I Fear For My Country
A Commentary by J. D. Longstreet
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"Apolitical" is un-American. I want to make that as clear as I can.
OK. So that is only MY opinion.
Historians,
who are supposed to know such things, tell us that when the original
Tea Party helped kick-off the revolution against Great Britain that
eventually freed America, the colonist were split then, too. In fact,
they tell us that approximately one-third of the American colonist
wanted to remain loyal, subjects of Great Britain, one-third wanted to
revolt and setup shop as a free nation, and one-third didn't give a rip
-- one way or the other.
An objective observer, considering
America, some two hundred and thirty some-odd-years since, would have
little trouble discerning that little has changed. We STILL have that
hard core of people who just don't care about the politics of the nation
and just, well, sort of go along for the ride as parasites of the
system. They contribute nothing to the political life of the country,
unquestioningly accept whatever the government decrees, and steadfastly
refuse to engage in what amounts to the lifeblood of the Republic of
America -- her political system.
When you look at the
percentage numbers of who voted after each election -- the "apolitical"
make up the bulk of those who did not vote.
In my opinion --
those Americans are leeches on freedom. They affix themselves to
freedom and suck it dry -- but never, ever, put anything back. The only
effort they ever make is to pucker up and suck everything they can get
from America.
That's a bad thing -- right? Yes -- and -- no.
Yes,
it is bad when citizens do not participate in the system. But -- it
can be even worse when they participate without knowing what the hell
they are doing!
A good example is when a a party flack works up
a crowd on a college campus and herds them to register and vote for a
candidate they know nothing about beyond what they have just been told
by the party operative. Or a religious organization that insist that
the congregants vote for a candidate -- based on the color of his skin
-- and bus them to register and vote.
One can surmise they know
next to squat about the candidate for whom they are casting their
ballot. Their action cheapens the most precious privilege a citizen of
the US has. And make no mistake -- voting is a privilege -- not a
right.
These are the people often referred to as "sheeple."
They allow themselves to be herded, like sheep, to do the shepherd's
bidding. They are a danger to America's freedom. They are malleable,
pliant, having no opinion other than the one given them by the
politician or political party taking advantage of them. They don't even
know they are slavish stooges to the political party bosses. The few
that DO know -- don't care.
Look. America is a constitutional
republic. EVERYTHING WE DO IS POLITICAL IN THIS COUNTRY. America was
designed for citizen participation. It will not, cannot, work properly
when a host of its citizens refuse to carry their share of the political
burden.
Every American has a responsibility, a duty to his
fellow citizens to stay informed, to be involved, to share the load of
governing.
America is in extremely serious trouble today because American citizens let the country down. That's the bottom line.
The
old adage having to do with those who pull the wagon and those who do
nothing but ride in the wagon is apropos. But understand this: The
Americans who have done all the pulling for two and a half centuries are
tired and they are ready to abandon that cushy transportation and build
a new wagon designed to carry only those truly unable to pull.
Many,
including this scribe, wonder today if we, as a free society, have
borne the weight, too long, of those unwilling to contribute to the cost
of freedom.
In early America only those who owned land were
allowed the privilege of voting. Why? Because they had a vested
interest in the well-being of the country. I have thought often,
especially since the election in 2008, if America ought to restrict the
voting privilege today to only those Americans who pay taxes. For it is
they who have "skin" in the game, who have a vested interest in the
welfare of America. They work. They pay taxes to help finance the
country's day to day operating costs. (By "taxes" I mean income taxes
-- not "sales taxes" and such.) The last report I am aware of made
clear that 49 percent of Americans DO NOT PAY TAXES. Half of Americans
are carrying the other half. That is WRONG!
We need to
reintroduce the teaching of "Civics" or "government" in our schools so
our kids are taught how the government works, or at least how it is
supposed to work -- and, indeed, was designed to work.
The US
Constitution ought to be taught in our public/private schools. Today we
have a citizenry, for the most part, ignorant of the very foundation
upon which the world's most vibrant country rests.
As of this
writing, America is standing on the edge of a cliff. To be honest with
you, dear reader, I have very little confidence that we are going to
pull back.
When one considers the godawful mess the country is
in, when one considers how we got here -- and under whose guidance we
got here, and the frightening fact that Americans seem ready to repeat
the earth-shattering mistake made at the polls in 2008, one can
understand my lack of confidence that the electorate will do the right
thing for their country.
It is as clear as the hand-writing on
the wall at Belshazzar's feast -- if we do not correct the mistake we
made on election day in 2008, America WILL collapse. Like Daniel, who
had the unpleasant duty of explaining that fact to Belshazzar, I take
no joy in issuing the warning. Simply put: "It is what it is." There
is nothing complex about it. Go over the cliff -- and, as a nation, we
die. Apply the brakes, turn around, retrace our tracks, repairing our
former mistakes as we go, and we live as a nation. There is no third
option! No "half-way" measures will save us. It is all -- or doom.
Above, I mentioned that I fear for my country.
Look.
America is in FAR WORSE SHAPE than the government will affirm. The
7.8 % unemployment, in reality, is closer to 15%. We are broke. We
have no (zero) money. How much longer do you expect your "government
check" to continue to show up in your mailbox or your bank account? The
presidential administration in power today, if reelected, will only
hasten the day your check does not arrive and will never arrive again.
To
get a more detailed explanation as to just how bad the situation really
is -- currently -- in America, please read "Obama, America’s first
hopeless candidate" by Donald Lambro at the Washington Times. You will
find it here:
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/oct/16/obama-americas-first-hopeless-candidate/?page=2http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/oct/16/obama-americas-first-hopeless-candidate/?page=2
We have a clear choice between America and Obama on November 6th. A vote for Obama is a vote against the survival of America.
America has reached the "tipping point." We get one shot, one chance, to make it right.
Understand
-- we are trying to salvage the future of our great-grand children.
The damage Obama has done has already robbed our children and
grandchildren of their futures. It will require generations to repair
the damage.
This is NOT a "normal" election. The question
November 6th is whether America lives or dies. It is just that
profound. Yours is a life or death ballot. Cast it wisely. As I said
above -- we have once chance to get it right.
J. D. Longstreet
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