The Time For Action

by georgia10

Under normal conditions, most Americans don't notice their government. The massive machine of our democracy, when it's working and humming along, is drowned out by the chaos of daily life.

But when our government breaks down, when it ceases to work, it is not the noise that we notice (for rarely do governments break down in an abrupt and conspicuous manner). It's the absence of a sense of security, an eerie silence that envelopes us as we realize that the government that is supposed to work for us isn't really working at all.

This time, the shutdown hasn't been characterized by an abrupt cessation of effectiveness--not in a pure government shutdown, "am I still going to get my mail delivered" sense of a shutdown. Rather, my friends, what has occurred during the last several years is the gradual grinding to a halt of our political machinery.

We've all had a watch, a timepiece that gives out on us at some point or another. It loses ten seconds here, ten seconds there, until you glance at your watch and see that according to it there is no progress; you've lost precious time and you'll never get it back.

Such is Republican governance. A cover-up bill here, a self-preserving signing statement there...tick, tick...tick...slowly, every purpose of government has been whittled down to a hollow shell, and what once was a government for the people has become one for the Republican Party.

November came, and the President told us with a smug grin that he had political capital and he intended to spend it. Months later, the press praised his "bold" agenda. Promises of immigration reform, Social Security privatization, repealing the estate tax, reforming the tax code, and "success" in Iraq and Afghanistan tumbled off of his lips as if he were reading the daily specials.

It's obvious now, to Republicans and Democrats alike. With his "bold" agenda, the President bit off more than he could he chew, as he now finds himself choking on an agenda so repulsive and abhorrent, not even his own party will swallow it.

But it's election season, folks, and a desperate party is just revving up to preserve its power . In the next few weeks, some of the most far-reaching and destructive legislation will be presented to our representatives for approval. Republicans plan on bringing Bolton's nomination to the floor. They plan a vote on a bill which would legalize domestic spying. They plan a vote on five right-wing judges. The question is, how will Democrats react?

To say that the Democrats' response to domestic spying has been disappointing is an understatement. But then again, I've been disappointed by their responses to several other key issues, including their inability to clearly and unequivocally state to the American people just how shattered our government has become under this Republican leadership.