This Day Started Out Nice

There are several cultural phenomena taking shape in the US right now that will have profound effects on both our immediate and long term futures. I am writing this because I have spent literally the entire day in front of the computer, reading countless articles and stories, which, taken together, add up to just plain frightening.

The most immediate, I suppose, is the proposed $700 billion bail-out of Wall Street and mortgage bankers by Bush, Paulsen and the neo-cons. Every piece I have read today, which is supported and bolstered by thousands of readers' comments, decry this as a VERY BAD IDEA. When I hear the likes of Paul Krugman and Robert Reich say "DON'T!", I have to stop and listen. This action will plunge America into a debt load which will be virtually impossible to recover from for any foreseeable future. You have a voice. You should use it to tell your congressional representatives to put a stop to this financial suicide. If you don't believe me about the seriousness of this situation, let me know, and I'll give you a half-dozen web sites to peruse for your own satisfaction.

The second unpublicized issue is the matter of the US beginning bombing runs in Pakistan, WITHOUT TELLING ANYBODY. This is precisely the kind of black ops shenanigans that the Bush administration is using to cloud the issues in the current domestic political debate, start more wars, spend more money we don't have, and kill people around the globe. I know the neo-cons don't think a few more dead US soldiers matter much, but perhaps you think otherwise. If they get away with this unnoticed, Iran will go up in flames next, oil prices will skyrocket and most the world will be embroiled in serious conflicts. By the way, the Pakistanis are shooting back at us with the same IF-16 warplanes WE SOLD TO THEM. Think about it. If you can justify any of that, please tell me how you figured that one out. Beats me.

The third unfolding narrative is the unparalleled polarization of left vs. right, blue vs.red in the political make-up of our country. The crowds attending political rallies for McCain-Palin are charged with shouts that are angry and vitriolic. The McCain campaign ads against Barack are borderline criminal and packed with outright lies. Sarah Palin generates a hateful and disdainful mood by her nearly obscene, nearly racist remarks. On the other side, the crowds for Obama and Biden are equally strident and seem almost unfazed by the critical nature of the discourse. Either they are completely naive, or they do not comprehend the imminent physical danger posed by the right wing to Obama, or how serious the real danger is that voting machines will be rigged in at least two states, in order to throw the election. And before you say it to me, I know some of Obama's ads and claims are not 100% truthful, either. That is not helping the overall polarization. Figures lie and liars figure, and both sides are proving this old adage.

If Obama wins, the uphill battle to wrest the country from the throes of monetary disruption and world-wide war will be nearly insurmountable, and the current and likely future Congress will be helpless (in addition to being useless) to do anything about it. If Obama is assassinated (and there is plenty of right-wing talk about that) or if even an serious attempt is made on his life, the inner cities will explode with rage. Repairing the aftermath of Ike will seem like child's play, by comparision.

If Mcain wins, legally or otherwise, all of the aspects of American life which are fragile right now will become tatters and shambles within months. And if he dies ( you haven't thought of that?), do you REALLY want Sarah Palin as your commander in chief? Unless you have no TV and cannot read, you should know enough about her by now to know that she is a preposterous joke thrust upon the American people. And one thing she is not is a friend to women.

But the right loves her to death while the left laughs at her, both of which make her dangerous. More polarization.

As I said, this day started out nice (nicely?), but it sure has gone down hill, fast. Stop Bush. Stop Paulsen. Stop McCain. Call or write your congressman. Hope as best you can for Obama. Worry about the Pakistani farmers. If you pray, pray for peace and sanity. Either one will help bring on the other.

Life goes on in Texas