Author: Thomas C. Weiss
Published: Tuesday 9th December 2014
Summary: America is morally impoverished. Racism, sexism, anti-LGBT and anti-disability sentiment remain incredibly prevalent.
The deaths of several Black Americans at the hands of gun-happy police officers in this nation finds many people wondering just where the concepts of peace and equality disappeared to. Unarmed and even handcuffed citizens of America have been beaten by police officers. Grand Juries in America simply nod and let the offenders who killed and beat citizens in the name of the law just walk away. One woman who was beaten by police was pregnant and handcuffed when the police officer hit her so hard in her face he broke the bone around her eye; no charges have been filed against the police officer.
Some may point and say, 'sounds like a big city problem.' It most certainly is not - police officers from the small town of Cortez, Colorado, when faced with a man who is mentally ill, repeatedly used a stun gun on him. Five of the seven times the police in Cortez used the stun gun on this man he was handcuffed. Very serious issues exist with the police departments of America - all of them. It appears the police in America have a, 'Get Away With Any Kind of Violence,' card.
America is morally impoverished. Racism, sexism, anti-LGBT and anti-disability sentiment remain incredibly prevalent, despite endless years of efforts by many to end these offenses against America's very defining documents. The melting pot this nation is supposed to be is grotesquely marred by the actions of hateful, bigoted, sexist and frankly - awful mistreatment of certain populations in America. It has reached a boiling point, one the U.S. Government as a whole cannot afford to ignore or set aside any longer.
While responding to an article concerning the actions of the police, a strong sign of what is so wrong appeared in the form of a comment from a person who is afraid they will lose everything if equality, as described by the founders of this nation, were to exist. The person said to me:
"My guess is you feel that somebody like myself who has worked hard all my life to get what I have owes you a living, right? Move to Russia if you want to see how a totally equal society works. My guess you will be back here in no time."
I could only respond to this person by telling them that I too worked all my life to get what I have. I told this person that I'm glad they feel America is working for them and wished them a good day. Yet what is this person so deeply afraid of? I wonder if they have a mansion on the lake, a couple of Ferrari's, perhaps vacation property at Martha's Vineyard? Even if they do, is property worth more than human life in their eyes? Bear in mind that the vast majority of Americans do not have such property.
A Government Incapable
People are waiting for the U.S. Government to stop focusing on war, corporate profits, Wall Street and more and start concentrating on the needs of the citizens of this nation; yet we have continually gone ignored. One of the latest offenses? Check this out - it is unclear whether the fiduciary duty law or the derivatives language will make the final House budget bill, or whether the Senate will include either of these in its own legislation. If Congress fails to vote to fund the government by Thursday, the government will shut down yet again - leaving large numbers of veterans, people with disabilities and others wondering why they should have any kind of trust in the U.S. Government.
If the U.S. Government shuts down yet again, I will be left to wonder just how many people will consider such a shutdown to be permanent. There is no longer any reason for certain populations to have any level of faith or trust in the government. The government of America cannot seem to:
As well as many other things. The U.S. Government seems to thrive on violence of many types such as poverty, physical violence, war, torture, hatred of certain populations in this nation and more. Perceptions on the parts of the leadership of America too often include demeaning, abusive justifications of their own bigotry. What did the founding fathers say about equality in America?
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. - That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, - That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness." - The Founding Fathers
The time is definitely here; the People of America MUST take it upon ourselves to put an end to the senseless, abusive treatment of the citizens of this nation. Police officers are depriving people of everything the founding fathers described - Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. Government officials; political leaders, are abusing their powers to the point where corporations have far more rights than your average citizen of this nation.
Re-defining the Term, 'Poverty'
When people encounter the term, 'poverty,' they often times visualize a financially destitute person or family living in horrible conditions. I suggest it is time to re-define the term, 'poverty,' because it is the leadership of America that is truly impoverished. The leaders of America are so morally impoverished it is impossible to view them with anything less than disgust and utter pity. Perhaps the founding fathers are right and it is time for the People of America to exercise their right to change the U.S. Government to one that serves our well-being and rights.
The U.S. Government is in serious trouble and it knows it. There is no more time for in-fighting among politicians or the people of America. If the government is incapable of performing for the benefit of Americans, it is time to replace it with a government that is capable. If the government continues to allow the killing of unarmed citizens, if it continues to pander to large corporations instead of presenting the equality this entire nation is supposed to be about - then it is Definitely Time.
The whole of America is comprised of its parts, every single one of them. When parts such as people who struggle each day to pay bills are neglected, the whole of America suffers very greatly. System failure, or the potential for it, enters the picture when the system is not in balance. Due to the fact that the American system is not in balance, every single American should indeed be very highly concerned.
Cortez police accused of using excessive force
http://www.kktv.com/home/headlines/Cortez-police-accused-of-using-excessive-force-285020871.html
Obama: America's 'Deeply Rooted' Racism Will Take Time To Tackle
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/12/07/obama-bet-interview_n_6283656.html
Government Shutdown Talks May Gut Retirement Security Rule
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/12/05/government-shutdown-retirement-rule_n_6279006.html
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