Hide and Seek

America, the bastion of freedom. America the land of opportunity. America where every person can speak their mind without fear of retribution, incarceration, or violence. America the land that welcomes all that seek to live within its borders. America, the Nation of exceptionalism, a beacon for those who seek individual rights, personal responsibility and compassionate leadership. America, the worlds advocate for human rights, Democracy, and religious freedom.

That is the image that has and continues to be exported to our friends and adversaries alike on the global stage. Domestically, a different picture emerges. Domestically, we find a Nation cloaked in extreme partisanship, political gridlock, political disregard for voter rights, increasing wealth inequality, racism, increased autocratic tendencies at all levels of legislative actions, gravitation toward strongman personas, increased efforts at disinformation, retribution for speaking the truth and voicing ideology or opinions not in step with those in power. Media is the enemy, differences of opinion are disparaged and those holding such are labeled as enemies, socialists, extremists and the like. And the image that we as a nation attempt to project to the world is tarnished, ridiculed by some and is no longer influential in impacting international policy.

Political infighting has for decades limited needed progress in policy areas such as Education, Healthcare, Infrastructure, Social Security Solvency, Medicare, Climate change, equal opportunity for all regardless of ethnic, racial or religious background. Elected officials have and continue to imprint on the general population, their biases, vested interests and desire for power, via legislation, executive orders and administrative policies and procedures that increasingly are not supported by the general population. One might say that minority rules or, said differently and more cynically, those with power rule. As individuals we care more about the lives of the Kardashions, (may have misspelled the name), Big Brother, Beverly Hills Housewives, etc., than the gradual erosion of our freedoms.

So what should we make of all this? How do we respond to the shifting sands of our freedoms, our supposed inalienable rights which are disappearing before our eyes? Some will deny the existence of what is described above. Some will opine that Democracy in this Country was always a delusion, essentially a public relations exercise designed to keep the general population compliant. Some will argue that the current system is broken beyond repair and requires wholesale change even if such change results in political and social turmoil perhaps civil unrest punctuated by violence. Some will acknowledge that changes need to be made but refuse to take responsibility for such changes, instead leaving it to others.

Is our way of life as a free nation crumbling?, Are the ideals of Democracy dying. Will the needs of the few take precedence over the needs of the many? Are we as a Nation spiraling into an autocratic form of Government? Is individual responsibility, moral accountability, compassion and tolerance no longer a guide for a life well lived. Are we willing to live with the consequences? Will we hide form the realities of today or seek a better future for our children and grandchildren?

Stay tuned and follow me as I explore each of these considerations in future posts. Until then be well, be kind to your neighbor, your kids and your pets.

#Democracyunderattack #myturnmyvoice #reflections #votingrights #Autocracy #freedom #accountabilty #notmyproblem #yourthoughts