Media = Propaganda How the Media Created a Monster and Hurt the American People

     I remember the days when the “News” could be trusted to be honest, factual, and reliable.  BREAKING NEWS was something that might affect every life, or was truly a spectacular moment in history.  TV programs were only interrupted for historical things like the death of a President, the First man on the moon, a devastating earthquake, a horrendous plane crash, or War. 

     I remember when an “opinion” stated on the news always had a disclaimer at the beginning and end of it, telling us that it was an opinion, and perhaps not even the opinion of the very news program that was expressing it.  I remember when you could repeat something you saw on the news, and KNOW that it was the truth; that it had been fact-checked and verified by more than one person before permitted on the air. I remember when, in those rare instances when the news got something wrong, they corrected it, several times, to make sure everyone knew. And then, they apologized for “letting us down”.

     I am a person who believes in progress, but I also acknowledge that not every change is a change for the good.

     News 24/7/365 seemed like a great idea at the time. You could get your news any time you wanted, rather than having to wait for a specific hour.  But with progress, came more channels, and more competition for each channel. Ratings became more and more important to a news organization, rather than getting the facts right. It became more important to be the “first” to report an incident, instead of being the one with the true story. Then the news channels needed more and more information to fill those 24 hours.

• What happens to a society when truth takes a backseat to fame, fortune, and ratings?
•  How can justice prevail in a country when news channels jump to conclusions, offer misleading or incorrect information, give their own opinions, and don’t verify before reporting?
•  Who suffers when the “News” oversimplifies a situation, fails to correct misinformation, reports opinions as facts, or reports false information because it suits the reporter’s opinion?
•  What good is a news source if it creates a divide within its viewers by reporting biased views, and ignores the opposite view? 
• What happens to a country when the news is complicit in not only sharing a lie, but perpetuating that lie to the point that it is believed by the majority of its viewers?
•  What happens when the very word News becomes synonymous with gossip, when a news channel perpetuates lies, refuses to separate fact from opinion, does not allow the views, or even facts, that don’t agree with their biased views? 
• What happens to a country that cannot trust the news to give the facts? What happens when the very same stories are completely different, depending on which channel you turn to?

     The United States doesn’t have NEWS stations any more. We have “spin doctors” and editorializing. We have whole channels devoted to serving one side of the political divide, and “to Hell with the Truth”!

We have a large population of people falling victim to the lies of a few, to raise support for their own desires, regardless of the consequences of their behavior. We have stations that call themselves news, who have become the  Department of Propaganda for a political party.

     What happened to the 5 Ws and H?  Who? What? Where? Why? When? How? And Why doesn’t’ every report follow that form? It is basic journalism 101.

     Did you know that there is actually a “code of ethics” for professional journalists? You sure couldn’t tell by watching the news. When did news anchors stop being journalists and start becoming “entertainment”? 
     If you were to read the journalist’s code of ethics, you would agree. Gossip has no place in the news. We have gossip channels. Sensationalism is not news. Again, it is entertainment, but sadly, because of the very channel it is viewed on, people accept it as gospel.

Here is just one section of the “ethics”
Be Accountable and Transparent

Ethical journalism means taking responsibility for one’s work and explaining one’s decisions to the public.
Journalists should:

– Explain ethical choices and processes to audiences. Encourage a civil dialogue with the public about journalistic practices, coverage and news content.

– Respond quickly to questions about accuracy, clarity and fairness.

– Acknowledge mistakes and correct them promptly and prominently. Explain corrections and clarifications carefully and clearly.

– Expose unethical conduct in journalism, including within their organizations.

– Abide by the same high standards they expect of others. 

     When was the last time any channel could claim to have followed this section of their ethics for even one day??

Now, the day that the Media started to create a monster:

     Donald Trump announced he would run for President of the United States. Two years earlier, he had explained how he would do it. He told the news media what he would do. He followed his plan, and they fell for it, EVEN THOUGH he had warned them.

     Donald Trump is a “reality show” star.  We all know that even “reality shows” are badly manipulated and faked, but for some reason, they get great ratings. Donald Trump has turned our nation's primary season into a reality show, and the Media has been the willing participant in it. 

     Donald Trump announced he would “self-finance” his campaign, just like he had said 2 years earlier.  So the very first day, he came out saying outrageous, ugly things, and, in the name of ratings, the news channels RUSHED to report it. Over and over and over again. For days, his comments became THE news. Every movement the man made was watched. And he knew he had them hooked. He KNEW that he could get free publicity - all he had to do was keep the Media on the hook.

     Every time Trump saw that he was no longer #1 on the news cycle, he would say or do, something outrageous, and the cycle would start again. The media, who has been entrusted to bring Americans the important news of the day, was being played and they fell for it. Remember, he warned them, and they still gave him hours and days of free publicity. The American People deserve to be repaid for all of that. We were manipulated, too, because the media turned attention away from the important things happening. 

     In the meantime, other candidates were ignored. Speeches were being made, and no one heard them, except those in attendance. All the news was about Trump.

People complained, in large numbers, but the news media was hooked. They couldn’t get enough of this man’s antics. They were appalled by his comments and actions, but, like a car wreck, they just couldn’t turn away. They were being drawn like a moth to a flame.  Donald Trump had the media wrapped around his little finger, and they were trapped. They could not pull away. Why?  Because of ratings!!  The almighty dollar overtook the “responsibility” of honest journalism. Donald Trump knew this, and used it to his advantage. 

     Donald Trump said he would ban all Muslims, even shut down mosques. But, instead of pointing out that 

1. This is not within the power of a President   

2.  It is Constitutionally illegal   

3.  It would be Dangerous for international relations    

4. Technically impossible to do; 

the news channels played his speech over and over again, without any reminders to their viewers that these statements were immoral, unethical, and illegal.

Another article of the Ethics in Journalism is to DO NO HARM

-Balance the public’s need for information against the potential harm or discomfort. Pursuit of the news is not a license to arrogance or undue intrusiveness.

     Did the NEWS follow this ethical standard?  NO!! And how do we know this? Mosques were burned, or vandalized. When he spoke negatively about Mexicans, Hispanics were beaten. 

Violence at his rallies became a ‘normal’ part of them. The news picked up on the story, and yet, the actions of violence were never condemned. When Trump stated that maybe a protester “deserved” to be beaten, the news reported it. And ACCEPTED this kind of behavior from a man running for the most powerful position in the world!!!

Another code of ethics violation:-Avoid pandering to lurid curiosity, even if others do.

     News agencies decided to moderate political “debates”.
      I remember when a debate meant that the viewers would get to learn about the policies and ideas that each candidate wanted to implement, and for the candidates to point out where they differed. 

     The first debate this season started out attempting to hold a candidate accountable for his previous comments, and the candidate attacked back. Instead of continuing to maintain control of the debate, it became a circus. It should have been an embarrassment to the party being represented, but nothing was done. Rules weren’t changed, and each debate ended up turning into shouting matches, and mud-slinging. No candidate was asked the HOW of their plans.  And rarely was a candidate asked to return to the topic. If a candidate won’t answer the question at hand, maybe their mike should be turned off and their time up!! They aren’t there to make stump speeches, they are supposed to be there to inform the voters of their platform.

      Apparently, the Media loved the ratings this circus brought, so they did nothing to prevent it. They could have threatened to turn off mikes, refuse to ask questions of those who refused to follow the rules, and stood their ground. 
        I once ran a daycare and if my two year-olds acted like these candidates, they would have been sent to “timeout.”  Instead, every moderator has become a laughingstock, and the political party has lost credibility.  In the meantime, primaries have started, and voters still have no idea what the candidates stand for.  What happened to those 5 Ws and H????

     The place where the Media REALLY let down their viewers is when the media, itself has been censored.  Donald Trump has shattered the First Amendment Rights of EVERYONE that doesn’t agree with him, or those who could expose him, and that has NOT become the number one issue of news about his campaign.

•  Reporters are confined to within a small, area of his rally. Actually forced to stand within a barricaded section, AND beaten if they try to film something other than what Donald Trump wants!!  So much for Freedom of the Press!!!
•  Protesters are beaten, forced out, and in the dead of winter, with extreme temperatures outside, protesters’ coats taken from them and forced them outside without them.  AND THE NEWS REPORTED IT as a something funny!   So much for right to assemble.
•  A Muslim woman did not say a word, and was forced out of his rally. So much for freedom of religion.
• A young Black woman protesting was physically manhandled by the crowd, called names, spit on, jostled out the door, while Trump, himself, encouraged the behavior

     This man is violating Constitutional Rights of the American people and the News is NOT holding him accountable, and they keep flocking to report his antics as “entertainment”.

Once again, a violation of their code of ethics:
-Be vigilant and courageous about holding those with power accountable. Give voice to the voiceless.

Where is the Media holding Donald Trump accountable?   While the media ignores other candidates, or worse, spread lies and “hints” at impropriety of others, they have given Donald Trump carte blanche. 

     I, personally, have taken to recording all news, so that I can fast forward through anything that has to do with this man, because I saw on the first day that he was incapable of being President. The man doesn’t even know what the Constitution says!! His behavior is an embarrassment and a danger to our image to the World.

   The media has controlled this Presidential election, deciding who can debate, whose rallies will be seen, which speeches are “worthy” of being viewed by those who can’t attend. The Media has reported “scandals” about some candidates, and completely ignored major campaign law violations and scandals, of others. They have failed to vet every candidate. They jump at sensationalism, and ignore candidates with a positive message. They do not explain that certain actions promised cannot legally be done. And when they report incorrectly, or edit a video to make it "newsworthy", they do not 'correct the record'.

     The Media is subtly telling the American People how to vote.  To keep things exciting, they have extended the primary season by picking and choosing who’s in the spotlight, and who is ignored. They have helped keep people in the race who might have fallen out long ago, had their campaigns been reported fairly. Some candidates might still be in the race, had they been given some coverage.

     Donald Trump has manipulated the Media, and received Billions of dollars-worth of free commercial time simply by being a carnival barker. He has turned the election for the next President into a reality show, instead of the solemn occasion that it should be. The media gained viewership at the expense of integrity and truth. 

     The Media has allowed the encouragement of bigotry, xenophobia, Islamaphobia, intolerance, and even violence, by making it “entertainment” instead of the abysmal ugliness that deserves to be reported just as harshly as a terrorist attack.  

     It is sad when Donald Trump’s latest “antics” have become so entertaining and exciting for the media to report, it has come to the point where they ignore mass shootings in Kansas (where a man’s trail of terror covered miles), several school shootings, and the return of an astronaut who has been in space for a year. They have ignored the death of several police officers killed in the line of duty, including an officer who has killed on her first day on the job, on a domestic violence call. How pathetic!!!  While they play over and over bad cops’ behavior, they won’t take the time to show what happens to real, heroic police officers, just doing their job.

     Donald Trump is a dangerous man, and the nation’s leaders know this. But the Media helped to make this man an idol in the eyes of those who have been waiting for a leader to tell them that their darkest thoughts and hate is OK, and that violence and violation of human rights is the way to handle those ugly beliefs. The Media released a monster among the people, and helped to catapult him beyond a reality star. They have legitimized him as a real possibility as The President.

     Once upon a time, the media would have done their job. They would have vetted his comments. They would have given equal time to all candidates. They would have kept “We the People’s” best interests in focus, and done the “right thing”.  Instead, today’s Media is controlled by politics, manipulated by sociopaths, completely ignoring the very ethics of their profession. 

     When are We, the People, going to DEMAND better from the Media? When are we going to hold them accountable?  When are we going to stop letting them divide us, as a country, by producing conflicting “facts”?  When will We, the People, stop letting the Media allow politicians to stand in front of their cameras and LIE to the American People?  When will it stop???? 

     People of the United States – We MUST stand together to DEMAND that the Media be held to the very ethics that they should have learned in school.  We must DEMAND that those who provide “news” to the American people take an oath to follow those ethics, and promise to be held accountable.  We must DEMAND that opinions be limited and EXPLICITLY labeled as such.

     When the Media allows politicians to say that our President has violated the Constitution of the United States, when they know it isn’t true (because if it WAS, they would have started impeachment proceedings, and we all know that), the media must be held accountable. When a politician makes such a statement, follow-up questions MUST be asked, and they MUST hold that person accountable. It is time to demand that if a politician is going to be in front of the camera, they be forced to answer the questions, not what they want to say, but actually answer the questions.

And let’s start with Donald Trump.  Demand he answer those ‘difficult’ questions, like “HOW are you going to do this?” Make him prove that he actually understands what a President is capable of. Correct him, and ask again. Stop the stupid phone-ins and make him look into the camera while he lies to the world.

And, finally:
To the Media:

The World is watching. They are not only mocking those you report, they are appalled at the unethical, immoral, harmful behavior of our “news”  Europe is watching, and remembering the last time the Media became propaganda and the leader was not held accountable.

“History repeats itself. As do the methods used by those specializing in the elimination of leaders who unite people into a strong force for dignity, justice and self-determination.” 
― S.M. Sigerson, The Assassination of Michael Collins: What Happened at Béal na mBláth?

Link to Society for Professional Journalism "code of ethics"

We are Letting the Enemy Win, and The Media is Helping!!

September 11, 2001 was “the end of American Innocence”, as some reporters have claimed. But it wasn’t the first time the U.S. had been attacked:

On Dec.7, 1941, the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. The American people came together, helping one another, and mourning together. U.S.A. entered World War II.

Sadly, our President sent all Japanese Americans to internment camps for the remainder of the war. It took many years for an investigation to determine that our government’s actions were based on "race prejudice, war hysteria, and a failure of political leadership" and that there was no evidence of Japanese disloyalty during war time.

On Feb. 26, 1993, the World Trade Center was bombed. Only 6 people were killed, but1,046 were injured. The attack was considered a failure. America mourned together.  It was a glimpse of something brewing, but Americans returned to their normal activities, and put it behind them.

 

April 19, 1995, 168 people were killed, (including 19 children (3mo – 5 years) in a daycare center, and 3 pregnant women) and 680 others were injured, when a bomb was set off at the Alfred P. Murrah federal building in OKC. 324 buildings within a 16 block radius were damaged or destroyed. 219 children lost one, or both parents that day. 

Because of the World Trade Center bombing, the Media jumped to the conclusion that Muslims were responsible, reporting their “suspicions” as truth and in response, Muslims, and people of Arab descent, were attacked around our country.  It soon became apparent that Muslims were not involved, but many Americans hung on to that idea. Instead, a former American soldier, Timothy McVeigh, had committed this act of terrorism. That’s right, a White, blonde-haired, blue eyed, All American Soldier, with a Bronze Star.
So, Americans put it behind them, and returned to normal.

Each time, Americans came together. They helped one another. They were one. Color and religion (once the Muslim aspect was debunked) didn’t matter, because we were “Americans”

Then, in an instant, our country changed  

We were not attacked in one spot. New York, Washington D.C. and even Pennsylvania experienced this tragedy. American families all over the country lost a loved one. And American planes were used for the attacks. It’s randomness of victims was frightening.

We had ‘found the enemy” but, the enemy had no country.  They had a religion, but not a country. So, we clung to that religion to focus our hate. Immediately, Muslims in our own country were attacked.  There were 481 hate crimes against Muslims in the last months of 2001, and some of those attacked were not Muslim, they only “looked” Muslim.

Instantly after 9/11, it was important to make sure people knew you weren’t Muslim.

Being a Christian became a badge of “proof” of being an American, a Patriot. Suddenly, Christians had someone to look down on, and use as “examples’ of “non-Christian” behavior. And once they did, they started looking for more to hate, to shun, to condemn.

The U.S. began splintering into groups  People started associating with “their own kind” and started to fear, and be suspicious of all others.

And  then, something Materialized . . . . . . . .

 .

HATE  

Hate: intense or passionate dislike. "feelings of hate and revenge"

Not hate from the outside, but hate from within.
 It became OK to hate your neighbor. Being suspicious of someone who looked different was patriotic. Shunning people who didn’t attend your church somehow showed how “Christian’ you were.
White, Christian American Politicians, the people who represent the American People, started telling Americans how horrible Muslims were. It didn’t matter if they had come to America to find a different life, they were still the enemy. Sharia law became the new cry. Atrocities in other countries were used as examples of what “ALL MUSLIMS” believe, and practice. Politicians started telling people that Muslims would bring Sharia Law to the U.S. if we didn’t do something now!

Then the Media became instigators. They decided which news was important. Muslims denounced what the terrorists had done, but the Media chose not to report it. Muslims tried to teach their neighbors that their religion was not what those terrorists claimed, but the Christian Americans would not listen. Muslim women were afraid to wear their distinctive dress in public, for fear of being hurt. Americans took out their anger on other Americans. And politicians failed to protect the Muslim Americans. Media chose not to explain the differences between Extremists and regular Muslims. Instead of Americans being educated, they chose to let the Media educate them. It didn’t matter that at least one News Channel was owned by Arab Muslims.  And why would an Arab owner want to prevent Americans from learning the truth about American Muslims?  Think about it.

President Bush visited a Mosque to ask Americans to respect Muslims  “These acts of violence against innocents violate the fundamental tenets of the Islamic faith. And it’s important for my fellow Americans to understand that.” He quoted from the Koran: “In the long run, evil in the extreme will be the end of those who do evil.” Then he continued in his own words: “The face of terror is not the true faith of Islam. That’s not what Islam is all about. Islam is peace.”  Unfortunately, this was not shown over and over and over like the media does for so many other “newsworthy” articles. After all, it was just the President speaking.

So people were not listening. They had hardened their hearts, and instead, became deaf to the truth.

Politicians used this anger to tell us that is was “lack of God” that brought all this about, and all we need to do is to turn back to God. But, only the Christian God. No one else’s God counts. So, to make this point, we must write laws with “Gods” laws in it. Politicians started illegally writing laws that were unconstitutional, but that didn’t matter, because “we are bringing God back to America”  Suddenly, everyone that isn’t a Christian is not only a sinner, but not worthy of protection by our Constitution.  But at the same time, those same politicians claimed that there was a “War of Christians”.  All of a sudden, there was a War on Christmas, too. We started hearing stories of people fired for saying Merry Christmas, Children were suspended for praying in school, it was reported so much that it began to sound like there was a war on Christians, but it was blown out of proportion.  In the meantime, they didn’t report about the beatings of homosexuals (sure, a few to appease them,, but not to the proportion of the “war on Christians”)  They didn’t report the laws forcing Christian values and teachings into the schools, the many non-Christians that were denied jobs for no reason but their beliefs, and that cities were putting up Christian symbols, while denying the right to any other group to do the same. Yes, the media reported the  Westboro Baptist Church, as “fanatics”, but their preachings are the very same thing being preached in Christian churches all over the country, it was just that they protested at funerals, and by agreeing how stupid and fanatical they were, Christians were proving that they were better than that. They weren’t fanatics.

So what happened?

FEAR

Fear: An anxious feeling, caused by our anticipation of some imagined event or experience

Suddenly, after the attacks on our land, Americans were afraid that we would be attacked again. We feared anyone different. We feared religions other than what we knew. We began to fear our own shadow.
And by doing so, we lost. 
The attacks were not to physically destroy America. They were to destroy our country from within. It was to cause Americans to fight among themselves. They wanted Americans to be afraid of their neighbors, strangers, and most of all, fear change.

So, Americans became afraid. So afraid that they were willing to let the Patriot Act pass, taking away many freedoms, in the name of security. We ignored the lack of logic about invading Iraq, when we knew that Al Qaida and Saddam Hussein  were not friendly at all. We encouraged our President to defy the U.N. and attack Iraq even though the “assurances” that they had WMDs were not reliable. We ignored the irrational decision to go to Iraq, when all intelligence indicated the Osama Bin Laden was in Afghanistan or Pakistan. We let fear and emotions lead us into two wars.

Everyone is afraid of something. There are two kinds of fear. Rational and Irrational.

Rational is normal. It protects you from harm. It keeps you from jumping out of planes without a parachute, from entering a burning building without protection, from picking up a poisonous snake.  It does not prevent you from normal activities.

Irrational fear is paralyzing.  It short circuits your thoughts, it prevents you from doing things you might otherwise do, and it increases your fears about other things. You become afraid of change, of strangers, of anyone different than you. You cling to familiar things. You fear death, so you cling to the idea of eternal life. You stop listening to anyone that doesn’t feed on your fears, because all you focus on is fears.  You listen to the same people who are making you afraid, in case you miss something else you should be afraid of.  And you start to hate the very things you are afraid of.
So what happens?

Your fear and your hate become so intermingled that you don’t even know which one is which anymore. Suddenly, you fear your neighbor because they don’t go to the same church as you. You hate anyone that looks like they might be Middle Eastern because you believe they hate you.  You fear any truth that does not agree with your fears. You start to believe that people are trying to trick you into being less afraid so they can hurt you.  You search for articles that “prove” that you need to be afraid. You find articles about bad cops (because good cops rarely make the news) and you “know” that you should hate cops, so you do.  You keep scouring the internet for more “proof”, and sure enough, conspiracy theory blogs and “news sites” tell you how the government is planning against you and lying to you. When rational, you would never have accepted “unnamed sources” or “someone who told someone who told someone”  as being reliable information, but, once again, it proves that you are right to be afraid. You find articles about poisons in your food. You learn that one doctor says that immunizations cause autism, so you don’t get your child immunized – “That’ll teach them”.  Then when your child get measles or whooping cough, and ends up in the hospital, it is the government’s fault, because you read that somewhere. Your reasoning becomes so distorted that you ignore the policies that allow big companies to pollute your drinking water, because you have much more important things to be worried about, like homosexuals, and abortions, and the “war on Christians”.  Because your sole source of information tells you so.

In the meantime, life goes on, but not without this fear and hate. You hear about an American being beheaded and you hate Middle Easterners even more (even though this is one cruel, extreme group that are despised even by other terrorist groups).

And numerous politicians, instead of telling us they would make sure that the government would keep us safe, keep the fear going.  Why? Because fear is a good tool for propaganda. If you are afraid, and someone promises that they have an answer, you will listen and believe. If you aren’t afraid, you will be more skeptical. So their answer is “Christian Canon Law” (read that Sharia Law for Christians.  That’s right! Let’s start acting like the very people we fear. That’ll teach them!!

President Franklin Roosevelt famously asserted, "The only thing we have to fear, is fear itself."

President Roosevelt was right. Fear can turn a country against itself.

And while that is happening, the enemy wins. 

When our country cannot agree on anything, and we bicker amongst ourselves, they laugh. 

When the rest of the world watches our Congress and the childish antics of temper-tantrums and shut-downs, the small groups of terrorists that helped to bring us to this smile. 

When Americans carry rifles into grocery stores to intimidate those around them, the enemy snickers.

When Americans scream obscenities at scared children who are running from atrocities, the enemy praises his God.

When Americans make effigies of their President, and Congressmen yell "You Lie" as the President speaks, and people claim, "He isn't MY President" the enemy applauds.

When Coingressmen stand up and cry "War, War, War" as their resolution for everything happening overseas, the enemy jumps for joy.

When American corporations pollute our land and water, and buy Congress, the enemy nods their heads in approval. 

The enemy cheers, because their small numbers have brought down the Great American People.

I, for one, refuse to go down.  It is time to wake up, and SAVE AMERICA!!

What Has Happened to America? Can We Fix it?

I have seen an America that reached out to Earthquake victims halfway around the world.

I have seen Americans leaving home to help others rebuild after tornados.

I have seen Americans open their homes after thousands of people died, and even more found themselves homeless after Hurricane Katrina.

I have seen America sends its young men to fight wars that were not affecting our people, but we could not stand by and allow horrible things to happen to good people

I have seen America, as a leader of the Free World; a country that all countries looked up to, who was admired, and was the model of what other countries would strive to be like.

I have seen America lead the World to Peace.

I have seen America put a man on the moon.

I have seen Americans adopt orphaned children from other countries.

I have seen Americans risk their own lives to save others.

I have seen an America, with beautiful waterways, majestic mountains, exciting shorelines, grand valleys, and vast open lands.

I have seen an America that wept together over the death of our President, and cheer when our soldiers finally came home.

I have seen Americans come together and mourn the deaths of children in a horrible shooting.

I know that Americans can be the most caring, respectful, loving, helpful people on this Earth

So, what has happened?

Today, I see Americans screaming at scared little children who have traveled 1300 miles, risk their lives, often without their parents, to escape almost certain death.

Today, I see people cheering that over 400 children have been bombed, shot, and burned out of “safe places”, just because “bad men” might be nearby

Today, I see Americans using vulgarities and name-calling to OTHER AMERICANS, simply because they don’t agree.

Today, I see Americans, who claim to be Christians, telling our government it is OK to let people in America starve.

Today, I see Americans cheering on a war, and applauding the deaths of hundreds of innocent humans.

Today, I see Americans carrying guns out in the street for no other reason than to intimidate and scare women and children.

Today, I see Americans, so full of hate, it breaks my heart. If only people could see how ugly hate makes them

Today I see American Politicians lying to the very people that they represent, making promises they have no intention of keeping, just so they can get into office to increase their own wealth.

Today, I see American Christians claiming that they are being persecuted, while they try to force Christianity on all of society (persecuting all those who do not believe)

Today, I see Americans standing before cameras, telling Americans that their “right” to have a gun is more important than a child’s life.

Today, I see American representatives writing laws that they know will cost people their lives, & cause children to starve, and ignore those people who served our country in wars.

Today I see American representatives making laws that make it harder for a poor person to pull himself out of poverty, a young person to get an education, and the average person to afford a home

Today, I see American representatives trying to take healthcare away from Americans, and I see people dying because of this.

Today, I see atrocities in our own country, and WORSE, I see Americans applauding those actions.
Today, I see American politicians willing to waste billions of dollars fighting among themselves, re-investigating the re-investigations of the investigations, and yet refuse to help those who, through no fault of their own, have lost their jobs and can’t find new ones.

Today, I see American Adults who cannot read above a 4^th grade level, who can’t spell, and who refuse to accept FACTS, because lies fit their prejudices, and the facts don’t.

Today I see American Adults teaching their children that you judge a person by the color of their skin, or how they vote, or where they live, rather than how they treat others.

Today, in America, I see poor people, with nothing, sharing with those who are hurting, while those who have more than they could ever spend look the other way.

Today, I see American representatives who vote for laws that benefit only those who have given money to them so that they could represent America

Today, I see American representatives who pass out checks to other representatives, from a company that wants to influence their votes on the bill they are voting on (and they vote in that company’s favor)

Today, I see America’s highest Justices, who rule, not based on the Constitution, but rather on their own personal prejudices and beliefs (something our Founding Fathers tried very hard to make sure would not happen)

Today, I see those same Justices, benefitting from the very rulings they make. I see them refusing to recuse themselves when there are obvious conflicts of interest.

Today I see American Politicians who make a pact to obstruct the smooth running of our government, just because their party did not “win”.

Today, I see America, falling into Third World status for incarcerations, poverty, healthcare, infant mortality, climate denial, literacy of adults, early child education, gun violence, mental health, inequality, and infrastructure.

Today, I see countries shaking their heads as they see how Americans treat Americans.

Today, I see an America that cheers when it takes 2 hours of tortuous gasping and choking, just to execute a man, while the world looks on and sighs.

Today, I see a Justice System that allows up to 6% of death row inmates (waiting to be executed) who never committed a crime

Today, I see a Justice System that wrongfully incarcerates up to 10,000 a year, who are not guilty.

Today, I see Americans, who will not stand up to corporations that are poisoning our waters, destroying our land, polluting our air, and profiting from it.

Today, I see Americans voting for a person because of the letter beside their name, rather than what that person stands for.

Today, I see Americans supporting people so uneducated that they cannot possibly understand (or read) the very laws that they will help pass.

Today I see Americans, who are more concerned with “revenge” against a criminal than they are about Justice, and allow innocent men rot in jail.

Today I see American Drug Companies create pills to treat the symptoms, rather than working to create cures.

Today, I see billionaires who show their contempt for those “beneath” them, and those “beneath” them cheering them on, oblivious that they are the very people these men despise.

Today, I see people disrespecting OUR President, just because he’s half Black (Don’t tell me that’s not the reason, because the hate started before he was even inaugurated.)

Today, I see American Christians saying ugly, nasty things about our President and wishing OUR President dead,

Today, I see Fascism.

Yes, Fascism has come to America. And only if  “WE THE PEOPLE”, join together NOW, can we put a stop to this before it is too late.

Half of you know what I am talking about, and the other half THINK you know what I am talking about.

Based on various studies of several fascist countries and how they came to power:

This is Fascism:

1. An Oversized Military Industrial Complex: A disproportionate amount of money (especially when there is a lot of debt) spent on the national defense. When a country is willing to go into war, and run up an enormous debt without concern for how it will be paid. Where money is taken from the schools, infrastructure and the hungry, just to add to the military budget.
2. Extreme Nationalism – Flag waving, symbols, colors, songs, mottos.  A fascist leader will encourage these in order to manipulate its people. Think Hitler, with his salute, flags, swastikas (compare to today’s confederate fight flags, snake flags, signs, chants, screaming slogans) All of this is used to create a “Mob mentality”  (Think of the crowd choosing Barabbas over Christ)
3. Bringing religion into Government: Hitler called Germany a “Christian nation”, the Muslim countries use religion to control; Religious rhetoric is used to ‘whip up” the anger in the people. Religion is used to blind the people with anger. (Again, hink of the crowd choosing Barabbas over Christ)
4. Suppression of Unions: Unions are dismantled or severely limited, because the labor unions are usually where the greatest resistance has come from.
5. Passion for Justice: Fascist regimes give the police unlimited power. They allow this to happen so that when the time comes, they can use the police against the people.  Death sentences increase and people are encouraged to cheer for these executions (in the name of justice), to numb them to the upcoming executions. Conviction rates become more important than whether a person is guilty or innocent.
6. Corruption and Cronyism: Big Corporations and the Wealthy put their puppets into office through donations of funds, manipulation of the media, and lies. Government officials are wooed, tempted, and bribed by those seeking to gain power. This can be, and often is, an outside force, looking to gain control. The wealthy and powerful use their money to insure government employees will cover for these individuals as they break the laws, and get those officials to create laws that protect them people from accountability.  National resources and treasures are often sold to those seeking control. (Think: selling off our National Parks, allowing drilling in national parks without compensation)
7. Fraudulent elections: No, not a few people voting twice. This is large scale. Gerrymandering to guarantee certain people will be elected; making it harder for voters to vote; long waiting lines so that people will give up; poll taxes; IDs; shortening registration times; shortening voting hours; Creating fewer voting locations so that people have to travel farther to vote.  Using judges to make final election results.
8. Demeaning the intellectual and artistic: Fascist regimes promote hatred towards highly intellectual people – professors, higher education, etc. In fact, when fascist regimes take over, the intellectuals are usually the first to be arrested or killed. Why? Because these are the people that can see what is happening, and can speak well enough to open the eyes of the people. Free expression is openly attacked. People are encouraged to intimidate, belittle, and show contempt for those who disagree with their political beliefs (especially those who approve of the cronyism, religious rhetoric, and those who don’t get involved)
9. Corporate Power is Protected: The giant corporations and extremely wealthy individuals use their money to buy power.  They finance putting their puppets in office to create a mutually beneficial relationship. Laws are passed to give corporations less regulation, and more freedom to rip off the average citizen. Monopolies are allowed to take-over, removing all competition.
10. Control of Mass Media: A few select people, who are helping the fascist regime attempting to gain power, are allowed to buy up the media, and promote their own propaganda. The fascist groups encourage the courts to allow lies and misinformation to be used to keep the public blind to what is happening right in front of them.  During war time, censorship runs rampant.
11. Extreme Sexism: Fascist governments are almost exclusively male dominated. Women are “kept in their place”  Divorce, abortion and homosexuality are suppressed, while the “state” becomes the “guardian of the family”
12. Scapegoats, enemies, conspiracy theories: The people are united by providing “enemies”.  The fascist regime tells people that those who do not agree with the leaders are a threat to their government. In fascist regimes, this is usually minorities, liberals, communists, socialists, ethnic groups, minority religions,etc. Racial inequality is encouraged, and minorities are considered threats. Immigrants are considered dangerous, because there might be intellectuals (or worse yet, they might recognize fascism because they have experienced it).  The people are whipped into a frenzy of patriotism and blind faith to make them more easily manipulated.
13. Loss of Human Rights: Because of “fear”, the people in a fascist regime are encouraged to arm themselves, distrust, and fear everything. They are convince that torture, executions and assassinations, and incarcerations of dissidents is necessary for the good of the country.
14. Obsession with National Security:  Again, fear is developed in the people so that they fear everything from the outside. They are taught to ‘distrust outsiders”.  Fear of attack, fear of insurgents, fear of conspiracies are all used to control the people, and convince them that the government is going to protect them, as long as the go along with the government. They are encouraged to turn away anyone who doesn’t already understand the country’s patriotism. Concern with immigration and “outsiders” are exaggerated by leaders and the media.
15. FEAR, FEAR, FEAR – The media, the politicians, and the corporations create a frenzy of fear. Afraid of businesses shutting down if the “right leader” isn’t selected. Diseases run rampant, while people are convinced that medical preventive measures are dangerous.  The media blasts 24/7 with war, hate, anger, murder, death, violence, injustice, and more fear. Fake “news” programs, newspapers (in today’s world, blogs, cyber-news) rise, and create conspiracy theories. They refute other news stories. Conflicting reports confuse people to the point of causing them to trust only one source for information. And then this information is tailored by those who want to keep the people in fear.

So, you see, we are headed toward a Fascist Regime. 
Will it be Obama? NO! It will not be a Liberal, because Liberal, by virtue of its very meaning, is against everything that leads to fascism.
Look around you. Look at your representatives:

Who is allowing corporations to pollute and not clean up?

Who is telling you that immigrants are bringing diseases?

Who is trying to sell off our national parks and treasures?

Who keeps insisting that we spend more than ½ our national budget on our military industrial complex, and cut help to our Veterans, our Children, our Aged, our Poor, our Working Class? 

Who is trying to privatize our schools, our prisons, our healthcare, our utilities, our national bank account?

Who wants to risk our money in the stock markets, so that Wall Street can make money, and our tax money could be lost?

Who is telling you that women, Blacks, gays, and immigrants are inferior? 

Who has cut spending to schools, Medicaid, & raised interest rates student loans?

Who wants to keep you uneducated, unhealthy, and unemployed? 

Who is allowing Corporations to poison our water and food supply, and not demanding that they clean it up?

Who is trying to de-regulate businesses, and allow monopolies?

Who is trying to bring religion into law? (I know some of you think that is a good thing, but look around the world. Those countries that combine religion and government are always in conflict, have severe limits to freedom, and violate human rights. Is that what you want for America?)

So, it is up to Every American to stand up and say “NO!!” to fascism. We must put our differences aside, and stand up against those who want to take over our government, OUR COUNTRY, and turn us into their slaves. If we don’t wake up, and do something, we will not have any freedoms.  Stop arguing for your right to bear arms. Instead of carrying rifles, go to the polls and vote out those who want to destroy OUR AMERICA!!

If you see that you might have been wrong, that you have been fooled, and you feel foolish. It’s OK. It happens to the best. But don’t let that stop you. While we are still free, it is OK to change your mind. Those of us who have known the truth all along will not hold it against you. We need each other if we want to make America a Great Nation once again. Please, come join us!!!

I Like Being a Congressman

I like being a Congressman    

The job is mighty fine      

I only work two days a week  

Taxpayers do not whine    

I make the laws and write the checks

And help the country run

I Meet the Press & Morning Joe

And maybe shoot a gun

I get to visit ‘round  the world

And never pay a dime

Taxpayers fund my every trip

I’m smiling all the time

My staff  talk to the taxpayers

I’m too busy for that

Lobbyists need all of my time

Get money for a chat

I get to get away with lots

Emptying the coffers

The more I spend the more I get

Taking Lobby offers

I have the power of the state

I control the nation

People die without my vote

While I take a vacation

Hungry children and starving Vets

Their lives depend on me

But businesses don’t want to pay

So I just wait and see

This black man in the White House

Has really made me mad

I sit and stew and do nothing

And make my people sad

But that’s OK, Yes, that’s alright

Big business has my back

While people starve and people die

I fill my money sack

Millions of dollars I rake in

But it doesn’t help the people

Because to get elected now

I have to fool the sheeple

I spend all my time complaining

That the President is wrong

He’s trying to fix the nation

He’s trying to be strong

But that won’t do, no not at all

How dare he do his job

While Congress sits and does nothing

Stirring up a lynch mob

You see, I have the citizens

Wrapped around my fingers

I hide behind Rush, Beck, & Fox

Though the stench still lingers

I have the people where I want

Believing that I care

I smile at them and lie to them

And say, “It’s good, I swear”

And if that doesn’t work for me

I have my own goon squad

I’ll cry & pray & tell them all

That I was sent by God

You see that Christianity

Is good for politicians

God Bless America, Amen

Puts you ahead of competition

I want the sheeple dumb and poor

Uneducated’s best

The less I spend on them, you see,

The more they’ll work for less

If taxpayer’s should get upset

If they should ask for more

I’ll simply tell them we can’t help

And start another war

If taxpayers ever catch on

It still won’t hurt me, see

When I leave here I’ll have a job

Working for a Lobby

I like being a Congressman

This job, it has its perks

I lie and steal from everyone

And you’re the one who works

The Middle Class will Rise - Seuss Style

I do not like this GOP

I do not like them, no sir-ee

I do not like this Tea Party

They do not like you, you, or me

The GOP does stupid things

Like not passing anything

They do not pay their bills OH, NO

They only Hate, Hate Mr. O

The Tea Party is even worse

The hate, they lie, they scream & curse

Bigots, they claim they are not

But actions speak to us a lot

These guys are awful, yes they are

They’ll let bridges crush your car

They’d rather support the Ku Klux Klan

Than let you have a healthcare plan

They will not feed the starving poor

Would rather spend cash on a war

Fight, Fight, Fight, that is their cry

And start another with a lie

They whine and cry and run to Fox

To cover up the laws they block

Then blame it all on MR O

Because, because, they do not know. . .

The history books about this age

Will show their hatred and their rage

They tried to ruin this great nation

Because of one Black Man’s oration

Everything that helps society

Because of their proclaimed piety

While taking cash, an impropriety,

They vote with questionable sobriety

Big Business buys our Congress now

And to the Kochs, they all do bow

I will admit, in my opinion,

Each are just a Koch Bro Minion

SCOTUS works for ALEC too

They don’t even have a clue

They think citizens are obtuse

Impeachment we will introduce

Hannity, Beck, Rush, O’Reilly

They feed you BS, oh so slyly

They hate, complain, and tell you stories

Rather than Obama’s Glories

People, stand, and fight these louts

Vote and kick each one out

U.S.A. belongs to US

And they can all just take a bus

They can go to Israel,

Or they can even go to Hell

They’ve harmed this country way too much

These guys are oh, so, out of touch!

The U.S.A. was once so Great

But hasn’t been so much of late

Prisons stuffed, and children starving

GOP must be departing

All of our elected reps

When walking down those concrete steps

Some of whom belong in prison

Will learn The Middle Class has risen

The U.S.A. will rise again

Much to the GOP’s chagrin

The Right-wing fascists have no clue

WE WILL TURN THIS COUNTRY BLUE!

A Visual Assessment of Our Founding Fathers on Religion

Thank you for FFRF.org

Off Topic - The Recent Christian Invasion

I have been reading a lot of "religious rants" from many on Facebook lately, and it got me to thinking. (Uh-oh)

I have heard many people parrot Michelle Bachman's comments that everything that is happening are signs that Rapture is near. I have actually heard people talk about speeding up "The Coming".

So, I started wondering. What happens if they destroy the Earth faster, because they are so sure they "know" that the time is near, only to destroy the Earth, and Rapture not come yet? Do they believe they can force Rapture by taking away the ability to live on Earth?

ANd, what if the majority misinterpreted the Bible? Such as the idea that "Grace" saves you? What if it turned out that when Jesus returned, only those who had kept HIS Commandment, (you know, the one about loving your neighbor), were the ones that went to the Father?

We can label ourselves Christians, but isn't it up to God to decide if you really are, or not? It really doesn't matter if you go to a Christian church, what matters is what is in your heart, right? If you really believe that God is Omnipotent, do you really think that He isn't smart enough to see past your own claims, and know your heart? Aren't your actions proof of your heart? What if God holds us accountable for those who we helped put in power? As good Christians, shouldn't we be putting loving, compassionate, honest people in office? Is "claiming" to be a Christian really enough of a resume' to vote for someone? Think about all the horrible things that have been done in the name of Christianity.

What if Rapture came, and no one was taken? What would the Tea Party/GOP do then? What if only Democrats were "lifted into Heaven" (not all, just some), because they had actually been compassionate, loving, accepting people who followed the "Golden Rule"? 

I know that for non-believers, this doesn't apply, but since the biggest problems in our country right now seem to be coming from "good Christians" I have to wonder what they would do? If they got left behind, would they become more hateful? If the belief that Rapture is coming soon (BTW, rapture does not appear in the Bible) is believed by so many, and they are being as hateful as they are, what would happen? It honestly scares me. 

Would Jesus offer ANOTHER chance to these people? 

I don't know. Some churches still believe in "good works". I, for one, hope that if the Bible has been misinterpreted, it is in favor of them.

The problem is, we don't know. But, it seems to me, when someone gives you a final order, when they know they will die soon, THAT should be considered an important rule to follow. Jesus said " I AM the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes unto the Father, but by me." So, wouldn't following HIS commandment (The Golden Rule) be necessary?
Especially when eternity is at stake?