With the election being a little more than a month away, the airways have been inundated with political talk shows; op-ed’s, call-in’s, write-in’s, you name it! The thing that strikes me about politics lately is the hypocrisy that exist in media these days and the lack of understanding of our own history.
Since the Republican’s hold the White House let me talk about them for a second.
Traditionally, the Republican Party have been for a small federal government; fiscal responsible spending [they were always at odds with Democrats and their social welfare programs]; and they were the ones who were considered the ‘elitist party’ always nominating the ‘best and the brightest’. Why the Republican Party has since changed their mantra is an essay for another time. I hear cries of ‘foul! And’ traitor!’ here. [The Democrats too have changed but I have to keep this under 740 words, a critique for another time.] We have become so decisive that nobody can challenge another person’s view any more without being called a traitor to their country. Nothing could be more patriotic than challenging each other’s views to do better. As Thomas Jefferson said ‘Dissent is the highest form of patriotism.’ We were founded and created on the idea that there will always be a struggle on how this country should work. The role of Congress and our Federal Government is to freely exchange those ideas to protect our society ‘as a whole’ and to uphold the US Constitution. The role of religion in politics is… that there should be none. This country was not founded on Christian ideals as some would have you believe. It is true that many of the Founding Fathers were Christian. However, they fled England precisely because of religious persecution. They knew there was no room for religion in politics. Religion was meant to be a moral guide at best. Not an institution of which to bend the Constitution’s ideals around to fit a religious agenda. The New World would be a melting pot of ideas, religion, and customs. What makes this country great is the influx of different people from around the world on the idea that with hard work anything is possible. I’d ask yourself if you really think those ideals still exist? We have become a two-tiered nation. The have’s and the have-not’s. [In my view, unless you’re making a minimum of mid-six figure income, the Republican Party does not represent you.]. I hear ‘Traitor’ again.
People now a days, can’t see the candidates as themselves-only people in red and blue. Strip away the labels and stop listening to opinionated radio shows and definitely stop watching tv news programs. The media knows no bounds when covering a candidate. However, if anybody is ‘the pot calling the kettle black’, it’s the right not the left. These shameless tactics have been exploring new lows- and it’s something we all learned recently under the Republican Rule and their ‘Swift boat’ tactics. Say what you will about the left media, it’s the right as exemplified by Fox, that have stooped to new lows in what it calls ‘news’ these past several years. The simple truth is everyone is guilty, Fox news, as well as MSNBC and the rest. Some of it isn’t even substantiated news but mere gossip. They both grossly distort news to fit their parent company’s political views. Hey! Here’s a news flash: “You’re not watching news people! You’re watching political advertisements!” However, maybe we get what we deserve? Maybe the media distorts and take things out of context because us people are dumb enough to believe it? If you want to know what’s going in the world, go read a newspaper. If you want to make an informed and balance decision, go read several newspapers from both left and right views.
This election day, don’t ask yourself what Party is he in- but ask yourself what role do you see the federal Government playing and does that candidate best fit our Society’s needs? The next President will truly have a daunting task ahead of him. He will need to get control of an unwieldy federal government that’s resistant to change; rebuild working relationships here at home as well as abroad; jump start our economy; tackle our dependence on oil; invest in alternative fuels; reduce our enormous debt ; all the while strengthen our military to protect us from terrorist threats abroad. Both candidates will be an improvement from our current President…but which one will get us to where we need to be faster?
“I love America more than any other country in this world, and, exactly for this reason, I insist on the right to criticize her perpetually.”
- James Baldwin, Notes of a Native Son
Architectural and fine art photographer…
however, the best way to explain what I do- is to show you:
