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And now for something completely serious

I have no illusions about this blog. As far as I know, no one reads it except for a few people who wander in and out. And that's fine. It's become my dumping gorund for stoned essays, meandering thoughts, and spelling mistakes. It's never been serious. And it probably never will be.

But as it is my dumping ground, I have no qualms about posting this. Maybe no one will ever read it; fine. Maybe someone will and they'll tell their friend, who will read it and tell someone else, and it will snowball; fine. Maybe somone will read it and make fun of me; that's fine too. But I have to at least try.

After five years under an Administration I didn't vote for (either time) and two years at war with a country I don't think we should be fighting, I have lost my patience for my country and my respect for myself and my peers. On the homepage of the Washington Post's online edition, there is a headline which reads "Rice Thanks U.S. Troops In Surprise Visit to Iraq." Under that headline is a small article blurb:

"Trip comes amid suicide bombings, assassinations and the discovery of bodies of Iraqis apparently slain execution-style in as many as three locations."

This is a war that is supposed to be over. This is a war that is, at least, supposed to be under control. But it's not. It's obviously not. People are blowing up cars, themselves, whatever and whoever they can get their hands on in order to fight what they see as an evil occupying regime. They are killing anyone and everyone they can --- if they have power or not --- just to make a point. Now they're killing their own soldiers. And while our troops and our people are not Iraqis, and while we've "transferred sovereignty" (whatever that means) a year ago, the truth is that we started this war, and we have a responsibility to finish it.

And what about here? Our job market is plummeting, the country is deeply in debt, Republicans are trying to privitize social security (to the infinite disadvantage of the American people), we haven't made any great strides in dealing with internal security, the religious right is completely out of control, censorship is shooting through the roof, our standards of education (not to mention the funding) are falling rapidly, we're losing our jobs and our economic market to Russians, Chinese and Indians, and according to the man behind the desk the state of the union is good.

We are being lied to, and we're not doing anything about it.

I don't know what the answer is. I don't know if a protest would do it, if a letter-writing campaign would do it, if an assassination would do it. I don't know if T-Shirts or newspaper articles or advertising is the best approach. I don't know where to start, or where to end. But I do know that no one is being held accountable for this. Five years ago, America was literally on top of the world. We had billions of dollars in extra money, we have a booming job market and economy, and we still had European allies. And I know economists say that the downturn in the markets is natural and unavoidable, and I know Osama was planning the plane attacks during the Clinton years, and I know that with economic recession comes unemployment, but no one, no one, can convince me this was all handled properly. We are a failing country. A FAILING COUNTRY. We're also one of the only countries where the people, We the people, are supposed to be able to effect some change. The government is supposed to carry out what WE want to do, or suffer the consequences. Isn't it about time that there are consequences?

I'm open to anything. I want to know where to start, how to do it. But most of all, I want accountability; I demand accountability. I hope you do, too.

posted by Sara @ 4:22 PM