A Hump Day Revelation

It recently dawned on me that one of the things I missed most about living in the coastal areas of Florida was the diversity of the population - whether resident or tourist. Each day might result in a 2 hour laugh-fest with a group from England at a SunSpree resort on the Atlantic, or an hour long walk and discussion of American politics and JFK with an elderly couple as we wound our way through the dunes of Honeymoon Island on the Gulf. A Greek couple on Sanibel Island, or a couple of young women from Moldavia in Key West. Most everyone I met was educated, had well formulated opinions, and was seemingly better informed than your average red-stater of not only European but US affairs. But this was back in the 90's, and I left Florida when the BushCo machine strong-armed its way into the state's politics.

Perhaps that is why I view the current US political and media climate with more than a bit of scepticism. I see the untruths which are spread by an administration subservient media, and the outright lies which spew forth from the mouths of poll-riding hacks who have wrested control of the government from more reasonable stewards. The economy has been bled to the breaking point, and the exceedingly corrupt business of war is our primary export. This country is becoming more and more isolationist, and is being driven headlong into the abyss of ignorance and intolerance by a group of xenophobes who probably dream of mushroom clouds and marching fascism. Problem is, they are the primary purveyors of such niceties, and have sullied the tenets of Conservatism beyond reclamation.

Will 2009 ever arrive...?