We can evade reality, but we cannot evade the consequences of evading reality

The title quote can be attributed to Ayn Rand, published in one of her mailings somewhere between 1905 and1982. It relates directly to my soap-box lecture for the day.

Sit down, shut up, and read. I will field questions, comments, and nasty replies at the end. Constructive criticism, open debate (but tasteful and logical) is always welcome. Negative feedback left without any shred of intelligent thought will be ignored, and systematically deleted. This is my disclaimer, and it will be posted every time I enter a piece of op-ed writing, because it is just that; opinion and editorial discourse, intended to make a casual reader think. And ultimately intended to provoke dissent, however minor (or major).
So please, take that grain of salt with a large glass of your poison of choice, and enjoy.

"As a citizen of the United States of America, everyone hsa the right, as well as the responsibility, to be an active member of the political world. He or she is entitled, as well as expected, to understand and carry out their civil duties. Each citizen should make the effort to be educated and informed about the proceedings in the political realm that governs their lives.
Information is freely provided, because every citizen has the right to access it. Every newspaper in every city, town, village, and country hamlet; every basic television broadcast network; every public radio station provides information. And within the last 15 years, every computer provides access to news and information. A connected citizen needs only to turn on his television, boot-up his computer, or switch on his radio to know what is going on. Information retrieval can be a passive activity, or an aggressive assault.
This is the basic tenet of democracy the way a civics textbook lays it out. American Democracy is not nearly that altruistically simple. Democracy, as employed by the American government, is a machine that involves deft handling, and quick and intelligent handlers. Each citizen is granted rights, and given responsibilites to ensure the machinery works right. The machine works well enough, unfortuently, even when it loses some handlers to idleness. There are no negative consequences that are immediately apparent when one or a hundred people go idle. The consequences are only apparent after enough people lounge about like lions in the midday sun.
In theory, the machine works only when every citizen is in complete understanding that he or she must state their opinion about things political by casting a vote or voicing an opinion. In practice, the machine can work with only a few people acting as proxy for a thousand bodies.
Of course, that being the case, I do not think the American government, and its underpinnings of democracy, was meant to be run by a million hands. The original documents that provide for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness were written by educated, slave-trading, land-owning men. However, that is no excuse for the layman of today to twiddle his thumbs as his rights are quietly stolen away. The modern citizen is far more educated than average citizen of the 1700s. And we all have the right and responsibility to vote. Every man and woman of every race and creed, over 18, can register to vote. That is a far better representation of the American populace than 200 years ago. And yet, our current politicos do not know what we want other than change.
The inundation of information is what makes political complacency and personal apathy inexcusable, and an unforgivable offense. This being the information age, our representatives that write the laws concerning our American Dream should know what will and will not be condoned. Your rights, my rights, the rights of our progeny, are at stake if we sit idle.
No American man or woman should be so blind as to believe blindly the promises out of the mouths of candidates. They can cross their fingers behind their backs, and be safe from retribution, because in the end it was the citizenry that allowed them to betray those promises. Blind loyalty to a candidate is misplaced loyalty. We should have a loyalty to the belief in dissent when those in office are abusing power. Our loyalty should be in the basic belief of personal liberty, no matter the inconvienience.
Playing the game of politics is like playing chess. You can't look away from the board while your opponent makes a move, and still hope to win. Be observant, notice the world in its immediacy, notice it at large. The political atmosphere is shaped by the culture it resides in. A culture that condones self-satisfaction, instant gratification, indolence and the easy way out condemns the careful meditation needed to be an informed, educated, and responsible democratic citizen."

I may meander, and you must forgive me for that. I write several drafts before I publish this on the net, and it changes in form each time through. A few points may seem vague, and I may do that either a) because they are no more clear to me or b) it allows for further discussion and debate. I am addressing myself, as well as fellow readers, when writing these. I am no better than anyone, except the 34 year old geek in his grandmother's basement that has not registered to vote in all the times he has gone to the secretary of state. I would hope you, dear reader, are a registered voter.
Please, remember this is not an attack so much as a meditation on and about the current events. If you have thoughts, comments, critiques, I encourage you to share, but with the condition it be communicated intelligently.

Good evening.
Monday, March 3, 2008
23:22