later, the blame game is being played. While we can talk about the police/security or the lack of them or the fact that there were people outside of the dance were hanging out and not in parity in age to the high school attendees of the party. I blame the witnesses that stood and did nothing. I blame them for allowing this to continue.
This story, this crime is tragic in so many ways. It is another reminder of the escalating brutality of crime and also the fall of common decency and morality. I don't know this young woman but it hurts as if I did. I say this as a brother to my sister and as a son to my mother, and I would hope if it was my sister or mother, someone would have had the courage and common decency to have stopped it. I am not sure if we all are being isolated by computers and social networks, or video games, or that the beliefs between right and wrong have been buried so far that we have stopped caring.
I don't know what is happening to our young men either. I know that they have examples like Chris Brown to look at and see that there is little punishment for a man to put his hands on a woman. The fact that in this crime that these men and boys took and pictures and sent text messages makes this even worse. The nonchalant attitude was taken that what they were doing was okay with no sense of what they were doing was wrong, horribly wrong. The fact that this crowd was organized and grew in just a matter of minutes with no thought of the consequences of this young woman. Now she faces a lifetime of memories and pain that I cannot imagine or even try to put into words.
Then again, there has been a chain of tragedies and way too many to count and list here. Countless crimes, mostly murders have happened while onlookers haven't lifted a finger. Teens in Chicago are being killed and a high rate due to gang activity just walking to and from school. These things are happening in large cities and in small towns and I am not sure if the reporting is getting better or if the criminals and the crimes are getting worse. The news now is more sickening more than ever. Is this the new normal that all we care about is ourselves that we (most of us) are willing to stand and do nothing I am not asking for overwhelming bravery but an anonymous phone call to the police or something.
All of this brings me to a quote by Edmund Burke, a British philosopher, "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." Burke's words are over 200 years old but are still relevant and perhaps even more important today. What has happened to good people? What has happened to us? These horrific actions only happen when others (we) fail to stand. The shaking heads of disgust are no longer enough. The people, the good people, you and me must stand and do something.
I am looking forward to these predators day in court and hope that they all find themselves beneath prison walls. It also wouldn't hurt if they got a taste of their own medicine. It is only said that their punishment will not undo the pain that they have done.
Richmond is less than 15 miles from my hometown of Oakland, CA and the tragic story has reached national headlines because of the fact that there were up to 10 alleged perpetuators and many more witnesses that stood there and did nothing. No one called 911, no one broke up this terrible attack that lasted over two hours, and in those moments no one appeared to care or at least didn't care enough to help this young girl who seemingly was targeted by predators.
Over a week later, the blame game is being played. While we can talk about the police/security or the lack of them or the fact that there were people outside of the dance were hanging out and not in parity in age to the high school attendees of the party. I blame the witnesses that stood and did nothing. I blame them for allowing this to continue.
This story, this crime is tragic in so many ways. It is another reminder of the escalating brutality of crime and also the fall of common decency and morality. I don't know this young woman but it hurts as if I did. I say this as a brother to my sister and as a son to my mother, and I would hope if it was my sister or mother, someone would have had the courage and common decency to have stopped it. I am not sure if we all are being isolated by computers and social networks, or video games, or that the beliefs between right and wrong have been buried so far that we have stopped caring.
I don't know what is happening to our young men either. I know that they have examples like Chris Brown to look at and see that there is little punishment for a man to put his hands on a woman. The fact that in this crime that these men and boys took and pictures and sent text messages makes this even worse. The nonchalant attitude was taken that what they were doing was okay with no sense of what they were doing was wrong, horribly wrong. The fact that this crowd was organized and grew in just a matter of minutes with no thought of the consequences of this young woman. Now she faces a lifetime of memories and pain that I cannot imagine or even try to put into words.
Then again, there has been a chain of tragedies and way too many to count and list here. Countless crimes, mostly murders have happened while onlookers haven't lifted a finger. Teens in Chicago are being killed and a high rate due to gang activity just walking to and from school. These things are happening in large cities and in small towns and I am not sure if the reporting is getting better or if the criminals and the crimes are getting worse. The news now is more sickening more than ever. Is this the new normal that all we care about is ourselves that we (most of us) are willing to stand and do nothing I am not asking for overwhelming bravery but an anonymous phone call to the police or something.
All of this brings me to a quote by Edmund Burke, a British philosopher, "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." Burke's words are over 200 years old but are still relevant and perhaps even more important today. What has happened to good people? What has happened to us? These horrific actions only happen when others (we) fail to stand. The shaking heads of disgust are no longer enough. The people, the good people, you and me must stand and do something.
I am looking forward to these predators day in court and hope that they all find themselves beneath prison walls. It also wouldn't hurt if they got a taste of their own medicine. It is only said that their punishment will not undo the pain that they have done.
Friday, September 11, 2009
America's Pre-Existing Condition: Fear
I turned on my television this morning to CNN thinking that the unthinkable has happened again. Once more the life of a US President and its citizens was potentially in danger. A United States Coast Guard boat was on the Potomac River preventing a boat from entering a security zone near the Pentagon and that shots were fired, where President Obama was commemorating the events of 9/11. This was later proven to be more conjecture, simple overreaction, and another rush to bring "breaking news." Shots were NOT fired for those who were wondering.
Before this story my thoughts were to take the day off and maybe follow up on "Joe the Liar" but he, the entire debate on health care reform, the Obama Presidency, the war in Afghanistan, the economy, and the news media all have a common bond. During and since 9/11 we have allowed our fear to consume our nation and make decisions based on fear and reaction. Town hall outbursts, birthers, tea parties, and the all the naysayers of progress have used and are using these elements of fear to keep the status quo.
If no network journalist, radio personality, political commentator or analyst says what needs to be said, I will: the "fear card" has been used to try (and mostly succeed) to stop most of what is and has been proposed on the subject of the economy, health care, and just about everything else. This usually happens usually in this order. Ideas are usually misconstrued, taken out of context, and made into something else. Misinformation usually and eventually turns into fear and once people become afraid we act (and react) from that fear. For a long, long time either from television news to the previous administration and those in between from both parties, this fear was used to allow things like the Patriot Act to pass and be renewed, to allow torture, to go to war with the wrong country, to prejudge an entire group of people based on their religion for the actions of a few, and an excuse for the rest of us to dumb down in the name of being safe.
Last year, the fear of the economy, the financial crisis and the mortgage meltdown cause another quick reaction. Under duress we (you and I) bailed out the banks who still have not done all they could to help average Americans with the foreclosure market. A bank even had the nerve to foreclose on a house and insert one of its executives into it-and live in it! Really, here's the link to it.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/11/wells-fargo-exec-in-charg_n_283031.html
They are still those who say that Wall Street is still working out of insanity: doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.
This fear is eight years in the making and maybe this is why there was a Representative shouting out to the President during Congressional Addresses, or why town hall meetings are becoming hostile, or why there are suddenly Tea Parties for those concerned about government spending. Maybe it is our fear that is erupting coupled with the many false alarms that our national media delivers to us for the sake of "breaking news." Thanks a lot CNN for adding fuel to the fire!!!
Finally to so many of those whose lives were changed eight years ago and the rest of use who watched in horror, I ask that we remember and honor those who we lost but we no longer fear the past and more importantly fear our future.
Before this story my thoughts were to take the day off and maybe follow up on "Joe the Liar" but he, the entire debate on health care reform, the Obama Presidency, the war in Afghanistan, the economy, and the news media all have a common bond. During and since 9/11 we have allowed our fear to consume our nation and make decisions based on fear and reaction. Town hall outbursts, birthers, tea parties, and the all the naysayers of progress have used and are using these elements of fear to keep the status quo.
If no network journalist, radio personality, political commentator or analyst says what needs to be said, I will: the "fear card" has been used to try (and mostly succeed) to stop most of what is and has been proposed on the subject of the economy, health care, and just about everything else. This usually happens usually in this order. Ideas are usually misconstrued, taken out of context, and made into something else. Misinformation usually and eventually turns into fear and once people become afraid we act (and react) from that fear. For a long, long time either from television news to the previous administration and those in between from both parties, this fear was used to allow things like the Patriot Act to pass and be renewed, to allow torture, to go to war with the wrong country, to prejudge an entire group of people based on their religion for the actions of a few, and an excuse for the rest of us to dumb down in the name of being safe.
Last year, the fear of the economy, the financial crisis and the mortgage meltdown cause another quick reaction. Under duress we (you and I) bailed out the banks who still have not done all they could to help average Americans with the foreclosure market. A bank even had the nerve to foreclose on a house and insert one of its executives into it-and live in it! Really, here's the link to it.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/11/wells-fargo-exec-in-charg_n_283031.html
They are still those who say that Wall Street is still working out of insanity: doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.
This fear is eight years in the making and maybe this is why there was a Representative shouting out to the President during Congressional Addresses, or why town hall meetings are becoming hostile, or why there are suddenly Tea Parties for those concerned about government spending. Maybe it is our fear that is erupting coupled with the many false alarms that our national media delivers to us for the sake of "breaking news." Thanks a lot CNN for adding fuel to the fire!!!
Finally to so many of those whose lives were changed eight years ago and the rest of use who watched in horror, I ask that we remember and honor those who we lost but we no longer fear the past and more importantly fear our future.
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