I have to confess that I had reached the point where I was pretty well convinced there was such a pervasive state of apathy and the loss of any hope that things could, and would, get better that any discernable change was seen as exceedingly remote. Then, along came the “Occupy Wall Street” movement. To me, that was like a breath of fresh air in a smoke-filled room. I could almost hear the faint refrains of Joan Baez and Pete Seeger echoing across time.
They have revealed that the “best and brightest” are still among us and are very much engaged in the salient issues of the day. They have demonstrated the wisdom of peaceful protest and have thrown into sharp relief just what Mayor Bloomberg and his dutiful peace officers cum henchmen really are and where their allegiances lie. Who said those ostensibly in the service of the people would not turn on those they are sworn to protect? Money and power talk.
Against the backdrop of many years of treading the sod of this land, I have acquired a certain sense of caution regarding the various environs in this country and the people who inhabit them.
I have an inherent mistrust of centers of great wealth and power, regardless of where they reside.
I don’t trust the obscure and insidious power of Wall Street and Madison Avenue. To me, they are more interested in how the game is played, than they are in the eventual outcome. They are the masters of deception at “creating” the appetites for all they peddle to us rather than on what is right and just. I don’t trust the scions of the corporate news media who comfortably reside at “30 Rock” and other posh sites, raking in multi-million dollar salaries in order to sell us on the company line that serve their masters extremely well. Few among them have the integrity and the courage that underscore a commitment to be honest with us, the people. The Fourth Estate was sold to the highest bidders a long time ago. The trade they ply is just another form of big business serving the interests of big business. Seems rather incestuous, doesn’t it?
I don’t trust the massive political and economic power that resides in Washington, D.C. Those who, by definition, live in a constant and persistent state of selling themselves to the highest bidder cannot be trusted to serve the people they are sworn to serve. Ladies of the night come in many forms.
I don’t trust the Pentagon, the CIA and the myriad other agencies tangential to their relentless pursuits of power and empire, and the voracious appetites of those they feed at taxpayers expense. They are to be feared more than trusted.
I am suspect of the Ivy League. I don’t question the quality of the education they produce, but I am suspect of the sense of superiority, the sense of entitlement and the elitist mentality they inculcate into the minds of so many of those graduating from their hallowed halls of learning. As a general rule, they exert far too much influence on the national agenda for our common good.
I don’t trust the power and muscle of the Chicago Political Machine. Their influence extends much too far beyond the Windy City to always serve the best interests of the many.
I am suspect of the demagoguery of the fundamentalist mentality that pervades much of the Bible belt, and the invective they peddle in the name of religion. They seem to have lost sight of the fact that people are capable of coming to terms with the concept of God and what He is all about, without the slanted and biased view for which they claim to have exclusive rights. It is that mindset that breeds intolerance and prejudice. It serves no higher purpose.
I don’t trust the massive wealth, the glitz and the mesmerizing influence of the entertainment industry and celebrities claiming the City of Angels as their home. It is pathetic how figures of national prominence seek out the largesse from their fame and fortunes in order to further their own political ambitions. They lose sight of the fact that it is the Mecca of illusion and fairy tales that has little to do with reality, and only feeds the elitism that is inherent among them.
I make no bones about claiming a certain bias for those from the Midwest and the Far West. They seem to be more grounded and more focused on the bigger issues that have a profound impact on our individual and collective lives. Perhaps it is the humbling effect of the plains that extend far beyond the horizon, or perhaps it is the majestic mountains that remind them of how finite we really are in the grand scheme of things, or the sparse population that dominates the landscape. Perhaps it is those people they see and hear more clearly just because of their limited numbers. Could it be the values they claim and the virtues they practice is what helps to keep their minds focused and their hands on the pulse of those who elect them to office? Or is it because they simply know and understand them better?
It is within that crucible of humanity where I believe the best among us live. They are the stuff of Dwight D. Eisenhower and Harry Truman who knew the value of truth and simplicity, and never waivered in their commitment to those tenets. They knew what real leadership was all about and had the courage to use it wisely. Moreover, they could be trusted. Few of those coming in their wake can lay claim to that legacy.
I have not been the least bit subtle about my feelings in regard to the fact that we have two political parties in name only. They are of the same ilk and feed on the fodder provided by those who own their souls. Few stand on their own two feet and refuse to serve the ends of those who seek to plunder our heritage and rewrite our history. They were bought a long time ago. But, reality suggests that time is not on the side for the creation of a new and viable political party. I accept that. But, there is always an alternative.
The current crop of Republicans, Libertarians, Tea Partiers and others on the fringe of a sense of national purpose are just what they appear to be – out of touch with modern day life. They are the most obstructionist and the least committed to the common good than any I can recall in my lifetime.
On the other hand, Barack Obama forfeited his legitimacy to claim to a national mandate a long time ago by what he has consistently done in office versus what he vowed to do before taking office. One only has to undertake a cursory study of what he has accomplished as a leader compared to what he has given away in the spirit of “bi-partisanship.” And, I might add, he has remained true to that course from the day he took the Oath of Office. Soon after he occupied the Oval Office, we saw a massive influx of Clinton’s henchmen into all of the key positions in the Obama Cabinet. It was “Clinton Light” that was to be the order of the day. They occupied and controlled every key position in Obama’s White House. We voted for a leader to guide us through the most perilous period in our history since the Great Depression. Instead, we got a lackey for big banks, big corporations and great wealth. He has proven himself, without a modicum of doubt, that he is not worthy to occupy the office of President beyond his current term.
I do not think it is impossible for a qualified and credible individual to challenge him for the Democratic nomination for President in 2012. Moreover, I would hope that someone has the courage and the means to undertake just such a challenge. We need someone in that office other than a “slicker” and a member of the club that is hell-bent on reducing us to a two-class society and a second-rate power in the community of nations. We need someone who reflects the honesty and integrity we have every right to expect. We need someone who looks and acts like the “real deal.” We need someone who realizes and accepts that leadership is a calling, not a popularity contest, and who has the intestinal fortitude to use the power of the office for the benefit and welfare of the nation, not a bunch of cronies whose voracious and unbridled greed knows no bounds. Most of us have had a belly full of that crap sufficient to last us a lifetime. We deserve “real change,” for a change.
I honestly believe we need to look for that leadership from among a few, mostly from the Midwest and the Far West, who have demonstrated many of the qualifications and strengths we sorely need. Any one of them has what it takes to do the job, and to do it well. They look and act like the principled public servants I perceive them to be.
1. Mark Udall, U.S. Senator from Colorado
2. Amy Klobuchar, U.S. Senator from Minnesota
3. Jon Tester, U.S. Senator from Montana.
4. Chuck Hagel, Former U.S. Senator from Nebraska (Rep)
5. Peter DeFazio, U.S. Congressman from Oregon
6. Jeff Merkley, U.S. Senator from Oregon
The one notable exception that cannot be called a “westerner” is Eliot Spitzer. Clearly, he distinguished himself as one of the brightest and best in the offices of Attorney General and Governor of New York. His professional career is sterling and his track record of accomplishments is outstanding. To be sure, he disappointed many of us in the conduct of his personal life. However, that was due to a human frailty, not a professional weakness. Unlike Bill Clinton, he did not bring disgrace to the public offices he held. He did not engage in a series of lies and deceptive behavior in an effort to sidestep responsibility for his actions. He has been forthcoming in admitting his indiscretion, but he has also made it clear that it is a personal matter between him and his wife, which they are working through together. Beyond that, he refuses to discuss the matter which I find rather refreshing. It reintroduces us to the concept of privacy as a virtue. If anyone has all that it takes to lead us out of the morass we find ourselves in, it is Eliot Spitzer.
The “Occupy Wall Street” movement has laid the groundwork. Dylan Ratigan of MSNBC has started a movement to amend the Constitution in order to take money out of politics. Now it is time to ask the Democratic Party to unabashedly step up to the plate, give us the inspiration and the leadership we need in order to make it happen and to keep the momentum in our court………. for all of us now and into the future.
Cowboy Bob
The Sagebrush Philosopher
October 9, 2011
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