This is the question asked by Peggy Noonan in a recent column in the Wall Street Journal. She fears the government, regardless of party, is becoming more and more isolated from the rest of America:
"We are at a remarkable moment. We have an open, 2,000-mile border to our south, and the entity with the power to enforce the law and impose safety and order will not do it. Wall Street collapsed, taking Main Street's money with it, and the government can't really figure out what to do about it because the government itself was deeply implicated in the crash, and both political parties are full of people whose political careers have been made possible by Wall Street contributions. Meanwhile we pass huge laws, bills so comprehensive, omnibus and transformative that no one knows what's in them and no one—literally, no one—knows how exactly they will be executed or interpreted. Citizens search for new laws online, pore over them at night, and come away knowing no more than they did before they typed "dot-gov."
It is not that no one's in control. Washington is full of people who insist they're in control and who go to great lengths to display their power. It's that no one takes responsibility and authority. Washington daily delivers to the people two stark and utterly conflicting messages: "We control everything" and "You're on your own...."
No one. Which the American people have noticed, and which adds to the dangerous alienation—actually it's at the heart of the alienation—of the age...." Column
Noonan makes some great points. The ethanol situation oddly enough is a perfect example of what ails this country. Thanks to the ethanol lobby, we now are using up a substantial part of our food supply for fuel. What is the result of this so-called quest for energy independence? Higher food costs as our food supply shrinks, fuel for engines that is not as efficient it once was, tariffs of fifty cents a gallon on imported ethanol to "protect" the ethanol industry, and higher fuel prices. Meanwhile, no one in our government pays attention after they cash the checks from the ethanol lobbyists. It doesn't matter if its ethanol, immigration, health care, bailouts, the cycle is repeated over and over.
3 comments:
Add this to the ethanol story: most of the food used to produce ethanol (instead of food) is corn. The immediate result? Higher prices for tortillas. The secondary result - more incentive to illegally cross the border from Mexico to make more money for food.
Noonan's a great writer and an astute observer. I think she's completely right-on describing what's happening now as alienation.
It's interesting that America's government was designed the way it was so that we would have no King. The thing is, the parties and the "Washington Machine" effectively act together as a King. We are alienated from them because they treat us like subjects.
All the technology we have has only made us more isolated, as far as our roles as active citizens go. Good, smart people are inundated with information from which they try to develop reasoned opinions. But then those same people are verbally crucified by the left or the right or whoever because they have opinions that are not 100% reflective of those of the offended group. It reaches a point where no one wants to be engaged because it's damn likely someone somewhere is going to try and make them feel like an idiot or a traitor for believing what they believe.
Mass media has abdicated any real public responsibility. They televise or air radical representatives of either side and enjoy the ratings as those firebrands whip other nuts into a frenzy. But if one of the nuts decides to take their political anger to a violent level, the purveyors of that trash throw their hands up in a "not out fault" claim.
It used to be cliché' in America to say "I may not agree with what you say but I'll fight to the death for your right to say it." Now it seems that concept has been changed to "I don't agree with what you say and I'll fight you to the death."
When normal Americans see their government leaders treating them like serfs and the 4th estate more interested in pushing an agenda or promoting extreme views for ratings, WHY would they feel connected?
Citizens are now taking any sense of "civic obligation" and applying it to community projects and volunteerism. That's how they see their public lives, not by voting but by volunteering. That leaves only the fringe of either side engaged in the political process. Washington will continue to reflect that, as will the parties.
The internet has give voice to every crackpot in the country, plus a way to organize. Interesting that the democratization of opinion might lead to the end of democracy.
This has to be one of your best posts ever.
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