If You Don't Mind, Why Don't You Mind?

Did you read Dr. Todd's wonderful inquiry into the American state of mind? If not, please click on the title of this entry and do so, 'cause otherwise, I look like I'm arguing against a straw man, and I hate that. Todd Huffman is right to wonder why people don't mind. And in fact, people don't seem to mind. So, I'd like to try to answer the question, "Why not?" One, people don't mind is because they do not believe that the Democrats would be doing anything different. The Dems offer no sign of abandoning the petroleum and weapons-based economy that Jimmy Carter tried to begin weaning us from, but that nobody seemed to want to happen. At least, no members of the government. As long as we are dependent on petroleum, at some point, we will become dependent on the Middle East. I mean REALLY dependent. So, in order to avoid that, either war or diplomacy or something requires us to keep our nose stuck in the Middle East. So what would Hillary or Teddy or Joe or even Al really do that's profoundly different? Nothing. Or at least so people suspect. Two, the famous charge that the public has not been asked to sacrifice anything to fight this war appears at first look to be true. Hard for people to feel outraged when they don't understand that there's anything to be outraged about. Their sons and daughters are not being threatened by sudden immersion in combat, they don't see how their debt load is tied to the war, and many still believe gas prices will eventually come down because of the war. No, the need for outrage isn't completely apparent. Lastly, the public is too cowed to be outraged. The confidence to speak out has been undermined by the campaign of terror conducted by the White House, the belief in one's right to be outraged at anything other than 9/11 has been subverted through the same campaign. The war of terror is being won against the American people. Just not by Al-Qaida

As regards the president's defense of his illegal wiretaps

If the only way to defeat the criminal terrorists is to become criminals ourselves, the war on terror is over, and we have lost.

A reminder... for those who ask how this sorry state has come to pass

At what point shall we expect the approach of danger? By what means shall we fortify against it? Shall we expect some transatlantic military giant, to step the Ocean, and crush us at a blow? Never! All the armies of Europe, Asia and Africa combined, with all the treasure of the earth (our own excepted) in their military chest; with a Buonaparte for a commander, could not by force, take a drink from the Ohio, or make a track on the Blue Ridge, in a trial of a thousand years.
At what point then is the approach of danger to be expected? I answer, if it ever reach us, it must spring up amongst us. It cannot come from abroad. If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen, we must live through all time, or die by suicide. [Emphasis added]

Abraham Lincoln
Address Before the Young Men's Lyceum of Springfield, Illinois
January 27, 1838

Said Honest Abe,"You got nobody to blame but yourself."