Permit me to apologize to all of those who have so
generously followed my blog over the past several years. However, I have had some personal issues with
which I had to deal that has required my attention. I hope I can get back into the swing of
things and share a few of my thoughts with those of you who loyally follow my
machinations on a variety of subjects.
I well remember the years leading up to WWII and the ensuing
years that followed, during a time when we showed the world what we were, as a
people, during our finest hours. We were
a good and decent people, whose generosity and support for a large part of the
world was freely given and never in doubt.
We carried that over to the post-war years, and it was that energy and
devotion that took us to (and through) one of the greatest boom periods in the
history of the world. But, as we moved
into an ever more burgeoning economy and all that it brought with it, we seem
to have gradually lost the sense of patriotism and charity that was our
hallmark. Instead, we appear to have
moved into successive periods of greater attention to prosperity and
materialism that has had a profound, and not particularly good, effect on our
fabric as a people.
It was by the wisdom and generosity of the American people
that I was fortunate enough to serve in the United States Navy and,
subsequently, qualified for the G.I. Bill that gave me the opportunity to
attend one of the finest universities in the country and all of the attendant opportunities
that went with it. It is a gift I have
always treasured and one which I could never fully repay.
The virtues of equality, liberty and justice for all seem to
have eroded over time that has, in my opinion, tended to lead us to a lesser
sense of humility and a greater appearance of superiority that was never part
and parcel of who and what we were. I
find it rather disheartening to realize the countless numbers of those who gave
of their lives and treasure for those of us who followed, and who are but
fading memories and the ghosts of real heroes we once revered. The pursuit of pleasure seems to have trumped
our sense of purpose, and I find that rather disturbing.
We seem to have little regard for and less reverence for
character and substance than we do for fame, fortune and affluence. Public officials once looked upon as servants
of the people have, instead, become benefactors of public wealth, fame and
celebrity, which were never intended to be part of their service. Many have profited handsomely from their
management of their elected status and all that came with it.
I think we have become seduced by what we have attributed to
our “democratic” form of government and the attendant cost to our character and
a sense of what is right and just.
Rather, we seem to have exchanged the honor of that system to one of
exploitation, profiteering and celebrity, rather than service, dignity and
honor. It doesn't seem to me that the
people of this country got the best of that deal.
Our new penchant for affluence and power seems to have taken
our priorities from less concern about who and what we are than how much we
have and how much we personally gain than from what it does for our own sense
of purpose and basic decency.
I don’t particularly like what I see nor am I reassured by what I fear is coming. We are becoming a more empty and shallow society, and I don’t see how that bodes well for any of us.
We seem to have placed on the altar of greed the avarice of
banks, that of investment houses and the military/industrial complex over our
selves by earning a decent standard of living and becoming productive
citizens. Most prominent among the
aspirants seem to only want more of the pie for themselves and less for the
rest of us. When you look at the
exponential growth of the billionaire club it would appear that their goals are
coming to pass. One need only look at
some of the most vulnerable among us who are previous and current college
students simply trying to make their way, legitimately, to the next higher
rungs of the economic ladder. Instead,
they are becoming members of the burgeoning and indentured servant class of
modern times.
Perhaps the government could put some of the empty prisons
to good use by offering free board and room to all those who so effectively and
efficiently drove many of our fellow citizens into bankruptcy? It would be a fitting end to their
illustrious careers, and something their partners in crime still ensconced in
cushy government positions should have done for the taxpayers they so adroitly
fleeced preparatory to laying claim to their new found wealth.
Frankly, I regard anyone who seriously considers our
two-party system an example for the rest of the free world to emulate as being
a bit off balance. All it shows me is
how a very well-honed system of “you scratch my back and I will scratch yours”
really works. Just take stock of all
those of prominence and wealth in government.
I state my case.
I think the time is long overdue for a third political party
that truly represents the people of these United States . The charade has not worked for us, so far,
nor is it likely to do so in the foreseeable future.
When one filters out of the equation all of those from
wealthy and prominent families, plus the cadre of prominent power mongers and
thieves, there isn't much of substance and honestly left to count. We can do better than our track record would
suggest.
We are a better country and better people than what we have
gotten. We deserve better than this and
there is no reason why we should not strive for that goal.
Anyone who does not see a real winner in Elizabeth Warren
for President is tarnished by the deception of a wealthy and powerful class of
people in this country. They are the
leftovers and the losers. My take is
that what we see in Elizabeth Warren is the real deal; we should stop any
delusions of those who have laid claim to being better qualified. We can (and should) do better than what we
have had for far too long.
Cowboy Bob
The Sagebrush Philosopher
March 11, 2015
