The "Patriot" Act, Military Commissions Act, TSA, "Homeland" Security (Homeland was used by Hitler), wiretaps without a court order, Gitmo, Abu Graib, Torture that is not torture, a refusal to prosecute war criminals, and now an indefinite detention bill about to go to the President drafted by my very own Senator Carl Levin.
War is an opportunity to attack freedom. What bothers me the most is the apologists who say we couldn't have known what we know now! NO! There was plenty of evidence, It was reported concurrent to the bad decisions made, but those of us who protested and showed evidence that there was no justification for war were called traitors and fools.
Now I hear the war drums beating for Iran. Syria has butchered it's citizens but they get slapped with sanctions. Why? No oil! Iran however is a threat to go nuclear (did anyone notice they have oil?), so we need to stop them before they get one. What little have we learned? When will the authority given to our representatives come from the people again and not from corporations, opportunists, thieves and religious nuts? The system is rigged right now. Pepper spray and rubber bullets may delay the inevitable, but the gross inequity in the US, where 150 million people are in the low income category can only last so long. We are seeing the increased militarization against our own people.
I am an optimist. We can return to the spirit of the foundation of this nation (the US), but only if the majority of the people who still have the means to make an impact can take a leadership role, and help the masses find their voices will we see a return to what made us great.
How can we really learn from this war? I was not for this before but I think we need term limits for our leaders. Perhaps three terms maximum for the House of Representatives, and two terms for the Senate. That is twelve years and more than enough time to make an impact. We need campaign reform. Corporations are not people so please sign Bernie Sander's amendment bill to state that clearly. End Superpacs. End Lobbying. Candidates should have a reasonable cash ceiling for ads for media, but should get a dozen free debate dates on national television. Election day should be a paid holiday. Voter repression laws should be repressed. Cut our military spending by 70%. Return our tax laws to the saner pre-Bush tax reduction levels so that the rich pay a more fair amount. Regulate! Regulation is not a dirty word, it keeps our air clean, our food safe, our toys harmless, our cars safe to drive. Regulate the banks and wall street. Force the banks to lend money.
Whenever you start agreeing about cutting social programs, remind yourself what you could have bought with the $806 billion we wasted in a country that demanded we leave. We were not welcomed as liberators, we were occupiers. We need to remember compassion, start turning over the tables of the ruling class of elites who are happy to see us return to a world where children work in factories 16 hours a day for $10. Those who are less well off are not guilty of laziness, they are all of us. The holiday season is a time for peace on earth and good will toward all. What does this mean to you and how can you maintain this spirit year round and be vigilant to stop those we do not believe in good will toward all?