Both of Us .org

Readers may have noticed the general lack of controversial postings here lately. Instead we mainly have been writing about day to day events in our lives. I once saw the blog as a place to air some thoughts about politics and policies of our government. I grew tired of my inaction regarding my thoughts and gave up writing about them.

Not much has changed in my mind. I continue to believe our country is governed by self-serving politicians. Strong armed American policies are the actions of a world dominating empire. What has slowly changed, is my belief that I can any effect on this situation. Yes, at one point I was a blind idealist. I feel futility in that I do not think that even the thoughts or beliefs of the majority of Americans can have any changing effects on the American government or its policies.

Take the Iraq war: over 2/3 of Americans agree that the USA should define policy to get our troops out of Iraq. The populous has polled this way for over two years and what happened? 30,000 more Americans were sent in the last nine months and over those two years nearly 2000 American soldiers have died.

Of course the USA is not a true democracy, but a Republic. We vote for people to represent our will. These people will not always act in harmony with majority rule, but instead govern using their own faculties. So one would not expect all of the majority opinions to always be acted upon.

In the era of the civil rights movement, a majority of Americans were clearly on the side of status quo. With the judicial branch of government, our legislators made bold policy changes to enable civil rights laws. I selfishly hope that our governing bodies will change laws permitting gays and lesbians to enter lawful and recognized partnerships. At this time the will of the majority may be against such "gay marriages."

Playing devils advocate, I wonder if we are seeing governing against majority opinion towards results that will be beneficial in the long run. Perhaps the war waged in Iraq years in the future will be viewed as a major turn towards moderation in the Arab region. Perhaps the role the USA plays now will stabilize the region, bring peace to Israel and Palestine, will maintain the free flow of oil and resources and will make the world think again of the USA as a grand beneficent force.

I doubt it.

I am not optimistic regarding those possibilities. My opinions are based on real time observation and reflection of past actions and events. Looking back on the Bush governance of America instills no confidence in what they propose for the future. (See also Hurricane Katrina, missing weapons of mass destruction, Alberto Gonzalez, etc.) There are currently no major changes in the direction of "rehabilitation" of the Iraqi nation. This war continues to be a slow bleed going on nearly six years. Time and time again we have been told that the next 6-9 months will be decisive. When that time elapses, we are told to be patient and allow the new policies to take effect. Rinse... lather... repeat.

Sadly we take few options create change. The opposition party is scarcely different, willing to funnel more life and prosperity into this war for fear of being labeled unpatriotic. The media, controlled by major corporate interests, fully enables the war continuing without giving account of the full measure of pain and suffering we inflict daily on families here and half a world away.

Headline News Distraction:
Did you see how fat Britney Spears looked at her last performance?

Americans overwhelmingly desire a break from failed foreign policies, yet are often met with the turned backs of politicians and pundits who live in a bubble of wonk and self-aggrandizement.

That to me, is a strong dose of futility.

Labels: politics

This week in Minneapolis has been one of change. The weather is turning away from summer towards fall and eventually winter. Only last week it was 90 degrees and this morning there was frost on the ground. I still marvel at the flux of the weather in the upper midwest, even after living here most of my life.

The frost warning came last night on the weather channel and I was not prepared to give up on the garden we have tended so well this season. In attempt to protect the plants I covered them with sheets and plastic last night. This morning I went out to see the garden and everything appears to be unharmed. I believe it was a very light frost, as the neighbor's garden was left uncovered and was not apparently harmed.

The weather and temperatures are already in rebound so there might easily be another few weeks of growing and harvesting. The forecast for next week shows some temperatures in the 80s even, so maybe summer has not breathed its last breath. Change is in the air certainly, and I am thankful to have enjoyed a very pleasant summer here in Minneapolis.

Labels: garden