The Little Manual of Civil Unrest & The Restructuring of United States Politics by Glen Mason Dec. 19, 2000 In 1776 our Founding Fathers created the framework for a revolutionary new political system. A system based upon trust, honesty, and the respect of our fellow man. A system that not only allowed for changing times, but advocated change. But even the greatest ideas can be polluted by the corruption of man's greed and selfishness. Thus the current manifestation of this ideology has been poisoned by the corporations, the wealthy, and the legislators who manipulate the system to do their bidding. While they are few in numbers, they are immutable in power. Our legislators are nothing more than professional lawyers trained in the art of rhetoric and manipulation. They are self-serving power-brokers that line their pockets with the sweat of the common man. Our current political machine was formed only after war. The Founding Fathers fought against the chains of tyranny and oppression. In their wisdom they made allowances for change. They knew that if the system became mired in deceit and corruption that it must be salvaged by an overthrowing of those in p ower. We have passed this point and the heart of every American citizen beats to this truth. Yet the average man can do nothing. One man can no longer make the changes necessary to bring the spirit of our original Constitution and Bill of Rights back to the forefront of politics. The division among our citizens has grown into an unbridgable chasm. We have seen first-hand that our vote no longer counts, and our voices have been silenced by back-pedaling lawyers that make careers of broken promises. No law-abiding citizen wants to partake in civil disobedience. We would rather be left alone to live in a manner of our own choosing. We would rather have the freedom to pursue individual goals. To create individual lives of happiness and prosperity. But the American Dream has become nothing more than a facade. A delusional rambling of the politically-controlled media. The current political arena no longer contains the flexibility to adapt to changing times. It has become stiff from the layers of legislative rules imposed upon its citizens. The freedom our veterans fought for has become the bondage that we now live under. What then of trying to repair the damaged system? Truly our Founding Fathers built checks, balances and safety valves into the framework of our Constitution. These were all designed so that the system could right itself if it became capsized like it has in these current times. Why can't we use these devices? It is simply because corruption runs rampant from the lowest level of government to the highest. Politics has become controlled by money. Money elects, governs, and runs our current politics. Those of influence do not advocate change for fear of losing what they possess. Those without money are paid lip-service. Kept quiet for fear of unrest. If one were to advocate a far-reaching change to the system they would be thrown in jail for treason. If the citizens today were to undertake a revolt similar to the one of our Founding Fathers they would be executed by the military. We are faced with a temporarily unsolvable dilemma. Political unrest grows daily with the burgeoning awareness of political corruption. This awareness is spreading faster than the media machine can stop it. But our propaganda machine is truly one of the most devious and well-organized influences in the world. One only needs to travel outside of the United States to realize how ignorant we are of the world around us. We are spoon-fed exactly what our leaders want us to think. Society is formed from the ideals that have been ingratiated into our individual lives. But society is eroding rapidly. It is no wonder that our adolescents seem to lack the moral fiber our elderly were raised upon. How can we expect the ensuing generations to be honest, caring, and respectful in the face of hypocrisy by their very leaders? They are pulled in two directions. From the one side they are told to behave in a certain manner, and on the other side they are presented with the behavior that is rewarded. Entertainers, be they actors, sports stars or other, are compensated like royalty. To be educated, work hard, pay taxes, and live in the politically correct manner no longer guarantees anything of substance. Corporate greed in the form of mergers, aquisitions, and shareholder returns places profit first and people second. Employee morale and loyalty are gone in American business. None of this comes as a surprise to the average citizen. Nothing here is new. Change will only take place when enough people are tired of the delusion. Only when a substantial portion of the population is able to see through the political brainwashing and realize that nothing will ever come about until they become involved. This flies in the face of the hands-off politics that has been advocated by our contemporary leaders. We are told to vote, but are encouraged to do nothing further. The current government rests easy on the knowledge that most of its citizens will never do anything more than going to work and begrudgingly paying taxes. Minor revolts can be readily handled by the military or political espionage. Voices in the wilderness are quickly extinguished like campfires before they can burn the forest. In this age intimidation and frustration have become the rules that we live by. Fear of our government is alive and well. Those in power have a different fear. They are terrified of losing their authority and self-imposed supremacy. It takes a man with a very low regard of his fellow creatures to live in unimaginable prosperity while so many struggle daily for food and shelter on the street. The rich regard our homeless population with contempt. They complain to law enforcement about the eyesore. The homeless to them are nothing more than a reminder of their own inaction. It is guilt that they feel as they pass people sleeping on the sidewalk. Many citizens want government to address the homeless and other such problems, but the government could care less. How can a homeless person vote when they have no address to register? Our leaders know which of its constituency to coddle and which to pay lip-service, and even those citizens to ignore. If you want to address issues such as homlessness, absence of health services, spiraling taxes, etc. look no further than your leaders and the corruption they have wrapped around them like a protective blanket. When we the people bring compassion, honesty, trust, and selfless service back to the leadership of this country we will once again be able to enjoy life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Until that time it will be business as usual. Many will sit idled by fear while their neighbors are evicted by the IRS or watch helplessly as some live in excess as others go without. If airing my voice subjects me to the dangers of imprisonment or death than I shall air it in full cognizance of this fact. I no longer desire to live in the midst of tyranny and corruption. Bring to me what may come.
