Collateral Damage ©

I claim that human mind or human society is not divided into watertight compartments called social, political and religious. All act and react upon one another - Mohandas Gandhi 

Here we go again…

You know the sad thing about what’s going on in Washington on the hill right now is that no one there seems to understand the severity of what’s happening in America right now. The hopelessness that’s brewing. The scarcity of employment and the ever looming spectre of joblessness and unemployment for those of us blessed enough to be employed at the moment. The political posturing, Partisan shenanigans, lack of concern for what’s truly important to the American People by the elected officials on the hill and outright disrespect for the Office of the President of the United States has led to a serious lack of confidence in the people of this great nation’s ability to trust the political process that was implemented over two hundred years ago. It seems that the title politician is now synonymous with a used car salesman. Their interest in what’s important to their constituents lasts about as long as it takes for them to cast their vote. After the voter has cast their vote they’re on their own. Don't believe me? Drive off the lot without a warranty and see just how concerned that car salesman is going to be with that check engine light that pops on about a block from the lot.

Now I’m not saying all politicians or used car salespeople can’t be trusted.  I mean after all it is the car salesman's job to cater to your immediate need and appeal to your vanity. It is the consumer's responsibility to do their research and ask for what they want. Voting is (or should be) a totally different experience. I should be able to cast my vote for the individual that I feel is capable of doing the job he has been elected for. I should be able to rest easily knowing that the person I have cast my vote for truly has my best interest at heart. It seems as long as I have been able to cast a ballot, I have been voting for the lesser of two evils. As my grandmother always used to say, the devil that you know is better than the devil that you don’t know. The political system in America today in my opinion does not even remotely resemble the one our founding fathers implemented all those years ago. Or maybe it does. I mean after all when the Preamble to the Constitution of the United States was written, men still owned slaves (that’s a whole ‘nother entry in and of itself).  But in theory, they meant well I guess and I’m sure as somewhat misguided as some of them were, I’m sure they could have never imagined their vision for the American Political process would deteriorate in to what it has become. The way our elected officials are going about addressing the American people’s concerns is deplorable. You want to talk about Class Warfare? Let’s talk about the highest level unemployment in this nation in decades. Let’s talk about a disproportionate number of Americans without access to quality healthcare. Let’s talk about an alarming number of Americans having to choose between putting food on their table and putting petro in the ride. Let’s talk about Seniors in danger of losing SSA and Medicare benefits that they have worked long and hard for. Let’s talk about a mediocre education system that does nothing to prepare today’s youth for the 21^st Century. Let’s talk about a criminal justice system that put’s an innocent man to death on what has been considered by some of the nation’s top legal analysts to be at best circumstantial evidence.


Couple all of these factors with the fact that there are only certain segments of the American populace that have a voice in Washington and you have all the elements of Class Warfare but not in the way that today’s American Millionaire population would have you believe. Let them tell it, the Buffet Rule is going to all but have them in the poor house, living under a bridge and eating Ramen Noodles. Heaven forbid if they aren’t able to take that annual vacation to Martha’s Vineyard with the fam this year or buy that new Roles Royce Ghost to tool around town in. I mean after all, a six or seven figure income doesn’t go as far as it used to these days *eyes rolling*.  Not to mention all those government bailouts have to be paid back you know. Oh yeah! Guess who is footing the bill for that? The American Taxpayer. Meanwhile, the rich get richer running around violating hotel housekeepers stuffing their money in Swiss accounts whiles the poor.. well they become nothing more than Collateral Damage.


Einstein’s definition of Insanity - Doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result – has never had more relevancy that it does right now. It explains the current landscape of American politics perfectly. Those of us that choose to excercise our right to vote are pretty much forced to continue voting for individuals of questionable character and integrity hoping that “this time” things will be different. Unfortunately, a great many of today’s “leaders” suffer from a serious lack of character, discipline and integrity. It is these character flaws that seem to keep them from doing what we the people have elected them to do. It seems they are too busy posting lewd photos of themselves on twitter, eating $16 muffins and dodging constituent’s phone calls. One of the unfortunate results of our elected official’s behavior on the hill and in the halls of congress is that it is beginning to make our nation the laughing stock of the international community. Pretty soon what little international clout we currently have is going to quickly disappear and it is at that point that we are going to begin to see increased attacks on our livelihood from not just domestic threats but international ones as well. In my humble opinion, our international superiority complex has made us extremely vulnerable. Our complacency as the world’s preeminent superpower has given us the idea that this great nation of ours status in the international community is safe and sound. Unfortunately, this could not be any further from the truth. Our involvement in international conflicts that all in all don’t concern us coupled with the fact that we can’t even take care of our own domestic issues has somewhat decreased our great nation’s credibility in the international community. I mean after all, how in the world can we try to help establish democracy in a third world nation when our own elected officials can’t even agree to disagree to come to some type of solution for the good of our nation. Our infrastructure is falling apart. Unemployment is at an all time high. The list goes on and on. Yet the United States of America is supposed to be a shining beacon of freedom and is supposed to be setting the example internationally for democracy at it’s finest. As of late I would be hard pressed to say that that is actually the case. Don’t get me wrong. I love my country.  My father bled for this country.  I am a responsible citizen. I believe in the principles that the founding fathers of this nation sought to instill into the moral fiber of it. I still believe in the American Dream. I am just tired of being exploited by politicians. Sick and tired of them making the American people promises to get elected and then never following through on  those promises.  Enough is enough. It is time for some responsible leadership in Washington. It is time for those in positions of authority to be held accountable for their lack of concern for the critical issues plaguing the citizens of this great nation.

I heard a senator describe Washington, D.C. as an island just off the coast of reality. A Senator said this. Which leads one to believe that there are at least a few indviduals in Washington trying to do what is in the best interest of the American People. I don’t believe that all politicians are crooked. There truly are some that are trying to make a difference. I do honestly believe that there are some politicians that have the American people’s best interest at heart. The unfortunate truth of the matter is that they are sadly and hopelessly outnumbered. The vote - as powerful as it may be – actually has no true power if there aren’t any candidates truly worthy of it.

I remember having to say the Pledge of Allegiance every morning before my day started when I was in elementary school….

“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. “

Who remembers having to recite this everyday before starting the day’s activities in school? Ok… I’m telling my age. Nonetheless, these are powerful words. If only they had a place on today’s political landscape and in today’s society in general...

One nation - Learning to appreciate one another’s differences regardless of skin color, class, ethnicity or ideals.

Under God - Well, this one ought to be simple for those of us that believe in God. Now we have crusades being waged by people trying to remove God’s image and Christian values away from everything Americana (Prayer from schools, God’s name or Christian images from municipal and federal buildings, money, etc.). Which actually puzzles me because this nation’s founding fathers sought to weave God’s presence in to the very moral fiber of it.

Indivisible with liberty and justice for all – Unfortunately, we still have quite a ways to go on this principle. However, I will say that we have come a long way in this area. Nevertheless, the journey for total equality regardless of race, creed or color is far from complete.  All you have to do is turn on the news to get a reminder of just how far we’ve come and just how far we have yet to go.

I penned an entry entitled A Letter to The Government in which I outlined a number of questions I would ask if ever afforded the opportunity to visit the Nation’s Capital and speak with our nation's leaders. After witnessing their handling of the President’s attempt to right the wrongs of the past three administrations (Yep ....  I’m including the Clinton Administration, too) my faith in our political process has been a bit shaken. Due to the  constant political posturing surrounding the passage of the Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the Health Care Reform bill A.K.A "Obamacare", the raising of the Debt Ceiling, as well as the pending battle surrounding the Jobs bill and a number of other legislation vital to correcting the crisis looming on the horizon for this nation, that list of questions and concerns has gotten considerably longer. I hope that the individuals that we have elected to represent us will understand that the American Public is tired of the petty squabbling going on on the hill.  It is my hope that the current climate of Partisan Warfare in Washington can be resolved quickly, judiciously and with the least of amount of collateral damage.