As the U.S. is about to wage war on Iraq, we are seeing some of the worst conditions this country has seen in recent history. The checks and balances that ensured our stability are falling through. Big Brother has succeeded in duping the silent majority through corporate media and nationalist rhetoric.
The Bush regime has successfully worsened many social problems that were on the road to improvement before his coup d'etat. In terms of severity, it's difficult to say exactly which issue will end up causing the most problems within American society. I believe they will all end up working together to hurt all of us, unless Americans wake up and realize the state of this country.
Corporate media has done an excellent job of completely ignoring one major issue that will be affecting all of us indiscriminately--the deterioration of the environment. Based on a recent study by the Washington-based Worldwatch Institute we only have about one or two generations to \save the world."" Even if the Bush regime falls short of using nuclear weapons, we can still expect a different kind of destruction.
Worldwatch reports that we have been breaking records across the board. We are seeing the highest level of carbon dioxide for at least 420,000 years. One-fifth of the world's population live in absolute poverty. Global warming has proven itself alive and well, with the global rate of ice melting having more than doubled since 1988. Looking at our nation's most recent trends in political attitudes toward the environment, Bush has successfully been working to give industry more opportunities to pollute our water and air.
Our success in ignoring the environment is only the beginning of how our nation has lost political and social direction. It's easy to simply blame the Bush regime for the problems that we are seeing. However, our current state is due to a faulty system that does not represent the people, but rather is controlled by special-interest groups and corporations through lobbying.
Media have refused to address issues in a way that would inform the public, and instead presents what the government PR officials tell them. Where is the grassroots investigation that used to be key in the progression of this country? Why are we so afraid of difference? It is almost as if we want to maintain homogeneity so as to avoid conflict. This usually results in the United States pushing itself away from the rest of the world, unless we have something to benefit from it.
This is exactly why the United States refuses to admit its faults. When academics speak, government officials don't listen, unless the academics are funded by Philip-Morris or pharmaceutical companies. There is little logic behind decisions made, and most of the world is consistently baffled by us.
Lately there has been a big push for a mandatory smallpox vaccination. The government claims that there might be a future threat of a biological attack using smallpox, but says there has been no evidence. The vaccine is known to be unsafe and will kill several people out of every million vaccinated. Of course, a lot of money is involved in the production of this vaccine, and companies are pushing for its usage. The legislation to do this will not address issues regarding treatment for complications, and in our current economic state, many worry how that would be done.
In times like these, we are finding more and more that the people have very few advocates. If you aren't a straight white millionaire male, then this country was not built for you. Wealth disparity has widened to new levels. The difference in wealth between the top 10 percent of families and the bottom 20 percent of families has jumped by 70 percent between 1998 and 2001. Also, the gap between people of color and whites grew by 21 percent.
These reports come as the president proposed to eliminate taxes paid by individuals on stock dividends--basically a handout to wealthy Americans. And don't worry, he was sure to address issues of race. As states around the country attack affirmative action, the Bush administration decided to come out attacking policies fostering diversity.
In the face of some of the worst economic states we have seen in history, the government has managed to work to eliminate civil liberties, widen the gap between the rich and poor, perpetuate institutional racism, destroy the environment and empower corporations. On top of all that, we are about to be dragged into an uncertain war, likely to bring adverse consequences to our homeland.
