We sit and point fingers this way and that. If only they and if only now but we did this, America. We did this. And we didn't just do it by electing George W. Bush. We did it because we see ourselves as insatiable. Because we feel insatiable. Our SUVs need gas and our deserts need green grass. We need to buy buy buy the next fancy thing, the plasma TV or the Pottery Barn sofa. We fail to notice the cost of that business, of what we choose to import and under what conditions those goods were made. We set up agreements we think are in our best interest with little concern of the fallout. I'm not sure who we expect to take care of us but I am pretty sure it's not who we think.
We've let a few make decisions on important things in terms of what is best for them with little thought about what's best for us. We did this. It's clever, capitalism, and we've been distracted. American Idol is on TV and when we aren't watching that we've got an entire army of home/body/relationship improvement shows to watch: they've got it figured it and they can tell us what we need. Trying to keep up is exhausting and then before we know it we've bought a house we can't afford and our kid is sick. There's no safety net so we've got to use our credit cards, we think we'll catch up next month and all of that is a horrible distraction and all of that together has been simmering on the stove for years now while others are patiently watching and waiting, our soft underbelly has been visible for years but now our pants don't fit anymore. We are in trouble, America, and no amount of lipstick will fix it.
We didn't get here easy and fixing it won't be either. But we've got to buckle down, America. We need to agree to start doing without. We need to get our priorities straight and we need to stand up for what is right. People are losing their homes. Parents cannot afford milk. The stock market is crashing. This election is predicated on personality and spin and we are in danger, we are in serious danger of electing More Of The Same. We must join together and see our way through. If not us, who? If not now, when? But we need to do it for the good of the country, not for the few that have been benefiting from our negligence. This land is our land. This land is our land too.
I will gladly pay more in taxes. I am only as good as my neighbor's good fortune. This is not a time to panic because panic only breeds fear and we need our strength. We need to see the trees in the forest. We need affordable health care, we need to end this war, we need to raise minimum wage and help others keep their homes. We need to vote. Good lord almighty, we need to vote.

25 comments:
WORD!
Dude. *YOU* have my vote.
But, we're all preaching to the choir here. I write these things and I believe them, but no one reads my blog who doesn't feel this way already (or few do). It feels hopeless to me, and it is making me depressed!
Amen!
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Best Regards
A-FUCKING-MEN.
Bravo, Jen. BRA-FUCKING-VO.
*Standing Ovation*
(Found you via Maggie's shared).
Thank God for you, jen.
Here is my latest scream at the shitty world:
http://tinyurl.com/69xs5y
And their "recant, but reserve other options" bullshit:
http://tinyurl.com/52oxek
Who does this disproportionately affect? Yep, poor folks of color. It's total bullshit. And what can we do about it? How can we live with this kind of crap in our lives? The fact that the freaking CARTER CENTER that certifies elections in war-torn countries would not certify the presidential elections in the US is horrid, but here we are, people. Here we are.
It sucks.
(sorry for the rant, yours was an awesome post that made me all...man!)
You rock face, seriously. This was brilliant.
Yes- I am volunteering to take people to the polls. No excuses this time.
If only we would all listen to you. sigh.
No, we can't let the show ponies win again. That will spell the end...
Yup. Absolutely.
I ordered up an absentee ballot for my mother today - she will vote even if she can't get to the fire station.
damn lady, i love you.
cheering in my living room
Right on, sister.
"I am only as good as my neighbor's good fortune"
Is what I'm trying to teach to my kids.
yes, yes, yes
thank you
and this:
"I am only as good as my neighbor's good fortune"
oh yes. our country has been mostly about "i don't care about your fortune, as long as I get what I want" and you are so right about where that has gotten us
The lack of neighborliness thing is the part I can't understand--why is it so anathema to a culture to want to help a neighbor out? I don't get it. I don't.
I am going to listen to any gal that quotes Arlo.
you're my hero!
Amen, Mama.
Tell me again why it is that you are not leading our country?
Oh yeah, the jungle. Damn jungle wins every time. This was brilliant!
Amen, new neighbor.
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