Will the REAL America please STAND UP?!
By w1z111
@w1z111 (985)
United States
April 10, 2007 8:07am CST
Something's happened to America in the past 5 years...as I think we all know.
Before 9/11/01, things were pretty easy going and laid-back...apparently a bit too much so, as that seems to be part of how we allowed 9/11 to happen in the first place. But be that as it may, it happened, and America can never be the same because of it...but I'm not sure I'm altogether "comfortable" with all that seems to be coming about.
America is considered a "Republic" style of Government...which means "led by representatives of the voters...for set period(s) of time". Somehow, something seems amiss in some of our representation, I think. Somehow, those who have been "elected by the voters" are not necessarily doing the things those voters really want them to do...rather, it seems they're catering to a 'select few' who just happen to have lots of money for campaign support, etc...especially large corporations with armies of lobbyists "living with" our representatives in Washington, D.C. Doesn't sound right, to me!Anyway...I didn't meant to 'digress'; back to the REAL America, and why we must STAND UP now.
--We've seen our Government create the Homeland Security Department, and each State has its own arm of that. In and of itself, this is not necessarily a "bad thing", as long as power and freedoms remain with the people.
--We've seen our Government take steps on the population that we once would have considered subversive and invasive, if not communistic; ----Listening in on telephone calls,
----Growing number & frequency of security check points,
----growing police presence,
----zero-tolerance mentality,
----gun control
----church & state issues
----Other?
What do YOU think?
1 person likes this
2 responses
@Destiny007 (5805)
• United States
10 Apr 07
Some of this has been going on for a very long time, and not just within the last 5 years.
This is the result of many years of little bits of our freedoms being eroded.
We didn't notice at first, and no one was really paying attention.
Then they started taking bigger chunks, and suddenly we wake up and realize we aren't nearly as free as we once were.
Soon you can expect to be asked for your "papers" on a fairly regular basis.
Welcome to the beginnings of the New America.
@w1z111 (985)
• United States
10 Apr 07
Yes...you're right, of course. This isn't anything "new", but I do think 9/11 somehow helped pave the way to 'accelerate' that process, don't you?
What can we do to reverse it? I don't like the idea of carrying papers around; I already carry enough stuff now!
Thanks for the post.
@jbrooks0127 (2324)
• United States
10 Apr 07
You are right on. One thing I feel that most people do not understand is that we have as much to fear from homeland security as we do any enemy. This country has been placed in a position it never has faced before. For the first time we were attached on our own shores. Something had to be done. We could no longer sit back and hope that the terrorism going on through out the world would somehow stay away.
But I feel the response our government has had to that attach is misdirected.
We have attacked, and occupied, another country not directly threatening us. We have installed measures to keep the threat off our shores but have limited our own freedoms in doing so. The terrorist have accomplished their goal. We now fear everything. And the cost of protecting us is staggering. The most powerful nation in the world held hostage by only a select few. And our government has not been able to adapt to this kind of war. We still try to fight it the old tried and true way. Face to face. Blasting away with our military in hopes we will hit something that will cause the enemy to surrender. We are not fighting another country toe to toe now. What we fight is a shadow and we have yet to adapt to that.
You are right about Washington D.C. When it costs so much to be elected in any country the politicians must become beholden to the people or companies that pay there way into office. Look at all the people that want to run for President next time. Can you name them all? More than likely just a few because they have been able to get noticed. And that isn’t cheep.
We are a free nation surrounded by our own fear and misdirection. When a free country is so undecided about who they want to lead them that it takes the supreme court to make the decision for them something is very wrong. Very wrong.
And as much as we point fingers at our representatives we are four times more at fault. We are represented by people we elect. And how many times have you passed up voting or when you did only recognized but a few people on the ballot. In this country we the people are always at fault.
