A Stark Choice

by Gordon Solberg, Nov. 26, 2003

Last time I was here, I talked about the absurdity of adolescents being in charge of an entire nation. This is not a new problem, and America is not the only country ruled by overgrown boys with nuclear weapons, but we are by far the most powerful (and therefore the most dangerous) kids in the sandbox.

How would things be different if adults were in charge? Probably, there would be more emphasis on long-term thinking (in particular, there would be more respect for our only life support system, the Earth), and an acknowledgment that we’re all in this together -- regardless of our political or religious persuasion -- and this means everybody on the planet.

Philosophers as far back as Plato have wondered if humans are capable of achieving wise government. “Wisdom” implies holistic, long-term thinking -- whereas “shrewdness” is about short-term advantage. Our country is sometimes shrewd, but seldom wise. The Bush administration very cleverly manipulates tomorrow’s headlines, but can’t think accurately about the future, because their thinking is ideology-based rather than reality-based. This is why so many American troops have died for nothing in Iraq.

The Sun-News printed a request that I write something positive. Actually, I did this in my second New Voices column, and later expanded it for publication in Grassroots Press (a fine local publication available at many locations in Las Cruces). First, let me give an analogy about this whole “positivity” thing. Let’s say we are passengers on the Titanic. I keep saying, “We’d better change course or slow down, or we’re gonna hit an iceberg.” And people tell me, “How about saying something positive?”

Here’s the vision:

“Americans are hungry for a positive vision. We want to leave a habitable planet for our children and grandchildren. We want renewable energy and fuel-efficient vehicles now, so that we can finally be free from the curse of oil. We want to have fair and honest elections. We want a country with a level playing field for rich and poor alike. We want a country with excellent medical care for all. A country with a strong educational system. A country where all points of view are listened to and respected. A country where we aren’t manipulated to hate and fear each other. A country that heals the planet rather than destroys it. A country that practices peace instead of war.”

This is a worthy vision that has been promoted by countless people during the past generation. It has been consistently ignored, lied about, or ridiculed by the powers-that-be. But we will continue to speak the truth of this vision, because, as Scripture says, “Without a vision, the people perish.” And this country -- the soul of this country -- is perishing.

The vision is the easy part, the preliminary 1%. The other 99% is implementing it. But the vision is important for getting people to focus their energies in the same direction. And to get people to do this, you’ve got to be upbeat about it, encourage a little enthusiasm. But the vision also has to be based in reality, which means honestly acknowledging how totally screwed up things really are.

Let’s never underestimate the power of the corporate press (which means TV -- newspapers play a minor role these days) and Radical Right Radio® to keep a lid on any idealism in this country. Helpless cynicism is the preferred mindset. As long as people remain angry and squabbling among themselves, the powers-that-be can pursue their agenda with impunity.

Here’s the vision that’s presently being imposed on us:

Use up all the fossil fuels as quickly as possible, at which time people will gratefully accept nuclear energy. Solar and wind energy are for sissies; real men prefer nuclear.

Environmentally, we will get a planet without rainforests and polar caps.

Economically, we will get the 21st Century version of feudalism.

Politically, we will get an increasingly authoritarian and secretive government which will be downsized in all areas except corporate welfare, law enforcement, and the military.

And war, glorious war. America needs to pick its battles more carefully, but war plays very well with the American masses when done right.

Looks like a stark choice to me, if indeed we have a choice.

*****

Here's a special bonus article. I wrote this one for Grassroots Press:

FIVE SUPERIOR BLOGS

Blogs, short for weblogblogs, are personal websites, usually updated daily or several times a day. They often allow readers to post their own comments, which are as entertaining and informative as the blogs themselves. What a rush it is, reading all these intelligent people speaking out at once… they warm the cockleburs of my heart. Here are five of my favorites:

ATRIOS. http://www.atrios.blogspot.com The Mighty Atrios, Godfather of liberal bloggers, usually updates his site many times a day, 7 days a week. Nothing escapes his notice. Required reading for web junkies of the liberal persuasion.

KOS. http://www.dailykos.com This is the site for polling data and political developments of all kinds. Has a huge network of readers who post thousands of (mostly) intelligent comments every day.

STEVE GILLIARD. http://stevegilliard.blogspot.com Highly opinioned, Gilliard made his reputation on the Kos blog during the invasion of Iraq. He has been dead-on accurate about the Iraq fiasco since before Day 1. He predicts future developments in Iraq with stunning accuracy.

BILLMON. http://www.billmon.org Lucid and brilliant. Famous for stringing together damning sequences of Administration quotes. Especially fine financial analysis. Gets a lot of intelligent comments.

ORCINUS http://dneiwert.blogspot.com David Neiwert writes long, richly detailed articles about a variety of subjects. If you are curious about why things are as they are, Neiwert’s your man. Just awesome, but be forewarned: he reaches some chilling conclusions.

-- Gordon Solberg

(Gordon Solberg has lived in the Las Cruces area since 1960. His email address is earth@zianet.com.)

See all of Gordon's columns on PeaceAware.com ESSAYS.