GOVERNMENTS, FREEDOM AND TERRORISM

AVITW      
I SEE WHERE A MINOR LANDLOCKED NATION IN THE CONTINENT OF SOUTH AMERICA HAS “ELECTED” ANOTHER “LIBERATOR” OF THE OPPRESSED AND DOWNTRODDEN, IF ONE IS TO BELIEVE THE HYPE.  THROUGHOUT HISTORY, THOSE SEEKING TO REPLACE AN EXISTING GOVERNMENT WITH THEIR VERSION, E.G. FROM WANNABE "DICTATORS" ON THE RIGHT TO WANNABE "DICTATORS" ON THE LEFT, DO SO IN THE NAME OF "FREEDOM" FROM THE EXISTING "OPPRESSORS", BE THEY REPUBLICANS OR DEMOCRATS, CONSERVATIVES OR LIBERALS, RELIGIOUS EMIRS OR SECULAR ATHEISTS OR FOREIGN INTERLOPERS. SHOULD ONE CARE TO INVESTIGATE THIS PHENOMENON, ONE NEED LOOK NO FURTHER THAN THE VARIOUS COUNTRIES, IN NAME IF NOT REALITY, IN THE CONTINENT OF SOUTH AFRICA, WHICH NOW POPULATE THE NON-UNITED NATIONS SEEKING HANDOUTS TO SUSTAIN THEIR PRESENT FORM OF NON-VIABLE NATIONHOOD, WHILE ATTACKING, VERBALLY, IF NOT LITERALLY, THE NATIONS, INSTITUTIONS AND CORPORATIONS WHICH PROVIDE THIS LARGESSE.  ONE IS REMINDED OF THE UNGRATEFUL ANIMAL THAT BIT THE HAND THAT FED HIM OR THOSE WHO KILLED THE AVIAN THAT PROVIDED A DAILY GOLDEN EGG. ONE WONDERS AT THE COLLECTIVE LACK OF WISDOM THAT THESE PROVIDERS EXHIBIT, BUT THAT IS ANOTHER TOPIC.
     
TO SUCCEED, THESE SELF-ANOINTED LATTER DAY SAINTS MUST GATHER THE MALCONTENTS, MOSTLY OF THE "HAVE NOT" VARIETY, AND CONVINCE THEM THAT THEY WILL HAVE A BETTER LIFE IF THEY WILL SACRIFICE THEIRS, FIGURATIVELY OR LITERALLY, FOR THE "CAUSE", A CATCH TWENTY-TWO, IF EVER THERE WAS ONE.  GIVEN THAT THESE UNSOPHISTICATED, UNEDUCATED AND GENERALLY NAÏVE INDIVIDUALS, NOT UNLIKE THE SMALL CHILDREN WHO ARE ENTICED INTO DANGEROUS SITUATIONS WITH THE PROMISE OF CANDY OR SOME SMALL APPEAL TO THEIR BETTER NATURE LIKE FINDING A LOST PUPPY, ARE EASILY MANIPULATED, IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THIS IS A RELATIVELY EASY PROCESS.
     
SINCE EXISTING FORMS OF GOVERNMENT GENERALLY DO NOT GO QUIETLY INTO THE NIGHT, GREAT EXPENDITURES OF TIME, MONEY, ENERGY AND LIVES (OF BOTH MALCONTENTS AND OPPORTUNISTS, WHETHER THE RESULT IS DEATH OR SIMPLY PREEMPTING OTHERWISE PRODUCTIVE ACTIVITIES OF INDIVIDUALS WHO SEEM TO HAVE NOTHING BETTER TO DO) ARE SACRIFICED EITHER ON A REGULAR BASIS, AS IN ELECTIONS, OR AS IS DEEMED OPPORTUNE BY ONE FACTION SEEKING TO IMPOSE THEIR "WAY OF LIFE" ON THOSE "LESS FORTUNATE SOULS" FOR THEIR OWN BENEFIT, OF COURSE.  THE VICTIMS ARE UNIVERSALLY THOSE WHO HAVE NOT SEEN THE LIGHT AS VIEWED BY THE PROSPECTIVE OPPRESSORS. THAT THIS SEEMS TO PARALLEL THE PRACTICES WITHIN VARIOUS RELIGIONS SEEMS IRONIC, BUT I DIGRESS.
     
TO THE EXISTING GOVERNMENTS, THOSE WHO SEEK CHANGE, OR AT LEAST THE RIGHT TO LIVE THEIR LIVES MARGINALLY FREE OF THE DICTATES OF THE GOVERNMENT WITH WHICH THEY TAKE UMBRAGE, ARE SEEN AS MORTAL ENEMIES AND MUST BE SO LABELED, DEMONIZED AND DESTROYED IN ORDER TO "PROTECT" THE EXISTING OPPRESSORS.  NAMES LIKE HUNS, INFIDELS, TRAITORS AND TERRORISTS AS WELL AS INDIVIDUALS THAT DON’T BELIEVE IN INTELLIGENT CREATION, OR WHO DO BELIEVE IN INDIVIDUAL LIBERTIES WITH RESPECT TO ABORTION AND END OF LIFE ISSUES, COME TO MIND.
     
I SEE WHERE POTUS BUSH THE SECOND IS AGAIN TELLING THE PUBLIC WHY WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO SUPPORT HIS WAR ON "TERRORISTS", NEE, THE COUNTRY OF IRAQ, WHICH WAS, OR SHOULD HAVE BEEN, RENDERED INCAPABLE OF BEING ANY VIABLE THREAT TO OUR NATION’S SECURITY IN A MATTER OF WEEKS AND AT MINIMAL COST.  IT IS NOT AS THOUGH WE HAVEN'T HEARD THIS BEFORE. STILL, ONE DOES NEED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE DANGER TO FREEDOM FROM TERRORISTS OF "ALL PERSUASIONS" TO CITIZENS OF ALL COUNTRIES, BE THEY IN THE LOST CONTINENT OF AFRICA, THE DISTANT ISLES OF THE PACIFIC OR AMONG THE MAJOR ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL POWERS AROUND THE WORLD.
     
PERHAPS, IT WOULD BE WELL TO IDENTIFY TERRORISTS AND THEIR "MODUS OPERANDI". UNFORTUNATELY, THAT HAS NOT BEEN CLEARLY STATED AND MAY NOT, IN FACT, BE POSSIBLE. ANY SUB-HUMAN BEING, OR GROUP OF THAT ILK, (IF BEING HUMAN MEANS ACCEPTING, OR AT LEAST TOLERATING, DIFFERENCES AND LIVING PEACEFULLY WITH OTHERS OF THE SAME SPECIES) WITH SUFFICIENT RESOURCES, BE IT A CLUB, SPEAR OR WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION, CAN AND DO TERRORIZE OTHERS WITHOUT THE STRENGTH OR WILL TO RESIST. THE NAME "TERRORIST" NEEDS TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED IN ITS BROADEST SENSE AS DOES THE FACT THAT ALL TERRORISTS DO NOT WEAR MASKS AND CARRY LETHAL WEAPONS, BUT MAY BE FOUND IN THE HALLS OF POWER WEARING SUITS, DRESSES, ROBES OR OTHER FORMS OF CULTURAL DRESS. ANYONE WHO SEEKS TO IMPOSE THEIR WILL ON OTHERS BY THE USE OF FORCE OR DECEPTION SEEMS TO FIT THE GENRE, BY DEFINITION, REGARDLESS OF THE METHODS EMPLOYED.
     
WHAT SEEMS TO WORRY THE POWERS THAT BE MOST ARE THOSE WHO WOULD REPLACE THE EXISTING FORMS OF GOVERNMENT OPPRESSION WITH THEIR OWN BRAND. A SECONDARY PREOCCUPATION CONCERNS THOSE WHO REFUSE TO PAY TRIBUTE AND/OR ABIDE BY THE EXISTING "RULES". FORTUNATELY, IT IS DIFFICULT FOR THOSE IN POWER TO GAIN MUCH SUPPORT FOR A WAR AGAINST ALL WHO DISAGREE WITH THE PRESENT POLICIES OF A GIVEN FORM OF GOVERNMENT THOUGH "POLICE ACTIONS" SEEM TO BE COMING INTO VOGUE. LABELING THOSE WHO WANT CHANGE AS TERRORISTS, INSURGENTS, A CULT, HIPPIES, REBELS, CRIMINALS, UNENLIGHTENED, OR A SPLINTER GROUP, AS NOTED ABOVE, IS DEEMED A STARTING POINT.
     
ONE SUPPOSES THAT THE GOOD KING GEORGE (OF ENGLAND) PROBABLY LABELED THE GOOD GENERAL GEORGE (OF THE COLONIES) AS SUCH A "PERSON OF INTEREST" AND THE COLONISTS AS A GROUP OF “INSURGENTS” WHEN THESE MALCONTENTS REFUSED TO PAY TAX ON THEIR TEA. OF COURSE, THIS IS REPUTED TO HAVE LED TO CERTAIN TERRORIST ACTS IN THE STILL "UNPROTECTED HARBORS” OF OUR NATION.  HISTORICALLY, THE OUTCOME OF A CONFRONTATION GENERALLY DETERMINES WHETHER THE THREAT TO THE STATUS QUO (TERRORISTS BEING THE OPERANT WORD TODAY) HAS BEEN DESTROYED OR WHETHER THE AFOREMENTIONED INSURGENTS ARE SUBSEQUENTLY DEFINED AS PATRIOTS, HEROES AND MARTYRS.
     
IN TIMES PAST, THE IDENTITIES OF SUCH THREATS WERE GENERALLY WELL KNOWN. THE LEADERS GATHERED TOGETHER THEIR CLAN, THEIR SPEARS AND CLUBS, FASHIONED A BANNER OF SORTS, TRUMPED UP SOME PRETEXT FOR ATTACK, BE IT THE HONOR OF HELEN, THE CRUSADES, THE GULF OF TONKIN, OR WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION, AND, CLAIMING THE BLESSING OF GOD, THE EMPEROR OR ALLAH, MARCHED OFF TO CONQUER SOME DEFINED POPULATION, E.G. KILL, MAIM AND SUBJUGATE THOSE UNABLE OR UNWILLING TO DEFEND THEMSELVES. IT IS INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT THESE SAME LEADERS WERE MORE THAN A LITTLE RELUCTANT TO ATTACK THOSE ABLE AND WILLING TO GIVE A GOOD ACCOUNT OF THEMSELVES DESPITE THE SAME PROVOCATION. THE AUTHOR IS REMINDED OF THE UNWRITTEN CODE OF THE PLAYGROUND BULLY.
     
ABOUT THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IN MODERN SOCIETY AND THE WOULD BE CONQUERORS OF THE PAST IS THE FACT THAT MODERN DAY  "LEADERS" ON BOTH SIDES, NOW INSULATE THEMSELVES, THEIR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS FROM THE ACTUAL CONFLICT AND SEND OTHERS TO DO THE FIGHTING AND DYING. THE ANCIENT CLASSIFICATION OF COWARD CAME TO MIND, BUT IT IS OBVIOUSLY MORE PRUDENT FOR THOSE IN POWER TO SEND OTHERS TO DO THEIR DIRTY WORK, SO I GUESS THERE HAS BEEN SOME "PROGRESS" IN STRATEGIC THINKING.
     
HAD LORD NELSON OR ALEXANDER THE GREAT ACQUIRED SUCH FORESIGHT, THEY MIGHT HAVE ENJOYED A QUIET AND LUXURIOUS RETIREMENT AS DID STALIN, IDI AMIN, AND L.B.J., AMONG COUNTLESS OTHERS. OF COURSE, THE WORLD MIGHT BE A FAR MORE PEACEFUL PLACE, IF THE LEADERS WHO DECLARE WAR AND THEIR FAMILIES WERE REQUIRED TO TAKE UP ARMS AND LEAD THE TROOPS INTO BATTLE. AT THAT POINT, EVEN THE AUTHOR MIGHT GIVE SOME CREDENCE TO THE PURPORTED NEED TO ATTACK THE LATEST “WANNABE OPPRESSOR” IN ORDER TO DEFEND WHATEVER FREEDOMS EXIST WITHIN THE GIVEN FORM OF GOVERNMENT.
     
THERE IS ALWAYS SEEMS TO BE A BREAKING POINT BEYOND WHICH THE POPULACE OF ANY COUNTRY WILL CEASE TO TOLERATE THE IMPOSITION OF GOVERNMENT DECREES AND WILL ACTIVELY WORK TO THROW THE SCOUNDRELS OUT BY WHATEVER MEANS ARE AVAILABLE, BE IT THE BALLOT BOX, THE NON-VIOLENT REBELLION OF GANDHI, OR THE VIOLENT OVERTHROW OF THE KINGS AND CZARS OF YORE, AS IS WONT TO HAPPEN WITH THE PETTY TYRANTS IN VARIOUS COUNTRIES TODAY.


WHEN COMPARED TO THE TEA TAX, IT IS INCREDIBLE TO THE AUTHOR THAT PRESENT CITIZENS HAVE BECOME SO COMPLACENT AS TO PERMIT THE ONEROUS TAXATION AND REPRESSION OF PRIVATE CONDUCT IN THIS COUNTRY OVER THE PAST HALF CENTURY. ONE COULD CONSTRUCT A LENGTHY TOME ON THE CURTAILMENT OF FORMER “FREEDOMS” WITHIN OUR OWN SOCIETY.  THAT IS NOT TO IMPLY THAT SOME OF THESE FREEDOMS MIGHT WELL HAVE BEEN COUNTERPRODUCTIVE TO THE WELFARE OF SOME SEGMENTS OF THE POPULATION, NOR THAT A SOCIETY SHOULD NOT EXAMINE ITS PRESENT VALUES AND BELIEFS IN THE LIGHT OF NEW KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING.  HOWEVER, IT IS THOUGHT THAT A NUMBER OF THESE CONSTRAINTS BEAR LITTLE RESEMBLANCE TO REASON AND FALL MORE IN THE CATEGORY OF “DOING IT BECAUSE I CAN”.
     
GIVEN THE PRESENT WAR ON TERRORISM, IT IS NOT DIFFICULT TO ARGUE THAT IT WAS ILL CONCEIVED, POORLY EXECUTED AND FAILED IN ITS STATED PURPOSE, E.G. TO FIND THE TERRORISTS AND/OR DESTROY WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION, AS I REMEMBER. IT IS NOW BEING JUSTIFIED ON SOME RATHER FLIMSY PRETEXTS OF BRINGING FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY TO THE WORLD, BEGINNING WITH IRAQ.  TO THE DETACHED OBSERVER, THE "FOOT SOLDIERS" WHO ACTUALLY ATTACKED THE UNITED STATES HAVE BEEN DEALT WITH, TO THE EXTENT THAT HUMAN EXISTENCE PERMITS, ALBEIT OF THEIR OWN CHOOSING. THOSE THAT SUPPORTED THEM SEEM TO BE STRANGELY ABSENT FROM THE DOCKETS OF THE UNITED STATES OR WORLD COURTS, AND THE KILLING CONTINUES APACE, WITH BOTH SIDES CLAIMING TO FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT AS MANDATED BY GOD OR ALLAH, DEPENDING ON WHOM IS INTERPRETING THE ALMIGHTY.
     
LIKE THE CONFLICT BETWEEN THE ARABS AND THE JEWS, NEITHER SIDE IS WINNING, NOR CAN THEY, UNTIL ONE OR THE OTHER CAPITULATES. THE AUTHOR HAS LITTLE USE FOR SENSELESS KILLING OVER MEANINGLESS REAL ESTATE, UNLESS, OF COURSE, ONE BELIEVES THAT GOD, OR ALLAH, RESIDES IN THIS OR THAT PILE OF RUBBLE. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT IT IS FAR BETTER TO EXAMINE WHAT LIES IN THE HEARTS AND SOULS OF HUMANS.
     
GOVERNMENT, HAVING FAILED TO CLEARLY IDENTIFY THE SOURCES OF DANGER AND HAVING FAILED TO LOCATE A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF THESE SUB-HUMANS, OR TO SUMMARILY DEAL WITH THOSE WHO WERE APPREHENDED, HAVE LEFT THE VICTIMS, BE THEY IN BOSNIA, BAGHDAD, KOSOVO OR NEW YORK TO WATCH IN TOTAL FRUSTRATION AND CONTEMPT, A WAR OF WORDS BETWEEN SLICK LEGAL ENTITIES IN A PLETHORA OF JUDICIAL CARNIVALS.  ONE LONGS FOR THE PREVIOUS “LAW OF THE OLD WEST”, WHERE THE GUILTY WERE GIVEN A FAIR TRIAL AND IMMEDIATELY HANGED.  WERE IT NOT FOR THE TRAGIC REALITIES OF THE CRIMES, THE JUDICIAL CARNIVALS WOULD BE NOT SO GREAT FODDER FOR AN ENDLESS MINISERIES. IN EFFECT, THE CIVILIZED WORLD NOW GIVES AID AND COMFORT (ENCOURAGEMENT?) TO THOSE WHO WOULD DESTROY IT.
     
WHAT IS OCCURRING IN THE VARIOUS COURTS AROUND THE WORLD ONCE AGAIN EMPHASIZES THE SELF-IMPOSED, BUT QUITE PROFITABLE, LEGAL IMPOTENCE OF SOCIETY AGAINST THOSE WHO WOULD CREATE CHAOS IN THE WORLD. ONE MAY HAVE INFINITE PATIENCE WITH THE INCOMPETENCE AND BUNGLING OF VARIOUS BUREAUCRATS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, WHO’S PRIMARY INTEREST OBVIOUSLY LIES IN FEATHERING THEIR OWN NESTS, RATHER THAN SERVING THEIR CONSTITUENCIES (THE GENERAL POPULATION) IRRESPECTIVE OF THE FORM OF GOVERNMENT, HOWEVER, WHEN AN INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP OF "TERRORISTS" BEGIN TO ANNIHILATE OTHERS THROUGH THE USE OF EXPLOSIVES, ABC WARFARE, STARVATION, INTIMIDATION THROUGH MURDER, RAPE AND TORTURE, OR THREATS THEREOF, PERHAPS IT IS TIME TO CALL THESE PERPETRATORS TO ACCOUNT FOR THEIR ACTIONS WITH CONSIDERABLY LESS CONCERN FOR THE "NICETIES" OF CIVILIZATION. DOES VIGILANTE JUSTICE SEEM TOO EXTREME?
     
INSOFAR AS THE AUTHOR KNOWS, NO ONE HAS APPOINTED ONE POPULATION TO INTERVENE IN THE CHOICES AND TRIBULATIONS OF OTHER POPULATIONS. UNFORTUNATELY, THE FARCE THAT EVOLVED IN NEW YORK FOLLOWING WORLD WAR II, WHERE WE ESSENTIALLY HAVE THE FOXES WATCHING THE CHICKENS IN THE NAME OF WORLD ORDER, OFFERS LITTLE HOPE FOR DEALING WITH THESE SUB-HUMANS, BE THEY OUTSIDE THE NOMINAL GOVERNMENTS, OR INSIDE, AS SEEMS TO BE THE CASE IN ANY NUMBER OF GOVERNMENTS, NOT EXCLUSIVELY LIMITED TO THE THIRD WORLD VARIETY.
     
APOLOGISTS FOR THE EXISTING DILEMMA, CORRECTLY CITE THE TRUISM THAT THOSE WHO HAVE NO CONCERN FOR THEIR OWN SURVIVAL HAVE THE ABILITY TO WREAK HAVOC ON OTHERS. HOWEVER, THERE ARE THOSE IN VIET NAM, TIANANMEN SQUARE, BOSNIA, AFRICA, NORTH KOREA, CHILE, VARIOUS CARIBBEAN ISLANDS AND EVEN IN SELMA, WACO OR OKALAHOMA CITY WHO KNOW ALL TOO WELL IT IS POSSIBLE FOR "TERRORISTS", AS HEREIN DEFINED, TO WREAK HAVOC, WITH A GOOD POSSIBILITY OF ESCAPING THE CONSEQUENCES OR, TO DEFER OR MINIMIZE THOSE CONSEQUENCES FOR AN INDEFINITE PERIOD OF TIME, EVEN UNTO A LUXURIOUS LIFE AND NATURAL DEATH IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY OR WITH A TIMELY RETIREMENT, INCLUDING FULL BENEFITS, IN THEIR OWN COUNTRY.
     
THE ABILITY TO SURVIVE AND PURSUE ONES SELF INTEREST BECOMES THE ESSENCE OF FREEDOM AND IS AVAILABLE TO SOME DEGREE WITHIN EVERY GOVERNMENT, BE IT DEMOCRACY, SOCIALISM, DICTATORSHIP OR COMMUNIST. BY ACCIDENT OF BIRTH, ONE ENCOUNTERS A SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT WITH WHICH HE OR SHE MUST COPE. THOSE WHO ARE ADEPT AT MANAGING THEIR LIVES, WITHIN THAT SYSTEM, SURVIVE. THOSE WHO DO NOT PROSPER, FIND THEMSELVES AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PECKING ORDER WITH CONSIDERABLY LESS FREEDOM THAN THEY DESIRE, WHICH ACCOUNTS, IN LARGE MEASURE FOR THE ORIGINS OF OUR NATION AND CONTEMPORARY IMMIGRATION, BOTH LEGAL AND ILLEGAL.
     
IT IS SUGGESTED THAT MANY FEEL A STRONG SENSE OF LIMITED FREEDOM UNDER THE PRESENT DEMOCRATIC SYSTEMS, WHICH SOME COUNTRIES NOW WISH TO FOIST ON NON-DEMOCRATIC COUNTRIES, DESPITE THE FACT THAT THESE COUNTRIES, IN ALL PROBABILITY, DO NOT WANT AND ARE NOT PREPARED TO SUSTAIN. THE IMPOSITION OF AN ALIEN FORM OF GOVERNMENT IS OBVIOUSLY NOT POSSIBLE WITHOUT CONSIDERABLE ECONOMIC AND MILITARY SUPPORT FROM THE OUTSIDE. WHAT A WONDERFUL BURDEN THAT HAS BECOME OVER THE LAST HALF CENTURY TO THE USSR IN EUROPE, AFRICA AND THE CARIBBEAN AND TO THE UNITED STATES IN EASTERN EUROPE, AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST! WHILE OUR INFRASTRUCTURE COLLAPSES, POVERTY CONTINUES AND HEALTH CARE FOR MILLIONS REMAINS ONLY A DREAM, TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND HOURS, TO SAY NOTHING OF NUMEROUS LIVES, ARE BEING “OUTSOURCED” TO BENEFIT OTHER COUNTRIES AND THEIR POPULATIONS.
     
WHETHER ONE WEARS LONG ROBES AND A FACE MASK (CHADOR?) OR A MINI SKIRT HAS LITTLE BEARING ON FREEDOM AND SEEMS MORE RELATED TO THE EVOLUTION OF THE CULTURE THAN TO GOVERNMENT PROCLIVITIES. OF COURSE, GOVERNMENTS DO SEEM TO BE THE ENFORCEMENT ARM OF THE CULTURE MONGERS, EVEN IF THEY GENERALLY LAG ABOUT TWO GENERATIONS BEHIND IN MODIFYING THE REGULATIONS. EXPENDITURES OF TIME AND MONEY IN THESE EFFORTS DEFY QUANTIFICATION, BUT WOULD SURELY ERASE THE NATIONAL DEBT IN SHORT ORDER. LIKEWISE, REAL FREEDOM, DOES NOT SEEM TO BE RELATED TO THE RACE OR GENDER OF THE MASSES PERMITTED TO VOTE, WHEN THE CHOICES ARE ARTIFICIALLY MANIPULATED, AS ARE THE CHOICES OFFERED BY THE POWER BROKERS WITHIN THE ONE PARTY SYSTEM, OR THE TWO PARTY SYSTEM FOR THAT MATTER.
     
THE PREVAILING WISDOM OF VOTING RIGHTS FOR ALL, SIMPLY BECAUSE ONE WAS BORN, WAS NOT ENVISIONED BY THE FRAMERS OF THE CONSTITUTION AND THE AUTHOR IS NOT AWARE OF ANY SIGNIFICANT EXPANSION OF FREEDOM WHEN BOTH GENDERS AND ALL RACES AND ETHNIC GROUPS WERE FINALLY PERMITTED TO VOTE AND HOLD OFFICE. ON THE CONTRARY, CORRUPTION, INCOMPETENCE, AND INDIFFERENCE CONTINUE APACE AND THERE SEEMS TO BE LITTLE GENDER OR RACIAL DIFFERENCE IN THE CONDUCT OF THE "INS". NEARLY ALL ARE SELF-SERVING AND ADDICTED TO TURNING THE IDEA OF PUBLIC SERVICE TO OTHERS ON ITS PROVERBIAL EAR, BY USING THE SYSTEM TO CREATE FOR THEMSELVES A LIFETIME OF POWER AND MONEY AT THE EXPENSE OF THE SUBSERVIENT POPULATION.
     
OF COURSE, OPEN DICTATORSHIPS AVOID THE WASTE OF TIME, MONEY AND ENERGY INVOLVED IN VOTING BY ELIMINATING THE CHARADE ALTOGETHER. PERHAPS, THE ART OF POLITICS HAS BEEN ELEVATED TO THE POINT WHERE RELATIVELY CLUELESS MASSES CAN BE DECEIVED INTO THINKING THEY ARE FREE, IF ONLY TO ELECT ONE BRAND OF OPPRESSOR INSTEAD OF THE OTHER, SO LONG AS THE "GOVERNMENT" DOES NOT CROSS THAT IMPERCEPTIBLE BREAKING POINT.
     
THE IDEA, LONG DISCARDED, THAT ONLY INTELLIGENT, EDUCATED AND INFORMED PERSONS SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO VOTE HELD THE VAIN PROMISE OF ELECTING A HIGHER CLASS OF SCOUNDRELS. UNFORTUNATELY, FOR THE "INS", CITIZENS WITH THOSE QUALIFICATIONS ARE MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO DECEIVE.  SO LONG AS THE UNINFORMED MASSES CAN BE PERSUADED BY EMPTY PROMISES (LIES?)OF A BETTER LIFE, THE TURNOVER IN ELECTED GOVERNMENTS WILL REMAIN ABOUT THE SAME AS IN DICTATORSHIPS, BUT THAT IS ANOTHER TOPIC.
     
ALL FORMS OF GOVERNMENT OFFER SOME STABILITY AND SOME FREEDOM WHILE EXTRACTING A HIGH PRICE FROM THE GOVERNED TO LINE THEIR OWN POCKETS. THE COST/BENEFIT RATIO, IN TERMS OF PURSUING ONES OWN SELF-INTEREST AND REAPING THE BENEFITS OF THAT LABOR, IS DEEMED FREEDOM.  INTERESTINGLY, THE PATTERNS OF MIGRATION GIVE SOME CLUE AS TO WHICH GOVERNMENTS ARE OFFERING MORE AND EXTRACTING LESS, OR AT LEAST, CREATING THE ILLUSION OF THIS. FEW ARE ENGAGED IN ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION TO THE CONTINENT OF AFRICA OR THE NORTH KOREAN PENINSULA, WHILE MANY ARE INVADING WESTERN EUROPE AND THE NORTH AMERICAN CONTINENT. WILL CHINA AND INDIA BE NEXT? STILL, THESE IMMIGRANTS, HUMAN THOUGH THEY BE, WITH FEW SKILLS, LITTLE EDUCATION AND A PROPENSITY TO PROCREATE WILL EVENTUALLY UNDERMINE THE VERY COUNTRIES THEY SEEK TO ACCESS, WHICH IS ALSO ANOTHER TOPIC.
     
IF A COUNTRY OR ORGANIZATION, SUBSCRIBES TO ANOTHER FORM OF OPPRESSION AND POSE A VERIFIABLE RISK TO THIS COUNTRY, IT IS SUGGESTED THAT A REASONABLE GOAL SHOULD BE TO DESTROY THAT THREAT, SIMILAR TO STAMPING OUT A VIRULENT STRAIN OF DISEASE OR RIDDING THE AREA OF RATTLESNAKES. IT DOES NOT SEEM REASONABLE TO "IMPOSE" OUR FORM OF GOVERNMENT ON THE OFFENDING NATION OR BAND OF TERRORISTS, NOR ARE WE REQUIRED TO ASSUME THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE UNFORTUNATE POPULATION WHO BROUGHT TO POWER AND/OR PERMITTED THIS FORM OF TYRANNY TO EXIST.
     
ONE WITH POWER, BE IT A PERSON, A CORPORATION, A STATE OR NATION, MUST USE THIS POWER JUDICIOUSLY. STILL, OF THOSE TO WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN, MUCH IS REQUIRED. AS AN ORDINARY CITIZEN, ONE COULD FIND NO FAULT WITH GOING INTO ANY COUNTRY OR SEARCHING OUT ANY GROUP DEVELOPING, OR CAPABLE OF DEVELOPING, WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION WHICH COULD (AND PROBABLY WOULD) BE USED AGAINST US IN THE FUTURE. HOWEVER, AFTER GOING IN, LOOKING AROUND, AND DESTROYING THE REGIME AND THOSE CAPABILITIES, IT WOULD BE WELL TO LET THE "LIBERATED" COUNTRY DEAL WITH THEIR OWN INTERNAL RESPONSIBILITIES OF SELF-GOVERNANCE, WITHOUT INTERFERING IN THE PROCESS.
     
AT LEAST ONE ROOSEVELT GOT IT RIGHT. "SPEAK SOFTLY AND CARRY A BIG STICK". IT IS THE ONE PROVEN FOREIGN POLICY THAT OTHERS (ESPECIALLY DICTATORS AND TERRORISTS) UNDERSTAND. A WAR SHOULD DEFINITELY BE THE LAST RESORT, BUT, IF IT IS FOUGHT, IT SHOULD BE FOUGHT TO WIN. THOSE WHO THINK WARS CAN OR SHOULD BE FOUGHT LIKE A SPORTING EVENT OR A BOXING MATCH, WITH MARQUIS OF QUEENSBURY RULES BY WHICH ALL SIDES AGREE TO ABIDE, RANK AMONG THE MOST NAIVE OF ALL GOD'S CHILDREN. OBVIOUSLY, THE CHILDREN OF ALLAH HAVE LEARNED THAT FACT OF LIFE.
     
TERRORISTS, AND ALL OF THE OTHER ENEMIES OF THIS COUNTRY THAT THE AUTHOR CAN REMEMBER, HAVE NEVER ABIDED BY THESE RULES AND ONLY USE THEM FOR PROPAGANDA TO FURTHER THEIR OWN INTERESTS. FIGHTING, KILLING AND DYING IS NOT A "GAME". IT IS EITHER VITAL TO SURVIVAL OR IT IS NOT NECESSARY. NO QUARTER IS ASKED AND NONE IS GIVEN.
     
JUST AS ISRAEL MUST ABSORB A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF LOSSES IN ORDER TO SURVIVE, THE UNITED STATES NEEDS TO BE PREPARED, SOONER, RATHER THAN LATER, TO DO THE SAME. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT IS LUDICROUS TO THINK THAT THE POPULATION UNDER ATTACK SHOULD NOT EXTRACT A SUFFICIENT PRICE FROM THE TERRORISTS TO DETER THE AGGRESSORS (AND THEIR LEADERS, SINCE LEADERS, FAMILIES AND FRIENDS DON'T FIGHT, REMEMBER?) FROM INSTIGATING SUCH ATTACKS AGAIN, BUT I DIGRESS.
     
REMEMBER, ALL GOVERNMENTS, TO WHATEVER EXTENT POSSIBLE, LIMIT THE FREEDOMS OF THEIR CITIZENS WHILE EXTRACTING WHATEVER BENEFITS THEY CAN FOR THEIR OWN PERSONAL COMFORT OR EGOTISTICAL PLACE IN HISTORY. THAT THE PRICE OF FREEDOM IS ETERNAL VIGILANCE IS ACKNOWLEDGED, BE IT AGAINST EXTERNAL ENEMIES OR THOSE OF THE INTERNAL VARIETY.
     
THE AUTHOR DOES ACKNOWLEDGE THAT SOME FORM OF GOVERNMENT IS THE NECESSARILY EVIL ALTERNATIVE TO ANARCHY. FROM THIS PERCEPTION, THE MOST LIMITED FORM OF GOVERNMENT IS PROBABLY THE BEST. TRAGICALLY, THE RUSH TO HAVE GOVERNMENT ASSUME ALL OF THE RESPONSIBILITIES THAT INDIVIDUALS SHOULD ASSUME, IS WHAT GIVES RISE TO OVERWHELMING GOVERNMENT POWERS, PERPETUATES THE LIMITS ON FREEDOM AND EXTRACTS SUCH A HIGH PRICE FROM THE GENERAL POPULATION. IN THIS COUNTRY, THE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO BE HIGHLY BENEFICIAL, AND IS ASTUTELY EXPLOITED, BY THE BURGEONING LEGAL POPULATION FOR THEIR OWN BENEFIT.


WHY DO VULTURES COME TO MIND?


ENJOY!  TOM