Where are they now?

As an American living in another country, I scan the Internet on a daily basis to get my updates in news, sports and entertainment. Just like sitting at your kitchen table with the breakfast dishes and a cup of coffee, except instead of a newspaper, it’s the Mac.

One of the things I first noticed living in Sweden is that, unlike the common thought of the American public at large, the world does not revolve around the goings on in the United States. Not that the events like Katrina are not covered in depth. But the United States of America is just another player on the world stage, and is not given the space above the play’s title.

So when I read the regular and blog news reports and then I compare them to how they are covered in Europe, there is a big and distinct difference. The pundits and readers over here have long ago dismissed the current policy of the U.S. as ridiculous and the coverage seems to be along the lines of “…well, here they go, again. Can you believe it?”

Meanwhile in the States, the sky falls on a daily basis. Or the sky is falling and no one is doing anything about it. And the minority say so what is the big deal? It’s always been this way and a) it’s never going to change or b) we always seem to survive.

It’s hard to feel sympathy about the, say, gas situation for instance. You’re moaning about 3 USD a gallon for gasoline. Swedes pay 12 SEK a liter. Do the math. About 6.40 USD a gallon! See what I mean? In the International play, the U.S. is a whiner.

Don’t get me wrong. The U.S. citizen is, in my opinion, getting plundered. As the old joke goes from the late comic strip, Pogo, “we have met the enemy and he is us.” The amazing thing is the US citizen is unbelievably patient about this. How they sit there with a 200-dollar tax break while 5% of the citizenry rakes in bushel loads of cash is beyond me. This body of governors has refused to cooperate with fellow governments, ignored signed treaties, invaded countries under false pretenses, ignored protocol devised in the Constitution of the United States, called the President a “war time President” and Commander in Chief with no declared war by Congress, driven up the country's debt, ignored the security of its own territory and abandoned the less fortunate populace. They have watched the environment and infrastructure deteriorate, fattened the federal payroll, cut funding to the States, arts, schools and veterans. Those are just some of the facts.

And the American citizens just sit on their hands and do nothing. The opposition party has no plan. The people think that a censure is too harsh on the current President but were willing to impeach the predecessor over sexual peccadilloes. What happened to those anti war demonstrators of the 60’s and 70’s? They are pulling their SUV’s up to the pump and complaining on their cell phones about the cost of gas while the mouths on the radio criticize the other guys. I guess the thought must be “oh well, less than a thousand days to go”, “better the devil you know” or I really don’t know what.


But for a country who’s legendary heroes were the men and women who stood up for the good and fair and honest, even when opposed by the majority, it is sad to witness the present lack of spine by America's so called “leaders”. Where are the common men portrayed as Tom Joad, Mr. Smith and Will Kane? Where is the Patrick Henry, Roger B. Taney or Wayne Morse of today?

Hopefully, not conferring with their polling expert.

Meanwhile, Go hear and listen

http://www.hyfntrak.com/neilyoung2/AFF24169/