What Nation Is Yours?
john posted in politics & culture on October 17th, 2006
There are not very many simple issues in our political life. Even the standard polarizing hot-button issues, like abortion, aren’t simple, yet there are a few principles on which I used to think all Americans agreed. Today Bush signed the detention-rules bill, the bill where McCain and Company caved in to pressure and voted their politics instead of their head&heart. Or maybe they did vote their head&heart, only they know.
by Chan Lowe hosted at goComics
Sure everybody knows of American failings: a crass popular culture, constant meddling overseas, jingoism, racism, stubborn ignorance, conspicuous consumption, and so on. But these are failures to live up to our ideals. There is a movement today to just dump our ideals and cower in front of the TV. Is that what you want?
| Which Nation Do You Want to live In? | |
|---|---|
My Nation |
The Bush Nation |
| Torture is reserved for dictators | Torture is reserved for the CIA |
| American democracy strives to be government of the people | Maximum secrecy for those in power |
| Conflict of interest is a crime | Conflicts of interest is SOP |
| American elections are above reproach | Winner take all; fairness is for chumps |
| America doesn’t start wars | Invasion is a preemptive reaction |
| America doesn’t join wars without a clear consensus of the public | Created Iraq war under false pretenses and with no consensus |
| America stands for the Rule of Law | Law is flouted when it gets in the way |
| It is shameful to be caught lying or misrepresenting facts | Facts are a political and rhetorical creation, to be shouted down |
| Shame | No Shame |
| Science is defined by the scientists | Science is a political football |
| Religion never controls policy | Religious politics cynically trump policy |
| Decisions are made by reasoned discussion among experts | ” I am the decider” |
| Education, travel, study are always better than ignorance | Once you are in power, you know what’s best |
| “We have nothing to fear but fear itself” | Endless, undefined War on Terror |
| We never send the troops in without a plan and overwhelming force | We roll out the press secretary instead of more troops |
There is room in the conservative side of my America for Goldwater, Rockefeller, and Eisenhower Republicans, for nutty Libertarians, for ignorant hillbillies and arrogant Yalies, for flag-waving bikers, flag-waving immigrants, and main street Babbitts. There is room for tycoons and con men, salespeople and ministers, bankers and button-makers, big spenders and penny-pinchers.
I’ve got no room for bully-boy aristocrats, simpering courtiers, fear-mongers, smarmy usurpers, cynical cronies, useless hacks, and Snopes of all kinds. It’s time for honest men and women to shove them back under the slimy rock they crawled from.
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