jujuman13
DP Veteran
- Joined
- Jun 1, 2006
- Messages
- 4,075
- Reaction score
- 579
- Gender
- Male
- Political Leaning
- Independent
I have dutifully participated in the democratic process ever since I reached voting age. I have seen many administrations come and go over my life time. I always believed that democracy was alive and well whatever the short comings of any given administration. That appears to have been an illusion.
A system of Checks and Balances is supposed to exist in our governmental structure which prevents the executive branch (The Presidency) from any abuse of power. When the present administration succeeded in forcing the Iraq war upon the american people using lies to do so and the congress and senate rubber stamped it afraid of being considered disloyal by an electorate as ignorant of the truth as they, I knew we were in deep trouble. One would have thought that the strictest standards of proof and evidence would have been required by these two bodies before allowing what should have been the very last resort.If unable to make a determination they should have allowed the inspectors to complete their inspection before taking a decision and allowing such a drastic move. Had they done so this catastrophe could have been avoided and some 2500 + american youth would still be alive today.
When the lies were revealed congress said publicly by way of excuse for their failure,"If we knew then what we know now, we would not have voted for the war." My response is "It is your job to "Know" beyond a reasonable doubt before voting for war."
It was then that I realized that we have no government per se. We have no checks and balances. What we have is an inept congress of whores. Nothing concerns these politicans more than their own individual political survival. Even what is in the best interest of the nation takes second place to that.
The legislation which this administration has been able to pass, much of which constitutes an abuse of power is testimony to the fact that what we have is a rubber stamp congress. It is a well known fact that when they vote on legislation they "Never" actually read the legislation, it usually consists of hundreds if not thousands of pages and is chock full of ambiguity, with a large helping of additional side bills being sneaked through under cover of any major bill being considered based upon a "Summary" of it's contents. Voting is for the most part along partisan party lines and not to go along with the side requires a strength of character and integrity which is nonexistent in our politicians. So the way it presently works is, the present administration sends whatever it wants for a vote and after considerable mock debate whatever it gets passed no matter it's threat to the preservation of our democratic institutions and the rights and security of the american people.
That an administration should be allowed to do what this one has done in Iraq and in the way it was done with no call for impeachment is proof positive that no checks and balances exist and that the american people cannot look to their elected representatives to act as insurance against an abuse of power and reckless and destructive administration policy. More to the point it attests to the unspoken rule among politicians that no matter what the crime you do not even mention let alone pursue this tool given to the people by our forefathers to remove bad and inept leadership.
Richard Nixon another illustrious and corrupt Republican one of so many,escaped impending Impeachment by resigning after Watergate. The crimes of which he was guilty of authorizing. This administration have provided themselves with laws which permit them to do what he couldn't and to get away with far more.General survaillance of every american's phone records, bank accounts, the Patriot Act etc being just a few examples.
Congressional and Senatorial debates are televised on an obsure channel and I have watched them until it became obvious that it was a complete waste of time. 100% of the time one sees representatives giving impassioned speeches concerning pending legislation before a virtually empty chamber.
When the american people re-elected Bush I knew this was the kiss of death for democracy and the nation. Having lost all faith in our system and my fellow americans and recognizing the futility of swimming against the tide, I have withdrawn totally from the political process permanently and for the first time in my entire life, I do not feel safe openly expressing my views as I am doing here. If anyone had told me America could come to this I would have said they were mad.
As for Mexican immigration, the simple truth is that these immigrants are the hardest working people in america.They are invaluable to society as they take jobs which few americans would care to do and at rediculously low wages.They are often taken gross advantage of by those who illegally hire them. They take the most meanial jobs which are looked down upon and many americans are far too proud to do.
America has illegal immigrants of every nationality imaginable and always has had. The only reason that Mexican immigration has been made an issue by the Bush administration is to deflect and distract the attention of the american people away from their collosal failures, corruption and catastrophic actions. What better way of doing that then to throw an inherently racist society an ethic minority to attack? True to form, americans formed vigilantee groups and shot down to the mexican border, guns in hand to go after them.
Meanwhile leaving the greatest threat to the future of this country and it's democracy sitting in the White House with dreams and plans of international imperialism foremost on the agenda. A Corporate Administration bought and paid for by the likes of Halliburton.
When it was clear that another 9/11 was a matter of not "If" but "When", the public raised the question "How can we protect ourselves against what could possibly be a Biological or even Nuclear attack"?
The administration's considered response was
"Plastic and Duct Tape". Whereupon across the country the american public rushed out and emptied the store shelves.
I think that says all that needs to be said about our awareness of the reality which we face. Trivial issues? The most effective "Red Cape" a sword bearing,lying and corrupt administration could possibly have.
A system of Checks and Balances is supposed to exist in our governmental structure which prevents the executive branch (The Presidency) from any abuse of power. When the present administration succeeded in forcing the Iraq war upon the american people using lies to do so and the congress and senate rubber stamped it afraid of being considered disloyal by an electorate as ignorant of the truth as they, I knew we were in deep trouble. One would have thought that the strictest standards of proof and evidence would have been required by these two bodies before allowing what should have been the very last resort.If unable to make a determination they should have allowed the inspectors to complete their inspection before taking a decision and allowing such a drastic move. Had they done so this catastrophe could have been avoided and some 2500 + american youth would still be alive today.
When the lies were revealed congress said publicly by way of excuse for their failure,"If we knew then what we know now, we would not have voted for the war." My response is "It is your job to "Know" beyond a reasonable doubt before voting for war."
It was then that I realized that we have no government per se. We have no checks and balances. What we have is an inept congress of whores. Nothing concerns these politicans more than their own individual political survival. Even what is in the best interest of the nation takes second place to that.
The legislation which this administration has been able to pass, much of which constitutes an abuse of power is testimony to the fact that what we have is a rubber stamp congress. It is a well known fact that when they vote on legislation they "Never" actually read the legislation, it usually consists of hundreds if not thousands of pages and is chock full of ambiguity, with a large helping of additional side bills being sneaked through under cover of any major bill being considered based upon a "Summary" of it's contents. Voting is for the most part along partisan party lines and not to go along with the side requires a strength of character and integrity which is nonexistent in our politicians. So the way it presently works is, the present administration sends whatever it wants for a vote and after considerable mock debate whatever it gets passed no matter it's threat to the preservation of our democratic institutions and the rights and security of the american people.
That an administration should be allowed to do what this one has done in Iraq and in the way it was done with no call for impeachment is proof positive that no checks and balances exist and that the american people cannot look to their elected representatives to act as insurance against an abuse of power and reckless and destructive administration policy. More to the point it attests to the unspoken rule among politicians that no matter what the crime you do not even mention let alone pursue this tool given to the people by our forefathers to remove bad and inept leadership.
Richard Nixon another illustrious and corrupt Republican one of so many,escaped impending Impeachment by resigning after Watergate. The crimes of which he was guilty of authorizing. This administration have provided themselves with laws which permit them to do what he couldn't and to get away with far more.General survaillance of every american's phone records, bank accounts, the Patriot Act etc being just a few examples.
Congressional and Senatorial debates are televised on an obsure channel and I have watched them until it became obvious that it was a complete waste of time. 100% of the time one sees representatives giving impassioned speeches concerning pending legislation before a virtually empty chamber.
When the american people re-elected Bush I knew this was the kiss of death for democracy and the nation. Having lost all faith in our system and my fellow americans and recognizing the futility of swimming against the tide, I have withdrawn totally from the political process permanently and for the first time in my entire life, I do not feel safe openly expressing my views as I am doing here. If anyone had told me America could come to this I would have said they were mad.
As for Mexican immigration, the simple truth is that these immigrants are the hardest working people in america.They are invaluable to society as they take jobs which few americans would care to do and at rediculously low wages.They are often taken gross advantage of by those who illegally hire them. They take the most meanial jobs which are looked down upon and many americans are far too proud to do.
America has illegal immigrants of every nationality imaginable and always has had. The only reason that Mexican immigration has been made an issue by the Bush administration is to deflect and distract the attention of the american people away from their collosal failures, corruption and catastrophic actions. What better way of doing that then to throw an inherently racist society an ethic minority to attack? True to form, americans formed vigilantee groups and shot down to the mexican border, guns in hand to go after them.
Meanwhile leaving the greatest threat to the future of this country and it's democracy sitting in the White House with dreams and plans of international imperialism foremost on the agenda. A Corporate Administration bought and paid for by the likes of Halliburton.
When it was clear that another 9/11 was a matter of not "If" but "When", the public raised the question "How can we protect ourselves against what could possibly be a Biological or even Nuclear attack"?
The administration's considered response was
"Plastic and Duct Tape". Whereupon across the country the american public rushed out and emptied the store shelves.
I think that says all that needs to be said about our awareness of the reality which we face. Trivial issues? The most effective "Red Cape" a sword bearing,lying and corrupt administration could possibly have.