Recently, a nexus of unpleasantness has been building in me, as a result of things American friends have been telling me.
I’ve had a fellow blogger worry about her job as a public schoolteacher, due to the fact that she recognises Evolution as a viable theory. If she’s outed as an Evo, she’ll get fired.
I’ve had another fellow blogger edit my post, which was a lighthearted sally against the American President, which might have really got my friend into trouble.
I’ve had a friend tell me that her company has banned alcoholic drinks for all its employees – even in their own time and in their own homes. And they’ll be testing.
Is the American administration and the powers that be really so frightened that its power is slipping that they have to impose this draconian laying-down of laws and edicts?
The more I think about it, the less I’d like to be subject to that kind of tyranny – if Bush wants to end world tyranny, as he says, he could do a lot worse than beginning at home.
Bush is scary. So glad that he’s not going to be president for much longer. I’m wondering if there is actually some hope coming in the next few years. It’s very good to see that a black man and a woman are vying for the leadership of the Democratic party. We’ll have to see if Americans continue to vote Republican.
I’m glad I’m Canadian.
It really is awful especially in the part of the US I live. The climate since 9/11 has just been one built out of fear. I want to believe that things will change with the next administration but I’m not sure any of them cajones to get us out of Iraq which is driving so much of our debt and infighting here.
With this kind of pressure at home, it’s a wonder that the populace isn’t completely demoralised – well, maybe they are!
Jenny, I’m glad I’m British. Things aren’t quite as bad over here yet. Long may that continue!
MamaTried, is it really the war which is causing all this angst? I had a sneaky feeling there was a deeper cause which the war is masking. Perhaps I’m drifting into conspiracy theory territory here!!
No, I think you are right that it isn’t just the war but we financed the war by borrowing money and economics is heavy on everyone’s minds. The 90s were pretty good for most of the middle class and now the stock market and housing market are taking dives. I’m not much of an economist, though, so I really shouldn’t talk too much about it.
It just seems that since 9/11 there seems to be this huge polarization of people. It is also hard for me to have a ‘normal’ perspective since I live in the ‘bible belt’ where people vote for Bush and still defend him. It is almost personal to people here if you criticize Bush but they just get mad at the ‘liberal media’ (HA!) but can really never defend his decisions as a leader.
I see what you mean about polarisation. And the attitude to ‘liberalism’ in American politics and daily life is frankly frightening. Liberals are painted as the very most dangerous morally-bankrupt subversives, waiting to break down the system! It seems they have been seen this way since the Vietnam War polarised the population all over again.
It just amuses and amazes me in equal measure that the very folk seeking to propagate Jesus’s message on earth would vote for a power mad warmonger with limited intelligence, who couldn’t find his own ass, or a coherent foreign policy, with two hands and a flashlight. Terrifying.
I had an argument (why I bother) with someone a few weeks ago about why she had to vote for Bush and her response was “I have to vote Republican because I am pro-life” (I try to be open minded about the issue even though I am strongly pro-choice). My response was basically what have the Republicans done for pro-lifers? Pretty much not a thing. They play lip service to it in every election but it is the grass root pro-lifers that get all the legislation brought before the Supreme Court not anyone in office. For that part all the crazy fundies around me with all their issues–same thing! But the Republicans have them in their pocket and are assured the votes because of it. I have to admit that I have a really, really hard time believing in a person’s critical thinking skills that voted for GW the second time around.
I read an interesting article about ‘conservative’ brains versus ‘progressive’ ones. I can’t remember the source but the main point was that conservative brains tend to think in black/white and in a linear fashion while progressive brains can incorporate a lot of different viewpoints (even contradictory). Anyway, off topic sorry but I think it might be a good explanation for some of the polarization. I wish sometimes I could just view the world in black/white like that as it seems a lot easier.
I know Michael Moore is the Fabricator-in-Chief but he makes some very good points regarding the creation of fear amongst the US populace in Bowling for Columbine. His obvious argument is that a fearful population is much more likely to do as it’s told instead of questioning its leaders via the usual democratic channels. The downside is that people end up shooting the mailman when he knocks on the door because they think they’re about to be robbed. You only have to look at the despicable attempts of Comrade Blair to overturn 900 years of legal precedent by introducing 90 days of detention without charge to see what tricks politicians will try to pull when they think the “little people” are frightened. I mean, 90 days?? How many times can you ask the question “are you in Al-Qaeda?”. Fortunately for us, the House of Commons and the House of Lords saw through the conniving little tit, and his nasty little law has now been thoroughly neutered. Not that he cares any more as he swans around the world making millions on his Farewell Tour 2008, also known as “Goodbye and thanks for the wars..I mean memories”
ps this documentary is a lot better at explaining what I’m on about..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Trap_(television_documentary_series)
Al, you’re making some very interesting points here! Remind me to cross-examine you over a vat of red the next time we meet!!