STATUS QUO
By Christopher J. Berry
					E-Mail: mutineer@sbcglobal.net
I was perusing the Internet today in my usual manner. Check out Dilbert, check out Vin's latest in the Review Journal, chuckle to Dave Barry, and educate myself at The Straight Dope. While reviewing the news articles at wired.com, I saw an article about how the old relic, Gary Hart has jumped on an Internet phenomenon called blogging.
For the less tech savvy, bloggers are those who put up a website to talk about whatever troubles their fuzzy little hearts. Blogging is just another vanity amongst people with too many opinions and too much time on their hands. Seems to me, one way, if you want your opinion heard, is to write for a publication. Bloggers can't seem to get their poor material published in print or on the web, so they spout off opinions ad nausea along with all the other useless information out on the Internet.
I supposed I could have avoided the link provided there on that news page and gone happily on my way to browse thesmokinggun.com. Guess it is like a train wreck, you know it will be gruesome, but you just have to look.
Gary Hart wants to take credit as the first politician to blog. He is doing so, to test the waters for a potential swim to the White House. So every day or so, Gary posts some little opinion ditty. Today's was titled, "Democracy Dies Behind Closed Doors".. Granted, this is too short to be considered an article or essay. Rather, in the tried and true style of a snake oil selling politician, he only leaves us two paragraphs, and no real explanation of why democracy died. Besides a catchy hook, this blurb takes the opportunity to take a few shots at the current administration. He asks, "Why is this administration so afraid to deal openly and honestly with the American people?" Come on Gary, this crappy tactic went out years ago with Ross Perot. Does he really think that this Podunk naivete is cute; will really buy him a chance to run on the Democratic ticket? That party abandoned the "sticking up for the little guy" spiel when Johnson left the White House.
	I decided to post a comment with the many others either blessing Gary or spouting Bush rhetoric in a fit of anger.  I wrote:
I have to admit that every time the word "democracy" is thrown around, it makes me cringe. Our nation was not founded as a democracy, which the framers of the Constitution thought was "mob rule" it was founded as a constitutional republic. Alas, that is no more. The Republic is dead. Long live the Empire!
Second, is this more political yammering, or is Gary Hart really determined to right the wrongs on Capitol Hill? I?ve seen many years of empty political talk, but the status quo always prevails after constituents are elected and safely in office. Why should we expect any different from Mr. Hart?
And why should we expect any different? No, it's a very safe bet to make that if Gary makes it to the White House, things will be very much Status Quo. After a day's worth of postings, I was still waiting to hear from our friend Gary. Nothing yet. Come on Gare! You mean you can't handle a simple, loaded question?
Is my bud Gary to blame for the Status Quo? Yes, in part. I think that another group has more blood on their hands. Gary is only the product of a failed system. The ones who have the most blame, the blood of innocents killed by a failed Drug War on their hands, and a ballooning national debt on their sweaty foreheads?is the American voter.
I'll let those who voted for Libertarians be the exception here. But those who have voted for the Bush's, Gore, Clinton, Reagan, Carter, Mondale, Dukakis, Ford, Nixon, and on and on are guilty for putting or trying to put these jokers in office.
I questioned a friend on time about his decision to vote for Clinton in his first term. He was plenty disappointed with him by the second time around. I asked, "What were you expecting by voting for him?" His replay was, "I guess I was expected some sort of political or social revolution, who know, like he could really change things."  How many years have presidential wannabees been promising big change? Outside of dubious executive orders, they have little effect to change things.
Does Bush tell us he wants a smaller federal government, less spending, and wants to pull our troops home from foreign countries? No, he doesn't. Yet, those die-hard Republicans continue to pine for the good ol' days of a limited central government and when they could walk to school with their shotguns over their shoulders. So why did they vote for Bush? Why do they continue to sing the praises of the right wing? I hear many of them with nothing but sheer adoration for the man.
Like the Democrats have a better idea? It seemed Truman era dems used to fight fiercely to preserve constitutional rights. Yet Clinton, sold many of those rights down the road. When given a chance to end Drug War search and seizure laws, the dem Senate failed to do so. Two of the leftist most of that ilk, Boxer and Feinstein, voted to continue to let the SS police come into your home and seize everything in sight along with your bank accounts.
Those who continue to vote in these criminals to office, have much blood, bad karma on their heads. Many are professed Christians, and how can they look their master in his eyes someday and explain why they allowed themselves to be duped by these con artists? How can one justify him/herself to be intelligent and free thinking when they continue to vote themselves into slavery year after year?
As the Status Quo grinds on day after day, the cattle sing their praises in the fields of their political affiliations, and lock horns when party lines have been crossed. They are bled on a frequent basis, and some freely give with more praise to their leach masters. As I too, am bled at gunpoint, I remember they might have my body, but they fail to posses my mind and soul. I will never voluntarily give them any quarter; I will never sing their psalms.
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