Conspirators, Confederates, and Cronies was written as a blog in 2006 following the release of American Theocracy: The Peril and Politics of Radical Religion, Oil, and Borrowed Money in the 21st Century by Kevin Phillips.
Cliff Potts -- May 28, 2014
Cliff Potts -- May 28, 2014
Notes From the Past
This nation came into existence as an independent sovereign nation state in July of 1776. After much wrangling and debate, our founding fathers decided that it was time to separate from the parent nation of Great Britain. Among those to voice their opinions were Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin. It is to their words that we need to look to find the ideal upon which this nation was founded.
The republican is the only form of government, which is not eternally at open or secret war with the rights of mankind. -- Thomas Jefferson, Letter to William Hunter, March 11, 1790
Is this what we have seen in Washington, D.C. since Mr. Bush took the Oval Office in 2001? This administration has indeed been at war with civil liberties since rogue pirates bent on religious suicide, or duped into it, attacked New York and Washington, D.C. By this statement alone, we have to pause and think…have we lost our republic?
Blissfully Ignorant
If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expect what never was and never will be. -- Thomas Jefferson, Letter to Colonel Charles Yancy, January 6, 1816.
If there is any one point where we have failed, it is in educating ourselves about the threats that we face as a nation today. We cannot listen to brusque insults on talk radio and consider it knowledge. That is only the voice of the bully in the school yard that calls out in intimidation. We cannot continue to pay the bully. If we do, we will again enslave ourselves to a dark master.
Every Form of Tyranny
I have sworn upon the altar of God, eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man. -- Thomas Jefferson, Letter to Dr. Benjamin Rush, September 23, 1809
In the push towards the diminishing of science in favor of religious superstition based on biblical literacy, we willfully have become enslaved to a tyrannical religious expression that defines enlightenment and progress as sins. We are told not to learn, not to grow, and in this ignorance, we are enslaved to the masters of propaganda, the masters of the lie.
Merchandising
Merchants have no country. The mere spot they stand on does not constitute so strong an attachment as that from which they draw their gains. -- Thomas Jefferson, Letter to Horatio G. Spafford, March 17, 1814
Is it any wonder that so many companies have blindly abandoned the commerce and skills of the nation’s workers in the blind quest for additional gain? What is it to them that they foist economic deprivation upon the people? They have no allegiance to anything that is not gainful acquisition. We are told to trust them, trust their judgment, trust the government they brought to the nation, yet they have no concern for this nation. Do not mistake them as patriots. They are not. Their only flag, their only alliance, is to the money that is held in secret accounts.
Remember that Falwell and Robertson are primarily merchants of religion. They have sold this nation out to the corrupted, twisted, angry hateful version of God who calls you to repentance where no sin exists. You were called to be free, to think for yourself, to strive to make yourself the best you can be. These men chose to condemn you for your freedom.
The Care of Human Life
The care of human life and happiness, and not their destruction, is the first and only legitimate object of good government. -- Thomas Jefferson, To the Republican Citizens of Washington County, Maryland, March 31, 1809
Happiness is something that people don’t speak of much. We talk of troubles. We talk of “issues.” We do not talk of happiness. As to “the care of human life,” what can be said? As long the corporation exists in this neo-feudalist [Capitalist] society, human life will be the cheapest commodity on the face of the earth. Recent television advertisements want us to think that corporations consider the employee their most valued asset. However, the same company running the ads is the forerunner in outsourcing of services. It is past time that the tyrants of commerce, married to the religion of ignorance, are overthrown by the raw will of all the citizens. The few, powerful, opportunists do not have the liberty to bleed the nation’s resources. The only legitimate reason for which our government exists is the harmony of all its citizens on an individual level.
Untouchable
The fundamental article of my political creed is that despotism, or unlimited sovereignty, or absolute power, is the same in a majority of a popular assembly, an aristocratical council, an oligarchical junto, and a single emperor. -- John Adams, Letter to Thomas Jefferson, November 13, 1815
While absolute power was abhorrent to John Adams, this is what we have today in the form of the Republican-controlled Congress. It does not matter that these men were elected; it only matters that they speak with one voice. No dissention, or liberty of ideas, is allowed today. As of April 2006, Bush held a 76% disapproval rating. Yet, he remains untouchable.... He holds that power although he only won the 2004 election by .07% of the vote. It is past time that the freethinking citizens of this nation wise up to the dangers of the Bush dynasty and depose him, and his kin, once and for all.
A Little Temporary Safety
They that give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -- Benjamin Franklin, Historical Review of Pennsylvania, 1759
What more can be said? That is exactly the trade we are making in the United States today. Nineteen rogues and terrorists from Saudi Arabia attacked us on September 11, 2001. For the sake of perceived safety, we allow this government to make endless claims to need secrecy and presume upon our privacy.
The Constitution of the United States
We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. -- Preamble to the Constitution of the United States
“Promoting the general welfare” is not selling the nation’s assets to the highest bidder. “Providing for the common defense” is not defending the interests of a few multi-national corporations for the sake of sustaining an ever-decreasing source of energy resources, at the expense of developing viable alternatives.
“Insuring domestic tranquility” is not spying on the people of the United States in hope of finding the terrorist sent here by allies who hold us hostage to the drug of “sweet” oil.
“Establishing justice” is not destroying all opportunity for our own people for the sake of the few. Some want us to think that we were founded on Christian ideals. Others fanatically say we were not. From the words penned by the men who founded this nation, their theological alignment is of little importance. Their goal was the welfare of the people of this nation. Can the same be said for the neo-conservative Right?
Comments
Post a Comment