4th of July 2010

Today, Americans are supposed to celebrate the birth of the declared United States of America, July 4, 1776. The nexus of this holiday, of course, is the Declaration of Independence. If you haven't read it yet it's a real hoot. Ironic, one might conclude or even satirical given the present state of liberty and freedom in the U. S..

The Declaration of Independence charged the government of the King of England, King George III, with numerous acts and injustice and stating "...whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends [unalienable rights such as life, liberty and happiness], it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it...". A remarkable declaration considering it applied equally to "any form of government" - including the possible government intended to replace that of the King. How can one not respect those intrepid men about to be declared traitors or in the present day vernacular - terrorists!? Well, the meaning is much richer after you read the text.

It's interesting to note that at the time of the Declaration, America was little more than 13 trading posts chartered by the British Crown - what were also called "colonies" and later "states". The largest majority of colonists were slaves or indentured servants. So one could say that the United States was, at the time, circa 1776, a gaggle of 13 royal corporations. You could also say that the governor of each colony was essentially a CEO in the New World. Even their servants, slaves or wage laborers were socially similar to employees today and even their treatment is similar as present day corporations drive employees into debt, destitution, bankruptcy and homeless. Some might conclude Americans have spent 234 years in a successful effort to get back to the beginning.

The United States, like any other waning empire in history, is falling under its own bloated weight. Its citizens witness civil injustice after civil injustice from even the most pathetic media/government propaganda venues. Americans are subjected to a 24-7 cacophony of mixed and confused messages on some issue or another. Talking head media has synthesized every matter of import to having one extreme view vs. another another extreme view. It is polarizing. It weakens the public will. We become demoralized. And that's the point.

Military-intelligence, if you believe in that possibility, utilize what is called Psychological Operations (Psy-Ops) strategy to soften up an enemy. The simplist of strategies is to "divide" as in divide and conquer. The best way to do this is not just to make an offer of some sort of benefit to get one to surrender, but to cause hostility in the ranks themselves. Hopefully, instead of just getting a few of the enemy to surrender, you foment enough dissention to weaken the entire unit. Such appears to be the same strategy being used by the U. S. information industry on Americans, as citizens with common interests. It's true. You know it and you see it every day. It's a constant effort to separate us by the laundry soap we buy or the political party we support.

In spite of the obviously concerted media effort to convince the nation otherwise, Americans want justice, peace and to be left alone by an ever increasingly intrusive, centralized, federal government. Most Americans: reject corporate/government occupations in Iraq and Afghanistan; are outraged by government bailouts for Wall Street; want a fair, national health care system; expect regulation to assure clean air and water and a safe food supply. Federal government legislation, however, makes a mockery of the interests of "We the people...".

Try not to be distracted, this Independence Day more thought should be given to what is and not what was so long ago.