Next week I turn 60 years old. Being a news junkie, I have carefully watched the news throughout my entire life, from the deaths of JFK, RFK and MLK, to the Great Society take form, the Viet Nam War and all the turmoil surrounding it, Watergate, Reagan, Bush 41, Bush 43, 9/11, two illegal wars and that wonderful election night in 2008. There has been a lot of good and a lot of bad. However, I have never been as scared for this country as I am right now.
I believe, and I don't think I am overstating this; that we are a country on the brink of losing our democracy.
Witness what happened in Wisconsin this week with a bully governor blatantly lying in public to the people of Wisconsin, the press and the Democrats in the state legislature. (If he lies like that in public, think what he must do in private.) He passed an illegal bill and took away rights that have been in place for over 50 years. He did this for the Koch brothers, Karl Rove, the Chamber of Commerce and his corporate friends.
In addition to Wisconsin, this is happening to various degrees in 16 other states, all to help the rich and corporations. While we promote democracy in other countries, the Republicans are taking it away in this country. I believe they have a four pronged attack to accomplish their objectives:
1.) They already started with the Citizens United decision. That ruling made a huge difference in 2010 and will probably make a huge difference in future elections.
2.) They are breaking the unions in states that still have unions. Doing this takes away the Democrats single biggest group of supporters. Breaking unions will have a major impact in future elections.
3.) Many states are implementing laws that one must have a photo ID to vote. This will hurt major Democratic constituencies such as minorities and low income people, again chipping away at democracy.
4.) Many states are trying to make it illegal for college students to vote in the town where they go to school. What this will do is prevent huge student turnouts, keep many students from voting and spread that vote around into different areas. Again, chipping away at democracy.
This is all happening with President Obama in the White House and the Democrats in control in the Senate. Think what a nightmare it will be if the Republicans take the White House and Senate and keep the House. It's almost a corporate takeover of this country now. If we are not careful, 2012 could finish their game plan and finish the country.
The good news, there are more of us than there are of them; and it appears that what is happening in Wisconsin and many other states is awakening a sleeping giant. It has to. We must offset the tea baggers, the corporations, the Koch brothers, Karl Rove and the Chamber of Commerce, but we need to start now.
Even though many of us disagree in our levels of enthusiasm for President Obama, we must make certain he is re-elected. We must do everything we can do to hold the Senate and possibly take back the House; and we must work at the state level to try to get more Democratic legislatures and governors. We need every group to come to together and all available hands on deck - starting now. The next 20 months are going to be a war in this country. The Republicans will pull out all the stops. We have to stop them. I can't even think about the future of this country if we don't win in 2012.
One final note regarding Bradley Manning. If you are sickened by his current situation, please take action and do something about it. Probably the only thing that could work is to pressure President Obama. You know, we may think of Manning once a week or so when we see his name, and think about it. But he is living this nightmare every second of every minute of every hour of every day. I cannot believe this is happening with a Democrat in the White House. Please take action before it's too late. Thanks.