On Steps Taken Back pt. 1

I've been less engaged with the world than usual for most of the month of February. My entire life is changing and I have been trying to embrace that change. I've continued to follow the news without writing about the world, sort of absorbing the impact of our nation's directionless lawlessness and dissolving national character without the release that, even if unread, a forum like this allows. I think that I have gained a better understanding of a few things in taking a step back.

I don't think people are as disengaged from the news of the day as they seem, and to the degree that they are I understand better why. It really is too much. It's too much to live your life and follow all of the criminal details of this administration and the republican machine. Bush and congress' disapproval numbers have been consistently high for months. So what is obvious is that despite not having the details people have a strong sense that this presidency is failing us across the board. I no longer can pretend to know what the president's motives are, I can't even guess; greed seems too mundane, power too trite. If I were a conspiracy theorist I would imagine that he is trying to weaken our nation beyond repair. After all, a weakened government is ripe for the sort of corporate power grabs that his ilk favors. Whatever the motives behind the administration's choices the effects are obvious: we are being weakened beyond repair while being made less safe. Is there one single person outside the administration who is willing to accept Bush's assurances that it's perfectly safe to put a company from the United Arab Emirates in charge of port security for several us cities including NYC? Do you see what I mean? They make so many decisions and promote so many policies that are so what the fuck that you forget the last huge what the fuck screw-up; you forget the spying, the lies to go to war and their ever thinning veneer, the torture, the drowning of a once great city. You forget the on-going investigations because the administration stonewalls and the republican led congress lets them.

The problem is that we know we're being screwed but we the people are not engaged enough. We have been too comfortable for too long and are no longer accustomed to the idea of revolution. And since the congress and media no longer are willing to hold bush accountable we don't seem to be fully aware of the need for the collective 'no' that signals the line in the sand that says we are prepared to fight back.

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the bastards' last stand

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