August 01, 2004

Apathy? Or...

A few weeks ago, I wrote something about my general feelings on American Politics. Basically, that day's writings described my apathy, as I felt fairly helpless in the face of what was happening around me.

Last night, I was having dinner with Colin, Mei, and Adam, and Mei made an offhanded comment about the election not mattering. Mei wasn't born in the US, I don't think, and she asks lots of questions about things that, in general, indicate a fair amount of curiosity about American culture. The questions are usually insightful, for what it's worth, and they usually make me think.

In any case, the comment that the election didn't really matter, that it didn't matter who won, really kinda got my back up. My responses were probably a bit harder than were justified, but that's kind of my point here: If I really was so apathetic about politics, why didn't I just agree with her comment? In fact, why have I been saying I'm apathetic, when in fact, I'm really obviously not?

I don't really know. I know that I fear a lot of things...mainly that in the last twenty years, the Republican party has moved from a fairly conservative/big-business position and moved directly into the whole vehement religious right camp.

For those of you who aren't huge on American history, prior to about 1880, the Republicans were traditionally more liberal, and the Democrats somewhat more conservative. That's obviously changed...but here's the thing. Democrats were fundamentally Federalists. That is, they believed that laws and such were derived from the US Government, and it was the US Government that should decide on all the major issues. Republicans were Anti-Federalist. They believed that the law should be derived by and large from the states. They felt that the government provided certain basic central functions, like Treasury and Defense, but the states would decide just about everything else.

Now, you might see what I'm getting at: The Republicans, now realizing that the states are NOT going to go the way the Republicans feel they should, want to federally mandate things. This is homosexuality, same-sex marriage, abortion, women's rights, prayer in schools...in other words ANYTHING that has to do with morality/religion.

The US was founded on religious freedom...including the freedom not to have a religion. The Republicans now want to make Amendments to the US Constitution that outlaw Abortion, same-sex marriage, prayer in schools...and THIS is the party that was founded on the principles that the US Government should leave the people alone! Baffling.

Anyway, back to the main point: I do care. I fear for my privacy. I fear "The Patriot Act," that wholly amazing set of laws that directly contradicts the Bill of Rights. I fear that one day, someone will decide that not only shouldn't homosexuals get married...but neither should Jews. Or Blacks. I fear that after the Religious Right outlaws abortion, they will then outlaw contraception. And then a woman's right to say no to her husband.

If you think I'm being overly dramatic, ask a seriously conservative Republican about those points.

On top of that, what I really fear is that the Bush Cabinet, with the exception of Colin Powell (Who will resign immediately after the election...,) is only interested in themselves and their interests. They do not care about me...or even about the people who have placed themselves in their care. I fear Vice-Presidents who ran companies who PROVABLY have bilked the government out of billions of dollars. I fear Presidents who are so stupid, EVERY time they speak, a spin analyst has to "explain what he really meant" because no rational human being can listen to "The leader of the free world" and come away feeling anything other than utter fear.

So I guess I'm not apathetic. I guess I'm just numb with terror.

And don't EVEN start me on "The War on Terror."

Oh, by the way, it's my Mom's birthday today. Happy Birthday Mom! I love you.

Posted by Glenn at August 1, 2004 08:31 PM