Honest Look and Analysis of How Americans Think Today

One Political Side 

(the DEMS)

The Other Political Side

(the GOPers)

Whatever happens in DC these days or no matter how big it happens or even how it happens, we constantly hear reminders: “It's politics as usual.” Both parties know that expression better than anyone and boy do they milk it for all it's worth. It’s not the slogan per se, but it’s the public cynicism and apathy tied to it. What we have in essence is that one side can't govern and the other side won't. Take your pick, but keep in mind, it always changes after the next election depending on who takes the majority reins of power.

“It's the economy, stupid" (a phase coined by James Carville who ran Bill Clinton's 1992 campaign). Boy did he nail it with that slogan. It still rings true today as it did back then. My variation of that for today might be: “It's the big money, stupid.” But, that’s a topic for later.

All this brings me to the subject of this post. I found this very excellent article written by William J. Astore at Salon.com. He is a retired lieutenant colonel (USAF), and he is a Tom Dispatch.com regular. He has taught at the Air Force Academy and the Naval Postgraduate School, and now teaches History at the Pennsylvania College of Technology. 

The Article's Title is Catchy and I piggybacked on it for my post today: 

“Inside America’s militarized mind: How propaganda and perpetual war have poisoned our imagination”

There’s not much in the piece that I disagree with. This extract really hit home with me (he has great links, too):

“Unlike the recruiting poster of old, Uncle Sam doesn’t want you anymore — he already has you. You’ve been drafted into the American national security state. That much is evident from Edward Snowden’s revelations. Your email?  It can be read. Your phone calls? Metadata about them is being gathered. Your smart phone?  It’s a perfect tracking device if the government needs to find you. Your computer? Hackable and trackable. Your server? It’s at their service, not yours.”

“Many of the college students I’ve taught recently take such a loss of privacy for granted.  They have no idea what’s gone missing from their lives and so don’t value what they’ve lost or, if they fret about it at all, console themselves with magical thinking — incantations like “I’ve done nothing wrong, so I’ve got nothing to hide.”  They have little sense of how capricious governments can be about the definition of “wrong.”

Reminded me further of that line from a TV show when one says: “I don’t worry about this since I don’t have anything to hide.” Says the other person: “No, but we have plenty to protect.” 

Hope you read the article – it sure gets you thinking. Thanks for stopping by.