Enough Already!

In Senate, Democrats Assail Rice and U.S. Policy in Iraq

Senate Democrats on Tuesday denounced Condoleezza Rice as the architect of a failed and misleading Iraq policy, turning a daylong debate on her nomination as secretary of state into a prolonged discussion of the conduct of the war...

That's right, having completely failed as National Security Advisor, Condoleezza Rice is being promoted and will now serve as Secretary of State. What, you say? The Iraq policy is failed? Isn't it a little early to judge? Wait until the elections on Sunday as people take to the polls by the millions, marking the dawn of a new day in...

Insurgents Vowing to Kill Iraqis Who Brave the Polls on Sunday

The black sedan made its way down Madaris Street, the young men inside tossing leaflets out the window.

"This is a final warning to all of those who plan to participate in the election," the leaflets said. "We vow to wash the streets of Baghdad with the voters' blood."

"To those of you who think you can vote and then run away," the leaflet warned, "we will shadow you and catch you, and we will cut off your heads and the heads of your children."

Iraqis Abroad Seem Reluctant to Vote, Too, Sign-Up Shows
31 Americans Die as Marine Copter Goes Down in Iraq

A Marine helicopter crashed in a desert sandstorm early Wednesday near the Jordanian border, killing all 31 aboard, and 6 other service members died in combat, making for the single deadliest day here for American troops since they invaded the country 22 months ago.

The 37 Americans died as insurgents unleashed a wave of violence across the country, killing at least 13 people and wounding 40, including 11 other Americans. The violence occurred just four days before Iraq is set to hold nationwide elections...

Across Baghdad, Security Is Only an Ideal

"I would definitely say it's enemy territory," said Col. Stephen R. Lanza, the commander of the Fifth Brigade Combat Team, a unit of the First Cavalry Division that is responsible for patrolling a wide area of southern Baghdad with a population of 1.3 million people.

In the week that ended Sunday, according to figures kept by Western security companies with access to data compiled by the American command, Baghdad was hit by 7 suicide car bombings, 37 roadside bombs and 52 insurgent attacks involving automatic rifles or rocket-propelled grenades. The suicide bombs alone killed at least 60 people and injured 150 others.

Awww fuck it.

I started this post trying to be funny, glib. I did. Experimented with "a few gems from the New York Times" and a "democracy is on the march" kinda jab. But it's all a little too much for me tonight. I mean, really, haven't we had enough? Yet? I'm tired of reading about people getting killed abroad, and I am tired of reading about people getting screwed domestically. All the while we are being told that our government is protecting us, making us safer, operating with our best interests in mind. It's not like me to pontificate, really. But I keep thinking of the same thing over and over:

...Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness...whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

Lying to the people as a pretext to war is not looking out for our best interests. Alienating billions around the world does not make us more secure. Answering to the corporations who line their pockets while ignoring the will of the people, is not the job of the politicians. Polarizing a country to keep its people distracted so it can run amok is not the job of our government.

Enough Already! You don't feel like anyone in the government is listening? You're right, they aren't. I know people are discouraged. Millions of people in this country are discouraged. But what I think is important to remember--amidst all this anger, confusion and fear--is not the discouraged millions but simply the millions. You are not alone. And even though it may feel otherwise, you can make a difference. I'm not saying it's time to literally overthrow the government, but the time to sit by and do nothing has passed. A moment from Glory comes to mind:

Colonel Robert G. Shaw: So what do you want to do?
Trip: Don't know, sir.
Colonel Robert G. Shaw: It stinks, I suppose.
Trip: Yeah, It stinks bad. And we all covered up in it too. Ain't nobody clean. Be nice to get clean, though.
Colonel Robert G. Shaw: How do we do that?
Trip: We anty up and kick in, sir.

It's time we anty up and kick in.

All the article links on this post are from Thursday's New York Times. Go there if you are a glutton for still more punishment.