Post 24 - Responsible Citizens
Even if you don’t want to entertain the notion that the DNC had Seth Rich killed because he was the source of some of the Wikileaks publications that plagued the Clinton campaign this election season, you have to admit the corruption in DC is untenable and unsustainable. This isn’t about Donald Trump. Even if you think he was placed into power thanks to the cyber KGB, you have to recognize that corruption in American politics is systemic and can not be rooted out by simply wishing it away.
The title of this post is responsible citizens because it is time, in my opinion, that we start acting in a way that reflects some sense of civic duty. For our 'wonderful' society to continue to be wonderful we need all of our citizens to unite around some common ideas. It used to be that Americans were united around the constitution, but perhaps too much time has passed and too much complacency has set in. That’s okay, no one is perfect and by extension no society is perfect. Our constitution has blessed our nation with 200 years of freedom and prosperity, but its age is starting to show.
“I am not an advocate for frequent changes in laws and Constitutions. But laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind. As that becomes more developed, more enlightened, as new discoveries are made, new truths discovered and manners and opinions change, with the change of circumstances, institutions must advance also to keep pace with the times. We might as well require a man to wear still the coat which fitted him when a boy as civilized society to remain ever under the regimen of their barbarous ancestors.”
In America today we have legalized bribery, a surveillance state that is completely off the rails, a justice system that treats the rich separately from the poor and a news media that actively covers up huge scandals to protect the politically connected. I cannot stress enough how NOT PARTISAN these problems are. We need to re-evaluate our priorities and establish issues that can be agreed upon by both sides of the political isle.
Do we want to live in a country where the spy apparatus not only spies on US citizens but also answers to no president or congressional authority (which appears to be the case)? Do we want to live in a country where justice cannot reach the highest peaks of political power? I do not. We can either continue to complain about our country's myriad of problems or we can begin trying to fix them.
We have to work within the current political administration in order to begin to fix the problems facing the nation. We are too far gone and way past the point where partisan obstructionism will produce any positive results. In fact, continued stagnation will only allow the disease of corruption to fester. So, I beg you Democrats, Republicans, Humans of Earth… Unite. Demand that our government respects our right to privacy, equally administers justice to all offenders and protects the rights of all citizens.
We can argue over many things and still agree that, for America to prosper and grow, progress in certain areas must be made. If demands are not enough to change the way D.C. operates action must be taken, marches must be had, voices must be raised. End Citizens United to end legalized bribery. End the Patriot Act to restore personal liberty. Arrest any in government proven to have actively defrauded the American people with their lies and deceit while serving corporate interests.
These things will never just happen. It is the obligation of responsible citizens to ensure government institutions implement these changes. I am prepared to administer accountability. Are you?