Alan's Editorial

--Alan 00:30, 4 Feb 2005 (EST)

Doesn't it seem to all of you that some very strange things are happening this decade? America is often divided and those not in power have protested often... but there's something unusual here. Before the war in Iraq, at Bush's 2001 inaguration, more people protested than anytime since Nixon, and we were at war then [1]. Now, in 2005 many people protested and were met with significant and unwarrented resistance [2] [3].

This is pretty much what I'm talking about. America dividing. Some portion of people think everything is going ok. Some portion of us think we live in a psuedo-police state and have lost most of what America is supposed to stand for. I suppose most people are in-between those points of view (and a few are further, on each end).

What is interesting to me is that the rift is widening. I wish it was widening faster. Most people still haven't chosen a side, which I would usually be pleased with. But I believe something major needs to be done, and we are powerless without enough people to force a change.

There is blatant documentation of all manner of corruption and dishonesty in and by our government. This dishonesty is evident on almost every possible topic, from the re-election of Bush (with much documented suspect election-day scandal [4] [5]) to the Iraq war, to our Social Security and health programs. Even many Bush supporters agree that there has been many dishonesties and failed promises. There is a ton of information... so what?

What can we do?

Communication is difficult because people are so entrenched in their schools of thought (on all sides). Even so, discussing our country, and trying to find truth is key to actual progress. There is a lot of information that isn't being fed to people by commercial media, much of it valid and truthful. It's important to find it, share it, and question... My first question is why is none of it reported on any commercial media?

<quote>In 1972, two reporters, Woodward and Bernstein of the Washington Post, began hearing testimony and seeing evidence that brought about their investigation into the Watergate Burglary. "Conspiracy" said all the many Republicans of the time. "Absurdly stupid and silly news story," said all the other newspaper editors in the country. But their editor, Ben Bradlee, let them run with it. And the result was the 1974 resignation of Richard Nixon.</quote> [6]

So, please: find/get valid data, discuss our country and government and options as much as possible (it is our country), and share ideas on how we can improve things...

I absolutly feel embarassed to be an "American" as represented by the Bush headed fiasco of a government. I'd love to be able to salvage America as something to be proud of.