We are the problem, disconnected Americans who believe freedom is an entitlement.
This diary is my opinion, not investigative journalism or an alert to breaking news. I write it to solicit debate. I hope some of you will join me.
Lately, Kos is a catch-22: provide "news" and risk scorn for being redundant in a community all wired to the same sources, or present an opinion and risk ridicule for not being newsworthy. This diary is my opinion, an invitation to think and discuss how to best use our rights, while we still have them, and effect meaningful change.
Americans have become the world's spoiled brats, heirs to a family fortune of rights earned at a time and cost from which we are too far removed.
Is this president not the perfect symbol of what we've become, a dilettante who preaches hard work and the cost of freedom, growing wealthier with each word as the interest accrues on investments he barely understands.
Children choose poorly because they lack the context and developmental skills to evaluate the consequences of their actions.
But Americans of voting age are not children and cannot silence the result of choices. So we drown out our conscience with hi-definition reality TV, binge shopping on credit, religious zealotry, bigotry, pornography, over-indulgence of any kind. The glitz and din of our culture serves to numb us.
Politically, too many of us choose to be children and our leaders are fully aware of this weakness. New parents quickly learn not to ask their children "what shirt do you want to wear today?" They ask, "do you want to wear your red shirt or your blue shirt today?"
Our current government is the inevitable consequence of a consumer-driven culture. Sales requires marketing and marketing is the psychology of selling things.
But though business and democracy may share the fundamental conventions of governance, the pursuit of wealth is too often at odds with the political goals and discipline of civics. So our leaders and their policies are now sold to us by practioners of child psychology and like children we settle for their limited array of choices.
Liberal or conservative, republican or democrat, north or south, east or west, gay or straight, christian or atheist, pro-life or pro-choice, black or white, democracy or tyranny, patriot or traitor, blogger or journalist, good or evil.
Demand more. Demand better choices.