"We exist in moments of gentle apocalypse"                       Roland Barthes      

 

22 Mar 06: Exit: mine

 

Leaving home to return to the war tomorrow.  Lewis Lapham is on C-Span discussing the latest issue of Harper's which calls for impeachment.  Harpers is a great magazine, and Lapham a national treasure.  Sadly he is to retire this year, though will still write 6 instead of 12 editorials a year.  As for the impeachment...that is a job for constitutional lawyers, and quite a job indeed.  Presidential powers and 'are we at war, or not' will require some brainwork so don't look for it on the evening news. 

 

I don't want an impeachment - I want a draft! 

 

Stephen F. Hayes, writer for the Weekly Standard is now on CSPAN talking about the war.  WTF - this guy is not to old to suit up.  Maybe that is what is really pissing me off about the american populace at large.  Much talk, little action.  If you are not moved to physical action then you are not that moved.  So don't expect me to be impressed if you are not willing to get off your couch. 

 

I suspect that the larger problems goes back to the concept that we are less a nation today than we are factions.  The 'not in my back yard' concept has merged with the 'privatization' concept and we have substituted the concept of 'the good of the nation' for a nation of people seeking their 'private good'.   

 

This is aided by socio-economics.  There is a substantial part of the country working for survival, and doesn't spend a lot of time focusing on government.  Similarly, there is a larger part of the population who find it is easier to simply back a person/position/party and stop thinking for themselves. 

 

Add to this the fact that dis-information serves the status quo.  And to this the fact that people, bureaucracies, and especially corporations number one goal is security, primarily economic.

 

So, any questions as to how we have to this point?

 

And now some links...

 

COST OF WAR  (with comparisons to domestic spending)

 

Gov. Grant Allocation  (swing of the pendulum?)

 

Greg Palast (something to amuse you)