Digital Democracy

The Real Issue No One Talks About

The cable business networks are all a flurry with discussions about rising prices, bank failures, and our failing economy. But I have noticed something critical missing in these discussions. Seldom is anything mentioned about the underlying cause of our troubles…The worthless piece of paper we call the dollar!

The question is why?

How many times have you wished you could print money to pay your bills like our government does? It would be great if you could, wouldn’t? Of course, we are not allowed to print our own dollars to pay our bills like the government does to pay its bills.

Whenever private citizens do print money, it’s called counterfeiting. When the government prints money it’s called funding. Either way, whoever prints it, it’s still a worthless piece of paper. And the only reason this worthless piece of paper remains in demand is that people believe in it. They have “faith” those worthless pieces of paper have value.

Years ago, paper dollars were certificates redeemable in silver or gold. The value of those silver and gold certificates was the silver and gold on deposit in banks. Anyone could redeem those certificates for the precious metal they represented. In other words, it was the silver and gold “Payable to the Bearer on Demand” that gave paper money its value. But no more.

Today, paper dollars are just that: Paper! They are called Federal Reserve Notes and have no value other than the paper they are printed on. They have no redemptive value and bear no promise save debt.

If the paper dollar does have value, its purchasing power can only be measured by how many other paper dollars are out there. In other words, the more our government prints more dollars, the greater it lessens the value of every other paper dollar in our pockets. And as it turns out, our government must create billions of new paper dollars everyday just to pay the interest on its increasing debts.

It is this ever-growing mountain of debt and paper dollars that is behind rising prices. It explains why banks are failing, home prices are falling and why our economy is failing.

So the question is raised: Why are not more people talking about this worthless piece of paper called the dollar? Why do we hear so little about it on the cable business networks?

Is it because if the truth be known about the dollar no one would want them anymore? Is it because this truth would cause world-wide panic and disorder?

Certainly it would, but I believe there is another reason. It’s called ignorance.

So long as the population at large remains ignorant about what gives paper money its value, the ruse of paper money having value will continue until this growing mountain of paper implodes on itself.

This mountain of worthless paper money has been growing for over 50 years. It cannot continue to support its ever increasing weight much longer. The time is very near when, by rule of natural law, it will implode on itself. History is replete with examples of this phenomenon

When this time comes for the U.S. dollar, those left holding paper dollars, and those left depending on paper money will suffer terrible consequences.

The pundits on the cable business networks are telling people who have 401ks, Mutual Funds, and the like to “stay the course.” They say, “The stock market will eventually rebound as it always has done in the past and grow to new highs.” And maybe it will for a time, but to what end?

Stock certificates are measured in worthless paper dollars. When the time comes and this mountain of paper money implodes on itself, of what value will stock certificates, 401K’s, bonds and Mutual Funds be that are measured in dollars?

The Bible says, “The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it.” (Proverbs 27:12). If you are prudent, you will take financial refuge in something other than in paper dollars. You will convert as many paper dollars as you can into time-honored silver and gold. For the time will soon be upon us when worthless paper dollars will be widely recognized for what they are: Worthless!

Jim Lynn is a writer and webmaster for Survive Economic Collapse, a website filled with”how-to” videos and articles to survive the coming collapse of the dollar. http://Survive-Economic-Collapse.com

Tags: Dollar, Economy, Money, Price, Stock

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Renewable Energy From Solar Grids and Wind Generators

When you think of energy sources, you think of natural gas, oil and coal. Though they have been providing energy to us for a number of years, they may not be available for ever as supplies is limited. It is estimated that at present the energy sources are available just for another 7 decades to meet our energy demands. Renewable energy is considered to be the best alternative solution for this problem.

The most commonly used renewable energy sources include energy from solar grids and wind generators. They are known as clean energy sources and as non pollutants. Neither greenhouse effect nor global warming is caused by such natural sources of energy. The cost of operating your own renewable energy is low, as they require very little maintenance.

In solar grid energy, energy is derived and utilized from the sun. The solar energy systems can be installed on your home, shed or garage without using additional land. With the a wind generators it can be easily build and installed on a pole and away from your home to get the best wind power.

Due to heavy dependence on electricity and gas, there is a constant price rise in the recent past, with oil prices soaring higher than ever in the past. The price rise on energy also directly affects the price of consumables. Use of renewable energy is the only way to control price rise. Renewable energy sources are the only best and viable alternative to the problem, which has to be vigorously pursued all over the world, with more seriousness than ever before.

Isn’t it time you got started on your own installation project? Just think, no more electricity bills, just Mother Natures Clean Renewable Energy. Click Here to learn more about Solar Power Grids and how they can help you.

Obediah Marsh
http://solarwindpower.info

Tags: Clean Energy, Power Grids, Price, Renewable Energy, Solar Grids, Wind Power

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

The Difference of the Political Parties

When it comes to political parties you are going to find many citizens out there who have different beliefs. If you are looking to learn about political parties and see the difference of political parties then you have come to the right site. Within this article we will be discussing the different of the political parties.

You should know that around the world there are many different political parties. So many that it would take a lot of time to compare the difference of the political parties. What we are going to talk about are the parties that are the best known. These parties are the Democratic Party, Republican Part and the Communist Party. To start with we have the Democratic Party. The Democratic Part is know for being one out of the two well known political parties that can be found in the United States of America. The Democratic Party is known for being the oldest political party you will find in the United States of America and it is also amongst the oldest political parties in the world.

If you look into the Democratic Party origins you will find it traced to the Democratic-Republican Party. In the year 2004 the Democratic Party was known for being the biggest Republican Party because there was 72 million voters that claimed to be in the Democratic branch. The Democratic Party is also known to hold the most state governorships. This year in the 2008 election we have Senator Barack Obama running for the Democratic Party and he is from Illinois.

Next we have the Republican Party and this comes after the Democratic Party. This party is the second biggest political party to be found in the United States of America. The Republican Party is often called the Grand Old Party. The Republican Party was founded in the year 1854 by the individuals that were known as the anti-slavery expansion activists and also by the modernizers. The first Republican president is Abraham Lincoln. The current president is George W. Bush and he is known to be the 19th person from the Republican Party. As stated in the previous paragraph the next elections will be in 2008 and John McCain is running for the Republican Party and he is from Arizona. Currently there are 55 million members who are registered in the Republican Party.
Last we have the Communist Party. Currently there are hundreds of Communist Parties located throughout the world of all different sizes. Communist Parties are not found in the United States of America but there are found in five other countries. These countries include China, DPR Korea, Cuba, Laos and Vietnam. There is a slight difference between Republicans and Democrats but when it comes to the Communist Party there is a big difference because in the countries who promote communisim you will be told what to do and how to do it at all times. As we stated many individuals have different beliefs but really you should not let your beliefs come between one another.

Ian Pennington is an accomplished niche website developer and author.

To learn more about political parties, please visit Conservatives and Liberals for current articles and discussions.

Tags: Election, Obama

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

The Dollar and the Gas Prices

One often wonders how today’s economy affects the all might dollar. The truth is that most people have a hard decision to make about where to spend the dollar. The gas prices have risen above $4 a gallon leaving many people without other things they need to live. If you have $40 to spend on food, you could by a couple days worth of food, but if you spend that $40 on gas, you are going to get less than ten gallons of gas. If you have a car that gets twenty-two miles to the gallon, more than likely, your gas is not going to last longer than a week.

The economy has been impacted by gas prices as well as grain and wheat costs. If one would go to the bakery for bread and muffins, that same forty dollars would be short about $10 to $15 dollars. The credit crisis is affecting everyone. The average person does not make enough money to buy food, gas and pay bills with the way the economy is today. The price of gas and foods has gone up, but the pay scale has not budged. People are still making the same amount of money they were before all the price increases, which has placed a hardship on many families.

The decision you make about how to spend that $40 will affect the entire family. If you buy two gallons of gas, which will give you roughly 44 miles of driving and buy meals for a family of three for the day, that $40 dollars is gone and it probably was a little short. Frugal living is becoming more common as the prices go up. Going without certain things has become a way of life. Walking instead of driving is more common in smaller communities. Credit card payments and mortgages have to be paid. However, what do you make the family go without to pay the bills and buy food?

The economy needs help. The price of wire has gone up so much that companies cannot afford to make mattresses and sell them for a reasonable price. So now, that dollar has even less value. If you need a mattress, gas and food, you have to sacrifice something in order to have the things that you need to live every day. The value of the dollar does not mean much these days. In order to make the dollar more for its value, the prices of wire, gas and food products has to drop considerably. This probably is not going to happen.

The credit crisis is affecting everyone. Medical coverage is dropping and the cost to the consumer has risen. Today, it is hard for a family of three or four to live comfortable and have the necessities. Until the credit crisis levels off, one will only feel more pressure and see more homes and property lost. Hard times make it hard for hard working people to survive and have the things that they need.

Susan Duey represents, Debt Help marketplace offering debt management program solution to eliminate your debt and cut expenses. For more information please visit the Dollar and Gas Prices.

Tags: Economy, Gas, Price

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

3 Tips For Finding Your Best Home Based Business

If you are looking for a good business to start up form home, no doubt you want to find the best home based business possible. Unfortunately, there are a whole lot of scams out there too, and it can be hard to come up with a good business opportunity while avoiding all those scams. If you find a great business from home, you have the opportunity to really make some money; however, you may end up losing a lot if you accidentally choose a scam. So, here are three great tips for finding your best home based business that will help you avoid scams and find a great home business opportunity that really works for you.

Tip #1 - Don’t Pay to Work - One of the first tips to remember when you are looking for the best home based business is that you should not have to pay for work. You don’t pay to work for a boss at a company and you should not have to pay to work from home either. If you went to a job interview and they asked you to start paying money in order to get the job, you’d be wondering what kind of people you were dealing with. Well, this is not acceptable online either. Don’t be drawn into paying to work from home. The best home business opportunity won’t require that you pay a fee to be able to work.

Tip #2 - Do Your Research - Before you decide on the best home based business for you, it’s important that you definitely do some research on the companies and opportunities that you are considering. The last thing you want to do is get involved in an opportunity that is only a scam. Take some time to do some research online to see if you can find information about the company or opportunity. Read reviews, look for complaints, and make sure that there is real contact information for the company as well.

Tip #3 - Be Patient and Find the Right Business - Being patient is important if you want to find the best home based business for your needs. Jumping into an opportunity too quickly can be a big mistake and may land you right in the middle of a scam. So, if you want to go with the best home based business out there, then you need to take your time and be patient. Do everything you can to make sure it is the right business for you, even if it does take a little bit of time.

Using these three tips can definitely help you to find the best home based business. Today there are so many scams to watch out for, but using these tips can help keep you from falling prey to scams that are out to get your money. You want to make sure that you find a business that will really help you become successful, so make sure to use these three tips today to find the best home based business so you can get started right away.

This article written by Mark Johnson.

Visit this website for lots of free Home Business advice and tips. Download a free ebook.

Tags: Home Based Business, Home Business, Job, Money

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Gas Prices Are Not High Enough and You Heard Me Right

As I set here typing this up I have just finished listening to a cable news discussion of our present oil crisis resulting in high gas prices. I have also looked at the latest political polls that have come out for this year’s presidential election showing Obama still holding the lead he has held onto for weeks now. When one looks at the state by state breakdown in what is called the battle ground states it is obvious that Mr. Obama has good reason to believe he will be President in just a few short months.

It is said the economy is the number one issue this year. This I do not understand. How do you say the economy is the number one issue this year and yet vote for Obama which every poll says is presently the publics choice? Please explain.

Gas prices are for me one of the biggest issues as it is an expense that has me trapped for it is a commodity I must have living where I do. Mr. Obama and his party have no plans whatsoever to drill for a single drop of oil anywhere. Yet, I am hearing we have all kinds of oil comparable to Saudi Arabia if we would be willing to drill for it. And, I am hearing that we can get it within 5 years, at least a substantial amount of it.

However, Mr. Obama seems to want to save it for a rainy day as it is not yet raining where he lives. Where I live it is pouring but I guess weather is like that. But, I am sure I am about alone as the American public is saying he is our man and the Democratic Party is our party. Nancy Pelosi will not allow a House vote for offshore drilling and people seem to be fine with that.

I am just stupid I guess or maybe just confused (I can hope can’t I?). I had always heard that the Democratic Party was the party of the poor and the working man and that the Republicans were the party of big business and the wealthy. Yet, it seems to me, and what do I know, that those candidates and that party that will allow oil drilling is more in my economic interest as a poor man than those of the Democratic Party that are suppose to be the Saviors of the poor. I wish I was as smart as the average American who has this figured out - that is how voting for a man who will not drill for oil is what is really best for me and the rest of the poor.

I think maybe I have at least a hint as how that can be - maybe. It could be it is all George Bush’s fault. Use to be if we would get a cold around our house we would say it was George Bush’s fault for we were always hearing everything was and who were we to argue with the consensus?

The more I think about it the more it seems this may be the answer. George Bush will not allow Nancy Pelosi to bring this oil drilling bill (opening up the off shore for drilling) before the House. It is his fault. Yeah, I heard him laying it all on her but then we have heard for years he was a liar. So, could be he is lying about it and if we were to know the truth he is really keeping her from opening the House for a vote.

In any case it is evident I am on the losing side and most Americans feel gas prices are not high enough and that what we need is a man in office who will promise to not drill for a drop and who will find a way to make our cars run on wind or something else. I heard one guy say maybe we could put sails on top our cars. I never did like storms but this may be the answer - a sail on top and a windstorm.

I don’t think the solar will work on my car because it is hot as fire inside with the windows rolled up this summer but so far I have had no luck with this solar energy turning the motor over. That electricity thing might work if I could get an extension cord long enough to get to where I want to go.

I think the worse thing for me, if Obama wins the Presidency, is I may have to get a mule but that is not the best way to travel when it is 30 some miles to the nearest town of any size. Oh, the thought just dawned on me as I typed that last sentence, I bet it is those wicked city women who do not have to drive far that is behind this Obama for President thing (if it is not George). (Tennessee Ernie Ford on “I Love Lucy”.) I did hear, believe it or not, they find him more attractive than McCain. I don’t know how you can dress McCain up enough to make him attractive to women, no slam intended.

But, I probably will be made a stronger man by a little suffering (call it poverty). Thanks ladies. I need that. We men need a good beating now and then. Need a ride to go vote this fall? Maybe you can fuel up your car to get there with a little green energy or catch a ride on one of those ANWAR caribou. Good luck. Donations are appreciated out here in the country.

P.S. You might comment and enlighten me as I can use all the help understanding that I can get. Denny Smith

Tags: Election, Gas

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

What Are the Top 10 Home Businesses in 2008?

If you want to join the thousands of people who are starting to work at home, there are many great opportunities available to you today. However, you definitely want to make sure you get the best possible opportunity for your needs. So, here is a list of the top 10 home businesses in 2008 to consider getting involved in to make money from home.

Home Business #1 - Medical Transcription - One of the top 10 home businesses this year is medical transcription. For those who are great with a keyboard and fluent in English, this is a great choice. Doctors often will outsourcer transcription and it offers the opportunity to make great income without costing a lot to get it started.

Home Business #2 - Gift Basket Sales - Another of the top 10 home businesses in 2008 is gift basket sales. Gift baskets have become extremely popular in the past few years, and more people are finding that making and selling gift baskets can be a lucrative stay at home job.

Home Business #3 - Offering Home Renovation Services - Home renovation services are another of the top 10 home businesses this year. People are always wanting to renovate their home to make it look better and to make it easier to live in, so this is a top home business.

Home Business #4 - Home and Office Cleaning Services - Home and office cleaning services have also become quite popular this year as well. You don’t even have to do the cleaning yourself but you can find great jobs and hire a crew to do the cleaning for you, making a great profit.

Home Business #5 - Data Entry Jobs - Data entry continues to be one of the top 10 home businesses. Data entry is a simple home business to try and many companies today hire out their data entry tasks to people who work at home. There’s a whole lot of potential in this field.

Home Business #6 - Affiliate Programs Online - Of course you’ve probably heard of affiliate online programs, and they are also some of the top business opportunities for those who want to work at home. Simply sign up with companies, promote their products, make sales, and get paid.

Home Business #7 - E-book Publication - Informational products are hot, which is why e-book publication is one of the top 10 home businesses this year. If you are knowledgeable on a topic, write an e-book about it and sell it. It’s an excellent way to work from home.

Home Business #8 - Wedding Planning - Weddings are always hot, and now wedding planning is soaring into the top 10 home businesses as well. Wedding planners plan out weddings, get clients in contact with the right caterers, and make sure everything happens at the right moment on the wedding day.

Home Business #9 - Freelance Writing - Freelance writing is another top home business that many people are finding successful. It involves writing web copy, for magazines, newspapers, and more, and it’s all done from home.

Home Business #10 - Dietary Consulting - Last of all, on the top 10 home businesses of 2008 is dietary consulting. More and more people are concerned about their health and their diet, so they are turning to these dietary consulting services for help.

This article written by Mark Johnson.

Visit this website for lots of free Home Business Tips and more. Download a free ebook with a 90 day plan for Building Your Traffic.

Tags: Home Business, Job, Money, Tips

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Renewable Energy - The Future Resource Stock

Renewable Energy is the key to our global energy needs in the future, as we run out of our supply of fossil fuels and uranium or the cost of these fuels rises for economic or political reasons, the cost of renewable energy may become much more competitive. Using current technologies, most ocean energy is not cost-effective compared to other renewable energy sources however the ocean remains one of the important potential energy source for the future. Both renewable and non-renewable energy sources are used to generate electricity, power vehicles, and provide heating, cooling, and light.

Renewable Energy is energy created from resources that are regenerative - or renewable - meaning they cannot be depleted. These resources are safe for our environment and produce energy without the harmful pollutants and emissions associated with fossil-fuels.

As the this industry expands, the expertise of these support industries is being tapped to provide the support and infrastructure needed for the advancement of renewable energy production globally. The reason for the massive growth is global companies are looking for green or renewable resource technologies and companies to invest in, fund, acquire, license or strategically partner with. Priority is given to technologies that are patented or commercial products with existing or near term revenue streams. Renewable energy systems encompass a broad, diverse array of technologies, and the current status of these can vary considerably. Some technologies are already mature and economically competitive.

Globally we recognize that utilizing renewable resources has the potential to provide us with cleaner air, a more diverse energy portfolio, and less dependence on foreign fossil fuels. Currently renewable resources accounts for only 3.4 percent of total global power generation. The International Energy Agency recently issued a report estimating that in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 50% by 2050, global investment in renewable energy, energy efficiency and carbon sequestration will need to reach roughly US $45 trillion dollars by that date.

It is expected that 60% of all our energy will come from renewable resources by the year 2070. The sooner we employ the attitude that today is better than tomorrow, the greater the opportunity to increase this figure to 80%. Renewable energy is sustainable energy that comes from the natural environment. Renewable energy, or green power, is power that comes from renewable resources such as the sun, wind, hydro-electric dams and organic matter (biomass). These resources are constantly replenished by nature and are a cleaner source of energy.

Shane Taylor is the co-publisher and co-editor of TheStockReporter.com, a site that provides many resources and articles for individuals wanting to start investing in the stock market and learn about investing in renewable energy.

Tags: Energy, Gas, Renewable Energy, Stock

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

#1 in Drug Use, Millions of Americans Make Declaration of Dependence

Headline: Americans are world’s top drug users: study “Americans are the world’s top consumers of cannabis and cocaine despite punitive US drug laws…”

We also rank pretty high (or low, depending upon your perspective) in pharmaceutical drug use. Why on earth would a free people need to “escape” via the chemical manipulation of their biology? That’s a bugger of a question because it might force us to take a mirror to what we believe our country to be.

When government stays within its constitutional limitations, the people are free to reach their full potential. However, when government usurps the sovereignty of the people, even if the people beg to be cared for, their “full potential” gets redefined and limited at the whims of the bureaucratic oligarchy. Americans take more drugs than any other nation despite the trillion dollar war on drugs waged against them. You would think that at some point it would become obvious that war declarations, much less police-state operations against mind-altering substances, are futile. But perhaps futility is the point.

When you feel powerless in any relationship, you may become despondent and thus a bit self-destructive. Whether it be voting within a two-party system, a war on cancer, poverty, AIDS, drugs or terror — we have been “gifted” with Hegelian dialectics without end. Is our end in sight? Man, in his arrogance, thinks that he can destroy Creation itself, since he is full with the illusion that smallpox and polio were eliminated by his scratch and sugar cube. However, disease, like poverty can never totally be eradicated, because you can’t eradicate a state of consciousness. It has to be won everyday, first, by what you believe, and then by what you do based on those beliefs.

While healing an individual may be organic “cake”; eradicating disease in TOTALITY for the masses is tantamount to the medicalization of all life according to Marx and Engels. Sure, it may sound good to those hopelessly naive, but it stands four-square “in the way” of the freedom of the individual. Collectivists don’t mind doing that, but the republic, for which it has stood for over two centuries, used to laugh and pity those who did not understand the value of individual liberty. Now much of what is left of a free republic appears ready to eschew liberty for (false) security because of externalized threats.

Despite my avowed mission as a healer, I am not “for” eradication of disease. In fact, healing is not necessarily the cessation of an allopathic diagnosed ailment. My “medical” suffering has taught me invaluable lessons which I could not learn in any other way. Why would I want to take away anyone else’s opportunity to learn the things that I have — or greater? This utopian concept of disease eradication is hopelessly collectivist and rooted in an immaturity of spiritual, much less biological understanding.

While I am “all for” the freedom to eradicate disease in any way you see fit, it is always to be applied on an individual basis, not based upon some animalistic concept called “herd” immunity. When thousands of people are sick, you are not sick because they are. The conditions for illness are created from within. Even when you accept “reality” placed upon you from an external source, it is an internal agreement that allows the veil of illusion to shield your eyes from the truth.

The “human condition” is to EXPERIENCE all of life so that we know what it is like to walk in another’s moccasins. It used to be that Americans valued liberty above all else. Now it seems that the majority of those who are politically active (at least those covered by the MSM) favor socialism, communism or fascism. Under a constitutional republic (not a majority-rule democracy), the rights of the smallest minority are protected against the knee-jerk fear and emotionalism contained within the historically and presently ignorant, government-loving mob.

While each individual chooses to take drugs for different reasons, I am certain that a culture that embraces liberty to its fullest extent will have far fewer chemical-dependents. The culture in which the people depend upon government to dole out a little liberty here and there is the one filled with drug addicts, both legal and illegal. Why wouldn’t it be that way — isn’t forced dependence depressing?

The path of liberty is the only path that leads to independence. Yes, that means you are at liberty to screw up and get sick along the way, but how else can you learn of the right path if you don’t know what it is like to be on the wrong one? Maybe Americans are craving the path of dependence so that they will appreciate the path of individual liberty once again, as much as they crave oxygen while drowning. I only hope that we come up for air in time.

Perhaps you would like some liberty infused oxygen in your media? Why not give Break the Matrix a try?

Robert Scott Bell is a Homeopathic Practitioner and nationally syndicated talk show host on Talk Radio Network. To read more of his articles, listen to his podcast and more, go to http://robertscottbell.blogspot.com

Tags: Democracy, Dollar, Drugs, Government

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

What is Patriotism?

In a recent column, Jonah Goldberg lectures Barack Obama on his “patriotism problem.” As he sees it Obama’s “problem” goes far deeper than lapel pins,

He sees an America in which the cup is half-empty. Is his America the same one most Americans think of as they wave flags and celebrate the Fourth of July?

But is that what patriotism really is, an unflagging, cup half full, optimism? I have nothing against optimism but what does that have to do with patriotism? To some, patriotism means the desire to make your country the best it can be but to Goldberg, beyond minor policy changes we needn’t concern ourselves with that,

Definitions of patriotism proliferate, but in the American context patriotism must involve not only devotion to American texts (something that distinguishes our patriotism from European nationalism) but also an abiding belief in the inherent and enduring goodness of the American nation. We might need to change this or that policy or law, fix this or that problem, but at the end of the day the patriotic American believes that America is fundamentally good as it is.

No doubt this sounds reasonable to many but what this really describes is group think or herd mentality. To Goldberg, patriotism means believing his country is superior to all others for no other reason than he was born in it. He doesn’t explicitly state America’s superiority in his article but is there any doubt to his opinion? If asked “are there any other countries in the world today that are better than America?” would you expect his answer to be “yes,” regardless of whatever the truth might be?

What if your country isn’t “fundamentally good” or what if your country has lost its way and no longer abides by the principles it once did? The definition Goldberg offers could be applied by the citizens of any country and no doubt is but what if it isn’t true? This is clearly the case with many nations around the world. How many women for example would like to live in Saudi Arabia or Afghanistan where women are second class citizens? Apparently Goldberg doesn’t realize that there are “patriots” just like him living in those countries who feel the same about their country as he does about his.

The problem with the Jonah Goldberg notion of patriotism is not only does he consider issues such as slavery, civil rights or women’s suffrage to be essentially minor issues that don’t actually reflect on the “inherent and enduring goodness of the American nation,” his kind only sees these as problems after the fact, if ever, but never while the nation is actually going through them. Years from now it’ll be common knowledge that we’re experiencing an extreme low point in this country, the Iraq war, suspension of habeas corpus, torture, warrantless spying on Americans, all of these, with the possible exception of the first, go completely counter to the ideals this country was founded on. There is simply no way the Founding Fathers would agree with any of it regardless of the justification because these were overarching principles that are just to important to ignore. But it’s “patriots” like Goldberg who do just that because their “abiding belief in the inherent and enduring goodness of the American nation” blinds them to the reality virtually every time.

Rather than “hating America” as many are so often accused, only those who are willing to face reality and demand that their country live up to its promise can consider themselves American patriots while the Goldbergs are merely members of the American herd.

–Paul Wilden

http://progressiveworldreview.com

Tags: Europe, Law, Middle East, Obama, Patriotism, Public Opinion, Women

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »