I refer to the Teabaggers, the Birthers, the Death Panelists, the people who wear guns in public places, the militias, and the people who can’t spell the words on their own signs. Behold the people who propose to take down the government.
The problem with those poor deluded souls out there in far, far right field is that they all seem to be unable to think of more than one thing at a time.
For example, while they are all focused on their inner angst and rage over what they characterize as an oppressive and dictatorial government, they fail to see that we are a government “of the people, by the people, and for the people.” They fail to see that they too are a part of the very government they say they are afraid of.
And if you listen to their collective anti-government message, the sense of it is that I should be afraid of the government I myself elected and am a part of. In other words, they say I should be afraid of myself, and that they are going to use deadly force if necessary, to protect me from taking myself over, and then give me back to myself. That’s what it boils down to. Utter nonsense.
Let’s take a brief look at these groups one at a time. First, the Teabaggers. Their history consists of breaking up town hall meetings, spreading lies, and fighting to get out of paying their fair share of the tax burden. And then there are the Birthers, who challenge the legitimacy of our President. Also, we have the Death Panel people, who worked so diligently to stall the healthcare reform bill passage. On top of that we now have militias, just like they do in Somalia, Afghanistan or Pakistan. And then there are the Secessionists who are talking about breaking the country apart. These, I believe, are the groups known collectively as the right-wing lunatic fringe.
If we compare these right-wing groups, we can see that they have a number of things in common. For example, they don’t see themselves as being a part of our government. They see themselves as being separate from and threatened by it. Also, all of these organizations are acting in ways that are clearly intended to somehow weaken or discredit our President and our nation in the eyes of other nations.
The Secessionists are a good example. At the same time that our President is out and about in the world, working on grave matters of international importance, they are suggesting that we should take the most powerful nation in the world, the only remaining super power, and break it up.
That’s the kind of nutty caper you come up with when you only think of one thing at a time. You miss the obvious unintended consequences. At the very least, secession would severely damage our nation’s image in the eyes of foreign governments, many of whom are also experiencing domestic unrest. At worst, it would destroy the unity that makes our nation the great world super power that it is. Secession would be a damaging blow to the credibility of the United States as a leading force in world affairs.
Consider also, that at the same time our President is traveling abroad, addressing issues of international concern and spreading democracy and good will, back here at home the citizenry is being threatened by independent militias, whose stated purpose is to protect us all from the dictatorial, despotic, evil and illegitimate government of Barack Obama. That would be the same Barack Obama who is, at the same time, trying to broker deals, negotiate treaties, and help other countries deal with their own out-of-control militia problems.
Viewed in context, there can be no doubt that the groups who make up the right-wing lunatic fringe are engaging in activities that are clearly intended to discredit, belittle or embarrass our President and our country. One cannot help but wonder why anyone would want to weaken or destroy America’s credibility at this particular time.
Who would want to see a weak and fractured United States of America? In whose best interests would that be? Look at a map of the world. Who do you think would stand to benefit most, if the United States of America were to be weakened by threats of civil war, or open insurrection by independent militias. For whom would that be a win? Who would like to see that happen?
These are questions worth pursuing because, thanks to the supreme court’s recent decision on money as free speech, it is possible for any foreign entity to bankroll any or all of these disruptive fringe groups with “unlimited amounts of money.” It’s not an unreasonable idea. Remember, we’ve done much the same thing ourselves, lots of times in lots of places all around the world. Is it possible that what went round could finally be coming around?
The only way we can be sure that the right-wing crazies are not being funded or manipulated by our enemies is if there is immediate total transparency in regard to the source of all political contributions. The public needs to know who is really paying for all those insulting posters and misleading television ads, the venue fees for the speeches and rallies, the bus tours, the skywriting airplanes, the ammo those militias are shooting off, and the weapons we see in all those videos clips.
When you look at the wider picture, it is clearly an urgent matter of national security, that the source of all political contributions be made public. There can be no secret political donors. Legislation must be enforced that guarantees total transparency in regard to all political contributions.
While it is doubtful that any of the right-wing loonies are actually aware of the many unintended consequences of their foolish actions and rhetoric, it is still possible that, being simple, gullible and shallow thinkers, they are actually being used and manipulated without their knowledge by anonymous foreign donors, and are in fact acting on behalf of foreign interests. Let’s not forget that big business has a history of putting the corporate bottom line above love of country. International corporations do what is best for them, not necessarily what is best for America. For example, during the Bush years we ran the country pretty much according to what was best for Halliburton, KBR and Blackwater, not what was best for the American people.
It’s time the right-wing lunatic fringe took a good look at the bigger picture. They must be made to understand that their actions are actually weakening and dividing our country at a time when we need to be strong and unified.
We must set the record straight now. We must all stand up together and say in one unified voice: “Grow up, Teabaggers and Birthers. Show some common sense, Secessionists. Get real, Militias. Your stupid, misguided antics are hurting America. Stop the partisan me-first clawing, the lying and the fear mongering. Focus your attention on the larger world-view, and see what an embarrassment you are to America.
Your violent anti-government protests come at a time when our President is trying to make peace, to show the people of Iraq and Afghanistan the virtues and benefits of a democracy. You are behaving exactly like the people we have to deal with in the mid-East. You seem to be working against our President and our country at the very time our country needs the trust, cooperation and partnership of the other major world powers. Whose side are you on?
All of you right-wingers are living proof of this old saying. If you fight something long enough, you eventually become the thing you are fighting against. You right-wing nuts have actually become the militias in Somalia and the Tribal Areas. You Secessionists are the break-away republic. You have all become the insurgents who are fighting us in Iraq and Afghanistan. You have all become a mirror image of the hate and violence you say you are fighting against.
If you step back and take a broader view, you’ll see that I’m not exaggerating. Until you do, please be still.”