Exciting Times Are Guaranteed

by Gordon Solberg

Sept 2 2003

I would sure rather write happy news, or some lite humor. In fact, I had wanted to write about monsoon seasons I have known and loved, in honor of our dry summer. But so many people are encouraging me to speak the truth, I feel that it’s my civic duty to do so.

My last column created quite the little controversy, which is good. It’s much better to create controversies than be ignored. As one reader pointed out, 20,000 more cancellations, and I’ll drive the Sun-News out of business.

Another reader shared with me his strategy for getting at the truth: whatever Bush says, assume the exact opposite is true. You will seldom go wrong, he says.

We have a profound difference of opinion in this country. The divisions are so deep, this can hardly be called the United States anymore. The battle is much more than two different political philosophies slugging it out. We are witnessing a struggle between two competing worldviews: do we choose a faith-based, Medieval mindset, or a more skeptical worldview in which verifiable facts actually count for something? Does reality here-and-now have intrinsic value, or is this life just a way station for a better life beyond? Do we behave as if the future mattered, or do we throw it all away? These are exciting times. The fall of the Roman Empire was nothing compared to this.

A recent Sound Off said of Bush: “…he brought to the office a sense of professionalism and moral ethics lost in the last administration… a strong leader… a man of strong character.”

Of course, in my opinion (an opinion shared by millions of other Americans), Bush is the most corrupt, dangerous, and destructive president we’ve ever had. Also, his administration is appallingly clueless -- as regards war, jobs, the economy, the environment, you name it, they have no clue. They seem to be operating on automatic overdrive, incapable of assimilating new information and modifying their behavior in any way. But they are propaganda geniuses.

The widely divergent opinions in our country come, in large measure, from the widely divergent sources of information we have available. For example, somebody who gets their information from Fox News and Rush Limbaugh will tend to see the Bush administration in a far more glorious light than I do.

Personally, I prefer the Internet, which allows me to pick and choose my information. You can surf the Internet 24/7 and never run out. My favorite sites include commondreams.org, alternet.org, truthout.org, smirkingchimp.com, and dailykos.com. Since I’m a whining treehugger, you can guess what kind of sites these are.

Americans consider themselves to be steely-eyed realists, but in actuality, most Americans uncritically accept whatever they are told by whoever is in power. Only if the abuses continue long enough will Americans finally wake up and realize that they’re being lied to. There are several factors at work here, starting with television, which has a hypnotizing effect. Add to this mix the public schools, where children are taught, among other things, to follow orders rather than think for themselves. Add a strong dollop of fundamentalist religion (the old hymn, “Trust and Obey,” says it all). What you end up with is a populace that’s easily manipulated.

Our country is controlled by an oil-military-industrial complex whose guiding philosophy has failed us all. We have an out-of-control situation on our hands: An unwinnable war that’s costing a billion dollars a week, and guaranteed to make terrorism worse. Unprecedented government deficits. Consumers up to their necks in debt. There are fewer jobs all the time -- manufacturing jobs have already gone to China, and now the tech jobs are going to India. The petroleum reserves are declining, and still we have no alternative energy plan. The treasury is being systematically looted, and Social Security is methodically being bankrupted. Global warming gets worse every day. Those are just some highlights. Denial is no solution. Exciting times are just around the corner, guaranteed.

Bush’s support is softening, but it’s about time for the Bush administration’s annual Fall Offensive, when we find out what our newest adventure will be. Hold on to your hats; it will be a wild ride.

(You can email Gordon Solberg at earth@zianet.com .) See all his essays at http://PeaceAware.com ESSAYS