T-14 Days

Dearest All-

I've grown lazy in the late summer of grilling and beer and hot days and nights, and so it's been months since my last post. My guess is that if anyone even reads this, it's by accident. I promise to return to my usual subjects soon (World Series, college football, general idiocy), but I feel a need to release my frustration at the state of American politics and the drubbing that our greatest export to the world is taking as we race to replace George W. Bush.

I have been, like many of you both here in the continental 48 and abroad in finer locales, absolutely glued to the coverage. full disclosure: this does not include anything fox corp.-related. This is part of my long-standing embargo on all things Fox ever since they trotted out (ok, threw down my throat) the glo-puck for NHL games. So when and where suitable alternatives are available, I go to them. I am not looking forward to the Fox coverage of the Rays-Phils World Series.

But this is not about Fox News Corp. Although there are a number of talking heads employed by that franchise who should be removed far from the public discourse. Yes, I'm talking about Bill O'Reilly and Brit Hume (now retired). And especially Sean Hannity, who is unfortunately not old enough to retire while I can still enjoy it (unlike say: Bill O'Reilly, CBS' Billy Packer, Fox Sports' Tim McCarver, MSNBC's Chris Matthews, Rush Limbaugh, Michael Savage, and, although I liked him as a teenager, Don Imus). There are idiots on other stations too who also bring down the public debate into glorified shouting matches. But this is not about them. I am smart enough to realize their persona, however unpleasant and distasteful, is truly centered around gaining and keeping ratings. If there was money in being high-minded, all of these individuals (with the exception of Savage and McCarver) are intelligent enough to have shaped that persona. But the public likes warriors and like-minded voices that defend their views with a messianic vigor. So a lot of people like O'Reilly and a lot of people like say Keith Olberman. And rarely are they the same person.

No, this post is about the absolute pit that American politics and debate have fallen. I'm fairly certain President Bush, if he's cognizant at all about the tenor of the national dialogue, will need a big hug when all is said and done. Not that he doesn't deserve criticism. But that he's a virtual pariah and that can't be good on anyone's psyche, even the colossal failures.

As I read on my calendar, the year is 2008 and the location is these United States. But we have elected leaders who use hinted language to incite racism. We have elected leaders who split infinitives and dance around linguistically to make offensive, indefensible, ethically bankrupt, and false statements to drum up bigotry. We have idiots killing black bears and then dropping them off on a college campus with Obama stickers plastered on the corpse. We have Governor Palin making loosely based and largely debunked allegations tying Senator Obama to Bill Ayers, who in a previous lifetime was part of the Weather Underground's domestic bombing efforts in the 1960s and 1970s. When Obama was 8.

To his credit, Senator McCain has publicly stated that he will not allow or condone racist statements or actions by some of his fringe supporters that have become captured on tape. But I fear that is the necessary lip service in this day and age. How we still have racism in this country is beyond me. But how one of our major parties can effectively embrace it and openly encourage it through coded language is beyond the pale. Especially when they offend my intellect through the hyper-structured use of phrasing that, if parsed, can be denied as taken-out-of-context, but to the normal human ear, says something entirely base:

"What I would say is that the news media should do a penetrating expose and take a look. I wish they would. I wish the American media would take a great look at the views of the people in Congress and find out if they are pro-America or anti-America." ~ Rep. Michele Bachmann (R - 6th, Minnesota)

The United States is supposed to be the world's shining example of democracy in action. Everyone should demand that national politics in this country be about issues and that candidates are considered fairly and equitably and that differences can be examined as a contrast in governing styles from which a knowledgeable vote can be cast. Instead, we pursue a politics of personal debasement. Disenfranchisement of voters is the norm. Voter suppression is the norm. Personal attacks is the norm. Embracing fringe elements and encouraging irrational anger is the norm. Class warfare and anti-intellectualism have becoming bizarre virtues, not vices.

So while I cannot wait for this election to be over (fairly confident I sense the outcome), it is sad for me to know that, unless our country does a full house-cleaning (unlikely, given the recent trends of how Republicans run for office and how Democrats take over-wrung umbrage in response) and everyone not only agrees in principle, but also in practice, to return to high-minded discourse on policy, that America is worse off. That the facade has cracked and that no amount of make-up will cover up the ills seething unchecked amongst us.

It is appropriate to use your freedom of speech (as I am right now) to voice your political opinion and support your candidate. It is not freedom of speech to use racist and hateful language. It is morally wrong and my guess is that oftentimes illegal as well.

It is appropriate to compare and contrast the candidates, especially in their philosophy, thinking, and policy. It is wrong to label and libel the candidates with repeated, known falsehoods.

It needs to be stated that embracing racist language will not be tolerated. That encouraging racist actions under the guise of freedom of speech arguments is morally destitute. That using a national platform to espouse hatred, drum up fear, tap into phobias, and act as a mindless echo chamber should not be the democratic ideal or public forum. And it needs to be repeated that the vast majority of the American populace are too intelligent and have grown too tired of this style of politics of division. Obama was right in his famous speech arguing that there are not two United States. It's well past the time that we started acting that way and demanded our politicians to do the same.

Finally, it is wholly appropriate to be happy come November 5th, no matter who the next leader of the United States becomes. At the very least, it will allow the vitriol to go away until at least Christmas 2009...

--goose

October Shout-Outs:

To the good Dr. and fam, now enjoying a respite from island life with a trip to the east coast. I hope that the girls have a great time with Babcia and can't wait to see them in a few weeks.

To my peeps on St. Croix, now enjoying the breath of relief after Hurricane Omar (did it make it to Category-3?!!) quickly passed over the island with what looks like minimal damage (apart of continued power loss to the east end of the island, and a loss of a fair number of boats). I didn't get much sleep the night it passed and my thoughts the entire time were with all of you.

To the good Dr. W and her new beau. Still sorry I couldn't make the nuptials, as we were dealing with Hurricane Ike at the time.

To Sasha B. of St. Croix and her Philadelphia Phillies. Good luck against the Rays! As much as it pains me to see the history-less Rays in the World Series while my Cubs died before we even met the lead characters (another reason I've felt too listless to write), it will hurt even more if they capture the title. So please, Phils, winners of 1 world series in 126 years, do it and make Philly (one of my favorite cities in the USA) a happy place this October and November.